University of South Florida-Main Campus Top Questions

Don't stress about it. Have more fun and enjoy the last year of high school. College will change your life. Always have fun because it goes by so fast. And keep up the good grades they're worth it.

Rewind. It's 2006, and I, as a Senior, have just transferred high schools in order to play varsity soccer due to circumstances out of my control. Life in the eyes of Melanie Phillips includes, school work, soccer, volunteering, in that order and nothing more. Social life? Non-existent. Why, one might ask? Because in order to get into a good school, that doesn't matter, or so I believed. Would I change this? YES!! I would whisper in my ear when my friend invited me to her big party to say, "Yes!" I would tell myself, life will continue and schools will accept me if I didn't get an "A" on that exam. I would ultimately tell myself to take life less seriously because there is plenty of time to be serious when I grow up. School is extremely important, of course, but in high school, one should enjoy life and not fret about the little stuff. Once college comes, the classes are even harder, but once I have a job, I will be working longer than I have been studying. So, live in the moment, smile, tell a joke, relax, and be a high school senior!

Dear Brianna, College will be a time of great accomplishments and failures alike, and it is all an enormous learning experience. The best advice I can give you is that you can not do it all alone! You will need help getting through this and it is alright to ask! There is no way to get through college without the help of teachers, friends, family and advisors(especially advisors)! Head straight to the pre-major advisor's office and have her help you set up your classes, she WILL the best thing to ever happen to you! Also, do not be afraid to ask questions because college is nothing like high school where teachers and/or students seem frustrated when you ask questions, they actaully like hearing them. And most importantly, enjoy your time there! It is challenging, but fun, and there is so much to take away from the entire experience. It is like nothing else, a time to be independent, to learn, and make something out of your life. There will be plenty of ups and downs, but you will learn from them all. Enjoy yourself, and do not be scared, it will be great! Sincerely, Your Future

As I remember what I did as a high school senior, the person I am now would tell her to take the time to truly think about what makes you happy. What is your passion? I would tell myself to focus on what you truly want for your life. I'd let her know that something that is worth achieving rarely comes easy. Challenging yourself and those around you will help each other grow. It is more important and fulfilling to make a postive impact on the world by volunteering and helping other people as much as you can, treating them as you would want to be treated no matter who they are. Your purpose in life is to live a life of purpose, whatever your calling is career wise or not be diligent in your worth ethic even when you think no one is watching. Don't be afraid to admit when you need help, there's no fault or flaw in trying to better yourself. Lastly, don't let the learning stop once you leave the classroom, let it begin in the classroom and never end. The true students do not find their value in a college degree.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to focus more. I would say this becuase now I work a full time job and attend classes. Had I focued more on my school work I would have been able to attend school without having to work and pay bills. I would also tell myself to get involved in more school activities. By getting more involved I would not only meet more people but it would also look better on a resume.

I would tell myself that there can be nothing more important to me than going to college to get a degree. Relationships may come and go and should not stand in the way of looking out for my future and independence. Also that it doesn't matter how smart I am in high school if I don't have the tenacity and preserverance to go the extra mile for my education. I would tell myself that by choosing not to have a college degree that I am making a decision to limit my choices for not only my future, but my children's future. I would tell myself that I needed to start thinking about college before I became a senior and that the only choices I am allowed to make would be in what field of study, not whether or not to go. I would tell myself that life has so many twist and turns, but once you get your education it is something that stays with you forever. I would tell myself education is a foundation that can be built upon with increasing value as I continue. This is the decision that a smart person would make.

Don't freak out if you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life chances are you will probably change your mind....more than once. Look at college as a learning experience that prepares you for the rest of your life. It will make you a stronger and more independent person. Make sure you apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can!!! It is no secret college is EXPENSIVE. Without scholarships there is no way I would have made it this far. I wish I would have applied for more while I was a senior in high school...it's never too early to start. Most of all have fun and get involved in extracurricular activities at your school. These are supposed to be the most fun years of your life. My first two years were spent working every spair minute. If you make school fun it is a lot easier to get through. :-)

I would encourage myself to take more AP courses and to enroll in the program that allows you to take college courses in high school. I would also tell myself to re-evaluate the cost of going to a private school verse a public university with the Bright Futures . I would also tell myself to go through career counseling in order to figure out a major before entering college.

The advice I would give myself deals with choosing the right major, getting involved, and not being intimidated. They have tests you can take that can give you an idea of what you would enjoy doing in life. Once you start taking courses sometimes you realize that this just isn't the career for you. Changing majors means more school loans to finish the major you really want. I would tell myself to take a career test to see what types of careers fit my personal desires. The second piece of advice is to get involved asap; it contributes to more fun and more friends. It also helps because it increases your resources when it comes to scholarships for upcoming semesters. Last but not least, I would tell myself not to be intimidated. It takes time to make new friends, and to have a little courage when it comes to talking to new people. College is the perfect place to make friends that have the same interests as you. Although I have enjoyed my college life, those are the three things I would give myself advice on if I could talk to myself as a high school senior.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior there are a few things I would tell myself about college life and making the transition. I had a hard time making the transition form high school to college. I was in a strange city without my mom and I felt homesick all the time. I also tried to apply the study habits I had used in high school to my college work. Knowing what I know now I would tell myself that the study habits I used in high school would not be good enough to get through college level work. There is nobody holding your hand or taking excuses for late and/or missing work. You can't expect to do your homework in the class before it is due because, most of the time, classes won't be in conseccutive time blocks. I would also remind myself to study more because some professors don't give studyguides or reviews for a test. I would tell mysellf that it is easy to fall behind, but as long as I priortize, I can do my schoolwork and still have a good experience.