Texas State University Top Questions

I would tell myself that college is a lot more laid back because of the freedoms you are given. I would also tell myself that I will have to study alot more and that the assinments and exams will be alot more challenging. One last thing I would tell myself is to stay prepared for any unanticipated problems that may arise and to stay dedicated because college is very rewarding if you see it all the way through.

I would tell myself to apply to college early. I waited 'til the last minute and didn't get my first choice school. For a while, I was bummed out but I had to remind my self that it wasn't the end of the world.

I would tell myself not to procrastinate. Make a schedule of when you need to get things done by. In order to be a successful student you need to work really hard to achieve set goals. I would also tell myself to handle stress better. Spending time stressing out takes time and energy away from work. Stopping for a few minutes and stepping away from what's stressing you out will calm you down, so you can get back to work without feeling anxious. Another thing I would tell myself is to be more open to talking to strangers. In order to make new friends you need to put yourself out there and step out of your comfort zone. Stop thinking about what people will think of you and go out and explore the college life. Something else I would tell myself is not to lay in bed when doing homework. Make yourself comfortable in the chair in your room or find a seat in the cafeteria or library to get work done. Laying down in bed will make fall asleep, thus making it so much harder to get you work done on time.

The best advise I would give myself if I could go back in time would be to get involved. I would make sure I understood the importance in staying active and taking classes that are out of your comfort zone. I would also tell myself to branch out and meet new friends. One of my biggest regrets of my college career was that I selected my university based off of where all of my friends were going as opposed to choosing the best school for me. I did not even apply to harder schools as I was afraid of rejection. The next advise I would give myself is to not get caught up in the social drama. I would remind myself that I am attending a University and paying quite a bit so i can further my education and make a firm foundation for a career. Finally I would tell myself to not be afraid of failing and take accountability for the failures. You should learn from your mistakes and not write them off as someone elses fault.

May 14, 2009, I was standing in cap and ground with the rest of my graduating class on stage having just completed one of largest tasks I had probably ever accomplished. I graduated high school with an honors diploma through homeschooling with a 3.4 GPA at the age of eighteen with a loathing attitude of studying or academics. Now as I write this I anticipate stepping foot onto the campus of Liberty University. As I reflect on my decision over the past three years I ask myself, ‘self what were you thinking?’ Knowing what I know now, though through much maturing that has occurred since, I would urge myself to take the next step with a leap of faith commencing into a career building education that I would already have a head start on. Looking back I appreciate the success and maturing that took place, yet I would have told myself to adjust my attitude to the place it should be and that is where the Lord, Jesus Christ is in the development of my preparation of a career directive. Perhaps I would have sought more the plans and purposes the Lord has for me in obedient action.

I would go to shool right after i grauduated. and i would save money for college expenses and futrue expenses. Also not to myself i would let other seniors know right now the key is to not stop school keep going to school until u cant go to school anymore. Also keep up my grades at least aim for all A's if i could give myself advice .

Dear 17 year old Courtney, Looking back on what I know now, I have some advice for you for the coming years. College is supposed to be hard, but fun! Make sure you are taking advantage of every resource that is available, from the library databases to the professors available. This will give you advantages in school and will also make you more confident in what you are studying. Also, get involved early. Play an intramural sport, take a gym class, join an organization. The more involved you get, the more friends you will find and the more fun you will have! Don't let your school work take over, but make sure you take the time to study. My last final piece of advice is, make sure you study abroad! It is the best experience a college student can get, and a great way to see the world! Good luck these coming years! You will do great, even when times get hard! Sincerely, 21 year old Courtney

To never give up because the road has been long and so many hills, turns etc. I would of went start to a university instead of going to community college, because I believe I could of been done by now if I would of made that decision. I also graduated from high school in only two years, and I wish I could go back to enjoy the full four years, and go to prom and events.

Most of my advice would be driven towards music and musicians' suggestions, since most of my classes are in fact music classes. However, if I had to say something about college itself, it would be to choose your class schedules very wisely, and to make sure you leave enough time for yourself. Things can build up on you very quickly, and if you don't take appropriate measures, then you will not survive academically. Also, an even bigger piece of advice I would say, is to be organized effectively. One thing I've learned is that if you are highly organized, then the pressures of everything will not be so umbearable. I for one am a really good organizer, and I can say from personal experience that organization is one of the greatest aids to college success.

You're right! You will be staying out all night... at the LIBRARY, at least school nights anyway. College is definelty a change, and no matter how hard you think you've prepped yourself, you are in for a complete alteration in the way you live your life. But it's a good thing! Depending on how you register for classes you'll most likely have more down time than you think. Use this time to go over the notes you took, work out, sleep, or hangout with friends. Just make sure that you evenly distribute your free time among all of those things. A little bit of advice about regestering, even if you have a short attention span take the classes that only meet twice a week you almost always get out early and you only have to go twice a week rather than three times! You will, without a doubt have crazy nights but they almost always happen on Friday and Saturday nights, so don't push yourself to go act crazy on a Tuesday night.. it will catch up with you later. Not to sound Asher Roth, but I LOVE college, you're in for a treat!

I would tell myself not to slack off in freshman year and listen to everyone who is telling you that you are going to study more. To go to your teacher study hours and get them to help you out. Also you should join the clubs that you want to be in. Do not rush on deciding what major is right for you. To get know some people in your class so yall can help each other out. To go oline and look for cheaper textbooks. Very important one, to go over the material right after class rather than waiting for the night before your test.

The most important advice I would give my high school self would be to take as many AP exams as possible and study for them as much as possible. Classes in college are expensive, and AP exams are very cheap in comparison and will save you so much money. I would have been more proactive in looking for scholarships in order to have less debt upon graduation. I should have taken the SAT at least one more time to impove my score. The test was made me so nervous that I couldn't find the will to take it again, even though it didn't reflect my intelligence in the least bit. On a personal note, I would have joined more organizations my freshman year. The people I have met through organizations in my later years have proved to be helpful and wonderful people. The last bit of advice I would give myself would be to take more advange of all the free programs and events offered on campus and in the community. There are an abundance of them and almost all the ones I have been to have provided me with some kind of value!

Work hard. It's going to be tough, and you're going to get distracted. A lot. That's ok, though. Follow your insticts because you're going to have a lot of really hard decisions that will affect you, sometimes heavily. Relax when you need to because there are going to be plenty of times when you wont have the opportunity- that's what this whole experience is, a test. And it isn't a test you can study for, it's a test of will, to see how far you're willing to go FOR YOURSELF. There are going to be times when you stay up late for fun and nights you'll stay up working, make sure you know the difference. GO TO CLASS! As a freshly minted college student you'll love the idea that attendence is optional, but trust me here, it is the best barometer for your success. Don't be scared that you don't know what you want to do, you'll figure it out, even if it's YEARS after you graduate. Just keep trying to do what makes you happy. Finally, have fun. You'll remember it forever.

Focus on the goal. Do not get distracted by all of the things around you and get your work done. Apply to be an RA early and don't mess up your interview for Diamond Sweethearts the first time around. Get to know TONS of people in your dorm and be friendly to everyone you meet. Workout daily and eat healthy. Stay connected with your family and friends and don't let life pass you by. TALK TO YOUR TEACHERS. They have things to teach you and you don't have to stop learning in class. Don't feel that you have to drink in college. Keep your morals and faith and let god lead you through your hard times. You can do anything you set your mind to. You just have to be an adult and take the lead.

I am a 56 year old black female, with 3 children, which are all grown up now, If i could go back in time, i would go back to college and get me a degree, because it was very hard taking care of my kids by myself, with the grace of GOD, i did it, now that they are all grown up i want to go back to school and get my degree, so i can help other young people.

I would tell myself to not start to slack off. You need to keep your studying pinned at full throttle. It is a slippery sloop when you decide to start "taking it easy". You are not going to be in High School anymore. The times of NEVER studying and still makeing an "A" in the class are over. That type of attitude will get you a "B" at best, most likey a "C" though. You are better than that. Its not going to kill you to read a little.

I would tell my high school self: First of all Rachel, college is a growing experience. You will make mistakes. The most important thing is that you learn from the mistakes you make. Most college students have to adjust to the college courses and change their studying habits. What works as a study habit for everybody else might not work for you. Study habits can also vary from class to class or professor to professor. The best advice I can give to adjust to studying is to try everything and stick with what works. Dont be afraid to talk to your teachers on a one to one level, even if there are hundreds of people in the class. This will benefit you come exam and grading time. Your academic advisor will become your best friend and a major factor to your academic sucess. Don't be afraid to schedule appointments with him even if you've alrteady had the required meeting for the semester. Lastly, get involved in as many clubs as you can (but dont let your grades slip). Being involved will help you make friends, feel a sense of community, and cope with adversity. You'll do fine!

Don’t step into the college experience.....leap into it! Shed yourself of any inhibitions you ever had in high school and submerge yourself in the discoveries that are available to you academically, socially, physically and emotionally. This is your opportunity to mold yourself into the person you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Start the moment you step onto campus. Study more than you ever imagined, never skip classes and don't be afraid to ask for help. You have to determine what you need to do to prepare yourself for class. If you feel like you need more clarification, attend a campus tutoring session or contact your professor. Don’t let fear keep you from getting involved. Face your fears by being proactive. Seek out classes that interest you, people that inspire you, activities that motivate you and experiences that intrigue you. Balance all of these activities with good time management because everything you want and desire is within your reach and is ultimately a result of your actions. The sooner you take responsibility for your own future, the sooner you will reap all of the joys and benefits of college life.

I would like to advise my high school self not to worry about all the drama that friends and little social groups can create. It takes so much time trying to please all your friends and be a certain way when I should have just worried about what I wanted out of life and what would make me happy. I should have been myself, and if my friends liked me, that would be great, and if not, it was their loss. Then I would also know who my true friends were. I hardly see any of those people anymore, and when I do and they are without their posse, they're average people just like me. In high school, it would be better to look to your own future and what you want to be and do. I could have taken classes that pleased me and helped my future instead of what I thought would look normal to everyone else. I would hate to look back on my high school years as the best years of my life because I didn't focus on the futire. I want all my future years to be the best years of my life!

I am pretty sure many of us would go back in time and tell ourselves what we know now about life that we did not know before. Now that I am in college, there are a lot of things I have learned that I wish I had known back in high school. If I could go back into time, I would tell my high school self that there is much more time than I think. In high school, I would feel like I had so much to do with school work, band, and drama club. Thinking about it, I had a lot of time. Even though I had all those activities, I still had time to play games, watch television, and chat on the computer. Now that I am in college, I realize that there is so much more going on that I have to deal with, and there is no time to play video games or chat on the computer like before. I could have accomplished more and probably made some cool projects if I had known how much time I had on my hands. For now, I plan on using my time wisely for the best outcome.