University of Mississippi Top Questions

My advice to myself as a high school senior is simple: don't be afraid to try new things. I would encourage myself to take risks by running for student government and joining different organizations on campus. Transitioning to a new school and new living quarters can be overwhelming. At first, you may feel like you've been swallowed up by a sea of people and it's easy to panic, but don't. Keep yourself as busy as possible because it makes the transition less of a transition and more fun. It's much harder to become homesick if you are busy running from meeting to meeting making new friends. Those types of risks are the rewarding ones. I would encourage myself to participate in activities that expose me to a new culture or different groups of people because those activities are the ones that make you grow as a person. You never know when you will discover a new passion from taking a chance and being involved.

I would tell myself to stay focused and to work hard in the classroom. Most senior slack up and then when they get to college they regret the fact that they did not stay completely focused. I would advize myself to research my uture college and try to learn as much as possible before I get there. Lastly, I would try to contact anyone who would be able to help me be prepared for what I will need to know.

I would tell myself, first, to pay attention to statictics. Low freshmen retention and graduation rates are a sign that many students that go to that school are not happy with their choice. Also, I'd tell myself to go with my gut of which school I like best. Also, I'd tell myself to try to get involved in as much as possible to meet other people and to take an easy course load for my first semester to allow room to adjust to college level academics instead of jumping right in to sophmore level honors classes like I did.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would tell my high school self to send in my school aplications early and apply for more scholarships. When I first started applying for schools, it did not look like I would have any money problems. As the economy worsens, it seems like my families money problems grow and grow. I would also tell my high school self to prepare for my father's death. My father died in March of my senior year and that really messed me up. I handled his death pretty good, but I think I could have handled it better. I think the last piece of advice I would give my high school self would be to try and make friends before going to college. Once I was on campus, I had no friends and it seemed like everyone else had someone. I should have tried to make friends while I was visiting the campus or at orientation. If I had known then what I know now, I would have done these three things over again.

I would tell my high school self to really enjoy senior year, and prepare to be focused heading into freshman year. Picking a major is important, but it is okay if you are undecided for the first semester; most majors require the same general education classes. Don't try to overload your schedule, attempting to take 21 credit hours, work a job, and join three groups. Get familiar with the way college life works and allow yourself time to get adjusted. Once you see how college life is, then you can decide to join more groups, go Greek, or get a work study job with more hours. In addition, build relationships with your professors. You never know when you will need a recommendation or just need wise council. Don't wait to the last minute to study for tests or complete assignments; pass or fail, you still pay for tuition. Make every moment count and study hard. Make yourself proud. Remember, it is okay to take a study break and get out of the dorm room for a bit. You need breaks to keep your sanity. Be smart about college life and you will do just fine.

I would tell myself to make the most of my freshman year. What a student does their freshman year sets the ball rolling for the years to follow. I would also say to be true to myself and to be as involved in campus as possible. The people that become the most homesick are the ones who keep to themselves and don't take chances with college. I would tell myself to invest in a small umbrella for my backpack and a tool box. The last thing I would tell myself is to find as many scholarships as possible. The most amount of scholarships are available to high school seniors and the more you can put away from the start the more affordable college will be for you.

Get Started NOW! Find the perfect college for you. Don't settle on a school. If you don't like the way things are going-make a change. Work less and have more fun. College is about getting an education and also the experience of being a college student. There are so many people supporting you in this new journey if you get in to trouble the most important thing to do is talk to your professors! Communication is so important! Be Yourself and have fun!

Knowing what I know now, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not take anything for granted. In addition, I would advise myself to not procrastinate and do my work as it comes in, because waiting until the last minute never ends well. I would also tell myself to study every day for about 30 minutes because, if I do that, I will be better prepared for the test then if I try to cram the night before. The final thing I would tell myself is keep an open mind, because I will be forced to face a lot of changes during my first year in college. With an open mind, I will acclimate to the adjustment in culture more easily. Doing all of this will make my freshman year a great and fun experience.

Get plenty of sleep or as as much sleep as you can. Be self-determined and disciplined to figure out how much you need and build it into your schedule. Learn to take care of yourself. Be mentally awake and physically strong. Self is important. Always find friends with similar values and goals. It helps to maintain relatonships.

College is basically a giant balancing act. You need to learn how to balance everything as soon as possible. Buy a daily planner, and a calendar white board. They will help more than you can imagine. Write down every assignment that your professors give you, as soon as you get them. After you write down your assignments, program them into your iphone, or blackberry or computer. Be sure to have your assignments written down in more than one place, just in case something happens. There are tons of social activities that you get involved in, but always remember that you are in college to study and further your education. Don't get behind because you partied too much, it will hurt you in the long run. Another useful purchase is a filing cabinet, or if you don't have room a desk organizer. The most important thing to remember is to keep the perfect balance between school and fun.