Old Dominion University Top Questions

I would tell myself to save my money! Trying to come up with tuition money is hard! I would also suggest to try all sorts of different kinds of fields before choosing what I want to study. I would also tell myself that it is okay to make mistakes; now is the time to learn. I would also tell my self it is okay to ask for help. That is what the tutors are for. Also, I would tell myself to take my time and not bite off more than I can choose.

College is not only good for you but fun also. By going to college you will get to met new and exciting people that will help you broaden your horizon and enrich your life. You will gain interactive skills that will be crucial out in the working world just by interacting with the students and the faculty and staff from the college. And sure at first college might seem hard and intimidating but once you learn to navigate your college you will find that there are a lot of programs and services put in place to help you be successful in your college career. You have what it takes to make it in the college world you just need to get involve and active and college will become an adventure rather than an ordeal. Thrust me college is the smart thing to do, it is the only way that you will allow you to demand a good job later in life rather than settling for whatever comes your way. Go to college, have fun and better your life early on you won't regret it.

If I could go back and speak to a 17 year old graduating Rashanda, I would tell her that she isn't ready. When I graduated from high school, I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I should have taken a year or two off to allow myself to mature. However, if I did still choose to go to college at 17, I would have been more active in my campus and taken a stronger role in my academic future. I was very shy, I'm not any more; and spent alot of time in my room. I would give myself advice to sometimes go outside of my comfort zone so that I could grow and become a well rounded person.

I would take a much harder look at myself. Push myself so march harder..stop listener to other within my graduating class..care about myself and realize what I was capable of..I could have done so much better. I could have written my own ticket. I would slap myself and say stop this is your life! dont limit yourself, demand what you want dont let anyone tell you not to take the path you want! DO IT!

When I was in High School I was not thinking of the future. When it came time to actually go to college, I had realized that I had not prepared myself financially to pay tuition fees. My dreams of moving out and attending a college out of state would not be practical with my families’ low income. Because of this, I decided to stay in state. I grew to love it! But deep inside of me I regretted not taking the time to look for scholarships and ways to have money to go to a school out of state. After I got married and moved to Norfolk, Virginia, I was finally able to go to a school away from my home city. However, the tuition was very expensive. My husband and I struggle to pay my tuition fees without going into debt. My advice to my high school senior self would be: Plan ahead. Don't put off filling out scholarships because it only gets harder as your academic career progresses.

If this were possible, I would tell myself to be sure to always stay focused. There are so many extra activities at this school and it can be hard to get back on track sometimes. I would also say to never give up on the goals that are set. It may seem hard and impossible at times, but they will be met.

Never do it for the money, knowledge is all the power you need. Don’t look at college as an extension of the monotonous slavery of high school, but as an opportunity to invest in yourself. The time you put in right away and the habits you build will define you as a student. They can either set you on the path to success or be the first step towards a short college career. Take advantage of your professors. Their knowledge and expertise comes from experience and greatly surpasses anything that can be obtained from reading the book. They are going to be your most usefully resource when looking into jobs or grad school in your prospective field. Teachers also are capable of hiring on interns where you can gain invaluable experience, working in any given field. Lastly keep an open mind. College is a unique place where so many roads meet, so take the time to explore a few.

I would tell myself to take as many college credit classes as possible. I would make sure to get as many credits as possible so I could have gone into college with a better start. I would show myself just how expensive it is and how long it takes to get the classes. If I could go back I would just give myself a better start so I could finish earlier and spend less money.

As a high school student I was always trying to compare myself to my brother who in my eyes is a genius. I tried to excel in science and mathematics but I was never good at it. I wish I would have known that in college I wouldn't really need so much of science and mathematics in my major. If i would have known that then i wouldn't have stressed out so much about it, and I would have enjoyed going to school. I would have joined more organizations, because if there is something I have learned in my past two years in college is that joining organizations opens so many doors. I have made so many friends and great study partners, and I have become so much more involved in the dance world then I was in high school. I've embraced that I am not the smartest but if I stick to what I'm good at then I can suceed and I can be the version of myself that I enjoy. I would also tell myself to enjoy my mothers food and hospitality because you're on your own after, and cafeteria food is horrible.

If I could go back in time to give my high school senior self advice, I would tell myself to get as much scholarships as I possibly could because you'll need them. You may think that you have all the time in the world, but let's face it: that isn't true. Also, you tend to procrastinate and it's all going to kick you in the butt later. Oh, and whatever money you do make, don't waste it. Save it and put it away because you can't drive yet so you're going to have to take the bus back and forth to and from school because no one's going to drive you. No one can afford to. With today's economy, money's short and since you're currently unemployed, life is just going to get a lot tougher, especially college life. Sure, you've got SOL Garden and you're making little money from that, but that's just it: Little. It's not going to last you and you can't do it forever. So if you want a better life, save the money.

Rise above the urge and pressure to cheat: our education system includes getting graded for your work, the accumulation of your grades gives you a GPA, and that GPA will either award you scholarships, recognition, and admission to your top schools or it won't. Because of this heavy emphasis on your grades, it is almost natural to feel the only goal is getting A's rather than receiving an education that will not just get you a job, but will mold you into a well-rounded person. Consequently, you have the majority of students CHEATING throughout college to insure an outstanding GPA. My advice to you is to have CONFIDENCE in your ability to learn, have INTEGRITY, and DO NOT CHEAT because today, as a Junior in college, you stand extremely proud for committing yourself to not cheating through your academic college career, and for getting accepted as one of 375 students into Loyola Marymount University's Business School as an Entrepreneurship Major with your hard earned honest GPA. Be astounded by those who do cheat, and rise above knowing they ultimately lose and will graduate un-knowledgable citizens incapable of even writing a simple coherent essay.

Over the first year of being at college, I have learned a lot, seen a lot, and discovered a lot about myself. The advice I would give my past self would be to stay true to yourself, don't let anyone influence you, and be brave. Staying true to yourself is the best thing that a student can know. If you know what you want and don't want, stick to it. That goes hand in hand with not letting anyone influence you. It may be tempting when you hear it, but remember that you should rise above any bad ideas and march to your own drummer. It's you who will be the true winner in the end who didn't let anyone get to them and lead them down a potentially dark path. Once you do that, you can focus on the last component; being brave. There will be times you won't want to be brave, or strive to be it. If you are brave in your decsions and actions, you give yourself a good image to others around you. If you show yourself off to be a good person, you will attract the best people.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot of prectical advice. I would let myself know that trying to get along with my parents and staying at their house, rather than moving out, would be the best and easiest decision I could make. I would tell myself to join more clubs and do more volunteer work in the community. I would tell myself to avoid getting caught up in work, and focus on school instead. I would remind myself to look in to graduate school and understand what path I needed to follow before making any decisions. This advice is all advice that could have made my life much easier and reduced my stress, while also putting me in line with my goal of attaining a PhD.

To really do your research before you make a final decision on a college.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior about the college transition would be to go into college straight out of high school. I would tell myself not to be afraid, the sooner it’s done with the better my life for me and my daughter would be sooner, and to keep the determination that I have to accomplish great things academically. I would also tell myself to be patient, keep up with the school work while working, and to make sure to keep a day open for my daughter to spend more time with her. And the last advice would be to save as much money as possible, it will make things a lot less stressful, and that everything I thought I “need” could wait.

Hindsight is so much clearer than decision making in the moment, so I would advise prospective students to seek out past students and those invested in careers from the school of their choice. The wisest choice is usually the most informed choice. It is easy to get into the competition of who gets accepted where, but realistically, you need to view your acceptances as opportunities, not merit badges. There is great value in community colleges for the first year and the savings are significant. Also, consider housing expenses and accessibility. While freshman are generally housed at the discretion of the school, the following years can be competitive. Consider the costs of obtaining off campus housing if necessary. Never devalue the experiences of previous graduates.

The advice that I would give myself is to try harder in each class and be prepared for the real world, financially and mentally. College is really expensive and it would have been better to save my money to be able to pay for my future. I would also tell myself to stay focused and not take life as if it was something really easy and careless. College comes into your life really soon, sooner than you think and when you least expect it you are asking yourself how you are going to pay for it. In highschool there was no stress whatsoever, books and classes were given to you easily and now in college you have many more responsibilities, what classes to choose, are you going the right direction, what is it that you need to transfer and if the staff of your college really cares about you. So now I find myself financially struggling and trying to research on ways that I might be able to obtain extra help from grants and or scholarships.

I would have told myself to get a camera sooner. I got my Nikon Coolpix p510 as a graduation gift, and ever since then photography really became a really new and fun world for me to express me and creativity. Fashion always was my first passion and now that I enjoy photography I can combine both and love what I do.

Dear Kendall, This is your future self from a year from now. I know this is your last year of school and you probably think it's going to go by quickly, but I encourage you to cherish this year every day and focus on school. With classes, try to learn better studying techniques on your own. Trust me, you're going to need it. I also would stress that you take as many college courses that are available to take during your senior year. You may feel as if it will be difficult to take college courses on top of high school classes, but getting as many general education courses will make you that much closer to your college degree and goals. Aside from academics, please spend as much time as you can with your friends and loved ones. Things happen so quickly and you never know if tomorrow is promised. Try to keep in touch with your friends, but also be open to new friendships. Stay true to yourself and never let any one tell you that you can't do something. Concentrate on your work, and be confident in yourself. Good luck, Kendall

If I could go back in time there are many things I would have changed in how I carried myself as well as many of my goals I would have set that were college oriented. I would have told myself to commit more of my time to my studies. Also that time is a precious thing that is not to be taken for granted because it passes you by quickly. These are words that my parents would say to me regularly but never took them into heavy consideration, but now that I am older and more mature I realize how important they were. Something else that I would have told myself is to stop wasting an excess of free time I had going out with friends doing nothing hanging out, and start doing more productive things with my time. Possibly joining more school activities like school sports, or rejoining a martial arts program I was once took a part of when I was younger. I remember really good times making friends and staying active when I was a part of this program, it really brought me a great deal of self confidence and joy.

If i can go back in time and talked to myself in my senior year i would have been more prepared for entering college. One of the things i would have done is go to an orientation get more involve with what college is all about such as how units work, fiancial aid, BOG waiver, and my major. At first i wasnt sure why college was right for me until i realized that getting an education was the key to success. Now that im in college i know what i need to do in order to get my A.A and become a chemistry major to transfer to a four year university. Another thing i would tell myself is to get in the R.O.P program for a CNA assistance because it would had helped me get the experience and training to become a nurse. I would have learned and got an idea of what i will be dealing with in the future. The last thing i would tell myself is to join sports because it helps alot with all the stress as a college student and keeps me on task now that i am taking a volleyball class.

The only piece of advice that could have helped me to truly do better my first few years in high school is that the most important thing in the entire world is to stay true to yourself and have confidence. These two things come hand in hand. The uncertainty that comes with moving to a new area and immersing oneself in an unfamiliar community can easily be alleviated with the confidence of being self-assured and proud to be an individual. I’ve been through lots of hard classes, rough academic weeks combined with overtime at work, but it becomes easier when I remember that I’m doing these things so I can be the best me I can be, and I am working towards something I desperately want to do. I become proud of myself, and my success in school turns into a part of my identity. By now I have reached the point where I identify with my passion for the things I am learning, and this is where I gather my self-confidence from. I wish I had understood how to do this upon entering Old Dominion University; my first few years would have been much easier.

If I could go back and talk to my high school Senior self, assuming I would listen. I would tell myself that College is fun but it is also hard work. I would tell myself not to let anything distract me away from my dreams and career. Parties and get toguethers are fun but having a career is what will take you far in life and where you want to be. I would tell myself to focus and not to rush into adulthood, because pretty soon you will be out of college and life will be very different when you get out.

The advice I would give myself would be to look more into the programs offered by the university. I wolud also tell myself be sure the major you choose will be benifical after graduating.

Knowing what I know about college now, I would go back to my high school senior self and say, “Don’t give up and don’t ever stop trying. It is okay not to know for sure what you want for the rest of your career life, just think it through and see what options you have. You aren’t dumb and there are people that support and believe in you. Just because you may not always feel like you have people fighting for you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand up and fight for yourself. No one got where they are today by sitting back and waiting for their life to happen. You have to choose to better yourself. You have to choose to go out there and get it. You can do this. You will succeed.”

study hard and do not blow off college strive for your best and forget the rest..

Make sure you study and take things serious from the start rather than testing the waters.

I would tell myself to not worry so much about fitting in with who I thought were the "popular" kids and to just be myself. I would also tell myself to work hard in all of my dance classes since that is my chosen major now and I feel that I could be much farther along had I been more perserverant during my high school years. Lastly, I would tell myself to keep my grades up so I would've been eligible for more scholarships

After growing and going through life experiences, I've learned alot. If I could turn back time, I would have went to a four year university when I graduated high school instead of waiting years later to complete my degree. I would have spoken to my counselor more about helping me enroll into a university and getting the financial help that I needed. Although my parents helped out with paying for a couple of classes at community college, it became to expensive for them so I stopped going after my second semester. I am now working full time to support myself, in an apartment on my own, paying many bills, and pursuing a degree in nursing because its hard to live without a good job. I should have been a lot smarter as a senior in high school and thought more about the future of my life. I also wish I had stayed home with my parents until I was able to support myself financially. I moved out of their house to early in life. In the future when I have children, I will teach them how important education is and send them to college immediately after highschool.

I would go back to my freshmen year when I droped out of school and tell my self it is the bigest mistake I will ever make. I say this because without an education I have not gone anywhere in life. I would also tell my self to go from high school to collage because that is my bigest regret in life. I now have two wonderful kids and can not give them the things they need and the things they deserve due to not enough education. With the oldest one being disabled I would also tell my self that I would need to go to collage extra to learn as much as posable about everything so that no matter what happened I could always find a job. I would tell my self that only those who educate them selfs through hard work an lots of schooling make something of them selfs. That if you do not work hard at an education then do not plan on having a good life or being able to support a family the way you should be able to support them. This is what I would tell my self because it would change things.

I would tell myself to just keep doing what I had planned. After high school I joined the US Navy, where I served for five years, then went to college full time. I believe the navy fully prepared me (and gave me time to mature) for college. The transition to college life was easy and enjoyable.

If I could travel backwards and meet myself in high school I would say set back and hold on, these battles will make you stronger. I would give myself words of encouragement and acknowledge my resilience in the face of child-hood trauma. I would write on sticky notes all over my messy room to stay focused and keep your eyes front don’t lose your motivation. Most of all I would have educated myself on the importance of not selling yourself short, instead ask questions and insist on answers. I would have made myself learn more about financial aid and not listened to parents who themselves made horrible financial choices. I would have saved money from the work I started at Wendy’s at the age of 13 until I was 23 years old, to pay for college. Increasing my assertiveness I would have provided myself support to seek help for my learning disorder, the secret I kept hidden until 29 years old. I would tell myself, in college you will find support others like you who dream big, work hard and you will become so much stronger, but never fold and never give up.

College has bought many memories and lessons I thought i'd never encounter in my life. As a high school senior I was actually very scared to venture out and go to college. Leaving my family and friends behind was the last thing I wanted to do after ending my high school career. I would definitely go back and tell my high school senior self to not be so afraid, but to prepare myself for weaknesses, defeats, and also accomplishments. I would tell myself to not be such a procrastinator because college is definitely no joke. There is a fine line between high school worksheets and college assignments. When your professors tell you to read, you better read that chapter because it will definitely help you in the long run. College will disappoint you while making you happy at the same time. It is no playground, but on the bright side you will find yourself and love who you are. You will meet tons of people who will either bring out the best in your or bring out the bad side of you. Stick with what you know and always hold your morals close to your heart.

Do not stress the little things! In high school I was stressed out about everything. I had to look good, I needed to do well on grades, and most of all I felt like I needed to fit in. College changed that. Sure, I am still working hard and doing well in college but there is no need to try to fit in. One thing I learned is that there is a huge maturity gap transformation from high school to college and I fit right in. People do not judge others in college like they did in high school. This has been an eye opening experience where stereotypes are less existent and it is much easier to make new friends, especially since I did not know anybody here at campus on the first day. People felt the same way I did and we got together and became friends. We as students were so sheltered in high school with all of the same people every day that we lacked what it took to be outgoing and find new people to eventually call “friend.” It has worked since, and is definitely something to tell to my high school self.

If I were a high school senior again I would tell myself to work harder. I am 25 years old now and only a junior in college. I took some time off and I regret it. I was an advanced student in high school but due to my lack of effort I ended up squeaking by just to graduate on time. The break that I took from high school to college led to a poor math placement, whereas I was almost awarded a college Calculus credit while in high school. A credit that I did not achieve until I was 24. In that time span I was forced to complete 5 math classes, which I had already completed in high school. If I had put in the effort in high school, I would have graduated by the age of 21. I could have a full life; but instead I work at minimum wage jobs and struggle to pay bills. I have learned a valuable lesson that I practice through my college career and in life; always put in all of your effort!

This question brings back what I've already thought about multiple times throughout the year, and I would love to share! As a college student, I am so passionate about the importance (and education) of diversity in our society. If I could look back and give myself advice as a senior, I would burn into my stubborn senior brain to not be misled or frightened by the many other views that others possess in life. We all have differing views on religion, politics, even sports teams. So often I would be concerned because I was so set on my way that I was afraid that I might be wrong simply because others had different perspectives than I did. What I would tell myself is, "You are not wrong! Your different views are what make life interesting!" Additionally, I would stress the importance of learning from others so that I may benefit from experiences other individuals may have had that could help me strengthen my personal perspective on a given topic. We all are unique, and that's what makes the world go around!

I would have taken high school more seriously. I would have worked harder and partied less. I also would have made sure I attended all of my classes unless I absolutely had to miss.

During my four high school years, I realize that senior year was the most stressfull. My mind soaked in so many questions and ideas. I was focused on finishing high school strong and keeping my GPA up. I was also focused on looking for a college that will accept me. I was discouraged by my SAT scores, and I was worried I would end up going to a school I dont like. My mind was also focused on my career. There wasn't a night when I would think about all the things I could do with my life. Graduation was around the corner, and I had only gotten accepted to one out of the six schools I applied for. At that point I just assumed I was going to Radford, but my first school of choice, ODU, ended up accepting me anyway. All of the stress went away, and I turned all my focus to my friends and saying goodbye. However if I could say something to my senior self. I would tell him that you are handling everything well, and that even the highest mountains of doubt can be climbed when you have faith within yourself. Good job.

I would tell myself to be prepared to study. My current GPA is not bad by any means, but I was not ready for the academic transition from high school to college. Studying was never something I had to do much of in high school. When I got to college I just assumed things would stay the same, but I was wrong. Once sophomore year started, I could not keep on coasting by without really hitting the books hard. I know all this now, but there was a rough period between the time when my grades started slipping and when I actually developed the discipline to study. I think I did a decent job of balancing classwork with everything else college has to offer, but I could have done better.

I would tell myself to not be so insecure. To get out and make more friends by doing activities. This way I could have learned more about myself at a younger age. In turn making a solid career choice earlier on in life.

I would tell my high school self to do better in high school. I was very laid back in high school and I am paying the price for it now. Also, I planned to take a break from school. While I only planned for a semester or two break, nearly 8 years later is when I finally got myself to enroll into college. I would highly encourage myself to get into college right away after high school. I often think to myself how I would already have my degree if I went straight into college after high school. Finally, I would tell myself that the friends I thought so highly of in high school will not stick around. People change.

With the knowledge of being in college , I would tell myself as a senior in high school to learn how to manage my time more wisely. I have a problem as a college student with procrastination. I analyze and understand the day when an assignment is due , however , I always wait to the last minute to complete them . I would teach myself as a high school student to learn how to manage my time wisely. I understand my strengths and weaknesses as a student. For example , one of my strong qualities is that I can retain information and comprehend well . In contrast , my weakness as a student is that I do not work well under pressure . With me procrastinating , I find myself not putting forth my best effort in my work. I would tell myself as a senior in high school to take more pride and to be more dedicated in every assignment that is given to me. I believe that my work is a reflection of who I am as a student.

Dear Past Christopher, I'm writing to you from 4 years in the future, just as you are about to start your fourth year of college. I would like to share some knowledge I've acquired with you that may help you in the future. My first piece of advice is to ALWAYS have the future in mind. I am by no means saying that you should be paranoid about everything, but rather that you should evaluate every decision you make to see how it can affect things later on. For example, paying for college. You may not think it's a problem, but it really is. You really do have to do all you can to ensure that you can get an afford to pay for your education if you want to have a bachelor's degree. And always remember: college is designed for most people to fail, whether it be financially or academically (don't worry, your grades are fine). You just have to keep pushing because it will all be worth it in the long run. Sincerely, Future Christopher

A few words of advice for you, my friend. Having fun with friends and working three jobs may be what you think you want now, but in the long run it is wiser to decide what you want for the rest of your life. Only take on what you know you can handle, not more. Choose a career you know will make you happy, not just make you money, and go for it with everything you’ve got. All the fun and the money will come later, but priorities are important. Make a difference in the world, not just for yourself, but for everyone else you have and will ever meet. Even the smallest of things you say and do can greatly impact someone else, so make it a good effect on someone else. Most important, live each and every day as if it were your last day. Do not waste time worrying about the small things. Work hard to achieve each and every goal you set for yourself, and when you look back in 20 years, you will be happy, content, and satisfied... I guarantee.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would tell myself to keep focused on all lectures that are heavily dependent on power point and not from the text book. However, use the textbooks as a guide to what the teacher has covered, as well as what the teacher has notified you will be covered in the next session. Do not allow your friends to preoccupy your time. Prioritize the issues at hand, but do not overwhelm yourself. It is okay to have fun, but when you know that a deadline is rapidly approaching, and that an assignment needs to have plenty of time and attention, do not be afraid to tell your friends that you have to focus on school work. No matter what your friends may think of you, knowing that you have given your best time and effort into the task at hand, and that God will lead you the rest of the way, it does not matter. While they sit and procrastinate and then try to do their work at the last mintue, you can then rest knowing that all your work has been done and that it is time for fun.

Life is too short to wait until college to start living

Be aware of the real reason your applying for college, and know the pros and cons of transitioning to college life.

I would tell myself to start looking for scholarships in the summer/fall of my senior year and keep looking for them the whole way through college. Also I would have told my self to always purchase school books online instead of in the book store. I would tell my self that no matter what anyone tells you, go with your gut, you are usually right.

I would say that ODU isn't your best bet, but since you want to stay with your fiance still go there. Also, Harvard is accepting people with lower than $60,000 incomes into the medical school so start getting a 4.0 GPA now.

Not to take all the opportunities available in high school for granted. When it comes to academics, whether your classes are easy or difficult, start forming good study habits, that way in college you will know what study techniques work best for you. Even though classes may seem easy, dont slack and try hard because even the basic stuff will help you out in college. Also be as active in as many different clubs as possible. Though some activities may seem dumb and boring, they teach you more than what you might expect and may even spark an interest you didn't think you had. It is never to early to think about your future and taking part in a wide variety of extracurricular activities looks good on any college transcript and resume. When it comes to your social life, dont try to be apart of any high school cliques or look down on people for obscure reasons. People sometimes change in college and you may find that you have a lot in common with someone you used to not associate with. Finally, always keep in touch with your friends.