Rochester Institute of Technology Top Questions

Work harder to get a better score on the SAT's, and take more AP classes, to save money in college!

I would tell myself to focus on school and not get sidetracked. The work definitely isnt easy but Its sooo much harder to bring up your GPA than it is to drop it. And I would also tell myself to fully utilize the services available on campus and to get more involved in profession oriented clubs. They look very good on resumes and are actually very fun to be a part of. I would also tell myself to network as much as possible because you meet a lot of amazing people in school and they know a lot of other people and programs that cam help you in the short and long run.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself and not cause some sort of temporal vortex that changes everything as we know it, I think that I would tell myself to focus more on my career and work rather than on pursuing other personal interests. College life, here anyway, can be intense and overwhelming at first if you let it, but you need to keep in mind when things are due and how much you have to do and plan around that rather than planning around personal endeavors and fitting school work in sometime. I think I would tell myself to watch the clock and figure out when you should work, when you should play, and when you should study.

If I go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely teach myself about time management. My college moves very fast and I would definetely be more prepared next time. I would teach myself how to keep track of assignments, make schedules and budget money. I would also make myself apply for more scholarships. I don not think I realize, as much as I do now, that college is a lot of money (but totally worth it). I would also tell myself to let loose a little. I would tell myself that I cannot stress myself out so much. Keeping your cool and being organized in essential in college. I would tell myself that everyone needs a little break now and then. College is a lot of hard work which means a lot of stress. Learning how to manage your stress is key to surviving in the college environment. I would also tell myself to make decisions for myself. I need to do with my life what I want to do, not what others expect me to do. If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would say these things.

My senior year was tough for me but I stayed focused on my homework and class that was my job. But I did it for my future. I've been I should be someone for future career that which I made decision about finding college major. Hopefully, I'm gonna get great job and life after college. That's what I've been thinking about the future. Speak of college, I'm college student for less than a year. Still, I will study for 3 1/2 years in college. I know about college life but I don't want to go to party or get wasted because it's not my job. But I don't care about fun. I'm only the guy who don't care about stupid things. It's nothing than the future. I believe in myself that it can change my life and help me supporting my family. I don't want to be unsure but I'm not sure. I will see if what do I get after college in next 3 1/2 years.

First, I would say bring ear plugs. The first few weeks everyone is a little crazy at night, just because they can be. Second, go outside as much as you can. Once it starts to get windy (which it will, the school is a wind tunnel), you won't want to get out at all. Third, make your friends who are going to nearby schools come see you. The campus is really disorienting, so they won't come just to say hi. Finally, find one group that you can really connect with as soon as possible. Whether it be in a club or just on floor, it is more necessary than you might think. I am still working on it since I didn't socialize much the first couples of weeks. TAke my advice, and don't do that. The first couple of weeks are the most important when it come to who hangs out with you.

You don't know what you are in for. You thought that you actually worked hard in high school - it is nothing like what you are going to experience in your first year of college. You are going to work harder than you ever imagined. The good thing is that you will teach yourself how to really study and learn things. You will be able to use that experience later in life and be successful at your jobs. Enjoy and treasure the friendships that you make - they will last a lifetime. Use your head and be careful in the decisions that you make. Just because you are going to be on your own for the first time, don't go crazy. Be happy and get as much value as you can and use the resources around you. Enjoy! but work hard!

When I entered college last fall, the transition was anything but smooth. I was nervous about meeting new people, worried about how my classes were going to be, and anxious about leaving home for an extended period of time for the first time of my life. During the first few weeks of college I was clueless about how things were going to turn out. I felt like I needed someone to be there to tell me everything was going to turn out okay. But when faced with the question, "What advice would I give myself about the transition to college life," I cannot help but say I would choose not to give myself any advice. The transition into college was a definite learning experience for me. No advice from my future self could replace that. I needed to fight through the anxious feelings on my own and learn how to handle them. These nervous feelings will always occur at times in my adult life: graduation, job interviews, starting a family and actually making big decisions. So I'll take my ticket to the past and go back to the fifth grade, when I didn't need to worry about anything.

Look for good co-op schools and take the SAT's a couple more times. The improved scores make a huge difference.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would insist on getting to know students currently attending the college. It may be hard for individuals to fly 2000 miles to visit a college, so an alternative would be getting to know upperclassmen and see what they say. If I would've known about the awkardness about most of the students here I may have reconsidered my decision on the college. Likewise, I highly suggest seniors get in contact with greek life, sports and any of the curricular organizations that may interest them during their time in college. By doing this, it insures that the senior begins to make connections at colleges in which he may choose, so adapting to college life once you're there will be a lot easier. I'm not sure about other colleges, but greek life at RIT goes against the stereotypical frat guy and we actually care about the community and the enviroment around us.

As a high school senior, I had considered myself to be relatively grounded, realistic about goals and future options, and I was also pretty proud of what I had achieved during my high school years. With a GPA over 4.0 and consistent straight-A grades, I didn't think there was anything that could stand in my way. However, I soon realized upon entering RIT, the competition is far more fierce, and you stand toe-to-toe with other students who hav achieved just as much as you have, if not far more. It's a pretty humbling experience. If I had to go back now and give myself any advice in planning for the future it would be this: Don't think you are alone in your pursuits, and don't mislead yourself in thinking you are the better than anyone else. You can certainly achieve and attain what you set out to, but there are others out there just as deserving as yourself, if not more so. Don't stop dreaming, and dream big, but stay grounded in reality. Budget your time (and your money) wisely, and, above all, be smart and stay true to yourself.

My advice to my High School self would be to not become as hung up as I was on the stress of the change. Also, I would encourage myself to take every opportunity I have a chance to. All senior year, I was intimidated by the aspect of starting over. Would I make the right friends? How would I cope going into a major when only 8{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} is female? As it was, all of these problems found a way of solving themselves. I took part in a summer program hosted by the college, and made a group of friends with very different interests which has buffered my self confidence and allowed me to branch out socially and not be limited by simply making acquaintances in my classes. One thing I regret, however, is not taking part in as many extracurricular activities as I could have. As I am seeing now, doing as much as you can without overwhelming yourself makes you an interesting person, will give you more unique life experiences, and allows you to relate to more individuals. It also wouldn't hurt on those scholarship applications.

Be true to yourself, if you love somthing, pursue it and don't let anyone tell you that it is not good enough. Pursuing your dreams straight out of high school will save you alot of money and heart ache. College is not easy, so stay strong and do not get caught up in all the non-sense outside of the class room. You will meet alot of people so start to realize who is good for you and who is not good for you. In this journey you will need people in your life that has your best interest in heart, you do not need the drama of fake people. You're best friends will be your professors, get to know them, let them know how smart and determined you really are. Professors appriciate hard work and determination, and having them as allies will help you through the school years, and even after you graduate. Networking is important for after graduation, save every e-mail and business card, never burn bridges. And most importantly, love yourself, you are smart, beautiful, hard working and creative, do not let anything or anyone convince you otherwise.

Take the SAT's as many times as I could to get the highest score so I would qualify for more scholarship money because school is so expensive.

Looking back on it now I would tell myself that college would be an amazing experience. I would tell myself that this would be a great time of growing in all aspects of my life. Not only obviously growing mentally through education but also maturing from living on my own. I would tell myself not to worry all that much about the little things, because they will take care of themselves. I also would tell myself that not everything would come as easy as it did in high school and that hard work would be very necessary for success. I would also encourage myself to be more open when meeting new people because I could have meet so many more people then I have already. In addition I would remind myself to stay in touch with my old friends because looking back you realize you loose touch with some people that you really never should. Most importantly I would tell myself to stay close with family because they are your support and singularly responsible for your success.

Time management is by far the most important factor for college life. You are now growing up to be an adult and you must learn all the basic, essential skills as an adult does. You are now independant and you need to learn how to take care of yourself and not depend on others to do your work. You need to learn how to manage your time to do simple activities like homework and some daily chores like washing your clothes and cleaning your room. College work is really intense and planning your time wisely to do homework and study while hanging out with your friends are quite important. Keeping your grades up are very important, but you must also have fun and enjoy life as well. Also, in college, do not put on a persona because that would only hide your true self from others. You should be original and open if you want to be social with other college students. You are not the only one who is nervous about having no friends; many people are on the same boat as you are. So you need to be open to develop friendship.

Relax and take your time. I was upset about having to wait a few semesters before starting my secondary education, but in retrospect, those days flew by and I was better prepared for college because of it. Starting with only a few part-time courses is sometimes a good idea, because you can make sure you do well in those courses while you get used to the college environment and pace. Giving yourself time reduces your stress level, and makes college as a whole a better experience. In the big scheme of things, no one is going to care that it took you four and a half or five years to finish rather than an even four. By the same token, being sure not to overload on activities is a good idea at first. Just choose one club or sport and concentrate on it. Having held offices and established solid references in one or two activities is often better than having a whole list of programs that you were part of nominally but never had time to become a present, active leader in. Above all, choosing a more relaxed pace is the key to enjoying college--the most important thing!

Don't pack so much! College life is not like going camping or being on an extended vacation. Go through the list again and cross off some items. For example, the frisbee. You'll probably get a free frisbee (or six) within the first month of college. Ditto with pens and gum. Don't bring too many clothes, but more than enough underwear is probably a good thing. The essentials? A good pair of walking shoes and an all-weather parka. This will leave more space in the car for your little brother to come on the trip to drop you off at school. Find out what the lighting situation is in your dorm! Dorm rooms already feel small, and you could feel trapped in the dark lion's den without a few good lamps. Bring a few home-y touches, too, like picture frames and mementos. Don't sweat it if you forget something - school stores or local stores usually have what you need, or you can live without a hair dryer for the first semester. Natural drying is better anyway.

Save your money, and take as many community college classes that transfer that you have time for.

I wouldnt tell myself anything because ther transition wasn't hard or stressful at all, infact I find college to be easier then high school.

do what you really want to do in your heart, even if everyone else tells you its not possible. dont let other people dictate your true happiness.

Get involved in the activities on campus and be outgoing to make a lot of friends. Work hard in your classes and try to do the best you can.

I went to college with a eight grade education and paid most of my way through college. During college, I have dealt with heart problems, stomach problems, no financial or emotional support from my family, sleeping in my car, no being able to pay my rent, people judging me, living off of ramen noodles, and wearing flip-flops in november because I wasn't able to afford winter boots. I have learned the last few years, that you have to give up alot to get a college education but in the end it's worth it because you will be able to get a degree and be able to support yourself and provide a future for yourself and that is what being an adult and independent really is. People can take many things away from you in life but they can't take away a degree, they can't take away knowledge. My father said to do something with your life, that you are good at but I learned he wasn't exactly right about that, I have learned to do something that you love because when you do something you love you will make yourself good at it.

I would have not been as worried about getting into a school.

Learn better study habits. They are crucial for college.

If able to go back and speak with my highschool self, I would encourage myself to take more AP classes in highschool so that I could get into more interesting engineering courses sooner. The first few quarters were slightly boring in that most of the material was basic, and could have been learned in highschool AP classes. I also applied only to RIT, I would encourage myself to apply to other engineering schools with similar co-op programs.

I would tell myself that college is easy compared to highschool (I attended a private highschool), and that you are well on your way to getting where you want to go.

Don't fool around with that asian girl (Cathy)!

Pay more attention to school once you get there, and join a sorority sooner. Best thing you would have done.

No matter how many times, how many dfferent ways nor the frequency at which it is told, advice is only capable of preventing, rather than creating. My future-self at the age of twenty would write on the walls surrounding my sixten-year-old self's bed, hoping to draw out the creativity I held onto for fear of the repercussions and consequences of expressing ideas, states and emotions so vulnerable and personal. The message would start off simply,"Create" and in fine print, "physicalize from within yourself the ideas and dreams you hold onto so tightly. If you do not share them, they do not exist" and in even finer print, "one day you will engage in an existentialist course and discover that the reality of circumatances is constantly changing. And when you die, your dreams and ideas die with you unless they are written, illustrated -- somehow communicated/expressed (in a cohesive way). " And maybe as a footnote,"It's difficult to believe in oneself, and confidence is not an absolute," as a validation.

Most importantly, there will be a great change in the way thay you view time. In high school, one spends all day in classes, in a rigid and continous schedule. However, in college, not only will your schedule be entirely your choice, but you will not spend as much time in class. This is a very important change, in that your day to day routine will be difficult to adjust to. As well, it is likely that your schedule will be spread out throughout the day, and it can often be difficult going to class late in the day. Another important factor is how to manage your sleep schedule. There will often be the temptation to pull all-nighters, and unless absolutely necessary you should avoid missing any sleep. If you do not sleep at night, it is guaranteed that you will sleep during the day, likely during class if you are not careful. Out of all the changes that are found at college, management of time is the most important thing that you can learn to do in order to further yourself towards your goals.

Branch out, but don't spread yourself too thin.

I would tell myself to apply to some school in the middle of the United States so I can have the option of not going super far away or super close to home. I would also tell myself to look at the friends you have now in high school and realize that most of these people will not keep in touch with you and most of these people you won't keep in touch in. Make ammends with people so when you leave college, it won't feel that you wasted 4 years of friendship. I would also tell myself that if you go far to college, make sure to call home so you won't get too homesick.

Well I would tell myself, to study hard and get a plan ready before ever graduating. To take electives in highschool that will benefit my future job, and not just get me good grades and out faster. I would warn myself about the injury I got in the army and hope that it worked out differently, that way I wouldnt be here worrying about college money.

If I were to go back in time and talk to my high school senior self I would give a wide range of advice. First I would tell me to not care so much about school rank, and just go with the flow, choose a school that would suit me personally well. Then I would tell me to make up my mind and just choose physics as my major already, and stop flop flopping between stuff. Then I would probably give a short rant at me for a variety of other, random things like slacking off. But then I would get back to the meat of the matter, and tell me (him?) to not worry about the transition to college, since its not bad, and is rather easy. The only difference is you actually have to do the work unlike highschool, since far too many people put too much weight on how difficult college will be, and all the challenges and how different it will be, when in reality it is not that bad. It is similar to high school, but drastically different at the same time, so just go with the flow.

Focus on studies therefore you'll eligable for more finical aid. Apply for every scholarship that comes within reach. Putting forth the effort to fill out numerous scholarships opens the possiblity to obtain more. I would also sugest taking more classes at the community college therefore liberal arts classes would be taken care of and core classes would begin sooner. All this advice would have been helpful but I do not regret any decisions that I've made; my decisions have made me into the person I am today.

Make sure that when you're considering a college you actually visit it first and do a self-discovery kind of tour. Make sure that if you're going to go to a college where you don't know anyone else that you're open to meeting new people and that the college itself hosts some kind of orientation where you will be able to make some friends and at least meet some people before school starts.

Do what you feel is the best thing for you. People can help you with your decisions, but only you can make them. And you will be responsible for thoses decisions. Give everthing a 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and don't give up on anything.

Find a college that you would feel comfortable at and be able to get the best learning experience in your field of study. Start early on financial aid and applying for scholarships.

Take plenty of time in your search. Don't try to see more than two colleges in one weekend because they will all mesh together. Sit in on some classes and get a feel for the atmosphere of the classroom as well as the campus. Feel free to ask students around campus what they think of the school and what their typical activities and work loads are. See if the college has an pre-freshman programs; they are the best way to get acquainted with the school before thousands of freshman come in for orientation all at the same time. Don't room with someone you know from high school. Branch out! College is a wonderful experience and you'll want to meet plenty of new people and try everything you've ever wanted. And then of course, pick your favorite activities and stick to them because there won't be too much spare time with all of that studying.

To make the most of your college experience you always have to follow what you want out of life, even if its not what was exactly in the plans. A lot can change over the course of your first year of school, so its so important to stay true to what you've carried with you through growing up and use those lessons you've learned along the way to get you to where you are today. Try not to stress about the financial debt of college, because everyone has to deal with it also and don't let the worry of loans influence your desicions of where you want to go.

A prospective student must be sure that he really likes the campus before he or she decides to go there. It's not all about the college's name. The student must be comforable there both socialy and academically. Having both these things balanced with each other will lead to a great college life. The college shpuld have the academic resources that would help a student. Also there must a variety of extra caricluar activities on campus for the student to enjoy.

There are millions of pages in books and online devoted to parents and students involved in the college search process. Many of them have their own unique theories and rules. While these sources likely give reputable advice, in the end choosing the right college seems like a daunting task. I suggest to all parents and students out there to ignore demographics. Find the schools that offer the programs you want. From then on it?s all about visiting them, you won?t recognize the right college from a poster or a website. However the minute you walk on the campus football field or computer lab, you will be able to visualize yourself spending the four most important years of your life right there. From that point on it?s all about making the most out of your college experience. The minute you get on campus start networking, you will quickly find that no one can brave the college course alone; you will need friends, family, and faculty to keep you on course and focused. Finally, learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.

Find a college that sounds good for you not only on the major and reputation but on the extra activities or sports. Put yourself out there and talk with as many people as you can. Be social and try new things. College is about learning and growing which can't be done by staying in your bubble. If your not learning something new and trying something new everyday your waisting your time.

Dear college applicant, Before you apply to too many schools, think about it. Which ones would you not go to, even if you were accepted? Look at the campus pictures, or even the campus itself. Look at the classes - do you like the way any of them sound? If not, then you don't need to send an application. If you want to have a safety school, make sure it's a place that's relevant to your interests. If you want to go into engineering, don't apply to an art safety school. Talk to your parents, but remember, this is YOUR choice. You're going to be the one who has to study there, not them. Parents - respect your child's decision, but make sure to tell them what you REALLY think. Don't worry too much about the name of a school, look at the names of the companies who work with it. Most importantly, try to decide: what do you want to do? Who offers you the most opportunity to do it? Do you want to be there? I know it's hard, but you can do it! Good luck!

My advice is do not come to college with preconceptions, everyones college experience is different. Even if you decide to go to a college that a family member attended, your experience will be different. Do not think college is anything like the movies, it is not. I recommend not going to college with a lot of friends from high school. As a student that went to a college that none of my high school friends are attending I have met a very large variety of people and I have made a lot of new friends. I have a sibling that went to college with his whole group of friends and he regrets his decision, because he has not met many new people. A good way to meet new people if you do go with high school friends do not be a roommate with them. Do not be afraid of change; change of ideas, change of personality, change of major; change in friends. The biggest change to be open to is changing majors about fifty percent of college freshman change majors at least once. College is more than a career learning experience it is also a life learning experience.

Get help!

I really feel that the first step toward finding the right college is for a student to know what career they want to pursue. However, the variety of careers is so vast that choosing one is easier said than done. When a student is not necessarily certain upon high school graduation what they want to do, I feel that starting at a local, highly accredited community college is very beneficial. Benefits of starting at a community college include: student being able to live at home and not having to worry about cost of housing, lower tuition costs, being able to get started on general education credits that should transfer, allowing the student to get more of a feel for their major without having to worry about wasting a large sum of money, and allowing the student to bypass manditory dorm housing freshman year. The second step would simply be finding a four-year college. The school chosen should be one that will accept a good portion of the student?s community college credits (which works better if an Associate degree is completed at the community college first) and one that offers a good program for the student's chosen major.

Visiting the school is one of the most important things. While at the school, it is also very important to talk to some of the professors and especially sophomores or juniors to get a student's perspective of what goes on in that school. Generally, your initial impressions tend to be incorrect as you continue your stay as a student. GO VISIT AND TALK WITH PEOPLE!

Visit the campus, ask questions, and check out the surrounding area.