Transylvania University Top Questions

College is supposed to prepare you for your future career and help you find the person you are going to be for the rest of your life. During this process, I incorporated a lot of routine into my daily life to make these aspirations possible. While this can smooth the transition into college life and help you get things completed, it was not always the superlative decision for me holistically. If I could tell high school Michelle one thing, it would be to do something that interrupts your routine everyday! College has a tendency to make me feel like a robot. I found out early in my transition into college that I could be a very efficient robot and achieve academic success, however the idea of the days running together is not a part of the contributing citizen I want to be. Do five jumping jacks in the morning, eat lunch somewhere you have never eaten, or go to a park instead of the library for homework. Simple changes help you feel alive while still embracing the necessary structure needed to succeed in college. Life is too short (and college is too fun) for two days to be the same!

The best advice that I can give to my senior self is to be open with everyone. Total reservation gets you nowhere. Once on campus, smile at everyone you meet (this includes professors) and make an impression. This impression does not have to be perfect so do not worry about the transaction. Just be friendly. The more people you know, the easier the experience. Other students often know things that you do not. This can help with that math exam coming up next week or finding the best location for hot chocolate on campus. Many people want to help you, and you can help them when they are in need. Professors offer plenty of help as well. DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED! Yes, these people are geniuses but they love to share any and all knowledge with you. Many subjects can be clarified if you just ask for help. And providing that you have already made an effort to approach them with your first impression, they will know that you are truly serious about your education and go the extra mile to help you.

When looking at colleges don't just limit yourself to only a couple to choose from. You should try to visit as many different colleges and universities as you can. Visiting an actual school and going on a tour is much more informative than reading some random article or blog online. Don't limit your options. Go visit yourself and get all the information YOU need from an actual university represenative and don't let someone tell you where you should or shouldn't go. Its your choice, so choose it! Another thing, find a school where you will be TRULY happy. Find a university that YOU want to be a part of. Being proud of the school that you are attending keeps you smiling, and keeps you motivated to do the best work you can possibly do to succeed there. Have fun! Meet new people and make new friends! This will be the greatest time of your life....but be smart and responsible or it could be the worst. But most importantly, focus on your school work. It is easy to get distracted from doing you work. This is your chance to be the person you want to be!

You can accomplish much more than you would believe right now. You will be presented with challenges that seem impossible but have faith in yourself and when the work is finished, have pride in it. Not trying is never an acceptable course of action; it automatically makes you fail. Even if you receive a grade you aren't happy with, figure out what you learned from the experience and, then and there, decide how you will do better next time. Also, take care of yourself. You will see a lot of people do harmful things to themselves such as drinking, staying out too late, and skipping class. But have enough respect for yourself to find good people to be around, people who aren't afraid to tell you when you need help, people who care enough about you to do what's best for you, not just what's fun at the moment. There will be stressful times when you'll be so thankful to have this backbone of support. Having others, whom you care about, who hold you to high standards will be that extra push you need when you feel like staying in bed all day.

There are a lot of little things that I could tell myself, for example- don't go out with that guy or study more for this or that class. Howver by doing that I would take away vauleable learning experinces. So instead I would tell myself about much broader elements of college live. First off, chose the school you want to go to based on the people there not just the courses and campus, you got to get along with the people that you'll be spending the next four years with. Second studying is more important then facebook and tv shows, those will be there later, your mindset for a paper might not. Thirdly be your happy self, happiness is always a better impression on others! Lastly you never need as many clothes as you think and keep in touch with the family so that they don't always have to call you.

I would tell my self to work on better studying habits, it would have made my life a little easier. Also, I would tell myself not to worry about having to make new friends, it happens very naturally at Transy and soon you find yourself with a whole host of new friends. Another thing would be to work on writing papers, as we have at least one small paper due every week. I would also tell myself not to worry overly much about finding my way around campus; it's pretty small, though it can look a little daunting to a first year.

If I could go back, I would advise my senior-self to not let anyone put boundaries on where she wants to go to school. I would let her know that she's capable of going to big-name prestigious schools, and no one can tell her different. I would also advise her to visit more schools and be more involved in the search process - ask more questions, really pray and consider what would be best for her. Finally, I would tell her about transitioning into college. I would tell her to be open to new experiences and not let anyone hold her back from making new friends and having new experiences. She should take advantage of opportunities on campus and really give back to the community from the get-go. She should get to know her professors and classmates in order to ameliorate her overall academic experience and success.

Do not just visit one college and make your decision based on whether you like it or not. Broaden your choices. Even if you are in love with the first school you visit, go to other ones to compare and make sure the first one is right for you.

A lot of prospective students believe they know exactly what kind of a career they want to pursue, so they choose a college that focuses on those things they are only currently interested in. My advice to these students is to go for a college that offers courses in a wide variety of subjects, and then encourage them to experiment with what is offered. You never know when you might find something completely new that you will fall in love with. The purpose of college is to give you the resources and opportunities you need to effectively choose a direction in life, so be sure and examine all your options before you commit yourself to one thing. I would also invite students to become involved in an extracurricular activity of some sort, so they can socialize with people with similar interests and apply their talents into action. In short, have an open mind, make friends and have a little fun, but don't forget why you are there. Stay on top of your schoolwork no matter what, because in college grades are everything.

I would say to visit as many colleges as possible, over nights are a great way to get to know people on campus, and get a taste of the average college student. Research different scholarships and finacial aid availible at each school you have selected.