Ferris State University Top Questions

Knowing what I know now about college, and what it takes to successfully transition to college life, I would advise my high school self to learn how to manage time effectivally even if it's not a problem at that point. The workload and expectations are a lot different in college, and there are a lot more things that have to be done. There are academic scholarship requirements that have to be met, college paper due dates that are constantly looming overhead, those sneaky exam days that appear out of no where, those club obligations that you always remember at the last minute, and lets not forget those social events that you have to attend once in a while so you don't look like a hermit. Oh and those dinners that Mom always plans for you when you come home? Don't miss one. Because if you do, then Mom shows up at your door the next day with enough food to feed the entire campus for a week and you have the privilege to try to fit it all in a mini fridge. So me, please do yourself a favor and learn how to manage your time wisely.

If I could go back to my highschool self, I would tell myself exactly what to do: work part time and attend a community college, get involved with clubs, volunteer, complete basic general studies courses, and graduate with an associates, as well as aquire no debt, and save money. Meanwhile, brainstorm on 1.) my strengths and weaknesses, 2.) what things make me feel alive, and 3.) what do I want to accomplish in my life? . Using these three prompts, I would advise myself to make a plan on how to maximize my strengths, minimize my weaknesses, pursue the things I love, and step-by-step goals on how to reach my goals. If my plans involved continued education, I would then advise myself to apply to as many scholarships as possible. I would assure myself that following this advice would save me A LOT of time and money.

I would probably tell myself to go after my dreams first and foremost, because that would have saved a lot of time and money. I originally attended a private school for nursing because i felt the carreer choice was more practical than becoming a fashion designer. I would also tell myself to have applied to more schools and to have applied and prepaired my portfolio much eariler. I could have given myself better oppertunities had i not have been so lazy and hard on myself.

I would advise myself to really think about what major you want to be in. To think seriously about what you want to be doing with your life, and make sure you make the right decision. I would also advise myself to not be as shy! Everybody else is in the same boat as you as incoming freshman, so make the most of it. Also, I'd tell myself to stop procrastinating and learn earlier what it takes to time manage and get things done, and that procrastinating won't help me in the long run, it'll only hurt me. Finally, I'd tell myself to have fun, from the very start, to just have fun.

If I could go back in time, and give my past high school senior self advice, I would say, "Forget the business classes and Western Michigan University and go to Kendall College of Art and Design and be a graphic designer. Take the time to think of exactly what you want to be in this life and don't wait to start making your wants into your reality" I went to WMU first because I thought Advertising was what I wanted, in my senior year at WMU I looked through my course guide to find one art class. How am I supposed to be a creative advertiser with only one art class? How will I compete with the many students who have the skills I'm going to need to survive in the field I want? I might have found Kendall late in my college career but I'm here now and I'm making the most of it. I'm gaining the skills I need so in a year I will graduate and make my wants my reality.

Going back in time if I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would suggest not to take all general education classes at my community college. The reason behind this is because when transferring to a university I would have a more balanced class schedule.

I wouldn’t want to go back and change any desisions that I made because every decision I did make made me a more well rounder person because of my experiences based on my decisions made. However I don’t think that is what this survey is about. There are two things that I would advise future students to do: 1) Live with someone you know and a few you don’t 2) that first day of class don’t be the quite one who goes un noticed because it is hard to break that shy streak however its not impossible to break that streak.

I would tell myself to pursue my own financial aid, my own scholarships, and do my own research into different schools, programs, and curricula. I would explain to myself that I do not want to rely on help from my parents, "experienced" and "knowlegable" adults, and the words and testimonies of other people.

Looking back at my high school self, I would tell her to stop worrying about what others think. Especially in the art world you need to have your own style and brand, and looking to someone else for that is going to get you no where. I would encourge myself to spend more time drawing, exploring, and getting inspired. I feel in life we forget to spend as much time as possible doing what we love. We get caught up in social media and television that we forget our passions and dreams.

I would tell myself to sign up for as many advanced classes or college class as possible. Also, I will tell myself to strive for straight A's and ask for help. Also, applying for a lot of scholarships as possibles. I would tell myself to sign up for many colleges and study hard for the SAT or ACT tests and make the highest score as possible. I would tell myself to volunteer and do extracurricular activies as possible. Also, to save all my graduation money too in case of emergencies.

I would tell myself to have more fun, and not worry as much about the transition. While it is a big step, it's nothing as stressful as I feared it was going to be. My college did well in integrating people into its system, and it's a place that feels both good and safe. I would suggest volunteering a bit more, as well, and to focus a bit more intently on what would need to go into my career following completion of my major.

I think the most important advice that I could give to anyone in that situation is to get the earliest start possible and take care of loans, housing, scholarships, finding a job, and get that all out of the way as early as possible so you are not cramming all that stress into one or two months becuase it is not fair to you or the others around you trying to help like your parents or guardians. It creates nothing but stress and unhappiness. As school begins deadlines start to pop up and if your loans dont go through, you will not be able to lock down housing, if you have to move away from home. Other than that just go to school with an open mind and a smile and you will make friends almost instantly! Everything else falls in your lap pretty easily, atleast so far...

Naturally, I am a low-risk person that likes familiarity and planning. Although it sounds unlikely, I found myself looking forward to the college experience. In retrospect I think I was excited about the idea of college, but truly terrified of living it. I really felt like I was the only one that was scared to leave everything behind; everyone else seemed to have the attitude of "let's get out of here!" This ended up causing a few preconcieved notions that I wasn't going to make any friends, "nobody will like me," and I'm going to hate it. With that said I wish I could go back in time and tell my senior high school self that she had absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I'm not embarassed about how I previously felt about college and what it entails, but from what I know and have lived through now, my fears were completely irrational. I have met so many amazing people, and have learned so much academically and about myself. I would tell her that college is going to be one of the best times of her life and she best live it to the fullest.

That college isn't scary. What it is ment to be is an adventure, something that you remember for the rest of your life. Don't rush into it, look around and pick the one that is right for you. Don't go to the one that everyone else wants to go to, pick the one that really speaks to your heart and pick that one. You will make friends in college, having them in high school is great, but it is the ones in college that will stick with you the longest. You will find friends that love you for who you are and what you want in life, don't let the ones that think you're weird hold you down. People are not ment to be cookie cutter shapes, we are ment to be unique and different and that is what makes us special. You will find that in college, you will find yourself when you go away to college.

During senior year I was incredibly stressed out. I could not seem to decide on such a life changing decision. I was deciding between about 5 different colleges at the time. If I was able to go back in time and give advice to myself I would have stressed the importance of touring and evaluating my options earlier in the year to avoid the last minute stresses. I would also tell myself that this decision is not worth stressing over as much as I had. I would have told myself that you are a strong individual and can make it through even if you do choose the wrong college for you. I would say that if you are unhappy at wherever you choose to go you can always transfer. I would also give myself more compliments rather than being hard on myself. I was really harsh on myself and my struggle with making decisions, this also brought stress upon myself. I have learned now that we all go through trials in our lives and it is important to embrace these trials and accept both our strengths and weaknesses in order to make the best decision for ourselves.

MAKE A BUDGET, AND STICK TO IT! College can be fun but it's also very expensive, not inculding the tutition bills. Going out to eat every night and going on weekly shopping trips can wait. Now is the time to crack down and focus on your school work, not getting a new outfit. Also you need to believe in yourself. Times can get tough when you don't get the best grade or a presentation doesn't go so well. Just beleive in yourself and your work and everything will work out the way it's supposed to. And always remember that I LOVE YOU!

As a high school senior you need to prepare yourself by applying for scholarships, and save money as much as possible. Work hard to do well so you can get acedemic scholarships. Do research to find a job that you really feel would make you happy and will be a realistic opportunity in the area you wish to live. Know what you want to do so that you can have a focused college career that will not waste your time and money. Learn how to take care of your own responsibilities so that when you get to school you know how to take care of yourself, this will prevent culture shock as much as possible. Learn things such as how to balance a bank account, how to do laundry, how to get bills put in your name and pay them on time by keeping a schedule and how to manage your time. If you plan on going to a school in a city, try to visit the school ahead of time to learn your way around and how to use the bus system. Apply to realistic schools and believe in yourself!

Incorporate more structure into your independent studies, so having set creative assignments in a timeline isn't such a shock.

I would tell myself that everyone is right about grades being important because it was my good grades that allowed me to go to school and somewhat afford it.

Hi Ginny! It's me, I mean you, I mean me...oh heck, listen up, you've got two ways to go once you graduate high school; into college or into the rat race we call a minimum wage workforce. If I were you (and I am) I would strongly recommend a college education. The future, as I have so painfully seen it for you, is one of dead end jobs (sometimes 2 or 3 at a time) and sleepless nights when you can't feed your children or pay your bills. If you choose wisely and choose college now, you will not the people who chuckle at you when they learn your 40+ years old and back in school. Trust me on this one. Do it now while you're young and full of life...you won't regret it, I promise.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself, as a high school senior about college life, I would permit numerous amounts of advice. When I was in high school I had my mind set on one college, Lawrence Tech University. When the time came, at the very last minute, I had to switch schools and go to a community college, it was more affordable. I went to Lansing Community College (LCC), and after a year I transferred to Ferris State University. The advice I would give myself is, always keep your options open and have a backup plan for everything. And when choosing a University make sure the environment accommodates what you're looking for. When I was at LCC for two semesters, I was very focused and made the deans list twice. What I would tell myself is, it's okay to have a social life and have fun every once in a while, you don't always have to have your head in the books. I would also tell my self to have a goal in college which is, participate in on campus events, make life long friends, and stay on the deans list.

Dear High School Self, It's me, from the future, from your college days ahead of you. Stop worrying about what your friends are doing after high school, this is your time to focus on you and to figure out what you like and who you are when there are no friends around to influence your taste, style, or judgement. If your high school friends are truly here to stay then they will no matter what you decide to study or where you decide to attend college. The people you'll meet in college will challenge you, bend your mind, and change your perspective, and that my dear self is invaluable. SPOILER ALERT: You make new friends, better friends. One's that are so different and refreshing from your hometown regulars. So try to focus on what is going to make you happy and be ready to accept that some of your best friends might just become old friends. You need to make space for the people and things that really matter. Leave the good for the great.

Looking back on my high school years, I would have told myself to work harder. If I had the chance to take more AP classes, I would have. I also would have researched financial aid more. I never knew that when I was in high school I'd lose my mom. Looking back I took for granted the encouragement she provided me with. I wish that I would have taken her words of wisdom more seriously. I'm glad I'm in Nursing, she always supported my choice to join the medical field. I wish I would have taken more classes geared toward medicine, although I loved my classes in high school. I would have told myself to save more money and spend more time doing things I loved, because college is expensive and busy! Mostly though, I would have told myself how important people are in life, and to never hold back telling somoene how much you love them.

Immediately, I remember moving into my first apartment. It was my 18th birthday, and being the angsty teen I was, I got in an argument with my parents. I wiped the tears from my eyes, wished myself a happy birthday and went to bed in a city full of people, still feeling lonely and literally alone. I was sincerely depressed in my suburban hometown. I was always surrounded by groups of friends but I wrote in my journals constantly about feeling alone. I didn't want to go to college, I just wanted to move away from home and work a minimum wage job until I figured out what I wanted to do in life. But truly, I don't think I would have recognized the extent of potential in myself, without meeting the people I have and actually experiencing college. Acknowledging that advice and experience are vastly different, if I could have given myself any advice, it would have been to breathe. To appreciate the little things that make each day so sacred. To allow myself to be more mindful, and open-minded, and to understand that with a good heart and a strong will, anything can be accomplished.

If I could go back in time and talk to my self as a high school senior i would definitely tell myself not to overload on classes and work. That I get tired quickly, and I become way too exhausted. I would also tell myself that I can't slack, that I need the best possible grades I can get and to thank me later, because those grades would of helped with scholarships if I hadn't messed around. I'd tell myself that we do eventually learn our lesson but after the fact that we have to pay for a good chunk of our schooling that could of been paid for. If only we had cut back our hours at work and added some hours to course work. Also I would have told me to start looking for scholarships then instead of learing about them in my sophmore year.

The biggest piece of advice that I would give myself as a high school senior is to just "jump" right in. I was very shy coming to Kendall because out of a high school class of over 500 nobody I knew was going to the same school as me. I thought I was missing out and I'd tell myself that, "The best experiences you'll have in a college where you live at home still is the ability to meet so many more people who have things in common. At Kendall you don't have to be a drinker or partier to find a bunch of students hanging out together on a friday night, actually you'll find the biggest groups of students at coffee houses laughing and having a good time till the late hours. The students are very welcoming, most coming from all over the U.S who don't know anybody else either. Everyone is in the same situation. Laugh, have fun, and hit the ground running. One thing I can say is that Kendall is a very accepting school and so are the students." Have an amazing time in college everyone is very supportive.

Always go with your gut. Kendall is meant for you. You are meant for Kendall. Your dreams will come true because of everything you'll absorb from the classes, text books, and classmates and teachers you'll meet. Always make time for projects and studying because it will pay off in the long run. Always stay open minded because you are always going to meet people you'll love, and people you'll dislike. You'll learn about different ways to handle certain situations, and even if you're uncomfortable with something, try it anyway. Believe in yourself and experiment. It's okay to go out of your limits and challenge what you think you know. And don't be afraid to learn new things. Also, be true to yourself. Forever remember to follow your heart. Forever do what you love and don't accept anything less. Because when you do what you love, happiness is life. And happiness is your goal. Happiness is your dream.

Take your time and learn everything you can.

I am satisfied with the way I have handled my education. I was in a two year community college for about four years and working two full time jobs. I graduated May of this year with a liberal arts asso. degree. I will be attending Drew University this coming fall and furthering my education with a major in english with the intent to go to law school . I recently moved out of my paretns house and I am living in my own apartment to be closer to my new school. Going to a community college for my first two years definitely saved me a lot of money, I have learned it is very difficult to afford college and it is hard to find help with paying. The only thing I woud have changed was to finish my county college in two years, otherwise this was an excellent way to recieve a degree without struggling with money. However, since I am attending a university this fall I am having a very difficult time figuring out how to pay.

I tried to attend school many years ago, but I was unable to stay focused. I am ADHD, and have kicked myself in the butt many times for not being able to stick it out. I am much more settled now, due to my age, and I am so glad I have finally been able to stick it out now. That being said, as a matter of fact, I think by what I just mentioned you can pretty much guess that I would have to tell myself to JUST STICK IT OUT, it will be worth it in the end.

If I were to go back and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to be afraid and to study what I was interested in. My first year of college I attended Northern Michigan University (NMU) instead of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) because I was scared that I was not good enough to be an artist. After my first year at NMU, I realized that I wanted to take art seriously because that was what I was interested in. I wish I would have attended KCAD my freshmen year of college because I would have saved money and be farther ahead. Now that I am attending KCAD, I am currently studying Medical Illustration. With my major, I am still studying and creating artwork while being academically challenged in anatomy and biology. I enjoy going to class because I am passionate about what I am learning about. Even though my classes are challenging and time consuming, I am grateful to be interested in what I am learning. I believe that I will be able to have a career in Medical Illustration when I graduate and be happy.

If I could go back in time to my senior self and give some advice, I would say to always go with your gut. I would tell myself that I need to rememeber for now on that I am paying for my education now, so I should get my money's worth in something that I enjoy doing. I would say not to get stressed because the school you are attending will try their hardest to help you in any way possible. I would also make sure that I had all of the resources for extra scholarships and better opportunites when it came to getting out into the community when I first arrived.

Get your life together, get encouraged, and prepare yourself for college and leaving home. You only have so much time to pick out a school and spend this time at home with your family. Enjoy it and be prepared for a big change. Nobody wants to see you fail and your family wants what is best for you. It's okay to miss family and friends but they are happy for you to be doing something that is bettering yourself. When you get that degree it will be the happiest day of your life and you will officially be able to say you did something you never expected from yourself and you are done with school forever. You can do this, don't regret your past only learn from it. Continue to venture on.

I have actually had a wonderful college experiance and wouldn't change a thing. what i would tell my self is save your money. To "run", run with your ideas, your love, your passion. To just run.

As a high school senior I would have told myself to remember that not everyone is your friend and that there are not always going to be people who want to be your friend. You will always have people that are better than you and you cannot always be the best until you learn the most that you can. Make sure you are dead set on going to the college you choose and never expect more until you go there for your first year. Always go into the school year with an open mind and keep that open mind throughout the whole four years or more that you will be there. Stay positive and never give up, show yourself and others that you can make it and that you will do your best to make it.

College is not an easy thing. To any artist out there who is thinking about going to college know that what work load you do in high school, times that by 100 and you will understand college. Everything is much more cut throat then high school, but its worth every second and the prize at the end is worth a lifetime.

Kepp doing what you are doing.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, I'd first tell her to not be scared and to stop putting things off until it's too late. I'd tell myself that chances pop up anywhere, at anytime, you need to grab on to them while you can and push yourself to succeed. Pay more attention and learn what you can from high school, the things that you learn can help you out one day and save you money. You've got more freedom when you start college, but don't abuse it, that freedom could cost you one day. Don't put off things for another day, because sometimes things are truly to late to fix and you'll regret missing out on it. College is a wonderful experience, and it will be one of many to come in the years following it, but you can't miss out on your chance to do well without focusing on your future now.

I would tell myself to focus more on scholarships and getting financial aid down. I would also try getting a job sooner to start saving for expenses and have an emergency fund. As far as college life itself goes, I would tell myself to take bigger risks and really try to get involved in as much as I can. College isn't all about studying, although that is a big part, there are so many things to try, events to go to, and people to meet. Living in the dorms is one of the best decisions you will make, and you will regret living at home, even though you will be saving a lot of money. College is awesome, and it's too short to sit around and be afriad to try new things.

Ignore the high school pressure to have everything figured out. College is the time to start figuring everything out, but there's no deadline. Just go with your gut and don't worry about achieving the standard college experience. Everything you do happens for a reason.

Be more open, say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. Do not be so scared of the world and the people in it. They are here to learn from, not frightened of.

I'm 34 yrs of age and going back in time and giving advice to myself in 1997 on college life, interesting. First I would told earier self stay committed to getting better grades that senior year at Addison High School, Mi. Second, take your time on finding whats important in life, like interests for career, passions of a career, some that would be enjoyable even when it's unenjoyable, but I would reenforce patience. Third, Life has many different roads and don't regret the roads you most travel to find your passion of career. Fourth, don't not be afraid to fail in choices of education or career goals. In 2006, I enjoyed the United States Marine Corp, though I was 27, a homeowner at age 22, I wasn't grow up and not ready for college education, but I by the time I finished my tour in USMC I was ready, and now I on my way to achieveing a career that I love and enjoy, furniture building, but "patience" would be our topic of conservation.

I would tell myself to prepare a bit more for the program, the shop classes dont always have the tools you need at hand to work on your projects. For sure buy three tools in particular, an edge finder, center drill and a spot drill. I would tell my younger self also to get a bit more involved, there are plenty of dorm events in the building from dances to games and such. I would also say to bring your bike when you get there rather then waiting till the spring semester, it will save you time and yourself from the trouble of being late a few days. Also make sure you have quarters for the meters to park at the dorm when you want to get something that will take five minutes to get rather than parking in the middle lots where you will get a ticket. Final thing I would say is have as much fun as you can you only have so much time, live life to the fullest, don't let money or doubts stop you.

Talking to my past self, I would have told myself to have more confidence in myself. In high school, I was not confident in my abilities and to be independent. I was afraid and shy. I would have told myself to not underestimate my abilities. College is supposed to be one of the best times of our life, and it was. However, it was also the time that I developed as a person and learned what kind of person I am. However, being that this was a huge learning experience, I would not have changed anything. College really is a place to make life long memories, friends, and relationships with professors/mentors. College gave me that confidence and forced me to be more extrovert, social, and to deal with situations that are educational in life. Even though I would have told myself to be more confident, that is it. I would not have said anything else because that is how we learn, and half of the experience is to not only receive an education, but socialize, and learn about ourself and life experiences.

Make up your mind! Everyone says, "You don't have to know what you want to be right away." The truth is, you do! I wasted a ton of money and time on an entire semester worth of classes because I didn't spend time figuring out what I wanted to be. If I would have decided, I would be farther along in with my degree and could have saved so much hassle and money. So definitely figure out what you want to go to school for before signing up for classes!

Knowing what I know now about college life, if i were to go back to high school and do it all over again I would certainly study more often. I have found that I don't really have a good study strategy. I would also make sure that I know exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life and make sure that the college I pick will satisfy my needs. One big thing I would change about my senior year is doing better on my ACT test. If I could do it over again I would definately study more.

I have lots of advise to myself or fellow students about going back in time. If I could go back in time I would continue school right out of high school, and not take off any time afterwards. I awas a parent of a 8 year old and a husband when I decided to go back to school. Along with all that I had several responsibilities like a house payment and credit cards. If I could go back in time I would start out fresh with no responsibilitiesm, adn live with my parents as long as I could. I would work hard to save as much as I could, and I would pay for college as I went to college. If I did that I wouldnt have any paymebnts once I graduated from college. Other than these, I wouldnt change anything about my life, because I believe that everything happens for a reaoson, and im just glad that I finally returned to school, adn I am pursuing something tht many people can't imagine finishing in a lifetime.

If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I would tell myself to research schools more because there are many good schools that are underrated.

If I were back in high school I would take advantage of education and consider many scholarships. I would give my self very motivated advice and persue my self into a better life. One good advice I would give my self is to keep applying for scholarships and never give up. Scholarships is free money offered to everybody, even diabetics like myself. I really want to go back in time and give all these opportunitys to my self but it's too late due to my age. I found McDonald's, Pepsi, Nestle, Hispanic, Diabetes ect. scholarships and I really want the opportunity to go back to school and benifit my self and others. I pass this advice to my younger sister Vanessa who is a high school senior at East Bakersfield High. I tell her to join clubs, play sports and sign up for scholarships. I found that there is more scholarships then there is students and I as impressed by this research. In cunclusion my best advice would be to stay in high school and make an effort getting good grades and be involved in activities because in the end it's your future.

If I was able to go back in time I would tell my self not to learn to past advisorsbecause the community collegesadvisors are confusing. I would tell myself to kept it up, and that I'm proud of myself. I would also tell myself that you will see hard times, but the friends you make in college will get you through them. I would also tell myself that some people will take the easy rounte, but you will get your in time.