Northeastern University Top Questions

I would tell myself to relax. Every high school senior is so stressed with the idea of getting into college, leaving home, starting over, making new friends, and succeeding in classes. My transition was difficult at first of course but after awhile I started to fit in smoothly. But I was harder on myself than I ever should have been throughout the whole thing and worried too much about things I shouldn't have. I would tell my younger self to relax, be yourself, and give yourself a break sometimes. I would also make myself get involved earlier on to meet more people that have the same interests as me and make the transition a little bit smoother. And last but not least, have fun!

The advice I would give myself is to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Being a Pharmacy major, I wish i talked to students who are currently in the same 6 year program I am in. I would ask them about their experiences, how they like it, and ask for more information about the program. I would definitely tell myself to visit the school and its surrounding. I would then ask myself if I could see myself being there for the next 6 years and if I would be happy. I would do this to all the schools I was applying to and then make a chart comparing the pros and cons of each university. I would then make my decision and try to make the best out of it and have no regrets.

With the knowledge I have now about college life, I would have endless information to share with my past self. Most importantly, I would tell myself that I would perhaps fair better at a college that is known more for it's creative programs rather than their business ones. There are many other colleges in Boston that I could have applied to, and I would remind myself to keep looking at them before deciding on Northeastern. Knowing myself the way I do, however, I know I would probably still make the same decisions. Therefore, I would have to impart the most important bit of wisdom that college has bestowed upon me: if none of the internships in your field offer any sort of pay, there is a solid chance that your field will never deliver a decent pay after graduation. It may have been better if I could tell myself to rethink my major and perhaps study somthing that would translate into a more stable job that I would enjoy doing. Looking back it seems that the best I could offer myself would be to think more seriously on what it is I want to do with my life.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it is that stress does more harm than good. True, there are some situations that seem impossible to get through, whether it be a paper deadline, class registration process, or even meeting new people. If I could go back and visit myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to have faith that everything will work out in the end. Life isn't over because you forgot to turn an assignment in on time, nor is it over when the guy you like doesn't want to go out with you. So don't wear yourself down worrying about things you can't change. Have the wisdom to change the things you can. College is a time for new experiences. Just be yourself and ride the wave of life. Life throws us curve balls at a rapid pace. We just have to learn to dodge them.

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was a high school senior I would say, "SLOW DOWN!" Looking back, I think I was in such a big hurry to get to college that I didn't take the time to truly appreciate the time I had left in high school. I would also assure myself that the transition to college, while it can seem daunting at first, is really not so bad. I'd say, "Erin, you made new friends in kindergarten, obviously you'll be able to make new friends here too! And yes, you have to be much more independent that before, but there isn't anyone working at your college that doesn't want to help you succeed in any way they can." And finally I'd throw in, "Good luck! Be yourself. Just keep working hard and keep your head up high and you're gonna be just fine."

If possible, I would tell my former self that it would be wise to room off campus for the first year. Campus living is convienent but overpriced. In addition, I would have advised that I should have applied for more scholarships, grants, or financial aid. Any little bit would have helped. Another tip I would have given for my first year would have been to buy books online at half.com instead of at the school bookstore. Used books are just the same as new but half the price! It seems as though any advice I could give pertains to finances...and that is because college is expensive. I have found that out first hand and I've learned that in order to make it out without massive amounts of debt you have to learn to be thrifty. Without the stress of money, it's a lot easier to concentrate on school so the bulk of the advice I would give would involve how to save it.

May 8, 2007. Graduation caps flew through the air as hundreds of camera flashes erupted in the crowd. Happy tears streamed down mothers faces and slighty shocked, though happy, students hugged each other and stood for photos. As I caught my falling graduation cap, I felt I was ready to fly the coop and begin the life I thought was awaiting me. Naive? Certainly. Ambitious? Oh, absolutely. Appropriate expectations for what was to come? Definitely, no. If given the chance to pass along some hard-earned wisdom, I would say only this: be gentle with yourself. College is a place where growth is not only necessary, but unstoppable. Inherent in this growing period, is plenty of pain and angst to accompany it. I thought I was abnormal, and I truly believed no one else struggled as I did. Given the opportunity, I would not want to take away the struggles I had that first year of college, I would only remember to be gentle with myself, allow myself to lose my mind a little so I could grow it into something more. "Be gentle," I would say to my overeager, 18 year old self, "and enjoy every moment."

At this time senior year I had already been accepted to all of the schools i applied to. Once i recieved all of my acceptance letters I visited reach school and then made a pro's and con's list for each. That is how i chose Northeastern University. I was very nervous on the first day because i didn't know anyone. I was petrefied that I wasn't going to make any friends and I was also nervous because i was assigned to live with all engineers even though I did not want to. But once i got settled in my room, my roomate and I went around and met people and they were all very nice. Then i vertured upstairs to the health science majors' floor and thats where I meet all my close friends. Everyone thinks they arent going to make friends but you are just kind of thrown into the situation and friends just happen really, it is nothing to get worried about. Also, joining clubs and participating in sports helps a lot as well. I am on the girls club lacrosse team and have made a lot of friends that way.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to not be so selfish when deciding what school to go to. All I was interested in back then was going to a school away from home in a new and big city. I did not concern myself with how much money school really costs and how that would hurt my family financially. I chose to go to Northeastern University because it was in a big city and because it offered the co-op program. I have since learned that many schools offer internship programs comparable to Northeastern's co-op program. If I could go back in time I would have applied to a few schools closer to home because they would be less expensive or at least enroll in schools that offered me better financial aid packages. I was living without a care in the world and as if money meant nothing to me, but things have definately change since then. My father is currently a displaced worker and my mother works multiple jobs to keep the family going. I feel as if I have burdened my family.

I would tell myself to be sure to be very social and know that the first people you meet aren't going to be your best friends for the rest of school. I would tell myself to be very open and try to get invovled and no worry about what other people think. I would also tell myself to enjoy every experience that is out there and embrace the new environment in which I had decided to put myself. I knew Boston was far away and I was unsure about coming here all the way from California, but I would tell myself that I could do it and that not even the weather could keep me from loving it here.

If I could go back in time to my senior year in high school, I would sit myself down and say, ?Always do what are you afraid to do.? This quote changed my freshman experience mid-way through. In high school I was very self-conscious, which prevented me from doing the things that I wanted to do. I didn?t do as many student activities as I wanted to, simply because I was afraid. Now, this quote hangs on my wall and I read it every morning and every night. If I had just known that there was nothing to be afraid of, I would have taken advantage of my senior year in high school, and had an easier transition into college. With nervousness, I began the year with uncertainty. I wasn?t sure where I belonged, and I was too afraid to try and find my way. But I realized that the window of opportunity for making friends and finding a place was quickly slipping away, so I forced myself to do things that I normally wouldn?t do. If I had this mentality before college started, I wouldn?t have had such a rocky beginning.

As a high school senior, all I could think was how fast I wanted to get out of school. My rush to move on left me short of taking the time to appreciate all the great things about high school. Having been in college almost three full years now, I always wonder what could I have done differently. I feel that I was closed-minded, and ignorant in wanting to grow up too soon. When I came to college, I realized that my eagerness to grow up had been silly, because I was now a "baby" at this new school. I used to think growing up was getting more priviliges, but in fact it is about responsibility, learning to fend for yourself, getting a job, and fulfulling expectations. I wish I had known all this in my senior year of high school to have taken more advantage of the time when hardships were miles away. High school is a time to cherish, to open doors for the future, and to do everything you may not be able to do later in life. If I could go back I would take more risks, apply to more schools, and treasure my age.

Don't worry so much about what other people think because those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter. Don't get discouraged in the first month when you're not meeting people you really connect with. Open yourself up more to people in your freshman dorm hall, those are the ones who will end up being your closest friends in years to come. Don't neglect your friends from home, it's a sad thing when you go home for the holidays and realize you don't know much about your friends anymore. Cherish, take care of and keep in touch with your family, they are the ones that will be there through thick and thin and do anything for you. Don't miss out on good times so you can sleep. Years down the road you won't remember being tired but you will remember the good times. Don't neglect your schoolwork. And SAVE. A recession is coming hard. And one last thing. Don't have any regrets because everything happens for a reason.

Don't waste your time doing what you think will make others happy. Do what you want to do while you are able to do it instead of wasting time and floundering in attempts to do what you think is expected or wanted by other people. There is no such thing as a stupid major.

Don't fret - enjoy what is being offered to you, make the most out of this time of your life, dedicate yourself to hard work in both the classroom and workplace, thank those that have helped you get here, and have patience and understanding. With these virtues you will succeed indefinitely while making the most out of this experience. It only comes once in a lifetime (unless you win the lottery) so it is only wise to keep your head help up high through the best and worst times. Despite what you may think, college is not a place to be feared, rather embraced. Make all your deadlines, not just for homework, but for paying the bills, rent, and personal expenses. Learn to cook for it will save you much needed money and most importantly - health. Beware of offers that are too good to be true and stay away from the mountain of credit card offers you will undoubtedly receive. Spend your earnings wisely and choose your friends with care for college life is the stepping stone into the real world - the door leading from the bubble your friends and family have created to your independent and successful life.

I am from a small town in rural Pennsylvania, so when applying to schools, I originally shied away from schools in cities. After visiting Boston, though, on a whim, I fell in love with Northeastern?s campus. When it was time to make a final decision, I had gotten into PennState and Northeastern and had to make the difficult decision to stay in state at a university town, or venture far away into a big city. If I could go back, I would tell myself to go with my gut and accept Northeastern?s offer without hesitation. I would have saved myself months of indecision and worry. I adjusted extremely well to the transition to city life and I don?t think I would be the person I am today if I had gone to the school that was so similar to where I had lived my entire life. The city life has been good to me, and the experiences and memories I have made at Northeastern have proven to me that I have made the right decision. Knowing that simple fact earlier would have made my senior year in high school much less stressful and more enjoyable.

After experiencing college life, there are a couple of pieces of advice that I would give myself if I were back in high school. The first would be to develop good study habits. In high school, I was so confident in the knowledge that I obtained, that I could not foster up enough motivation to study. I could not fathom that I would ever need to study. My first quiz in college shriveled my little ego, big time. From then on, I tried various study methods, some of which worked. Had I developed study habits in high school, I could have carried them over into my college years, and created a better transition for myself. Another piece of advice that I would give myself is to not believe in the college life displayed on television. Despite what I saw in movies about college life, I could not late, skip class and still pass. Active participation was required in most classes. Professors graded based on my attendance and contribution to class discussions. Participation was about 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my grade in each class. Knowing that beforehand would have saved me some frustration and allowed a smooth transition as well.

Being a college student now I would look back and tell myself to become more prepared financially for college. I believe I should have looked for more scholarships and opportunities so that I could ease my way of living here. I would also tell myself to be prepared for a lot of work in the coming years. Being an architecture student is demanding and I would give myself the advice to learn better time management. It would be good for me to get my work done before the last second so that it would make my life easier. In that way I would also have more time to study for other classes and get even better grades. I would also tell myself to get involved and not be scared to try out for anything in the school. Everything here is for me to use and I should take advantage of it. By doing this I would expand my horizons in college even more than I already have. All in all, I would tell myself to be prepared for a new way of living. All responsibilities are my own and there is now way around them.

When I was in high school I never had any desire to attend college. I grew up in a blue collared family and had intentions of just working at the factory like my dad. It wasn't till after I met my wife and had kids before I decided it would be a good idea to get back into school. If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would tell myself that life will never be handed to me on a silver platter. The dollar is worth less than I think and that I can never make it anywhere without a good education. I would tell myself that when I get older I am going to have two beautiful twin daughters and a lovely wife that deserve a great life, and that the only way to give them that is to get an education and to value every minute I study, and to not take it for granted. College is hard and it is important to stay motivated and to schedule your time wisely. Don't get distracted and keep your eye on the prize. Lastly, take advantage of every tool your school offers.

Although the essense of being a high school senior is less than a year behind me, I sincerely miss it. If I had the opportunity to go back I would tell myself to relax. Senior year is filled with so many opportunities that will soon pass you by. Instead of fretting about admissions, I would encourage myself to strive for schools I felt I might not get into, just to see what doors might open. Looking back on the months when acceptance letters were sent out I have come to realize that they truly are amazing things. A slip of paper acknowledging you for your hard work and in turn giving you the chance to actually strive for your dreams. Not to mention, the absolute rush you feel when you read that your dream school wants YOU. It simply makes you glow with happiness. All in all, I would tell myself to enjoy this time as a senior because although the future is exciting, you don't

The first piece of advice that I would tell my past self is to think of all the things that make your room home. I'd tell myself to make a mental note about what objects keep me comfortable so that my new room, my dorm, will feel just as "homey" as my room back at home. Another piece of advice I'd give myself is to pack light. You don't need everything that you've gained throughout your entire 18 years of your life. I would tell him to pack enough clothes for maybe two weeks time and to not forget the simple things like boxers, socks, etc. When it comes to school, I'd tell myself to save money! Even saving a couple hundred dollars will be good because that can help cover the costs for books. Every amount of money going towards school will help even if you think it will.

I would tell myself to learn how to be more responsible and take certain things more serious. I would also tell myself to learn how to manage my time and use it correctly. Don't be afraid or too prideful in asking for help and don't consider yourself as being inferior to the other students that are there just because they have more money. Don't be afraid to work hard and keep your eyes on the prize.

If I could go back to 2006 when I was graduating as a senior I would definitely tell myself to budget and make sure to keep my finances in check. Because my family does not have the means to pay for college, I have had to do it alone. Being able to tell myself to budget would have helped me in the sense that I would know exactly how much I needed to save in the summers and how much I needed to work during the school year. The transition into college financially has been difficult as I have had to take on more bills and loan payments so telling myself as a senior these costs would have helped me dramatically!

I would tell myself that college is everything I thought it would be, and everything I thought it wouldn't be. In high school I imagined college as this place where the impossible is expected, where I would have to work harder than I have ever worked. I also imagined that it would be between this extreme and another. Like I would have an immense workload for 4-5 days and then nothing to do or only light homework during the weekend. I would tell myself that college is tough, that it takes determination, management, hard work, independance, a strong will, a lot of energy, a desire to learn, and much more. I would also say that, despite the challenges, there is so much to college than just schoolwork. It is here that I will meet so many different people from so many different places. I will meet people that are smart, stupid, short, tall, hard-working, annoying, and everything in between. Above all college is an opportunity. It challenges your life socially, academically, emotionally, and physically. It teaches you how to survive in the real world, and how to prepare yourself for the life ahead of you.

I would tell myself to prepare early. Do not procrastinate at all. I should keep my options open as well as to a college I would like to attend and make sure I visit the schools multiple times so that I am comfortable with them. Be sure also that I will be able to pay for the college if I am accepted. My situation could change drastically so I should keep that in mind because I may come to a point where I won't have all the money to pay for college. Make sure I have good reason for applying to the schools that I do. I will be the one attending so I shouldn't choose or not choose a school based on the opinions of my peers.

Try harder in school. Take it more seriously. Do better, get better grades.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to really make something of his summer. when he gets to college, he's gonna wish that he did more over the summer to get ready, including spending more time with friends and family. also, I would encourage myself to look into Gaming magazines, as lots of people up north are still into video games, and he'll need all the knowledge he can get.

If I could go back and advise my highschool senior-self I would of tried to teach myself the principle of responsibility better. I would of taught myself not to rely on the last minute to get things done, the nagging of my teachers to get things done, or asking my parents to bail me out of my problems in the last minute. I would of taught myself to take more initative, that once something needs to be done, it needs to be done now. In college, your classmates are your future competition. Especially in this recession every one is fighting that much harder for a job, so you can not have a weak moment. You need to do your best all the time. You can not do your best at the 11th hour because then you are just rushing and will settle for anything that is presentable. Life is only what you put into it, so I would want to teach my highschool senior self to be more responsible and hardworking to get the important things done because there is always another chance to hang out with friends or go to a cool party.

I would definitely tell myself to seriously consider my college options. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted and when I went to school freshman year at a different college I was miserable and ended up transferring. Now i have found my perfect fit because I did the research, weighed my options, and discovered what I truly wanted out of my college experience. School isn't just about preparing yourself for a career. It's the expriences that will come to shape your entire life, whether that be a part time job, a roommate, an extracurricular activity, or a class. I would remind myself of this and make sure that I chose a school that could have the best options for all of these opportunities so that I would have the best four years of my life and not miss out on any chance to change the rest of my life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myslef back in my high school days I would tell myself to focus more. I think focus was lost for me in high school I was so caught up in the social aspect of school I lost intrest in the most important thing, acedemics. Because of this once I got to college I had a hard time regaining my foocus and as a result my poor first year of college has really hurt me when applying to graduate school. As a result I retook most of my freshman year prerequisite classes to obtain better grades for my graduate school applications. I think as a young high school student I did not understand the importance of gaining good study skills and good grades, and I wish I could go back in time and explain these things to my younger self. In college you are much more on you own you don't have parents making you do you homework or teachers chasing you down for assignment so self dicapline is very important, and I wish I could go back in time to teach this to myself .

Stephanie, I know you cannot wait to spread your wings and get out of the tiny town but here is what you need to know before you leave. Take the time to spend time with your little sister- one day she is going to be all grown up and you are not going to be around for it. While you have to work, and you already work more than most everyone your age- make sure you leave time to do some fun things as well. When it comes to making friends, pick wisely. Who you spend your time with reflects on the kind of person that you are. Join student organizations and go to the meetings even if you are tired, you will wish you had at the end of every semester. This time of your life will be a blast and you have to enjoy it because it will be nearly over before you realize.

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Dont underestimate how much more difficult college is than high school. Don't slack off because it will catch up to you and you won't always be able to fix things and pull things off at the last minute. Also, you have to take care of yourself because people aren't looking out for you like they were in High school. In college you're on your own.

I would tell myself to open my mind to everything, that I shouldn't expect anything in particular, but rather expect everything. I would tell myself to explore all of my options, and not close my mind to any possibility. I would make sure I knew to take every opportunity thrown my way and not rule anything impossible. The most important thing I would tell myself is to not be afraid. Go out, introduce yourself, make new friends and don't worry that no one will like you. In college, everyone is willing to give everyone else a chance; everyone wants to make new friends. However, the only way to make new friends is to try. I would tell myself to make sure that I don't hide in my room, but rather to get out and meet people. College is ultimately about the education, but if you live and learn for four years with no friends, you will be miserable. I would make it clear that I should do everything in my power to make college as enjoyable as possible and to eliminate any possibility of finishing my education with regret.

Everything you do and have done has brought you to a better place, and I am really proud of the passion and compassion that you have shown. Even though it may not be acknowledged, your hard work will bring you to where you are supposed to be. You will be disappointed by your college applications; it will be hard. But in the end, you will learn that everything works out even better than you can imagine. You have great friends, but you will lose some by the end of the year and more by the end of freshmen year at college. However, I know now that the ones that make it with you, truly will be your friends forever. Treasure them. Your family has a very tough year ahead, but you must not be disheartened; it brings you closer to them. Spend more time with your family and help them through this time. They will be there for you and you for them for the rest of your life. And lastly, college is hard, but you will find your niche at school and among friends that fits you perfectly. The present is hard, but future is amazing... don't worry.

It's a new experience. It's fun, exciting, and different from what you're used to. You get to meet new people, make new friends, experience new things. Take every chance to try something new, to challenge yourself and do something that you've never done or never would have even thought of doing. Take advantage of every and any opportunity; it will help broaden your boundaries and open up your world. But the most important advice is to buckle down. When it comes to your social life, you can do anything and everything. When it comes down to the academics however, you need to work hard. Networking and socializing will only get you so far. You can talk the talk, but you also need to walk the walk. Work hard and pay attention; slacking off will only be detrimental to your college experience as well as your grades.

I would urge myself to get involved with groups at school and also become friends with kids in your dorm. They will be your friends for the rest of the year and most likely, beyond. They will help you through the difficult parts of college and help you to study, but they will also have fun with you and provide a release. Getting involved with groups at the university will allow you to meet new people while also showing support for causes, helping others, and improving the university you go to.

If I could go back in time and talk to the high school senior version of myself I would tell her not to worry. When I first moved to college I was going to be less than two hours from home, but I still worried myself sick. I didn't know how I was going to be able to live on my own, with a stranger, in a place I had never been before. If I had the chance to warn myself my first year of college would've been so different. It would've been so much more at ease. Also, I would say what everyone else actually told me, to get involved right away. I heard this over and over but never thought anything of it until now. In my second year I feel like I'm starting college all over again because it feels so different and so much better!

I would tell myself to look for an apartment with some roomates rather than dorm housing because dorms are just overpriced, crappy apartments that have stupid restrictions. In terms of college life, the transition did not affect me in any negative way as I am too proud to allow myself to receive low grades and the partial seclusion was more to my liking than being in my home where I was constantly asked to things that interfered with my schoolwork. However another piece of advice that would have prevented a few problems would be to plan out how I was going to pay for my education. As my parents had long been unable to assist me with any finances I was prepared to take out loans and work throughout my college education but the restrictions on financial aid and applying for loans were a disturbing suprise.

Dive in head-first. Classes will be challenging but they're nothing to worry about if you just stay focused. Be sure to do your work in chunks because taking on mountains of work is not only an intimidating experience but you're also guaranteed to rush through some of it, therefore learning and remembering less. Beyond academics, be sure to keep an open mind and accept everyone regardless of how you feel about them after they've made their first impression on you. Everyone is in an experimental phase of their life and no one really knows who they are or how they should act quite yet. If you accept others, they will accept you too and you'll grow together with direction rather than alone and lost.

If I were to go back I would tell myself to be patient. Not to rush into things. When you first get on campus you are overwhelmed by meeting new people, joining clubs and of course going to class. I would have told myself to relax and not over extend myself with doing to much in such a short period of time. College at Norteastern is five years, there is plenty of time to do whatever it is you want to do. I also would have said to be more frugal. Living on an urban campus and in very expensive state like Massachusetts you have to be responsible for your spending. Just buying the groceries can be expensive.

Campus life is very diverse. Northeastern is a big school, but high school isn't such a small place, either. Take your time, explore everything you can, but stay focused on your studies. High school students and teachers can be pushovers. In college, teachers take matters more seriously. Allow generous time for homework, assignments are not as easy as they are in high school, and you are dealing with students from all over the world, not just your hometown. Teachers in high school are more caring and look after you more - college professors have more on their minds than students. You will be largely on your own to fend for yourself. You need to be self-sufficient, but you have the resources and capabilities to make it through. Your instincts are excellent, use them well. There are some great experiences, too, more than now. Areas of law, science, and things you only saw on tv. Check out everything you can - clubs, labs, etc. It is all cool stuff, but just don't forget your classes or to do your homework.

College is one of the best times of your life. I've heard that statement said over and over again. Little did I know how true that would be for me in such a short time - just a little shy of my completion of my first semester of my freshman year. I believe that rings true because of the advice that I gave myself during my senior year of high school - remain true to yourself. Be aware of all possibilities and the ramifications of your decisions. Set reasonable goals and objectives and always follow through. Don't be overwhelmed by the small stuff. Remember to never pass judgment too quickly on others and be respectful of their choices. Take time out for yourself by doing something important to you. It can be as simple as finding the time to relieve some stress by going to the gym or perhaps volunteering in community service activities. Take time to create new friendships and just simply enjoy life. Always be honest - with yourself and others. Don't be afraid of the unknown. And, if all else fails, go with your gut. Generally, our decisions are based upon past experiences.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and give myself some advice about college I would start by saying there is honestly nothing to worry about. Even though I was moving less than two hours away, when I left for college I was petrified. I didn't know how I was going to be able to find time for classes, work, and homework, never mind the laundry and eating, and the last thing on my mind was a social life. Although my grades were very good that first semester I missed out on half of the experience because I was too afraid to put myself out there. I never listened to everyone when that said "Get involved!" If I could go back I would make myself listen and I would do anything and everything I could to be a active part of my school and my community. I had a very hard time adjusting at first and I wish now that I would've known getting involved wasn't going to make things harder and more stressful, it was actually going to do the exact opposite!

Going to Boston and transitioning yourself will be a big change for you. Forget everything you think you know about college , because it will be nothing like you expect. It is important to keep an open mind and know that people will be different from you, and you have something to learn from everyone. Don't be dscouraged by how hard the work is. You have to put much more time into things than you did in high school, but you will feel really good when you do well on something. The hardest thing for you will be that you are lonely and you miss your family. Open up to your friends because most people feel the same way. Sometimes it will be hard knowing that you have to do so much work or you won't see your family for a long time, but try to not sweat the small stuff because the experiences you will have in college will make you a better person.

Rachel, college is a rite of passage and the experiences that you will go through will make you a successful both academically and athletically. I know that you will probably not believe me when I tell you that you are going to love attending classes and your professors here will inspire you and if you were given the opportunity again to go to any college in the nation you would choose Northeastern because there is no better place to experience college. Boston is the best city for an education not only because the campus is beautiful but because the possibilities are endless with numerous resources at your fingertips. There are so many people here that support you. You will have your academic advisor, athletic advisor, professors, swim coach, teammates, family and friends. You will never want to leave, but when you do you will be so satisfied with what you have accomplished here. I am not saying that it will be easy the work is hard both in the classroom and in the pool but it is so worth it and you will be so proud. "Boston your my home. "

I would tell myself that it is imperitive to get involved on campus the very first couple of weeks that you are there. I waited until sophomore year to join clubs, and that was a big mistake. I had a very difficult freshman year because I was trying to find where I fit in. I had a hard time meeting people because of my shy personality. I would tell myself to try to be more outgoing and meet people in your residence hall when you first move in!

Going from high school to a large college is a large transition and it is important to prepare yourself for the change. College gives students the opportunity to study what they are interested in and find out what inspires them. It is very important to be open to different cultures and always enjoy meeting new people and being open to everybody'e opinions. In college, it is very important to be able to work together and share opinions in order to gain new knowledge.

Dont be so stressed. It all works out in the end.

" DO what you have to in order to do what you want to do..." Evie, work hard from the beginning and make it count. Study to show yourself approved... Look for outside scholarships and save up for books and other necessities. Do not spend money just because you have it. Be disciplined and a good steward of what you have.