Martin Methodist College Top Questions

Hey Annie. I am your future self about 15 years down the road. You are about to graduate high school and I know that you feel as if a college education is something that is unatainable for you and it is only for the well off. You are a hard worker and will do well eventually but you will hit a few stumbling blocks along the way and you will learn much from them. I am here to tell you that you believe in yourself and start school now. Just give it a try (believe me you really enjoy school). It will build your confidence and prepare you for your future in an unsettled world. School will give you knowledge that will not only give you skills for a profession but also teach you life lessons that are indispensable to being a well rounded human being. Knowledge is power and that power will make you a valuable part of society. Don't delay sign up for that English 101 class, sign up for the History 1B. Start learning today. Do something today to reach the goal of being a college graduate because if you never start you will never finish.

If I could tell myself as a senior about what to be ready for in college, I would tell myself to start learning how to do things on my own, how to manage my money, and how to open up to strangers. I never went to the store by myself or made doctor appointments on my own, but now these are things I have to do. If I hadn't learned how to do these things right away on my own, I would be lost. Another tip I would tell myself is to learn how to budget my money. I didn't realize how fast you could spend a lot of money until I was on my own. All of the little things added up, and soon my money was gone. A third thing I'd tell myself is to open up to others around me. As I walked into my first class I didn't know anyone. I'd tell myself to meet at least one person in every class because it helps you feel more comfortable. By opening up I met knew friends, which helps make my college experience more enjoyable.

I would go back to high school and tell myself to give it my all. I would convience myself to take each day to learn all I could as if my future depended on it, because it actually does; even though it didn't seem so at the time. More or less I would slap some sense into myself until I understood that my actions at that time would determine my future.

The best advice I think I could give myself as a senior would be to stop procrastinating. Putting projects or papers off to the last minute is unnecessarily stressful and usually ends up hindering the final work. Also I would tell myself that I do not want to do business but pre-med. Knowing this before starting college would have made things easier down the road. In addition to this I would encourage myself to give every class, even the boring and pointless ones, my very best. In doing so I will not regret the grade I made or not truly learning as much as I could have. In the same vain, I would recommend taking a year sabbatical to really figure out what I want to do and just to be able to maybe travel some before college begins. I would also suggest to really listen to my parents because they are pretty smart and actually know what they are talking about. All in all, I would advise myself to stay true to who I am and to do my best in everything.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life I would tell myself to not stress about trying to have a definite major my freshman year. I would take the standard classes required for all majors and ask the professors of different majors that I may be interested in questions about different vocations. I would also tell myself to work harder my freshman year and not to be so relaxed in my studies. I would study harder and make studying a priority over any social functions. I would work harder to maintain the Hope Scholarship so I would not have to take out any more loans. I found it is not worth losing it.

I would tell myself that college is going to be hard but you can do it. That there will be trials but through everything you will get passed it all.

The words of wisdom I would give myself would have to be "Believe what all the people are telling you. They actually know what they are talking about"! Everyone, during your junior and senior years of high school, tries to prepare you for that giant step from high school to college, vocational school, or whatever your choice is. The typical high school student believes they know all the answers until they are faced with certain situations, then they panic; sometimes handling the situation in the worst possible way. Advice comes to you from many people including administrators, counselors, teachers, parents, and siblings and friends who have already taken the step, about topics including your grade point average, advance placement classes, ACT, study habits, and your interests in order to declare a major. I tried to listen to some of these people and their advice but after a while I became bored but now I wish that I had listened because their advice could have helped me through many situations. I would tell myself " All these words are from caring individuals who are speaking from experience and want to help you be successful in college and throughout life"!

Have an open mind and do what's best for you no matter what. Don't get discouraged if things don't go your way. Work on your study skills and practice writing. Be prepared to have the time of your life and don't let it go by with no recognition.

To students: Your parents will always be there for you and as much as it may seem like you are "on your own", odds are your parents have sacrificed and done many things to help get you to this point. If your worried about going to a college closer to home it isn't as bad as it sounds. Believe me, you will get homesick and knowing that home is only an hour or two away is comforting. Your parents have been around the block a few times and know how things work. So remember, although it may not always seem like it, they have your best interest in mind. Parents: Seeing your son or daughter off to college can be a scary time in your life as well. Although it may be hard, remember to give them their space and let them find out things on their own. If you've done your job as a parent you should have nothing to worry about. Going to college is a privelege and many teenagers don't get to experience the good times that lie ahead. These are 4 years of your life that determine the next 60 use them wisely.

The best advice I could offer would be to start your search early in the high schools years, perhaps as soon as freshman year. Narrow your decisons down to 3 or 4 final choices and plan to visit those schools. Take the college entrance test as many times as possible trying to achieve as high a score as possible. Be sure that the school atmosphere is a fit for you academically and socially. If playing a sport, make sure that you and your coach are on the same page and that the coach has a sincere interest in not only your athletic ability and what you can do for the team but also for your future. You don't want a coach to pull your scholarship midway between because of a poor season.

No matter where your friends are going or where your family went, college is an individual experience and the correct campus should be chosen based on your individual needs or wants. This is where you'll live and learn for four years. Take classes you enjoy and work toward a career in a field you want to be in. Join a few clubs. Some of the best friends of your life will be made in college and it's an experience you will never forget. Parents, please allow your child to learn about him/herself through this experience. College is supposed to help prepare us for our adult lives. While we may still rely on you for many things, we need to learn to be self-sufficient in order to survive the real world. We will survive and we will appreciate you more if you let us try things our way. If it works, then yay for us. If it fails, then we can go back and figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.

Visit a lot of schools and pick the one that fits you. Go with your gut.

The advice I would give to parents and students in finding a college is to find a place that feels like a home away from home. First research colleges that you might be interested in and schedule visits with them. On your visit be sure to meet with not only faculty and staff but students themselves. Get a sense of what the school is all about and see if you feel like you fit in. You will never be able to select a college unless you go and see it and experience what it might be like. Once you have found a college, get involved in it. College can be the most exciting time of your life if you let it be. You can make life long friends by the organizations and events you get involved in. College can be the key to your future career, so why not make the best of the time you have there. Open yourself up to new challenges and experiences because you never know where they might lead you.