Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

During my second semester senior year and the summer, I slacked off because I was stressed out about the college application process and I was finally done with everything. Because of this long-lasted relaxation, it was difficult for me to start "studying" during the first semester of freshmen year in college. Even though college is the time for all of us to have fun and meet new people, it is time for us to transition to the real world and think about our future as adults. This pressured me to meet more people, engage in many activities, and focus on my studies. In order to keep up with all these, first of all, I need to be healthy. Freshmen fifteen is not an overstatement. It definitely happens to EVERYONE. So, I would try to keep myself fit and work out constantly. Moreover, I need to be diligent and make that as a habit so that I'd be ready to do something wherever I go. Also, since meeting new people is necessary, I would do lots of brave, interesting and crazy things during the summer so that I would have lots to talk about to new people I meet.

Work hard and don't get discoureged even if you may falter at times. Do not be afraid to utilize the resources on campus to seek help with a class, including and most importantly going to your professors office hours. Be careful how much of the good food you eat, as the extra calories show when you spend most of your time studying. Most importantly take the time to build strong lasting bonds, do not become romatically involved and push your friends away. And lastly- It's completley ok not to know what you want to do. Try diffrent classes, change majors. Love what you do because that is going to be the rest of your life.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would give a few pieces of advice. While I thought I would not be able to academically succeed in college, I was much better prepared than I thought, coming from a top ranked high school with many advanced placement classes. The fact that all homework truly aids my learning makes the workload more approachable. I had heard horror stories of college students being too competitive to help each other and some even giving others the wrong homework information on purpose. This could not be more false--there are many student-run tutoring programs and there exists a general sense of helpfulness among young adults striving for higher education. There are so many opportunities to become an involved community member that building a resume almost happens without trying. On a different note, partying is a popular topic to talk about going into college. While many students do drink, the amount and consistency are definitely up to the individual, and drugs are not nearly as common as many think; both of these statements are true for my experience and many of my friends', but they cannot stand for all schools.

“Create your own happiness” was not a mantra I had always lived by. In high school I lived in my own bitter world, one that transcended to my freshman year of community college. I went through the same motions as high school, kept my head down, as I told myself to just get good grades and get out. Interaction with my classmates and with my school was something that did not interest me, I had decided that community college was just another wall keeping me from my bigger dreams. Now I would tell my high school self that community college is a stepping stone, not a toxic quicksand. I would have told myself that community college gave me time to save money, money that allowed me the opportunity to afford to do an unpaid internship in New York. Instead of the opportunities I thought I would miss out on by staying home for a few more years, I was able to gain insight into what path I really wanted to follow. Once I opened myself up to my peers and joined clubs, I recognized happiness is not where you seek it, happiness is where you create your dreams.

My best advice would be to find a good work/ fun balance. During the early part of the semester, I was so overwhelmed by my workload that I didn't leave any time to relax, and I ended up getting sick and burning out. In the later part of the semester, I tried to have more fun: I joined the ultimate frisbee team, started going to the gym more, and spent more time relaxing with friends. At times it can seem like grades are the most important thing in your life, but that's not what you'll remember years down the road. Furthermore, you simply cannot work without a break for the whole semester, it's not humanly possible and it certainly is not what college is about. One of my best memories is staying up till 4 am on a school night talking with friends about movies, music and hot celebrities. Maybe it wasn't the most responsible choice, but it was worth it and I have no regrets. Make sure to look out for those moments and embrace them.

College life is full of opportunities, so take the time to get to know yourself so you can take full advantage of the wealth of options in college. Work hard in class, not for the grade but to enjoy the subject matter—learning out of true interest will take the grit out of studying. Do not be afraid of hard work, chase after your passions, and take advantage of any extra time you have: explore more careers, explore your community. Expect to devote more of your time to friendships than you ever have before; you will live with your friends, so the line between “work” and “play” will become blurred. In college, you will have to learn to draw those lines for yourself. Your place of abode (dormitory) may be conducive to studying, but at any time, a buddy can pass by and stick their head in your room, perhaps glimpsing in for a brief two seconds to greet you, perhaps staying two minutes for a quick chat, perhaps settling in two hours for a great conversation. However, pursue your interests, be passionate, be purposeful, manage your time, and success will not be far off.

Apply to a broader range of schools and think past playing college athletics. Think about what you like learning and not so much about what people want you to learn. Understand you can have a good time anywhere you go as long as you find something you like about that campus, city, or environment. Ask more questions to your counselors, teachers, and peers about different types of schools and go to more college informational sessions. Start applying early and do not get complacent just because you got into one school. Most of all, a rejection is not the end of the world.

I would tell myself to relax more and not worry as much because I'm bound to get into college anyway and I've worked hard to get where I am now. No matter where I got in and no matter where I went, I would find a way to like it and make the best of it. I would tell myself to always keep my eyes on the goal ahead of me and always remember what I want to get out of being a college student, without forgetting to make new friends and sacrificing happiness for grades. It's okay to go out and explore everything your freshman year because that's what they want you to do and you might open your eyes to new things that you might like, but make sure that when it comes to studying you know your limits and not to overcommit. Don't be afraid to try new things, and don't be afraid of the future.

Don't sweat the small stuff. College will always present new challenges, and living on your own has plenty of surprises. You'll never survive if you let the little things get to you. The purpose of college is not only to learn in the classroom, but to discover who you really are and develop yourself as an adult. If you allow insignificant details to hold you back, you'll never know your true potential. Give yourself a break every once in a while. I know it may be tempting to take on every opportunity you run across, but if you spread yourself too thin, you can't perform your best. You've got at least four years to experiment, so take the time to enjoy college. It very well may be the best time of your life.

I would tell myself two things: be yourself, and take your time. When I was in high school, I was extremely driven, very involved, and generally felt I was one of the more successful students in my high school. However, when I got to college, I realized that everyone else was exactly the same. At first, this was intimidating. People were immediately throwing themselves in to extra carricular activities and pursuing courses they thought were "necessary" to be successful. They assumed that overwhelming themselves with work and clubs equalled success. This frenzy threw me slightly off guard, and I fell to the background. Eventually I realized that this was ok. It gave me time to discover what I really cared about, and what I really wanted to study. It was not until my sophomore year that I started to get involved, and I could not be happier with how it turned out. I am extremely passionate about everything I am pursuing, and I am extremely busy in the best way possible, as opposed to feeling overwhelmed and unenthusiastic. So my advice is this: relax, take care of yourself, and do what makes you feel good.