Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

I would remind myself that getting sick is not the end of the world and that keeping up communication with my Professors will be vital in hard times. It is important as well to make sure that proper precautions are made on my part to keep healthy while living with a roommate for the first time and being surrounded by tens of thousands of students more than what I'm used to. I would try to keep in mind that I'm far away from home and now the only one responsible for myself so all of these little things become bigger issues since I will be needing to simultaneously take on these parental duties all the while attending classes, maintaining a high GPA, gaining social life, and joining extracurricular activities and organizations. As overwhelming as college can be, it is always necessary to keep my eye on the prize but to also never neglect what unique experiences this time offers. The entire duration of college will be a series of "gives" and "takes" so I should take notice of my own limitations and learn fast to give leave to other priorities (like my health) versus classes or socializing.

When you go to college or a University be very open minded. You have to be more than willing to meet as many new people as possible. Do not just speak to people who are similar to you, branch out and meet others that are very different from you. Keep networking and remember those you meet. When you meet these individuals try your best to communicate with those people whether it be monthly or weekly; you may need someone to talk to while going through a difficult situation or possibly need help in a future class. Pertaining to your educational experience, college is nothing like high school. It is very difficult and takes time, dedication, and determination. Just like you, many other college students were the brightest ones in their high school class, so therefore it will be very challenging. You have to learn what study habits are most effective for you. When you don't achieve your desired score the first round, don't get sad or depressed, just try harder and I guarantee you, your outcome would be so much more desirable and pleasing. Don't underestimate any class or your potential. Anything is possible, once you try.

There are so many things I would go back and tell myself, but I don't think I would have changed anything about how I decided to live my life. I love my two beautiful children and I adore my amazing husband. If I were to go back and give myself any advice, I would tell myself not to be so harsh and condescending on myself. I would tell myself to be more optimistic, outgoing, and positive on life. I would also say to live life to the fullest, we never know when or if today will be our last, so live like it is. I would say not to ever miss out on an opportunity to do the things I love and enjoy, but to work hard, all things will be paid off in the end. Most of all, I would encourage myself to never, EVER, no matter how hard things seem or get to be, give up or quit, to keep going even if its the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, its all worth it in the end.

Procrastination is the worst enemy to a college student, and being prepared is truely the key to success. Those words are the words of wisdom from the college me to the senior in high school me. If time would let me turn back I would advice myself of the importance of time management for a college student who wants to succeed. The idea of creating your own schedule is the opportunity to create your time in a way to benefit yourself and not wasting it in sleeping or hanging out with friends. In high school, procrastinating was just a scratch when dealing with homework or studying for tomorrows test. I had the belief that going to college would be similar to high school with just an uber higher level. So it meant I was allowed to procrastinate if the information stayed in my head. However, if the clock let me rewind its steps, I would have the opportunity to let myself know the belief I had in mind is an idea that would not benefit me as a college student. My college-self would mention the struggles I went through following the "procrastination theory". That is my note to self.

In college, you find challenges you've never dreamed of, all in the name of defending who you are. Don't falter. Don't forsake yourself. Times will be difficult, and you will start to doubt your capacities in life and academia. Take a deep breath, and realize you are not alone. You are never alone. Only here, where you have not only the freedom to look at yourself but are forced to, may you truly begin to comprehend who you are and what your purpose is. I know you. I know how you act and, more importantly, why. As someone goal-oriented, I implore you to start taking notes of how you're doing and what you're aiming for. Use these notes to compile a set of micro-goals: things you want to accomplish by the time you graduate. Perhaps even more necessary than this objective is simply using a to-do list. Exorbitant amounts of activies will vie for your attention. These lists will help you prioritize--the most useful skill you may learn as you're struggling to get through college. I won't lie, it will be a struggle. You will marvel in it.

If I could go back in time and advise my high school self, I would remind him that he could make his future in college easier financially and academically, by continuing to work hard now and taking advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. Too many seniors become complacent, satisfied with getting their diploma and content with resting on that accomplishment. Some may even be accepted to the college of their dreams, and I would tell them the same. The world will judge them on the passion they show for their work and their own future. Ability can only carry you so far, and the sooner that is learned the better. I am the example of what it takes to recover from misuse of the opportunity that is high school; I effectively dropped out during my freshman year. That decision has cost me a great deal of time, effort, and money: two years in the workforce, a year of community college, and exclusion from the millions of scholarship dollars available only to top high school students. Let it be a lesson; we all have to work to get where we’re going, now or later.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to think about the transition in the following sequence: career choice, major/degree choice, and finally college choice. Before making the transition from high school to college, performing research on careers and job shadowing is an important step so that a student has a field of study in mind. After the career choice is made, a high school student should then research what the proper major and level of education is needed for that career. Once a student has both a desired major and degree in mind, it is time to do research to find which colleges offer the chosen major and degree. Choosing the best college for a student’s educational needs and future career is one of the most important steps in the transition from high school to college, as it saves time and money. Other words of advice I would have for myself are to apply for scholarships; apply often and apply for many. Also, college is a fun, scary, and stressful experience all in one, but make the most of it and do your best!

Dear Faryn, As a high school senior you're at the closing of one chapter of your life and the beginning of another exciting, yet difficult one, college. Don't worry about the little things that you can't control and don't let the transition overwhelm you or discourage you in anyway. Continue working hard and staying focused in school, but don't forget to add a little fun to the mix. You'll have plenty of choices that you will have to make, but don't fret over the things you can't control. I know that you're going to have a hard time being away from your family for the first time, but they are only a Skype call away. Plus, you're joining a HUGE family at Texas A&M. I promise that you'll find genuine poeple that you will call life long friends. The key to a sucessful transition is to find that perfect balance between working hard and having fun, and when you strike a balance you'll be set. You may ask how I know, well, I know what you're going through. Sincerly, Texas A&M Class of 2014 Faryn

The following is advice to give to myself as a high school graduate preparing for college. My goal would be making academic progress through graduation. I would evaluate each step of progress each semester so I can see how I improved, and what areas I need to work on. My evaluations would include addressing my fears of my dysfunction of being in an abusive environment. I was raised by two parents who beat me up with ridicule, derogatory sarcasm, and physical injuries, all of which affected my ability to become a college student. I didn’t have an open mind to going to college. My evaluations would also incorporate my college, career, and financial goals. I would establish what degree I would want to get, and what classes to register in college, and how much it would cost me, and what the salary is for that occupation. I would want to journal positive reinforcements to encourage my efforts to stay in college and to continue my educational goals. Journaling is helpful, especially during discouraging periods, while I am attending college. Finally, I would have attained my dreams in theater arts sooner if I knew then what I know now.

Stop playing around with all the partying. The drugs and alcohol and all your "friends" that you do them with are a waste of time and money. Think real hard about what you want to do for a living. That means for the rest of your life. Don't be afraid to try different things and switch majors as much as you like. Once you do settle on something put everything you have into it. Strive to become the best at whatever it is you choose to do. It will take hard work day in and day out, so don't be surprised when things dont come easily. Good luck.

One of the most significant values of a university is diversity. As high school students, we are not exposed to many cultures and are usually caught up in the "clique" world. I would advise my high school self to be welcoming to those who are different than yourself and to be open to meeting individuals from all over the world. I met a fellow student outside of the bookstore my first year, waiting for the last bus of the day to arrive. He was carrying three large bags; one carying all of his books, another carying an abundant amount of clothes, and the other caring a few extra items. After conversing with the kind gentlemen, I learned that he had moved from Egypt, and was currently a homeless college student. The fact the was homeless and was still furthering his educaiton was so touching to me, as it reflected his passion towards getting a college degree. You learn from those who are different than yourself at the most unexpected times, which is why it is so important to be welcoming of your fellow classmates, no matter how different they may look.

There is only one thing that I would go back to tell myself: work harder. I made some bad decisions during my first year, chief of which was not studying enough. In high school, studying was rarely necessary. Classes were easy to coast through and a high GPA was easily obtained. When I got to college, this attitude hurt me greatly. Though I began to improve over time, my grades and overall experience suffered. Had I truly understood the demands of college academics, I believe that freshman year would have gone more smoothly and turned out more satisfactorily. It would be tempting to give my past self more information, especially specific details, but I would resist. Making mistakes and learning from them is part of life. It's how we grow. I wouldn't be the same person I am today if I had known all about the challenges I would face last year. That said, giving my past self the simple advice to work harder would help motivate me to study and do well in college. At the same time, it would let me overcome the obstacles of last year on my own, and learn from them.

If I could go back and give myself advice about college life and the transition, the first phrase I would use would be, "Stay focused". Many people warn you that being in college is totally different from high school, because you take on the responsibility that your parents once had. No one makes you do anything because you are an adult and they expect you to just make mistakes and learn from them and grow from them. The second phrase I would use would be "Trial and Error". You enter college as a new face in a new world with people that know nothing about you. The key thing that you take from college is to find your path and the only way to do that is to join different groups, meet new people, and just figure out what works for you and makes you a better person. Those are the two things that I wish I would have done when I first left home for college because I missed alot by being shy.

If I could go back in time, and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself there are two things you need have and be in college to be successful. The first thing you need to be is responsible because the professors expect a lot from you, you’re technically an adult and they don't care if you misplaced your work. It’s your responsibility to turn your work in on time no excuses and it’s your duty to stay on top of the work so you will know when it’s due so there will be no excuses. The second thing is that you need to have time management skills. In college time management is crucial. It’s the most important thing a college student can have, and without this you’re not going to be successful. College is all about time, you need time to study and to do the work. If you manage your time well with school, family and friends you won’t be overwhelmed and stress. You can handle college because you are reasonable and you manage your time well just apply yourself and stay focused.

I know now to take notes in every class, to study those notes before and after class, read the material three or four times, and then pray that I pass my exam. I know now that I am competing against the best of the best, and I have to work hard to stay on top. I know now how much of a hassle the finanical aid department is. I know now that ramen noodles really isn't a balanced diet. I know now how to budget, and thrift stores and store brands aren't that bad. I know now to call home because Mom will start to worry. I know now to not wait until midnight to do laundry because that's when everyone else does laundry. I know now that friends are family, and teachers are mentors. I know now that we don't always get lucky with the roommate we end up with. Everything I know now is because I made mistakes and learned from my experiences. I would choose not to go back in time to talk to myself. I would want myself to learn from experience because experience is the best teacher.

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself would be to develop better study habits before I started college in the fall. Without setting aside the proper time for studying, all the distractions make it almost too easy to fall beyond the point of being able to come back up again. The next piece of advice I'd give myself would be to always watch after myself and to not be so trusting of everyone. When you're on your own away from home and your parents, it's ridiculously easy to find yourself in bad situations with people who just don't care. The last thing I would tell myself is to make sure to ALWAYS make class, even if the teacher doesn't take role. This is so extremely crucial to your grades, and most professors will not help you with missed material if you did not attend class. Being a good student in college takes a lot discipline - it's almost like an art that is sculpted and delicately perfected over the years.

I would tell myself as a high school senior to not sweat the little things. Yes, the whole process of getting to college is stressful and it may feel like everything you do seals your fate in the future; however, know that things can and most likely will change. So just go with the flow, do everything you need to do. Make the good grades, excell in the extracurriculars, and enjoy your senior year. The transition to college is a much smoother one if you go into it with an open mind. Things are scary and new, but that is what makes this the most exciting time of your life. Don't be afraid of the future, rather embrace what is to come and be prepared to learn so much more about the world than what your little ol' high school could ever teach you. Don't forget where you are coming from, but definitely be willing to accept the future change.

In high school everything was easy. Do the work and you will never fail. As a high school senior, I was excited about going to college. I had always had the mind frame that getting into college would be the hard part; once in college, everything would work its self out. Surprise, surprise! I was wrong. Learning in college is not the same as the learning we did in high school. One must actually absord the material instead of just memorizing it. I would tell myself to pay more attention in calculus, because if I had actually understood the concepts instead of memorizing how to work the problem, I would have done better in my first college calculus class. Also, I would tell my self to think of the application of the material in physics and math. In college, they teach you to apply the knowledge you learn to real life problems. I can honestly say that although I already had prior knowledge of some material, I had never thought of how I could use it in the real world. So dear highschool me, please apply the knowledge you are learning to real life prob

I would tell myself that there wasn't any need to feel anxious about social acceptance in college, that every sort of person is important and necessary to the healthy functioning of society and will find people who share their interests if they keep looking. Another lesson I would have liked to have known ahead of time would have been that I didn't need to stress out so much about my ambitions while I was in school because there would be plenty of time to work on those after I had gotten a deep enough education to be able to pursue them in the way I wanted. And that in order to do what you want to do, you have to attend to your physical needs as well as your intellectual ones. Eating on a good schedule is important.

Samantha, Take it slow! You are an intelligent, strong student, but college will be very different; don’t assume you won’t need time to adjust. Be vigilant your first quarter in particular. Attend every class, join study groups, and go to your professor’s office hours. Get your associate’s degree before you go to university. Community college will be less of a shock, makes more sense financially, and having a degree of any type will help you get a better paying job while in school. Use your counselors to make sure your credits transfer as much as possible. Start applying for scholarships early. School is expensive; part time, minimum wage jobs can only help so much. You can be responsible with what little money you have, but every extra dollar is a dollar you can worry less about. And you do need to be responsible with your money. Living at home and having whatever money you make available to spend however you want is a luxury you don’t yet appreciate. Save now, and especially when you move out be as thrifty as possible. You will be awesome! Just stay committed, and appreciate that you have this opportunity.