Rutgers University-New Brunswick Top Questions

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

Lisa

I would tell myself to not make rash decisions, and to keep an open mind to different exposures and opportunities

Yonggyu

Study more about the college you are intending to go

Tiffany

I would urge myself to trust my ability to make good decisions. Yes, there will be an adjustment period in the workload; however, I would reassure my high-school self that I am well equipped for this work. Everything you've done will help you in what you still have yet to do. Don't fear. You can do this.

Brad

Dear High School Brad, Any advice I try to tell you will go unheard and unfelt until you are ready. My words will be left floating in the frabric of the universe, waiting ever so patiently to be acted upon. So live, make your mistakes, feel the hard ships of lost and failure. Prepare yourself to be tested intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Build your life on a foundation of morals that can never been broken: honesty, integrity, and courage. Remember, in order to keep what you have you must be willing to give it away. So, love whole heartedly and live selflessly. Your rewards in life are in direct proportion to your contribution to others, your service work. When your ready to live within the universe, your God, your family, and your mentors will be by your side in times of quiet desperation. You can and will rely on them for direction and strength. Best, More Life Experience Brad

Kaitlyn

As much as people and teachers in high school tell you that they are preparing you for college, you will never be ready. That may scare some students but it is how life works. You never really know what college entails when entering it. The work ethic is very much different and it is all overwhelming. Don't try to take it all in one shot because you will lose yourself in it all. Don't know what you want to major in or be? Do not worry about it. College is your time to explore the many different options your school has to offer and you have your whole life to figure it out. Make decisions and make mistakes. That is what college is all for; to fiigure who you are and what you want to become. Just take it one step at a time.

Sohyun

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to take more elective classes to get a feel for what I would like to do later in life. Throughout high school, I took numerous AP and Honors classes -more than I now realize that I needed. While doing well in difficult classes in school was satisfying in its own right, it was also terribly mundane. As a collage student, I now realize that high school GPAs and SAT scores do not matter nor define a student in the long term. Likewise, while numerous AP credits look nice on paper, it does not carry the weight that I expected it to in my college carrier; it is definitely possible to graduate, even with multiple majors, on time without AP credit. While I would not say that I wasted my time in high school, I definitely wish I had spent more time to learn more about my personal likes and dislikes. Thus, I would tell my high school self to take it easy and get a feel for what I wanted to do in the future.

Qian

If I can go back and tell my high school self anything, I would tell her to be open minded and always give her best. You must keep an open mind, not only for the sake of being accepting towards others, but also to allow yourself to develop interests that you may not know you have. There will be new and exciting things that you will be exposed to. So you should always follow your intrests to see what new doors and opportunities will open. In addition to trying new things, you should give every semester your best try. Sometimes future plans change and you never want to regret slacking off in class that you may later need. Time is money and college is pretty pricey. Other than that, always remember to have fun because these will be the best four years of your life.

Erin

I would tell myself to choose a smaller school. I would choose a school with trimesters, so that i could plan out my major more accordingly and do harder classes with less difficult classes. The trimester system also allows students to not feel rushed and gives students time to do things that can have huge impacts on their lives, like study abroad. Another perk about trimesters is that when a student changes their major (like many do), trimesters offer the student plenty of time to take classes and not graduate late. I would suggest that i go down south to school where the education is just as good but the school's cost is cheaper. I would also stress that i really research and try to figure out what i want to do with my life. I would tell myself to go out and try new things, to stop worrying about how you appear to others, and just do your best because this is your life.

Savannah

Plan for what is not planned. So many mistakes have happened, things not transferring in a timely manner, or as they were said to have been, causing more problems upon more problems. All are solvable, and manageable, only because initial planning has gone into the stages of getting yourself ready for, and into college, but, issues come up, this will always be the case. You always hear from others about their problems, and you think they could not possibly happen to you, thought has been put into your plans, organized steps have been followed, but things have a way of going awry. My past self should understand this, and even understand that, it is not a fault of character, there are always things out of your hands, but she should also know that, her actions and responses have been wonderful, and the journey has not been halted. Plan for what is not planned always, because it helps with conscious, and sanctity of mind, not because you fear you will fall up short. Plan for what is not planned, because, the journey to college and life beyond, is a journey for knowledge, and it is alright to not know everything, yet.

Nick

Maintaining unblemished academics was always my top priority in high school. I graduated with a 4.296 GPA - something that I'm extremely proud of. I followed the rules, studied, took Advanced Placement courses, and achieved honor roll every semester. As senior year and my high school career began to wind down, I fully admit that I did not give the last two months of high school my all. Yes, I maintained my academics. Yes, I attended every class. However, lurking in my closet are my dismal AP scores - all 3's. Rutgers does not accept 3's and therefore, all the hard work that I had put forward, some 12 credits, would not transfer. Throughout my first semester I learned the intensity of real college coursework. I often associated my poor AP scores with failure and constantly questioned if I was "good-enough" for college. It was not about the money and wasted time, it was about the looming sense of failure. Would 12 credits surely ease the transition into Rutgers? Probably. Although I wish I could change my performance on the tests, I concluded that failure is not to be feared - it's a driving force for success.

Stephanie

The very first advice I would begin with is to not go to Fairleigh Dickinson University. It is an absolute waste of your money and time. If you are going to start off somewhere, then begin at Rutgers. Not only will you learn about the type of person you are or you want to become but you will be challanged academically and will meet amazing friends. The type of friends you will meet will not be of the same ethnicity so you will learn about many different cultures there are and recreate your own beliefs and customs the way you see fit. These friends you will meet will help you expand and achieve your goals as they have goals that are similar to your own. I know how nervous you are about whether not you will get into the nursing program, be smart enough for college, or even be able to get around campus, but just know that Rutgers will prepare you for the nursing program. They teach you the lessons and how to complete assignments and if ever you are lost on campus, everyone over there is really nice so you can just ask soemone

Simran

I would tell myself to have prepared more for the specific college I was heading to. I would have maybe spent a few days navigating the campus and getting to know the various aspects of it. At home, I should have looked more into the classes I had hoped to take so that I could better plan for my first semester. Also, if I had transferred my college credits from high school, I could have registered for classes earlier.

Daniel

Let go of now and find your "people." Every moment passes to make way for something greater than what came before. You've got to work at it, but what comes next is better than what you've got now. And a big part of that is finding the right people to push you, challenge you, and help you grow. In high school, you grew your friendships based on proximity, and in some special cases, on common ground. In college, you'll really get to find that common ground and find the people who truly care about the things you care about as well. So know when to let go, because in a year you won't even remember some of the things that feel so important right now. Forge ahead, find those moving forward with you, and build your future. Never let it fall in someone else's hands and never think it's hiding in your past. College is your time to find your people and follow your passion. It's scary and exciting, and leads to great things. Hey, and don't forget to have a ton of fun with it.

Meron

I would tell my high school self to make a list. On one side it should have all the things I like doing, and/or I excel at doing; on the other, the opposite. I would tell my former self to be brave, honest with myself, and be open-minded while conducting this experiment. I would take that list and give myself time to try the things on both sides of the list. I would write down the results of my experiment, add new addendums, and construct a new list for the next year. I would take the things that have favorable results and give myself an additional semester to further explore my likes from my list. I would repeate this process as many times as needed to create a refined list. Whatever academic decision I come down to, I would give myself the next few years to fullly exploit all the oppurtunites attached to it. College life is more than an academic journey. You grow more as a human being in those four years than any time in your life. Be willing to listen and examine differing opnions. Be free, have fun, and have the courage to discover you.

Lana

After being a freshman at university for only a few weeks, I would give myself a lot of advice to make the transition easier. First off, dorm life is an entirely different universe from living with your family. There is so much independence, you're able to stay up however late, eat whatever you want, and study (or not study), whenever you want. With all of this independence, you are directly effected by lack of sleep, getting sick from eating too many cheese fries, or falling behind in your studies. Adopt healthy habits; hit the gym every once in a while or just walk to class. Practice time management, this is the most crucial skill to college success. In high school, there are designated times for class and designated times for study hall. Get used to making the most of each of these times. Practice reading textbooks and taking notes, practice listening to your teachers and taking notes, practice taking notes in your sleep. Most of all, begin to take control and responsibility for the choices you make; and in turn, you will benefit from the right ones.

Kelly

College is a time in your life where you will meet people that will make a permanent impact on you. You will learn about responsibility, about time management, and about everything you will need to know in life. It's not going to be like high school at all. Don't let yourself become unmotivated after you face the car accident your freshman year. You can succeed in life and God will help you along the way. Your family will be there every step of the way. You can do anything you put your mind to and you will get through it. You will pick yourself up from the emotional, physical, and mental wreck you become. You will move forward. College is going to start off wonderful and then spiral down quickly but you will make your way back up. Keep your head high and go into college with good spirits. You're going to make great things out of yourself. Your family, your friends, and God will be there every step of the way. You'll see.

Hanif

I would tell my younger self "You are going to need a tutor. In high school, you almost never asked your teachers or friends for extra help. You always try to do things by yourself and it mostly worked in high school. It won't work in college. Also study more and do not waste time procrastinating. There will be more free time than you are used to handling. Good luck." I did not see the importance of studying in high school. I just reviewed some notes a few nights before tests and always remembered things. There is a lot more information to be retained in college and my younger self definitely wouldn't know what he's getting himself into. I know because I didn't know what to do at first in college.

Patricia L

If I could go back in time from this point of my life to where I was back in high school, I'd have so much advice to give. I would tell myself to find a way to get the money to apply to Rutgers first because I love it now and would've loved it then. I'd probably encourge myself to look much harder at scholarships, so I wouldn't endure years of stress semester after semester due to outstanding balances. I would tell myself to prepare for a world where you will learn and think and grow into the adult you create. Most importantly I'd tell myself to relax and not worry about every single detail because there 's always a bigger picture.

anabel

I would tell my high school senior self to take advantage of all the opportunities presented to her with no fear of making a mistake, failure, or rejection. Take everything head on with an open mind and determination, because the only mistake that you can possibly make is to sit idly and let your fears latch on to you. You have to get out of your comfort zone, and seriously think about what you want, and go after it. If it doesn't work out the first time, that's fine, people stumble sometimes, but you have your whole life ahead of you. So your pride has been hurt for a second, atleast now you are not left wondering what if. In the long run these little stumbles make you a stronger person. So put yourself out there. Let yourself fall sometimes, because in the long run the reward is so much greater.

Akia

"Its not as bad as you think it'll be." I relied on such assertions too much and got my head handed to me. On account of my poor results, I would intimidate my high school self with exaggerated anecdotes of painstaking tribulations I endured. I would tell her of the many long vexatious all-nighters; the studying so hot and intense that it feels the wrinkles of your brain are being ironed into an inept good-for-nothing pancake. Then once the burden of classes has already broken you down enough, facing the bone-breaking task of awaking before the sun has even risen from its slumber to go to a work study job. But hey, at least you'll get to eat the well-renowned Rutgers food as you withstand such experiences. So, no I wouldn't comfort that girl with assuring words. I'd make sure shes a good fighter; a girl that will always keep her hands up in the ring. I'd do this with the intent of the giving the most exceptional preparation possible because as the old adage insists, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Sreya

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to prepare more. I procrastinated a little too much while in high school, and it has taken a heavy turn on me currently at college. Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself to study much more than I have before. Studying is a key point in college, and I got away with barely studying in high school. I would tell myself to stop being so lazy, and go out there and show the world what I'm made of. I wish I had done that earlier. In college, it seems that I am behind many that are my age, and I wish I could have taken the initiative to find out more while I was in high school. Just pure intelligence can only take you so far without the research. Research, activity, volunteering, and involvement-- all keys to success in college. If I had known this earlier, I definitely would be more successful now. Never say never, because knowing this now still can put me ahead. It just would have been better before.

anna

Talk to the girl in the duck hat. Yes this is odd, and piques your interest, but do not ignore her! Do not be afraid to approach people and learn about them. You never know if that person may be your best friend or may be the person who offers you a job a month down the road. Everyone has something to offer and to teach you. We are all products of our environment, a garden of different species all with a purpose that helps the garden as a whole look beautiful. The girl with the duck hat just got a concussion and is trying to protect her sensitivity to light, but when she heals she will bring you on an adventure that keeps on growing. She introduces you to new music, new stores, new ways of thinking and proves to you that out of any situation a positive can come forth to learn from. She teaches you that the present is the best place to live but that dreaming is even greater, for anything can happen. She shows you that college is fun yet serious so laugh at yourself and respect others but always stay focused on your dreams.

Sophia

I wish my younger self had realized the impact of college freshman year on the remaining years of college. I told myself that it would be okay if I did not make too many friends freshman year, there were still so many more years to go. Unfortunately, I did not realize that friends from freshman year carry through the remaining years. Yes, you can still make friends, and, yes, you can be close with those people. But the majority makes their close friends freshman year and sticks with them for the rest of college. So, right from the beginning, when you have the most opportunities for making friends and the most chances for visiting them and living with them, meet and stick with the right people. If they do not have a good influence on you, let them go. If you really like them, try to get closer. Having those friends can make the difference between a bad school year and an enjoyable one. High-school students should realize how important freshman year is for your social life; start college right with the people who can make a positive influence on your life.

Rebecca

Learn to pace yourself and manage your time more wisely. Do not procrastinate and put work off till the last minute. Do not cram for tests because the purpose of school is to learn, not just to take tests. Pacing yourself will help you remember the material better. Take the opportunity to learn and grow, instead of rushing through your work just for the sake of receiving a grade. View your mistakes as chances to not only better yourself as a student, but also as a person. Try your best, but don't stress yourself out to the point that you are unhappy all the time. High school is only a small portion of your life and there is much more to come.

Piotr

Time travel movies are very hit-or-miss; a concept that many fail to interact with is that going into the past can have significant consequences on the future. For this reason, I would refuse to advise my past self, even if just theoretically. My college career so far has been so life-changing that I can’t imagine ever altering it. I am now posed to study abroad and pursue an international career, something that I couldn’t imagine doing before attending college. I made some mistakes in the past two years: not pushing myself to be all I can be, not participating in class and forging bonds with professors, and not taking advantage of all the resources my school has to offer; just some aspects that are crucial to master. However, had I not marched through my own trials and crossed these obstacles for myself, I’d have ended up in a different world. To all future college students, just relax. The best part of your college experience will be discovering how to deal with the challenges that life throws at you. It is up to you to tackle college head-on and carve your own future.

Rachit

The main advice I would give myself is study harder in classes and balance out your social life with it. Time management is a crucial thing in college. Cramming does not really work if you don't know the material that well.

Keeho

Dear High School Self, This letter is from the future you in college. College is in no way how high school teachers and guidance counselors describe it. Yes, college is the gateway to the real life. Yes, if you succeed in college, you will most likely end up getting a job. Unfortunately, there are countless things that I have realized as a college student that truly disapponits me to the core. High school fauculty and staff only somewhat educationally prepare you for college. The do not prepare you mentally at all. High school students usually go into college blind, and find out a lot of these things too late. You have to understand that alot of the courses you learn in high school are, well, completely useless. You will come to realize that high school curriculum should be more geared towards taking courses that will benefit you in college, such as Student Loans 101, or Financial Aid 101; all science and mathematics classes are mandatory with most colleges so make sure to get a good basis on those courses. Unfortunately, this is not something we can just change. But we can warn other students of this to prepare them. Bye

Michael

After completing my first year as an undergraduate at Rutgers University, I've come to realize that the ability to manage time well is definitely one of the most useful characteristics a student can have. The skill of being able to balance school work, extracurricular activities and social life will increase a student's chance of academic success. If I were to go back in time and make sure I developed this trait before attending college I know my freshman GPA would be stronger. Also if I were to go visit my highschool self back in time I would be advised to take more AP classes and attempt to excel in them. If I were to do well on the final exam for these AP classes I would not be required to take some necessary core courses as an undergraduate, allowing me to save time and money. I'm content with the decisons I made during my senior year, but there was definitely things that I could of done differently. With this advice my freshman year would have been more successful.

Gabrielle

I think I would suggest that I take as many college courses as possible if they are available. Lessening the workload at college, giving you the opportunity to enjoy under less stress is a big advantage. I think that I might also look at attending a school in-state so I would avoid having to pay the double tuition out of state students have to pay. There is no reciprocal tuition payment for state schools and that is very difficult to come up with especially with extenuating circumstances within your family makeup.

Carl

Hey Carl, Next year when you go to college, take into heart what your upper-classmen friends say. It really is up to you, your health and your grades. Just because you don't feel like eating doesn't mean you shouldn't, and just because the professor doesn't collect homework anymore doesn't mean you don't have to do it. Keep up with the work or you will go through a lot of stress during finals and midterms, and that stress will have an effect on your health. In high school, if you were sick you would just miss school and the teacher would allow you to make it up. Here, there's nothing like that. No extensions for any reason. Just stay healthy and study hard. Best Regards, Current Carl

Emma

If you’re looking to do more than just survive high school: Cherish every single moment. Honestly. Scream your heart out at football games. Break out your third grade Halloween costume for Spirit Week. Take the time to get ‘lost’ in the hallways. Show off your best moves on the dance floor. Set goals. Never be afraid to try something new, but remember, stand on your own two feet. Be positive about everything. Let the drama roll right off your shoulders. Dare to taste whatever’s on the lunch menu. Walk with confidence through hallways. Laugh at yourself. Expand your circle of friend; save time for family. Find a high school sweetheart. Join every club that grabs your attention even the slightest bit, including community service. Make a difference to make a name for yourself. Listen to what your teachers say after the bell (their individual life lessons will teach you more than any textbook ever could). Live IN AND FOR the moment. And most of all, accept and embrace change with arms wide open. Looking back, my only regret is overlooking the potential within each day. Never get caught up in the “I can’t wait to graduate.”

Kintan

My advice would be plain and simple. Go out first semester and explore every option that college offers you. This was something I lacked in my first semester. I was too hesitant to try new things out and I somewhat always made up and excuse of not being able to join certain groups. This was something I regretted. I always feel swamped with work and I always feel as if I gave up on myself just so I can do well in college. However, something I want to tell my earlier self would be that grades are not as important as happiness. If you make sacrifices solely on attaining a high grade point average, you will feel miserable. You can't fully experience college if you do not choose to get out of your comfort zone. I encourage you to please go and try new things. Go out and join a fraternity that captures your eye. Go try out for an acapella group, and join intramural sports. Do not be afraid of not being good enough. You will always be good enough as long as you put forth your best effort, and try your hardest.

Anh

You’re going screw up in so many creative ways. After your first semester, you’ll realize you did not even know how to begin studying all semester, and that you spent all your energy trying to impress the people who never mattered. You’ll end up with a terrible GPA and you’ll become unhappy. But time shall pass and you’ll become thankful you had your first semester the disastrous way you did. You’ll see yourself change. You’ll stop complaining. You’ll become independent and reliable. You don’t realize it, but you are none of those now. But you will be. You’ll also become persuasive and confident. You’ll see that you're a really good, but really flawed person: you make an excellent friend to others and to yourself, but you are also very assertive. You’ll rock at being an original of whatever I am. My advice is to make all of your mistakes; you’re so stubborn you wouldn’t listen to any of my meaningful advice now anyway. But you’re also so stubborn that you'd never let anything knock you down the same way twice. Embrace yourself.

ashley

dont wait till the last minute to apply for scholarships and college itself.

Christiana

College creates more responsibility, and, compared to life as a high school senior, it will require greater planning, better time management, more commitment, and much dedication. First ask yourself, “What do I really want out of life?” After answering this question, begin setting goals, and making a roadmap that will outline your journey and pathway towards reaching those goals. Also, college coursework is much more intense and requires greater involvement and time management. Therefore, semester, monthly, weekly, and daily planners are of upmost importance. They will keep you focused and give you the ability to adequately study related coursework materials, meet deadlines, be prepared for tests, limit negative stress, and give you the opportunity to have a proper life-school balance. In order be successful in college, you must be committed to reaching your goals and dedicated to the pathways that you have established to reach those goals. You must be willing to say “No” and to resist pressure from people and situations around you that want to distract and hinder you from completing your journey. You must be willing to work hard and do your best regardless of the challenges that you may face.

Billie

Dear High School Me: Don't worry about living so close to home while all of your friends are choosing to go to college out of state. This will be an advangtage, trust me, when you have to pay $1.25 for a small load of laundry at school you'll be glad you can drive home and do it for free. You won't have any "less" of an experience either, so don't stress. You'll find you're group of people here and they will be family. Remember those hobbies you're holding so tightly to now because you think they will be important in college? Don't. Let yourself grown and experience EVERYTHING. If something is giving you bad vibes, leave it alone. If you want to do something, DO IT. Keeping busy here isn't a burden, it's a blessing. Don't be afraid to have fun, it's not all about the grades. Embrace all of the people you meet, they can change your life in more ways than one, enjoy them. Sincerely, future Rutgers Undergraduate you

Jessica

During my first semester of college I endured the worst soul-searching moments of my life. I found myself more desperate than in my high school years, amidst issues with Calculus and my own personal life. I had the brilliant plan to become a vegetarian, after some free vegan Ramen and a magazine advertising PETA, which cited animal abuse. I figured, why not? The vegetarian plan fell in place to alleviate the toll the dining hall played on my figure. However, I was ill-informed on its execution and found my hair falling out, my period having ceased, and weighing twenty pounds underweight. My standing B in Chemistry flitted to a C. My grades drooped during my second exam and then final exams I bombed. Why? A nutritionist told me the cause; I had many moments when I wondered what it was. Without enough fats from butter, oil, or meat I couldn't function right. My fats-deprived brain could not sort through the cacophony of theories and rules in my head. At a certain point, I couldn’t even sleep. My great sage advice is: eat right and seek help when you can’t deal with your own anxiety.

Edward

If there was any advice I would give myself it would be to grow and actually make a commitment towards your education. Parties aren't everything and girls aren't everything. Your education is what's going to put the food on the table and you're not going to become rich or famous by just sitting around all day and doing nothing. You have to actively seek success and if you assume that everything will be handed to you on a golden platter you will be sorely mistaken. Rework the way you do things. Do your assignments well ahead of time and try and get a good nights sleep every night; it keeps your skin smoother but it also gives you the energy to go to class. Also make sure you go to class because you are spending 35$ for each lecture whether you attend it or not. Don't let the temporary stuff drag you away from your long term goals. You can make it.

Aaliyah

I step into the time machine, already knowing what I need to tell myself. The words are engraved in my brain; the stories they tell, are some of my biggest regrets, and reversing time would be the only way that I can refrain from the ignorance of not knowing how to prepare for my future. But what year should I go back to? I punch in the numbers 2-0-0-9. I look at ninth grade me. “Prepare for college now. Money does not fall out of the sky, and neither do grants and scholarships.” I pause making sure that those important words seek in, because they would prove to be the biggest hurdles to jump over. “Learn to study. Don’t take it for granted that learning comes easily. Go to math tutors and review your notes, because you know it’s your hardest subject and there is no pride in not challenging that stigma. Organize, because being junky will lead to being ill equipped. Do not procrastinate, because it will become a habit. And remember you own your life and you alone can choose what you want to be.” After that, I would return to the present.

Keyong

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell him to start working unconditionally hard in every assignment that is given. I would want him to get used to always being the best possible because at college, there are no second chances. A "B+" and an "A" seem so close but are so far away when on the transcript. However, most importantly, I would tell him to stop being anxious when talking to new people because in the end, he will regret not being able to talk to geniunely good people and befriending them. I would make sure he takes this seriously by letting him know that in college, there are amazing people everywhere and if you miss that one little opportunity to talk to them, you miss an opportunity of a lifetime. These people aren't just potential buddies to hang out with. They are people that can and will give you opportunities for success, support when you need it, and most importantly, love. You truly come to cherish the geniunely good people the older you get, and I would let him know that.

Chelsea

Females are raised to follow rules, to agree and make nice with people. We are raised to read people’s emotions and respond appropriately. We are taught to do things in a convenient matter and to always put the needs of others above ourselves. If I could tell my high school self one thing, I would tell myself to change my attitude. I would challenge rules and not stress about making nice with people who weren’t nice to others. I would live unafraid. I would travel alone without constantly fearing what could happen. I would strive for jobs that I formerly deemed “out of my league”. I would befriend whoever I wanted, not who I thought would be an appropriate friend given the circumstances. I would never be afraid to open my mouth if what I had to say was the truth. I would go to trade school and learn about the jobs that others defined as “a man’s work”. I would not apologize for being powerful, for being tough, or for being strict. I wouldn’t worry about meeting someone else’s definition of beauty.

Angela

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd say "Don't accept the marketing your peers tell you about college. Yes, it's a time to figure out, through very real trial-and-error, who you are. Yes, you will probably end up changing your intended career path fifty times before you graduate. But that does not mean to go looking for trouble because it looks glamorous and everything happens for a reason, and it doesn’t mean you have time to ‘put it off.’ The most important advice I can give you right now, before you’re thrust into a strange, new world, is to search for your inner strength. There are such things as regrets and epiphanies. You're naïve, but you're bright-eyed and enthusiastic to learn. Take these next four years for yourself, and put faith in God that He will give you nothing you cannot overcome, and do not compromise your worth for anyone, ever."

Michelle

College is an incredible experience. It provides more freedom than high school permitted. The most important thing is to start with an open mind. College is a time to meet all sorts of different people. It is vital to give everyone a chance and try new things. Often times, students try something new and learn they love it. Therefore, new students should get involved on campus- join a club, volunteer, pledge a frat- just do something. Open up and give everyone and everything a chance.

Patricia

If I knew then what I know now I would've disregarded the adults who dictated my existence; the adults who meticulously planned my future yet asked what I wanted to be just so they could persecute my dreams as they did me. To high school Patricia, if you were born without wings, don't prevent them from growing. I want to tell you that this sense of self loathing that's got you juggling agoraphobia and anxiety is going to swallow you whole so brace yourself for the worst. You are going to suffer a horrifying freshman year in college both academically and subjectively. It'll scar you but you'll survive what is yet to come if you think of it as an experiment going horribly wrong in order to ultimately save you from yourself. You are as resilient as an oyster in the process of making a pearl and that's the beauty of your existence. Be strong. Smash the things you think you have to be start living. Yes, change is very frightful but if you don't demand more of yourself then you'll never know the infinite possibilities that are awaiting your discovery.

Jillian

You are not going to like everybody. College is a time to make lasting impressions and lifelong friends. With that being said, you won't get along with everyone, and thats okay. As I left my best friends at home for college, I believed college was going to be my new start. Freshman year you get thrown on a dorm floor with 50 girls and boys, and its like releasing you into the wild. Those 50 people come from all different walks of life, which makes it almost impossible to understand and accept everybody. Living in the bubble of cherry hill my whole life, I was naive to the rest of the world and what surrounded it. My biggest advice would be, don't try to change those around you, just accept who they are and work on bettering yourself. You may not like them, but figuring out who you are, and your purpose in life is far more of an importance than dealing with people that are wasting your time.

Santoria

If it were possible for to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have informed myself about the importance of having a job while attending school full time. During my senior year I worked my first part-time job. Though I was taught the true value of money I still used the majority for my own personal use. I did however realize that some of each paycheck would enable me to pay for textbooks and other essentials, thus helping my parents. However, when I was offered work study I overlooked it; I felt working and taking classes would negatively affect my GPA and I wanted my free time. Once I formed a routine in school, I realized just how much free time I had; free time that could have gone to good use with a job. With the money from an on campus job, I would have been able to save money for the next coming years' essentials and assist my parents in paying for my education. Now I know better and intend to do better, but I still wish I could inform my high school self of this new found knowledge.

Yheison

As time passes by, I realized that there are things that I should've done in my first years in college. If I could go back in time and be able to see myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to enjoy college as much as possible without forgetting, of course, the importance of studying. During my first two years of college, I didn't involve in college activities as much as I wanted because I dedicated some of my time working a full-time job in order to earn some extra money for college. Another thing I could say is that I should try to join some clubs related to what I'm interested in such as economics, political science and international relations from the beginning. Being part of academic clubs during my first year of college could've helped me to meet new people that have the same interests as me and that I should keep in touch with after college. Even though I'm going to do all of these things now that I'm getting transfer to a four-year university, it would've been better to experience them from the beginning.

Amber

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have changed a few things. I would have taken things more seriously instead of just trying to get through high school as quick as I could to graduate. I would have paid a lot more attention in my human anatomy class that I took my senior year because that would be helpful to me now since I plan on becoming a nurse. I would also have taken more math and science classes to help me now in college. I only had four classes during my senior year and I was just excited to get out of school and go home. I should have taken things more seriously. I would have also gotten more involved in school instead of just sitting back and being the new kid in town. I would have participated in some sports because I would be more fit today too.

Kate

You will not be, at 26, what you thought you would be. You won't be married, you won't have a "big girl job." You will be single, living in Virginia and working on your doctoral degree. Thats right. Your DOCTORATE. You will be crawling around in the grass looking for weeds and evaluating herbicides. You (and a few others) will be responsible for figuring out how a new herbicide works inside the target plant. You will travel the world in the name of science. You will become so much more than you ever dreamed. It won't be easy. You'll feel like you should give up. But you won't. You can't. Knowing you can be a steward for the herbicide industry keeps you going. Helping the golf industry, homeowners and lawn care operators work more efficiently keeps you going. Knowing that you will win awards for presentations and serve on exectutive boards keeps you going. Just know, you WILL be a success. You won't blend into the background. You were born to be a great scientist. It won't be the kind you thought, but it'll be better than you can imagine!

Rosette

The advice I would give to my self as a high school senior would be to focus more on school than anything else. To get involved in the univeristy as much as possible because that is what will help you get career opportunities later on.