University of Mississippi Top Questions

College has been a benefit to my life it allowed me to realize that there is a lot to accomplish if you want to. Its very valuable to attend college in order to secure your future by having job security, a good job with great pay and a boost in confidence. It has encouraged me to continue long term and complete my goals. It allowed me to prepare for the reality of the real world. I have decided what I am going to major in since I started my associates degree. I would like to major in political science and minor in international business to further my education in law.

When I chose to travel down south for college I expected to experience traditions of football and sweet tea. I expected to meet new friends accepting of differences and optimistic of future change. However, to my surprise and disappointment I found steadfast racial tension and prejudice lurking in all four corners. This is not to say that every southern student and professor is a part of my findings; I am simply refering to the dark rain cloud in the distance always present even on the sunniest of days. My eyes were opened to a reality that changed my vision of the world. Throughout my years I gained not only an awareness of the challenges that many still face, but I also acquired an urgency to make a change. I battled uphill for four years in the sake of equality of all races, genders, and differences in humanity. I was inspired by the people who joined in the fight for justice. Through my experiences I realized the impact that one person can make in the lives of others, and for that, I believe my college experience has been not only valuable, but, priceless.

Study hard and don't give up on your dreams. Visit colleges early on in your college career to decide where you want to go and what you have to complete in order to go to the college of your choice. College is a fun time but you need to get your priorites straight so that you get the job you want. Don't worry about what other people think when you ask questions, questions help you understand the material better. Speak up in class and voice your opinion sometimes you will be surprised to see what other people think of your ideas. Most importantly make lots of friends and stay in touch with them, you never know how helpfull a friend can be in a stressfull situtation. The friends you make in college are the friends you will have for the rest of your life, you can never have too many friends.

I have learned how important it is to be self-disciplined and to work ahead because procrastination can hurt you. I have also learned how to work as a team to complete tasks and not be timid to ask for help.

If I could talk myself as a high school senior I would tell her that when she goes to college she should not sweat the small stuff. When I first started classes I found myself freaking out over the tiniest things. If I didn?t understand a part of my homework I would spend all my time worrying about if I did the work correctly, rather than simply talking to the professor for help. There were days when I would worry that I would be late for my classes, so I would leave twenty minutes early for what was only a five minute walk to the classroom. The stress from all these little problems started to add up, taking a toll on my health. If I had calmed down and rationalized these issues I would have been able to use my time more productively, causing my grades to improve, along with my health.

My advice is to open your mind and heart to the variuos types of people out in the world. Don't be too shy to ask questions or give opinions. It is really not necessary to worry about insignificant things like "matching dorm room decor" or worrying about what your towels look like! People are going to like you for you- not for anything else, but for who you are as a person and what you have to offer. If you be a good friend to others, you will get good friends. Don't be so caught up in the partying, that you lose sight of what is really important-your academics. After all, that is the underlying reason you go to college. You hope to come out with the ability to make something of yourself. The experiences you gain along the way are invaluable.

Going to college was the best decision I made but if I had been better prepared I would be a better student. If I were a senior in high school, things I would consider during my transition to college are to have a better support system, apply for more scholarships instead of loans, and expect more studying and homework. In my senior year I only had a few classes so the college work load was overwhelming. I should have gotten my books early and started reading ahead so I would be prepared. Being in foster care was also a disadvantage while transitioning to college. Having a good support system is crucial with the decisions about what college to attend, what financial aid options are available, and just emotional support when things get stressful. I now know that I should have reached out to more family and friends for help. Financial aid was major when considering which college to attend. I attended twelve schools by the time I was a senior, so local scholarships were denied because of restrictions and I had to get loans. I should have applied for more federal scholarships or ones that required essays.

Roommates can make or break the way you experience life outside the classroom, so be absolutely sure you're comfortable with who you're living with. Also, learn to like cereal if you're living on campus, because there is always cereal at the dining hall.

If I could go back in time, I would be more active and more outgoing as a freshman. I am a very shy person and in order to get out of that, I should have been in more organizations as a freshman. I would also follow my dream in trying out to play basketball. Now I just think it's too late for me to try out because I believe I'm out of shape or not good enough.

College is a time of discovery, discovery which is encompassingly social, intellectual, and painful.; this has been my experience over the past four years, and I've enjoyed both the insightful revelations that have come along with it and suffered the consequences of not knowing what to expect. Had I been approached in high school by a slightly older doppelganger, made haggard by the stink of Camels and the stress of research and literary analysis, I would have been shocked and terrified at my future prospects and demanded the ratchet standing before me to detail the collegial path she had taken so that I could pursue another one. I, in my current incarnation, would happily oblige and offer the following advice: Take it as easy as responsibly possible. That is, in specific terms, six courses per semester is too much; a hermit-style social life is too limited. Embrace the college experience, because although college in itself is an educational and intellectual grooming measure, it is first and foremost a valuable experience. I would warn my younger self of the pitfalls of not preparing to accept and enjoy the experience: insurmountable pressure and the stigma of smoking too many Camels.

Since I graduated from high school I have had a rough begining to college life. My social and personal life has built itself to be dusty, and my brain has worked so hard. Stress from test and even obtaining books to study has almost worn me out. I keep going because I want to make something of myself. Every once in a while I just need a little push. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to stay strong. With those words I would be pulled to go further. I have family and some friends to encourage me to go on, but sometimes I need to push myself. College life isn't easy at first. I should stay strong and go through until it is.

The most important thing to realize when you are picking a college and deciding what to study there is to acknowledge what you are interested in, what you are good at, and how much time you will realistically commit to your studies. If you want to be a doctor or a chemical engineer but you can't commit many hours to your studies you shouldn't do it. If you really want to succeed in those fields you have to realize that it takes a lot of work in college. Realize that if you were not good at a subject in High School, you probably won't be really good at in college either. Decide to study something that you are interested in, even if your parents wish you would choose something "practical". If you want to major in English because you like it, you'll do well. If your parents want you to major in Biology and you hate it, they are going to wish they had given you different advice when you get your grades back after Freshman year and your lack of interest is reflected. Pick a school and a major where you can succeed.

If I could go back into time and talk to myself as I senior in high school, I would definitely tell 'young William' to save some money! People have always told me about the cost of attending and living at college, but I never realized it until I experienced it first hand. From meals to gas (and everything in between), it can get pretty expensive when you can not run home to mom for a hot, fresh, not to mention FREE meal. One has to really adopt a sixth sense for managing money while attending college. If you spend too much on one thing, then you will definitely notice it later and have to cut back on something else. Similarly, I would tell myself to go job hunting EARLY for some extra cash because the open postions fill up fairly quickly. Nevertheless, college is still a preparatory step into the real world. Therefore, being introduced to semi-independent circumstances is necessary for overall growth and responsibility. This being said, I appreciate all those broke days as a college freshman. They taught me a lot and provided me with skills for survival that I will surely need as an adult.

If I had the ability to give myself advice when I was a senior in high school about college life and making the transition, I would start off by telling myself about the amazing opportunities and awesome people I am going to meet, so not to be nervous even though I am going to be so far from home--Ole Miss will become my home away from home and my friends will become family. I would also remind myself that the reason I am going to college is to further my education, so make sure I attend class and realize that each class is an opportunity to expand my knowledge. The another piece of advice I would give myself would be not to be afraid of having my point of view challenged in or out of the classroom; it will only deepen my principles and my reasoning for the beliefs. Last, I would tell myself that these will be some of the best years of my life, so try new things, go new places, meet new people, and take everything in stride.

The advice I would give myself is that it isn't going to be as hard as you think . When I left for college I was an overly shy person who was terrified that I would get to college and I would be totally alone, that no one would like me. This fears seemed particularly justified because I am a West Coast kid and the college I attend is in the South. Especially that first semester, I did keep to myself, though a few brave souls bowled right on past the barriers I set up. Nevertheless what I learn more and more of with each passing semester is that no matter where you are, you will find or trip over or be found by people like yourself. And the best advice I can give is something of a cliche: be yourself. There will be people who don't like you. I've short hair, which is very odd in the South, and there are people who make judgements about me and dislike me because of it. But there will always be those people who look at you and see something of themselves. Those are the ones to keep.

The first thing I would tell myself would be to know your priorities. Know your reason for being in college. I would tell myself to be ready for the huge workload, along with a strain on your social life. I would definately tell myself to stay away from certain people and certain things because they will only knock you off your path to getting your degree. Don't try to befriend everybody, only try to make a couple of good friends and stick them.

I will give you my list of what to look for in a school with 1 being very important: 1 Affordability, 2 Does it have my major, 3 How does the school rank in my major, 4 How far is it from home. Once those schools are narrowed down, pick your top 3 or 5 and take a visit to look for: 1 The type of enviroment i would be in, 2 how comfortable did i feel about the school, 3 the success/graduation rate, 4 how quickly are students offered jobs after graduation, 5 what are other students saying about the school's academics, 6 Social Life, 7 dorms, & 8 can i have a car on campus.

When trying to find the right college to attend there are numerous factors that one needs to pay attention to. Accademics being the main factor. A university needs to have what one is looking for in a major and wheter their accademics are up to ones standards. The atmosphere around the university is the next factor. A person needs to look at the univeristy and see if it feels right to them. One needs to visit each university they are thinking about attending. Do the students there remind them of themselves? Is the atmosphere exciting, does it make one want to acchieve to their greatest potential? If a university has the atmosphere one is looking for, then that person will feel it. They will sense that it is like a second home. For an upcoming freshman to gain the most out of their college experience, choosing the right univeristy is the most important step. Once you have chosen the right university it is easier for everything to fall into place. An upcoming freshman just needs to be themself and let their heart guide them through the wonderful experience that is college.

Make sure the student takes college visits at multiple schools so that he or she can balance out different schools and find the school that fits their needs best. Also, make sure he or she has an idea of a major to find a school that offers that major and has a good school that will properly educate the student in that field of study.

In choosing a college, be sure to visit several schools which are different in size, student demographics, location, etc. While visiting, be sure to note what goes on outside of the classroom as a student generally only spends 16 hours a semester in class. After choosing a school and then arriving at said school, make every opportunity to meet new people as possible. Attend sporting events, concerts, poetry readings, club meetings, parties because you never know where you'll meet your new best friend whether it be on an intermural field or at a rally on campus.