Texas Christian University Top Questions

I look back on highschool almost everyday and think about what I would have done differently. I would have started at TCU instead of transferring and not enjoying my first two years of college. I would have stayed closer to home and applied for a lot more scholarships and financial aid than I did--I never thought they were possible to earn in such a large pool of graduating students. I would encourage myself to not push myself too hard, or do things because it's "the college norm." Staying in my comfort zone helps me succeed and I tried to overcome that at such a young age. I would do what was best for me academically because I cannot go back and change my grades or mistakes I might have made,

If I had to do it all over again, in high school I would have put a greater emphasize on improving my writing. A lot of courses in college require students to write at least one paper, and my papers never seem to stand out compared to other students in the class. I struggle for hours with my papers. I look up words in the thesaurus, rephrase sentences a multitude of times, and try to carefully organize my ideas, but still my papers receive an average grade. Of course, the English courses in the high school I went to never properly specified how to use a comma. The courses mainly consisted of busy work intended to keep the students occupied for fifty minutes. So who's to say that I'm to blame for needing to put extra time into my writing today.

I wish I could tell myself to push myself. I have always settled in my life. If I didn't think I was good enough to recieve a scholarship, I wouldn't apply for one. If I could get away with out ever having to study for a class and still recieve good grades, I wouldn't. I know I can be amazing. Anyone can be. The problem is with how much your willing to try, and fail, and then try again. I wish could tell myself to reach for the stars, for how else would I ever get one? I wish I could have told myself that I deserve to be here, that I deserve to fight for what I want. I wish I could have told myself that time-management is as important as all the brochures say. I wish I could have told myself that it is okay to mess up, just as long as you try.

If I were able to go back in time, I would probably tell myself that going far away from home is going to be a tough change and to prepare myself. The homesickness faded very quickly, but adjustments were definitley made. I would also tell myself to look at options that may not cost as much since the economy has only gotten worse. I would tell myself that TCU is a well rounded place, it is a small school with everything that a large school has to offer: big school spirit; amazing sports; large greek life, numerous campus organizations, and lots to do! The University also has the small classrooms and individual student teacher relationships, which show the teachers truly care about your well being. Everyone at the school, including students and staff, are so helpful and willing to do almost anything to make one feel welcome here in the horned frog community!

Dear high school senior Amanda, Are you ready for college life? Its an exciting transition! Don't think you can just blow off studying and homework. Classes will be harder than you originally anticipated, and you will need to work hard from the start to keep up. Get involved with various organizations. I would recommend some type of business organization, since that will be your major. Sororities are also huge on campus! They will be a lot of fun and they will provide the opportunity to meet lots of new friends. I should warn you that it will be difficult to be away from your family and all the home cooked meals. You will adjust in time. The food cooked at the BLUU on campus isn't bad and you will get used to it. I should also warn you that it will be difficult to get from place to place without a car. So try to make friends with people who do have cars on campus, that way they can drive you places. Ultimately though, live up your college life! It's going to be so much fun and a time you will remember forever! Love, Future Amanda

If I could go back in time with myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to pay more attention to the cost of the college as well as the quality of education. I would give the advice to focus more on attaining scholarships, and research which schools have 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} coverage for low EFC students and which don't. I would tell myself to pay more attention to what those who went to college before me had to say about college life. I would lastly, but not least have told myself the importance of taking the measures of visiting prospective colleges and constantly going to counselors, financial advisors, etc. to prepare me for college responsibility.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to slow down, try not to grow up so fast and enjoy every moment. In high school, especially as a senior, I, along with most of my peers was so eager to move on to bigger and better things. But, now looking back, I would savor every minute since it truly goes by so fast. I would also try and learn a larger sense of responsibility, preparing myself to live 1500 miles away. Not that I was not responsible, but I did take for granted the things my Mom and Dad did/do for me.

Attending a junior college is a lot like high school, but instead of going five days a week, you only go four. Getting to school on time is very important. By missing the first 10 or 15 minutes you miss reviews, classwork coming up, test dates and times. A junior college also has six week classes, which make the classes very intensive. Being in class everyday is extremely important. By being there, you don't miss anything, and don't have to try to make up a lot of work. Your grades tend to be higher.

If I could hold a single conversation with myself as a High School senior it would not be peppered with the remnants of past mistakes or steeped in a negative tone; I would beseech myself to think before leaping. I would ensure I became fully aware of the resonance that my educational decisions would have on my future life. I would attempt to map out the possibility and wonder of a well rounded education and the seemingly endless opportunities that could be provided if I was only able to see past the moments that appeared to shape and define my college experience. I would highlight the importance of positive decisions and time management skills, because these traits are threaded and weaved throughout our adult lives; their presence never fades. I would ensure that I understood that my newly found freedom could be both liberating and crippling if not harnessed for the right reasons; reasons that would become clear in time. Most of all I would show myself that education is never a right; it is a privilege that must be treated with respect. We are only afforded one life and seconds chances become less probable as we age.

If I could go back to high school the thing I would tell myself to do is to study more. When I was in high school I was the student that would always procrastinate and do my homework right before it was due. In college procrastinating isn't an option you either stay on top of your workload or you fail. You cant study 50 pages of notes the night before a test and expect to pass it. My senior year was a piece of cake. I hardly had to study at all to pass my classes. I had a very rude awakening my first semester when I had to study every day just to feel like I had learned the bare minimum. I even had to pass on hanging out with friends to get all of my homework done which was really hard for me to accept. I believe that if I would have studied more in high school, I would have had a much smoother transition into college and studying for four hours straight wouldn't have seemed as awful to complete. The more you study in high school, the better off you'll be in college!