University of South Dakota Top Questions

I would tell myself to take looking for a college seriously and to start studying harder. When I was looking for colleges I really didn't care and I just picked one for no reason. I should have taken it more seriously and looked for one that I was going to be really happy with. When I was in high school I never had to study for anything and I got a's. This first semester of college has kicked my butt. I was not ready to spend several hours studying and I didn't think I would have to apply myself as much as is required in college. I would have told myself to start studying then and not put it off until it's too late.

First of all I would say that college is way different than high school. It is much more difficult. To do well in school you have to have good time management. There will be much more material and you will go over it a fast pace. You have to stay up-to-date on your work. A good way to help remember things is to go over your notes before and after class. Studying is a must for college and don't skip classes either. In addition to studying, you need to be social if you want to have to full, successful college experience. It's ok to get out and talk to people. Joining groups is a great way of meeting new people that have the same interests. Also, make good friends that won't take you away from your goals. Don't let your peers make you do things that make you unsure. Your friends should try to help you just as you should help others. Again, use your time wisely between studying and your social life. Don't let one take over the other. Make smart decisions so you can make your college experience successful.

Get your licence now, it'll simplefy things later. Get a job, and try to save as much as possible. Do your scholarship hunting NOW. It's better to not have any time now than no money later. Most of all, just trust God and remember that His timing is perfect, even when it doesn't seem like He's doing anything.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, know what I know now about the transition in college life, I would have made myself get a steady job and save every cent. College is expensive and scholarships are sometimes hard to win. I would've made myself buckle down and be really serious about bumping up my GPA so that I could qualify for a lot more scholarships. I definitely wouldn't have told myself to just have fun and enjoy the "senioritis". Senior year is not all about fun and games like we think when we're seniors. It should be all about college. Every minute I wasn't in school I would've been online looking up jobs and scholarships so that I wouldn't have to worry about it all last minute like I am now. I would've been sure to prepare myself for all the work transitioning into college takes. It takes alot of legwork that I didn't think it would. I wish I could go back in time to senior year sometimes.

Dear Self, Keep up the hard work because it all pays off in the end, and don't worry about small things. Being captain of the tennis team, yearbook editor, senior class historian, a NHS member, and much more may feel like all the hard work isn’t' going to pay off, but the valuable time management, leadership, and organization skills you will learn will do nothing but help you adjust to college. It will also make you want to get involved in college organizations, which is a great way to make friends and network. Trying hard in high school may seem "overrated" or "uncool" to some people, but the grades you earn influence the scholarships you receive which will become very important to you once you realize that everything comes with a price, believe me. While being involved and getting good grades is important, you need to make sure you have fun, and don't worry about little things. In the end you wont remember that one bad quiz grade, but you will remember all the fun you had at homecoming and prom. All in all, you should work hard, but don't be afraid to have some fun.

“Don’t look so surprised,” I tell the person staring at me, who happens to be myself. Myself, but one year younger, one year dumber. “I'd like to give you some advice.” “Okay,” she shrugs and listens, a rare occurrence. Meeting yourself, I suppose, would shock you into silence. “Don’t be an idiot.” The girl across from me laughs. “You have a lot of faith in yourself.” “Yeah,” I smirk. “But you don’t. Going to college - you’re worried about it. I know, I was there. Please, don’t force yourself to fit in with a certain group of people. You were made to stand out. You'll find some awesome friends in the coming year. Be yourself. Classes are important, but don’t forget about the most important thing. I know you’ve been doubting him a bit right now, but God knows what he’s doing. Trust him. Get your school work done, but don’t obsess over it. You’re smarter than you think - your grades will be fine. Remember what’s most important. Trust God.” “Trust God, work hard, be yourself?” the high school me repeats. I smile. “Now make the idea reality.”

I have made so many friends through my experience. I have grown to be such an strong women, and to believe in what I believe in and to stand up for those things. College is something that everyone should try, its not for some people but the friends that you make, you will have forever. It really just makes you who you are, and makes you grow stronger from the inside out. I have made wonderful friends, and am growing so much closer to becoming an intensive care nurse someday. The most valuable thing is that I am getting my education, and I am getting closer with every class I take.

I have gotten so much out of my college experience. I have met a ton a interesting people that have made my college experience absolutely enjoyable. My college has been so valuable to attend because I am recieving a great education at the University of South Dakota

I am currently enrolled at San Joaquin Valley College. I have been a student since August of '09. So far I have learned quit a few topics. To this day I have learned how to run a medical ofice, how to set up procedure trays, and how to handle theeveryday situations that go on in the office. I feel like my attendance is very crucial to maintain a comfortable living situation. Attending college is very important now in days to live a comfortable life. Missing a day of class is like missing a months worth of knowledge. Attending everday is important so I could get all the needed knowledge to be the best medical assistant I could be. I need to take in all knowledge so I could be the best suited MA to not only to the desired facility, but the patients as well.

my college experience has been not only a learning process, but discovering my self. For instance i now discovered my interesting which i didn't know before. And also this college experience helped me to know about other's people cultures and belifs and thats the benfit that i gained because of the diversity at my school. It is very valuable the fact that i am attening college, because to get where i want to get in future and to accompalish my goals enrolling in college is very essential.

I would tell myself be perpared to adjust. I used to be a meterology student and now I am a CMJ and music student. I would also tell myself to be perpared for living near some of the loudest and thickest people ever. Especial when dealing with transfering from Iowa Lakes to USD. I would also tell myself to fill out more scholarships to get more money because it will become incredibly difficult to pay them off later.

I would tell myself to work hard in high school - it is important. I am not only talking about working hard in school, but also in other aspects of your life. School is very important, and so are your grades and involvement. These things are what allow you to get scholarships, but they also will help you to adapt to new situations and people well. Being involved in activities will be largely beneficial in going to college, because it is a big change, even if you don't go very far away. Learn how to manage money. Going to college is exciting, and the freedom you have is a large part of that. However, freedom can be expensive. Listen to your parents when they talk to you about saving money. Learning to manage my money is one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned. Lastly, get a job in high school. It will teach you about money management, but more importantly, it will give you an invaluable work ethic. You will need to work harder in college, and a job will teach you some of these valuable skills. Have fun! These are the best days of your life!

As a freshman in college, I would have liked to know what to expect from my college. I wish I would have known that this college does not offer a lot of classes in the field of my study. Also, I would advise myself to search for a more well-rounded college and take more risks to reach my goals in a college. Overall, I would recommend enjoying high school and not wish away the time before college.

?Go...? The whisper startled me back to attention in my desk. I glanced around, but each classmate sat silently around me. Writing it off as a bit of daydreaming, I returned my pencil to my notebook. Scribbling the words ?UC Berkeley?, ?San Francisco?, and ?breakthrough cardiothoracic surgeon? my attention drifted. ?Chase your dreams?? the whisper was louder and more insistent now. I leaned to my friend and whispered, ?Did you say something?? I received a headshake from her and a glare from the teacher. ?Just try it?? the whisper was so persistent I was increasingly convinced of my certifiable insanity. I looked to my paper. Could it be? Is this what these nagging whispers could be referencing. I shook my head and muttered under my breath ?Impossible? I?m a small town girl, and its way to expensive.? ?Just try it?? the whisper repeated, ?Chase your dreams!? The intensity of the voice struck me, as well as its similarity to my own. ?I know it?s scary, but you can do it.? The voice was almost my own now, but more knowing. Just then the bell rang, and my introspection ended along with any thought given to my crazy dreams.

I defineitely would tell myself to apply and visit to a broad variety of schools, not just one or two of the same type. I believe for every college student to succeed he or she needs to be comfortable enough to be themselves, but also be challenged academically. Looking at a variety of schools, I believe more high school seniors will find that perfect school right away and not have to transfer after their first year like I did. I also would tell myself to take more AP classes and the tests for them. I am relieved that because I took Calculus my senior year, I only had to take a math methods course for my major. However, I would have tried harder in AP English and would have taken an AP science course. Taking these courses and tests would have saved me money, and given me time to take a fun elective class or two.

Academics aren't everything would be the thing I would first tell myself. Learn how to socialize and make friends now, because your school skills are decently developed. It's the learning how to make new friends and how to talk to the superiors in order to get help that you need to learn how to do that most, because once you get to college you are going to feel lonely and lost. Do not be afraid to talk to those in charge in order to get assistance. Most of all, don't be afraid to be yourself.

I would make sure I was prepared for the distance from home and the fact I know no one at the campus and really have to rely on myself to make friends and not be afraid to study hard when need be and also to have fun and get to know lots of people.

I would not worry as much as I did because after being here, I realized I had nothing to worry about. Classes are hard and required work but not impossible. Everyone is in the same boat and they are trying to make friends as well. I would not have brought as many things as I had brought because I found out I really did not need certain items that I thought would be essential.

My senior self was not expecting his college courses to be so difficult I never had to strain for A's and B's throughout K-12. My advice to myself would be to lay off the social gatherings and focus on the educational values?Use time management and make good decisions. I never thought I would say this but I do actually wish I could press a restart button and start college over from day one. My life would be a little bit easier, but overall my mistakes in the 2009 Fall semester will not affect my life in the long run.

Don't try to put so much emphasis on the need to make new friends immediately. Try to focus more on finding yourself and a major that you will love. Don't feel that it is necessary to go out and party for the sake of looking cool. College is a learning experience and overall you'll have an amazing and incredibly stressful time finding who you truly are.