California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Top Questions

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

Steven

As a brother of two others, one of them being my sister who is currently that senior in high school I have gone through this question many times before. The main point I would focus on is you, many people rely on others opinions and thoughts of schools to impact their own decision even saying no to a school purely because their friends didnt think highly enough of it. Each school is never going to be perfect, youre expectations of what college should be based upon media is inflated to be completely honest. College is tough, youre on your own, and your comforts are diminishing but its worth it. You grow so much from the process and just because you dont find exactly what youre looking for in greek life or sports or etc. you can still have an amazing time at any school if you open yourself up to new possibilites. Explore and be flexible to the world around you.

Kelsey

I would say not to worry so much. Before going into college I remeber looking up graduation rates, percent of student that get a job after graduation and all of the other statistics I could find online. I would tell myself to instead of worrying so much on my grade, worry about learning the material and having fun. Throughout college I have learned college is really all about getting a firm grasp on the material while also getting out and experiencing everything the campus has to offer and making connections that will last a lifetime.

Clare

I would say if it is okay to go to community college. You don't have to go to a four-year Univeristy, but if you choose to go to a four-year University go to one that is smaller and closer to home. Find a community you love and dont try to be somone you aren't. You liked yourself in high school and you were happy. Remeber to stay happy and finish college at a pace that is comfortable to you. Dedicate yourslef to academics, but dont forget that excersise is an important part of your life. Be confident that you can do anything you want and dont limit yourslef. Also, dont stress so much about money. Just foucs on doing stuff you love. People keep telling you to go out of your comfort zone, but that doesnt mean dont you need to do stuff you hate over things you love. Dont shape your life around other people. Dont worry so much about what everyone else is doing and just focus on yourslef. If keep yourslef happy and healthy everyone around you will be happier and healthier for it. Be optomistic. Don't listen to the pessemists.

Richard

If paying for college is difficult and you are not sure what you want to study, do not go to a large university. Instead, save money by going to a community college and doing a lot of research in your spare time. You will have about two years to figure out what your post high school career will be. When and if you do decide to go to college, make sure it's a college that best suits you. Don't worry too much about the big names but visit the campuses and get a feel for the lifestyle. After deciding on a campus, become involved. Fraternities are good for connections but they are costly and too much partying can deter you from graduating. I would recommend clubs related to your major. If you chose not to join a club or fraternity, be sociable at least. Do not become a fly on the wall. Go out and make friends related to your major. You will regret not making those connections if you have career trouble.

Grace

I was very nervous about starting college. I was not confident in my ability to make the transition from high school to college. Leaving my hometown, my friends, and my family to go and be in a new environment with new people was scary. If I could go back in time to right before I left for my 1st year at Cal Poly SLO I would let myself know that I am stronger than I think. I would also tell myself that everyone is affraid of going off to college and you are not alone and that you will find people who will become your best friends during this transition period.

Gennesee

If I could go back in time and be able to give my high school senior self some advice it would be to not procastinate as i did as a senior, especially in the spring semester. I thought that because I had already been accepted to the university I wished to attend that I was pretty much done with school, and that way of thinking caused stress for me later as I was rushing to complete assignments that I had procrastinated. I would also try to finish completing more scholarships as my university had a lot more fees than I had originally anticipated.

Nick

I would tell myself that you must never assume that you're going to receive something. I would tell myself to apply for the full tuition scholarships because once you're a college student, there are rarely any full tuition scholarships. Nothing in life is guaranteed, so I would give myself this advice.

Lindsay

If there was one thing that I could say to myself as a senior in high school regarding college, it would be this: you CAN do it. I grew up in a very poor household, and I never though college was an option for me. Though I was intelligent and always did well in school, I never even considered going to college. Part of the reason for this was because no one told me that I could. I graduated from a continuation high school. When I transferred from the main high school to the continutation high school, any encouragement regarding college literally disappeared. None of the adults in my life, whether it was my parent, teachers, or counselors, ever talked about my option with me. My only goal was to graduate high school. I look back, and I wish I could shake my 17 year old self and say, "You are capable!!" I went back to school when I was 23. As a result of this, I transferred into the university at 25. While I gained a lot of life experience in this time, I also lost a lot of opportuinities. Now I tell myself that I CAN everyday.

Tiffany

Be the absolute best you can be. In one year when you enter college, you'll realize how blatantly your past defines you. High School is NOT the time for you to "make mistakes because you're only young once". It is the time for you to wonder, discover, and be inspired as much as possible. College will drain the youth and imagination from you. Maturity and reality will take their place instead. Here, your eyes will be open to a cut-throat world. A year from now, your parents will no longer be able to support you. A year from now, you will be working a 50 hour work week in order to pay for the next school year. A year from now, you will wonder why you are working so damn hard to be somewhere you're not even sure you want to be. "Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." -Leo Jozef Suenens. One of your biggest regrets will be that you never had a dream. You're only young once, don't regret it.

Alexander

The freedoms of a newly attained adulthood seem endless, and it is very hard to not take advantage of those freedoms when they are first offered. These freedoms include no immediate consequances for missing class, or abusing alcohol, so one must learn to be self disciplined, and responsible in order to succeed. Without the coddling of high school educators, and the relentless nagging of parents to complete assignments, my grades fell to the wayside. Because of this, my advice for myself as a graduating senior would simply be, "GO TO CLASS!". I spent many sleepless nights beyond stressed, and praying for teachers lenience , because too may days before were spent with friends ignoring my responsibilities. As a graduationg senior you are becoming an adult, and waiting a year before acting like one can really implicate ones life goals and aspirations. You and your parents are spending a large sum of money in order to prepare you for a world where it is hard excel without a proper education, and getting drunk with ones friends is not worth missing out on the opportunity that is available when one acheives their goal of higher education.

Nicole

Put more effort into into finding out what the atmosphere of a school is like, and be sure to reach out to people through facebook so that you know people before actually leaving for school.

Robert

Dear Me, When you get to college, one of the most important things that you need to remember is that this is your home now, and however much you give to this new home is what you'll get out of it. First and foremost, don't hold on too tightly to the things you left behind, they'll only keep you from moving forward, and the things and people that truly matter will be there when you get back. From there, you need to branch out; meet new people in your dorm and in your classes, and get involved in something whether it be a club, a social organization, or even recreational sports. An active person is a happy person, and the transition will be so much easier. Once classes start, focus up! This is the real reason why you're in college, to get an education. Albeit, while you do want to do well so you can get a job after graduation, don't lose yourself in textbooks 24/7. Cal Poly is a wonderful place to make friends and have fun, so get out and make your own adventure! Good Luck, Robby Cabri

Elizabeth

If given the chance to go back and speak to myself I would say to be true to yourself. Don't just say you are liberal because everyone else is and you want to fit in. Stand up for what you believe. I would also say don't get sucked into the party scene just because everyone else is. If you don't think something is a good idea then trust yourself that it isn't. By going to places you know you shouldn't go, or doing things you know you shouldn't do, you just open yourself up to be hurt.

Wyatt

If I could go back, I would inform the younger me about two different part of the college experience; social and academic. For the social part, I would like to tell myself to get more involved in everything that comes your way even if it doesn't sound like something that you are interested in. It is very important to get involved with your school early in the college process in order to make connections for the rest of your life. For the academic side of college, I would like to tell myself to be prepared for how much larger the homework and studying load is compared to high school. For me, it was a very large step which took atleast an entire quarter to adjust to. After I got adjusted to how much studying to do per week it was much easier to keep myself on track. The last point that I want to talk about is being able to balance your social and academic life in a healthy way. This can be a very tough subject for new students but it is very important for their emotional health.

Courtney

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what i know now about college I would advise myself to get all of my college prep classes in order and not fool around. I would tell myself to fight for my rights as a disabled student early and on and not let insructors take advantage of me. To stay focused on class and highering my GPA. To get a head start on general education college courses and not put them off until last minute. To get invloved and focus on gratuating early instead of procrastinating school work and gettting through credits.

Rhys

I have focused hard on grades, sports and friendship. I am pretty pleased with what I have learned and accomplished today. However, I must admit, I would have asked more questions and not delayed the process. I assumed perhaps arrogantly that I would get a lot of offers or acceptance into Universities, that was not the case. Looking back, I should have prepared better for the SAT written section and I should of worked more with the councilors on each niche of schooling. Furthermore, as bright as my I am from a grade perspective, I perhaps am not that bright at looking for scholarships. I thought I would have been offered some and regretfully I have not. In looking back, perhaps this is the biggest area I would have changed. I would of looked for what it takes to get some relief towards schooling via scholarship.

Alexandria

My only consideration in high school was getting into top schools. I never learned how to plan a budget, manage bills, or communicate effectively to my parents. Finances have been a big struggle, but I believe I could have avoided many woes if I had written up a specific plan and holding myself and others accountable to stick with it. I would tell my high-school self to spend more money on food and less on activities that distract from studying. Academically, I may have helped myself by re-taking the first three quarters of calculus so that they were fresher in my mind. Then, I may have had an easier transition my first year easier with a less rigorous catalog. I would then say to myself to not allow myself to change my path due to the influence of others around me. My younger self had a clear, focused goal and I would tell her to keep that mindset steadfastly. Other than those things, I have to defer to one of my dearest college friends. He urges me all the time to spend an hour a few times a week developing career skills unrelated to coursework.

Madison

Thinking back to my senior year of high school, I thought college was going to be daunting and difficult. I felt that I would need to act and dress a certain way in order to fit in, and play the part of a "college kid". I also felt that college classes would be too challenging for me to get good grades. Little did I know, being in college was just the next step in life and every new freshman was in the same position as me. If I could go back in time and give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry about buying new clothes and trying to fit in. I would tell myself not to worry about the classes being too hard. I would tell myself that I am a strong, smart, and capable woman and I would do just fine. Because once I regained my confidence and realized I was fully capable of making new friends and doing well in classes, just the way I am, I stopped struggling and I did just fine.

Christopher

As a future college junior in Fall 2014, I remember high school senior year like if it was yesterday. It amazes me how fast time goes by— everyone tells the truth that college flies by. If I had a “do-over” I would tell myself two years ago, to take those two extra Advance Placement course I was relentless to enroll in because of “seniorities.” I would go back and teach myself budgeting— drop a grand on a 18 year old freshmen and it is overwhelming. I would have convinced myself the major I planned to go into college for was not the right one for me. I would have convinced myself that college is expensive. I should have been more involved in campus activities to start making changes then rather than now. I should have know better to pick good friends rather than bad influences. Most important of all, I should have picked my school based on a holistic view— looking at demographics, location, social life, etc.

Kristina

Don't just get caught up in the activities of your major and college, but also get even more involved with the school spirit. Especially when sports teams are doing really well, you will want to go see a game so you can say you were there when they won. In addition, really learn how to take time for yourself and be able to take a step back and relax. LIfe is fast pace, but it is only up to you to slow it down so you can thoroughly enjoy every moment. Don't let two years pass before you finally learn how take in each moment. Lastly, don't let the bad moments run your life, but rather, just move on. Understand that it happened and nothing can be done to change it. Let the moments that most impacted you continue to impact you to do even greater things.

Bruce

I would tell myself to start applying to schools a lot earlier, procrastination is evil and it brings stress along with it. Had I started earlier on them, I could have been more relaxed and focused on my schoolwork and finished off the year better.

Casandre

If I knew then what I know now I would have taken more college courses while attending High School. I almost have all of my Liberal Arts classes completed and am waiting to hear at the end of this month if I have made it into the Nursing program. I am currently employed as a LNA and a full time student at NHTI in Concord, NH. I love to challange myself and would love to keep learning. I believe by interacting with Colleges and attending College fairs while in High school you can really get your name out there and alot of people. Never stop learning!

Caitlin

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take a breath and relax. My goal has been to be a veterinarian which requires an excellent educational grade point background. I entered college with an intensity and goal to achieve straight As. This resulted in my getting so stressed out and in my head before every exam that I hampered my test-taking ability no matter how well I knew the material. If I could go back in time, I would make sure I knew that its ok to go out and have some fun. Its ok to not spend every night inside studying. Its ok to not always do well on an exam as long as I took a breath and made changes to my study habits for next time. I believe that if I knew back then to not let myself stress myself out, I would achieved even better grades in college and my college experience would have been even greater.

Julia

I would tell myself to never give up no matter how difficult the challenge is because giving up only leads to more defeat in the future. I would tell myself to have a stonger metal game because mind over matter is extremely important when getting work done since I am able to work a thousand times faster in college because I am not worried about set backs I just tackle all the work I have to get done. I would also tell myself to not take myself to seriously. I would get so down on myself if I ever did poorly on a test and have a bad mood overall but in college I have learned to roll with the punches and realize that I can always improve and become a better version of myself if I put my mind to it.

Zachary

If some person were actually able to create the most desire product, a time machine, I would gladly volunteer myself as a test subject. Looking back and knowing what I do now, I would have to tell myself hours' worth of information, but most importantly, I would spend most of the time focusing on one subject - change. That one word can describe almost all that happens the first year of college compared to high school. Changes in maturity levels, in friends, and even in relationships with those that were to be remembered forever. Some individuals who used to be the "most likely to succeed" in high school would be the very ones partying every Friday and Saturday night, while I remained the same - the one person who stayed in the lab room spending more effort than needed on a project (which I would let myself know to keep doing). I would also let my younger half know that an alteration of life, with regard to eating, sleeping, and studying, are a necessity, not just a recommendation. Overall, I would remind myself that life is a journey with many detours; it is ultimately up to me to take the correct road.

Sean

Be bolder. Your classes will not be as hard as you once thought, so push yourself. You may have heard a hundred times that you only get to be young once, but this holds truth to it. That doesn't mean because you are young you should waste your time partying every night and "because this is college, you should take it easy." It means you are only young ONCE, so make the most of it and make it count. Take the hardest classes you can, spend time working out, build quality relationships with others. Doing these things is what it actually means to be young. So I'll say this once again... you, Sean Shepherd, are only young once so use the next few years of your life to be purposeful. Make sure that when you wake up at the end of your college years you are satisfied with the person you have become and the goals that you have achieved. This is truly living. And becoming the man you want to be, with a career you love, friends that challenge you, and a family you love more than all those things is more satisfying than anything else.

Prabhjot

Advice I would give myself would be to not underestimate the workload of college, particularly of architecture. Another piece of advice would be to not be afraid of asking for help, especially first year, otherwise it might be too late. Finally, I would tell myself to not stress out so much but to keep your time management skills in handy because those skills will help greatly.

Tori

Why go back in time when you should live with no regrets? The journey of not knowing is the excitement in it all. Though this is true, moving forward to a new beginning such as college is another story. This is the perfect opportunity to travel back in time for all the answers. If I were to travel back in time I would cover three major topics with myself; time management, networking and independence. Time management refers to dedicating yourself to strategically organize and manage a set schedule which incorporates scholarship deadlines, study hours, community service and social time. Secondly networking, this includes forming relationships with teachers, counselors, employers and even local community impacts such as pastors/ministers at your church. High school is about education as well as politics. Though you may be intellectually compelling, if you are not socially capturing you can miss out on opportunities to create those connections. Lastly create independence senior year. Push yourself to complete tasks on your own. Become your own parent and except responsibility. Given the opportunity to speak to Tori Poindexter her freshman year of high school I would explain to myself the importance of time scheduling, connections and maturity.

Chase

Save money wherever possible! Out of high school i accepped admission to San Francisco State university and was unable to enroll due to financial reasons, and instead i spent 2 years at a local commuinity college. This ended up being the best thing i ever did! Not only did i save literally thousands of dollars, but i got academic resources that will better my future. While at this community college i recieved the board of governors fee waiver grant, which essentally gave me 3 of my 4 semesters there for absolutly free! I used that saved money to buy a car so that i could work while going to school (I was working 2 jobs for a time, but I have always held one job while enrolled in college). I used the fact that i had been unable to enroll in a 4 year college straight out of high school as motovation to do better in my community college. Although i wasnt throlled to go there at first, I was able to save money and recieved 3 time academic honors from the school, was VP of an honor society, and now I am able to go to my dream school!

Moriah

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would say a lot. There are a lot of things I have learned this year that I wish I would have known in highschool. I would tell myself to never wait until the last minute to do anything and to do as many scholarships as I can. I would tell myself to try my hardest in highschool, because it really does affect your college life. I would also tell myself to do everything that I could to get a good score on the ACT, because the college that I am now transferring to gives great scholarships for good ACT scores. I would tell my highschool self to really do my research on every aspect of college, becuse it is so important. Sometimes, how our lives turn out to be is determined by our college years. College is one of the most crucial parts of your life, and I wish I would have realized that in highschool and prepared more. I'm glad that I know this now, because I can help other people and tell them to take highschool seriously but also have fun.

Jessica

Transitioning from High School to College life is one of the biggest changes a person will ever make in their life time. If I was to go back to myself in high school I would advise myself to enjoy college a little more than I did. While I did have a good time during the year I spent living on campus I did not enjoy it to the fullest. I had a bad roommate, and a lot of things going on back home. If I was to give myself some advice I would say, to not worry about anything going on back home, to spend more weekends at school and to focus more on my school work. At the same time do not obsess over school work. Get out and make more friends, join some clubs, go to parties, enjoy being a college student. I think that if I gave myself more of a chance to enjoy college rather than focusing on everything else around me I would have a lot more memories from that time. College is supposed to be some of the greatest years of your life, don’t rush into becoming an adult too fast!

Brooke

I frequently think about what I would do if I could go back to high school. I think about what I would do again, what I would change, and what I could do better. I am about to finish my first year of college at Blinn junior college, and it has been a tough year. All my friends went off to four year universities experiencing what college is really about, while I had to work my butt off all year to get my grades up so I could transfer into a university. I

Rachel

If I could go back in time, I would advise my high school self to listen to my own opinion, rather than the opinions of my peers. During the fall of senior year, the only colleges I applied to were large, public universities that had an emphasis on Greek life and had the reputation of a "party school". I thought I was attracted to these qualities because they were what everyone else wanted, so I applied to these schools because they were the "cool". Once in college, I immediately joined a sorority because everyone else did, but I have realized that Greek life just isn't for me. It is also difficult to get classes and develop relationships with my professors in such a large school. Now, I am unhappy here and regret applying to colleges based on what everyone else liked. I am transferring to a small, private university next year, which will hopefully be a better fit for me. Looking back, I could have avoided these past two years if I wasn't afraid of listening to my own voice in high school, having my own opinions, and making decisions as an individual.

Kathryn

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to take things slow, and enjoy my time at community college. When I first enrolled at community college, my mind was set on quickly transferring. Because of this, I missed many opportunities to participate in activities that I love outside of school. School is still my number one focus; however, I now allow myself to also enjoy leisure activities, as opposed to before where I felt guilty if I wasn’t constantly working on school related activities. I have learned that college not only allows one to grow and mature intellectually, but also socially and independently. My college experience thus far has greatly matured me as an individual and also allowed me to become more responsible. College has permitted me to learn from life’s lessons, and I would want to let my younger self know that it is okay to take my time with school, and enjoy all that is has to offer.

Jamiaya

If I could go back to my life as a high school senior I would advise myself to stay focused and work hard. This is the best advice because college is not anything like people make it seem and the professors aren't as leniate as high school. When coming into college a high grade point average means a lot and can get you far with a lot of opportunities thrown to you. Another recommendation I would give is taking full advantage of all the scholarship opportunities that are given because transitioning to college isn't cheap and the cost of college is expensive and is increasing as the years go by. Last but not least a recommendation I would give is prioritizing. In college it it extremely critical that you manage and prioritize your time efficiently because you will slip and fall drastically behind in your school work and in college it is difficult to catch up. In college the professors don't encourage you to prioritize time and do your work while in high school on the other hand a teacher is always reminding you, encouraging you, and giving that extra boost for you to complete your work.

Keri

Hey Keri, can you believe you are almost done with high school? Well, don't get too excited. You have another four years ahead of you so you better improve your stuy habbits. College is no joke, and if you think you can breeze through it like high school, then be prepared to fail. Study hard too, because you will need to make time for non-academic activities as well. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and join a few clubs, meet new people. College means a brand new slate. You need to make new friends and surround yourself with good people since your family and high school friends are not there with you. Also, GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS. This step is extremely important. Go to their office hours and introduce yourself; this way, you'll know exactly what your professor expects from you, and your professor will know how to help you excel. Follow these few tips, and you are sure to succeed your first year of college. What about the rest of college life? I'm sure you'll develop your own strategies to get through it. Stay healthy, and be positive.

Tyler

I would tell myself to not waste a single second hesitating on whether or not to do something. The college system goes much faster than high school, and it allows for more control by the student. Pushing the envelope at a university level is far more effective than in high school, so it is imperative to utilize everything you have in order to raise yourself to the highest possible level of achievement. Seeing how far you can push your limits and become a better person is a far better alternative to sitting back and coasting through classes while gaining no real knowledge. In a nutshell, accept every challenge that you are presented with instead of taking the easy road. Even if you fail, you can only fall to the place you would be if you hadn't tried in the first place. Therefore, it would be a wise choice to take even a chance at something that you could use to ultimately better yourself. Every barrier you blast your way through will eventually pay off in terms of the skills you will pick up in the process and the excellence on paper you will achieve.

Marcia

I would had told myself that life is passing by and college is a milestone of maturity and adulthood. The faster we enter college and focus, the faster we gradaute and head towards our career. College is a place of new experiences and new faces, lifelong freinds are made the process and new things are learned each day. College is such a diverse place not one race, culture and language are at college, you become more knowlegable about other people and less close minded. College is a place where your abilities start to grow and you gain more confidence about yourself whether it's being shy or getting good grades, college helps give you a boost and shows what your capabilties are. The more you push yourself for success, you will reach your goals and college is the first step towards successfulness.

Summer

Learning is a continual process. Once you choose your major, all the material you learn will build upon itself. Choose something you really enjoy. Put in effort for scholarships and other outside aid, it is out there. Be confident in your abilities as a student.

Melissa

Let yourself experience all kinds of things that you normally would not. Take everything in. Take everyone in. Let yourself open up. You will meet so many new people who have completely different experiences than what you have had and you can learn so much from them. Put in the time and effort to meet new people and do well in school. You can be whoever you want, people will let you in, don't be scared.

Laura

I have absolutely no regrets from my college experience, but I could have done better academically if I had been able to transition more easily. I graduated from High School with a 4.33 GPA, and did not take the warnings seriously about how much more difficult college classes are. If I could go back in time, I would teach myself how to study in college, a process I learned after two years. Each person has a different way in which learning is the most efficient for that individual. It took me two years to really find the way I needed to retain information. Once I was able to do this, my grades improved dramatically, and I was getting the high score on midterms for multiple classes. I found out that, personally, I needed to make study guides and study throughout the quarter for the final, not just the weeks before the test. I would also tell myself to never say No. There needs to be a balance of academic and social activities that one does in college. College is unique in that you are learning more than ever before about your subject of choice and about yourself.

Alyssa

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self than I would definitely put emphasis on doing every single scholarship possible. Even with getting the Cal Grant, money from the school, or loans, it won't add up to what you need. So without scholarships it might not be possible to pay your way through college. Which puts a lot of pressure on you and your parents to try to come up with the rest of the money. Knowing this now I wish I could really go back in time and put more effort into applying for the scholarships, and I would also tell myself to listen to what my parents say and that they are right pretty much all of the time.

Maggi

Dear High School Maggi, College will be tricky-understand that now. And working full time while in school will be even harder, but if anyone can do it I know you can. And when the time comes when all you want to do is give up; don't. Because eventually you will get over that hurdle. Now, you know as well as I that money is a huge issue right now, and it will continue to be, but like I've said before (and will continue to say), please don't give up. Be a firm believer in things will work out if you put in the effort. Write loads of scholarships essays, save as much money as you can, and do not be afraid to ask for help! One last tip; when life gets overwhelming, don't forget to breathe. Lot's of love, Your Future Self

muriel

I would tell myself to finish high school first, then apply to a community colleg and earn a degree in the field that I love and will be successful in. I would not think about having children until I finish college and get myself established in life. I would say take your time and make sure that the field of study is right for me and make sure that I will be consistent in doing my school work and stay focused. Always strive to be the best in all that I do and push harder to reach for the stars even if I can't touch them.

Nicole

Never give up, every single dream of yours is possible if you only try. Also never doubt yourself and know every obstacle will only make you better in life.

Nancy

I'd tell myself "Don't date Chris and miss graduating early to be with him." I'd say "Graduate early, focus on general education requirements the first year of college, and take it from there." I'd say to myself "don't be so quick to jump into a college major." I would not allow people to pigeonhole me nor categorize me. I would make myself realize that this is college and that I have my own car, freedom, and life, and I should put myself first instead of hesitating to make decisions based on what others might think of me. If I could go back to my junior year of high school, which should have been my senior year, I woudn't have attended senior year at all. I could have been a full year ahead instead of with my class this upcoming semester. I could have nurtured my gifts as a writer instead of weaning them because "scientists aren't suppose to like literature as art." My advice to myself would have been to be content not caring for others' thoughts at all ---except my own future self's, of course.

Araceli

I would have actually paid more attention to scholarships and get a job during the summer. I would have not been so hard on myself and let things get to me that made me think I wouldn't be able to go to college or survive at a college. As an advice, I would say that people mature one day and college is one of those days.

rosely

My own advice would be to take a study habit. So that when it comes time to review important not to have the concern that I have to learn everything about the exam soon, and would have that knowledge, only a matter of reviewing a bit to refresh your memory. And to obtain good grades and be satisfied with myself.

Tyler

If I could go back to senior year I would tell myself to focus a lot less on the reputation of schools and more on how much I would see myself living there. A lot of applicants get lost in the sea of names and in the rush to get into a good school they overlook whether or not they actually like that school. No matter what major you are, I would advise keeping how much you like the school high on your list of qualifications. You are going to spend at least 4 years of your life at the school, and if you hate it not only will you suffer, but so will your work. It would be so much better if you went to a school with a lesser reputation and loved it. Mainly because you would become more invested in your school and actually make it count. In my experience careers tend to look for ambition and passion a lot more than they look for school name.

Kimberly

My first suggestion would be to get involved with as many things as possible that interest you. Stay true to yourself and don't try to force yourself to participate in things that don't feel natural or good, but do try to keep an open mind about trying new things and be open to meeting as many people as possible. My second suggestion would be to get involved in the community, not just the campus. By doing community service and meeting members of the larger community you are able to network and have more "real life" opportunities for experience. Lastly, I would encourage myself to take classes I am interested in and not force myself to attend college. There are some classes that are required and just aren't as interesting as others, but when choosing the direction you want your life to go, make sure you are choosing something that will make you happy and give you a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day. Make sure that you will feel like you are contributing to the greater good of society and that your needs are being taken care of at the same time.