Iowa State University Top Questions

If I had the chance to go back and give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be prepared to say "no". When I came to school, I immediately jumped into so many opportunities that I was constantly tired, sick, and never had a time to rest. Now that I've taken on only important responsibilities to me and I've learned to manage, making the transition has never been easier. I love to volunteer and work my way up to new leadership positions in clubs, but hanging out with friends until midnight on a weekday isn't always an option. I wish I could go back in time and learn that the important things needed to be a priority, and that I had to "keep my eye on the prize".

Dear me, Balancing your social life, homework, sleep, your 4.0 GPA, and of course work can be difficult. Just take it one step at a time. Sometimes you will get stressed out. It's okay. Just take a deep breath and slowly work through the massive amount of work that can seem overwhelming. Friends are important. They can be there for you when you really need them. That GPA might be hard to maintain, but it's so worth it. You may think college will be easy and just like high school; it's not. It can be challenging; however, it's a lot more rewarding. Sleep is important as well. You need a minimum of 6 hours at all times to perform your best. Caffeine will become your new best friend. You will feel frazzled. Everyone needs a break sometimes. It's okay to relax and take some time for yourself. I know it sounds stressful and overwhelming, but it's definitely worth it. It's hard work but it's also a lot of fun. You're in for the time of your life. Enjoy every minute of it. Just breathe. Take it in stride. Sincerely, me.

I would tell myself to be more confident in my abilities and in who I am as a person. Coming from a small school to a very large one, it is hard to find a group of friends, but the key is to be confident and people will come to you. Be polite, kind, and be proud of yourself. Also, do not neglect your family and friends at home. They are your most valuable asset and one you will rely on often. Do not be afraid to admit your mistakes, but face them with confidence, correct them, and resolve not to make the same mistake again. Everyone has trouble adjusting, and it can take time to get used to a new environment, a roommate, and classes, but if you fall back on your past experiences and remain self-assured through it, you can make the transition much easier.

I know you're saving money now for college, but save more. Use the two years you'll take off before going back to school count. Think twice about some of those big purchases and trips you'll want to take, because those will just cut into your savings. You still need to enjoy your time, and I'm not suggesting you shouldn't, but trust me, saving now will save you stress in the future. Working 20 hours a week while in school is no fun, and you have friends now! You'll want to spend time with them and you won't be able to as much as you'll want to.

If I could go back to when I was a senior in High School to talk to myself about college, I would first remind myself to go out and be social and make friends. You never know who may become one of your best friends. Be social, but not so much that you forget school work. Relax, the professors understand that things happen. Also, I would probably have told myself to have gotten a job during my freshman year to help with college expenses, especially since its the only year I will be taking that few of credits. I would probably also tell myself the stuff that I do not need to buy, but was told to buy anyway. Lastly, I would remind myself to have fun and take numerous amounts of photos. The time will go faster than you think, and befre you know it, you will be ready to graduate.

Becoming accustomed to the college experience was incredibly difficult for me. I believed I was prepared to face the challenges of a large university. However, it did not take me long to realize I was not prepared at all. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, this is what I would say: "Not everything will be easy right away. It is okay to feel a wide array of emotions for the first few weeks and even months. This period of time will be a notable transformation and growth period. Do not be afraid to venture out and learn more about yourself and the world around you. Coming to a new place and learning in a new environment will allow you to see the world in a brand new light. Some of the new things you see will be ugly and unappealing, but hopefully, a greater number of things will be new, exciting, and beautiful. Embrace those good things; build upon them. Meet new people and do not fear change. In doing so, you will grown, transform, and renew yourself."

If I could go back and give myself advice about my upcoming college year, I'd tell myself not to worry as much as I did. The people at college are super friendly and helpful and college is a whole different game than high school. People can express themself however they are and they can find others who share similar interests. The people are more mature and open minded and everyone is willing to make new friends. The work load isn't as bad as I anticipated, but I should learn to actually study because college professors will get paid the same whether you pass or fail the class. Getting up early is hard, but I better get used to it. In the end, have fun because time flies faster than you think.

I would say: Cierra the difficulty in school now is to better prepare you for your future in college. The outcome is so rewarding because you are bettering yourself, family and your future. High school is to help you get ready for one of the biggest steps you'll ever take in your life; college. College is full of surprises and excitement. Your teachers do their very best to help you out any ways they can to help you succeed. It's the best feeling in the world to imagine yourself graduating with your hat, gown and hood and finally have that diploma in hand and say: "wow...I did it"! Don't worry about making the transition to college because as long as you do your best, then you WILL succeed. Sincerely, your future self, Cierra

Be prepared to study more for exams and to open up more to meet new people. Also experiment with different class choices, you may find something you like to do.

I would have said to be ready to avoid negative peer pressure. It's so easy to not get your work done, because everyone has different schedules so someone will always want to hang out. Stay focused and you'll succeed.

My transition as a thirty year-old into college was much more complicated than what I would imagine, the transition for a high school senior would be like. As an adult student, the two hardest issues I had to overcome were; learning new technology, and teaching myself better study habits. Having been through this situation, the first point I would make to my eighteen year old high school self would be, take the initative to learn about different colleges, and the different opportunities they can provide you with. I would remind my younger self that I deserved a chance. A significant aspect of my "lecture" would be, how very important and critical the opportunity to go to college is. Attending sooner rather than later is best, but never going to college rather than going sometime later is absurd.

I would have liked to know how to manage my time better. There is so much to get involved in on campus. You really need to set priorities before making plans.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely have a lot of advice to offer. I would tell myself that it is important to stay focused and remember that you are in school to get a degree to help ensure your future, not to goof off and ignore your studies. I would also inform myself that having a great friend group who you can rely on for personal and emotional matters is important. It is always beneficial to have people around you who care about you and want you to succeed. I'd also advise myself to be careful when going out to places that you've never been to with people you don't know. You don't know what could happen so it's always necessary to have someone you know who could take care of you or make sure you are safe. It is also important to study! Studying is how you succeed in college and it is an important and necessary skill to have. I would also tell myself to have fun and not sweat the small stuff.

Even though it will be hard for you to leave your friends and family, Iowa State is a great place full of friendly and sincere people and you will make friends in no time. It will become your second home.

If talking to any high school senior, I would highly advise them to take all of the college courses available. I would advise them to develop their study habbits, because it matters in college. Figuring out how to study efficiently will make you first year much easier than it is for most Freshmen.

As a high school student, you are fairly set in your ways. You think you know exactly what you believe about politics and the world around you. By the time you are a high school senior, you will have already traveled abroad 3 times. You will consider yourself a well rounded individual and will think that college will only refine the beliefs you already hold. While this may be true for the rare individual, you should be prepared to have your world enlarged, ideas and ways of thinking will open up in front of you. You will have to decide whether or not you will continue to hold your narrow minded beliefs, or if you will choose to consider everything presented to you with an open mind. My greatest advice to you is to allow your world to expand. Let yourself consider things that your family may have rejected. You are free to develop into your own best self. Don't limit yourself and take the opportunity to explore.

Keep doing what you're doing. High school prepared you very well for the college experience. Make smart decisions and if you don't find friends immediately don't be discouraged; finding the right friends takes time. Be just as organized as you are and don't forget to call your family members and friends from home to check in!

First of all, what a day it would be if someone builds a time machine, well I am thriving to make it into reality. So if I could go back in time I would first of all tell my self that listen life is all about what you make of it. In the future you will have to work hard to have success in life since there are no free lunches in life. So choose whatever makes you happy. College life can be very stressfull so choose your major wisely so that you enjoy whatever you study. Take your parents suggestions into considerations but be wise about it. If they are forcefull about choosing a major tell them that when i get old and lying in a hospital and bout to die, I dont want to think that I made a wrong desicion. if only I had convinced my parents that whatever i study could make me happy, and even if you made a wrong decision you would only blame yourself and not your parents.

I would tell myself not to take myself so seriously. In high school, I was extremely driven and knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life and where I wanted to go. This is not a bad thing at all, but it led me to trouble once I began my undergrad. This drive brought me crazy amounts of stress and worry throughout my freshman year at college. Now, as a sophomore, I am opening myself up to new opportunities and new ideas that may lead me down a different career path than I could have ever imagined. This never would have been possible if I didn't learn to say yes to every opportunity, interact with a wider variety of diverse individuals, and simply open myself up to the wide world around me. Attending college has taught me to be much more understanding and flexible. Life is full of twists and turns, so having the ability to roll with the punches and keep my spirits up has become one of my greatest assests at college as I keep striving and pushing to reach my goals and dreams.

Don't take calculus. You don't need it. Also, start of english assignments and speeches at least a week before the due date instead of the night before. Pay attention in chemistry classes and boring classes; you can't just wing it when exam come around. If teachers suck, READ the TEXTBOOK. Get to know Stephen Todey. He might seem like a tool, but I think you might find him to be more fun than you expect.

Do not be afraid to ask for help.

Knowing what I know now about college life and tranistioning to living on my own, I have numerous things I would tell myself as a high school senior.

As a high school senior, my number one goal was to graduate with the best possible GPA and highest grades I could earn. I did my assignments not simply because I was eager to learn, but more with the intent to get it over with and get a good grade. If I were able to go back to my senior year and give myself advise, I would stress that although grades are important, it is more important to learn how to gain knowledge. In the future it won't be to my advantage to remember what grade I recieved on a test, but the information that I was tested over will be more benefitial than the grade. I would encourage myself to practice good note taking strategies and to write down what the teacher's are talking about, rather than copying what they posted on the board. I would remind myself that not everything I do has to be perfect and that the hardest lesson is to accept failure. It is the things that require the biggest struggle in which I am able to grow the most. With the right attitude and enough dedication, anything is possible.

Talking to myself in senior high school would be a great opportunity for me; I would have a lot to say. In my senior year I attended a college instead of staying at my high school. This made it hard for me to keep my friendships; I would encourage myself to work harder at maintaining those friendships. I feel that I would be having an easier time in college if I still had those close friendships. They were my support system in high school. In college, in such a new environment, I have been struggling without my normal support system. If I were able to go back in time I would ensure that I had strong friendships to rely on. I would also tell myself to focus more on my school work. In the past I didn't think a A- instead of an A would matter; but here, I am learning that things like that really effect me later. A slightly higher GPA would've helped me greatly. It is a great regret of mine that I chose not to spend an extra hour studying, or working on an assignment, I never realized what an effect it would have.

There are a lot of pieces of advice that I would go back to give to myself six months ago. The most important thing I would tell myself would be to go into college with an open mind. I thought that I would make 20 friends by the first weekend, when, in reality, it takes a lot longer to develop relationships with people than a couple days. In keeping with social advice, I would say to also keep in touch as much as possible with high school friends, because they are invaluable during the initial transition period. I would instruct myself to not be as nervous for college coursework, as it is not difficult if you put time, effort, and enthusiasm into your work. Finally, I would let myself know that even though the first week is nerveracking, scary, crazy, and full of emotions, everyone is going through the same emotions, and it always helps to talk to someone else (parents, friends, or a roommate) about it.

Now that I have been out of high school for 5 years, successfully received a Bachelor's degree and am now working toward a sescond degree I would give myself one big piece of advice. The biggest mistake I made in college was moving out of my parents house when I was a sophomore. I thought I knew it all and could live on my own, work full time AND go to school full time. Unfortunately, and fortunately, I got a big fat dose of reality. My partying increased, my grades decreased and I got two points away from losing my scholarship. What a scary year that was! If I was to be able to go back in time and talk to myself when I was a high school senior I would have told myslef to stay with my parents as long as they let me. Save money Ashley, save that money! I have moved back with my parents a total of three times now. Why? To save money and keep my stress level down so I can succeed in everything that I do in school. It has impacted me positively and I have nobody to thank but them.

If I could go back in time and tak to myself as a high school senior there are many things I would tell myself. I would tell myself to spend more time with my friends and my family because as much as I will love my new life at my University I will miss home like crazy. I would tell myself to try harder at my academics and set up some study strategies because procrastination does not work in college. I would tell myself to get more involved in activities and to try harder to find scholarships because college is expensive. Mostly, I would tell myself to stop counting down the days until graduation; I would tell myself to slow down and enjoy my senior year because everything changes when you walk across that stage and recieve your diploma and even though it will be a wonderful change part of me will miss high school.

I would go back and tell myself to really work hard in high school. I feel that back when I was in high school, things were just changing where laws were requiring more effort on the students' part. I feel that if those demands had been in place when I was in high school I would have been better prepared for college. I would also tell myself to try and be more involved in extra curricular activities whether it sports, clubs, etc. so that I could carry that with me into college as a way to make friends and participate insomething I love.

Look outside of the college you are applying for when it comes to financial aid assistance. The college you choose may have options, but after 4 years of college, the loans start to pile up and college tuition prices rise every year. Search the internet, local businesses, as well as your county or state for more financial aid help.

During high school, I was very eager to be in college. The social transition was flawless, and I have not felt homesick at all. I am happy with the classes that I am enrolled in, and I have made friends easily. I certainly would have told myself to take the AP Chemistry exam, however. Even though I took the class my junior year, I wished that I would have given it a chance. Along the same lines, I wish I had taken the AP Calculus BC exam. I had taken neither of these tests because I didn't think I was going to earn a high enough score to pass through the credits. However, the credits add up, and if I had taken those two exams, I might have been a sophomore this year, which would be helpful in terms of career fairs and internship opportunities. The bottom line is that a student should always try their hardest, even if they think they will fail.

Advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be utilize the opportunities you have. One thing I wish I had done more of is money management and grade management. Durning school I had a job but would often go through money on useless things. In college it is hard to have a job and work while trying to get a degree and it helps if you have some money saved up. One other thing I would tell students is take advantage of college courses you can take throughtout high school. It may not seem important at the time, but it will help you in so many ways in college. I would also encourage myself to learn how to take the most beneficial notes for a class. In college there isn't anyone sitting by your desk telling you how to take good notes. This would help me in the long run if I properly knew how to take notes. My last piece of advice would be enjoy the time with your family. They won't be there everyday in college to encourage you and comfort you so take advantage when given the chance.

Although I don't regret anything I did in high school, I would tell myself that high school is child's play compared to college. I would also recommend to myself to appreciate the bond between all high school seniors because in college you have to work really hard to develop a friendship and it takes even more work to maintain it. I would also tell myself to continue taking life one step at a time but think forward to homework that is due next week.

Do not choose your major off of what you liked as a child, pick what you want to do for the rest of your life. Choose a major and college that suits your talents and potential future employers, and please have more faith in yourself as a person.

If i could gop back to hoigh school and ask myself, i would focuse a little more on my schooling then going out and all that. also i would have asked myself how much it cost and all that so i can save up for books and registration. th advise i would give myself is to be more organized and pay atteention in class beecause college is diffrent from high school

As a senior in high school, my situation was extremely different than what most people probably went through. I had been homeschooled most of my life and was graduating early. I was even taking college classes before I was technically finished with high school. I was already used to the college course load, so that did not surprise me. I was working and saving almost all the money I earned so that I would not be the typical broke college student. I had a good system of time management already in place. When I transitioned to Iowa State, it was much smoother than I expected. That is precisely what I would tell my prior self. The months before my transition, I was more nervous than I have ever been in my whole life. The idea of being on my own scared me; I was running around like crazy trying to make sure everything was perfect before I left. The advice I wish I could give to that version of me is that taking life one day at a time is much better than worrying about things you cannot control.

The advice I would give is take your GPA more serious. Study harder and worry more about school then the extarcricularr activities. Yes they are good charter builders but no one cares that you sacked the quarter back 7 times in one game. The colleges just look at the GPA for scholarships, placements and ranks. Be serious your freshamn year and work hard even if you are unsure of what you want. As a senior I was more focused and very determined to achieve my life's goal. But wished I had taken more AP classes. Over all do the best you can each day.

get involved. Clubs don't take it too personally if you try them out and it doesn't suit you, so learn more about a club, see what they are about, studying comes first, but a social life can help studying go faster and be less stressful.

Going back to senior year, the advice I would give myself would be to take the college credit courses that your school provides for you. I would also tell myself to not stress about the little things because college is fun and teaches you more about yourself than anything possibly could. I would tell myself to make the most of senior year and not stress out about if I will be good enough in college.

Too really get in the right mindset before you come. You have to have the right attitude about college coming into it so you don't get homesick.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would tell myself to relax. College is not as hard as people tend to tell you it is. Just study and actively listen to professors in class and you'll do fine. Have fun. Meet new people (they are just as nervous about this thing as you are) and try new things. You never know where or when you will meet new people.

I would give myself the advice to stay calm and don't be afraid of change. Things may be scary at first, but it gets easier when you get the ball rolling. Big changes can be scary, but there is much to be said for those who take a leap of faith. College life will create the best moments of your life, and you will meet many new people. Some of these people will be fellow students, teachers, mentors, or even someone that looks up to you. College is the place that you create the friendships and memories that you will look back at, and look forward to for the rest of your life.

Don't be worried. Whatever choices you make WILL work out for you. There are enough good people here that any group you end up in will be a blessing. Communicate with your teachers/TA's when you have questions, don't just suffer through it. Have faith that you will like your roommate and the people on your floor. Just know that it will all work out.

I am currently a thirty-three year old woman and a mother to a two year old girl. In 2009 I was laid off from my position of six years due to the economy. After that moment I experienced a huge what to do with my life experience. The first thing I realized was that I needed my G.E.D in order to be successful. I recieved my G.E.D in 2010. This is mentioned since my life experience would greatly influence what I would say to myself as a high school senior. I would tell myself to graduate highschool for starters. Second, I would stress the emphasis of attending college right away. The longer you wait the harder it is to make the transition. Once attending college balance is key. School is a priority and if you are ever to be successful in college and in life you must take it seriously. If you are a poor student it reflects that you will be a poor worker. Time management is necessary. It's not easy to be an employee, student, mother, and wife. Focus on school first and know that everything else can fall into place.

As a high school senior, it is important to take the hard classes that could ruin your GPA, especially if you are thinking of going into medical school. In high school, it is a lot easier to pass a hard class because it is easier to recognize when you need extra help. But college isn't too extreme, either. There are plenty of resources, like Supplemental Instruction and Academic Advising, that I know I am going to take advantage of, and you shouldn't look past them next year either. Also, use your planner! I know that it seems kind of pointless when you can keep track of your assignments and the teacher reminds you what is due, but it is a good habit to get into for college. And lastly, if you can enroll into a couple college courses, do. It is a good way to prepare yourself for the transition you are about to experience as you go into college.

Senior year is a very important time to get pointed inthe right direction to continue your education at the college level. If I could go back and give myself some advice on how to make my college experience better, it would show with a great improvement of where I am now. First, I would say to take as many credits as possible while the education is free. I would also suggest to take a variety of courses and try to have an idea of what field to head into. It is important to find what is really enjoyable and pursue it. Also, I would tell myself to make best friends with my advisers and counselors. They are the most important resource in making good decisions for the future. It is important to take full advantage of extra-curriculars because they will make the difference in being a well rounded student that schools look for. Another piece of advice would be to keep track of finances and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Once you're dream school has accepted you, you don't want anything to stand in your way of the best education possible.

The advice that i would give the high school me would be to rush and experience the Greek life! I am one of two friends out of all of my friends that didnt rush, and i regret it. Looking at all of the new connections my friends have made makes me so jealous! Plus i would probably tell my self to bring a couple of fans, because i live on the 8th floor of Wilson Hall and it is hot up there!

Just calm down and make the leap. Other people might tell you that it's scary or not want you to go, but you know your limits and you know what you want. Take things slow. Not everything will work out right away. You might not be friends with your roommate immediately, or know your class schedule immediately, but you'll get there. Going outside your comfort zone often leads to expanding that comfort zone. You'll be trying so many new things and going new places you might not even recognize the scared person you used to be. College is a fun way to expand your comfort zones and take new leaps that you may not have even considered before!

If I could go back in time and tell myself everything I know now, I would tell the old me that it's going to be okay. You will go to college and at first you think you have everything together but it's going to fall apart. But that's okay because you're stronger than you realize and you are going to get stronger and survive. You're going to have fun and become a whole new person, a better person than you've ever dreamed. You do not need a man to define who you are, and you don't need other people to tell you what to do. You have your own mind and your own body and you're in control. Things are going to be okay and no matter what, you have people that love you even when you mess up. Make your soul happy and do the right things, and it will be worth it.

The advice I would give myself if I could go back and be a senior in highschool would be to study more. I did not study at all, studying was not me. I hated to study but since I am in a trade school now I have to learn so much in a small amount of time. I would also tell myself to stay focused because you can miss important information just by zoning the Instructor out for a few minutes.

Make sure you are choosing a school and a major you truly want to do and don't waste your time and money movign around to all different schools and towns. Just pick one and stick to it. Play soccer at a D1 college and get a full ride scholarship. Use the soccer skills you have worked so hard to get.