Loyola Marymount University Top Questions

If I were to go back in time to when I was a high school senior I would advice myself to make slightly different academic choices. Even though I was on the honor roll list every year of high school, I wish I had taken more AP classes. AP classes could have made me stronger as an academic student for the reason that they are very challenging. Also, more AP credits could have helped me skip various core university courses and allowed me to focus more on my major. Another word of advice I would give myself would be to take on more leadership roles. College is filled with many clubs and opportunities that offer leadership positions. Already being exposed to leadership roles in high school would make it easier to take on the responsibility of being a leader in college. It is important to be involved on campus because one is offered many opportunities, some that can even lead to jobs in the future. These are the only things I would advice myself on because I am comfortable with the decisions I made in high school and grateful that I was accepted to be a Lion at LMU.

Don't be afraid. Marisa, I know you love home and you love your friends but don't be scared. The first couple of weeks are rough. Of course they are, it's college! After you weather that storm, though it turns into an awesome experience. I know you get anxious in groups, I know you feel like you're shy when meeting people but put yourself out there! That first introduction will be tough but after that, piece of cake. Now, for some tips about college life. Don't forget your shower shoes--it gets gross in those bathrooms. If possible keep some tissue in your purse when going out, most houses will run out of toilet paper or a friend will start to cry. Do read all of your assignments when assigned. You'll thank yourself when you ace that midterm. And finally, make the most of it. Freshman year flies by faster than senior year of high school.

I value the personal path I took in getting to college and I would offer the same advice to another high school student that might be in the same situation as me. I took time off after high school to travel, and then started at Santa Monica Community College to obtain the general credits I needed for my Bachelors degree. I feel this is a very good idea, especially for students like myself who financially support themselves. I was able to receive an excellent education at a very low cost, and was then able to transfer into the college of my dreams! The one thing I would have done differently would have been to establish residency in California before starting at the junior college. Although it was still very cheap, that was one extra loan I will have to pay off when I graduate. I am still very grateful for having been able to attend college without the financial support of my parents. I would urge high school students to seek all options for financial support, including resideny in terms of lower tuition. I would also say that you shouldn't let your family's financial situation determine your education!

Advice that I'd consider to myself would be to start applying for colleges early and scholarships to pay for school. I started applying for colleges late and I also applied for scholarships late. Which is why I just started school this year and now I am stuck paying out of state tuition. Winning this scholarship will be a huge blessing and help. I will be able to pay for books and classes without stressing.

Hope, power, and the defeat of challenges: RISE. This same word has pursued me through high school told to me by teachers, friends, and mentors. Furthermore, it has been exemplified in my life and relationships as means of hope, determination, success, love, and zeal. As an independent latino woman, this was my outlook to a world of higher education that I intended to pursue. I approached and lived my high school years with a positive and diverse perspective on the social changes that I hoped to see and actively engage in as a future college student. College is a moment of self-discovery, but there are always pieces of your past that one take's, and further develops in that aspect. This is the advice to myself. Reflect on the strengths you developed in high school, take the issues that you are passionate about, and put service into action! Educate your whole person by building new relationships, and learning in new uncomfortable settings, so that you may continue to rise above what may seem to be the impossible. Live your college experience with an open and optomistic mind, heart, and new perspective. College is about you.

Having gone through the first 5-6 weeks of the LMU college experience, there would be much advice to give to my high school senior-self. If I were him, I would let him know about all the opportunities to offered at LMU and not to have slacked off when applying for scholarships and financial aid awards. I feel as though I would enlighten him, to let him know what to do as a freshman, what to get involved in, and how to go about budgeting his time so that he's not holding so much on his plate. I would warn him about his roommate, about his roommate's habits, and not to be surprised that he has a wild side, if you know what I mean. I'd remind him of what's important in college. Education is first before work, before clubs, and before organizations. The transition into college was an easy one, so I'd tell him not fear about being an outsider amongst a larger freshman class. I would let him know that Loyola High School had indeed prepared him well for the endeavors that he will face in Loyola Marymount University.

I would tell myself to get involved right away. It took me about a semester to really join groups here on campus. I would also tell myself not to be intimidated because this is the time to take advantage of all the opportunites available. College is what you make of it and with the cost these days, you should really give it your all.

Taking advantage of all the help and the activities available in college really helped me grow to love my school. It is important to know what resources are available and to enjoy a social life too. If the opportunity presents itself, travel somewhere you've always wanted to go for a semester or a service trip. There are many people who want you to succeed in learning both on and off campus, in academics and extracurriculars and they are willing to offer assistance, as long as you are willing to ask. My general piece of advice would be to sieze every opportunity for fun, help, learning and traveling because your four years and college will pass you by if you do not take advantage of them.

College life is very different from High school life. In college people are mature and friendlier. In high school there are alot of people who aren't mature and focused on there education while in college people do anything to pass there classes.

If I would go back in my past then I will change my one habbit that I will study really hard, so I can improve my GPA to 4 because I was rejected from a college because of this reason.

I would advise myself to be the best I can be and try my hardest in everything I do. I would advise myself to stay focused and be very smart about my time management. I would also encourage myself to stick to my principles no matter what other people are doing around me. Lastly, I would advise myself to be myself and not to change in order to please others. True friends will like you for the way you are.

My transition from high school to college was relatively smooth because I realized that I had to start over and so I tried to put myself out there as much as possible. I think I would remind my high school self to stay true to what I believe in and be confident in myself more than anything, because LA is a big change compared to a Nothern California suburb. I would make sure to tell myself to be comfortable in my own skin but to also be open to big changes and new experiences. I loved my freshman year and I definitely think I made the right decision for my major and my personality. LMU is filled with challenging but worthwhile experiences, and I would definitely reccommend high school students to check out our campus.

Graduating from high school is going to be a very exciting part of your life. You're closing a chapter and starting a new one. The best advice I can give you is to take the time to think about your values, expectations and hopes for the future. Understand how important certain things are to you and promise yourself that you will never compromise those things because you got caught up in the lifestyle everyone paints college to be. Always remember what your "highschool self" wanted to accomplish and focus on what you need to do to achieve those things. Keeping an open mind and heart is always necessary but the values you set for yourself now will never fail you.

I would advise myself to be as proactive as possible and to not take for granted that any opportunities will be handed to me. I transferred from one school to another and assumed that it would be an easy transition without making the effort to become active on campus. My school had many opportunities to interact with social and academic peer groups, so I would tell myself to seek them out and combine my passion for psychology with others interested in the same field. I would tell myself to set time aside for extra curricular clubs just as I set aside time for homework or my job. It will be challenging, but an organized calendar will be essential in planning out assignments and not falling behind. I would make sure to emphasize that the summers are key opportunities to strengthen my resume, and to take extra classes so that the fall and spring semesters are not as overwhelming. It will be worth it; the journey, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction you get when you receive your degree, you’ll see.

Adults were always telling me that I had PLENTY of time, to live my college years to the fullest and enjoy myself "while I can." This insinuated to me that life after college was a downgrade. This does NOT have to be true. Countless experiences with students who have prioritized partying and socializing over ambition and academics have taught me one thing: college is more than just the "time of my life." My father has always told me that I have everything going for me. The only thing that would hold me back from success would be myself, if I allowed it to. Therefore, I have realized recently that if I place the utmost emphasis on what career I will thrive and be happy in, study my life away and accept that my social life will still be there when I leave school, then I will obtain long term happiness and success. Priorities, priorities, priorities. This word could not be repeated enough to every single college student in the nation. The distractions that college introduces into each one of our lives need to be acknowledged and placed at the bottom of any truly ambitious student's list of priorities.

Dear high school me: Quit over-thinking! You are a senior and need to relax and enjoy life. Trust me, I know that everything is going to be fine, but for your future self's (my) sake, you need to quit over-analyzing and start taking risks. You wonder why you look and feel the same, unchanged after all these years - it's because you always play it safe, always living for the approval of others. Listen carefully: the only person whose approval you should be fighting for is yourself. Don't be afraid to want more for yourself, to aim for higher goals, and to really fight for these ambitions, because you deserve it. You deserve dreams, challenges, and excitement. One of your future professors will tell you that NOW is the time to take risks - you're young, what do you have to lose? So here is your mission, should you choose to accept: let go. Let go of the rope that is the inhibitions in your mind, your constant need for perfection and control, any negative thoughts that consume you, and take the leap toward the unknown. Trust me, you'll surprise yourself. Yours, Future college self

The transition from the high school to college is one of adventure and discovery. In regards to the life altering event of attending college, it cannot be stressed enough the need for balance between work, health, and socialization, for straying to far in any one of these causes detriment to the fellow two. Thus, each needs the other. To do well in school work, one must see to ones health through proper nourishment and sleep, while at the same time there must be time to explore and participate in activities beyond the classroom, developing friendships and building a diverse set of life experiences . Through this, my final and and most important piece of advice acts as a catalyst for achieving the aforesaid balance-family. Too often students falsely believe that severing ties with their family will illustrate that they have succeeded in the transition from a high school teenager to a university attending adult. It is important to never forget that family ties are the roots from which we grow and thrive. They are the means that take us from sapling to flowering tree, full of life and vibrancy.

College is not about the parties, the sorority you want to be in, or the lenience you get with class, it is about the freedom. This is the one time of your life when you can just decide you want to travel to Hong Kong for a week to help with community service and not have to worry about all the expenses. This is the one time in your life you can go to a different country and learn your major! This is the time of your life when you go from being just a kid to being an adult. This is your time to break free. Break free from all the stress you think you might have. Do things you normally wouldn't do. Take a random class because it sounds fun. Do not think you will ever fail, because these four years are what is going to morally shape you into the person you will become for the rest of your life. Take the time to breath and laugh, because this is the time of your life. So go out and be goofy, go out and be great, because college is your chance of real freedom.

Remember, good things come in threes, and so do bad things. Never lose your passion for making others happy, but save a little joy for yourself. Be confident and wise. Always accept help from well meaning people, but be aware that you have power and influence hidden within your very bones. There are things that a smile and open arms can’t fix, so be practical. However, never deny the humor in each situation. Love with intensity, don’t hold back. For those times when you feel your feet lifting from the ground, remember they must do this in order for you to fly.

The first thing I would tell my high school senior self is to apply for more scholarships. My senior year I suffered from a very serious case of "senioritius", and by the springtime I was too concerned with my class trip to Europe and planning my graduation party to bother looking for scholarships to help pay for the $55,000 a year private college I had elected to attend. If only I had know the financial hardship this would put on my parents I would have applied for everything I could have. The second thing I would have told myself is "don't limit yourself". I was so sure that I wanted to be in California, I didn't leave myself the option to go anywhere else. Although I am very happy with my decision to attend LMU, I wish I had at least toured schools in other states, or even applied to one in-state university. Lastly, I would have told myself to go with flow of life. I was so worried about the imminent end of my two year long relationship and separation from my friends that I forgot to savor our last few months together.

Some advice I would give myself would be to apply for scholarships, especially the ones my university suggests. As a high schooler, I was doubtful about my capabilities and didn't think I was good enough to earn scholarships or apply to big-time universities. I would have advised myself to be more self-confident and believe in myself. Fortunately, I was selected to participate in a summer program specifically for incoming LMU students in the school of Science and Engineering. Being part of this selected group of eighteen students called ACCESS (A Community Committed to Excellence in Scientific Scholarship), I created a family that supported me and bonded with throughout the academic year. Having spent an entire month before school started with these seventeen other strangers, I became less fearful about the big idea of transitioning into college. Having made a family before starting school gave me the security and confidence to meet with other freshmen that might have felt afraid to "start over" and feel at home. I felt glad I took advantage of on-campus programs LMU offered to incoming freshman.

I believe a big part of college is not assuming that you know everything, and realizing that it just is not like high school at all. Just because you did something a certain way in high school does not mean you are going to do it the same way in college. The lifestyle is more fast paced and there is a lot of free time that you have to know how to deal with productively. Write out a schedule for yourself everyday so that you can get the things that you need to get done out of the way. Only then should you start to relax and have fun. The next piece of advice I would give is to not be afraid to try something new. In fact, make an effort to do something that you never did in high school. You’ll thank yourself for an exhilarating experience and you will grow as a person since you stepped out of your comfort zone. College is the ultimate place of opportunity. Don’t let it pass you by!

I would tell myself to open up to new people, get involved in as many activities as possible and to stop worrying so much about how other people view me. I would tell myself that it is okay to make new best friends besides the ones i went to high school with. I would also remind myself that everyone is going through the same adjustment as me and there are a lot of people that could relate so I should not be afriad to talk about my feelings. Most importantly, I would tell myself that this time in my life only happens once, so I need to take advantage of all of the great opportunities college gives you and remember that learning is not just done in the classroom.

You are about to dip your toes into the real world. Living at home and under the support of mom and dad has not quite given you the experience of complete individuality and responsibility that you are about to enter. You will come to realize that even getting yourself up on time on a Monday morning will prove itself to be a decision of responsibility that you, completely on your own, have to learn to deal with and accomplish. Balance is key. Time management sounds so simple, but it can mean the difference between a high-strung stressful first semester or a relaxed and flowing semester. Make every hour and day count, because time flies. Absolutely do not put off something that you have time to do today for leisure time. Trust me, you will have a lot of opportunities to do whatever you want, so choose wisely. Yes, an hour of tv may sound relaxing after a long day, but how many people have the chance to attend a guest lecture by an influential person right across campus? Few. Count your blessings and take full advantage of every single one offered to you. College is a one-time deal.

Hello, my name is Rodrick Edmund Brown. I am currently enrolled at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The advice that I would give my high school self would be the following words of wisdom. One, talk to your counselors and ask general questions whenever you can. Two, always seek help when you need it. This advise can be given in any order that one person chooses. I say talk to your counselors and ask questions whenever you can because they may be able to show you the way to new opportunities. In addition, your counselors can and will prepare you for the everyday changing world beginning with higher learning. Also, the more you ask questions, the better you become at understanding college and everything within it. I say always seek help when you need it because as a student, when assignments tend to get harder and harder, we try to do them over with no progress or not again. Then we get mad and quit then develop pride leading to not wanting help with anything. We all need help at various points in our lives. Don’t be afraid, ask for it. Thank you very much for this opportunity.

Thinking back to my fall semester of 2009, I see myself now as a fundamentally differeny person. A freshman at Santa Monica College, I was still in the narrow high school mindset. I would tell myself to branch out, and meet more people. But most importantly, I would emphasize the difference between a college and high school class. When I registered for classes, I made it so that I only went two days a week and got the school week over with as soon as possible. But that is no way to learn. As I learned in my sophomore year, the only way to go to college learn properly is to go every day, use the library, research outside of class, and talk to professors. College classes are taught with much depth, and are worth so much more than the meager attention I gave them. I would be sure to tell myself that it is important to take thorough notes, and reqrite them after class with all the details before I forget them. Now, I have all my notes archived, and it would have been great to have good notes from my first year. Study and learn!

The biggest piece of advice I can give is get involved, and get involved early. The first semester of freshman year was a little bit lonely and slow for me. I didn't have enough to do to fill my time even though everyone told me college would be a blur. I didn't feel excluded, but I didn't really feel as if I belonged yet. Second semester when I came back, it felt more like where I belonged. It's nice going back and feeling almost like you are going home, just because you are used to the school by then. And when I joined a sorority, volunteered as a tutor/mentor, and got a job all in a matter of months, I felt even more at home. So hang out with the people on your dorm floor, join that club, do your homework outside and see who you meet. You never know where your next best friend could be!

In high school I believed that I was really too cool for many of my classmates. Since I was attending an all girls school, I generally stuck with a group of 4 friends and thought that I was better than others. If I could go back I would tell myself to drop this attitude. All this belief made me do was create a wall between me and others. When meeting new people, you need to be open and friendly - least of all judgmental. I've learned now, througout college, how to be more open with others and break the wall that I had so strong in between me and others. But my interactions in high school did not make this easy. My "wall" tended to make me a negative person. Looking back now, I would tell myself and anyone included that positivity and openness is key and that it affects everything from your social life to your academic life to your work life. In the end, I would tell myself to come back down to earth: no one is too good for anyone - everyone deserves a chance.

If I could lend advice to the 18-years-young version of myself, I would stress three important tips: spend less time crying over your ex-boyfriend and go out on a limb to meet more people, be your own manager and work on more student films, and fight for more financial aid. Like any other freshman, I was overwhelmed with a flood of various emotions. Eventhough I'm a naturally outgoing person, the transition into college beleaguered that social-butterfly within me and I missed a vital oppetuity to meet new people who were just as overwhelmed as me. Instead, I depended on the relationship with my roommate to be enough, and suffered the consequences later on down the line. One way I could've met more students was by working on more student films, not only would I have met new friends but I could have gained experience that would help me make films of my own. Lastly, I would encourage myself to take the time and effort to get more financial aid. Not having to worry about tuition bills would've allowed me more time to focus on my studies and enjoy what LMU has to offer.

If I could go back to give advice to myself when I was a high school senior, I would say that it is okay to not have every step of my college career figured out. If I would have had someone tell me that I did not need to know my major, or what I wanted to do in life, I believe I would have been better able to explore my future goals as well as the person I had grown to be. After transferring colleges, and having many people tell me what I should do with my career goals, I have finally discovered what makes me happy, and have made it my mission to graduate with a degree that will give me continuous joy in my future career.

The advice I would give to myself is don't be overwhelmed by the stress and work load, but rather all the wonderful experiences and opportunities that college will bring you. Furthermore, being away from home may seem scary at first, but it really forces you to build strong and lasting relationships with the friends you meet in college.

As a senior in high school, I believed that college was a fun time to experiment and really grow as a person. I knew that I would change, but I never would have realized that the change would be so dramatic. College is the time when you are at your most vulnerable point and you really begin to discover who you are as individual, a separate entity from the family and friends you grew up with. Know that everything does happen for a reason and that everything that seems bad at the time could end up being the best thing for you. I never would have guessed I would be doing what I am now, but I could not be happier with the way things turned out. With every set back, I found something new I wanted to try which enabled me find new passions and discover I had different dreams than I realized. Try everything because you never know what may be the one thing that fits you.

Do not let the past hold you back. You have a clean slate in college and it is not too late to be the person that you have always wanted to be. If you are not proud of yourself or the life you are living, find the strength within your heart to start over and pick yourself up again. At the same time, do not forget where you came from. Remember the experiences, the people, your family and friends who made you who you are today. Be thankful for those experiences, people, and what you have in life. Do not be afraid to take risks in college and be more open to people with a different point of view. You can make the best or worst experience of college and I hope you make the best of it. Try something new every day. Be with people that make you laugh, that make you happy, and that ultimately make you become the best version of yourself. Keep your faith alive both with others and with yourself. Life can seem overwhelming at times, but hold on. Finally remember that life is too short to hate, but not nearly long enough to love.

High school was a great learning experience for me. Back in high school, I worried too much about what others thought about me and I tried so hard to fit in. Compared to my friends' living, I was ashamed of where I lived. If I were to go back, I would tell my self to just live life to the fullest and not to let anything or anyone get me down. I should not care about what others think about me because if they don't like me for who I am, then they are not my true friends. If someone would have told me that back then, I feel like high school would have been much easier. I would not have felt betrayed, hurt, or angry. Besides that, high school was also fun. I did meet my best friends and I would give myself a high five for friending them! My final advice to myself would be: there are so many things in life that are so great, that the little things don't even matter compared to them. Don't change yourself for others, you are a beautiful person inside and out.

I would tell my high school self to fully invest myself into which ever college I ended up at. I feel that people can be happy almost anywhere, but it just depends on how much effort they put into transitioning. I would tell myself to walk around campus as my truest self. I would tell myself that my academic studies are the most important thing, and to always keep my grades as best as they can be. However, I would make sure to tell myself that academics are not the only way of learning. I would suggest doing community service, going to sporting events, falling in love, doing research, and hearing the stories of my other colleagues. I would remind myself that college is a privilige, and it is a gift that keeps on giving.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to attend a two-year community college. I would advice myself this way because attending a community college could help me to explore my options before taking the next step in my academic journey. Since I enjoy writing, I would advise myself to participate in the high school’s writing club because it would provide me with the opportunity to show others my unique writing style. The encouragement that I would receive would motivate me to pursue writing as a future career at the beginning of my college education. I would also encourage my high school self to write about my disability, Asperger’s Syndrome, when I start community college because it is a misunderstood topic. By appearance, a person may not have a problem, but the reality is that students with disabilities need help and never ridiculed. I believe that writing about a disability can make a difference, especially in helping people to change their attitudes and understand how those with disabilities learn to survive. Above all, I would constantly remind myself to persevere and never give up hope.

You aren't spending much thought on college right now, which is okay; you should be enjoying senior year, you'll miss it a lot next year! But its important that you put effort into your college research. Don't assume you have more time, because you don't. College seems daunting now, I know, but putting the thought and time into researching this now will make all the difference later. Don't worry about your friends; you'll all find a way to stay close, I promise. And it's okay to make new friends, your old ones won't feel betrayed or jealous; believe me, they're doing the same! Get involved next year. Join clubs that sound interesting and pay attention to advertised events, the school will have more to offer if you put yourself out there! Ask for help, your professors and other students will know more than you. They want you to succeed. And for now, love your family. They're your rock and while they'll always be there for you, it won't be the same next year; don't take them for granted. Don't worry, you'll be alright.

Dear Hilary, You just had one of the most stressful years of your life. Senior year at Edina High School was tough and a huge accomplishment, taking on DECA Officer positions, Latin Club President, being JV Soccer Captain, getting insomnia, applying for colleges, losing old friends, trying to find your place in a changing school year. I can't believe you've made it through and now you will be set free into a greater journey. But before you start packing and saying goodbye to your family, please take this advice. Do not doubt your incredible worth and your incredible talent. Go with what talents you were born with and don't try to deny your strengths. Your extremely sensitive, creative and artistic qualities are what make you so do not discount them. Trust your intuition in that and when you falter, fall on the faith that your family wants you to be happy--not financially successful. Do what you love and fall in love with what you do. Take advantage of every opportunity to meet someone knew and learn from them. And always ask for help. I know you will be a great leader, Love, Hilary

In the Land of Oz, the Cowardly Lion is known for his skepticism, fear, and worry. Without a doubt you will share these feelings of uncertainty and concern at some point. You will succeed though; you WILL reach the doors to the Emerald City. You have the ability to conquer those feelings and distinguish yourself as someone who thinks critically, lives, works, and serves others, and is committed to fighting for local and global justice. You are a BRAVE and NOBLE lion. This journey begins with different goals and aspirations for each person. Along the way you will befriend sweet Dorothy’s, tin men, straw men, you will live through frustrations with wicked witches! With each new trial your courage will be put to the test. Like the Cowardly Lion though, you will triumph and receive your badge of courage. Remember though, that it was not the Lion’s badge that made him courageous but his actions that made him brave and noble. Your diploma is simply a badge of courage; it does not define you. It is what you choose to do with your education that will define you and your era. The world is ready for your roar!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the only advice I would give myself would be to apply for more scholarships. The only thing I can't really control are the financial costs. Everything else was both in my control and fairly easy for me. I feel as though I have adapted really well to the college life and have naturally adopted what I believe are positive study habits. I would refrain from giving my past self any more insight becuase I enjoyed learning by myself; it's the most efficient way for me to learn and it's how one prepares for the real world. Learning how to adapt by myself has made me more mature and more prepared for the world I will once again have to adapt to outside of college and I wouldn't want to have my personal learning experiences taken away from me because these experiences have defined who I am.

The best advice I could give myself as a high school senior is to pick the school that best suits you. After finishing my first year, I can say that attending college is an eye-opening experience as I have learned how to use this newfound and liberating independence wisely, deal with many different types of people, and understand that there is more to life than school. Finding a balance between studying, spending time with friends and family, and the many fun extracurricular activities that most students get invovled with is difficult, but it can be done. The key is time management, and I wish this was a skill I better practiced during my high school years. I believe that Loyola Marymount's motto of "learn, lead, and serve" best sums up what college is about. The end goal of acheiveing a degree shouldn't be about finding a well-paying job, it should be about applying those skills you have leanred to give back to society.

Diana, college is a completely different experience than high school. There will be times when you feel like a “loner” since it’s a new school where everyone is a stranger but through clubs and other organizations you will feel at home. Please understand that friends can hold their fire after you’re done with your eight page essays. You need to put in a lot of effort and creativity in your work and don’t wait until the last minute to complete your assignments or else you will find yourself flooded at 2 AM with papers scattered all over your bed and it won’t be just for one class. People describe their experiences and you are going to think it is just another easy step like in high school and that a GPA won’t hurt you. Unfortunately, that step will become a mountain of difficulties but teachers will become your best friends in order to increase your critical thinking skills that will make your head sting with tension. But experience makes assignments simpler and through time you will appreciate their help. So hang on tight for the roller coaster.

You can't think that you're going to skip class or not do the homework or reading and still get a good grade. A lot of professors take attendance, and even if they didn't, the classes are so small that they're going to notice if you're gone. Class participation is generally a significant part of your grade, and it's difficult to bluff your way through if you haven't done the reading. Homework is another significant part of your grade in most cases, and the professors will notice on the homework if you don't know what you're talking about.

I would say myself that college life requires you to be more open minded. Since I will be attending college as an international student, I should change my attitude with respect to how I view Americans. Instead of just making friends with the same racial or ethnic group as mine, I should try to befriend people from different racial backgrounds. By doing so, I will be able to benefit from college multiculturalism. College is all about making new friends and making more personal connections. If I continue being a shy and introverted student, no matter how hard I study and how high my grades are, it would be impossible to affirm that I had a successful college life.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that it is okay to make mistakes. College is the time to learn about life on your own. Its the time needed to find out more about yourself and to survive amongst the fittest. With this said, I would prepare myself for the adventure. Moreover, there are different learning styles in college. Learning is more independent. One most coach themselves throughout the course, without a counselor to guide you through the syllabus. All in all, college is essentially a process to learn about how to become an independent.

Start early and work hard! Even the little stuff really matters, really soon. Concentrate on classes, and don't worry as much about having fun. Fun will come, and college will be way more fun than high school anyways.

I would tell myself to not limit my study to the major intended based on social and cultural pressure. I would empahsize an open mind, and a non-internalization of the standardized process of education in order to relieve the stress associated with the system and not the classes themselves. I would tell myself to take advantage of every moment to explore the surrounding area and state, and not hold back any urge to go out and explore based on stress, lack of sleep, or pressure from tests or classes. I would encourage a maxiumun amount of discussion and questions to be asked of both the professor and the students, regardless of whether the class entailed such an engagement or not. I would greatly emphasize allowing oneself to let go of any insecurities and engage within the social commuinty, keeping an open mind of those who are met and above all else spread as much love as possible. Lastly and most importantly, within all of the chaos experienced on a daily basis, one should focus on slowing down and reacting to the present, understanding its power and beauty, rather than contiunally striving for a better future.

I would tell myself not to worry because life is going to get better. I was unhappy in high school and I thought that college could potentially be just as bad. It wasn't though, and I would tell myself to look forward to moving to college and focus on being more positive about it. I would also tell myself to try and get more scholorships since the college I'm going to isn't exactly cheap and that's been a problem.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior the main thing I would say is to try and keep a balance between social and academic life as well as getting ivolved. Campus involvement is huge at LMU and if you are not involved in a club or greek life, you may find yourself very lonely on the weekends. There are plenty of opportunities available on campus for students with all type of interests and it is just a matter of going out there and finding them. I would also advise myself to stay on top of all financial aid matters. This includes applying for scholarships and fulfilling all requirements for grants and loans. The loans add up quickly and there is plenty of free money available to students and once again it is just a matter of searching for them and doing the application. No one is going to do the work for you. Your parents are gone and you are now considered an adult so act like one and do not rely on them to get you out of trouble.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to spend more time developing good study habits, to always question authority, and to enjoy what little time I have of high school left. I think I would want myself to know that college is a playground for exploration, and that what I put into it is what I will get out of it. I would want myself to be prepared to spend obscene amounts on books, to be presented with a plethora of drugs and alcohol, and to make smart decisions when it comes to friends and relationships. The best advice I could give myself would be to enjoy the ride, because college turns out to be quite a thrilling experience.