University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

Going back in time as a high school senior I would tell myself not to worry so much about what the future holds. I was very concerned about leaving my friends back home and going to an out of state school, when in reality it was the best decision I ever made. Your true friends from high school will stick with you even after you leave for college, and the one's who don't really matter will gradually fade out. I would also tell myself not to listen to the drama in high school because it all becomes pointless very quickly. Finally, I would tell myself not to compete with others at my high school. There is no need to be cut throat and to compare your college choice or your major to that of others because in the end your happiness is what matters.

Do not go to bed feeling unaccomplished. This is your time to live a full and bright life. This is your time to try new things and embrace them. Find something that motivates you; remind yourself everyday. Remind yourself a few times when you’re feeling low and unproductive. Remember why you chose to go to college and further your education. Make sure that everyday you do something that makes you feel accomplished or like you made a difference, even if it’s in your life or someone else’s. Whether it’s getting a head start on an assignment that isn’t due for a few weeks, or doing something outside of your comfort zone such as speaking out for others who feel like they don’t have a voice, you have to get in the habit of getting stuff done. The first day of college begins the countdown of days you have left until you’re kicked out into the real world. Gone are the days of going to bed and telling yourself you’ll do it tomorrow. Do it today. Don’t forget to give yourself some time to relax though, just always remember accomplishment feels like.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to stop procrastinating. Everyone always said that Senioritis is real, and it was, but the problem I have learned is that it doesn't end Senior year, it comes over with you to college. The hardest part of adjusting to college so far has been making myself not procrastinate and get all my work done in a timely manner to save myself stress. Because I had gotten so used to it back in high school, I haven't been able to get myself back into the routine of not procrastinating. College life already makes enough distractions to getting things done that it doesn' t help that I am not motivated enough to try and do my work. Obviously grades are very important in college so it is essential that you know how to study in a timely manner before coming to college. Though my grades are pretty good, life would be a lot less stressful if I had not given into the temptations of senioritis back in high school.

Apply to as many scholarships as possible! Whether the scholarship is asking for an ugly baby picture, or a fictional story about a family of turles, send in that picture and write a story that Stephen King would weep reading. It doesn't matter how much your favorite teacher will hate you because of the 500 reccomendation letters you're going to ask them to write; you'll buy their classroom an endless supply of dry erase markers to make up for it when you're finally the veteranarian you want to be. Do not get me wrong, you'll definitely miss out on some fun opportunities to go to Six Flags or the mall, but you won't be broke and dependent on your parents. If you're ready to take on the stress and don't care about future debt, then do it for your parents. You'll be making Mom and Dad's life so much easier. That should be enough to make you get up and applying.

Leaving highschool life is hard. You are going to miss seeing your friends everyday for eight hours a day but as time goes on you are also going to realize who your real friends are. Some of those "friends" were only your friends because you saw them everyday but do not worry because in college you will make friends that will become your life long friends. High school is very different from college. The person you thought you were is going to change drastically. You are going to learn to survive on your own. You have to be responsible for your actions and your schoolwork. When it comes to studying, DO IT! Though you may not have studied that much in high school, college requires a lot of studying. You will spend hours upon hours in the library looking over notes, making flashcards, finishing projects, and studying tests; bring a few snacks and headphones. The last bit of advice I would give myself would be: have fun! It goes by so much faster than you think. So enjoy every moment of it because you only get to do it once.

Right now you think that the only way to be successful is by becoming a doctor but the truth is that there are multiple ways to be happy and succesful. Embrace the unknown path as you are about to embark on your journey and allow yourself to be open-minded to everything you learn. The truth is that you are one of the most stubborn people I know but do not let your pride get the best of you because if you do one day you will hit rock bottom and learn the hard way. There is one other piece of advice that is just as crucial as the first do not compare successful to those of your friends and classmates. You will always have to work twice as hard as they do in order to achieve your dreams and goals. Do not let hardwork scare you away from finding true meaning, contentment, and passion in your life. I hope you navigate the difficult times and come out with great strength and resolve. I know that you have the ambition to lean in to your career and run the world. Because the world needs you to change it.

Enjoy it. Lap up every second that you can of your final year of high school. You've come this far and you deserve to feel like the top of the pyramid for once. I also say this because as soon as you leave that place, you will not want to go back. So don't wait around for an entire school year and wish your time away, because the time for college will inevitably come, but your time in high school will also end. Also when you're thinking on the scholarships and the applications, don't worry about winning every single one. I can guarantee that you won't. The popular belief actually holds true and your grades and test scores will get you far. Don't lose sight the end game though, still apply for as many as you can find time for. Don't be afraid to form attachments, even if it is senior year. Hang out with the greatest people you have come to know in the past four years and get your heart broken. Someone was going to do it eventually, anyway.

As a high school senior, I had one of the worst cases of senioritis I've ever witnessed, personally. I'm sure every senior thinks this, especially as those last few months before graduation drag by, but I would say mine was particularly bad. I was excited for college and dying to leave behind a school I never became attached to after transferring there junior year. In high school, A's came easily; I never worked too hard. Now, I couldn't stress enough how important it is to develop good study habits early on. At first I thought I would breeze through college, like I had always breezed through school. No one told me how much more in depth a college education would be, and how much studying it takes to retain that depth. The best piece of advice for my past self would have been to study hard and often, and to appreciate the thorough, wonderful education I received.

Dear High School Senior, You’re probably really excited about starting this new chapter of your life, being all on your own and doing whatever you want. It seems excting , which it is, but there are few things you need to know in order to prosper these four years. First, be prepared for a challenge! High school may have been easy for you but in college things get a little more hectic. Your homework load will be heavier than that in high school, so that means you’ll have to STUDY HARDER! Stay organized, organization is the key to success and you have to stay on top of your game if you want good results. Also, during the first few weeks of school get to know your professors, find tutors, and get to know the campus. Once you’ve gotten to know the campus and the whole studying and being organized thing down it’s also good to get involved on campus. Remember, these will be the best years of your life, so join a few organizations, go to the football games, PARTY, have fun, but don’t forget what you're are there for! Sincerly, A More Wiser You.

I would tell myself to really work harder on the college selection process as a senior because getting more scholarships would have been helpful for me paying for my education. Going to Whitney Young, I learned in my high school years that you really have to work hard to achieve wanted results in grades and such. This translates to the college level. Working hard on your studies really makes the difference in whether someone will be successful or if they will fall off the cliff of work. Sleepless nights and days of preperation will be apart of the college process so I would tell myself to really be ready for the hard work that is to come, for if I want to do well, I will have to put in more work than I have ever done in my years of different levels of school.