Anderson University-Anderson, SC Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Jessica

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to stop being afraid and take my SATs. I would tell myself to apply for financial aid. I also would tell myself that I am a lot smarter and capable than I know. That if I could maintain an A average, work, and be a single mom now, I could most certainly go to college. I would encourage myself to find a mentor to help transition into college life.

rolandranea

Dear Self, High school was easy to get through. College will create some situations that you have never been through before. In college school is all about time and connections. With all the freedom you have in college you won’t know what to do with your time. Although it may seem like you have all the time in the world to do an assignment, time truly flies. I suggest starting assignments the same day you get them. Manage your time wisely, find a way to balance both school and your social life even though it may seem impossible at first it can be done. Connections are also extremely important. It’s more about who you know than what you know. I would be wise to become friends with upperclassmen who can benefit you in the future. Make sure you enjoy yourself you only get this experience once. Stay focused. Best Wishes, Rolandranea Lincoln

Jessica

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself during high school, the advice that I would give would be to focus more on school than on my social life. Looking back on my high school career, I wasted a lot of time trying to fit in when I could have used that energy more efficiently to pay more attention in class and to have more fun with sports. High school should have been a time that I was able to be carefree, but responsible, because the decisions that I made then, greatly impacted my life now. I would have told myself to carefully choose the friends I surrounded myself around and to take school seriously instead of just goofing off. High school could have been more fun if I had better time management and a healthy group of encouraging friends.

Jeremiah

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would sit him down and explain how difficult college actually is. I would explain to him that it isn't all fun and games, that he actually needs to study more than he thinks and work very hard. I would also tell him to be more involved in clubs.

adefolape

If i had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, i would tell myself to be focus, bold, and be very ready for all and any challenges while in school, i would tell myself to take every little precious because i would never have those time ones they'er gone. I would tell myself not to missuse every little opportunity i get idea with my professor, tutoring classes, group studies,college advisers etc,beceause these are the people i would give thanks to at the end of my journey; iwould tell myself not to relax and put in all and every effort i could put into my studies. I would tell myself never to hate any subject because that is a step tp failure, i would tell myself to keep in mind the real reason why i came to school and never let anyone be a bad influence on me not even myself; i would tell myself to think before i finally make a choice of my career because that would be the key foundation to my life and make it a career i would enjoy and love doing.

Noah

Honestly, there's a lot you should know. Let me start by saying – get a life! Looking back, I know that you think you are on a roll. You think your life is getting better – you're having fun, making friends, and discovering new passions that will stick with you for forever. But I also know that you feel like you're not good enough, you don't think you're a "normal" person and you have a lot of resentment for other people because of that. What's ironic, though, is that the only person you should be resenting is yourself! Stop blaming other people, stop worrying about being normal, and start enjoying your life! Did you know that in the next 4 years, you will become an independent adult? Did you know that you will actually graduate with 2 majors? Did you know that you'll be planning a wedding before you graduate college? It's crazy. Don't waste the time you have, and don't settle. Get involved in everything you can. You are an awesome person, you just have to be willing to show people that. Have fun!

Rachel

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have encouraged myself to think about my next four years at college and decide what are things that I really want to do. I say this becuase I am planning on studying abroad in Australia Fall of 2012 and I started planning late. I'm planning on overloading the semesters I return and taking out some unexpected loans. If I would have planned on doing this, I would have been able to arrange my schedule and start saving money earlier. This experience for me means so much because I have been given the opportunity to take on an internship in a school for autistic children, which is what I ultimately want to do. As a high school senior, if I would've taken the time to think about what I wanted to do in my life as a college student it would make this whole process of studying abroad much easier.

Amanda

I would tell myself to push harder in my last semester of my senior year. To accept the advice that I needed a tutor and pass that Pre-Calculus class to help my GPA. I would tell myself to take a few more risks, to go out and enjoy all of the freedom I had left for I went off to college. I would tell myself not to pick Anderson University, and instead go to Winthrop like I had orginally planned on doing. I would tell myself to spend as much time with my momma as possible, because soon I would barely get to see her, and I'm going to get the worst case of home-sickness I had ever felt.

Kelsey

If I could go back in time to myself in high school I would first advize myself to pick my friends wisely. I would also tell myself to always look up for guidance and listen to my mother. The lord helped me through some tough times as I was making my transition into college. My mother also proved to be a great help during my transition. She was always a phone call away and knew exactly what to say to make myself feel better. I would also advize myself to get a calendar and a planner sooner rather than later. Keeping up with various exams and essays can be hard work. It is very important to get started early and stay on top of every assignment.

Samantha

I would definitely inform myself on how difficult college and college life can be. College must be taken seriously and something one works for daily. Studying every day is a very important aspect of college or one will get very behind and grades will start dropping. I would also tell myself to have fun but never procrastinate. High school is a lot easier to wait and finish something at the last minute, but college does not wait on you and is an ongoing process. I would tell myself to enjoy these short years and make plenty of trustworthy friends. Friends can be there to help you through a lot of things and it is hard without them. Just remember to always study and do your best to keep your head up in everything you do.

Wendell

In high school I didn't put much trust in God. I was a very worrisome individual. I was afraid of what people thought of me. I thought too much about my future. I had a learning disability. I struggled with academics. I had a small comfort zone. I procrastinated. The advice I would give: Start walking by faith and remember there is nothing you and God can't handle together. You will find that you worry for nothing and things turn out fine, so don't fear. What people think about you is totally irrelevant, so don't hide from life because of it. Plan for the future, but to miss out on the present for worries of tomorrow must stop. Do not become a cripple to your disability; yes you struggle some but you can still learn. Realize what you want and need won’t fall into your lap, when opportunity knocks be excited. When you procrastinate you are setting yourself up for failure. Take advantage of services provided to help you. Learn how financial aid and work-study works. Know what courses your major requires and what semesters you expect to complete them and stick to it.

Jacqueline

I would tell my self to enjoy everything I had and all the opportunity I was given; because in college most teachers don’t care if you come to class or if you don’t do your homework. Having someone push you and is a complete blessing.

Megan

Dear high school Megan, I am so happy that you are being so involved at Wren High and are enjoying your senior year there, I am so proud of your accomplishments. Since I have been where you are, I would like to give you some advice for college. You have been accepted to many colleges and universities, but please make the decision carefully. This is something that will be a part of you for your lifetime, no pressure. Remember one thing, even if you make mistakes along the way, learn from them. Do not be afraid to be yourself in any situation and do not let peer pressure get the best of you. You know who you are the best never forget that! Do not make a decision because it is what everyone else wants you to do. This is your life and you should live it to the fullest. Study as much as possible to recieve great grades for you to go to medical school! Your main goal in life, is to make a difference in the lives of the people you meet, you have already done that for many, but keep going and never give up! Sincerely, Megan

Samantha

Take transfer classes in high school. Go to a local community college and either get general education out of the way or get the AAS done right away. Don't wait, as your opportunities to travel while in school will dwindle as you get older. Work your butt off to get great grades and volunteer as often as possible!

Amanda

Knowing what I know now as a Junior at Anderson University, I would advise my high school senior self to confidently take the leap from high school to college! College has been a wonderful growing experience not only acedemically but also spiritually and socially. Every semester I am reminded that I am continuing on the path that God has planned for me.

Sam

Do not make such a big deal out of this whole college application and chosing which school is right for you, just visit enough schools and one will, "feel right" for you. And as far as applying and getting accepted inot a college, its not nearly as hard as people claim, if the schools don't have students they can't make money, and we all know they will be doing that! Just keep going on visits and keep an open mind because some of the schools you think are the least likely you will end up at become your first choice.

Elizabeth

I would tell myself to slow down. College is going to come eventually. Don't get so bogged down about the future that you aren't spending time with those around you now. I would tell myself to stop freaking out. Almost everyone is in the same boat as you the first week of classes. Everyone is looking for new friends. Just smile and be friendly. Enjoy your last months of high school because once you leave, nothing is ever going to be the same. College changes you, even in a couple months. Give your parents some slack. Stay home one Friday night and play games with your family. Just as things are about to change for you, they will change for your parents. Know that wherever you are going is going to be the best place for you in that moment. There's always a reason for you to be somewhere.

April

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would have to tell myself that be prepared for hard work. When I was in high school, I was the slacker, did not know what to do with my life. But now that I know what my potential is and what my aspirations are in life, I would go back and tell myself that I am more than I give myself credit for. When I put my mind to something, I dedicate myself to that goal that I strive for. College was not as hard as I anticipated, but it was not a "walk through the park" experience either. Other than academic struggles, I have personal life experiences that I have learned from. I would diffinitely tell myself to watch who your friends are, and make good choices. Lastly, I would have told myself to be myself. I was always the people pleaser and tried to act like someone I was not. Once I got to college, I started acting like ME and I am more respected for it now in college. Fortunately I am around people who discovered this as well. :)

Delores

I would tell myself to take more time researching my major of interest as well as the colleges and universities that offer my major. I applied to colleges during the later part of my high school senior year while others had already began admissions processing and financial aid planning months before. This really set me back and caused me to miss out on the opportunity to plant myself in a place that would truly benefit myself and my education. I had no idea how much the decision to get a higher education would affect my life at the time, but now I see how if I had made better and wiser decisions I could not only have graduated along with my Class, but also would've been able to provide a much better and sufficient lifestyle for my now 2 children and I. I would tell my high school self to take my considerations and preparation for college seriously and focus on the big picture, look forward to getting something more than just "fun" out of college, but rather a degree and a means of propelling myself into a career of my choice. You're success is based on you.

Marisa

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to work harder. I would tell myself that after you feel like you feel like you have worked hard, go back and make sure that you did your absolute best. In college, you are expected to do your work, it is not an option. I would also tell myself that when making the transition into college life, it is important to not only stay with one group of friends. It is important to branch out and get involved with many different groups of friends. When it comes time for a career and getting out in the ‘real world’, connections and who you know are a major part of success in life.

Katelyn

If I were to have the ability to return to the past I would inform myself of the need to save money. I had a part time job in high school, but I used that money to spend on food and entertainment instead of saving it. I have learned the lesson of the importance of saving money, as it has been difficult to pay for college out of my own pocket. While my parents cannot afford to support me, I have had to work my way through college and therefore have lost fellowship and study time because of this. If I had been wise and saved money while I did not have many expenses, I would have a better overall college experience and therefore better grades as well.

christina

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior i would say to don't be shy and you are smarter than you think. I was a very self conscious high school senior and I didn't think I had a chance of going to school. I did graduate from a 4 year univeristy but my major wasn't the best choice and now I'm going back to school for somthing different. If I had that confidence as a senior in high school I would have picked somthing that was more specialized and that was more likely to get a job after.

Hope

The first piece of advice I would give myself would be to take college classes in high school! GPA does not carry over into college; only credits transfer. So, its okay if you made a D on that probability and statistics class in high school, you get the credit anyway and you won't have to suffer through it later and end with an 89.4 (which, in fact, does not round up to an "A"). The second thing I would tell myself would be to apply for scholarships. Don't be afraid to take out loans to go to a college that you actually would like going to. Sure, that arts college is free, but you might be the only one not in 1800's style clothing in the caf on the first day, and you won't have to have an awkward conversation with chubby Batman standing on the side of the road waiting for his theatre class to start. The last piece of advice I would give myself is to enjoy high school. Enjoy living at home and eating food you can identify, enjoy your friends and family, and invest in Ramen noodles. Lots of them.

Sebastian

Due to how prepared I was when I came out of high school there is not much I would tell my self. The one thing I would stress to myself though is to study harder for my ACT a lot more than what I did. Other than that I took every upper level course in high school that I could and did extremely well in high school on top of that.

Emily

Don't be scared. It seems hard and really scary going to a place so far away from home, knowing absolutely no one, but there are hundreds of other kids making the exact same step forward as you. You are beginning a new chapter in your life; one where you are calling the shots. You get to study what you want. You'll make friends that love you and are interested in the same things as you. You're gonna grow up and do things you never thought you would or COULD do. And it's amazing. You're going to love it so much it's gonna be hard to go home at the end of the semester. So don't be afraid. Everything is going to work out in the end.

Hillary

"Listen, I know your really excited to be off on your own right now, but enjoy mom, dad and Sam right now because your going to miss them so much. Also, enjoy your comfortable bed! Top bunk, on the brick slab of a mattress your going to have is going to get old, FAST. And please, please eat as healthy as possible because all of those late night runs to Cookout will add up to five extra pounds on your stomach that become near impossible to lose. And most importantly, be patient with people. Your roomates are coming from a much different place than you and you cant expect them to think like you do. All you can do effectively is love them unconditionally. The first semester is going to fly by faster than you can say, "I hate it here!" and just when your ready to give up, your going to look in the mirror and see the new person you've become and realize that you've grown to believe in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to, failure is unevitable along the way and without it, college wouldnt change you so much."

cherrelle

If i could go back and give myself advice during my senior year in high school. I would have to tell myself, just because your senior year didn't turn out the way you had always wanted it to, don't mean that it wont be a good expierence. You have to make the best out of every situation. If you need motivation, Just keep on thinking about your future, vision it, set goals, and achieve every goal that you set. The funny thing about life is that every thing can change in a blink of eye. Instead of fearing the change, adjust to it, embrace it, and make your vision fit the new change, so that you can still achieve what ever you want out of life. Life is what you make so make sure you make the best out of it.

Jonathon

I would give myself the advice to buckle down and actually do work instead of just getting by, academically and athletically. I say this because I'm having a hard time paying for college and a scholarship especially in academics could have helped out a lot.

Holly

Remember to keep looking toward the future. Dwelling on past experiences can be helpful and provides a learning experience but is not necessarily healthy. Always take life one day at a time and do not blow little hiccups out of proportion when something goes wrong. Stay focused on the big picture and everything will turn out right. College life is so much like regular everyday life. It provides the first steps for achieving dreams in life. Life changes all the time, and so do people. Come up with a plan for how to get the best out of life and include education in it. Having a plan for college is just like having a plan for life - set one, follow it, and eventually it will happen.

Janna

Don't get so hung up on doing everything quickly. Slow down enjoy the learning experience. Get everything you can get out of it.

Maggie

When I attended South El Monte High I got accepted to Cal State Los Angeles.My goal is and was to become a teacher within four years and I knew CALSTATE LA was a good school for that field. I made an appoitment to visit the campus and meet with a counselor. After my appoitmentw I realized, it wasn't what I wanted. Since I did not get accepted to Cal Poly Pomona Rio Hondo College was my next choice. Now that I am attending Rio Hondo College, I will transfer in Spring 2012 to Cal State La. Now that I have gave that information, I'd like to tell you what I should advised myself during high school. I should have gone straight to a University. Attending a JC is affordable and the commute is practical. The con's of going to a JC is that it is so much more difficult to transfer and keep track of your transferable classes. I would also tell myself to take college classes during high school in order to get ahead and make my goal obtainable.

Hannah

If I could go back, I would tell myself to enjoy high school more. I wouldn't waste so much time about getting out of high school and stressing about college. College is something completely new in itself, and I personally needed the extra high school time for the transition. I would let myself know that God put me at my college for a reason, and despite what anyone else says, I will be successful. I would tell myself to focus more on my grades and less on the future. The future will come at its own time. Preparing myself mentally would be a huge aspect. I would remind myself that relationships are so important, and to focus on the friends and wonderful people I met throughout high school. The most important advice I would give myself would be to always be yourself, because the person you are inside will get you further than any person you can pretend to be.

Gabrielle

If I could go abck in time and give my highschool self a bit of advice on college life and making the transiftion, I think the most important thing I would tell myself is to really plan ahaid and begin completeing scholarships in advancel. I made the mistake of not focusing on the financial aspect of going to college, and my family is paying for my mistake. Since the economical downfall the biggest concern is money, and everyone realizes the college is not cheap, but I think that most highschool students do not realy know how "not cheap" college is and the stress it can possibly pose on your family. If I could go back and tell my highschool self something it would be "stop messing around and get some scholarship money for college!" If i would have done all of the financial work ahaid of time the transition to college, I belive would have been alot smoother and less stressful.

Teresa

Make sure you take time to have fun with friends more so you do not stress yourself out as much. Try to study more, study groups help. Quit worrying so much and just have fun, if you enjoy what you are doing it shows in your work.

Michal

The best advice that I think I could have given myself would be to have been applying for scholarships throughout my high school career. Doing that would have hopefully helped me avoid being in my current situation were money is tighter than it should be and I'm not sure whether I'll be able to pay for my next semester.

Katherine

Be engaed in class and prepare for college studying

Katie

I would tell myself that college is a unique experience. Living in a dorm has taught me it is only odd the first week or so to live in a dorm away from home. I know you are comfortable at home, but living somewhere else you will soon get used to it. The biggest strugle you will soon concour is creating a new self-image of yourself that is not tied strictly to your family. There is no way to prepare for this, you can only pray to God for support, while you trust your good values, and beliefs. I know you are naturally very shy, and talking to people you are unfamiliar with isn't easy for you. To help with this just try to think about being more assertive and try speak to nearly everyone. Eventually even with your learning disabilities you will somehow rember the new people you are meeting name's and develop at first a small comfort area. Then you will soon feel like you have many fun friends. Overall just stay confident, becouse you're a great person. Then continue to stay a good student by studing and doing your best every day.

Devonte

Knowing what I know about college life and making the transition, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to actually put forth effort and become an overachiever . College is not as hard as everyone is making it seem, but you will have better study habits if you start now. If you actually put forth effort, you will learn how to manage your time and have a jump start on that road to success. If you start doing these things right now, making the dean’s list will not be as hard as it is now. I know you want to be successful, so man up and take the challenge and stop being lazy!

Sara

If I could go back I would Probally tell myself to push to do the best i can and not to slack off just because its my last year. I would also tell myself to keep focus and not lose sight of my future. My future seemed so far away in highschool. Being I was only 16 I acted like a kid, but now I look back and I'm still only 17 but I understand how important my senior year was in preparing me for college. Using what I know now this is what I would tell myself.

hannah

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to keep working hard and not be discouraged in all areas of my life. Often times high school can be grueling, but being in college now, I am so glad that I endured. I would tell myself to keep doing my homework even when I did not want to. But even more than this, I would emphasize how important people are. The relationships I formed in high school taught me far more than anything I learned in a classroom. I owe many of my interpersonal skills to my high school friendships. So I would encourage myself to keep pursuing people even when I was worn out. These two areas of my life I really needed to be encouraged in throughout high school. I hope that I can encourage those around me to stay strong both academically and relationally.

Stacy

One of the oldest questions may be, “what would you do if you could go back in time?” If I could go back and speak with my high school self, I would like to stress the importance of starting my college education earlier. I would tell my high school self that I should take advantage of my school benefits I will receive from the Army in the future. I’d also make sure I knew that the college experience is what you make it. You truly get out, what you put into it. At first college can be intimidating, soon find out there are various groups, and people that can help you along the way. I’d make sure I knew to fully use all the resources college has to offer, in order to help make the transition smoother. In closing, I’d tell myself to have fun, but stay focused, Use my time wisely, but don’t over think it. College can be hard to handle, take it one motivated day at a time. And always hold your goals as your most important thing, for it is my future.

Cayla

“These are the best years of our lives,” or so I was told by many family members, friends and peers. Looking back, I see no light over the famous saying. My life is what you would call average, and my childhood is what you would consider normal. However, my college years would be viewed as hectic and misfortunate. Digging through repressed memories does not have the aesthetics of life that we would like to see, but it allows us to see where things have went wrong. If time machines were possible, I would find my seventeen year old self to tell her, "in your future things are more difficult than you can imagine. I know you love Zeke, but this relationship is your demise in time. He isn't worth it. Follow your dreams; go to the Academy, and never forget that footprints are on the moon. If you choose not to, you will end up going to college for three years and still be considered a freshman. Reach for the stars baby girl, and dont put your life on hold for a boy. Oh, and please live on campus. It is the one thing we wish we could change."

Amber

As a college student, there are a few things that I wish I would have known before making the transition from a high schooler to a college student. First, I would tell myself that the transition is not as hard as it seems. Knowing that I was going to leave home and travel three hours to Anderson to attend school was a scary thought throughout my senior year. Now that I am here, I realize that the transition was one that had to be made. It was a positive change and one that will ultimately allow me to mature and learn to take care of myself. I would also tell myself that having good grades and creating study habits is more important than keeping up with friendships. Most of my friends from high school are already a smaller part of my life now but the study habits I aquired are still with me to this day. I would also have told myself to learn information rather than memorize it. In many of my classes, the same information I learned in high school is being tault. If learned the information rather than memorize it for tests, my classes would be easier.

Jennifer

It has been a long time since I have graduated high school. When I was in high school I was just trying to graduated ,so I can get out of high school. If i could go back in time I would tell myself to take high school more seriously. I would say," take as many classes as you can." I would also tell myself to do well in math and english. The reason I wished i would of done better in subjects is because i am having to start with low english and math. The reason I am starting out in the lower english and math is because i didn't try harder in high school. If i would taken high school seiously i would of been able to take harder classes and be finished with college.

Sean

Make sure that you actually learn how to study. In highschool all you did was study for thirty minutes, but you need to learn how to study before you enter into college. Make sure that you put school first, and you dont put friends and sports first. Be you and don't let anyone decide who you are. You are a man of God and know one can take that away from you.

BRITTANY

BRITTANY; THE COLLEGE IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK. EVERY PERSON'S COLLEGE EXPERIENCE DIFFERS AND CHANGES ALONG THE WAY. TIME MANAGMENT IS A MUST SO PLEASE DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. COLLEGE WILL GET STRESSFUL ONLY IF YOU ALLOW IT TOO, SO PRACTICE BEING PATIENT. DON'T GET FRUSTRATED EITHER, INSTEAD SMILE AND BREATHE AND TRY YOUR BEST! DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS EITHER, BECAUSE YOUR BEST IS ALL YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY AND WELL ACCOMPLISHED! LASTLY, NEVER GIVE UP!

Megan

Learn how to study! In High School, I never needed to study for tests, but in college, I've had to learn how. In High School, I would just complete my study guides and wing it on the tests, but now I've had to adjust to more studying time and how I've had to prepare for assignments and exams. The one plus to that is actually knowing the information instead of just guessing and hoping for the correct answer, which has vastly improved my grades, as well as my work ethic.

holly

I'd tell myself to get ready buckle up and get ready for the best time of my life.

Meredith

College is a big part of one's life; it can be the ultimate factor to success. Though I do not regret the college I have ended up at, I wish I had researched more options for degrees and schools. If I could go back in time, I would strongly urge my high school self to look at all options before settling on a final decision about my undergraduate education. As a high school student, I would have been able to make a decision based on the research I obtained to find the best suitable school that would allow me to strive for the best I could become. With such knowledge, success would be in my future for certain.

Kenneth

Prepare. Even if you don't think you will get in due to monetary reasons. Prepare at all costs.