Middlesex County College Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Megan

If such a blessing existed to go back in time and talk to the seventeen year old Megan I would tell myself to not overwelm myself with work. Ever since I've been in college I've wanted to get as many credits as possible to graduate early. I took classes for a year straight including summer classes. Now after such a long period of time without a break I feel tired and have loss some of the motivation that has always pushed me so far. That lack of motivation caused procrastination and made me irresponsible when it came to submitting work on their deadlines. Eventually these moments of weakness caused my grades to lower. So ultimately I would tell myself yes, we would get more credits but doing so we would not be receiving the grades I knew we could achieve. I'd rather be an A+ student at a slower pace then quickly getting B's and C's. I wish could tell my past self that quality is worth far more than quantitity.

Adam

The advice I would give myself is to work harder and get more involved in activities that help give back to the community.

Chi-En

I wil tell them that do not make up your mind so quickly and so easily because once you go off to college you will figure that there aare so much more that you did not know. College is a place where you can meet peoplee from different places and where you really learn about the society. Therefore, give yourself sometime to decide what is best for you. Also, definitely go to open houses offer by the colleges. Go to all the open houses of the schools that interest you if possible. Open house gives you a breif understandning about what the campus life is going to be like and walking in the campus yourself and also be a big factor. The most important of all, do not go to college because of what others said or because it is famous. Find out what you really want and go to the open houses. Studying in a college that fits the best and you like the most will change your entire life.

Carlos

If i'd have to go back to high school, the primarily advice i would give to myself is to try my best and learn as much as possible. I'd tell myself to try my harders in my favorite sport which it was soccer, I would play it so much better than i did, i judt did not know any better and did not care. But as of now i know how much high school's well perfomance in academy and sport is important. I'd also tell myself not to stop going to school, i actually took a year and half off school only to work and buy a car. I now know that i wasted my time into somthing that would had been an advantage for me to be really ahead in my aspiring career. In addition, college life is not easy as others might think, i would gather as much information from other people, talk to counselors for help, colleges. Probably i would also take extra classes that would benefit me in the near college future.

Thomas

If I could talk to myself about the transition from High School to college, I would tell myself how big of a jump it is from High School. Where Middle School to High School went very smooth because I was able to rekindle friendships, I will have a hard time making new friends at school because people will still intimidate me to an extent. It'll be even harder because my closest friends will be at least an hour away rather than fifteen minutes down the road from my house. I would tell myself to bear this in mind and step beyond my own comfort zone rather than falling into depression which will ultimately lead to my dismissal from school. I would do this in the hope that I'd be able to save myself the hardship of feeling like a failure with thousands of dollars of debt and having nothing to show for it after a year's worth of school

Michelle

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have told myself to not give up so easily. I dropped out of high school in February of my senior year. I was not dedicated and did not care. I completed my education in the Adult School. The only problem I had with the transition to college is that I was somewhat ill prepared for tasks, but I did not give up. Ater my two year stay at the county college I will be transferring to JWU in the fall. I am enjoying college and glad that I decided to continue my education. My advice to myself is when the chips are down pick yourself up and try again. It's never too late.

Gregory

Try as hard as you can and get into Florida Atlantic. You need alot of scholarship money so go find it.

Kelli

As I look back on the transition between high school and college life, I remind myself of the dramatic stresses that I was inflicted with. I was not confident in my individual abilities. This decreased my amount of participation in clubs and extracurricular activities as a freshman, which I now enjoy as an upperclassman. The extreme change of graduating from a class of twelve people, to an incoming freshman class in the thousands of people, was quite a shock. The advice I would tell myself would be to live for the moment, and embrace every day with a vibrant new yearning for life and learning. Learn not to stress about the little things, and see things for what they really are. Don?t settle. Embrace the struggles so you can appreciate the celebrations. Trust yourself and your judgments, leave no room for doubt about whom you are and where you come from. You can be your own worst enemy. Go to class, take notes, look people in the eye, be friendly and open to new ideas and new experiences. It?s okay if you aren?t perfect, nobody is. Work hard, and life will fall into place.

avion

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a college senior, i would tell me self to prepare! A wise man once told me that if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. This is so true. I have gotten accepted to prestigious universities, but because i failed to have a plan after was accepted, I could not succeed in going. I have a sister who is still attending high school and more than anything, I tell her to have a plan for success after you leave high school. Often i go back to my old high school and see freshman, sophmore, even juniors who do not take getting into college seriously. I would tell myself "eventhough you are young Avion, time is of the essence." Therefore it is not how much time you have, but what you PLAN to do with that time. I believe you should enjoy your high school career, but not at the risk of failing to provide for your future. When you succeed planning, you plan on succeeding.

Cynthia

I would tell myself to make decisions based on what I want, not what my family or friends want. Far too many students allow others to influence them without acknowledging the fact that others' choices played a part in their decisions. When that happens, too much time has passed and too much money is spent before one recognizes where their mistakes started in the first place. I would tell myself not to get sucked into the hype of attending college where you know everyone and everything. This time in a maturing adult's life should be seen as a fresh start to the beginning of a career bound, successful future ahead.

Erika

College life is not like high school life. Although what is taught is the same for the first year of college, college is a time of gaining independence for students, whether they live on campus or not. Professors are not going to coddle students or stay on their cases like they do in high school. Professors are there to get a paycheck, no motivate students. It is in the students? best interest to attend class as much as possible, take notes, and get a study buddy in each class. Students must to take the initiative to seek tutoring help on their own. Stay on top of what courses are needed for a major completion. Many counselors recommend courses that aren?t needed. Always ask questions and make monthly counselor visits to make sure that everything is right. Books are expensive. Instead of purchasing every book before the class begins, go to the class and ask the teacher in advice whether or not it is worth buying the book. Search online sources for books; they are much cheaper than the ones bought on campus. Although college is work and responsibility...have fun. It?ll be the time of their lives.

Nicholas

If i looked back at High School the classes i took wouldnt change i took an extra math and science class. The one thing i would change is getting into more clubs to help me be more interactive and also to meet new friends. Even tho i was in the top 13{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my class thats still not good enough for me i want to be the best. I wouldnt change the spots i played either bowling and baseball are both fun activites and brought me school sprit.

Passion

Dear Passion, College life is very different from high school life. For starters, the work load will be more challenging. There is no one there to push you, or to make sure you succeed. There is no teacher to call home, and remind your parent that you have to do a project. There is only you. You must push yourself harder than you have ever before. It should be taken seriously, and not thrown aside as a joke. You should have fun, and try to experience as much as possible. Once these years are over there is no getting them back. So play hard, but study harder. Love always Passion Gladney

Shannon

If I were able to go back to my senior year in high school and explain to myself the hardships and obstacles that I would have to face. I would prepare myself for the financial endeavers that I would have to go through to actually pay for a college, and stress how important it is to apply for scholarships as soon as possible to make sure that I was set for my first year. The second thing that I would stress is impressions in college making a good impression with your teacher is golden. Someone that always studies and answers all the questions in the class is likely to be remembered. Some of this classes have twenty to thirty students in them which makes it hard for a teacher to remember them all, being that one shining star helps the teacher remember that extra mile that you took in class to be seen. Also how dedicated you are and deserving you are for that A+. Be different, follow through and always, always show that you are a winner. Do not let anyone tell you other wise.

Biage

The advice that I would give myself is don't let anyone tell you that its not possible. If people do not want to help you, you have to help yourself. Nobody knows you the way you know you, if you have a plan ; follow it if you have a goal ; acheive it. Do not let anyone hold you back whether it is a teacher, a friend, or family you have to make your own decisions. Because three years from now you do not want to see an old high school friend happy with their life and your feeling like a failure inside and from that point on your decision would either have made you or break you. And when you do embark the journey that you choose remember to never give up, whatever you do in life always give it your best because hardwork always shines through, and do not let life get to you even when you feel that everything is or has gone wrong. Because at the end the reward that you will recieve will all be worth it.

Evelyn

If I could go back and speak to my high school senior self I would say that college isn't really any different than high school. In the beginning its a bit more difficult but its an adjustment just like transitioning from middle school to high school. You are much more independent and have to rely on yourself alone to carry you through the class, but the achievement is that much more satisfying. Sticking with school and not letting anything thwart your plans and you can succeed at anything. There will always be times when you feel like you can't handle it but there are others that are in the same position and surrounding yourself with the right people and those that are motivated as you are, is helpful. I would tell myself that finishing is not as difficult once you have your mind set on finishing.

Glenn

If had the ability to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would stress the importance of patience and relationship building. It is vital that all college students exercise patience throughout the college process. Many high school students live under the misconception that everyone graduates high school, attends a four-year university, and graduates in four years to move on to a high paying job. It sometimes takes a setback for one to realize that things just do not always go smoothly. Each college student takes their own path, which may be altered due to personal struggle, familiy circumstances or financial issues. If one is patient, stedfast, and hard-working in their approach, their goal will be accomplished in due time. Relationship building is an integral part of the college experience. Almost no other place on earth compares to a college campus. College is a chance to meet and connect with people from different places, cultures and backgrounds. Each professor, administrator, and even student has a wealth on knowledge that can benefit your life in some way. You just never know how the people you meet now will effect your life later.

Gina

College life is mostly a mental state of constant learning. Knowing what I know now, my advice is steady now, steady. As a senior in high school life is fast, fun and full of college applications. My naive mind had synced "college" with "freedom", "city life", "art escape"; my ideal, beautiful, and surely epic chapter of my life. I wished to do big things and mistakingly thought that in order to do so you needed a big city. I had my heart set on idealistic situations and refused the realistic, unfortunately before the start of fall semester, reality showed it's ugly face. So instead of attending school in Philadelphia for a hefty price, a familiar road, literally, brought me to county college. Going back to senior year I did not even factor in community college. Seniors should take the time to find a school that best suits all your needs rather than wants. I wanted a big city, but what I needed was something affordable. I am able to go to school full time and have a high GPA while working part time, and I get to sleep in my own bed! That's what I call "college life".

George

George, I know this has been a very difficult year for you. Losing your mother was not easy, and unfortunately life will not slow down or wait for you to catch your bearings; it never will. You must be courageous and focused. I am not going to lie to you: college life is far from easy. There will be an almost never ending flow of assignments, continually bombarding you. Your first inclination will be to run in the opposite direction?I should know. The sacrifice may seem great but so is the reward. There is nothing on earth so fulfilling as trying your best and receiving the hard earned results for which you have strived. I know this seems like a foreign concept to you, George. And I know that you don?t believe this, but you are a very gifted person; there is practically nothing that is beyond your grasp. All of the challenges that lie ahead, and there are plenty, are all opportunities to grow into the person you were always meant to become. Give college your best shot and you will see that you have it in you, and that you always have.

Eugene

If I could return back in time and have a talk with my self as a high school senior, I would divulge the three hidden rules to college life that most college freshman inevitably break. The first rule would be to remain well grounded, this is important for every college freshman to consider since college can significantly alter one?s judgment due to the increased level of freedom. College is a place for self-discovery, development, and of course education. It is not a place for over-indulgent highly risky behavior. The second rule would be avoiding distractions at all costs. Half of the college freshman don?t end up graduating and typically do poorly during their first semester. The cause of this, too many distractions, if one can stay well focused and abstain from engaging in any detrimental behaviors then college will be very enjoyable. The third rule I would give myself would be to avoid overeating or making poor dietary choices. The freshman fifteen is not a myth, it is quite prevalent and gaining fifteen pounds of pure visceral body fat is a growing epidemic for college freshman across the nation. Follow these rules and success is certain.

Liz

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be a lot of advice I would give myself. The most important thing I would have to tell myself would be to get good grades. High school grades do matter alot when you are applying to colleges. The best thing about getting good grades in high school would be that you can apply for alot of scholarships. For example, if you got all A's and B's during your four years of high school you apply for the Stars Scholarship. If you play a sport, and maintain good grades, you can also get a scholarship for that. I got two C's in my high school career and it kept me off the Stars Scholarship, and when I think about it, I get disappointed in myself because I should have worked harded in those two classes so my parents would not have to worry so much about getting me through college.

Anne

The one big advice i would give myself if i were to go back in time is that to make sure not to waste time in college because if one does, one will end up failing one's class and one would have to retake it over again. Moreover, if one fails a class it makes one's grade point average to go down and one will end up wasting money retaking the class. Also, its all about managing one's time and being able to balance having fun and doing school work. That is why the wise men were praised for having proclaimed the axiom, "all work and no play makes jack a dull boy".

Sheema

If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior there are many things I would have tried to say to myself. I would have told myself to work just a little harder rather than giving in to 'senioritis' and to focus on school rather than anything else. I had many friends in high school, almost all of whom I am no longer in touch with. I wish there were a way of foreseeing the future so that at that crucial point in my life I could have been focusing on more important things like school and family. I also would have told myself to become more active in extracurricular affairs since they actually motivate students to do better in studies; I am learning this after coming into college. Not only have playing tennis and being a part of Phi Theta Kappa boosted my self-esteem and made me a more positive-thinking person but I also see that the more involved I am in such extracurricular activities the better my grades are. These changes in high school may have made quite a difference to me now.