Florida State University Top Questions

I would tell myself not to drop out. If i stuck with high school I could have gotten the education I needed and went right to high school. I wouldnt have made the descision to go for automotive service technology and would have went straight to college at FSU. But in the end all of your life experiences lead you to the person you are today. You can not and should not trade the life experience for anything even if you know what is coming. I went from dropping out of high school my senior year, to going to a tech school, then to go to a community college and getting my AA degree and transfering to the school almost my whole family went to. Having put myself down the entire time because of ADHD and my other learning disabilities.

I would tell myself to be prepared for this new life. Be prepared to adapt to a new environment. Be prepared to work harder and do better. Be prepared to make yourself stand out of the crowd. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them. Moving away from home is not the easiest transition, especially when home is now eight hours away. I would say that being nervous is okay. It's the worries that will drive you to do better. I would say don't be shy to explore new things. Join as many extracurricular activities and clubs as possible. I would say don't worry if your not sure what your major is. College helps you figure out who you are and who you want to be in the future. I would say be active in school and out of school. Take leadership roles and volunteer in nearby parks. Always try to keep yourself busy with new things. You never know what you'll like until you try it. There are so many different opportunities to take advantage of in college. Be the best academically and explore all these different doors that are open to you now!

As a high school senior I was terrified of the application process when it came to college. I was nervous that I wouldn't get in to the colleges I wanted even though my grades were excellent. This fear prevented me from applying early and to more colleges. The application process can be very stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Now that I am in college and gone through the entire process, I would advise my younger high school self to be more confident when applying to colleges. Teachers and guidance councilors always say "applications are a time to brag about one's self" and in truth they are. I wish that I had been willing to set aside my disgust about praising my own accomplishments and allowed myself to write proudly of my high school accomplishments so that colleges would understand what sort of student I am.

Don't goof around, figure out what you want to do for the future, and go for it don't second guess yourself. Also keep yourself busy and don't sit in your dorm doing nothing freshman year! Also freshman year is going to be hard but you can make it through just don't ever live in Dorman Hall again.

If I could go back and talk to the high school senior version of myself I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships. I was naivee and thought that the Bright Futures Scholarship program we have in Florida would pay for everything. Little did I know is it only pays for tuition, and is doesnt even cover the full tuition. I didn't even think about the cost of books, the dorm, the meal plan, all the technology fees, and other expenses that come with college life. I applied for about five or so scholarships, and after winning none of them, I got discouraged and gave up. How much could $500 or $1000 dollars help anyways, right? I was very very wrong. Now that I see the actual expenses of college, as much as it hurts my pride to say, I am deperate for any dollar I can get. I would definitely advise my high school senior self to apply for any scholarship I came across, no matter how little, odd, or extensive it may be.

Firstly, I would congratulate myself on starting off at a two year community college; it was a financially sound decision, and I got a wonderful education without spending a lot of money on tuition. Secondly, I would push myself to take difficult classes in high school, such as chemistry and physics, to get a good background before college. Having a solid foundation of courses such as these makes a world of difference when you're one of many in a lecture class. Also, take advantage of courses that are offered through a nearby community college that you can take as a four credit class while in high school; the price for the transferrable four credits is low, and doing the work ahead of time can make for one easier semester in college.

Figure out a rock solid study method. That is vital in college. Do some very deep self exploration and find a major that will give you the life you want after school. Do not get distracted by short term goals and temptations, they wil hardly impact you as much as your studies and you will most likely not even remember them. Stay focused and let no one waste your time. Always make sure you're on the right path for yourself. Never let anyone else decide what your goals are.

Don’t just sit in your dorm and do nothing all day. You will see people on campus who have the exact same interests as you. Talk to them. You love anime, so join the anime club. The people there won’t make fun of you for liking shows that are too “mainstream”. I know not having many friends in grade school was tough. At college, you will barely need to make an effort. It can all start with making one friend. Some strange guy who likes you for your strange quirkiness that everybody seemed to dislike about you ever since kindergarten. After him, you get introduced to new friends, and even more friends after that. Pretty soon, you’ll get that text message you always wanted that asks you what you are doing that weekend. It all starts with that one terrifying step of asking a single person his name. You were lonely in grade school. In college you’ll make friends with other people who went through the same thing. And don’t let your family stop you from making friends just because they disapprove of cosplaying and Dungeons and Dragons.

I would probably tell my sell to not have too much fun and make sure I pull the grades I need. Being new to college and away from home for the first time can be a little overwhelming. I had so much freedom to do whatever I want; I could go as I please and eat what I want. It was an amazing feeling but you definitely need to learn balance between fun and schoolwork. I’ve had an amazing time at college and it has only just begun.

There are a few things a freshman should know before they start school. First, don't take an 8a.m. class, you will never want to go and you will be very upset when your alarm goes off. Second, the busses take a ten minute break when they reach the stadium, so if you are running late you should just walk. Also, when in doubt, take the Renegade, that is the on campus loop bus. Always rate my professor your teachers and when they say "read these pages" read those pages, you will most likely have a quiz. Jimmy Johns delivers straight to your dorm until 3a.m. Just because they don't take attendance doesn't give you a free "skip" any time you want, go to class, trust me, you'll learn more than you think and it will make the test a lot easier. Meet with your advisor, they will help you. And, have fun, its college and you only get to be here once, have fun.

Apply for as many scholarships as possible! Your junior year, your family will go through some hardships and you will be forced to get multiple jobs to pay for everything yourself. You can do it, but it will be challenging.

I would tell myself to do well in college the first couple of years and to take it seriously. I would tell myself to set a goal and work towards that goal in a meaningful way. I would want to be more invovled and I would tell myself to not be afraid of things. I would tell myself to try out for sports even if that meant they would say no you cant make it. I would live in the moment and make the most of all of my opportunities.

I would tell myself to go to college right away after high school. The longer you wait in between high school and college make college harder. I would tell myself to make the best of my senior year and get the best grades possible to make a difference in college. Study hard and effectively. Listen to those older and wiser.

Knowing what I know now, I would have told myself to apply to state colleges. Junior College feels much like high school and does not give me the extra challenge I need. While I could have lived away from home and learned how to be on my own, where in my current place, I cannot.

I advice myself to save all the money i could for food, gas, & other personal items. Also, i would advice myself to develop good study habits and be ready to be serious about the work that needs to be done. Lastly, i would tell myself to take summer classes to get closer to my degree as a RN. Its not easy being a college student with no job, but I do study hard and do the best I can at all that I do. I make good grades because i do want to be a great nurse someday.

I would tell myself that college is nothing to be afraid of and, I would have went straight to college .

Senior year, I applied to over 30 different scholarship opportunities and I worked harder than I ever had, academically. Knowing what I now know about college life, I would encourage myself to save up as much money as I can and work as much as possibleto allow for an income that will be there when I need it in college.

I would tell myself to follow your heart and anything is possible. This cliche is the epitome of what my adventure through college has been like. I would trust myself to make the right choice and never back down when it does not go as planned.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry so much about college. All throughout high school, I constantly worried about being on my own and being thrown out into the "real world" after graduation. However, I have discoverd that, even though my parents are not at college to "hold my hand," I am still not on my own. Colleges have more than enough resources to help with whatever need may arise during a student's college career. From advising to financial assistance, everything needed to be successful is available to help a college student thrive. I would also tell my high school self to take every class seriously. Plenty of times, I would sit in a class and wonder to myself, "How will learning this ever benefit me?" When I reached college, I found out that many of those subjects were brought up and applied to different courses in ways I had never really thought they could be applied. I would tell myself as a high school senior that, even though something may seem irrelevent now, it will definitely be beneficial in the future.

Be open to everything about college. Don't worry about having a plan because you have no idea who you even are at this point. Everything will out fine!

If I could go back to senior year, I would congratulate myself on how well I’d done preparing to attend university. My entire life, I had thought no matter how hard I tried, it wasn’t going to be good enough to get into college or find a career. However, all of my hard work paid off. I graduated from high school with a 4.2 weighted GPA and am flourishing in college. I’ve gotten involved in the on-campus feminist group, joined an intramural soccer team, and made Dean’s List last semester with a 3.56 GPA. Many students move on to college and their grades plummet and they figure out they’re average instead of top students. My high school work ethic was so incredible and I was able to prepare and transition smoothly. Many people would warn their high school selves about rough times ahead, drinking, and difficult classes. I, however, would tell myself to relax and enjoy senior year, because Florida State is everything I’ve ever wanted.

During high school, I thought that I had to be the best at everything so that I would strive in college. Now that I am experiencing it first hand, the students, nor the professors, have zero expectations other than for me to do my best. I would tell myself that my efforts are good enough and that there is no reason to push myself past my limits. I would also be sure to tell myself that college is an amazing and rewarding experience, not a punishment or a dreaded hassle. I remember thinking that the idea of attending a university was something awful that the economy was making me do but now I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at this point in my life. I would make it clear that I am trying my best and my best will surely bring me places.

In retrospect I would certainly do many more extra-curricular activities and push myself to know what I want to do as a career as early as possible. I would have told my high school self to already begin looking at small internships where I could at least be in the environment of a possible career choice, rather than working a minimum wage job and hanging out. As far as extra-curricular activities goes I would have joined more clubs and actually taken a leadership position in them. This way I could have already gained some experience with managing a group of people and delegating tasks. This would have made transitioning into college extra-curriculars easier and it could have been something I keep on my resume until I had something stronger. Back in High School I thought everything would work out and most of the heavy-lifting would be done by the institution, but I now realize that to be false. I would go back in time and tell myself that it's all up to me to make things happen in life. That would be the best advice I could ever give myself.

I would encourage myself to explore all of my opportunities for my future career. Something that I am faced with is that I have taken many of my required general education classes, but I am still faced with uncertainty about the field I would like to study. Once I finish my general education classes I will need to choose my major. If I could have explored my options in high school more than I did then I might have more of an idea of what I would like to study. I do not want to have to force myself into some major that I am unsure of. I would like my future career to be something that I know I will love doing for the rest of my life.

I would tell myself to work harder for a higher gpa in highschool because that's really what matters when it comes to getting into the school you want and getting scholarships to help pay for your college of choice.

Though moving from high school to college is very different and something you just have to get used to, I think I was pretty well prepared for the transition. For the most part, the changes were not much different from what I had expected as a senior in high school. I think the most important thing I would have told my high school self would be to apply for more scholarships ahead of time. No matter how much money I thought I needed, it never hurts to have extra because you never know when something unexpected will come up. My first semester in college there was a $200 expense I had to pay out of my savings because I had not fully prepared for unknown expenses. Other than that, I think my preparations were adequate.

i would tell the young childeren not to give up in live time because there are alot of things they are missing we are just starting life but if u drop out now from high school you are missing all posibilities of becoming who u want to become when you go to school i mean college u can be come who ever you want all you have to do is study hard but if u drop up now there is nothing you going to become because i have seen it in my life i have families for example my mam and dad never went to school and they are have a hard time to find a job because no one will hire them the problem is they cant speak english and they cant communicate but if they did had the chance to go to school like you guys today they woudnt have any problem for them to find a job so this your time and used it wisely other wise you will regret

I would tell my-self, not to get distracted. Being involved on campus is great, but I would press the issue of studying more, and not to get carried away by the extracurricular side of things. I'd also tell myself to enjoy my classes, they are for a purpose but it's material you love and to stay focused.

"Apply yourself!", that is what I would tell myself, if I were given the chance. A year ago, when I was going through the application process I was content to live with just what was easy to achieve. I got into the University I wanted, and I recieved a couple of very good scholarships. However, if I had the experience I have now I would have known that college is a very trying endeavour and that I needed to push myself harder. I wish I would have had the foresight to raise more funds for myself, as I find that I am now having financial trouble beyond anything I expected. It is hard for me to put food on my table, and the job markets around Universities are ridiculously worse than most places in the country, and most places are already pretty bad. I know I have the talent, scores, and GPA to do more than I did, and I am now having to play catch up to afford finishing school. If I could go back, I would apply for more scholarships, I would save more money, and I would work even harder to prepare for what lies ahead.

I would tell myself to definately have joined more clubs and done more leadership rolls. I did a few but I believe that the more activities you do outside of school, not only "look good" but actually help you with the transition between high school and college. I would also advise myself to do more advanced placement and college credits. They mentally prepare you for college level work and save you so much money. Thanks to the credits I took before I arrived to college, I saved more than $2,000.

Funny, this is not the first time I have thought about this question. I only have two “regrets” – not having taken advantage of the free college classes in high school and not participating more in college. I was enrolled in over 10 AP classes, but never passed any of my exams. If I had realized the impact it could have made, I would have studied for those exams. I also would have either chosen a high school that offered IB or participated in dual enrollment classes as early as possible. Although this advice doesn’t help much as a senior in high school, my senior self could have worked harder that last year and helped lower-class students succeed. If I had come into college with all those credits, it would have given me a chance to really decide on what I wanted to study. Secondly, I would tell myself to be more social and participate in organizations. I occupied myself with working so much that I didn’t participate in any organizations. Now, as a senior in college, I realize how much of a difference being a part of an organization could have been.

I would give myself advice in several different areas which include organization, priorites, and support. I believe being organized in life is very helpful especially during college. Your priorites have to be in order which will enable you to get through college. Support from family and friends is so important because college isn't easy and it is always helpful to have moral support. Also take time for yourself so it doesn't feel like your going crazy, personal time is important. Thanks Jillian Shaughnessy

Dear past self, You remember all those times you complained about your hour amount of work in high school? You'll be lucky if that is the minimum you get in college. However, do not fret!! Your best friend in college will be time management. Without it, you will be your own worst enemy. Time management will help you get the grades you want but still allow you time for your job and for extracurricular activities and friends. In college, you will certaintly have fun, but you NEED to remember that you were sent here by your parents to get an education. Getting those grades will eventually get you out of the whole "poor broke student" routine. One day, you will no longer be eating ramen or oatmeal as primary meals! Also, don't let your shyness stop you from anything! You would be amazed at how quickly you are able to make friends and try new things as long as you put yourself out there!! Go to the football games and do the seminole chomp (it's such an amazing experience)! Also, as soon as you can, get off that meal plan.... the food is so awful!

I would tell myself to stick with one major. To find a mentor to help me get to where I need to get to. I would pick a mentor that was a physician assitant like I will become. I would ask them what things would benefit me such as; volunteer, externships or internships, where and what I should go study on my own. I would also tell myself, do all of my science courses first. Those classes are the most difficult and hard to get into. I would also save up all the money I could, instead of buying that car I wanted I would buy something cheaper, more gas friendly as well. Futhermore I would tell myself to make more friends because they are potential resources. The last thing I would tell myself is not to be afraid of teachers and counselers , that they are there to help me succeed not to belittle me. Don't worry Chrystal you can do this it may feel like you've been in school forever but the reward will be great.

The tragic flaw of entitlement seems to be an unfortunate and widespread character trait existing in contemporary society. It seems rather cliche to advocate that every individual is responsible for creating their own destiny, however due in part to outside influences (i.e television, credit cards, and hallmark holidays), we have this innate belief that we deserve things we haven't earned. If life has progressively taught me one thing it's that no matter what financial or domestic situation you are born into, true happiness lies in the manner and the degree of effort by which one pursues it. When you recieve that acceptance letter from a University as esteemed as Florida State, the feeling of accomplishment is so powerful its almost overwhelming. Still, the best part of it all is that while one chapter of your life may be at an end, another one is about to begin. The best piece of advice I can give is to keep the door open for new experiences and always embrace new opportunities. Also, keep in mind that applying yourself academically will only open more doors for you to walk through.

The advice that i would give myself would be to never assume that high school and college are the same in any way. The academics are extremely different and it is very important to know that college classes require discipline and hard work. High school required hard work too, but college is preparing you for the rest of your life and the classes and its content should be taken very seriously. The first semester should be the most important in that one should not slack off but work very hard.

If I were able to go back and talk to myself as a high scholar senior with the current knowledge of college life and the transition, I would have prepared myself better in the terms of time management and study habits. College is the true test of those two very critical aspects of any student's life. Nowadays, the competition for secondary educational institutions has sky-rocketed. Everyone is claiming to be the most well-rounded and academically-talented. But the true question is: Can you maintain those attributes throughout your college career? With every new environment, there are new challenges and college is not any different. So, the best advice I can give is to prepare for the true tests of your intellect and learning capabilities by studying efficiently and continue your other extracurricular learning conquests by learning how to manage your time wisely.

Jaimi, calm down. You have made the right decision to attend college, and you have chosen the right college for you. Now all you have to do is relax, focus on your goals, and have a little fun. Your mother is right about the dorms; you should relish the opportunity and open yourself and your mind to making new friends and experiencing a new life style. You will make your grandmother proud by becoming her sorority legacy, so do not waste your valuable time stressing over this. Instead, stress over the more important things in college such as maintaining your grade point average, making lasting connections with every professor, and working hard at your job and earning scholarships to ease later financial burdens. Use the myriad of resources available to you; the library, the tutors, the computer laboratories, and professor and advisor office hours. This may seem like a lot to take in, and it is, but you can do it. Please have fun, as I believe it is your right as a college student, but balance is imperative. Most importantly, remember that your life won’t end after college, it will merely begin. It is up to you now.

If I could travel back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that everything is going to be ok! College really isn't that hard, and is, in my personal opinion, prefferable to high school. I have had alot more fun and freedom than I ever did while attending High School. The classes are more challenging, so I don't feel like I have to wait for everyone to catch up. As a senior, I was bored alot of the time. Also, the students are generally more responsible. High School drama is so over-rated, and by the time I hit my last year there, I knew it. I suppose I would tell myself just to keep moving forward, and that good things awaited me in college; that I didn't have to relive my highschool years, because that would have terrified "senior-me".

Transitioning to college can be a difficult step for many students you'll encounter. You are never fully aware of what is going on in the people's lives around you or the traditions that they have. You may, for instance, have roommate problems which is a very common issue on any campus. When you juxtapose certain individuals together, you may very well have to remain open minded. I urge you to be open minded from the beginning and learn from the people around you and from their cultures. Be careful of certain friends that you make and remember to truly get to know a person, their values and morals. Hold strong to your morals as well and above all, make yourself at home.

Get involved. It's the easiest way to make friends. Join clubs, inter-mural sports, Greek Life, something! When it comes to academics, if you're going to screw up, first semester is the time to do it, anything after that could be detrimental to getting into your major, or your chances of getting into certain grad schools or law schools. I don't encourage screwing up, just know that the most lucrative time to do so where you will be least affected in the short term is your very first semester in school. After that, you're going to want to really keep your grades up. Don't party too hard. I know it seems appealing, but think long and hard about why you think it's so appealing. Do you really like to get trashed all the time and not remember your nights? Or do you only like it because you think everyone else does and that it's what you're supposed to do in college? I have had plenty of experience with the party scene and the clubbing scene. In the end, all it gives you is a hole in your memory, your wallet, and your liver. I'm not saying don't party, by all means! I'm just saying be responsible when you do. You don't always need to get blackout. Another tip is to call home. If not too frequently, at least once a month. You may be fine on your own, but your parents worry about you. Lack of communication also strains your relationships with your family members and could potentially put events into action that you don't want. Take time for yourself. You don't always have to be on the social scene. Sooner or later you'll burn yourself out. It's okay to spend a Friday or Saturday night by yourself or watching movies with your roommate.

The advice I would give myself is Save, Save, Save!!! I should have saved most of the money I earned through babysitting, lifeguarding, and teaching swim lessons while I was in high school! I also should have cherished the times I spent with my parents and my dog, because I miss them more than I can ever imagine! I love my school & friends but it would be nice to be a little closer to home - instead of 7 hours away.

Going back into my senior year i would tell myself to look into colleges and seeing what my intrested would be. I would tell my self not to wait and take my time in it and think through out that year what i would want to study. Knowing that my senior year was just about having fun with my friends and thinking i had many years to get into a college. I would tell my self taht it would be okay to go out and have fun with friends but to keep in mind my future. I say this becasue i took six months to decide what i really wanted to study in. I wasn't sure what to go for either RMA or Criminal Justice. Even though i'm still just eighteen i could've signed up right at eighteen and finish sooner than waiting six months. I would just keep telling myself over and over to make sure to look into the future and make the best out of it!

The number one piece of advice I would have given myself and others is to not be so narrow minded. In highschool it is very easy to get caught up in a routine and a certain group of friends and that is fine. Once you get to college however, everything changes. Your daily routines change often because of studying, taking care of yourself, meeting with professors, etc. Also your friends will most likely change. You may go in knowing some people but it would be very unwise to go in so close minded and not willing to meet others. I have learned you have to make an effort to meet new people and see what they are all about. After all, they may end up teaching you something you never knew before!

I thought I knew it all when I walked onto the Florida State University campus last fall. I had my bags packed, my schedule set, and a whole new world to dive into independently, for the first time in my life. But if there was one thing I could go back and tell my high school self it would that with freedom comes major responsibilities. It’s true that college is a wonderful time to find oneself and become a responsible adult. However, it is also most importantly a journey; one that requires an insane amount of work ethic and will power. You must learn to stay decline invitations on Fridays and instead get used to spending the night with a textbook; you will become more accustomed to the library than you do to the local clubs. College is a learning experience, where students become adults through a series of decisions. These same decisions can essentially make or break a student’s college and even future career. For example, in high school, there’s assigned homework. However, in college one CHOOSES to study at home. It’s an entirely different ball game out here.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say to change many things. Maybe run a little harder at basketball practice, or attempt to hang out with your old hometown friends more often. But the most important thing about college that I would stress to myself as a senior would be to put twice the amount of effort into school as I did. If I were to take more strenuous classes, or even do better in the classes I was careless about, it would save me much more time as well as money now. As a senior, I didn't just procrastinate, but I simply didn't take my classes seriously. I'm very lucky to have gotten into Florida State, and I can't comprehend why I took all the easy high school classes for granted.

You are about to embark on a another chapter in your life's journey. Just be prepared mentally for the challenges you may face during this transition by holding fast to your beliefs and values. Never forget who you have grown to be and who you aspire to be. No matter what pressures you may get from your peers or insecurities you may have, just remember that this will be one of the most important stages in your life. Make it count! Make it Memerable! Never be afraid to try new things! Face your fears! Most of all, Have fun!

Explore life and find something you are interested in or passionate about. In college, its important to get involved with extra-curriculars to be successful and to manage your time well. The transition is harder than you think it will be, so getting involved on campus will be one thing to set you apart from other freshman and get a head-start on your successful career.

I would tell myself to not be afraid to pick a major that involves hard work. I think when I graduated from high school I was being lazy and didn't want to go to med school because it meant I'd be in school for a long time. Now I understand that the time invested would have been worth it. Plus everyone made it seem like it was sooo difficult. I'd tell myself to truly take my time and decide on a major that I truly loved, not just something I could do well. Ultimately choosing a major was an incredibly hard decision beacuse I was capable of many things. I went with what I thought was most prevalent, and easy. Studying hard and giving up some luxuries isn't the end of the world.

When I entered college I thought I had the discipline necessary to succeed. I was a very good student in high school and felt dedicated to my program in college. I assumed the same method of study, and time management would work once more. I quickly had to realize that giving back the facts was simply not enough. I had to teach myself to make connections, to form ideas about the material beyond the words in the text. My biggest lesson was Erikson's higher level of thinking. Synthesis and evaluation became the motto for all my newly acquired knowledge. My other realization came in terms of time management. I wasn't prepared at first for the amount of material I had to go through. Preparing to study is not the same as actually getting the job done. No amount of thinking about a project, collecting recourses etc. actually wrote me an essay. Unless I buckled down and spent time - lots of time - on my work, I was not to be successful. My advice to high school seniors: develop effective study methods that are goal-directed, rather than time-coonsuming.