Northern Kentucky University Top Questions

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

Amber

If I could go back in time and talk to my younger high school senior self I would most defiantly stress the importance of grades. Although my senior year grades were very good I know I still could have done so much better and do better would same me so much trouble now that I'm in college. I would also tell myself not to bother with the people who put me down every single day because I am now finding most of them aren't even going to finish their first or for some their second year of college. Most of all I would remind myself that I can make it, that I have what it takes to make it in not only in life but in my chosen profession.

Audra

Dearest Audra,

Megan

In high school, I was very focused on my popularity and appearance. Much so, that I would skip school on ocassion because I was having a bad hair day or my face was broke out. I failed to recognize the importance that education holds and that looks/popularity can only take you so far. If I could give myself any advice, it would be to focus solely on my education and forget all the superficial facets of high school.

McKalyn

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that all of the hard work and effort that I have put into my schooling as lead me to this point in my life. I would tell myself that I know you can make it through college because look how far you have already come. I would tell myself that the transition to college really isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Also, look around and explore your options and the things that you are really good, what makes up your great traits, and makes you unlike everyone else. I would tell myself to choose a school and major that you are interested in and not just doing it because everyone else is. I would also say that you are the only person that can better yourself, so put in the effort and the hard work and things will work out the way that you want them to and everything will be worth it in the long run.

natasha

The only thing I would like to tell you is no matter what you do, just make the decision and stay stick with it. Don't ever think your not capable of doing this class or that assignment. That the person sitting next to you has more of a right to be there than you. Just decide and know, college is for you! You deserve this education, the degree and to move forward with your life. Never give up, or get to side tracted about the social life, be dedicated and stay positive.

Neomi

Being a great college student takes work. Before you commit to just one school, find a college that is suitable for you, but the most financial assistance available. The first thing you should ask yourself is what resources are available that will help with tuition? Scholarship searching is important. It is free money offered to you in many ways. It can be a little discouraging at times, but don’t give up. They are definitely worth not being in debt. Once you have found your college, been accepted, and started school you want to get to know your professors and the staff on campus. Also find what clubs you can be a part of and what services the school offers that will help you be a successful graduate. Why participate in a club? Clubs are good for resumes, scholarships, community services, and much more. Another thing you need to prepare for is your study habits and planning. You don’t want to end up being lazy at your studies and a procrastinator. That is very stressful. So prepare yourself now and develop good study habits. College can be fun and a lot of work, but it is worth it all.

Javon

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stay focused and seek tutoring and use the available resources offered. Also, I would encourage myself to stay organized by using an agenda, and utilize proper time management skills. I would rearrange my priorities by placing school before work. Also, I would learn to network more by being more social with my peers and faculty members.

Jordyn

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself the advice to take all of the classes in high school that would count towards credits in college or take classes that I would greatly benefit from in college. My parents always told me to take calculus and AP classes in high school, but I didn't feel it was necessary at the time when I could get by with just regular classes. I should have pushed myself to strive for the best and think about my future. I would also give myself the advice of applying for scholarships as soon as possible. There are so many scholorship opportunities out there to take advantage of. I know now the importance of thinking about my future, not only for myselft, but for my son. I have gone back to college to give me more opportunities in life and to better myself. Know that I know these things, I will pass on this advice to my son when he gets older. I will teach him the importance about planning ahead and to always strive for the best!

Amanda

Dear Myself, Look at how far we have come! From beginning high school to beginning college we have come through alot! My advice to you would be to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy life! You have always stressed out over nothing and almost got sick from it. Another piece of advice I would give you is to join as many organizations you can and get involved! Getting involved is what I have heard that makes a college student successful. Just remember to live life to the fullest and have fun doing it! Sincerely, ME

Kirsten

If I could give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to try harder in my classes in high school, and to try harder to get a higher ACT score so that I could have a higher scholarship to attend NKU. I would also tell myself to be more outgoing and open to meeting new people and making new friends; I am not unhappy at NKU, but I would enjoy having more of a social life. My first semester of college, I didn't take it very seriously and it set me off-track. If I could give my senior-in-high school self advice, it would be to take college very seriously, don't skip class, spend a lot of time in the library and work very hard in all of my classes. I am taking college very seriously now, but I would still have my scholarship if I had started out taking my classes more seriously.

Chelsea

Do as much extra-curricular and volunteer work as you possibly can. Join organizations, even if they are a little expensive. Submit everything you write or create for publication or enter it into a contest; don't let anything be just a grade, and don't let anything hide in your sock drawer. Apply for EVERY SINGLE SCHOLARSHIP for which you're eligible, especially those that will help you study abroad. Travel will take your college experience to the next level, and it's worth every penny. You'll learn so much mre about yourself than you ever thought was possible. Finally, form relationships with your teachers/coaches/bosses (this is how you get good letters of recommendation, which can make or break you.)

Cindy

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible. It's much better to apply and not get it than it is to not even try. I would tell myself that failure is nothing to be afraid of, it's better to have at least tried and failed then never trying at all. I would also tell myself to teach myself study habits, because they will come in handy and make you're first semester at school a whole lot easier.

Kaela

I would tell myself to have more confidence and to not stress out. When I was a senior I believed that I would only do average in college and I would constantly stress about the cost of college. Now that I am a full time student, I really wish that I would have just relaxed and enjoyed my senior year. I should have believed in myself more. I am doing great in college and I love it so much! I know now that I will keep going to college not because I have to, but because I love it and that this is exactly where I want to be in my life. I know that the saying "believe in yourself" may be cheesy or redundant but it has different meanings for each person because of our different experiences. I realize now that even though there is a physical cost to education, there is a intellectual freedom that no one can put a price on. College is worth everything that I have gone through and I am so glad to be here.

Bethany

Get out there and make friends! Don't be afraid of being awkward. The more fun you allow yourself to have, the better. Also, loosen up a bit! Having a little fun and getting a little crazy is okay, just don't let it interfere with your studies. Be passionate about your viewpoints and discuss them openly. The best thing to do is to stand for something, but hear both sides. It allows for better critical thinking on matters. College is going to open your mind and your world of experience so much. Be prepared to struggle and to struggle on your own. No one else can help you except for you, but your friends do make your life an amazing incredible ride. Get ready, Bethany. It's about to be one hell of a year. But you're going to love every single day of it.

Kimberly

If I could back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to use my planner. One of the most helpful ways I transitioned to college, and the work load comoared to high school is used a planner. A planner helps me remember things, and the due dates of papers or tests. I would tell myself to apply for scholarships, there are so many scholarships out there you just have to apply. Tution is expensive, and I've learned that the hard way. Another thing I would go back and tell myself is re-read notes after class. I went into college with a mind set and a goal to maintain a high GPA. One of the ones I have maintained the high GPA is going over my notes after class and before class. If you dont understand information in class, make sure you ask. The last piece of advice I would give myself is stay focused. College is no joke, the work is harder, the papers are longer, and late work is not accepted. Keep a strong mindset no matter what goes wrong, because failure isn't an option.

Hannah

If i could go back and give myself advice for what was to come in college, i would tell myself to stay focused. There are a lot of things in college that i wasn't neccessarily prepared for. I didn't have to study much in high school and i got pretty good grades. I came to college and quickly realized that i had to study if i wanted to be a nurse. Another piece of advice that i'd give myself would be to surround yourself wth people that have the same goals as you. When i came to college, at first i was hanging out with people that didn't really care about school. It doesn't help when you surround yourself with people that don't want to do school work.

Brooke

My biggest regret is not giving enough effort into succeeding academically and taking advantages of scholarship opportunities. If I could go back to my senior year, I wouldn't let myself skip classes, skip assignments, and I'd use my off days doing nothing but signing up for scholarships. As a result of my so-so actions senior year, I'm struggling to make my career dreams possible. It is crucial to work hard, stay focused, and take advantage of every financial help opportunity out there; let's be honest, school is extremely costly, and the financial end could determine whether or not you can finish college. So that is why I'm here. Knowing what I've learned the hard way, I'd go back and kick my butt in gear for my future.

Jessica

If I could give advice to myself as a high school senior, the first thing that I would say is "Keep your head high". Transition to college life can be overwhelming when scheduling classes, budgeting finances, and moving away from home. In the end, if you push through it, everything works out. Another piece of advice I would give myself is "A smile is the best fashion trend you could ever have". I personally have anxiety and meeting new people for the first time is scary. If you put a smile on your face and just be yourself, you will learn that people are usually very welcoming and you will make the best of friends. Last but not least, "Study! Study! Study!" Classes can be difficult. They're much different than high school courses but come easily is you use your time wisely and make good choices.

Clayton

Work hard and save as much money as possible!

Brianna

Listen here, little girl. I know right now you're just focused on graduation day and saying goodbye to all your friends but you really need to start thinking about the long run here. You aren't following your family to Texas. You're breaking away from the military life and starting your own life in North Carolina! Now, out-of-state tuition still applies to military brats and I don' think you're aware of how much that's going to cost you. You are going to pay three times the amount of in-state tuition and you don't even have a job! APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS NOW! Don't bother with the one's the school offers you, they're all directed towards colleges in Alabama (the state you're in). Go online and look for scholarships! They're everywhere! A lot of things are going to change in your life within the next few months but being tight on money isn't going to help you any. Search for that free money NOW! Get to it!

Kayley

I would have told myself to play college softball and contacted the coaches. It would have helped me financially with my academics. Plus I would have better prepared myself with what field that I wanted to study so that I could be more prepared for my degree. I changed my major three times and I finally know what I want to go into full force.

Abby

As a student who attended Notre Dame Academy, I was focused, solely, on optimizing my education. The most important aspect of high school, for me, was to generate the highest GPA and ACT scores as humanly possible. While these numbers were critical in applying for colleges, they DO NOT define you. What I have learned in college is that intelligence is not definitive of the scores you attain, but rather by your ability to question the unknown and gain insights for more unique thinking and perspectives. Most people have a abhorance towards wrongness. Being wrong is equitable to failure to some, but through my experience in college, being wrong is the definition of progress and achievement. Through being wrong, you can expand your thinking to new levels and activate new creative potentials that you may never had reached otherwise. So, for all those high school students nervous about not getting into the college of their dreams due to insufficient GPA or ACT scores, don't focus so much on the numbers, but the quality of the answers, whether they are wrong or not.

Elizabeth

The advice I'd give would be stay true to myself. You see, for four years I was planning to attend Eastern Kentucky University and be a Forensic Chemistry Major. I was second guessing myself in the middle of my senior year, but I never did anything about it. I made it three days at EKU--classes hadn't even started yet. What did I do the entire time? I cried. I didn't want to be there, nor did I want to study what I was planning to study. My mom ended up calling NKU and they said that I could transfer if I dropped out of EKU and enrolled at NKU right away, which I did and I became an English major. It was the best thing I've ever done. It was what was true to my heart and what I'd needed to do. I'd tell myself to switch because it was the right thing for me and it'd have saved me a scholarship and I also would've had more time to prepare for my experience at NKU. I'd also tell myself "positive outcomes only"; my way of accepting whatever happens.

Jennifer

The biggest advise I would have given myself at the time would have been to stay and finish. It has taken me seventeen years to go back to school and complete my GED and to attend college. I am now on a path to a higher education and have not been this excited in years. I just wish that I could go back and tell my younger self to stay and finish school.

Emina

If I could go back to high school, I would tell myself to relax. I spent every Saturday, Sunday and weekdays at work. I missed out on a lot of things. I never went to prom or homecoming. I wish I would have advised myself to stop working. Although the money I made helped a lot with school, the memories I missed out on weighed more. Even now as a first year, I still spend forty hours at work. I wish I learned my lesson. Sure, money is everything. It makes the world go round but, some things have more baggage.

Marissa

If I could give my high school senior self advice, the first thing I would tell her is to start studying as soon as you get notes. Simply showing up for class is not going to cut it in college. I would tell myself to get involved in activities early on in the year, and enjoy the beautiful campus. I would remind senior Marissa, that money isn't everything and to give herself a Friday night off everyone once in a while. I would tell her to look up as many scholarships as possible, because school is not cheap. If I could give my senior self advice, I'd tell her to cherish every moment of her last year in high school. I'd tell her to keep in touch with her friends, because the transition can get lonely. I'd tell her that it will all turn out fine in the end, and not to stress out over the first week. I'd tell her that no matter how tough things get, it will all be worth it. I'd also senior Marissa not to compare herself to others, because she's like no other person.

Catherine

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high schooler, I would tell myself to push myself father than my comfort zone. I would tell myself to take multiple AP classes because college is expensive.

Ciara

The best advice I could give myself as a high school senior is to make my grades the most important thing to me. When I was a senior, I was concerned with my social life, making as many friends as possible and when the next party was going on. Now that I am in college, I realized that I missed out on so many opportunities. I missed out on some great scholarships because my grades wern't high enough. I also missed out on academic awards at graduation becasue of my GPA. In high school, grades dotn't seem that important because of other things in your life going on, but in reality they're the most important thing. College has made me realize that school and making good grades come before any thing.

Jalin

I would tell myself that studying is the most important thing in the world. Asking for help immediately is crucial, go to the study sessions, attend all of the SI meetings and set up a tutor even if no help is needed but just to make sure to grasp what the professor is asking and what the professor wants out of the work we are giving because it can be very difficult understanding the concept of why. I would also tell myself to read over the summer, any book just read because once college starts if you are not comfortable with reading and your comprehesion is not as good as it should be then studying is going to be ten times harder than what it should be. I would also tell myself to read over all of the syllabus and see what is needed for class and what to expect out of this class, I made the mistake in not reading the syllabus and was lost for the first class of my college career which is not a good start. Overall I would tell myself to work hard and never lose sight of my goals.

Lydia

Give it all you've got. Don't hold back, get out there and explore the world! You've got your entire life in front of you! So you don't know what you want to do or major in? WHO CARES! Even more reason you should get out there and see what options their are. You're good with kids but not sure you want to do something in early childhood? So take that opportunity to see what else it out there. Ever considered yourself an Astronaut? Librarian? Forensic Scientist? No? Not the job for you? At least you explored those opportunities! Hang out with people that are like minded, hang out with people that are so unlike you that you can't stand it! At least you can say you've met everyone! Don't live your life with a bunch of 'What If's...". Be the person you dream of being!

Talea

The advice I would give myself is do not loose sight of yourself in the transation. I think that college changes people with the amount of freedom and opportunities that it is easy for one to loose who they are and just follow the crowd. You dont always have to be doing something somewhere all the time. Also remember self value dont let people take advantage of you. You are your biggest cheerleader and you know what you deserve and dont desreve. Remember that everyone is not your friend so be mindful who you trust and who allow to come into your life. No one can hurt you unless you give them the power to hurt you.

Olivia

I would give my self the advice to make sure I prioritize assignments at the begginging of class! It is always so helpful to have an agenda and reminders for upcoming tests and quizzes because some professors rely strcitly on students knowing their syallabus. Also I would say to my self take some time to apply for scholarships any spare time that you have! The expenses will be more than you could ever imagine and you will need the support. One last word of advice would be to not commit myself to too many things. I have a tendency to make to many commitments and stress myself out... college is not the time for that. Enjoy it

Assata

Dear Assata, I'm glad you are taking the time to read this letter. I understand you think you can always figure things out on your own because of how independent you like to be, but sometimes you have to let go and allow people to help ypu. we all need help sometime and there is nothing wrong with that. In college eventhough you like to do things for yourself you are going to ask for a little help here and there because things are not always going to be easy for you to figure out on your own and it is totally ok to say yes i do not understand please help me. you do not have to be afriad about starting College. all the professors are there to help you. There are so many resources avaliable to you so you need to stop worrying about what if you do not keep up with your work or do not understand what the professors expects of you. you are a self motivator which is going to come in handy because no one is going to tell you when to do you school work you. importnatly be open to new expericnce.

Oscar

SAVE YOUR MONEY! I would tell myself to make sure that, once I had my disability check transfered into my name, to make sure I didn't do so much pointless spending. I would put up so much more money to cushion my self in case something bad were to occur

Jennifer

The hardest thing to do is starting college as a working adult. Take the time now to explore your college life by working hard and getting the degree now. If you stop in the middle and think I can always go back then you better have a plan ready before that decsion to stop is made. The longer you wait the harder it is.

Nicholas

High school was a breeze for me. Classes seemed easy, I never had to study, I rarely did homework, and I graduated with honors. But all along the way, every single teacher I had would tell the class, "In college, you are going to have to study, so you better start now." It seemed as if not one single student took these teachers seriously. I know I didn't. I continued my bad studying habits, graduated with honors, went to college for a year and totally blew it. I failed a class, withdrew from another, and dropped out of engineering school. Now I'm working as hard as I can, just trying to make sure I am in good standing with the university. So if I could go back in time, I think it's obvious that I would smack my former self in the face and say, "Listen to your teachers, because if you don't learn how to study now, you will have to learn next year, while going to school full time and working full time, a nearly impossible task." Hopefully my ignorant high school self might listen!

Morgan

I think that the first thing I would tell myself is to be patient. College is not something that you want to rush through. I would also tell me to save money and be smart about spending because every penny you have coming out of college will be helpful. Also, make sure that you know what you want to go to school for. It can get expensive and time consuming when you start dropping classes or changing your major. Changing your major isnt a bad thing but it can often slow the process of you obtaining a career. Lastly, I would tell myself to live, love and lead. Live your life and have fun. College is a great experience. Love all your friends and family. College is most likely when youll meet your best friends or spouse. Be a great leader. There can never be enough positive role models. Do good while your here on this earth and help as many people as you can.

Ashlee

Be strong, Ashlee, but also be weak. You've spent the last six years of your life taking care of yourself, protecting your wild older sister from your mother's disapproving looks, and working everyday so you can help ease your struggling family's financial burden. You didn't allow youself to be confused because you didn't see anyone to keep you afloat but you're in high school! There are literally people being paid to take care of you. Raise your hand. Get comfortable in your sweats, messy hair and a book in your hand, it's gonna be your daily look. Study. Keep your nose in those books. Maybe you won't be prom queen but you won't have to work overtime every week to pay for tuition. Maybe you won't have time for Saturday's party but you'll be volunteering, exercising, and living for your peers. This is high school, the last time somebody is going to grab your wrist and point the way. Take advantage of those people. Ask for help. Be brave! Be afraid. Be excited. It's going to be fun! So raise your hand.

Jacob

I would tell myself that I need to try harder in class. I could have taken advance placement classes that would of counted as college credits, but I wanted to take an easy senior year. I would also tell myself to enjoy my life as it is because it is still very easy and shelter compared to what it becomes. Everything that ever happens in high school always seemed to be the end of the world when in reality it is just a small piece of your life. Another helpful hint would to take chances. I didn't take many chances the past few years. Whether it was applying for jobs, joining clubs, or being a part of extracurricular activities. I took a chance applying at Fidelity Investments for a temporary job and got it. I joined a intramural basketball team and made it to the playoffs. Just like applying for this scholarship, I've taken many more chances and it was worked out very well.

Tiffany

I would have spoken to my parents about the option to go to college. I am the very first person in my immediate family as well as my cousin, aunts, uncles, etc to go to college. My parents never once mentioned college. It was always assumed that I would just go into the working field making minimum wage like everyone else did in the small town where I live. So I never really tried to hard in high school. I was smart, but I should have actually cared about my grades and school work. I should have talked to my guidance couselor about what it takes to go to vocational school and I should have done it. I didn't even know about vocational school until my junior year, which made it too late to be involved in it. I should have done a lot of things, but I am also happy where I stand. I have my three year old son and doing it alone, making excellent grades in my first two semesters.

Andrea

Having all this freedom in college is so hard to maintain and not take advantage of. Sometimes you'll get a professor that doesn't take points off your grade if you don't attend class. Other times, your essay won't be due until midnight on Sunday, so that means you can go out both Friday and Saturday night because the essay isn't due till Sunday night, right? You're presented with so many more responsibilites and challenges that come along with having all this freedom that you didn't have the luxury of having during high school. Don't spiral out of control because of this. When all of your friends are skipping Psychology and going out to Chipotle for lunch instead, go to class! You could miss an opportunity for extra credit that day, or an entire chapter of notes that the professor isn't going to post online. It is much easier to fall behind in your classes than catch up and keep a high grade. Use common sense, and in the end, you will realize that attending class or staying in and finishing homwork instead of going out and partying was worth it.

Elijah

If I could go back and give advice, I would tell myself to keep doing what I'm doing. There is not a need to explain on advice because different things can happen at any time where you need to expect the unexpected. Life is full of surprises and I think it would be more exciting to tell my high school self to just live life to the fullest and have fun responsibly. That's the only advice I could give which is honestly the best advice in my perspective.

Kala

Dear Kala, It is I, yourself, from the future and I have some good news: you are going to succeed! Those fears you had of going away to school were not just. You are very much capable of living on your own, and handling those social anixeties you've had for so long. Guess what? It gets better! Your mind will be blown by the fact that you have in fact earned yourself an Associates Degree and are on your way to getting a Bachelors Degree. And guess what that Bachelor's degree is in? Studio visual arts! You are continuing your journey in the art field with even some stints in having your artwork shown in galleries. Way to go! And for the first time you are beginnig to become happy with yourself not only in your decisions but as a person. And that was the most important thing I want out of our futures: to finally be happy in whatever we're doing. And the future is bright in this aspect. You will be so proud of yourself and the work ethic, indepence, clarity, and heart you've gained from attending collage. You are making it!

Michelle

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition I would tell myself that I was making the right decision. I would advise myself to be more confident in college. I was bullied in high school and went into college very self-conscious and fearful it would continue. I was never bullied in college and was blown away with how friendly the students at my University were. I would tell myself to take pride in my accomplishments and to get excited for all the amazing experiences that await me. I would tell myself that going to Northern Kentucky University is the best decision I have ever made for myself. I would tell myself to stay confident, calm, and proud. I don’t have any negatives to tell myself, I have had an incredible college experience and would not trade it for anything in the world.

stephanie

If I was able to go back in high school and give myself some advice it would be to study and work hard for the best grades I could achieve. I would apply for all scholarships I could and colleges I could. Right out of high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. If I had the option I would try to do more things so that I could get an idea of what I wanted to do.

Zachary

I would tell myself to be more inwardly motivated. So that I am able to motivate myself and be able to do the things necessary and not put them off and procrastinate. Also, to take the process of getting into college very seriously and try and make it so you will not being paying for college for a majority of your life.

chinyere

When I was in high school, I really didnt know that much of what college was going be about. Now that I'm in college I have the chance of knowing it better. If I had the chance to go backin time when i was in high school . I would first say go online in look up all the scholarships you can find. Then I would say don't buy the book until you know that you really need it. Research the major that you really want to take class for because it might be difficult to get in the group or class. Used all you resources that you have at the school to help you with your process through college. You should study every day, dont wait till the last minuite to do an assignment or study for a test. I would also tell myself to use rate my professor when picking the best teacher for your class.

Diane

If I could go back in time and give any advice to my past high school self I would tell myself to get involved when you get to college! Aside from the obvious goal of receiving an education I believe that it is very important to involve yourself in campus life. I myself am a commuter student at NKU so making those connections outside of the class room with my peers is hard. The best way someone who is coming in as a freshman is to get involved. There are so many different clubs and organizations on campus for you to choose from. These organizations not only help you make connections and friends but they also teach responsibility and leadership skills.

Kyndra

Education is a value that we all should take advantage of. I know this first hand because I withdrew from Northern Kentucky University my freshman year in 1998. It took me ten years to go back to college and continue my education. I have a daughter and work part time as well attempting twelve semester hours as a full time student. If I could go back in time, I woud tell myself to finish school and never give up; take your education seriously because you never know where life can take you. Success comes by accomplishing personal goals, taking risks and learning from our mistakes, which will only make us stronger.

Gabriela

Do Not let this oppurtunity slip away!!!! Their are many people out there who wish they can further their education. People fighting for education. We are very priviliged here in the I absolutely love attending Class and learning about things Iam passionate about. To be in an environment with Other's who feel the same way gives you quite a rush I wish I had made the choice when I was still young. It's an amazing feeling to become Educated about something you love, to earn a degree to work in a field where you will paid good money and enjoy doing what you do! Start looking into Colleges now. College is Awesome!