Texas Christian University Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot to say. First of all, don't take on too much at once! Pick one or two on-campus organizations and focus your energy on them instead of spreading yourself too thin. Secondly, I would say to just enjoy the experience as much as you can! College doesn't last forever, and if you take it for granted, it will be over before you know it and then you'll have to face the real world. Third, I would give anything to be able to tell myself that it is okay to change your mind. You may not know what you want to be right away and there's nothing wrong with that. Lastly, I would tell myself to take advantage of all the scholarship oppurtunities available! Student Loans add so much more stress so utilizing resources you have access to is an envaluble asset.

The transition from high school to college is a difficult one. Especially the transition in the level of difficulty of the school work. Looking back on my time in high school I would have took more workshops to better prepare me with studying habits, writing sytles, and basic living away from home needs. When I went to college I had no idea how to study for exams. I had never had to apply myself that much to do well in school. It was very stressful learning to studying and adapting to studying more. In high school the amount of papers I had to write were extremely limited. This was always opposite from college. If I would have had better writing and citation skills in high school I would hae felt much more prepared for college. Lastly, when I had been at college for my first few months I began to come across challenges like making a budget for costs, how to pay bills, managing time, and managing living with roommates. These were all things that I had never learned about or even talked about with others. I believe a basic life skills class as a senior would greatly help this.

If I was to give my high school self advice, I would say to listen to my parent's guidance. At the time, I presumed that they did not understand where I was coming from and I thought that what was going on in my life was extremely important. My parents told me to keep my eyes on my future and worry about things like grades, school, and building my resume. Looking back I realize that a majority of the things I thought were extremely important are absolutely irrelevant now. I spent a lot of wasted time worrying about things that are no longer important to me.

I would tell myself to be open minded and to be more accepting of others. You will soon realize that there are people who are probably better at math than you are, but that is no reason to get upset. You will get homesick, but this too shall pass. As long as you get involved from the start, you will have a smooth transition into life at TCU. Be yourself when you go to college. Don't try to reinvent yourself, because your true self will come out. Lastly, start on your work ahead of time. It will build up quickly, and doing it the night before is not fun.

After completing my first full year in college, it’s hard to believe that it was just a year ago when I was taking tours of different schools and submitting college applications. I believe that being completely independent and responsible for my own well-being played a big role in the amount that I’ve changed and matured a significant amount since then. If I was given the opportunity to give a piece of advice to myself as a high school senior, I would tell me to sharpen my time management skills. In high school, I had a pretty structured life. I would wake up, my mom would make me breakfast, I would go to school and then to lacrosse practice. Maintaining a productive schedule while I was at school was my responsibility and that change is too much for some people to handle. In short, I would tell my high school self the importance of prioritizing the things in my schedule so the complete independence in college doesn’t impede my ability to life a healthy and productive lifestyle.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to some time management courses and to enjoy my time in high school as much as I can. Things are so different in college that it is hard to just find time to just enjoy myself. I would tell myself to help the community more than I did and support my family. I would tell myself that senior year is not just a time to be excited for the future, but to enjoy my last year with all of my friends before I go away to a new place where none of them are.

Attending any univeristy is a liberating privilege. I didn't understand this until I completed my first semester at TCU. I grew up in a small private school from when I was three until graduation day; being admitted to top of the line universities is expected, in fact, TCU was one of the lowest ranked attending universities out of all my fellow graduates. That's how I thought of TCU on the first day of classes, but I would soon discover I was definitely mistaken. I believe that every penny spent on tuition to this university goes toward the quality of professors (although some may argue the recent tuition influx is due to the building of a new football stadium). Determination is the easiest quality to sense in the classroom. Not only do the professors want to teach important lessons to their students, but they strive for complete understanding of the material as opposed to basic short-term memorized facts. Through their determination I understand now why a college education is required in almost every aspect of the workforce. College has proven valuable to attend because it has placed an intangible value on something I had previously considered superfluous.

TCU is a school like no other. It was my dream school since the beginning, and it continues to be. First, the campus is breathtakingly beautiful, and a joy to walk around. Then, the professors and staff are sincerely passionate about their work and the school. I've been guaranteed individual care since the start. I am close with my professors and have their cell numbers for extra help on weekends. It's been a precious support to have their guidance toward success. TCU holds a warm and generous community that extends to the city of Fort Worth. I love experiencing the school spirit (we bleed purple!) that goes along our amazing, nationally famous football team (now Rose Bowl champions!). I'm actively involved with my favorite organizations to forge my personal leadership, but also to have fun. I appreciate the resources the campus offers, whether it's our giant library, Career Services for job search, or countless inspirational speakers. The academic level is intellectually stimulating. Now, I will be graduating in a year and I feel completely ready to launch my career with great assurance that I have the knowledge, confidence, and social skills to accomplish anything I desire.

I have gotten a great education so far and aI really look forward to the rest of the years. The professors know everyone and take the time to make your experience personal. You are not just a number.

Having always assumed that going to college would just mean an easier way to a job, I was surprised to find that I obtained so much more. What I learned in college was how to live. Sure you go to class in order to learn, but with that comes personal responsiblity and really learning to learn from your peers and professors who you respect. In college, you learn how to live with people who you either may not like because of their lack of cleaning or may love because of your shared hobbies. In highschool, you learn how to "get by" and graduate, but in college you learn how to assert yourself as an independent human being amongst others just as scared as you are to be so far away from home. I don't believe that any other experience would have prepared me for life as a young adult venturing into the world of "being grown-up." Professors and staff, volunteer coordinators, peers at internships or in academic clubs, and tired classmates at the library frantically studying for finals all will give you life lessons that you cannot obtain in the same way anywhere else.