University of Southern California Top Questions

I would tell my high school self that everyone feels out of place and homesick during the first month or two of college, and that it's okay to feel that way. Feeling homesick doesn't mean you don't love college. It just means you're adjusting. It wasn't until second semester that my friends and I were able to look back and laugh that we were all feeling the exact same way, and were all hiding it from each other, terrified of anyone finding out we missed home. I would also tell myself that the friends you'll make in college will be well worth the fear you felt in the first few weeks.

The high school student I was and the graduate student I am today are completely different personalities and people. I don’t know if I would have been very receptive to any advice as a high school student because of my stubborn and crass nature. Conversely, I wouldn’t want to advise myself at that fragile time because I would have undoubtedly changed the path I lived through, possibly for worst. Any advice I would have given would have altered who I am today. In my life thus far, becoming successful has been entirely dependent on learning valuable lessons from my past mistakes. And if not for the mistakes made in high school, I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am currently. With that being noted, I would give myself little to no advice. I would, however, encourage myself to have stronger faith in my abilities, thoughts, and to reject the idea that I didn’t have any self worth. I’m confident that advice would be sufficient enough. Giving myself that little bit of encouragement would have served to improve my self esteem and prepare me for the rigors of life, from then onward.

College isn't something to be afraid of. Now that I'm in college, I can truly say that I am having the best time of my life; my friends who constantly surround you push you to achieve things you never thought you could before purely because they want you to succeed. Don't get me wrong, college is a billion times harder than high school, but the one thing that makes it all worth it is the environment you're in. I stay up until 3AM because I want to understand the material, I want to pursue my dream, and I want to prove to myself that I am 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} capable of achieving my goals. And as an added bonus, everyone around you is doing the exact same thing; we all have different passions and goals, but we all have a similar drive to get to that finish line. College is a learning and growing process; you get what you make of it, so find your passion, find your drive, and only then can you take control of your life and lead yourself to find the best in you and make the most out of life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advice myself to take AP Biology online. I have always loved the sciences and now in college I am majoring in Human Biology, but going from high school to college science classes was a big transition. When I took my first biology class in USC I was not prepared for the class at all. I found it rather challenging and complicated, while other students that took AP Biology in high school passed the class with flying colors. I knew that if I would have taken AP Biology in high school I would have been better prepared and would have not struggled as much. I had to go through a whole semester to adjust to the college science classes, a semester that wasn't easy at all. I would always hear other students say how easy the class was because most of the things they learned were the same as AP Biology, but I couldn't compare this biology class to the biology class I took in highschool. I just told myself that STUDYING was the key to passing the class.

I would definitely say learn how to cook easy/quick/cheap meals. Also, apply for a ton of scholarships so you don't have to worry about money while you're there. But look forward to it!

"Take a break and open your mind." That was the phrase teachers always told me in high school, but I never listened. Ironically, these are probably the words I would tell myself in retrospect. A problem that many high school seniors (including myself) have is hubris--we all think we know what's best for the world. Though this attitude is great and partially the reason why people in college are so exciting to be around, it is dangerous in that we start to shut out others. We would all like to think that we know what's best for everyone, but really the best step towards progress is cooperation. Yes, every college campus seems to have a million problems with it once you pass the "I'm in college!" stage, but that doesn't mean you can solve everything. Take into account others' views and take time to decide whether something is worth spending time and effort to change. If you decide it's not, that's alright. Go take a break and enjoy college before it passes. I have a feeling this ride's going faster than high school!

I'm not going to say the obvious things everybody else is going to tell you, like "it's hard to adjust to dorm life", "you'll be eaten alive in college classes so study hard", or even "just be yourself"; by avoiding those cliche words of advice I'm implying that you'll already have those things taken care of. What I think is most important is that you establish yourself as strong entity amongst the people you meet: your friends, your classmates, professors, everyone. That is, you should have a strong sense of who you are, and what you want others to see you as. If people remember you and your personality, they will be much more open to any ideas you present as well as be more likely to help you when you find yourself in difficult situations. Also, you should get yourself exposed to as many people as you can, to increase the chances of finding people who will further whatever motives you have. With so much competition out there, it helps to have a good block of people who can back you up and help you get where you want to be.

When I went to college, I had to handle the transition socially and academically. In high school, my friends were everything, but in college, I was forced to start all new relationships. It’s important not to panic or get discouraged about trying to meet new people and make connections, but remember that everyone is in the same situation. You will feel tempted to give in to just anyone, but do not settle. Make sure you choose friends who you can have fun with, but also who will make you a better person. Academically, my biggest regret is not studying for my first midterm. Naturally, I was not used to the heavy amount of material on one exam and did not understand the many hours necessary to dedicate to studying; I received an F on that first midterm. If I could go back and change one thing, I would study for that test. I learned that it is easier to just study from the beginning, rather than trying to catch up the entire semester. While the transition from high school to college is difficult, college is the time to grow and discover who you really are as a person.

Join a club of your interest and invest in it. Don't just study during your freshman year. It's good to have variety in your schedule.

Join a club of your interest and invest in it. Don't just study during your freshman year. It's good to have variety in your schedule.