Tulane University of Louisiana Top Questions

College (and nothing in general) ever happens exactly the way you pictured. Pack everything. Take half of it. Use campus resources your student fees paid for. Submit financial aid early. Do not sign up for Netflix. Nobody has it all figured out, that’s okay. Everyone you meet in college can teach you something valuable, so be open and listen. Strive to remember people and something they’re passionate about. Greet them by name. Smile. There will be times when you feel like you’re losing it. That’s normal. Remember, this too shall pass. Journal. Take pictures. Develop curiosity about everything. Be ambitious. Read a lot. Ask questions. Maybe even in office hours. Be flexible and prepared to change your mind and major. Do what you love. Register for 16 credit hours, no more or less. Drop “that” class, if you can. If a course is miserable in the first week or so, it will be ten times worse by the end of the semester. Keep in touch with professors who might write a letter of recommendation for your dream job. Call mom. Respect yourself enough to study and have fun everyday. Take it one day at a time.

I would make sure that I expressed that I could do so much more than I ever thought was possible.

I would have taken harder classes senior year so I would have been more prepared for the work load my freshman year. My views have also changed since I'm an international development major; I would have told myself to be more active in helpful causes or volunteered more to help my community.

I would tell my past self to research colleges earlier and decide where to apply by November instead of January. I don’t think I can stress enough how important deadlines are; regarding applications, aid, scholarships, programs and housing. The number one thing I would tell my high school self is research scholarships and apply for them early. I am learning that valuable lesson now as I am scrambling to come up with scholarship award money. Another piece of advice would be: be optimistic but not naïve. Sometimes things fall into place, however you can’t count on them to. Something I am realizing this summer is to appreciate your family while you’re living with them. Be grateful for your home, house and town because you’re going to miss it while you’re away. Life may seem routine in high school, because it is, but that routine and safeness won’t be around forever. I wish I would’ve understood that I have/had a lot to learn and to value other people’s views even if it conflicts with mine. And always remember that you get what you work for.

Dear High School Self, In the coming months you will be exposed to many new experiences that, if navigated wisely and with determination, will strengthen you and further your growth into a wonderful, young person. There will be difficult times, sticky situations, learning curves, but many rewarding and life-enriching moments along the way. To ease your transition into college life I want to inform you of the importance of one thing: responsibility. In college you will find your self challenged, academically and socially, in the best way possible. With a higher education you have the opportunity to better your mind and the core of your being with the abundance of new knowledge being presented to you. However, this can be overwhelming. The merits of expanding ones mind are easily lost in the distractions of everyday life and even ones future goals. So I say this: stay grounded in the present moment, complete the task(s) at hand, and do not lose sight of your end goal. Each assignment, each exam, each academic course, is a stepping stone to success and focusing your time on these things is what will ultimately see you through. Sincerely, Me

Breaking out of your shell is the most rewarding thing in the world. Instead of staying where you feel comfortable, open yourself up to the opportunities that may present themselves as you branch out. Friendliness and kindness go a long way in the world today. It helps you make amazing, lasting frienships, or at the very least, makes your college experience more enjoyable. You will disagree with your roommate about something. However, working through it will only make you a stronger, more confident person. Strive for your best, and only YOUR best. College is a very competitive place, but don't be discouraged if you're not top of the class. Everyone achieves success differently and works at different paces. You cannot compare your level of achievement to anyone elses if it is the best work you are capable of. Above all, remember to be nothing more than yourself. You command the most respect from people when you are true and genuine.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! Investigate what scholarships are available through your university and any other external sources. I never considered how much my student loans would impact my life until Wells Fargo was sapping me dry during the deepest part of the recession. Each dollar you borrow for college, you will have to pay back $1.50 later, when you need it the most. Network. Not just socially; professionally. Find out what community you would like to be a part of after college, and insert yourself into it during college. Those connections will not be at your disposal after you graduate, and there's no way to turn back time. Keep a mindful eye on your deadlines. Partying is awesome, so party your freakin FACE OFF! (I had that one covered as an undergrad) But also know when NOT to party: When you're ill, when you have an exam the next day, when you should be meeting for a group project, etc. There is plenty of tme for partying, and 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time it's a GO. Take advantage of career services, free campus events, and student employment. Kick ass buddy, I know you can do it!

I would tell myself to definitely try and work on my time management skills.

Every freshman should know to calm down, and don't try to show off. We know you're freshmen, we were in your spot too. Don't talk down about teachers or TAs about grades if you don't put in the time and effort, this isn't high school. Professors are there to help you get ready for the real world. College is different than high school, and you are going to have to adapt. Just keep calm and carry on. =] Don't feel pressured to do something just because you hear an older student talking about it.

If I could go back in time, the one thing I would tell myself would be to be smarter about picking my "joke" classes so that I could have more easily formed a minor. Basically the way the classes work their are four groups. Major classes: These should come naturally Pre-Requisits: You have to take these, don't rush into them. Minor classes: If you plan to take a liberal arts major like me, it's a good idea to double-major or minor in something else. The key to these are that you should remember to take classes in the same department early on so that you may add to them earlier. For example, I wanted to minor in history. Stupidly, as a freshmen I took a Latin American Studies class. This would have been great except that the class was labeled under Latin American Studies, and not History. If I has taken the HISTORY of Latin America, than that would be one less class I'd have to take now. Talk to your advisors about classes. You can do yourself a lot of help by picking smart classes early on. Joke classes: I recommend communications.