University of Mississippi Top Questions

Naomi I know that going into college is a huge step, you have never been so far away from your family and close friends and you might think that you are all alone in Mississippi, but you are not. You have a huge and loving support system in Florida and they will always be there to cheer you on or give you advice. Never give up becasue failure is not an option. Success is not what others want for you, it is what you want. Your life begins here, the rest of your life really depends on what choices you make during these next four years so make the best ones this first year to set up for the next three. You are on the road to do great things and the future is so bright. I know you will make a myriad of friends and have fun, but do not forget your main purpose: Graduating! Remeber to write home and call Grandma and grandpa. Family always comes first. You will do fine and try not to worry so much.

Hey Suz, I bet you don't think you need my advice about college, but hear me out. Live your college years with no regrets. Don't change who you are. You are going to make lots of new friends, you will lose some and that's okay. Learn to love an accept yourself, it makes life easier. Call home often, your parents will miss you. Even though you won't admit it, you will miss them too. There will be times when you feel lonely and afraid, but I promise you will always find happiness. The next four years will go by much faster than you think. College can be really hard, but it is the most amazing experience. Most of all, thank you for making me who I am today. I couldn't have made it this far without you. With love always, Susie University of Mississippi-Class of 2014

Dear Caroline, The first thing I want to tell you is don't blink. Life is the most precious gift God has given us and to take it for granted would be your biggest regret. It may seem like you have everything you're ever going to need at this very moment, but I can promise you this, that the world around you is about to be completely turned upside down. It is true that you will always carry your friendships, hardships, and best memories from high school with you forever, but don't let those things get in the way of the wonderful blessings that college has in store for you. If I had had this letter when I was your age, boy wouldn't that have been more helpful. As important as it is to forgive and forget, don't lose sight of self respect and what's important. It won't all be easy and the ground will shift from beneath you but that is when you remember that "this too shall pass." One last thing, the best is yet to come. P.S. Give Mom and Dad a break, they're doing their best. Love, Me

Please apply for more scholarships during high school. Go to the school that fits your personality and budget the best. Go to the school that will offer you the most money. Try to go out of state to pursue your dreams. Go to all of the freshman social events, you will meet many people in your position. Strive for a high GPA your first semester and you will be set for your entire college career. Go to counseling when you are depressed and/or having problems with the transition from high school/teenager to college/young adult. It is a rough transition. Remember you are not alone and avoid taking out loans.

Be who you are. People care a lot less than you might think, about what you say and how you look and the fact that you just tripped down the stairs. Allow yourself to focus less on their impression of you and more on your impression of yourself. Harness your inner beauty by doing what you enjoy, whether it is reading Fitzgerald and Ellison, performing poetry in front of hundreds of people, or just telling obscure jokes. Don't ever let anyone make you feel like you can't do what you want to do. One more thing, kiddo, look on the bright side. "This too shall pass," and greater days will come as long as you keep going and giving it your best. Remember that you are amazing, and colleges will gladly accept you. In fact, all the ones you apply to will! You are amazing and funny and brilliant and bright. It's time you start believing it! Maybe then, everyone else will too.

Tammy, I know that the last few years have been tough on you caring for your parents with their ailments, but these next few years are about you. Take some chances and live with some adventure in your life. Before you know it, some of the best years of your life will be behind you, leaving nothing but a dusty trail of missed opportunities. With that in mind, here are a few things that I want you to do: Address your passions with vigor and do not be afraid of failure-mistakes will make you stronger, not weaker. Learn a foreign language and visit that country. Then do it again. May I suggest Italian? Do not stop pursuing anything important to you just because someone else tells you that you can't do. Stand proud and invite them to the awards ceremony after you do. Last but not least, regardless of how you feel, you are smart, beautiful, and you are capable of doing anything that you put your heart into. Walk with both eyes open and venture forth.

There are so many things that I would go back and tell my high school self. The first and most important thing that I would say is to take my grades more serious during my freshman year. I would explain the importance of starting high school off right, with a good GPA rather than making myself play catch up my last three years to graduate with a GPA that I was proud of. The second thing that I would tell myself is to keep my good friends close. In high school I was so worried about what everyone thought of me. It was more important to me to be liked by all and have many distant relationships rather than a few close ones. With all of the stresses of the the transition into college and becoming an adult, a friend's shoulder to cry on every now and then is a must. Keep those who matter to you most closest to you.

If I had this opportunity, I would tell myself to not lose my mind. As a senior, I was in a constant state of panic. I would lie awake at night thinking about deadlines and scholarship applications. I would panic over minute details, and over think every aspect of my college choice. Looking back on my senior year, I realize that it is a good thing that I did not approach the college search and application process half-heartedly. However, I would have benefited from hearing my future self tell me that everything would be okay. It is important to take the college search seriously, but not so seriously that it hinders sleep.

As I high school senior, I would have spent more time looking into the colleges I applied to. I was extremely indecisive about where to apply, so I just decided to apply to all 14 schools that I was considering. My plan was to wait and see where I was accepted, and then take it from there. I ended up getting accepted to all but one school, so I hadn't really narrowed it down much. Because of that, I waited until last minute and chose a school my parents basically picked for me. I was not happy with the decision, so a month before classes started, I backed out and enrolled at the University of Mississippi instead. I spent my whole senior year stressed out and unable to decide on a school to attend. Instead, I wish I spent more time researching and visiting schools rather than just apply to them all. Since I decided on a school so late, I did not qualify for any scholarships, and I hadn't applied to any outside scholarships, so I was paying full tuition. I did not pay attention to money at all, and I really wish I did.

The advice I would give myself is to apply to colleges early because sometimes not all colleges will reopen their admission application to be enrolled there and to apply to scholarships quicker when they're handed to me.