Chelsea
If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to declare a major right away. That's one thing that I think all college freshmen should do, go to school their first year as an undeclared major. It gives students the opportunity to dip their toes in a variety of different subjects before deciding to just take classes that are major specific. College is a place to learn new things, and if you go there and only take classes that are for your major, you're going to miss out on tons of other topics that you didn't even know about. College is a great opportunity to branch out and see what all there is to learn in the world.
Sergio
Former self, you are about to go through a tansition that you thought would be wild and crazy. You will still be living at home with your parents until your last semester. Most of the things that you would have to worry about like paying dorm bills and meal plans are things that won't matter. You won't have horrible payments to make becuase of your lack of on campus housing but unfortunately you'll be too tired from classes to go to every on campus event but you can't stay too late or even go to your friend's without getting a call from the rents. You won't have any real companions until your junior year because most kids in your classes are just nameless faces that you won't ever see again. My advice: go to community college and save the money for your gen-ed's and then go to your college becuase it's going to be a choice of spending money for a dorm and get to know a lot of people or save a lot of money and then be prepared to be alone for a while.
Kimberly
If I could go back into time and give myself advice prior to transitioning into college life, I'd tell myself to come up with a game plan regarding friends. Because quite frankly, there needs to be a boundary set between friends and school considering how easy it is to be distracted by peers. If there is one thing that I wish I could take back, it would be slacking off. I'm not at all saying "DON'T HAVE FUN," but rather make sure you've got your priorities set with schoolwork being at the top of the list because that is what you're paying for. Also, let love relationships go., especially long distance. Nothing is more burdening (and annoying for those that listen to your problems) than a boyfriend/girlfriend. You've got to be open to all opportunities, but not tied down.
Sean
There are a number things to be succesful in college, but oe souldn't be frightened by the transition. Many students in high school about to make the transition in high schoo are constantly getting the facts about the school and what needs to be done, however they never get to hearthe emotional side of the transition. It 's a must that you realize that this a new part of your life, and one shouldn't be nervous. IT's a new opportunity to portray the person you really want to be. College is also what you make of it. It's a must that once you step on that campus that you become involved in some type activity. Colleges have a plethora of choices, and if they don't have what you want, then you have the oppotunity to pioneer in a new club or activity. You also must be dedicated to your school work. Remember that the main reason you are there is to get an education. At times it may seem difficult, however you wouldn't have been offered admission to that university if they didn't think you would have been succesful in that enviornment.
Brittany
If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I'd say, "Try your hardest to get involved in campus organizations." Being a commuter from home, I was not able to make as many friends during my freshman semester at college as I'd hoped. I suggest getting involved in any kind of organization at the very beginning of the semester will ensure relationships between other students to develop easily. Be yourself, be outgoing, and be open to new ideas! That is the key statement that all high school seniors should take into consideration when entering college.
Sarah
The best advice I could give myself would be to wait until I am finished school to start a family. I am not saying that i regret having my son at all, but it would have been easier to provide for him and to get started with my career if I had waited to have children after i finished school. Now I am going to have to put him in daycare while I go back to continue my education. If I could get an online degree for mathematics, it would be more simple, but they are currently not available. I was not thinking ahead and should have been.
Danielle
I often ponder this question, and when I think about it the lyrics ?I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger,? play through my mind. It is impossible to predict what path your life will take, because life has a way of being unpredictable, but the fact remains that what one puts into their undergraduate career is what they get out of it.
If I could speak to myself as a high school senior I would stress the importance of developing my academic abilities further by maximizing on opportunities in my local community. I was always a high-achieving and very involved student, but looking back there were so many more research, scholarship, and internship opportunities that I could have applied for, and at the time I had no idea that such a diversity of opportunities existed.
Ultimately, I have no regrets. I am very pleased with my achievements and involvements as an undergraduate. However, it is indisputable that there were decisions that I could have made in the past that would have eased my transition to college, and eliminated a lot of the hardships that I have had to endure throughout my undergraduate career.
Roxanne
If I could go back in time I would tell my self to adjust my study habits. In high school I was a great student, always earning good grades. The reason I earned good grades was because I completed all of my class work and homework, but I did not do exceptionally well on tests. Test grades were not as important because other assignments were a larger percentage of the grade.
I tried very hard my first year of college but did not do as well as I would have liked. The grades for the classes I took were based mainly on tests, not class work or homework. It took me a year to figure our better study techniques. I no longer cram for my tests the night before. I begin to study a few days in advance so the information sticks in my brain.
Once I adjusted my study habits I was able to make Deans list. If I just knew how much easier college could be if I study a little bit each night, I could have had a less stressful Freshman year, and received Deans list my Freshman year.
Stephanie
First, I would tell myself to take it easy the first semester and not over do it with the work load. It is okay to take four or five classes to start off with, not six and take on more than I can handle. I would also tell myself to be more outgoing and more friendly. The first year is always about meeting new people and making new friends. Sticking to the same people is not going to help because down the road, you never know what is going to happen. Lastly and most importantly, stayed 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} focused on school. It is nice to have a social life but partying will always be there. The reason I am going to school is to do exactly that, go to school, study and graduate. I need to make sure that I have all my work done before I go out and do anything.
Priscilla
If i could go back in time and advice myself in highschool i would tell myself that college is not as simple as it seems. I would make sure i knew that college was not as easy the work load require more attention that i thought i needed. I would make sure i learn how to manage my time well and balance my school life and my social life. This would make college a lot easier for me if i know all of this.
Erin
First, I would tell myself what I actually want to do with a career and not waste my time in a comunity college trying to figure it out. I would also tell myself that it is not as hard as you think, your high school teachers make it seem hard but it actually isn't. You get to study your subject you want and if it is interesting to you the A's will come easily. I would also tell myself to learn not to procrasinate. That is the worst part, you can not write a 25 page paper the night before you will be too tired to concentrate in classes the next day.
Amber
Don't start college until you know exactly what you want your major to be. Find out what classes you need on your own for that major because the academic advisors will put you in a bunch of classes you do not need. Don't take what the academic advisors tell you too because they give you classes that do not even pertain to your degree. Also know if you need help with finding out anything academically the advisors will take over 3 hours to see you and will not listen to what you say, all they will talk to you about is your math classes even when you have finished all the maths you need for your major. Lastly don't get down when they tell you they can't help you because they really don't know what is requried and most of what they say will just set you behind a semester or even a full year of school.
Ashlei
While walking across the stage during my high school graduation, I realized that the twelve years of homework, waking up early and the exhausting eight hours of school was a very rewarding experience. I was on my way to Towson University. College is different from high school in many ways. As a senior in high school, while I prepared for the Scholastic Aptitude Test and college admission essays, there are a couple of things I wish I would have done in order to prepare myself for college. I definitely would have participated in more sports while in high school, considering that sports teach one discipline and how to work well with others. Also, participating in college athletics would have been easier with prior experience. As a senior, learning basic study habits would have benefitted in college. The studying required for college courses is much more tedious and complex than for high school courses. As a senior, taking advantage of advanced placement (AP) courses would have better prepared me for college level courses. Participating in clubs as a high school student would have enriched my communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, all of which are necessary in a diverse college community.
Gareceshia
As a senior then,I would give myself ( Gareceshia) advice about the important role that scholarships play on your transition to college. I cannot stress enough how exspensive earnng a degree is. The idea that scholarships exist has helped with the very existence of how middle class students are able to afford and be able to attend a university where they can pursue a career with a higher level of education. Applying for scholorships is the key to also adjusting to college life, because some schools do not offer students a full ride to there university and may not offer enough money to assist with the cost of tuition, or university fees, housing, or even the small neccessities as books. With the aid of additional scholorships there is less tension within a student, and they are not as worried as to how they are going to pay the remaining balance on there billing account. Scholorships also offer the chance for students to express them selves or deliver there story to websites and sponsors about there current sitiuation and there need for assistance financially. Not everyone is awarded the same scholorship but anyone can be eligible for them.
Jennifer
If I had the opportunity to go back in time, I would encourage myself to get out of the habit of procrastinating and underestimating teachers. In high school, I was able to procrastinate and get away with it. For example, if I had an exam in economics on a Monday, I would hang out all weekend long and then study that Sunday night and be able to get an excellent grade on the exam. However, when I started college I did the same thing for a math exam and I didn?t do too well. So now when I know an exam is coming up I study at least a week or two in advance and it definitely pays off. Also in high school I used to always underestimate my teachers. For instance, once in a while in my forensics class, I would make formatting mistakes in my lab report, yet my teacher simply looked over it and graded the more important things like stating my purpose, results, and other important aspects of the experiment. Then again, when college professors see those simple mistakes made, they will make major reductions to your grade. Also, do not always expect extra credit.
Stacey
The first thing I would tell myself is how amazing it felt to be accepted to the college of my choice. Applications for colleges are overwhelming and nobody should try to sum up their existence in a 500-word essay - you are more than that.
The first thing I would tell myself is how amazing it felt to be accepted to the college of my choice. Applications for colleges are overwhelming and nobody should try to sum up their existence in a 500-word essay - you are more than that.
The next thing would have to be the adjustment to class size! Some professors not knowing of your existence, time management skills are pushed to the maximum and insane amounts of work. You have to find, reach and fight for your goals. There is way less drama and a lot more work.
Last thing I would tell myself is that wherever you go, college is what you make of it. That's been true for me, and it's true for my friends, work hard and you will succeed!
Nicholas
Choose your roommates wisely. While it's fun meeting new people and taking a chance on living with new people, meet them before hand because it could make your first year a living hell. Also, even though money is always tight, take more time to do fun things around the city rather than working every single weekend night. It'll be worth it in the long run.
Rebekah
Choose wise when it comes to colleges. Follow your heart on what YOU want to do, not what your parents want you to do. It is okay to switch colleges if you find a better way of fulfilling your college career. Listen to advice given by other adults and not just your parents. Be open to more future career options, and if you need to take different paths in order to get where you eventually want to be in your life. Some people take one direct path to their dream career, and others take a few different paths, but you can still achieve your dream career if you are not enjoying the few other careers you tried. Sometimes it takes trial and error to figure out where you are needed in your life. whether or not you like the idea at first, go for it anyways, be open minded about everything because you never know where life might take you, and you will not know if you like something until you actually try it. Work hard. College is definitely way different than high school. But college changes your life and makes you who you will become.
Erin
My first piece of advice to myself would be that even though all those college clubs, activity groups, and professional associations sound great and you positively can?t wait to get started, don?t try to do them all at once. A few extracurricular activities makes college fun, but suddenly enrolling in five of them as a freshman is a little too overenthusiastic and akin to biting off way more than can be chewed. Too much outside involvement and volunteering will add unneeded stress to the college experience and make it difficult to complete coursework. Just start small with one or two, and then gradually add others on instead of trying to do it all at once.
The second piece of advice would be that though college is pretty close, and going home every other weekend is great at the beginning to help with the transition to college, after the first semester or so hauling all the homework and books and art supplies home stops seeming like heading to a little personal oasis complete with free laundry facilities and just gets to be a pain. Especially when more of that pile of homework would get done at school.
Molly
If I could go back in time and talk to myself has a senior and give myself advice about all that I have learned in these past two years out of high school. I would tell myself to listen to my heart on where I want to go after high school. Don't assume that one positive factor of a school could make up for multiple other factors that the school doesn't have. It's important to pick the school that offers you everything you want and more. The school that gives you potential to grow and learn. I would tell myself not to second guess any of my decisions or to base any of my decisions of others and to just go with my gut. But I would also tell myself not to worry, that in the end I end up where i'm supposed to be and it all works out.