Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Your college major does not decide who you are or what you want to do with your life. Your major does not necessarily determine the job you will have. Dabble in classes that interest you and you will find what's best.

"Dear Self, Stop stressing about college and only apply to one school. When you finally arrive at college, be nice to your roommate; she will be there for a whole year. Also, be friendly to all the girls in your building, especially your hallway (they may become your bestest buds). It's also nice to smile at random people- talk to them too! Join yoga classes!! When it comes to academics, please do not stress out; there is help available. Your professors care, so mingle with them after class, and do not hesitate to ask for help. It gets awfully cold in the winter, so don't forget your scarves and gloves! Lastly, just keep in mind that college is sooooo much better than high school; you have so much freedom- it is absolutely beautiful. Oh and do not forget to call your parents often- they do get worried. Just remember, you will make mistakes and regret decisions, but it's life, just keep living! Trust me you will have fun, and cry, and get stressed out, and hate the world, but it's all worth it! Smile, be happy, "success will come to those who seek it!" Love, Yourself"

For starters I would let myself know that it's okay to put yourself out there. Don't stay cooped up in your room all day studying. It's okay to have a balance between studying and socializing. Most importantly be open to new ideas and ways of life. There will be no one who isn't interested in your story because everyone is unique. Oh and start getting to know your professors right away, go to office hours and let them know who you are and what you want out of their class. As for staying active, making working out part of your schedule and take the time to discover new sports at the gym (particularly wallyball because it's gonna be your favortie). Lastly, start making connections; friends and faculty, you never know when you might need a ride somewhere or a mentor for your research project. You have an idea of what you want to do with your life so start, you want to go to medical school then start volunteering at the Free Clinic, there's no need to wait to start doing what you want to do. Have fun. Believe.

The only thing that I would do differently in high school is to take AP Statistics instead of Photography and Multimedia II. As a senior, I think I made the transistion quite nicely. Part of that came from the fact that I grew up in Blacksburg, so the only thing I really needed to worry about was making friends. I am kind of a shy person, so the only advice I'd give myself in High School is to be more confident in who I am, and the people who don't like me for me aren't worth my time.

Do not pick a major that you think will get you the highest paying job, pick the major that opens the door to a fullfilling job that offers you joy and enables you to help people around your community, the United States, and the world. Work not for the money, work to make the world a brighter and better place!

The only thing that I wish I did different during my transition process was to go out and meet new people sooner. So I would go back and tell myself to not by shy and embarassed and to go make friends on the very first day and not a few weeks after. Other than that I like the way I transitioned myself into college and I wouldn't want it to have been done any other way.

I would tell myself to get as involved as possible and work on time management. Getting involved is a great way to meet new and interesting people. Time management is important in maintaining a social life and acheiving academic excellence.

What an opportunity it would be to go back in time to myself as an eighteen-year-old high school senior to give myself advice and possibly start all over again. If I ever had such a blessing, there would be plenty of advice I would offer myself. First off, I would recommend trying to join another club or organization besides band. It's understandable that valuable social experiences and leadership skills can be gained through band and music activities, but branching outside of that social circle would greatly be beneficial. Because many of the problems primarily stemmed from social insecurities and/or anxieties and meeting new people could remedy that to some degree. Academically speaking, math is most certainly the strongest challenge. Find someone, whether it be a teacher or fellow classmate, that could help explain things better so better grades could be achieved. I would also recommend taking an SAT Prep Class to help prepare for the SAT test so that a better score could be attained. Establishing a better relationship with the guidance couselor because they are such valuable assets to a student, especially during senior year.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would say to work on time management and procrastination. In college, I have a lot of free time that I need to use wisely because the tests are harder and there is less guidance from professors. In high school, I could study for a test the night before and get an ?A? or ?B,? but college test have much more information. Also, if I don?t do well I cannot depend on extra credit to help me out in the end. There are no easy grade boosters in my classes now; therefore, I have to give studying one-hundred and ten percent of my effort. Procrastination has greater consequences in college because my math class requires I learn the lessons on my own and take quizzes and tests by a deadline. There is no lecture so I have to put time aside to teach myself or find a tutor. There is more responsibility on me as the student and I wish I practiced this more in high school so that the transition would have been easier.

Dear Me, As you go through your senior year of high school, enjoy every opportunity because it flys by. When applying for college, I know it's a long process, but take your time and make sure to apply for scholorships; mom and dad could use the extra help. Research the different majors that you're interested in and have an idea of what you want to do before you take a bunch of classes you may not need and end up behind. Make sure to spend time with your little sister and brother, you're really going to miss them. Once you find out who your roommate is, email her and get to know her so it's like seeing a friend when you move in. Set goals for freshman year, for your classes, and what you want to accomplish. Make sure you meet as many people as you can when you move in, these people will be your friends throughout your time at school. Get involved. Find a club, join a sorority, or any other of the countless opportunities. Don't worry because you will end up at the right school. It's perfect. -Me

Do what you really want to do in life. Try to make every minute of your life enjoyable. Money is just a means to an end. Make you dreams reality. Nothing can stop you once your will is set.

Do wha'ts right for you. Don't go to college for boyfriends/girlfriends/friends. So much changes and it has to be the right fit for you.

Pick a major and find a college suitable for it.

The hardest part of the application process is choosing the institutions to which you want to apply. Selecting a safety school is always a good idea, but applying to a dream school might be an even better one. Parents, encourage your child to apply to schools where he could actually see himself attending, even if his acceptance is uncertain. Students, do not be discouraged by long applications or by low admittance percentages ? you never know exactly what each school is looking for in a potential student.After applying visiting each school is vital to get a feel for the campus and the student body. I waited until after I had been accepted to a school before I visited to save time and money, which might still be a good strategy considering our current economy. When visiting, touring your intended major?s department can be very helpful in discerning whether the specific program would work for you since every institution operates differently. Overall, keeping an open-minded attitude is the easiest way to find a school and to be successful in it. Be ready for change, but know that everyone else your age is at this same crossroads in life.

Definitely do your research. I made the mistake of not looking into schools, financial aid and all the things you need to know about before I started applying for college. Neither of my parents know English very well, so I basically had to do the whole college application process on my own. But I did end up at a top tier school, and I am proud of my parents. Make the best of whats available to you. There is a lot offered out there, you just have to find it!

A safe and affordable campus are vital components to finding a school fitting for a student. However, one has to be aware of the cost, distance from home, size, and most importantly the curriculum of the school before making the decision to attend that given establishment.

For finding the right college for you I feel like the decision can't be made on a whim, it has to be discussed and options must be weighed. Parents and students should discuss every detail that needs to be covered to makes sure that there is nothing over looked. When your visiting a school and something about it doesn't feel right then it's probably not the right fit for you. I think visiting a campus is the best thing you can do because you'll know when you've found the right school the minute you step foot on campus. As for the actual experience I would suggest going into the school with an open mine and set expectations for yourself in terms of what you want to accomplish this year. I believe it's very important to get involved right off the bat and be very open minded to the ideas and different kinds of peope your surrounded by. I believe that makes for a much better experience during this trasitional period and also all the new people you will meet will be attracted to your positive attitude and outlook for the future.

I would suggest visiting the college. I for one did not have that option due to my financial problems, however, if one does have the resources to do so, I would strongly recommend it. I would also like to remind the rising college students to have fun. Yes, you must strive for success, and yes, you will encounter some of the smartest people you will ever meet, but college is not just about learning. It's about building your character, your personality, your views, your likes, and your dislikes. It's about being able to identify your weaknesses, and your strengths. You have to be willing to put yourself out there; to show your peers what you are capable of doing, and what you can improve on. If you find yourself at a college where you can easily relate to, then that is the college for you. Make the most of your time in college. Build the life-long friendships, experience the instant decision-making process, and always search for the answers to what you believe in.

Visit colleges early. Do research early.

My advice to a parent and/or student about finding the right college and making the most out of the experience is this: find a college which suits your basic needs (whether that be a specific program you are interested in, an atmosphere, city, mountains, financial aid, etc) and then conjure up the most positive, outgoing attitude you can from within yourself. College is probably 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} finding a suitable atmosphere to grow as a person, and 85{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} YOUR work, YOUR attitude, and YOUR decisions. Obviously, being confronted with such a huge decision as to where you want to live and study for the next four years is a daunting one; many toss ideas of picking the wrong school or making the wrong choice over and over in their minds. With so many amazing oppurtunities offered at just about any University, it seems almost impossible to make a "wrong" decision unless the program or field of study you desired was not offered. The attitude you bring to school with you and how far you are willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone to grow as a person will ultimately determine your success and happiness at college regardless.