Polytechnic Institute of New York University Top Questions

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

Patrick

I could give you a lecture about how you need to bring your grades up, do more community services hours so you can be eligible for the state scholarship awards, or spend a little time working so you'll have some money saved to help pay the large bills that come with a college education -- but I know you won't listen to me because all your family and friends have already told you. So instead just give me your palm and I'll tell you the future: a few months from now you will ship off to college and love it from city life to being on your own; a month later you will realize you are beginning to run low on funds; a week after that you will have to get a job in order to eat; and a month after that you will discover that the already small physics program at your school is losing another professor, and you will be wishing you spent a little more time on homework so you could have gotten into the school you wanted. You knew what you needed to do but you didn't. What will you do now?

Veronica

Dear Veronica,It’s that time to start your senior year and you haven’t put any thought into what you want to do afterwards and that frightens you. However, I am here to tell you that you will figure it out. I have learned that money is a big factor in being able to make your dreams possible. With that being said, I know it’s not fun but you need to apply for scholarships; apply for as many scholarships as you can, and you need to save your money! I understand that new clothes and gadgets are great to have but you have to understand their importance in your life. No one will care what you’re wearing when you go to class; they care about what you have to contribute. There is plenty of time to buy material items when you are older and can afford it. Now, I am going to tell you right now your plans for school will change often and drastically during your first year of college, but keep in mind it is all part of the experience. I wish you the best of luck on your life adventures! Love, Your Future Self

Nissim

If I could go back to talk to myself, I would tell myself to spend every opportunity doing something. "Don't sit in the room watching a movie or sleep because you're too lazy to do the homework. Learn that subject so well, that you can recite the textbook backwards. Do everything required of you as soon as it's given to you. Then when you have all that free time to do whatever you want, go outside and enjoy the city you came to see. Socialize with random people; don't be afraid, they're probably just as scared to talk to someone new as you are. Find a favorite mom and pop restaurant. Discover things beyond the facade. Make friends with the underwear guy in Washington Square simply because he's weird. Wear a box, and own it. Dance in crowds; if anyone bothers to say anything you'll probably just make a new friend. Make something incredible even if you don't know how. Be you, because no one else can."

Erica

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to stay involved. Also to apply for colleges and scholarships early, I waited till a week before classes started to even turn in my application and everything was so rushed and crazy. I didn't have enough time to apply for many scholarships and had no idea what I wanted to major in. I picked a major that sounded interesting and have currently switched my major to something different, meaning my first year in college helped me further my education but not in a way that was useful for my future career.

Jonathan

If I could go back in time to give advice to my younger self, I would tell myself to learn to prioritize. Like a lot of other students entering Freshman year, I didn't take advantage of all the free time I had to do what I was supposed to do, which is to excel at academia. Of course, being in college also entails to meeting new people and living in independence, but it is always important to keep track of why everyone, including myself, goes to college-- to pursue further knowledge towards a career. I had to learn that lesson the hard way but now I stay more organized than I ever have and I have developed study habits which have produced proficiently consistent results in my grades. Time management is definitely the most important experience learned in college. Even keeping a planner or journal helps a lot with scheduling activities and maintaining a productive lifestyle ready for the "real" world.

Eric

I was blessed with many gifts, but these pockets of easy success led me to avoid any task that gave me even a little bit of trouble. In fear of failure, I threw away any opportunity to push myself to success. However, instead of evading failure, apathy only caused me to fail myself. Through this I realized that failure isn’t something to be avoided; it is the ultimate goal. So, to my young self I would say this; don’t focus on the things that come easy to you. Instead, work hardest on those things that are most challenging. In this, you will learn about yourself. You will learn your limits, and most importantly you will learn to push yourself through sincere challenges. Toil until failure. Fail as often as you can, in as many ways as you can. Put maximal effort into failure. Embrace it as both an answer and a challenge. You will find your limits and your place in this world, and succeed in ways that you wouldn’t let yourself believe.

Benjamin

I'm going into my third year at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, VA. During my time here, I have experienced a great amount of things that I should have known or thought through in high school. If I was back in high school, I would advised myself to seriously use my time wisely in going to all classes, turn in all assignments at all deadlines, and not do things at the last minute, study and review all college work consistently and thoroughly, don't rush or be desperate to be dating or be in a relationship, and be more confident and normal. Even though I was getting good grades in high school, I was picked on for being a weird, awkward person and everyelse about me; also, I was being less confident and not studying as much as I should. This upcoming school year, I am continuing to fulfill these advices to the best of my ability.

Mohammed

Ever since I came to United States and began high school here, I have been working towards getting accepted into the best possible university for my career goals. Coming from Bangladesh, it has been my dream to attend the famous, world class universities in America and attending Polytechnic Institute of New York University has fulfilled this dream. However, the most daunting challenge I have had to face has been the extraordinary financial difficulties that results from going to a prestigious private university such as NYU-Poly. I have had to take out student loans, yet even now I continue to be bombarded by additional expenses that student loans cannot possibly cover. To continue my education and the pursuit of the American dream which I prize so dearly, I have taken up two jobs in order to ease the financial burden which now weighs heavily upon my shoulders. The combination of these endeavors has left me working non-stop to balance my jobs and school. Therefore, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advice myself to choose one of the CUNY schools over a private institution for an undergraduate degree.

Kledio

If i could go back and talk to my high school senior self with all the knowledge I know now, I would tell myself to take all the AP classes you can possibly fit into your schedule and don't slack off! When I was a senior I only took one AP class and I didnt do as good as I could have on the AP test. I could have taken more AP classes throughout my high school years and when it was time for college i would have had some extra credits and there would be no need to retake the classes. This would have also made it possible for me to be accepted in the BS/MS program as well as make it easier to complete it. The program allows students to complete their bachelor's and masters degree in 4 years without having to pay for graduate school. This would have helped with my finacial problems greatly. Although I did not get any AP credit, I will still apply for the BS/MS program and see how far I can go.

Muhammad

"Take a deep breath and relax. You're going to college and growing up but you need to take the time out to look at where you are before you rush into where you are going. Growing up isn't about getting from one age to the next but about developing who you are in the process. So relax and enjoy the sun." As a high school senior I was always focused on my future, getting into a good college so I could have a good career and etc. But I never took the time to enjoy my last year of high school and deeply regret that. Yes it is good to be focused on the future to try to actively shape it but sometimes you have to focus on the here and now or else your going to miss it like I did. When the time comes for college and the transition, you have to have faith in yourself that you'll be ready for it and have something motivating you that will always push you forward, but not so much so that you get lost in the present. Moderation is key.

Ashleigh

The advice I would give myself is hope for more. My fall semester project was in the semi-final engineering contest. I believed my project could possibly solve the energy crisis, if only I had the funding for testing. However, the student body, who decided on the projects, voted otherwise. They chose a thermocontainer, which heated food for later consumption. I was crushed by my loss. I abandoned my project and all the ideas that followed its birth. ‘Twas not until my peer, and friend, suggested my ideas to his father, a major employee in a prosperous company. My energy idea was being observed for possible investment. I could direct all the tests and laboratory procedures-my lifelong dream. I had lost hope to continue my project, but through the help of friends I found my way again. I will never abandon another idea.

Mandeep

The second that you open the doors to the real world things do become real. It is vital to do your best right now. Excel as much as you can in order to ensure that you have a smooth transition into college. You do this by taking AP classes, getting help when needed, and study in every spare second you get. By making these arrangements college will be a lot easier to manage, especially if you are planning on working. Keep reminding yourself of what your goals are and pursue them with your best attempts. In high school, everything seems so slow paced and like life is at a dead stop but don't be alarmed when you see how swift college moves. You are expected to perform at top levels, be able to keep your workload in control and have the ability to teach yourself. Life is certainly for enjoying so do have fun when possible but remember that if you have a strong foundation and a solid career, you will have a good backbone to life. Thus, you will be able to enjoy more of your fruits of labor.

Dawid

Believe in yourself and don't get discouraged after a few bad incidents. Sometimes it gets tought and it is important to let it get the best of you. Hard work will pay off and its important to always believe in yourself and your abilities. Sometimes you might not get the best professors but in the end it usually comes down to you. Reality is that professors don't play a huge part in your education (I'm not saying that they don't, because they do in certain classes), mostly what they teach you stuff that is direectly out of the book, and if you don't understand what your professor teaches, look in the textbooks. Sometimes you're expected to do all the work, and it is tough but rewarding. Believe in youreslf, work hard, because the overall grade point average that you receive at the end reflects your work; not the school's. College is tough but rewarding...Good Luck!

Katie

Looking back onto my last year in high school as a senior I now know that I could have done a few things differently to financially support myself during college. I excelled in school and was proud when I graduated 6 months before the rest of my senior class. Though in high school I rarely saw my guidance counselor and was completely naïve to how scholarships worked. I had started to apply for scholarships after my graduation only to find out that a lot of the scholarships I needed required you to still be in high school. I was eligible for FASFA but once I was making a steady income I was no longer given the same amount of grant money I had previously received. Supporting myself, paying full tuition and books adds up quickly. With scholarship money I would have been able to ease the burden off my shoulders for tuition payments. If I could revisit myself in the past as a senior in high school I would have pushed myself to be active to find as many scholarship opportunities as possible.

Suwei

If I could go back in time and meet myself when I was a high school senior, I would pass over three years worth of knowledge. I would tell myself, “It really doesn’t matter what college you attend, no one in the real world will judge you from the college that you graduated from: a named brand college or a college in the middle of nowhere. School debt is something that every student must face. But if you choose a named private university, you debt will be a lot bigger than the average student. All colleges and universities is a business. Don’t do everything that they tell you to do, use your own judgment. Upon entering college, the school will make you spend a lot of my money on unnecessary expenses that appears to be necessary. And lastly, siege every opportunity that is thrown at you, because they only come once. Sometimes you just have to act.” These simple advices could have saves me a reasonable amount of money and the many opportunities that I missed due to my over thinking nature. Never have I stopped thinking, “I wish someone told me these things back in the days.”

Dat

If I had the option to go back in time, I would tell myself to spend more time studying and trying to prepare for the SATs. While at the same time, my incentives for choosing a college or university would not be based on the parties in the dorms or the name or prestige of the university but rather than the quality of education that is provided by the university and the facilities. The facilities that any university or college has is what differentiates itself from other universities. In the end of the day, professors are still human beings and you will have to do a lot of studying on your own. Yet that is a simple fact of life; if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. What a university provides is the resources that it has. The machine shops, the labs and any other expensive equipment that the university has can be yours to learn to use. The resources that a university has can have a dramatic impact on your education throughout your college years, so it is important to make sure that the university that you choose has what you want.

Mark

Since their was no specification on the format of this response, I will present a list of advice rather than a tediously boring essay. 1. Make sure you keep your brain active during the summer, specifically in math. 2. Don't give the $2000 to that shady loan company that Daddy miraculously discovered. It turned out to be a scam. 3. Once you finally get to New York, don't quit running every morning. 4. Your roommate for the Fall semester of 2011 will be unlike anyone you are usally around. His name will be Beau, and he is rather strange, but don't be so hesitant to talk to him. 5. Don't stop being awesome.

Jose

In an almost contradictory fashion, my senior year seemed to have blown by, strangely, however, when I reflect back upon individual moments, I recall feeling like the year seemed to drag on for ages. In the individual moments, I was eager to move on with my life, I wanted to tackle my future and progress as a person. Ironically, however, this attitude ended up hurting me. I ended up failing to fully experience my life. I fell into a transient stage where I went through my life’s events thinking of them as obstacles. Obstacles that impeded my progression. In retrospect, this ended up diluting my last year as a High School student. I rushed onto college without having extracted the optimum level of profits from my High School days. Knowing this nurtures regret once in a while. That's why if I could give my old self a piece of advice I would say, "Jose, don't be scared. I'm you, from the future. I have advice for you, buddy. In order to feel accomplished and to have an easy transition into college life; I suggest that you slow down and embrace the individual moments of your life."

Jasmine

As a High School Senior i would advise myself to go to a school where you at lease know one person so that you can have someone to give you advice or help you with the transition. Going to a university knowing no one is sometimes lonely

Fatima

Poly is different. There are no sloping hills and green grass fields to sit under the sun. There are no large fields to picnic in. There are only three buildings and a couple of futuristic looking classrooms. You'll be pulled into the school with a sense of wanderlust. You'll spend minutes gazing at the chemistry labs behind the glass on the third floor. You'll watch the old white-haired professors in awe as they take the stairs to the fourth floor. The school pulsates, a place where technology is alive, competitive. A feeling that you are close to someplace that would take you to the future. They way the professors talk, the way the students discuss things. Innovation. All of it just seems so unreal. But don't get caught up in your own imagination. The coursework will be difficult. You will stay up every other night, typing and researching away. It will take hours to do a single math homework. Back and forth, the route to the tutoring center will become ingrained in your brain. You'll eat chocolate before your exams to stay awake. Getting here is easy. Surviving takes willpower.

Michael

Study hard. Take your time with friends over the summer because you dont know how much you will miss them during the school your when you leave to New York. Find friends quickly because it sucks being alone, even though you think your used to it. The city isn't as fun as everyone says it is. Unless you wan't to drink and party there really isn't any cheap entertainment. I can't stress how important it is to study. This is your future work and job, this stuff matters for your career it's not just some High School stupid class that doesn't matter. Do your best in all your classes. Studyy from many different notes, form study groups, and the professer for help, and go to the tuttoring center often.

julian

This school will be the most challenging work thus far in your life. You have to be dedicated from the very start and sometime you must choose your battles. Studying for 6 finals in one week for engineering is challenging, you have to asses your position in the class thus far and sometime chose to dedicate more time then others.

Sharon

Listen, self, follow your dreams and not anyone else's. Go to college right out of high school because life goes by fast. Even if you don't have a major right away you are still headed in the right direction. Get your career started and possibly over before you think about having a family. Don't ever give up on your dreams. You can do it, self, and don't let anyone make you feel like you can't.

Angelo

I left high school with the impression that I was intelligent and didn't need to work very hard to get the grades that I wanted. I also had little drive or ambition since things came easily to me, and I never was shown the gravity of my situation. I came to Poly and was blown away, embarrassed by the attitude I had going in to college. I was surrounded by modest but incredibly talented peers who had proven themselves time and time again. I felt like they were leagues ahead of me already, rendering me relatively inadequate. I realized quite early on that I needed to change my work ethic, but I was already worried that I was a little too late. I felt that I lacked a lot of prerequisite knowledge and experience that would have made college more manageable. I would tell my high school senior self to use that year and that summer before college to prepare myself for what's to come, and then to make full use of the early classes to maintain a presentable GPA.

Christine

High School me, you may academically succeed now because you’re a fast learner and high school doesn’t challenge you enough, but never underestimate the iron fist of college, especially since you’re paying to go there! There’s no need to study 24/7, but it never hurts to pick up a book during your spare time and to look up a forgotten term, who this innovator was, or recall how mind blowing physics can be. You’re never lose when you’re trying to recall a forgotten memory or if you’re trying to strengthen your own background knowledge. Read things that are more important to your future, and the future of mankind, instead of spending your time playing flash games on Kongregate or watching a reality show. Sure, those things do help you escape from the norm of daily life, but you need to keep on top of everything if you ever want to be an incredible person!

belia

Take it slow you are in no hurry to finish your college education, it has taken me thrity years to return to school. I started back in 1979 on and off stood out for many years. So I decieded to return to school after a long illness. I returned to school in 2010 as a part time student taking slow I now need seven classes to graduate with aLiberal Arts and sciences with emphasis in commucations.

Rakinur

If I could go back to my senior year of high school, I would tell myself to stop with playing too much video games and take the AP Calculas class more seriously. Also I would tell myself to not drop the Gaming course so I could have a free period to hang out with my friends. Also I would telly myself to take the AP English and Bio course to just be a head in college and getting use to the work load people faces in college. I will also like to tell my past me to, study for SAT harder and take the SAT again. Lastly I would tell myself to keep in touch with your close high school friends, no matter how busy you are in college.

KEVIN

Keep doing what you really want to do, and don't give up on trying to get it done as soon as possible. The only limitations as to what and how much you can accomplish are self imposed. The infrastructure exists, so go out and use it to become the best student you can, and learn as much as you can. But don't forget the things that keep you sane. Go out and dance as much as you can. Keep your friends close, especially around finals time. Don't be afraid to go out and make friends with people you never thought you'd get along with. And make sure that you take as many humanities classes as you can. They will help keep you grounded and will introduce you to people who will think you are crazy for loving math and science and who will talk about Shakespeare and Mozart the way you talk about two link robot arms. Most importantly of all, do the things that make you happy. Love well, eat well, live long and prosper.

Gabriel

Already having one year completed in college, I sometimes think about all the things that I could not do back in high school and that I should have done. If I could have done these things, my college experience would have been different. Looking back at my high school years, the first thing that I would tell myself is to take more honors and Advance Placement courses. I did not take many of these courses because I was afraid they would be too hard. This would have helped get a better G.P.A. and also get better prepared in taking college level courses. Back in high school, I was afraid of taking some AP courses like Calculus AB/BC and Physics C. I thought they were something I would never get, but once I took them, I feel that I wasted time in high school by not taking them. Another thing I would tell myself would be to be enrolled in more extracurricular activities, building up my resume and helping me be involved with others. The last thing I would tell myself would have to be to apply to more scholarships. I would have earned some money for college.

Dustin

When deciding where to go think long and hard, because the place you may think you want to go might actually not be the best place for you. You grew up in a small town, so the city is going to be a huge culture shock for you. Also, don’t make your decision based on a girl, it is quite possible the dumbest thing you will ever do in your life. You’re 18 and I know that you love her and want to be with her, but college changes people. In order for both of you to be able to grow and become your own person, you will most likely have to cut ties. Staying together when you grow in different directions will only hurt both of you way more than anything else ever could. Finally, make sure you pick a place that you can afford to have fun at. If you have no money to spend your college experience is going to be miserable. These years are all about having the time of your life and making friends and stories that will last forever; which sadly, is a lot harder when you don’t have any money.

Tonisha

The Big Apple is a city notorious for giving newbies a swift kick in the you know what. After the six hour drive on the road, I had no clue what I was truly in for. Later, I can quickly saw how it may be the most important life lesson I will ever have. Transitioning from cornfields to skyscrapers is scary but simultaneously exciting, no matter how old you are. Let that move collide with the time you leave for college and catastrophe begins; unfortunately, I did not fully prepare myself. I would go back and tell myself, that in senior year, do not procrastinate; really learn about the place that you want to go; the cost of living; transportation and determine whether that place is the perfect match for you. I did not have the realist perspective I should have had, but Manhattan injected the huge dose I needed to keep me focused and driven so I can make dreams my reality. Real life begins the moment you step on campus and you must be ready to face and overcome every challenge with strength and without your parents. Finally, I realized New York is the perfect match for me.

Mei

Apply to as many scholarships as tiem permits. Once you're at the college student level, there will be less scholarships available to you.

Aeron

Hey. You. You’re probably thinking: “Who is this person? Why does he look like me?” That’s not important. Just listen to what I’m about to tell you. When you see how these tips make your life so much easier, you’ll be thanking me later. First, you learn better by doing rather than seeing. Therefore, review material from class, and practice it later; something many people don’t do. By making sure your studying is spaced out, you avoid the stress of last minute work. Seeing as you do this a lot; starting your work early and concisely guarantees you’ll come out on top. Understanding these principles, school work becomes a breeze. Also, one more thing, since food and money are very important to you; learning to cook kills two birds with one stone. Don’t worry, change for the better is a good thing. If I can do it, I have a feeling you can too. If any of this confuses you, just take everything step by step. Having a plan is better than having no plan. If there was ever a time to change, it's now. Hopefully you'll be a better me.

Harmony

I have gotten the best experience of my life. I have recieved so much knowledge so far that I don't think my brain is capable of holding the rest. I know when I have finished with school I will have the skills that I need to do what I love and be able to make a better life for my son.

TANDEEP

I BELEIVE THAT I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS FROM THIS COLLEGE WHICH IS ENOUGH FOR MY BRIGHT CAREER

Suresh

If I had an opportunity to go back, I would never think about serious relationships. Because It can hurt the final grade of important regents. I got hurt in my AP Calculus BC exam. If I was not in relationship I would get better grade in the exam therefore I didn't have to take Calculus class in the college.

Sumanth

Take GRE perfectly and apply for universities

Llubomir

Do better on the SATs.

Jessica

Don't become a transfer student. Life is so much easier when you pick the right college in the first place, instead of picking the wrong college and switching over to the right college. Sure, you'll be happy that you got into your beloved school, but miserable because your credits won't transfer, your grades won't matter, you won't even know what academic year you're in, and that 3.6 gpa you worked so hard to achieve will mean next to nothing. SO! Do yourself a favor and go to Polytechnic first instead of second, please.

SUMANTH

Study well and work hard.

Kevin

I would tell myself to cut down on the partying, because thats exactly what college is for (outside of study). I also would tell myself to push myself harder to get accepted into a different University. Although going to a school of NYU is fun, i feel like maybe i could of done better in the west coast. However, that is not within my budget. I would also tell myself that the better college you get accepted to, the better friends you will make. Finally i would tell myself to change some bad habits that i had in high school.

Oranette

Make sure to attend the school based on the environment, academics and financial aid. Also, make sure to be passionate about your major and and focus on the main goals that have a prize involved. Lastly, always do your best.

Elvira

The student should think about what they want to choose as their career path. It is a good idea to take tests which evaluate students' personality traits along with their interests to get an idea of what professions suit them best. The parents' role is mainly to guide and support as opposed to advise, because this really has to be a student's decision. Visiting different campuses and speaking with students from specific universities will give a better idea of the way the university opperates and the atmosphere on the campus. In choosing the right college the students should consider the major choice and the budget first. It is better to choose a school that is affordable right away than to transfer to a different school later. It is a good idea to apply to as many colleges as you can, than to be stuck with one option. Once a student is accepted, he can further research about the colleges and compare the different financial aid packages. Students should also look into joining specific clubs or organizations to enhance their college life, so it is important to make sure there are certain groups on campus that will satisfy students needs.

Alex

Finding the right college is very important for students and parents. Depending on the students interests and grades, a college can be properly determined. The student has to go to the open campuses and talk with professors and alumni of the university or college. This is to get a feel for what type of life and academic standards are being practiced at the university. The parents need to be aware of the students interest. That is the most important way a parent must help the child. The parent needs to be comfortable with the childes interests. Once that is complete, that parent may aid the child in decision making by also talking to professors and faculty of the university. This is the most optimal way how a student can get the most out of his / her college experience. The student must be aware of what he or she is getting into before hand, Financially and educationally. The student must know his or her morals, and the morals if the university. The student is smart enough after high school to determine if a certain educational criteria is for them or not.

Asad

my advice would be to start going to your college office in your high school and start researching colleges. visit the college campuses to see how the college really is. Making most of college experience depends on you, you might just want to focus on academics or get involved with clubs. I think the student should try out everything and choose from there. Make sure to talk to your professors about anything related to your desired major. Work with the career office at the college to research for internships and jobs. Most of all, enjoy your college life! socialize and dont be afraid to ask fellow students for help. College is a very friendly place so tke advantage of it!

Jia

According to my college experience, to select a right college, I strongly encourage that a student should explore as widely as he/she can to learn more about different fields to help him/her have a better idea of wisely deciding a field in which he/she is interested to study. Selection of a right college should be made based on a student's interest instead of amount of given financial aid, school environment, and so on. In other words, a student should select a college that must offer programs that he/she is interested in. A student goes to college to learn new knowledge. If a student loses all interest in learning because of lack of interested programs offered at school, he/she will be likely to stop attending classes, or eventually withdrawing from school. Apparently, the decision of choosing a college like this is unwise and ill-considered. In addition, a suitable college normally establishes more clubs than unsuitable college that are related a student's interest or major. Students can join any club they like to gain some out-of-class experiences and work on extracurricular projects by applying their knowledge.

Giordano

I would tell them to not expedite the college searching process and allow enough time to find the right college for the student applying, so he or she feels comfortable and welcomed to the community. Tranferring schools is a tedious process that not only takes time, but also money and dedication.

Ricardo

If your not happy somewhere then transfer

reyes

you should consider a college that will enable you to develope your personal skills as well as technical. polytechnic focuses more on he technical side.

Kristina

The advice I would give parents who are helping their children find the right college is to make campus visits, speak to current college students about their experiences, and research online to look for websites that are experts in college searching like princetonreview.com, which is one of many. It is always better to start the search early in order to cover all the aspects one is looking for, like financial aid. And once in college, the advice is to allow their sons/daughters to experience the college life by participating in activities, while trying to maintain a close relationship with them. Although it is tough, it is very important to talk and listen them and make sure they do not get distracted from the real life once tasting what they feel is real freedom. But of course most advices have the word "but" in it and this time it is ... but do not overwhelm them with questions about every nitty gritty detail of their life because at that age, teenagers usually want to feel more independant. In my opinion, the important thing is to let them know that they are loved, cared for, and believed in.