Brigham Young University-Provo Top Questions

Don't worry, your not the only one to have gone to college. Remember that your smart but you need to apply yourself to your studies. It won't be easy so don't let yourself get disracted too much with things that waste your time. But remember to always take a little time out of your day to have a little fun. Get enough sleep, falling asleep in your classes is not the way to go. Eat right, if you eat junk food you'll feel terrible so take the time that you need to eat healthy and consistently. Get exercise, every day do something that will get your blood moving so you don't become lazy and fat. Stay close to God, pray every day and remember that he listens. Talk to your parents openly and ask for advice, they were here once too so they have ideas about things that you don't. Date alot, get to know people and take your time deciding who your going to end up with. Be happy, don't worry, don't stress.

Hello, Meredith, I'm back for a little visit to help you know how to make your freshman year more successful than mine was. College provides a completely different atmosphere than high school did, and it is a lot harder to make friends here. I was always very dependent on my group of friends and it has been very difficult to figure out who I am without their constant support. I would like to tell you that it is okay to spend some Friday nights doing homework, it really doesn't make you a loser. I would also like to tell youthat it people were right, it doesn't matter who you were in high school, nobody cares in college. The only thing that truly matters is who you are now and what you present to those around you. You need to be comfortable wtih yourself, comfortable with your ideas, your emotions, your opinions, and everything about you. Don't worry about what others think of you, Meredith, only worry about what you think of yourself. That will be the key to your success.

Ten Things I Wish I?d Known before Freshman Year: College is hard. I thought college would be an extension of high school. Wrong. Classes were harder, faster, and bigger, and I felt lost. I learned my education is up to me, and it takes dedication. Picking a major isn't actually the most important decision of your life. It really isn?t. Over sixty percent of graduates don't work in their undergraduate major. It?s important, but if you have to explore a bit first, it's okay. Professors are people too. Most professors actually enjoy being visited. Get to know them, and let them get to know you! Later on, letters of reference become really important, and if your professors don?t know you, they can?t recommend you very well. GPA matters. That's where scholarships, acceptance letters for major programs and graduation come from. Freshman year grades really do make it or break it! No man is an island, even in college. Even if you're busy, make friends. When you're at the breaking point, it?s vital to have a good friend. They make the difference between an awesome and miserable college experience.

I studied hard my senior year, and I do not regret, my grades reflected my efforts, and I established habits that have helped me in college. If I were to go back, I would tell myself to work hard, but not let the quest for a perfect GPA consume my life. Each night I would tell myself to go down stairs to help with dinner, play with my sister, or ask my dad how his day went. I definitely took my family for granted, and regret not spending more time with them while I could. I would also tell myself to love learning. I did what I needed to get an ?A? instead of investigating, enjoying, and exploring the information I was given. Learning to love my classes would have helped me to better enjoy my high school experience, retain what I learned, and get good grades. If I had taken my focus off my report card, and placed it on spending time with my family, and enjoying my education, I still would have done well in high school and made it to college, the difference is I would not have missed so many experiences and opportunities along the way.

"Speak up!" I would have said to that short blond girl sitting in the back of Spanish class who was gnawing her fingernails and trying madly to conjugate verbs in her head. I should have knelt down beside her and told her, "It'll be okay. You'll make mistakes. But it's those mistakes that can lead to the greatest opportunities." How could she have known that she'd travel to Mexico and learn to speak nearly fluently? How could she have known that she would make millions of mistakes and not even care? I would have told her that when the teacher in Spanish class refused to give advice on how to improve that college wouldn't be like that. The professors would be helpful and kind, even if strict. They wouldn't laugh because she was trying to learn a new language. They wouldn't discourage her. They'd push her to that different country, that different research, or that different point of view. They would teach her that being different isn't a bad thing because maybe, just maybe, it might get her to the place where she really belonged.

If I could go back and talk to my high school-self, I would tell her not to worry. Everybody in college is struggling in some aspect or another so you don't have to have everything figured out the moment you get in. You can relax and talk to other people, learn form their experience and their examples. I would tell her to explore different venues and different classes. You have to try something to see if you like it, and who knows? Maybe you'll find a hidden passion or a hidden talent that you would love to utilize in your career. I would remind her that while grades are important, you can only do your best. So don't get discouraged, simply change your tactics and try again. This is the time that you get to know yourself, learn yourself, so pay attention to that and play to your strengths. College is mainly about exploring your options, so enjoy it and get excited about all the opportunities.

Now that I am a junior at Brigham Young University I have a lot of things I would say to myself as a high school senior, but the most important things that I would tell myself is to learn how prioritize my time and how to study. When I was in high school I breezed through my classes and I got good grades, but I never really learned how to study. This really caught up with me my freshman year as I only did average in my college classes. My second semester as a freshman I learned how to prioritize my time and I used my study skills to improve my grades. As the semesters have gone by I have come to understand what is important in my college experience and, to me, that is getting good grades. During high school I never thought that I would go to graduate school, but now that I am in my major, I know that I need to go to graduate school to get the best job in my field. By being able to study hard and prioritize my time, I will be able to graduate with good grades.

Dearest me! Don't worry about your future. Worry about the now. Work hard and let the future take care of itself. Amongst hard work, enjoy the journey. It's the every day miracles you should learn to cherish most. Often times you will run into problems and hardship. Enjoy those moments too. Those are the building blocks to a better you. If you can't find joy in the hard times, you won't find joy in the best times. Never let things to be done get in the way of people to be loved. People make this world run and people matter most. Build lasting friendships because those are what will make you the best you. Each individual person can teach you something. Learn from everyone. You can do anything you set your mind to doing but you have to work hard. Love you my friend, Me (5 years down the road)

As a college junior now, the best advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior would be to prepare myself for a completely new way of living and seeing the world around me. I would tell myself to really research the available careers and choose which career or job I am most interested in and excited to obtain my education in. I would stress the importance of applying for scholarships and doing activites that would give me work experience and good references. I would tell myself to really evaluate my goals and hopes for the next five years and work hard on a plan of making each one a reality. Listening and trusting my parents advice would also be a higher piority for me. More than anything, I would explain to myself the big picture and timescale of college and tell myself to chose the experiences that I wanted, and stick to those goals above all else. I would warn myself that school, roommates, and homework would get tough but with dedication I would be more than able to achieve all of my goals and dreams. In the end, it goes by fast so enjoy it.

The transition from high school to college was a transition from childhood to adult hood- both figuratively and literally due to my birthday. If I could turn around for a moment towards my past, there is much that I would note to my childhood self to better prepare for the world of college and adulthood. The most noteworthy thing is that I should be prepared to exercise my agency to the full extent of it's capacity. Moral restrictions are still in role, but many choices once made by adults such as parents are now fully in my dictation. My class schedule is not predetermined, no one stands in the hall to tell me to hurry to get to class, no bell rings to say it's time for lunch, no one reminds me if I didn't take an exam yet... The do's and don'ts are now primarily up to me and are a true test of my values and priorities. As a child, I had wonderful direction from teachers, parents, friends and leaders, and although the influence is still readily there, I now direct my own life. As an adult, it is literally up to me.

The biggest advice I would give myself would be to learn how to study - how to REALLY get down to study and learn on my own. I blew through high school with a flawless 4.0 GPA (if not higher due to AP classes) but once I got to a university, I realized that I didn't really know how to study. Self-motivation is key; you have to WANT to learn in order to be successful here. Good study habits will make or break you in college, so develop them while you can! Also, get involved! There's nothing worse than going through 4 years of school without some sort of fun extra-curriculars to liven things up. These will also help you find your niche in college (not to mention that they look good on applications!) - so get involved! Find something you love to do, and DO IT. You won't regret it.

I would tell myself that I needed to get on top of school work at the beginning of the semester, and not hope that I can catch up towards the end of the semester. I would also tell myself to make sure to start studying for tests days in advance, not hours in advance like I would in high school, because that just doesn't work now. I would tell myself to take some classes at community college and maybe take some more AP classes so I could test out of some of the general education classes and start getting on with the more interesting core topics earlier. I would also tell myself to make sure I liked what I was majoring in so I didn't try to change majors and get behind in my degree plan. I would make sure I also told myself to make sure to leave some time for fun so I didn't get burned out and end up doing poorly at the end of the semester. These are the things I would have told myself as a high school senior.

College is different from anything you?ve ever done before. You work harder and play harder than in high school. The sense of freedom you feel when you realize you?re actually on your own is amazing, but there?s a catch ? it?s called responsibility. You need self-discipline. Teachers won?t pester you about assignments, they?ll just hand you a grade. You actually have to study for tests in order to pass them. The kids who sleep all day and party all night are doing it wrong, because college is about getting the most out of your education (remember you?re paying for it). Don?t expect to get it all right the first time, because you won?t, so leave room for error and improvement. When you do make a mistake, learn from it so you won?t make it again. Take advice from kids who have done this before ? if an upperclassman says a 5 credit class is too intense for a freshman, they?re probably right, so plan to take it in a later semester. Most importantly, have a good time and get ready for some of the best years of your life.

It is 2006, beginning of my senior year. I?m stressing about AP tests, college applications, and suffering from seniorities. If I just survive the next year I can start working toward my future dreams. Pause. At this moment, I would tell myself to relax. High School only happens once, and the friends you have and your way of life will change soon. I would advise myself to stop worrying. Senior year of high school is important, but also needs to be enjoyed. Back to 2006, I feel self-centered. I?m writing essays about me, trying to get colleges to accept me, and figuring out my future. Stop! What am I doing? Yes, all this stuff needs to be thought over and completed, but I would advise myself to take some time to serve more. Serving others always makes me happy and helps me feel like I am helping make a difference in the world in some way. I loved my senior year of high school, but if I could change anything it would be to not have it be so focused on me, but to spend it serving and spending more time on others.

I would tell myself as a senior to take a few more concurrent enrollment or AP classes to get more generals out of the way. Doing that would not only save a lot of time but a lot of money as well. I would tell myself to set a budget as well and try to stick to it because I have found that finances can get out of hand quickly if you do not watch them. I would tell myself to get planner and use it every day. In my first semester in college I had a huge problem with forgetting assignments, exams, and appointments. I got a planner as a Christmas present and have been using it since. The planner is a key thing and I would definitely make sure I got that across to myself because it's already helped me so much. Finally, I would tell myself not to stress. Stress only makes things worse. Sure, college is hard but stressing will not change that. Learn to relax, not to the point of apathy, but have a little fun time. Schedule it in. A little, but not too much, fun is important to your success.

Make time to sleep and take care of your body--everything else depends on your physical well-being. In order to be emotionally stable, academically successful, and socially active your body needs constant care, so take the time to eat and sleep and then you'll be happy more often and more sincerely.

Take responsibility for learning in to your own hands: that is what I would tell myself. I may not have learned things from all of my teachers, but I missed opportunities to learn because I didn't always strive to find new things out for myself. As a high school senior everyone should carefully observe toddles. They are so curious: everywhere they go, things are constantly being observed, touched, smelled, and tasted. Now, I'm not wishing that a high school senior should do exactly as toddlers; however, I'd tell myself and I tell every high schoool senior I meet to always be curious and learning for themselves. Little children inherently learn that a mirror is not a second room and that some things taste good while others do not. Take the concept. Be curious again! Learn something that intrigues you. Don't merely let somebody spoon feed you knowledge because in the end you will, as E.M. Forester so wonderfully taught, only know the shape of the spoon. Be responsible for finding things out by yourself and use others to help you along instead to spoon feed you.

College is completely different from high school. At least starting the second semester of your senior year, make a big effort to stay on top of things and learn how to prioritize. The biggest key to surviving college is prioritizing. If you don't know how to prioritize the things that are going on in your life like--school, work, family, and friends-- college is going to be such a big wakeup call. You really have to plan ahead and know what you're going to do. Starting college for the first time is tough and if you don't get with the program, you are going to fall down fast and hard. Organizing your time is also very efficient. When you have your schedule planned out, it's nice to just follow through with it, and if you get some extra time, it's like a little gift you give yourself. It's during those breaks, that you get to breathe in and take it one step at a time, and remember that as time goes on, you'll get better.

Get involved on campus and in your dorm, but also know your limits. You can join teams, volunteer for everything, be part of the student leadership on campus, attend social events, study hard, and party. Just remember that you can really only do so much, so prioritize what is important and then be willing to let go of the rest. You don't need to do everything, just do what you can.

First, I would probably gloat for a bit that I have the fantastical ability to travel back in time. Second, I would assure my past self I'm not a hallucination or some sort of illusion brought on by reading too many fiction books that I'm actually from the future. After that had been discussed, I would stress the importance of applying for all kinds of scholarships, searching for them any way I can in order to lessen the stress of paying for university. I would also tell me to have fun; something my dad constantly reminds me of. I would say that graduating is important, but if you can't look back on your university experience and think of it as a highlight, then you haven't fully experienced college life. I would also tell myself to be more involved or at least make an effort. And, before leaving, I would tell me to pick a minor earlier in my academic career to better plan my semester course load. Then, I'd vanish is a very mysterious, ninja-like way, leaving myself in awe.

I would tell myself to not care about what others thought about me in high school or college. I would would tell me loosen up my freshman year of college and make friends, have more fun on weekends, and also study more during the week. I would make better study habits in high school so when i went to college I actually knew how to study.

Do NOT Study Under the ol? Sycamore Tree! Knowing myself, I am going to have to keep this simple in order for me to really apply these precious nuggets of premonition. 1.If you study under the sycamore tree, you will get pooped on, despite what you think. The bookstore is ruthless when it comes to buy backs, and you will need that extra $96 bucks. Trust me, carburetors aren?t cheap. 2.On a more serious note: You may think you have a grasp on the world, but again, you are wrong. You will soon find that there is no simple solution to a complex problem. Your goals will take a great deal of preparation and diligence, but I?ll tell you this, you?ll make it. You can do hard things. 3. Finally and most importantly, be slow to judge. The most valuable bit of information you can hope to obtain is the acceptance of others; their ideals, their traditions, their opinions and viewpoints. It will be their perception of the world that will define yours, and ultimately, refine ignorance to influence. Work hard.

You are small, insignificant and nobody really cares about you. All high school seniors need to hear those words just to deflate their ego bubble, or college will destroy them in the first week. It is hard to transition from being a big fish in a little pond to, tiny fish in huge ocean; all you can do the first couple weeks is not give up hope that things will get better. Some things to do to alleviate some of your insignificances is to get involved in your school. Being involved helps you feel more included in the school community. Another thing to do is meet new people. Everybody is in the same boat as you and is looking for a friend. If you become that friend your insignificance level will shrink dramatically. The last bit of advice is to be yourself. It sounds cliche, but if you don't take the time to do things you like to do you are likely to be stuck doing things you hate for the rest of your life. College is about finding out who you are, take time to discover yourself.

Stay focused, work hard, and keep straight because you can't go back once it is done and over with.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to make sure that I don't doubt my abilities and challenge myself a little more for my first semester of college. I would also tell myself that I should take more time to get involved with the school activities and expand my circle of friendships. The final thing that I would tell myself would be to just try my hardest and not compare myself to other students, because they are all learning and growing at different levels and rates so it would be unfair to compare.

My transition from high school to college was characteristically defined by independence and freedom. I had always pictured the idea of being able to make decisions without someone having to baby me as an ideal utopia; an all new lifestyle in which I could do what I wanted without having to bear the constant griping of parents. There was some truth in this, but little did I realize how quickly a carefree attitude would get me in trouble with my schoolwork. My utopia abruptly faced reality soon after the first wave of exams rolled my direction, humbling me in an unbridled fashion. It was time to buckle down and take on personal responsibility; a lesson my parents had so frequently tried to emphasize to me. I then started to take on the proper attitude. I amped up my effort, studied in groups, went to T.A. labs and review sessions, and managed my time more efficiently; even if that required me to lose out on leisure time with friends. If I could talk to myself as a senior, I'd simply repeat a message my mom had continually thrown my way; freedom is the will to be responsible for ourselves.

Being that I have had to take a whole year off from college due to financial hardship I would go back in time and tell myself to apply for as many scholarships that I qualify for. I would also say to really research the school and apply to more than 3 schools so that I would have more options instead of just going because I was accepted. And also most importantly I would say to talk with my chosen schools financial aid office to get more aid to support my education! Through completion of my freshman year I did learn a lot and I really do regret not knowing what I know now because it has really delayed me in getting my education.

Be ready to make the most of your college experience in every way: academically, socially, physically, and spiritually. A whole new world of options opens up, so keep your eyes and mind open and don't be afraid to look into new experiences and try new things. College is a new opportunity to define yourself, so think about who you want to be and then head out to make that of yourself. Don't be afraid. Explore your campuses resources and find out ways that you can participate in things you want to do. And live life to the fullest. Now is all you have, so make the most of it, and tomorrow is all you'll get, so take care of it.

"Even good things can distract us from what is most important at the moment." While volunteering as a development worker in Ecuador, the primary focus of my time was to help the Ecuadorian people. One day, I realized that good things, including the prospect of marriage upon my arrival home and the welfare of my own family, were distracting me from fulfilling my primary purpose at that time of my life. This realization shifted my focus and ultimately led to my success as a development worker. While in Ecuador, I totaled 275 hours teaching sanitation, gardening, food-storage techniques, budgeting and first aid to some 1,560 underprivileged families. I served as a Spanish translator for the United States Army South and 801st Combat Support Hospital who provided essential medical care to an additional 25,000 Ecuadorian families and dedicated more than 400 hours of community service building homes and farming. More than many other lessons I have learned, this lesson continues to bless my life today. I don?t have any regrets, but if I could go back, I would tell myself to keep a watch for those good things that distract us from what?s most important.

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school, the most important thing I would say is to not be scared. The greatest downfall that a new student can have is to be timid and too shy to be involved in school functions. It is incredibly important to "just go for it" at times and get involved. Don't be afraid to get involved in a club or activity that interests you. I would tell myself that it is important to be involved, but in order to not be too stressed about it or overloaded, I would say that the best advice is to find one or two things that you can be actively involved in. You don't need to try to do a million different things. You just need to do one or two things that really make you come alive and bring passion into your life. College is one of the greatest experiences ever, and you can make it that much more memorable when you get involved in your campus. College campus, as well as the world, has so much to offer. Don't be afraid to go out and grab it.

When I made my decision to go to BYU, I was greatly influenced by the opinions of other people. So, if I could go back in time, I would tell myself to do what I wanted. Even though other people's opinions count, I am the one who has to live with my decision in the end and it is better to offend a few people then to have a terrible college experience. I enojy going to BYU but I constantly wonder what college would be like had I decided to attend the college that I wanted to. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would encourage myself to go to the college I wanted to.

The advice about college life I would give myself as a high school senior would be to relax, work hard, and don't forget to have fun. An academic education is important, but a life education is essential. In college, one learns about balancing many different events, such as classes, work, social life, ect., which is crucial to know for raising a family and working a full time job. Also, classes are extremly difficult at the college level. Learning a method of studying that works is important to help attain the future goal of a steady career. Although studies are important, over-working is not healthy. I would advise myself to be sure to squeeze in a little fun time to unwind and rest the brain. College is hard, but it is an experience of a lifetime. If spent wisely, it could be the best years of my life. Lastly, I would advise that college will only be worthwhile if I learn all that I can, work as hard as I can, and have fun!

Justin, You can't imagine right now the kinds of stresses you are going to have in a couple of years as you juggle being a full time student and working to support yourself. You can't imagine the countless nights of little sleep because you had to work late and still had projects to do and papers to write when you got home. You can't imagine the difficulty in maintaining any kind of active social life because you just don't have the time or the money for it. You can't imagine eating pasta and a can of corn every night for three months because you can't afford a lot of food. So take my word for it, and take my advice. There's a way to avoid all of this stress, and it's well within your power. Try a little harder, stay a little more focused, and get better grades. Then you can qualify for academic scholarships that schools give out to kids with high GPA's. You can have your school paid for completely, and you wouldn't have to spend half your time working. Trust me. It's worth it.

My first semester I wasn't that worried about college. I figured I would just kind of breeze through the first semester and get the hang of things just like in high school. If I could go back, I would tell myself to really jump into college life and especially to take my studies more seriously. I wish I would have had a better work ethic my first semester. I still did pretty well and I slide by in my harder classes but I wish I would have set a higher standard for myself than just sliding by. Doing that would have helped build a better foundation for me in my most recent semesters here. I would also have told myself to get more involved with different activities and organizations outside of the classroom. It is a great place to meet new people and get involved in the community.

Whose stupid idea was it to create a fake disease that you only get once, perhaps twice, in your life, and then not explain in full the side-effects of that disease? While you may begin to have symptoms of senoritis this next year as a senior, don't welcome the disease in and let it take over your life. As 17 year old, you haven't even made it through a quarter of your life yet, and there is too much to do and experience out there to get lazy now. While you think you are over school now, there really isn't any escape to work, and that's the part you aren't going to like. It may seem cliche to say it, but it only gets harder from here, truly. Except, after this you are going to be more on your own than you are here: no parents to lean on and tell you what to do when you mess up. Do you really want to create bad habits this year that will affect you for the rest of your life? Do the right thing: suck is up, tough it out, and remember: ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Have fun. I worried so much about school and life and family, that I ended up not doing anything. College can be fun, but it's a lot harder than high school. Sure, a high schooler needs to be proactive and apply for school and scholarships, but they should also have fun. Go to prom and football games. Try out for a school play. Whatever it is, just have fun while you have the chance.

Kendra, please remember that your family is and should be the most important part of your life. I understand how important it is to keep up your image at the sporting events and in front of your friends and the guys, but remember who will be with you through everything else your life will throw at you. Please remember to do your homework and not slack off. You will be required to know how to write a good research paper, as well as be extrememly proficient at reading hundreds of pages per week and will need to know how to skim and look for the important information. Stay involved like you are. It will help you with your organizational skills once you get to college, and you have to learn to prioritize your time like never before. Save money. Finances are incredibly tight once you get to college. Mom and dad will not be able to help you out and you will be required to pay for everything. Save money, learn to be a hard worker so employers will want to hire you. Remember to find a balance and do not sweat the little things! Life is fun!

Let yourself have fun in school and understand that you need to apply for scholarships and aid before the semester starts. Know that getting a job will not only give you something to do in your down time, but help you pay for room and board. Sometimes things will get hard, but know if you continue to work at it you can accomplish so much more than you think. Just keep on studying and trying to learn as much as you can. Remember to ask questions, because you learn so much more when you do, and you won't get lost. Remember that school work does not define you but try to do your best and keep on going when the going gets tough.

Stay focused and make sure to stay goal driven and do all you can to achieve your dreams!

Dear Danielle, College is hard. You will be stressed out not only academically, but also emotionally and mentally as well. You will feel lost and inadequate. I?m here to tell you don?t give up. You have what it takes. You are intelligent, beautiful, and can do whatever you put your mind to. College is challenging but as long as you keep pressing forward you will be okay. Moving out and having to be responsible for yourself completely is scary but there is always someone to help. Friends are especially good at comforting you when you feel hopeless. Also don?t be afraid to call home and go to mom or dad for help, they know what they?re talking about. Remember, there are a thousand other freshmen feeling exactly how you are right now so you shouldn?t feel alone. Oh and school wise, don?t hesitate to ask for help from counselors about classes and a major because that?s what their job is intended for. Furthermore, make sure to do all your work and try not to procrastinate, for it will be your enemy in the end. Don't worry, you got this!

If I could tell some advice to my high school self on what to prepare for college, I would tell him advices in three categories: academic, social, and emotional things to prepare myself successfully for college. First, I would tell myself to continue being successful in all his classes, but would advise taking some more classes that would prepare him for college academics and for scholarship funds. With academic success, I would also suggest applying for as many scholarships as possible so the cost won't be so impacting on the family which would cause stress. For social preparation, I would suggest trying to make new friends at social events, which would be outside of his comfort zone, to get used to making new friends easily when college life arrives. I would also suggest trying to take a girl or two out on dates to ease the anxiety. For emotional preparation, I would advise talking to a counselor about handling the anxiety and feelings of depression. Also, I would remind myself to get used to speaking to groups so he won't be so nervous about things. I would also tell myself to give himself credit for his successes.

Congratulations on your choice to go to college. the decision to grow up and take on more responsibility is a hard one to make, none the less it is the right decision. It will prove to be the most beneficial choice for your future. If you don't understand the nature and maturity of this commitment you soon will. Your higher education studies are far less focused on what is in it for you, because you are there to acquire the skills and knowledge that will allow you to provide for your future family and contribute to humanity. It will be challenging and you will have difficult opportunities to prove yourself, so it is critical that you keep an optimistic outlook and know that you can do hard things. Three keys to your success are diligent study, hard work, and service. It's important that you enjoy your time and have fun. Just be sure to remember the higher purpose of why you are there. Again best wishes, you should be proud of yourself and the choice that you have made to continue learning.

Enjoy the moment. Of course things go wrong, but use each experience as a means to learn. Find the positive - in every situation there is always something good along with the bad.

Take advantage of extra-curricular activities, because you may never have the chance to do those activities again in your life. Don't only look at the Ivy League schools, there are other worthy schools out there. Take your parents' advice on what college they think you should go to.

I tend to be a very stressful and worrisome person. I worry about everything even when it is not that important. I feel that I have to show perfection in all of my work and in all that I do. If I were to go back in time and give myself advice about college life, I would tell myself that although college is difficult, the knowledge gained is so much more valuable. I would tell myself to enjoy every moment of the college and single life. Of course I would tell myself to always do my best in all of my work, but that in the end don't get too caught up in the stresses that come with college. Meet new people, enjoy the classes, and make memories that can always be remember to tell to your kids when you're older. I'm not gonna remember all the grades I got in college or even the grade I received on specific papers or projects, but I will remember the people and the events that happened in my life during college. These would be my words of advice to myself.

I would tell myself to be more interested in being college oriented. What I mean is preparing for the ACT better and taking more advanced placement classes to earn more scholarships. I was very involved in extra-curricular activities and I have worked very hard to earn money for college, but it would have been good for me to look more into the different careers that were available to me before I got to college.

High school does not prepare you for the intensity of college-level courses. Where there was much leniency for late and make-up work before, it is absent in college. Start your assignments early, don't write up a 5-page paper the day before or of the due date; you write much better when you're not pressed for time. Be active in school events; this ensures you to make friends and to take a break from school pressure. Make friends with your roommates and classmates, remember that everyone is far away from home and you need to stick together. Exercise regularly (daily if possible) to help you relieve stress, get plenty of sleep each night, and eat healthy to keep you in tip-top shape for taking vigorous courses in school. Begin preparing for exams weeks before so you know you're ready and can show your teacher what you've learned. If you need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask for it; you can excel much more if you take care of your problems. Finally, give nothing short of your best efforts. College prepares you for real-life so make the most of this experience!

Don't be afraid to take risks. It'll be scary going somewhere where you might only know a handful of people, but if you allow others to see who you really are, then you'll be blessed with friends for life. Just be yourself - people will love you for who you are. Stay focused but have fun too. Life will be so much more enjoyable if you do. Don't worry. Nothing is impossible and you can do whatever you put your mind to. You know what works best for you, so stick with it. If something isn't quite working out the way you thought it would, don't be afraid to change. Sometimes change works out for the better. Stay true to who you are and your first year of college will be an experience you will never forget. Good luck in all your endeavors! You can do it!

Just breath! College is tough. You're going to have to put a lot more into it than you did in high school but it is completely worth it. Work hard and do your best!

You're taking a big step. Sure, it's a little scary and a bit difficult to let go of the world you've known for so many years. But now is your time to take what you've learned and begin to make your own path in this big world. You've got goals, hopes, passions and dreams of big opportunities in your future, and this is where it begins. You will find yourself now making decisions that may affect your entire life plan, but don't be afraid. With hard work, ambition, and a pinch of creativity, you will find even your greatest aspirations are attainable. Don't stray from your standards, and remember what makes you who you are. Remember that Mom only calls so often because she loves you, all-nighters are never worth it, and the tomato sauce in your pizza doesn't count your day's vegetable servings. Don't lose sight of that is important to you. Learn to love learning, be open to exploring new perspectives. Remember all that you have been taught, and determine how you can truly make a change in this world. So go ahead, take the step.