University of South Carolina-Aiken Top Questions

Not only have I learned the materials in my classes, but I have also learned valuable skills I can use in life. I have matured, become more hard-working, and organized. It has been valuable to me because I am the only member of my family to go to college. It is a struggle, but it reassures me that I am intended for more in life and I know I can achieve it by continuing my college experience.

I have learned I have to work hard to accomplish what I want in life. I have also learned good study habits lead to greater achievements. Attending college is very rewarding, it allows me to reach heights in the world that I couldn't before. Overall, choosing to go to college is the best descion I could have ever made.

Dear Self, First of all, you took too long to start applying for colleges and finacial aid. Start earlier and this time, you might get some more money. Engineering is extremely hard here, so work harder in your math and science courses. If by any chance that you figure out you don't want to be an engineer when you get here, graphic design is way more easier(you still make the same amount of money). Now I know that you want to participate in alot of extracurricular activities, but be careful. Our freshman year was alot more frustrating than should have been because you were tryin to be too "social." Don't let the troubles of home get you down either. Mom and Dad have been fighting forever, so when mom calls to tell you about the last argument they had, just play it safe. Don't rush home and try to help with there situation all the time(this will also help on gas). I know we wanted to attend school out of state, but USCA isn't that bad. Just keep your grades up, and I know tht we will make it to graduation. Love, Marcus Toomer

If I could back in time I would tell myself to chose harder classes. During my highschool years I choose the easy classes so I could go through school and not have any problems. taking college for three semsters it is as hard as people make it out to be. I would tell myself to study hard and keep notes because some of the things I learned in highschool would be helpful in college. I would tell my self to take classes that have to deal with the degree I am going to get. Getting a head start would have been the smart way to go. College is hard when you are no prepared for what is coming your way. I would have told my self to get a jump start on college because it hits you hard and fast when it comes.

Dear Matthew, Get off your fat ass and do your home work! College is not easy shit, plain and simple. I know your a hard head and only think that college is just an extention for school, its a hell of a lot harder. Now I know what you are thinking, "I'm crazy in the future, here it comes, Im loosing it." You are so wrong. Its hard but fun, when you start work, dont forget to lock up at night. ps. dont go out late to go see the new alvin movie, it can wait.

I would advise myself to save money--it would prevent me from working and allow me to focus completely on my studies. I would tell myself not to be afraid of making new friends, because often those friends could help make up study groups and can be the key to maintaining sanity while studying. I would advise myself to start a strict study schedule, that way college will not be such a shock to me. I would advise myself to be open to many possibilities, because college can change people. I would tell myself to never stop dreaming, because the moment you do, you no longer have purpose, and the purpose of college is to learn and follow your dreams. I would insist on being financially savvy--learning to understand exactly how college loans and scholarships work, and advise to only take the amount necessary to pay for school. I would advise myself that occasionally it is okay to party, and that avoiding them doesn't provide necessary experiences that colleges offer.

I graduated in 2008, and had to make a difficult decision. My brother, Christopher, was a junior in college, and my parents were struggling with the finances of keeping him enrolled. The decision I ultimately made was to postpone my schooling for a year, so that my brother could complete his final year at Georgia Southern University, and the financial burden on my parents would be less. I made a selfless decision for my family, and it was definitely a hard one. Throughout my senior year at Harlem High School, I struggled with what I was going to do about college. I antagonized over if I should or shouldn?t go to college, and the repercussions of how each decision would affect me and my family. So what I would tell myself if I could go back is this: ?You may be afraid of the uncertainties of a year sans schooling, but the decision to make is to take that chance. When one door closes, another one opens. You will find that you will never regret helping your family out financially, and that the whole experience will help you grow both as an individual, and as your own person.?

Finish up your college degree as soon as possible. Be good to those you love and care for. APPLY for those scholarships early! And don't fret over the small things.

We all remember how it was to be a senior in high school. Waiting anxiously to be out and free, and into the big unknown world. But if i could go back in time, I would have told myself to put more effort into my school work, and research more colleges that interested me. Putting in more effort in high school will be well worth it once you look back on it.

In high school studying was not necessary, everything was always easy. I figure I could breeze through college as well. The difference was the fast pace at which the teachers did lessons. They manage to cram so much information into a single semester, it's pretty impressive. I wish I would have been more prepared for that. Realization hit me that I would have to buckle down and take school seriously in order to excell as I did in highschool. It was had to adjust, and to train my hand to write faster while the teacher lectured us on various subjects. Also it was a transition, because I was broadening my knowledge tremendously. I had never even had a moments thought about politics or anthropology. I would have never guessed so much information was out there. On a lesser scale, I wish I had known more about writing a paper. I now do about two or three a week, and some are about eight pages! Going into college I had little skills in writing an effective research paper, or making a sociological analysis of current events. If only I had more practice with writing, the transition may have been better.