James Madison University Top Questions

Don't worry about always making the "right" next step. College is a place where you can safely experiment and find out who you really are. Don't make choices based on a career path, preconceived notions of what is acceptable, or out of fear of failure. Do what makes you happiest, make the messy mistakes, and take chances and you will not only learn what you love but how you handle obstacles and surprises. There will be disappointment. There will be people who support you and there will be people who do everything in their power to crush you. Better to be yourself and let the doubters fall to the wayside than cater to people who want you to fit their mold. Learn from your mistakes because those lessons are so much sweeter than most of your successes will be. Most importantly, don't expect anything, including yourself, to be the same. These four years will change you more rapidly than any experience you've known. Don't just let it, dive in and embrace it. As long as you follow Polonius's words, "to thine own self be true" college will bring happiness, determination, confidence, and peace.

Hey, honey. I know you're stressed and I know you're worried. But there's really no need to be. College is great. Don't worry about making friends. Though it's awkward and uncomfortable when you first get there, it will all work out. And don't worry about your roommate. You're an easy person to get along with, and sharing a room can actually be nice. As for the freshman 15, it's no myth. Watch what you eat and use the great gym facilities. Finally, be ready to question your beliefs and gain new perspective. But always remember where you came from.

hello jordan, this is you, jordan from the future. and i came back in time to tell you something of great importance. college is EXPENSIVE! i recomend that you get a part time job and start saving as much money as possible, even if just covers books. apply for more scholarships and dont be lazy thinking you can just get some loans. it is more complicated than that. i know how much you love to learn, and let me tell you, i wish our government was socialist and it could just pay for college and help fufill my dreams, but it is not. so get up off you lazy butt and apply, work, apply, work!!!!! sincerely, Jordan

Dear Laurel, Stop kidding yourself. You know how everyone keeps telling you "if you have any doubt, you shouldn't be a music major"? Well, it's true, but here's the thing: you still need to audition and get into the studio, because I don't know if you'll get accepted without that recommendation from the school of music. Don't waste your time, or Dad's money on a brand new saxophone. Sure, do marching band and pep band. It's a great experience (and yeah, pep band does get you some spending money). Go ahead and endure that semester of being a music major. You need to know from experience that it's not for you. Don't take Wheaton's class. Don't be lazy, and antisocial, and don't let your stuck up roommate convince you that such behavior is ok. Go out with your party happy roommate, and meet some people! Don't let anyone hold you back from a good experience. And you know that little voice in your head that talks you out of things? Don't listen to it. Be understanding. Look at all perspectives. Love people. Love life! ~Yourself

Looking back, I realize how many opportunities I passed. If I could give myself advice, it would be to enjoy the moment. College is an amazing time; however, you most likely will lose touch with many friends. I believe that high school seniors should take advantage of seeing their friends every day, and they should enjoy that time while they can. College applications and decisions are very stressful and difficult, but, in the end, they are only a very small fraction of senior year. Students should not let those things consume their life, or they risk missing amazing opportunities.

I know you?re looking for adventure in college. You want to leave, become independent, and make your own decisions. This is why you chose James Madison. Don?t make this mistake. You don?t need to study two hours away to experience adventure. Adventure? There is no adventure here. You spend hours in the library ? your nose in books. You eat the same flavorless food. You could accomplish this living at home, saving your parents from the stress of meeting payment deadlines. Do you realize how many opportunities you have at home? You live 5-minutes from George Mason University and 20-minutes from DC. You eat real, homemade food every night. Lucky you. Live at home, Stacy. Save money; take the opportunity to study abroad; live your dreams. I know how much you dream of Iceland: meeting new people, learning their ancient language, and experiencing a new culture. Please, do one thing for me. Find out if you really want JMU. Research. See how competitive their nursing program is. See what credits can transfer if you decide to leave. Research their study abroad program. I know why you?ve made the decision to go there. Think this through.

The first thing I would say to myself would be to take every thing that happens in college as an opportunity for personal growth. In order to grow up and make wiser decisions you must experience things that are hard to deal with at first. Once you push through the troubles you will become a better person from it. Along with this, have fun, but limit the fun to appropriate times, never let your social agenda interfere with your schoolwork.

As a high school senior, I did fairly well in school and I participated in a lot of extracurriculars. If I could go back I would tell myself to take advantage of all of the opportunities. I should have applied for more scholarships and made better connections with my teachers. I definitely would have stuck with living on campus and I liked my roomate. For the transition though, I should have studied more my freshman year in college. I didn't have to try very hard in high school so when I came to college I didn't necessarily take the workload seriously.

If I were to go back in time and give myself adivce on college life and making the tranisition, I would tell myself that time management is the key to success. Take out time to do certain things, for example study for a test, and to do an assignment and not worry what you are going to do that day.Managing your time can relieve some stress and help you succeed in college. There are several things you can do to manage your time wisely. You can keep a calendar on your wall in your dorm to look at each day, you can also keep a planner, to place assignments, quizzes,major tests and other important dates in it. You can also prepare for the upcoming day the night before, so that you will be ready in the morning.Waiting until the last minute to complete assignments and study for tests is something that needs to be avoided because instructions can be missed and grades can be ruined. Most of all , take out the time to have fun, to relieve some of the stress that will occur.If you manage your time you will be successful.

First off, I'd tell my former self to relax and reassure her that college is very manageable. By balancing classes and a social life, one can achieve the glories of a college education along with meeting a great array of people who will ultimately impact who you become. Secondly, I would highly recommend to her and other high school seniors, to choose a roommate instead of relying on a randomized lottery. Some people randomly end up with a great roommate who they will stay in touch with their entire lives, while others end up with disrespectful alcoholics. Even having a small idea of who your roommate is before everything's set in stone could do wonders to avoid a rotten pairing. Overall, I would suggest the creation of a list of ten goals to motivate her during her first semester at college. Goals that might ease the separation from her family and point her towards the rigors of college life including grades and getting involved in her college community. It's important to study hard and achieve good grades, however every college kid needs some leisure time featuring a cup of tea and a copy of the campus newspaper.

If I could time travel back to when I was still a senior at Riverbend High school i would be able to now tell myself some very valuable information that no one told me back then. An important thing I wouls tell myself would be to learn how to study because even if I didn't have to study to get in A average back then I'll need that very important skill when I get to college. I would tell the 17 year old me to fine tune the highly needed skill of studying so I know what works for me, because it would make life so much easier in the near future. Another important secret I would let my younger self in on would be that if you think your studying enough your not keep studying. Also be open to new things and meeting new people don't be afraid to try new things andmake new friends, your old ones will still be there for you. These three aspects are what I believe would have helped me a little more my first semester in college.

After stumbling out of the time machine, I made my way to the high school from which I graduated. I saw my younger self digging books out of the dusty locker at which I had spent so much time. I quickly made my way through the hallway eager to talk to the younger me. Young Taylor was so startled to see herself looking right back at her, but I quickly explained the situation and got straight to the reason of my visit. I explained the need to research and make a list of schools I may be interested in and make a point to visit them. The true deciding factor must be if you can actually see yourself living at that particular school. I told the young me not to be stressed out; this is something we all go through and must find out for ourselves. I told myself not to be nervous because we all are striving to succeed in life and meet life-long friends. The given information was not overwelming but definitely a huge help to the upcoming life-changing decision.

I would go back to tell myself to apply for scholarships as soon as possible. It's not worth the hassle knowing that you can't attend school based on finances.

I would tell myself to be less confident about how I might do in college. I thought, because I had taken several AP classes and done well in most of them, that I would be prepared for college, but I was surprised to find out how much self-teaching was associated with university level courses and a little shaken by a couple of test grades my first semeseter. Perhaps if I had been more wary of how difficult my transition would be, I would have worked harder in my first semester. There were definitely people who did far worse in their early time at James Madison than I had that first semester, but I could have done better. I had fun basking in the freedom of "living on my own," but if I could go back I would make sure I understood the importance of doing well. Despite my discrepancies, I did grasp the significance of loving one's environment. I adore this school, and there's truly nowhere I would rather be. It is crucial to success at a university that a student thrive on his or her campus, and love where he or she has chosen to be.

If i were able to go back in time to talk to myself about what the next year of my life would be i would tell myself the following information: "study, study, study, there is rarely homework do but do suggested work it really does help and if you do not follow along with the reading you will be in trouble fast. Yes have fun but do not focus on your social life if you go out three days every week you will sink in a hole that is extremely hard to get out of. This year will shape the rest of your college life with the friends you make, the grades you earn, and the lifestyle that you lead. and just relax everything will turn out good in the end."

Your palms are sweating, heart racing, and legs burning with anticipation of the 5K. The whistle blows; you take off sprinting, trying to get ahead. Stop. You always get ahead of yourself; you take on too much, too soon. You'll burn out by the completion of the first mile, and wished you?d remembered your pacing. Don't rush into college like you rush into a race. Its too important, the finish line is too far away to burn out early. Balancing your life in college is like pacing in a race. If you run slowly, you won't get a good time. If you don't try hard in college, you won't learn enough to be successful. Take advice from professors/counselors, like coach. Don?t sprint the first mile. Taking on too much will burn you out. Organize your time, balance your life. Stay healthy. Eat, workout, and don't drink too much. Like in running, alcohol will hurt your time. Study, don't procrastinate. You know you can't prepare for a race the night before. Most of all, remember the finish line. And know what it takes to get there, with your best time.

Take advantage of all opportuities on campus. Beig involved withthe campus community not only makes college fun but it gives you a community to bond with while you are away from home. This is very important because everyone gets homesick once in a while. You'll get through it with the help of your new friends and they will need you to help them. And its ok to go to parties but you were smart enough to get in to college so don't be stupid now.

I would tell myself to stay strong and that there is nothing wrong with beginning at community college. I would remind myself that when deciding what path to take at college, it is more important to follow my passions rather than to seek out a career that would give me wealth. Me being happy and feeling secure with what I am doing and who I am is much more important than simply doing what everyone else is. Lastly I would tell myself to make my decisions based on what is best for me and my future.

I would say that I have two choices. Either I could go to JMU and get into a lot of debt, or I could choose another school that would be less expensive. The most important thing I would tell myself is to get away from home. The bubble of my hometown shields students from alternate perspectives and lifestyles. I have grown more from breaking out of that bubble that I ever thought possible. I would encourage myself to find new, diverse experiences that help me to grow more as an indivudual. Going to JMU is one way to do that, but there are definitey other universities I could have gone to that would have helped me in the same ways.

The best advice that I can think of to give myself is simple...enjoy and relish every moment of your college experience. Life after college is so complicated. There are 40+ hours to work each week, bills that must be paid, responsibilities at work and home, and it is one big balancing act to keep everything running smoothly. If I could go back and let myself know how important it is to just appreciate all of the wonderful experiences that college provides. I never realized just how amazing my college years were until they were over. The college years are the one time in your life that you are away from your family, your parents house, and you are free to be your own person and do your own thing. Those college years are a time to worry about yourself, to work on yourself, and to get to know yourself. In terms of the advice that I would give for making the transition to college life, I would tell myself that everyone around me feels just as nervous and insecure in those first few days of college. Put yourself out there and open yourself to new friendships and relationships.

Well, college will be fun but you need to balance the fun with the class work. You will need to be tolerant of other people and allow yourself to be open to new people and new experiences. You may get alittle homesick, but that is only natural. Stay focus on what is important and make the most out of every situation!!

I would tell myself to do my research a lot more thoroughly. I would visit more schools and speak to students there to find out what the campus is actually like and how it is when classes are in session. This would ensure that I would end up somewhere that fits my personality and what I like to do outside of classes. No matter how happy you are with your grades, if you are not happy with your social life as well in college, you will more than likely not have a very good experience.

If I could go back and do it again I would tell myself to be a lot less stressed and worried about making the transition. If you come to a college or university, come with an open mind and don't be scared to let people know your opinion on important topics. Be prepared to be around types of people that you have never been around before, and come prepared with the skills to communicate and negotiate with the people around you in order to make the process a lot easier to live with. College can be scary at first but remember everyone around you especially other freshman are going through the same change you are, and upperclassmen have done it before as well. People are very willing to help you if you let them. If things get too overwhelming never ever ever hesitate to ask for help!

I would have worked harder in classes so that I could have applied to better more competitive schools.

I would tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity afforded to me. There is so much in the way of sports, academics, study abroads, community service, and honor groups that are offered. I realized the full scale of what is available more so in my junior year and immediately joined those groups that best pertained to me, signed up for study abroad programs, and got involved in community service programs. By far this has made my college education and experience so well rounded and unforgettable that I would not change anything, except to have realized this my freshman year. There are chances for financial aid and with that money it makes taking advantage of these opportunities more available, as it has for me, and made me realize my future more clearly.

I would have worked harder in high school to try to get into a better school. Sometime when I work in group projects I get frustrated that some students are not as motivated, dedicated, passionate, competitive and hard working as compared to me. I find that some students don't care about their grades and GPA, so sometimes I wish I went to a move competitive school. I should have worked harder in high school so that I could have applied to better school that had competitive students.

Take the AP tests and pass them! I wish I knew how important just one course credit can be. I took AP classes in high school and didn't take the tests seriously. Now, I wish I did because I could have been saving my parents' money. Also, to practice time management at a young age. Luckily, I transitioned well from living with my parents to on my own, but for some that is not the case. No one is there to make sure you wake up for your class or tell you to eat healthy things or study enough for your class. I think many people underestimate how much you have to take on yourself. (Not to say people won't be there to support you, but it is very important to manage your time on your own for when you get out of college.)

Looking back on my high school tenure, I would have gave myself this simple advice; relax. I was so stressed out about applying for scholarships, having money to go to school, and other academic things. Knowing what I know now about college I would have also just told myself to not worry about making friends and meeting new people; at JMU friends are made by the handfulls and no matter what type of person you are, how you act, how you look, or how you dress there are people here just for you. So looking back now that I am in college the advice I would have gave myself would have been to just "go with the flow." Thank you so much for listening to my short answer essays and taking into account my opinion on my school. GO DUKES!!! Sincerely, Justin Bailey

I would say to work harder academically while still in high school. I would develop improved study skills and warn myself of impending essays and difficult exams. I would get into the habit of actually reading the book along with studying class notes. I would tell myself to attend each lecture unless I absolutely have to miss a class. I would also tell myself to be more open to diversity and differing opinions and perspectives. I would tell myself to become more independent, yet to take each positive opportunity presented to meet new people and experience life to the fullest.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would advise myself to either go somewhere else to school or to get involved in more activities freshman year. I was on a sports team last year (my freshman year), and I had a great time. Then when I tried out this year, I got cut by the people who I thought were my friends. I didn't do sorority rush as a freshman, but I did it this year, and it didn't work out for me. I've applied for other organizations, and they've also turned me away. I wish I could tell myself how to deal with rejection because in high school I was on top of my game. I was captain of two sports and on the executive board of various clubs; now it's just different. I would tell myself as a high school senior to keep my head up and get what I want like I always did and not to give up. I haven't given up, but it's just been a lot harder in a school of 17,000 students to shine like I used to.

Hey, Rachael! Slow down for a second and stop rushing around trying to be everywhere at once. Relax, you will be just fine. You are right, you are ready for college and have been well prepared, but make sure to really focus on your schoolwork too to keep those grades up. Keep good track of your money, because it wont last and you could get in some trouble. Don't worry about coming home too much. Try to stay at school and make a lot of friends. Your high school friends wont last as you all go your separate ways, so don't try too hard to impress them or be good friends. Don't slack off in your school work, but try to have fun while you can, because once you go to college your life will change forever. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there is no going back.

College is all about what you put into it. You have to be open-minded and ready to meet new people. You get out of the experience as much as you put in. And don't forget to manage your time wisely!!!!

If I were able to return to the past and talk with my former self, after scaring her from popping out of nowhere, telling myself the future is brighter in college would be the first thing I would say. I would divulge the same excitement I give my friends now, showing that I have no need to be the shy and quiet girl in the front not knowing what to do in life. I'd tell myself to keep on shining inside and out since there are a variety of positive options to keep me from being bored, scared, or alone. I'd also tell myself to turn in my application a few months earlier so I would not have to have the last-minute stress from an early application.

Applying for schools and getting into college seems like the biggest deal in the world back in senior year. It's not. In the end, just going away to school is the best thing for you. I have friends that go to big Ivy League schools that I turned down because I had to stay in state, and I couldn't be happier. The label of a "prestigious" school doesn't mean it's going to be a better academic or social experience. I love my college and would never want to go anywhere else because the friends and experiences have been priceless.

The best advice I could give myself is to sieze the day, but plan for tomorrow. By this, I mean that living in the moment is crucial to living a fulfilling life. I would tell myself to sit on the college's quad, play frisbee outside of my dorm, and use free time to explore the campus and community rather than sit online. Also, I would definitely tell myself to plan for tomorrow. College is all about preparing us to go somewhere in life, and there's no better preparation than to be prepared. I wish I was wiser when it came to scheduling classes and using my semesters efficiently to maximize the most out of my college time. Overall, I would say this knowledge would have been useful but the great part of college is that you go into it not knowing one thing that will happen.

Stay involved with sports teams or club. These oppurtunities will provide youi with oppurtunities to interact with people who are different from you and give you leadership experience, which will make the transition to college smoother!

Wake up and start figuring out what you want to do with your life! Start looking into possible majors so that once you get to college you won?t be changing your major every semester and holding yourself back from graduating in four years. Make friends with the people around you at every opportunity and get involved! Be open to trying new things and step outside of your comfort zone even when your body is screaming that you are too tired for kick-boxing at eight in the morning. Who knows what interesting people you will meet, but don?t be afraid to get out there and find them. College is a place for getting an education, learning new skills and meeting friends for life so take advantage of every opportunity given to you and don?t give up when the going gets rough. Keep your head up and have a little faith. Oh, and bring quarters.

I would tell myself that the transition will be a great experience and their is nothing to worry about. Be ready for all of the opportunities about to be thrown at you. Always be open-minded and make friends with people who don't share the same educational goals as well as those who do. Take advantage of any scholarships or grants to make it easier to pay for college. Know exactly what you want to get from your college experience and try to plan everything ahead. Visit the college your planning on attending more than once and get in contact with students who already attend the college. Ask lots of questions and begin networking. Keep a positive outlook and really have a strong idea as to what you want to major in. It is important to know what major you want so you can join clubs and take specific classes towards your future career. Be prepared to socialize and become very responsible.

Knowing what I know now about the college process, I would first of all tell myself about all of the financial aid possiblities that I have unfortunately not taken advantage of because I never realized how important they were. Loans have really hurt me and I wish I would have given scholarships a better shot. I was just too desperate to go that I didn't realize what I was doing and now I wish I could take it all back. I also would have taught myself about the value of relationships and given my friends more time instead of living stressed and not letting anyone help me. It would have made the stress much easier to handle if I had given my friends the chance to support me instead of living in depression. Lastly I would make sure I focused more on community involvement because I learned in my later years in college how much of an affect it had on me and the people it helped and it would have given me a better outlook on life early on. I also would have chosen my career differently because of it. Thank You!

Accessibility to study facilities and libraries at flexible hours is something that really does make a difference. At James Madison University, I was lucky enough to have entered a school that did not have a large campus, and was walking distance from the library. The library was not only open long hours, but also had separate studying group rooms, individual quite rooms and more. That was on top of a wide selection of helpful references. Other study facilities include tutor centers, computer labs, study lounges and study rooms in the dorms. These encourage healthy studying habits and really does make a difference if put to use. The first step to using them is making sure that there is access to them.

The best thing to do when picking a college is to visit the college while school is in session, not necessarily with a trained tour guide, but with someone you know who attends the school. I would highly suggest visiting for a long weekend, possibly attending a class with a friend, and then seeing what the weekend life is like. It is difficult to choose schools, because it is nearly a blind pick to see which will suit you better, which is why it is wise to visit with the mindset that you are living one weekend in the life of a student that does attend there. There is no cookie cutter way to choose a school, it just needs to feel right to you.

Talk to alumn from each prospective college and hear their own take on it. Plan a weekend visit to interact with students from the school. Take a tour on campus while school is in session.

When looking for the right college keep in mind location and financials first. If a school is too far from home (everyone's distance varies) cross it off the list. Next I would look at the tuition and scholarships offered at the school. If it will be hard to manage, or impossible to get loans for (especially in the economic crisis we are facing some adults can not back their children with loans) , and no direct scholarships or grants from the school I would put it on the maybe list. Then of course the fun part, visit the school during the school year and get a feel for what students there are like. See if you would want to be a part of the community the school offers. Talk to professors, yes it is awkward at first, and staff as well and see if you like the environment you are surrounded by. Once you are starting your freshman year, do your best to get involved and meet the people you are living with. Having good relations with roomates can greatly affect your initial college experience. Find clubs, sports etc. that you want to be apart of and do them.

Find a college that you feel like you really feel a connection with. One that has a good program of your choice and one that you know you will not regret going to.

explore all options and figure out your priorities, then choose the school that fulfills what you need and want

When searching for the right college, be sure to look for the schools that have a strong emphasis in the field you are thinking about going for. You want to get the best education you can for the amount of money you are going to pay to attend. Also, make sure the faculty in your field are highly trained and really know their field of study well. The professors make all the difference in how you learn the material and get better at what you do. where the school is geographically located can also have an impact on where you choose to go. Make sure that when you are applying you go to a school that will put you in a good learning environment, somewhere you will be comfortable and not feel out of place at. Most importantly, go to the school for the right reason. Remember, your career is way more important than your social life. Jobs are more interested in how well you did in college, not how much fun you had.

In order to pick the right college, the most important thing to do is VISIT! You never know how you'll feel about a place until you're actually there. Take as many opportunities to visit campus as possible; whether it be a sponsored weekend where there are tons of prospective freshmen, or you're just walking about campus on a random Tuesday. Get to know the different places and try to sit in on a couple of classes if possible. The atmosphere of the place you might attend college is a very big deal, and if you're not comfortable there you won't enjoy it as much. To make the most of your experience, get involved but not too involved. Give yourself time that first semester to get to know campus and focus on your classes, since that transition time is usually the hardest. Make sure you take advantage of all opportunities thrown your way, such as studying abroad. Become a dedicated member of one or two organizations on campus and give them your all. These years will fly by faster than you know, so cherish every memory.

When looking for the right college for yourself or the student I believe there is a couple of very important things that you should consider. The first being what is academically going to challenge you. Make sure you wont be to bored or to stressed out becuase of course work. The second thing is you should make sure that you like the atmosphere. Decide whether the people fit you and you fit the people. Like the campus because your going to be looking at it for four years. As to making the most of your experience at college dont be afraid to make mistakes, be outgoing and make friends that you can always have fun with, and interact within school to be involved. Dont ever be afraid to ask questions. And for the student, make sure YOU like it and not someone else. Lastly, make sure you will be happy becuase that is the most important thing.

I'd say access your child's strengths, weaknesses, and career objectives and begin by investigating local and state institutions that seem to have some correlating characteristics. This is obviously an important decision that can only be made worthwhile through thorough investigation of what the individual is looking to get out of the experience, AND what the college/insitution has to offer. As far as making the most out of the experience, the best place to start is finding out what interests you, and follow that path wherever it takes you. Colleges typically have all sorts of clubs, associations, events, etc. that not only provide unique opportunities to get involved, but they also can be good friend-finding and networking tools. It's important to remember that this time of your life is the TERMINAL for your youth and the ARRIVAL of responsible adulthood, and only you can chose the plane and destination when your given the ticket of opportunity.

Don't go to college based on its name. I went to a big-name school because I wanted to 'wow' people when I told them where I was going. I didn't care about the cost, the size, the party scene or anything else that actually mattered. Big mistake. Turns out, the name isn't all that important. Sure, people will judge you on what school you choose based on what they know about its reputation, but who cares what they think? Do what you really believe is the best bet financially and in terms of best fit. Also, listen to your parents! I wish someone had guided me in my college choice, but no one did, and I ended up in the wrong place. Most kids what to go out-of-state because they think it makes them more independent. Truth is, you can be in-state feeling like you're hundreds of miles away AND still get to go home to do your laundry. I went out-of-state and have now had to transfer because I couldn't afford out-of-state tuition, no matter how many jobs I worked.