West Virginia University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to jump into a social group as soon as I arived at university because it took me a while to find my place and it would have made my transition much easier. I would also explain to myself that some of the activities I was involved in at high school wouldn't be the same in college and that high school is the perfect time to become the president of an organization. I did do some community service in high school, but I would tell myself to do even more because I do much more now that I am in college and it makes me feel great to help other people. During my senior year I worried a lot about leaving my friends behind, but I would tell myself how importnat it is to have new experiences and remind myself that my friends would always be there for me no matter how far away they might be. Besides those few things, I would just tell myself to continue enjoying my time the same way I did when I was there.

When I think back to my high school self and what insight I could give myself, a multitude of things come to mind. First and foremost I would have told myself to take more honors classes in the subjects of my strength. Not only to help me prepare for college but also to solidify the foundation of strong study habits to get me through the more rigorous college courses. I would have also told myself to pursue more variety in my community service. Besides the fact of it looking good on college applications it also exposes you to a wealth of life experiences that the curriculum of standard education does not quite begin to cover. Last but not least, I would have told my high school self to enjoy the friends and family you have around you. That is one thing that I have found to cherish the most while being farthest away from home. These are all things I look back on that have the greatest importance. I wish I could tell the person I was in high school to listen to what I said as well as every other high school student I do and do not know

I would tell myself not to wait to do thing last minute and to study more often because grades are important and tend to be a big deciding factor when it comes to many programs, scholarships, and other aspects in life that help you get to your goals

If you party every night, you will fail out. People will not feel sorry for you.

Knowing what I know about making the transition to college, I would go back and tell myself to work as hard as I can so that I can get the best grades I can get and have a good start to my college experience. Slacking off in high school is something that can really hurt someone trying to apply and get into a good college and start off on a good foot. I would tell myself to learn as much as possible so that it would make my college years a little easier.

First off, it is okay to not know exactly what you want to do. With that in mind, do not let fear of something big, new, or different affect your decision. The easy choice is usually not the right choice. You are going to be scared and stressed with making a decision; but know that your family will be okay without you. It is of high importance to make the decision of school for you, and you only. While you may think that you want to go to a college where no one else from your school is going and get a fresh start, it is actually better to have a friend around. Best friends find a way to be together and help each other through life as they have an impact on your future; let them. You are capable of achieving more than you think, so just do it. Take all that you have learned from the first chapter of your life and carry it with you. Your roots, values, morals, and beliefs are very important to determining your future path. I ask that you remember these words of advice, and take the challenge of something new head on.

If I could go back in time to my high school days I would definitely study more and take a more vigorous schedule. My senior year was a piece of cake and I really didn't concentrate on school work much at all. My main focus at the time was high school cheerleading. I took an easy load so I still had good grades but the classes weren't challenging at all. When I got to West Virginia University, the vigor of the classes I had to take hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to work extra hard to do well and retrain my brain to think and study. If I had taken harder classes as a high school senior I would have been already been used to thinking and studying.

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, if I could go back in time and talk to my self as a high school senior some advise I would give my self would be to plan ahead. Time management was key in organizing class time, homework, time with friends, and club activities. Club activities were an awesome way of making friends in college. Its good to have a balance of school and fun, that way you do not feel overwhelmed.

Follow your heart. Althought it sounds cheesey and easy to do, most people have a hard time listening to what they actually want and more from what their peers and family like. I was accepted into two other more "presigious" schools than West Virginia University. When people asked where I had gotten accepted they gawked at the idea that I would even hesitate on which to choose. However, after visiting the three schools there was only one that I truly fell in love with. Today I still have to explain myself for why I chose West Virginia University, however, I have never been happier or had a better understanding of the information I've learned. In order to have a successful transition, you need to do what YOU want and what is best for YOU; even if you get laughed at in the process, when you get to your school you'll be happy you made your decision.

I'm here to let you know that you need to listen to your heart, don't be afraid and just go out and seek the answers to the questions you have. I know your parents told you they couldn't pay for college, but you need to listen to me: There are other options to help you pay for continuing education and let me tell you that the things you learn during your college career are so valuable and no one can take that knowledge away from you! I promise you by continuing onto college the overall quality of your life will enhance tenfold. College is not only exciting and rewarding but you'll get to meet so many other people who are just like you! College is where you will truly thrive as a person and can begin to focus on who you are professionally and will give a whole new meaning to your life. It will help you discover who you are on the inside and will enable you be able to give back to the community. Go on to college so you can make the most valuable connection ever, and that is with the real you!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would first tell myself to relax, I definitely made the right decision. I would tell myself not to worry about what roommate I was going to get because we would end up being best friends and rooming together for many more years. I would tell myself to not worry about my current boyfriend, because college shows you that he isn't the one that matters in your life, that you can do whatever you want and can achieve far more than you'll ever know. Outside of my social life, I would tell myself not to stress so much over the amount of classes I needed to take. Slow down and take a breath. You don't need to pack 20 hours into one semester; some of those classes can wait a year. I would tell myself that I would find who I was supposed to be; that I wasn't going to fail like everyone from my hometown thought I would. Being in a small town, everyone is jealous. You can succeed in whatever you want. You are the one who owns your future.

The most important thing to do is stop and appericate your family everyday. Even though odd are you have your differences, going to college is a family effort. From the support they provide you, to the guidence and love you need, and that tuition check they will likely be writing once a month, your family is a key part to your success beyond high school. With that being said, start making and following good studying habbits now. It is hard to buckle down and put school first when you're emersed in such a new and fun environment and if you do not put school first, you will easily fall behind. Most importantly, start thinking about what YOU want to do in life. College is the first step you will take towards your future as an adult. Think about what you are passionate about and stick with it.

I would advise my high school senior self to not slack off and to keep pushing through class and school. You should have a plan about where you wanna attend college and what kind of field you wanna study in. I would tell myself that life isnt just about football and that my coaches would just tell my teachers to pass me, in the end that just hurt me more because that would encourage me to slack off even more. Not every person that says, "I'll always be there for you", will always be there for you and not to depend on others, you have to be the one to do everything in life for yourself if you wanna excel in life and in your career as a senior. Get things done, dont cheat your way through, go to sleep early, don't skip school and most importantly be a leader and dont follow losers. College isnt hard if your prepared, so learn about the college your gonna go to, research the programs that they offer. But definitly learn about how to get money by scholarships and grants so you wont have to worry about paying for college.

If I could go back in time and truly have a deep conversation with my high school self and offer some words of wisdom regarding college life and the difficult transition I would stress that it is important to be myself and not worry about stressing to fit in. The credit cards and excessive shopping will not make the lonliness go away; it will only ostracize myself from my peers who do not have the credit cards. Money can not fufil the void left by parents splitting up and it will not make them love you more to see that you have grown up so much and dress like an adult. Debt is stressful and makes things difficult. Having a job is not the worst thing in the world but when you get a job, you will actually make some true friends that have some of the same problems as you. Do not be afraid to leave your dorm and just meet new people at the gym and in the cafeteria. Most people are just as scared as you and would love to be friends with someone new.

Take as many college credit course as you can before you graduate highschool. When in college try to study harder and dont party so much.

Study! Study whenever you can, because the material is tricky. Plus you need to find time for everything. Study right after your classes to make sure the material sticks. Also the libiary is going to be your best friend, that will be the second place you attend the most besides your dorm. Lastly dont worry about your major yet and dont stress yourself out with it. GEt core classes out of the way to see what you enjoy. The major you decide to do is going to be with you for the rest of your life might as well enjoy it.

I would say that I need to make sure that I really like the school I am about to attend rather than just pick out a school without loving every little detail about it. Also that it should be a school that I absolutely love and that it can help me in becoming what I want to when I am finished with my education.

Upon meeting my past self in high school, I would, as a college student tell her that college is a whole different life from high school. I would tell her that is a very intelligent young lady and can definitely pull off the acedemic side of college. However it would be more difficult to pull off over a 4.0 GPA in college. She would really worry about that, but I would tell her that the professors are fantastic and will help her succeed in college. I would also tell her that her advisor will help her choose the courses that will help her in her career choices. Those classes will not be a waste of time. Although, there is a more challenging side to college. I would inform my past self that it will be hard to adjust to being on her own at first but in time, it will all be better. There are dorm advisors who will make her feel at home even if she will miss her loved ones. Lastly, I would tell my past self that college will be fulfilling and that she will become a very independant and successful woman.

Stay focused on the reason you are going to college and dont lets the distractions take you off your goals and path.

Hi Steph - Guess what? College will be the best years of your life. You will make life-long friends, travel across the world and mature tremendously. Just make sure you slow down. Focus on today and not three years from now. There's nothing wrong with being career-driven, but make sure you enjoy the freedom you have in college. Don't bury your head in books to make the transition easier. Go to more football games, take a break and party sometimes. Relaxing won't prevent you from graduating with honors, and it won't affect your job prospects. Just don't go too crazy. I know you worked really hard to get here, but you will regret sacrificing the time you could have spent with your friends. After college, you'll all scatter across the country. Plus, it will make adjusting to college your first year so much easier. xoxo, Me