North Dakota State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Be prepared for that which you cannot necessarily prepare for. Without a doubt, money should be saved, grades should be maintained with the utmost care and secondary schools should be scrutinized, but the single idea to keep in the forefront of your mind is openness. You are bound to make mistakes. Maybe you will change your major four times, or fail a class, or whatever it may be. While I am not justifying any sort of wrong doing here, I do believe that there is value to be taken from things that don't go according to the preconceived plan. The bottom line is that this is college; this is an investment in an education, in life, that no matter what, no one can ever take away from you. Avoid getting too tied down at this point. Time, as well as a vibrant education will reveal limitless opportunities, and even when you're not in class, college will leave you with things no one will ever be able to rob you of.

Stick with NDSU, its a good choice

Through my transition to college I found it really nerve wracking. If I could go back I would let myself know that the transition to college would not be stressful at all and not to get so nervous about it. I'd tell myself to just breath and enjoy the end of my senior year. I would also remind myself to enjoy planning Teens Giving Back, the youth volunteer event I planned and executed my senior year. I'd remind myself to be extremely grateful to those that volunteer to make Teens Giving Back happen and to give it my all. As a final note to myself I would say, "keep an open mind about everyone you meet, all the places you go, and all the things you encounter, because you never want to wonder what if..." It is the 'what if's of life that will eventually hold people back in the past instead of allowing them to continue on with the rest of their lives.

If I could travel back in time and be a high school senior, I would tell myself to be sure to get involved right away! Don't be afraid to check out new Clubs, Orgs, ect. I would also tell myself to push myself to meet people. In the beginging things seem daunting and a scary, remember that everyone is in the same boat as you, so just go for it! Another thing I would tell myself as a high school senior is to ask for help when you need it. It's never fun if you dig yourself a hole in the begining of the semester, or to feel like you are never able to catch up on your work. My advice: start your homework early, don't wait for Sunday night, it's the easiest cure for Monday morning dreads. Don't forget to get active. Make exercise fun, and make smart eating choices. Another insight I would give myself as a senior is get to know your proffesors! If you email them, or visit them during office hours with questions, they will get to know you and come time for the grade you want to be remembered!

If I was able to talk to my high school self here's what I would say: Chillax Yo. There is no need to spend so much time worring about what college will be like. College is full of so many different opportunities and people that amazing things are bound to happen. As long as you put yourself out there you will find your nitch, your place to belong. There's no need to try and change who you are and no need to try and fit in with the "college image". In college there are all walks of people. It would be near impossible not to find people who think the way you do and have the same morals you do. No matter what you think you are not alone in your fears though. 3000 students came in to college feeling exactly the same way that you do and now together we have all grown to be more comfortable with ourselves and each other. College is a time of growth, change and oppportunity, so don't fret, just allow it to happen. And also, go for the nice boy, because he's more than worth it!

I've always thought about this question myself. If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself to go into college with a more open mind. College is about discovering yourself. Picking a major doesn't necessarily mean that is what you should do in ife. I would try and persuade myself to really look into many different opportunities and fields of study. I would also tell myself to fill out many more scholarships. I didn't realize how hard it is to obtain scholarships nor juggle a job with school also. Money is tight and thriftiness has to be present with you everday. Finally, the most important piece of wisdom I would give would be to have fun. My parents always told me this will be the best part of my life. Don't get bogged down thinking of finances and homework all the time. Socializing and exploring is just as important. Hopefully these tips would be enough to change my outlook on college a little more positive than it already was.

If I could bo back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to get involved as much as possible. You can make friends in the classroom; however, the main area you make your close friends and have the most fun is through extracirricular activities. You do not have to be a great athlete or gifted to be involved. Join a band; join a choir; join an intermural sports team. North Dakota State University will accept you for who you are; people at the college are very friendly, are very excited to meet new people, and the organizations on campus are very fun. College is a place to make lifelong friends. Yes, you go to school to learn chemistry, history, wellness, and the like; however, the main purpose of school is learning how to be a responsible, loving, and caring adult. Friends stick with you through good times and bad; therefore, get involved at NDSU. You will not regret it!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself and give myself advice of what to expect and how to make the transition in college, I would tell myself that I should get involved day one. In college, you know a very small majority of students when you first come to college. If you get involved right away I feel as though it makes your experience so much greater and more fun. You meet so many people regardless of what you become involved with, and learn so much about yourself and others around you from being involved in organizations. It also is a fantastic way to network with others and ultimately increase your knowledge of what employers are looking for and seeking, as well as being able to add things to your resume, which, ultimately plays a very large part in you succeeding in college and getting a job offer. Another thing I would tell myself is don't regret a single thing. If you spend all your time regretting something then you are wasting your time and not living your college experience to its fullest. Lastly, I would say always be yourself, it's who you are!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior I would tell myself to take as many math classes possible. This is would make the transition way easier and allow myself to take more upper level classes. Finally I would tell myself not to worry about the school work because its not as hard as you think it will be. Just make sure you manage your time so you can make friends and more importantly succeed in the classroom.

When making the transition from high school to college, I did not have any trouble moving from home and meeting new people. However, there has been trouble getting over old habits. Having the ambition to do the things that I ought to do, like exercising and completing homework, is more difficult now that no one is there to see it through. Without that external authority figure, it is much harder to force myself to get things done and the impact of not doing those things is evident. I wish that I had the drive to put them into some kind of routine before coming to school. The more important thing that I would to my high school self is to say that I am worth it. I deserve to get into my major of choice because I am going to put the effort into it. I deserve to attend a good school. I deserve to be surrounded by amazing people. I deserve the life that I make for myself. This is most important because this kind of attitude creates an unstoppable force. One that cannot be reckoned with. That is the kind of person I should strive to be.

College life is just as good as everyone said that it would be. The transition at first is a little tough, but once you start meeting people you start meeting lifelong friends. Don't worry about what other people think about yourself, because who you are in college will affect many aspects of your life. There is a lot of pressure on picking a major, but there are a lot of people there to help you in your decision. The advisors at NDSU want what is best for you and are willing to answer any questions that you may have. If you have any questions about anything going on in your transition, don't be afraid to ask. Get involved with activities that interest you. More than likely they can help you in your future, and will look great on a resume. Find classes that you will love, and don't overload yourself. Make sure to make time for a social life, it will be reflected in which ever job you end up getting in your future.

Having been through a transfer and taking a semester off to work, I would tell myself to simply think more. Make realistic plans that are able to be adapted to other situations. I thought that my life would be perfect attending a private college, and it was, until tution and fees shot through the roof. When I transferred to the public (and less expensive) university I attend now, most of my credits did not transfer- liberal arts classes do not easily translate into state public institutions. In the end, I was required to take many freshmen level courses my junior year to fulfill general education requirements. If I had planned better, thought things through, I could have taken classes that make sense to transfer, or not gone to the private college at all. I could have prepared better financial planning to stay at the private college. There are many "if I had done this differently" situations, and I have turned each over in my mind. I don't regret anything that has happened, but these last few years could have been a lot simpler if I had known to plan for the unexpected and always make adaptable plans.

"Get out there, make yourself heard!" This was the most difficult thing for me to do because I was always so afraid to speak up in class or even to meet new people; in reality everyone else was just as (if not more) apprehensive as me. I would tell myself to take chances on people and groups, to join anything that interests you because there's rarely any long-term obligation if it turns out not being the perfect fit. The only risk in venturing into the unknown is just that - you'll never know what life-changing event or eye-opening person you missed out on. "Don't try so hard to fit in." Everyone is different, and the more you accept your uniqueness, the more confident you'll become. Confidence radiates like sunlight, shining its rays on those around you, showing them you can be a leader and put your best foot forward. Part of being yourself is believing in yourself, knowing your limits and not being wary of what others think. You'll gain respect from your peers, family members, professors, AND from yourself by expressing your true character and giving everyone and everything a fighting chance.

As I look back I would have told myself that college is a bigger transition than you think. Everyone tells you that college is so much better than high school, which in parts is true. However, you are now officially an adult who is now debt because of college loans, and be prepared to empty for savings to cover the rest of your costs that your loans don?t cover. Don?t worry when you buy books for the first time and they cost a lot; it?s that way for nearly everyone. Whenever you get the chance fill out scholarships because they help out a lot. Also if you have a bad roommate the first semester; your second one will better. Yet the experience will teach you how to deal with difficult people. School will be everything you dreamed of , but it?s a bigger place than your small town high school. Don?t worry so much about pleasing others. If you feel like you?re in the wrong major change. It?s your choice, not theirs. Don?t worry, and when the world is trying to get you down, hold your head up high. You can succeed.

As a high school senior I had no idea how challenging and time consuming college classes would be. I would have told myself to take more time studying and learn how to study before I were to arrive at college. Time management is key. I also would have told myself to learn how to prioritze what is important to make sure that gets done before wanting to do something that is not as important. Another important key of college is getting to know your instructors and asking for help. It is much easier to earn an A as a final grade by starting off earning A's, rather than try to work your way up from a C midway through the semester. By getting to know the professors and asking for help, they know that you are willing to work hard for you grade and that you really want it.

If I had a chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take the ACT over again to achieve a better because most scholarships are based on that instead of the GPA that you worked so hard to keep up. I would also tell myself to join more groups right away because you can have a lot of fun and meet many intresting and new people if you just go out there and give it a chance. I would also tell myself to go out and volunteer because it helps the community out very much and it can be very rewarding. Another thing I would tell him is to find other ways to socialize and make friends than parties where alcohol is involved.

If i could travel back in time and talk to myself while i was in high school I would tell myself not to worry so much. I would say that yes college is hard but you'll make it through just fine. I would also tell myself that it will be a lot more work than high school so I should learn good study skills and to read and study ahead of the class. I would tell myself to become aquainted with as many high school teachers as possible and hope they would let me use them as references for future applications. Something that would have eased the transition and made college less stressful was to have applied for more scholarships. So I would also incourage myself to apply for as many as possible who knows what would happen I may have recieved more if I had. I would tell myself to become involved with as many things as possible during my senior year and to get some more volunteer experience, as well as tell myself to do that in college too. By being involved you meet more people and aquire more friends.

I would tell myself to work hard in high school and not spend all my hard-earned money on so many trivial things. I'd tell myself to save up that money, because I'll need it when I get to college. Having money saved up just makes life that much easier. And I'd tell myself to apply for more scholarships while I was in high school, so I wouldn't have to worry so much about college loans.

If I were to go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself the importance of keeping focused. College life is the doorway to independence. I think it?s easy for students to get side-tracked and make unscholarly decisions. Teachers will not force you to come to class, parents aren?t there to tell you to study or go to bed. You need to remember why you are enrolled there in the first place. You need to be independent and focus on your goals and remember that you?re making an investment in your future. Learn as much as you possibly can and make sure you are making friends that will help you to do so. College is so beneficial to you and you shouldn?t worry about the transition. It all comes so quickly and easily, and although the first couple of weeks might be intimidating and hard it only gets better from there. Stay positive and stay FOCUSED!

Looking back at my transition from high school to college, I realize that, overall, the transition was quite smooth, but before long my visualizations of what I thought college woul be like, changed drastically. When I was living at home, I said I would move to college and never come home. A month after move-in I found myself on the road headed home. I never fully appreciated the comfort and warmth my childhood home held. Now, I have found myself going home about once a month to enjoy the wonderful feelings that home evokes. Having lived several hours from home helped me to fully appreciate not only home, but also my family. Now, I realize how wonderful my life is and am thankful for the loving family that I have been given. While in high school, if anyone would have told me I would go home every month, be excited when a package from home shows up in the mail, or look forward to the family visiting I would have called them insane. Therefore, I would give my high-school-self the advice to value home more while I am there becuase everything is about to change shortly.

I would make sure to take as many classes as possible in my senior year. And by that I mean varrying. In doing so you will better prepare yourself for college. There were some classes that just threw me for a loop. I would also say to make sure you know a couple people on campus. It makes the first couple weeks fun and easier. You'll always know some one on campus that you can hang out with and eat some meals with. Make sure to get involved with whatever you can on campus. Be prepared to be introduced to new things. Don't come in with a closed mind. The more open and understanding you are of everything the better your experience is.

Dear Amy, I know this is a busy time in your life as you are trying to finish high school strong and still get ready for college next year. Although you are doing a good job, don't forget to have some fun and relax. I know everyone tells you this and how fast it is going to go, but it is really true. You will really appreciate it later if you make some fun memories during your senior year. I also know that you are nervous for next year, but don't worry. Everything is going to work out fine. It may be stressful at first and you may feel all alone at times, but don't worry things will get better. Be confident in yourself and don't be ashamed to ask for help, it OK not to know everything. Stay strong and keep up the good work, it will pay off. Love, Amy

I would tell myself, " Amanda, don't listen to what everyone else says about having plenty of time to pick a major. Yes, you do have time but once you get into college it is even more overwhelming to try to pick one then when you are in high school. Also at the beginning talk to everyone, you need to make connections and get involved to make the transition easier. Oh, and another thing I honestly don't recommend that you start dating anyone before you go to college if they plan on staying in your hometown and you plan on leaveing because it just adds stress and confusion to starting your new life and it may ruin your friendship that you had before you started to date. Finally, have fun and be yourself, if people don't like you it's their loss and you will find wonderful people like you to be friends with."

study really hard

I would probably warn myself of the things that i tried doing that i ended up not finishing. I feel as though i wasted a lot of time and money trying to figure out what i wanted to do.

The first thing I would tell my high school senior self is to stay eternally positive. Being a positive person not only keeps your own attitude upbeat, but draws others to you. I think for most college freshmen there comes a time when you feel down, alone, and lost. You are in a new place, everything is unfamiliar, and you are away from your friends, family, and everything else that you are used to. But you get through it, and soon things look up. If you give in and give up during the hard times, you aren't giving yourself the chance to turn things around. Instead, you need to stay positive and trust that soon enough you will adjust, learn how to function in the new place, and make awesome friends. Don't let yourself fall short of being happy.

As a sophomore in college, I feel I have not found the right path in college quite yet. As a high school senior I thought it would be easy to find myself. So many students around me know exacltly what they want to do in life. But I am lost. I have accomplished declaring my major in Apparel and Textiles and Business Management. In the beginning as a freshman, I was confused and overwhelmed by all the choices offered. There are so many careers to choose from, it seems almost impossible to know what path is right for you. If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior I would say this. Do not be afraid of taking risks. Put yourself out there and hope for the best. Once you start to take chances, you find yourself and what works for you. Never be anyone but yourself and you will succeed in life. Now that I understand what it takes to be successful in college, nothing can stop me from success.

I would advise my self to apply for only non-local scholorships since university supported scholorships are less selective and easier to obtain.

If I had a chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stay strong and focused because the hardest of times are yet to come. I would explain that college life gives you so many opportunities to make something of yourself and if you follow your dreams and shoot for the stars, you can do anything you put your mind to. Just as the saying goes, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams!" I attended a 2-year college already and I have never been so proud of myself as the day I graduated with honors and received my Associate in Applied Science Degree in Practical Nursing. I now plan to receive my RN Bachelor's Degree. Therefore, another thing that I would tell myself as a high school senior is, "Go to college and make yourself and your family proud and don't give up when times get hard!"

I would tell myself not to underestimate the degree of difficulyt of college. The best way to succeed is to start studying early and study often. Don't fall behind on homework or put it off until the last minute. Get to know your professors and the whole experience will be much more enjoyable and rewarding. Also, get involved with student organizations, it will help you with your courses as well as help you professionally. WORK HARD, its worth it!

Do the homework and stay focused. The beter you do in your classes the easier it will be to get financal aid and the sooner you'll graduate.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to slow down and be patient. I would tell myself to work hard and enjoy the time that you have, and that eventually everything will fall into place and be what it should -- as long as you work towards a goal and never give up on that goal. That sound cliche, but it isn't. I was in college for the first time 15 years ago and finished my Associate's degree, even though I was 7 months pregnant. I'm finally going to get to finish my Bachelor's degree, because I continued to believe and work towards that goal. So, I would tell myself not to rush into the things that you think will never come around again, but to take everything in it's own time.

Focus on ur gols one hundred percent, have fun and enjoy while keeping up with everything in school. Finish school before anything else because later on in life it will be alot more dificult, reallice the oppotunities that we have rigth now that we will not have later on. Most of all know what u want to do and love, so u can be passionate on your work industry when time comes. Love what u do and do not ever under estimate your self or anyone else.

College is not as scary as everyone makes it out to be; in high school everyone made the transition to college a HUGE deal and made it seem like it would be extremely difficult. In reality, I adjusted to college very quickly. College also turned out to be much easier than I had expected; I still have to work hard for my grades but I was not expecting to be able to maintain a 4.00 GPA when I started college (so far, so good!). If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to "RELAX!!" and to not panic because college is not impossible; it is completely manageable and is the best time of your life once you adjust.

Education is and has always been a huge aspect of my life that I don't take for granted. In high school I strived to be a great student for personal benefit in life. From freshman year to senior year I was the student actively involved in clubs and in sports year-round. As a senior, I enrolled in advanced placement classes on top of an already challenging schedule. This type of busy lifestyle has been my best friend and also my foe. I have met some of my best friends through my involement and shared countless memories that will never ever be forgotten. As a current college student, I have met many friends whom I truely care about and am very fortunate to have met, but for myself and my home town friends there will always be that connection between us that we have shared since kindergarten. College has taught me that it is important to excel in school, but most importantly to appreciate the people around me. If I could tell my high school senior self one thing it would be to slow down and strengthen bonds with the people that make a difference in my life.

Do not allow the college to take advantage of your money.

I would go back in time and tell myself two things before I entered the college life. The first piece of advice would be to appreciate everything that my parents do for me. I didn't realize how much I depend on their support until I was on my own at NDSU. They are only a phone call away, but it is not the same as having them there everyday. My next piece of advice would be to fill out as many scholarships as possible because it will be well worth it. I didn't fill out any scholarships my senior year of high school because I didn't know for sure if I was going to attend college right away or not. By the time I decided to attend NDSU all the scholarships already had their deadlines. After finishing my first semester at college I now realize how big of a help scholarships can be and how greatly they are appreciated. These are two very important things I would let my past high school self know about the transition to college life.

Dear Ashlie, You are now a high school senior and college is not far away. It's been a long ride in your education so far-the friends, the transitions, and the fun-but trust me the best is yet to be. Here's some advice I think you should take in mind before your adventure. Number One: Let it all go. Let go of any insecurities and fears. Don't be afraid to go out there and give it your all, because in doing so you are going to meet some truly amazing people. Number Two: Be yourself. Don't let anyone change who you are. Don't drink when you feel it's not what you want to do. There are so many other ways to go out there and make friends. And trust me, those friends will like you for you. Number Three: Work hard and don't give up. College seems really hard at first-the classes, the tests, and the material. Just try hard, study study study, and ask for help. So Ashlie, I know you can do this. College is what you make it. So make it the experience it deserves. Love, College Ashlie :)

As a high school senior, I felt as if I was under a immense amount of pressure to make sure I was accepted into college and that I recieved scholarships. However, now that I am in college, I have looked back on those days in highschool and realized that everyone makes such a huge deal about it. College is indeed an important thing, but it doesn't help worry excessively about it.

Start looking into college at least by a sophomore. Make sure you look into scholarships and be open to what colleges you want to go to. Consider location, costs, and program availability when looking at colleges.

Be outgoing, don't be afraid to meet new people. Don't become too stressed out.

I would tell myself that it is best to find a school that you feel most comfortable at. It isn't always the best idea to go to the school in the big city just to get away from home. Trust your gut instinct and chose the college that you feel makes you happy. However, make sure you tour as many colleges as you can because you won't know what you are looking for until you have other options to compare it to. Also, take your time deciding on what school is best for you. This is where you are going to be for the next four years of your life at least. Make sure that the school you chose is able to serve all of your needs and not just some of them. There is a school that is right for everyone even though it might not be the same school as your best friend. This is your time to focus on yourself and what you want to do with your life, not what your friends are going to do with their lives.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is going to be a lot harder than you thought. Studying the material everyday instead of the night before the test is an absolute MUST! I would also tell myself that you are not the smartest kid in your class anymore... there are a ton of kids here that are smarter than you and harder workers than you. I would tell myself that this is okay, but you have to step up your game and work and study that much harder!

I would tell myself to research more. I felt like I was not very aware of the different choices I had. Actually, I remember asking my counselors office to help me, but never recieved a straight forward answer. Also, I never took a campus tour. I highly recommend this. A person can get a feel for the campus and also learn a lot of helpful tips along the way. The dorms are also a very great experience. Even though it might seem like you're paying a lot in room/board, the experience you get is worth it. A student can make lifelong friendships this way. Overall, I recommend that a student research as much as he/she can... and apply for as many scholarships as possible. After senior year of high school, there aren't many to apply for.

You will make the best friends you could ever find and although it may get tough from time to time, you will be more blessed than you could ever imagine.

To relinquish my existing self image, I catechize the absolute meaning behind myself. I would express, "That which you shall take upon yourself as your career should sustain and bring absolute joy to that which you hold most sacred. What you do through College must become the most important component within your life--something you will experience and fancy forever. Ask yourself, what three componential attributes describe the physical embodiment that controls every aspect of your existence? What do these three pieces foster to suit your needs?" I would continue to answer this question, "Design, creation and problem solving." Once understood I would then articulate, "The field you follow will consume your life simply due to your love for it--so work till you burn within and redesign the future. College life gives less heart aches than that from movie imagery. Social situations will arise; making new friends comes quite easy within your field of study. So bear up, become ready and exude your very soul which remains within. This change is for the better; life only becomes more complex as your continue through the tunnel towards ethereal light exhibiting itself at the end. Enjoy your time spent and prevail."

Go to a four year university straight out of high school. Going to a two year and then transferring may set you back on your coursework. Don't be shy, your roommates will be your family while you are away from home.... and make the most of the experience.

If I were able to go back to my senior year of high school , I would give myself the most important advise I have learned since being in college of needing to "just be yourself" and "strive for academic success". High school is just a small piece of the big puzzle called life. Unfortunately, too often teenagers place more importance on what clothes they wear and what group they belong to vs concentrating on what is important once on their own. These all too important social aspects of high school , are soon lost in the mutlicultural aspects of college life. While in college you are thrust into an environment of people from diverse backgrounds. What matters now is not who you know, not what you wear, but rather what you know. High school students need to concentrate on what they are learning, what they can do for their community, and where they will be able to best use this knowledge vs who they know, what they wear, and where the next social event will be held. Academic performance is the key to unlocking the world around you.

If I could go back in time the advice I would give myself is to really connect with your professors that you have and also with your advisor. I think that everyone should have someone within the school system to talk to about classes and concerns that you have. If you are struggling with one of your classes, who better than your professor could help you? I believe that making that connection with them helps you in more ways than one. When you introduce yourself to them, they have a name to a face. Many classes that you have when you are starting out have great numbers of people but if you get to know your professor and keep in contact they will be able to help you more knowing that you are putting effort into their classes. I would also give myself the advice to enjoy the events that campus has. I am glad taht I did do that because you meet so many people and it makes your college life so much more exciting and you have people there for support. College is a great time in a person's life. Enjoy it!

I would make sure to enjoy high school as much as possible and create beeter study habbits.