Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

If I could go back in time and speak to the 18-year-old version of myself, I would tell him that he is fortunate to have a supportive and loving family. I would tell him to accept the greatness that they see in him and accept that the only thing that will ever make him happy is a life devoted to scientific endeavor. I would say that he will soon realize that his pursuits are more than just a dream; they are his definition. He may not see it now, but soon that dream will be so important to him that he will be working 40 hours a week while going to school fulltime and he’ll never be tired, because every single day he will get closer to making that dream a reality. I would tell him that it’s time to be tenacious; it’s time to dedicate himself to his dreams; it is time to get to work. I would say that he owes it to himself and his family to excel in life; his success is the best thanks he could give them for raising him to be the man that he is.

College is about developing your physical, emotional and mental well-being, which is rooted in self-worth. As we are living in an epidemic of self-doubt, college can transform self-doubt in to self-discovery! I would advise incoming college students to seek a safe space to be lifted up and have honest conversations about things that matter. Believe in the limitless possibilies, collaborate instead of compete, and contribute as much as you consume. Cultivate a culture for you and others to be seen, be heard, and belong, and you will be on the path toward a healthy college life transition.

If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to appreciate my family and the town that I grew up in. Even though I got annoyed with my family every once in a while I missed them more than I thought I would once I got to school. I would also tell myself to learn how to enjoy spending time with myself. The hardest transition that I faced was that in college when you don't have plans you are truly by yourself, rather than just being able to hang out with your family as a default plan. I didn't realize that I wasn't comfortable with that so I had to learn how to handle spending time truly alone. I would tell myself to learn how to make myself happy and not rely on other people because its an awesome feeling to be able to be happy on your own. Learning to enjoy my own company is something that I am so glad that I learned in college but I would tell my senior self to practice doing that before going to college.

Hello young Jeremy. I say "young" not due to any significant age difference, but due to your experiences. You grew up in a cultural box, and a very small one at that. Where you come from, everyone thinks the same, acts the same, and believes the same.There is nothing wrong with this, but unfortunately, because of your upbringing, you aren't prepared for the firestorm you're about to enter. You'll be tried in ways you never could have imagined, your patience and intellect stretched thin. In addition you'll experience a level of apathy that surpasses any you've dealt with before. I know. It's so easy to give up instead of trying what seems impossible. It's not impossible. Trust me. I did it. You've accomplished great things before. You'll do it again. Stretch yourself. Study hard. Display the same tenacity that you had while working to get here. Stay true to who YOU are. Because you CAN do this. You ARE amazing. You ARE talented. You are THE Jeremy Joshua Sorel, valedictorian, pianist, and composer. Simply go forth, and be you. You might just surprise yourself.

Your life is going to change. College is different but that is what makes it great. Get excited! Nevertheless, there will be days where you are up to your neck in work, but you are capable and worry gets you nowhere. Remember to breathe. If you compare where you are to where you want to be, that leaves you where you started. Only working hard gets you ahead of schedule. Plan out your time and be organized. Leaving assignments to the last minute will not be as painless as it might have been in high school. Go to bed early when you can -- it is worth it and you will need it. But most of all do not ever doubt yourself. You got into a great school and it was no mistake. Enjoy learning and try new things. Have fun with it. Be a good friend. Meet new people and go to new places -- soak in all they have to offer. Seize all the wonderful opportunities that come your way. Appreciate every moment of it, because it only lasts four years.

Being a more practical person, I will leave the cliches such as keeping an open mind and following your dreams to others more eloquent than I. Nevertheless, here is some advice to my former self: First, make sure you get your shopping for school and dorm supplies done early! I know you think that the summer is long, but it will be over soon so don't hesitate to accomplish big tasks early and take your time with all that you need to do. Second, save your money. All of the money that you spend on food adds up and you may not be able to get a campus job right away. Make sure you keep track of your expenses and try to only splurge on treats occasionally. Lastly, take care of your health, both physical and mental. You are on your own for what is likely the first time and you can't forget the importance of your sanity. Take time each day to relax, choose a salad over a cheeseburger every now and then, and most importantly, call your family. You might be far away, but sometimes a familar voice is all you need. You can do it!

First and foremost, you'll meet many new people and will make many friends, both on you floor and off. Although you'll be lonely at first, you, like everyone else, will make the necessary adjustments and find good, reliable friends. Don't sign up for too many extracurriculars. They're good for making friends and staying active; however, this is at the expense of sleep and sometimes academics. Three committment-heavy activities are too much - try to keep it to two. Long distance relationships are definitely not easy to maintain, especially if the relationship is relatively new, meaning a couple months. Establishing a strong, trusting relationship over the internet is extremely difficult and not worth potential drama. I know that you'll insist that he's perfect and worth, but if you consider the circumstances, he's really not. You'll meet people who match your personality far better and can make you happier than anyone in high school could. Don't forget to appreciate your parents - they've sacrificed a lot for you and you're lucky that you can attend the WUSTL almost completely on their dime. Love yourself and the people supporting you. Erica <3

The platitude “just be yourself” is so ubiquitous in social advice given to those making transitions in life, especially teenagers, that most people have tried it out at some point in their lives. I know I heard it often when my parents were telling me how to make friends in a new environment, thousands of miles away, in a place I knew no one. Looking back, I would warn my high school self that this phrase is true, but not in the ways you would initially think. Realize that freshman year in college is probably the most formative year of your life and that “just be yourself” does not mean act the same as you have before. Rather, you should attempt to discover your personality, morals and interests and not be afraid if they are different from what you previously thought about yourself. More importantly, realize that you probably have many bad aspects to your personality. You are not any less genuine for trying to emphasize your positive qualities and minimizing your negatives; this is a necessary part of growth. Above all, have fun. You only get one shot at life, so make it memorable.

One of the most useful things to know as an incoming freshman is how important the first month is. There are two unique aspects about the first month that many do not fully take advantage of. The first is that people are very open in the beginning. Everyone is in a new place and in my case, being at a highly selective university, often there without anyone else they previously attended school with. Because of this you can go up to anyone and talk or quickly make friends so easily that it is almost as easy as it was to make friends when you were a small child. This would have been valuable to understand, and would have removed ample concern from my mind. The second is how important it is to get involved early. Most of the extra activities around campus recruit and begin in this first month, so they are very easy to join at this point. If you wait you may find it hard to find out when they meet, and awkward to try and join after they started up. I think my transition could have improved if I had taken better advantage of this first month.

The essence of college is to study hard and enjoy the spontaneity of this new world. Before college, I was a fool to only focus on activities I enjoyed. Upon entering WUSTL, I had a list of clubs I planned to join. Yet, today, I have surprised myself by being enrolled in five unexpected clubs including Classical Indian Dancing. In addition, I would make sure I begin making a weekly schedule. In college, the world is at your feet in terms of education, extracurricular activities, and social life. What transforms a successful high school student into a mediocre college student is a lack of direction. Prioritizing one's activities will help that individual stay involved with all aspects of college life. Above all, the advice I would tell old Shiv is to enjoy high school while it lasts. College has its own set of expectations. There are no parents-just you. To all seniors out there wondering about their college transition, I urge you to venture outside your comfort zone from now and make a schedule. However, above all, enjoy the last year you have as a child because once you enter your university's gates, you become an adult.