Wayne State University Top Questions

I would tell my high school self to go to the University that offers the most or best scholarships and to pick a University that is known for it's academics. College is a blast, but in the long run, you need to focus on what is in your best interest for the future.

Apply for scholarships, research cost of attendance, and expect the unexpected.

When I started college, my biggest mistake was isolation. I felt overwhelmed by a big school, lots of people, new classes, etc., so I did not reach out to make many friends. I relied on friends I had from high school and home, as well as my boyfriend. I sheltered myself and missed out on a lot of opportunities to meet new people and experience new things. I would telly myself to get involved in something, whether it be a sport, club, activity, it doesn't really matter. Just be involved. Make friends. Don't just stay home and do homework all of the time. There are many ways to make a large school feel smaller; Being involved in something and developing a group of friends is one way to make that happen.

As a college junior, I have matured a lot since I was a high school senior. If I could go back, I would tell myself to not always work too hard because I missed out on some of the social experience. I was also very shy and so it was hard to connect to many of my classmates. The most important piece of advice I would give myself is to start the college scholarship search even sooner! I started while I began my college career at a community college. At that time, my family did not need the extra help financing my education. Now I am attending a 4 year university and am struggling to pay the bills. I would of applied much sooner if I knew how much of a struggle it is to pay for a 4 year university.

I would talk myself into picking the correct career and be well informed of the requirements to completing the courses. Read more about a variety of colleges. Prepare for college by gaining good test taking skills, study habits, and pacing myself for class. assignments.

I would definitely tell myself that I should enjoy every moment learning and try my very best to benefit from everything my teachers/professors were trying to teach me. It seemed like I was always in a rush to take the courses and finish. I looked at college as a "tedious task." I would tell myself to not look at going to college as a chore but to be more actively engaged in my learning process and to be more inquisitive. I would tell myself "Choose a career that you see not only yourself doing for the rest of your life, rather a career where you can't see yourself living without. Don't choose a career that you think would be easy for you, rather choose a career that you know is going to challenge you because challenges are healthy and they help you reach your maximum potential. Be serious about going to college/university and DON'T TAKE TIME OFF; that may set you up for failure. Nothing is ever too hard, if you put your mind to it, you can do it! Where there is a will, there's a way. ENJOY ever minute of it!"

Moving out is a great opportunity for people to grow and make new friends, but it's not for everyone. It's certainly not for you. Stop rushing to get away and start appreciating your family (and free food and lodging) more. A lot of anxiety comes from starting college, and without friends and family around you it's hard to handle. You are going to be much happier commuting and staying closer to you friends, family, and job. Make sure you talk to someone the first day of every class, you'll make some amazing friends that way. Don't be self conscious if you end up eating alone in the cafeteria - nobody is judging you. Your classes may seem pointless sometimes, but I promise that you will learn a ton of stuff in every one. Not just about that subject, but about yourself and people around you and life. Don't skip classes, you're mssing out and your grade will drop. Also, don't date that one guy. What are you even thinking? Good luck, and have fun discovering who you are.

Listen, high school-me, I'm here to tell you to get your act together and to get off your high horse. I know that you're getting good grades and are basically breezing through high school, but you need to abandon that cocky attitude that you have. That "I'm coasting through high school, I'll do the same in college" attitide. It's a very ignorant way of thinking. You don't even study. I get it, you're smart, but you have to put more effort into your school career, because-take my word for it-college is a completely different ballgame. You CANNOT coast through these college courses, it's not as easy as you think. If you keep going on the way you are now, you WILL fail! You will lose your scholarship and will be on academic probation. I know that I'm being hard on you, but you need to hear this. You're really smart, so start actually applying yourself. Pick up a book. Study. Spend time looking over your notes. If you do this, there will be nothing stopping you from accomplishing your goals. You can do it, kid...trust me.

Dear young, naive Kayla, Don’t take life so seriously. Confidence is key (or the appearance of confidence) even when you’re falling apart inside and about to throw up. Smile more. You will make hundreds, maybe even thousands of mistakes… THEY ARE NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. Your high school love will not last. There is not one person on this earth who doesn’t grow into someone new from age 14 to19. Always look at the bright side of things. Being so dismal all the time really brought you down as a person. Go for it. Really spend your time focusing not on high school grades, but finding out who you are and what you’re interested in. Don’t hesitate. Enjoy the sheer simplicity of football games, friends, dances and school spirit while you can. It is truly the best time of your life. Please, please do not eat that sub sandwich from the cafeteria on January 14th. Food poisoning was horrendous. And most importantly…never once doubt yourself. I guess you can say clichés are meant for more than graduation speeches and wedding toasts.

I would tell myself not to take on so many classes as an incoming freshmen. Create a study group, ask my professors for help, think postive , and have the courage to ask for help. Bring a tape recorder or laptop to take notes , try to make friends so that your not always stressed about classes. Also AIM HIGHER and never give up no matter how hard it gets.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself a myriad of things. The first of which I'd tell myself to stay away from student loans and credit cards. When your young you don't think of all the repercussions of taking advantage of these "oppotunities." I would also tell myself to go to Consrvatory or a school that specializes in theater. I feel that I wasted time a lot of time and that I didn't get the intensive training I desired by going to a University as opposed to a Consrvatory. Though my past actions have set me on my current path today I believe that if I could tell these things to my younger self I would be well into a film/theater career now.

I was given a great deal of advice before entering college, ranging from time management and social life to workload and financial aid. The one piece of advice that no one ever gave me and I have found to be the biggest adjustment is: "in high school, teachers make sure that you succeed, in college it is up to you if you want to succeed." This often includes having to read the book, do extra practice problems (not just what’s assigned) and in essence, teach yourself. The teacher will no longer do all of this for you. Maybe that is the difference between the word teacher and professor that I failed to realize: teachers “teach” and professors “profess.” Essentially, high school teachers make sure that you learn the information while a college professor will tell you the information and then it’s up to you to learn it. This may seem unfair or difficult at times but how much more prepared will you be for the world beyond school, having had to learn a few things the hard way. This is an important reality that took me a few semesters to learn but made a significant difference going forward.

It is time to go to college! The best thing that you can do for yourself is save the money that everyone has given to you at your open house! Do not spend all your money on clothing because just like time it will come and go! Instead, save for today so that tomorrow you can relax! College is a business- unfortunately its business is to keep you in debt! Your business is to graduate! Along the road to graduation, you will have fun and meet new friends. Some friends are only temporary but others are there to help you succeed! Do not forget that the road to graduation will not be a smooth one- it will most certainly have its ups and downs! Please do not fret or give up on yourself because this road just like life is only meant to test you in order to see is this what you truly want in life!

Take your time. It’s ok to try to find out what you want to do with your life first, as long as get your degree and your moving forward. Don’t be stuck in the past, because you will make better memories; Better then you ever imagined. I would tell myself that most people I know who graduate in four years are still job searching for years to come; Most of them not in the profession that they earned their degree. They are stuck in jobs just for income. These people have a mountain of debt with their subordinate careers and plenty of time to think about things differently. You on the other hand can go to a community college and visit friends on the weekends. You know how to have a good time and you know when to get serious. Many opportunities will come along from the people you know. These opportunities may lead you to your career; Some will not but use your judgment and you will succeed. Maybe your employer will end up paying for your education or maybe you will earn scholarships. Just work hard and you will find your own way; you always have.

Brad Paisley’s “Letter to Me” pretty much sums up a lot of what to know and feel about college. “I know it’s tough when you break up after 7 months…all I can say is pain like that is fast and rare…And oh you got so much going for you going right, but I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night, tonight's the bonfire rally, but you're staying home instead because if you fail Algebra, Mom and Dad will kill you dead…” Those words need to be remember in college as well, don’t hold yourself back because of someone else; if it’s meant to be then it’ll find its way with both of you reaching your goals. In addition remember, it is perfectly fine to change your mind a million times. There are so many new experiences you are going to have, you might be scared or nervous but have faith that everything will work out the way God has planned for you because at the end of the day all that matters is how happy you are with yourself.

I would tell myself that it gets surprisingly much easier in college, go easy on yourself now. Have fun and enjoy your last year of highschool, you'll wish you had gone out and done more. You'll meet new people who are goal minded and very diverse in every aspect, you couldn't put a price on what you'll learn about life through college along with what you'll learn academically. You'll experience things so much differently from what you expected, and you will grow so much in only a short amount of time.

Just relax and enjoy college. Work hard and go to class but also make time to have fun. You will do great.

First, if I could go back in time as a high school student I would give my self an advise I should of tooken when I was a high school student. I would advice myself to keep track of deadlines and quit slacking off, to take every little oportunitty presented in life. As a high school student I was the type of shy student, therefore I could of been in class but yet never participated or ask questions when I was confused or didn't get the idea. I would give myself an advice of forgetting that there was people looking at me and see them as family, that way I wouldn't have fallen in my own trap. Now as I look back in time I ask myself many questions and say to myself what if. But what if, is only a symbol of lack of self esteem because what if didn't happen yet I can make all those left behind projects I left. In conclusion, the best advice I would give myself would be, not to be shy and participate in all the activities presented in my life. Also to focus on my classes.

I have been out of school for seven years now and if I could go back I would sit myself down and have a very serious talk. I would let myself know that you only get one life and to not let the little things stress you out. I would tell myself that there are scholarship opportunities and funding out there for students no matter what their background and upbringing. I would tell myself that while community college is a smart stepping stone to a four year university I could have gone away to school if I wanted. I would have told myself I was, in fact, good enough to go to a four year university like my peers. I would encourage my high school self to sign up for college activities, clubs, and volunteer events when I entered college because that's where you meet people and have the best experiences. I would tell my high school self that regardless of my family being non supportive of college that you can still achieve your dreams. Lastly, I would apply to multiple schools for options because settling isn't good enough.

If I were able to go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I'd probably be better off than I am today. I'd tell myself that although the high school experience is important, I should focus more on academics. I would say that starting at a university is more beneficial than starting at a community college because then you are more likely to graduate in four years rather than the 5+ it is taking you now. I'd tell myself that getting involved is crucial. Sports, hobbies, clubs, and societies can provide endless scholarship opportunities and even help on applications to medical school. Most importantly I'd tell myself to never give up because five years later, here I am, still an undergrad feeling a little bit defeated, but still trying my hardest to reach medical school. When you start college as a freshman it's a clean slate and an opportunity to be whatever you want to be. The time to make your future count is now, in your college years. These are the grades that matter and these are the opportunities and experiences that matter.