Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus Top Questions

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

kristen

I would tell myself to start saving money and applying for scholarships EARLY. Also i would tell myself to loosen up and have more fun; don't work all the time and not do anything fun during school and during the summer, don't just head straight home after school because you don't want to be there and just stay a while and interact with your peers or have a one on one with a teacher, and most importantly, don't only care about the grade. School isnt just about getting that A or passing the final. Its about learning real life skills and making friends because i have found that in the real world, no one cares about where you ranked in your class; they care about how well you can adapt to the world without your teacher or parents doing everything for you. And finally, no matter how much you want to "grow up" stay a kid and be a bit immature because after graduation and during college, those free-spirited memories can help get you through the day.

Dan

Honestly, the only advice I would give to myself would be "make friends with as many people as possible." I say this because I found that having a lot of friends was very helpful with dealing with studying, issues of loneliness, and making it through the semester.

Jasmine

Get involved early. Stay on top of things. Don't skip class. Schedule classes late in the day.

Olena

"Be prepared! College classes are tough!" - I would say to myself. When I was in high school, I didn't have any problems with my classes. From Trigonometry to Literature - all high classes were easy to me. They do not require student to work the material over at home in order to succeed. Rather they were made to bring a general understanding of a subject for those students who might not continue their education after high school. College level classes, however, are different. They are hard and thorough. Many students, including me, learned it the hard way. In the first year of college I expected a high school level, and I didn't invest enough of my time to study for each course well enough. As a result, I had to study nights before tests to get a good grade, and I often didn't get the desired grade anyway. Right now I am doing well in my classes. I am getting A's for most of my classes. However, the GPA score of 3.5 still reminds me of the mistake I did in the beginning.

Ryan

If I could go back in time and have a pep talk with myself about the preparation and transition to college, I would educate myself about the importance of grades and attendance instead of what I’m doing for the weekend. Stressing the importance of GPA and major test scores would be a major factor into school and career choices. Educating myself that sometimes the sacrifice of going out with friends for time studying, or applying that extra time to test prep could make all the difference for the future. Life is all about sacrifice, and there is no tougher sacrifice in life than putting everything aside and dedicating yourself to school because nothing will get your further in life then possessing knowledge. There are millions of children attending school every day of every year, and you need to set yourself apart when it comes time for an employer or university to make a decision of acceptance or just another name in a stack of papers that goes nowhere, hard work and dedication is the only road to success. The choices aren’t easy or everybody would know the way, that’s what makes it such an adventure.

Tyler

My college experience this year wasn't the college experience that I had imagined for myself at any point during high school. I had always imagined myself attending either Rutgers, the university my parents attended, or a small college in the northeast. This year, I attended Houston Community college. HCC isn't Rutgers, it isn't small with over 50,000 students, and it isn't in the northeast. Despite the differences between what I expected for this year and what I got, I had a great experience. I was able to participate in the honors program, and I met some of the most interesting and intelligent people I have known through that program. My advice to my high school self is to be more open minded with my college search. There are great colleges and universities to attend and great experiences to be had all over the country, and even more importantly, there are people from whom I can learn all over the country. This has broadened my horizons for my college search, and though I will be attending the University of Virginia next year, I applied to schools I hadn't imagined attending at this time last year.

Alexis

I would tell myself to follow my gut & to not go to the art school I went to. I would explain that I enjoy helping others too much to be able to justify making art as my profession as opposed to helping out children that are growing up like I did: disabled, socially awkward & depressed. I would also tell myself that though things are very bad right now, they WILL get better. In under ten years, I will have a loving family of my own & will have many friends. I would tell myself that my hardwork & determination will get me far and to use my short comings to my advantage. The main thing that I would want to tell myself is to start loving myself so that I can strive through-out the rest of high school. I am not going to lie, it is hard living with what I have & that I will get depressed and down on myself still but every day I see my life getting better even if it is in the slightest ways such as flowers blooming in my garden outside of my apartment in one of the worst areas in Providence, RI.

Joshua

Some days I wish I could go back and talk to my younger self, other times I appreciate the fact that sometimes there is just no better way to learn other than doing or failing a task. I don't think I would tell my self that moving across the country in a days notice was a bad idea, nor would I tell myself that I should have gotten back to school earlier. I learned a lot about myself in the two years that I took off from college, and I would never give the knowledge or experiences back. On the other hand, I would go back and tell myself, "have a great time and discover yourself , but prepare for the fact that you will go back eventually" . I would have told myself that I needed to play when it was appropriate, but work hard in class instead of goofing off. Finacially, I regret not working so hard to get scholarships. My family made very little when I was in high school so I assumed I was going to get help with my tuition. I never anticipated my parents incomes rising, or their unwillingness to help. So over just PREPARE!

Ashley

Learn from the past and prepare for the future. Past mistakes should teach you to create a wonderful future; not cause you to be afraid of it. You have to give what you want to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want friends, be friendly. On the other hand, don't try to be everything to everyone. Instead, try to be everything to someone. Keep life simple and enjoyable by doing what you know in your heart is right. Don't cheat. Be faithful. Be kind. Do the right thing. By doing this, you stay true to yourself. Smile every chance you get, not because life is easy, but simply because you chose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have. You must accept the fact that life is not perfect, people are not perfect, and you are not perfect. Learn to be perfectly imperfect. Most importantly, treasure the little things in life. There is absolute bliss and wonder to be had in the simplest of life's moments. Cherish them. One day you will look back and discover that those little things were the biggest moments of your life.

Melissa

If I could go back in time ten years ago and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would reassure my younger self that the fears that I once held -- fears about how large the classes would be; not knowing what to major in; the stress of achieving the perfect test score to apply for college -- were never necessary. The faculty in the admissions office was very helpful to me as a nontraditional student, explaining everything I would need to do in order to attend The Ohio State University and they provided me with very helpful resources to achieve this goal. Beginning on a smaller campus allowed each Professor to have adequate time with the students. In response to testing in, I would say -- "Just study like you always have, and give your best." Also, many students are unsure of their major, and that is perfectly normal. All majors have mostly the same basic requirements, and taking these courses would help my younger self discover what path to choose. Finally, I would explain that if I had gone to college immediately after high school, I might already hold a doctorate by now, as my future self.

Korey

I am not going to lie when I say that I am a procrastinator. During my senior year doing scholarships were my enemy. I would wait til the night before they were due to fill out the application. Now I really wish I would've filled out more. During my freshman year I was on the waiting list for the housing. I live in a townhouse apartment with one roommate. We buy our own groceries, gas, and we pay for all of the bills and rent. It is quite a "culture shock." If I was able to talk to myself senior year of high school, I would definitely tell me to stop sitting around and fill out more scholarships. Scholarships are really great for the money, but honestly hearing that you won is uplifting. I'm a very competitive person so it means more to me. Being on the Mansfield campus is very slow. There isn't much going on, so I feel that I am not accomplishing much. Winning, or even filling out a scholarship makes me feel like I am putting an effort to have the best college life I can.

Nina

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are a couple of things that I would say. The first is that college is extremely important and it is easier to attend straight out of high school than to wait until you are older. Work and friends are not nearly as impotant because college can help determine the rest of your life. Not only that, but you will regret it if you allow yourself to fail. Second is that in college, nobody is going to check up on you. It is totally up to you to do the work and put in the time and effort in order to be a successful student. Sure, it will be difficult and at times more than you think that you can handle, but in the end you will receive the ultimate payoff when you graduate and are able to start the career you have always wanted.

Anna

Do not worry about college being impossible or too difficult like some people may have told you in the past. Sure, it is a challenge, but no challenge is impossible if you set your mind to it. Simply believe in yourself, do the work, and get extra help if you need it. You will be fine. Work hard, but do not lose sight of who you are and what you want in life. Your dreams and aspirations are important, and with hard work and diligence, you will get to where you want to be.

Natalie

Going back in time to talk to myself as a senior in high school would be incredibly helpful to my transition into higher education. The first piece of advice I would give would be, to no be afraid to speak up and give my opinion. In many classes such as English, professors want to hear students' ideas and opinions on various subjects. Many papers I have had to write also require ones own opinion on different matters. It would have been helpful to practice this type of idea creating in high school in order to be better prepared for college. Another piece of advice I would give to my younger self would be to get involved in college activities. One of the best ways to meet new people is to get involved in programs and groups that interest you. Being invlolved is a great way to meet new life long friends. Do not be afraid to talk to others and share your story, this is how lasting friendships are made. Once these friendships are made you can help one another out while transitioning into higher education.

Ahbria

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail! This has been my motto since graduating from High School and attending college. If I had followed this motto from the onset of hs... I would have been far better prepared for College. Fortunately, I am a quick understudy and discovered that to succeed you must be PROACTIVE and not REACTIVE! To be proactive you must have a plan! My PLAN is to maintain my 4.0 grade point average! Thank You for your consideration

Timothy

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school student, there would be many changes made. As a student in high school, there were many questions I had about college life and how the system worked. Now that I have been through some of the obstacles of college, I would be able to assist my high school self in preparing for the next step in education. First, I would tell myself to relax. Enjoy the rest of my high school career, because when it's done, it's done. I would tell myself not to aim all my attention on college, but instead to focus my attention to the rest of my senior year. I would inform my high school self of the dangers of procrastinating, and how they only worsen as the college work load piles on. School work should come first, and play later. Lastly, I would tell myself to go into college with an open mind, and a positive attitude. All this advice would have greatly assisted me in getting through my senior year being successful. Now, I will use this advice to help me in years to come.

Brittany

I am just starting a two-year nursing program, I have had a hard time getting into the program at school I want. I finally switched to nursing and I think it will be great. I have got many friends through school and have learned so much. I think the most valuable thing about attending school is to make a difference in my son's life. He has seen every step I have taken to get to the nursing program. I had my son Jared when I was 16 years old and he has been my biggest supporter. He always tells me how proud of me he is. He is interested in a higher education when he is old enough and always asks me how to do it. I always tell him that you can do anything if you put hard work, time and your mind in. He likes to help me study and just that alone is the most valuable thing. Once I graduate and become a registered nurse that will be the most valuable thing, but for now being a single parent showing my son the way is great for me.

Jacob

I have gotten a lot out of going to college. Unlike highschool one has to pay to go to college. So most of the time if one is going to college it is becase they want to. I have found college to be another step in finding what you want to do with your life. Its there to help you find the area you want to study and then move into it. I also have found it very valuable. College has helped me explore various different fields and helping me find the right one. College has been both a fun and very importan experience in my life.

Kirra

I learned by being in college that the world is rough and tough. There are certain things that are uncontrolable, but though experience I can gain understanding. The one factor that knowone has really given me, is the fact that money is life. I wishes i could grow up to be..., but nothing can come true without money. I even been taught recently in multiple classes that money is the leading cause of devorce. I wish childhood could come back and happy endings, but money is now a factor. I work two jobs on weekends, and during vaction breaks. I never see my friends or family, I am stuck in a evolutionary hole. I learned the real world is rough and tough, and I only wish now that I could go back to childhood; stop knowing about the value of a dollar. College has been a valuable aset in teaching me the value of a dollar.

Zachary

So far, I've completed one quarter and have successfully completed all subjects. I was surprised at the amount of material the instructors cover in three months and if you are having trouble you better have a game plan in place to seek for help as soon as possible. The campus I attend has two colleges and I have found out that if you get there at the last minute, plan on walking a very long distance to get to your class. I now leave early. When you want to talk to an advisor, plan on at least two weeks to complete this task. They have hundreds of other students trying to do the same thing. Learn to communicate in ways other than English...people from all walks of life are attending here and knowing how to effectively communicate with them is a chore at times. All in all, this experience has opened my eyes to what college life is all about and I am excited about my future at OSU. GO BUCKS !!!

Sarah

During my college experience i have gained several different things that i feel are worth mentioning. First off, i have had the chance to meet new people, a chance i did not have growing up where i did because the town was so small where everyone knew everyone. I have gained the experience of branching out and taking different classes that would not be available to me if i had not furthered my education by going to college. I have learned so much in these classes that i have taken so far here at OSU-Mansfield. Not only have i learned acedemically but i have learned a lot about myself as a person and about my ambitions about my future. This is important to me to attend so i can fullfill my ambitions and have a successful career, future, family and life in general.

Laura

If I could go back in time I would focus on school rather than on my social life. I would strive to get the best grades possible and apply for every scholarship that I could. As I have matured I have found that what matters most is to achieve all that you can in life. There is so much waiting for you out here in the world and college helps open the boundaries. I would appreciate the fact that I have a limitless opportunity to make my dreams come true and be thankful for all that I have. I would have worked harder in high school and done all that was possible to learn as much as I could. With college comes an epiphany of sorts when you realize what you had been getting for free--you now have to pay for!

Chris

Let's just assume for a minute that time -travel is statistically possible. If this is true, then I would certainly hope that the apparatus, by which to travel through time, came only in the form of the 1982 AMC Delorian from the Back to the Future movies. I would pull up to the "past me" in the high school parking lot and offer two pieces of blunt advice. I would offer my first piece of advice in the following segments: The goal in life is to be happy and money won't do the job; do what you know in your heart is the right thing and do whatever is necessary to accomplish your goal; never lose focus of the end; don't let anyone talk you out of your ambition because you're the only one that knows what will make you happy; lastly, realize, all of your hardwork is worth it. My second piece of advice is simple: find a good school. Don't worry about how much it costs, just focus on getting in and doing well. Then before I sped back to the present day, I would shout "Don't make me come back here!"

Leslie

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior knowing what I now know as a college sophomore, I would tell myself to not take for my education for granted and focus on secondary education as my main goal. It is easy to "slack off" senior year, but that is when it is most important to prepare yourself for the transition to college. I would tell myself not to be so anxious about going away to school- there are plenty of new students feeling the exact same way, and it is a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends. I would tell myself to enjoy the experience, but not to take it for granted. College is not like high school, and it is important to stay focused. Lastly, I would let myself know that if a class is hard, there is always a professor or tutor waiting to help; but it's up to me to take the initiative.

Joshua

I would advise all parents to set up some sort of college fund for their children, and although it may not seem like it at the time, every little bit matters, even if you are only able to put in $10.00 or $20.00 dollars a week/month. In the long run this may save you and your children a lot of stress and strife. College funding is not exactly easy to come by: especially when your economys in a downward spiral. I would advise all students to take their time, do the research and be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure this is where they would like to spend four extremely important years of their life. You must also remember there is no room in this world for slackers. Although partying can be fun at times, do not forget what brought you to school in the first place. Get the best edcuation possible, and keep in mind if you do turn into a slacker, it is in your best interest to realize this and correct it. It is not a good feeling to know you let your family down, your friends and most importantly yourself. Be the best that you can be.

Amanda

The first thing I was told at my orientation was to get involved! Those are the key words to the best college experience you can have. Find a college that not only has a great reputation for excellent academics, but find a school where you can see yourself interacting at and a place you see yourself getting involved. You have the opportunity to explore everything imaginable, and you'll love every minute of it. You will learn so much from your experiences and gain a lot of insight from them. Not to mention, the tons of friends you'll make. It's the best advice given to me. Get involved at your school. I promise you, you won't regret it.

Keeley

Go where makes you happy. If you want to go to a big school and live in the city, do it! But if you're used to a small town feel or you're a bit strapped for cash, pick a smaller community college.

Ciara

Study hard and always go to class. Take advantage of the opportunities the college puts in your lap and get the best grades possible. Also, always know where you are at academically and plan for graduate studies early and accordingly.

Amanda

Best advice that I would give would be to shop around. Look at different schools, in different states and differetn sizes. Be sure to check out big and small schools. big schools tend to have more activties, but smaller schools tend to be more acedemically focused. Finding a school that fits your personality is important. and pick a school because your friend or boy/girlfriends goes there!

Rozlynn

Find a college that your interested in. Keep in mind living cost's i.e.- if your living off campus how is rent and utilities going to be paid for. If the student is paying for everything on their own really think about it. I know as a student trying to stay ahead in school and support myself as well was to hard. i actually had to move back home to a smaller campus because i couldnt focus enough. Students be safe and make sure you do spend enough time studying. It is easy to get caught up in social life of drinking and partying. As fun as that is, school is more imporant. But do still enjoy your college years!!!!