Southern Polytechnic State University Top Questions

Dear high school senior, college is a very important yet easy step to take on. The college you choose is important to your success at receiving your sought of degree. You must not panic or stress yourself because you can get help easy. If you can you should attend college fairs and try to visit as much colleges as possible to see which one is right for you. It is vital that you plan according and have a plan to go by because it will really help. As a student you should know that your not the only one feeling the way you do, there are other students out there too. You can achieve something and be something in life by going to college. College is like an extended 4 years of high school so it will be ok and just kow that at the end of those fours your long awaited dream begins.

Dear self, Here are some pointers for your future. Transitioning to college life can be quite difficult and it is easy to take your first year for granted. Staying focused and keeping your grades up is very important because recovering a low GPA can prove very challenging. Try to balance your social life with schoolwork from the very beginning in order to avoid a more challenging transition later on. There are a lot more responsibilities and freedoms that come with college life and finding the making the right choices can be very difficult. Make sure you utilize every resource your school has to offer to the fullest extent because you are paying for it! Also if your are working and going to school make sure you balance school and work with school being the most important. Make sure when the time is appropriate you try to get an externship or internship because in our trying economy work experience is key to getting into your industry. Most importantly never give up or give in no matter how tough things may become because your future is bright and you are capable of whatever you set your mind on.

The transition from high school to college is pretty simple. Know exactly what you want to do with your career. Don't hesitate to take advantage of any oppurtunity that comes up in your field. Study hard with every chance you get and don't let up. Get in good with your professors, they will help you in the future. Join as many student organizations as you can not to hinder any time you need in your studies. Try and get out of school in the quickest fashion so you can jumpstart your career.

I would advice myself to take all my classes very serious, and also take a lot of classes that are transferable. Another advice would be to change the mindset into a more studious one, rather than a party one. There is a place and time for everything. It is not an easy road but it can be done, and the benefits are great.

Put more into your homework now because you will be doing a lot more writing in college. Don't slack off because you will suffer in college if you become a procrastinator in highschool. Instead of waiting till you are 24 go to college right away. Apply for scholarships figure out a way to go to college. If you end up not liking college then try the online program.

If I could go back in time I would give myself two important pieces of advice. The first one would be to give my younger advice on finding a major and career path that best fits me. It took me a while to figure out what I really wanted to study. To do this I would have learn more about the possible majors as well as go and explore to know myself better. That will be a great way to figure out what is best for my future. Though I feel that I have accomplished picking what’s best for me now it took me a while to get there. So I would try and help myself focus on that important aspect. Lastly, I would give myself the advice to not sweat the small things. If you stay dedicated to what you really want it will work out.

I wouldn't change anything about it. I've always been a structured and organized person. That is the key to studying and for coping with a rigorous and hectic schedule. Th transition from high school to college can be overwhelming, but you have to stay disciplined and focused on the task at hand and look at the big picture of what the end goal is that you want to accomplish.

Choosing the right college is probably one of the most important decisions you'll make as a high school student. There are so many more choices now than there were twenty, even ten, years ago; so it's important that the decision is made wisely. The most important thing to consider is time. In order to make the best decision, it should be considered for longer than two months. The decision should be made based on who you are as a person in that particular moment in time, not who you think you're going to be a year down the road. Don't do what I did and make the decision based on what everyone else will think. Make the decision for what you'll think about yourself. Do it for who you want to be after you graduate and make the decision for the type of person you want to be in life. Only then will the perfect college will be waiting for you.

Most people say that your junior year is the most crucial and critical when it comes to colleges. I think that applies to seniors as well. The advice that I would give myself if I could go back in time as a high school senior is to study more and take my education for seriously. Most of what you learn your senior year and advice that you get from your teachers keeps in and transitions into college life immediately. Study techniques, Communication skills and bonds with friends that'll last a lifetime.

Pay more attention in classes that might involve your major. Learn how to study, so when you have those first tests you aren't freaking out. Make friends and hang out when you have free time. Join organizations and get involved on campus. PLay intermural sports, and enjoy the college atmosphere. And most of all don't procrastinate when you have a test to study for or a project to get done.

Keep a level head on your shoulders and discuss your dreams and goals with your parents. Stay at home while attending classes if at all possible. Have fun and study hard to become what you want!

The transition from high school to college is definitely a difficult task an individual in today's world must face. Figuring out which major to declare could possibly be one of the harder decisions that you will face. It’s important to not panic and take your time in deciding which major is right for you. The reason is because whatever major you finally decide on will control which colleges you apply for. Once you get accepted to a college, there is just one more hurdle you must clear first. This would include adjusting to your new life away from home and making new friends. Making friends can make this whole transition process easier and more enjoyable. This is not saying spend all your time making friends and none studying or doing homework, but balance the two. Learning to network is a huge part of college, so become involved on campus and join some academic clubs. These academic clubs are a great way to meet people that have the same passion towards school as you. The best advice is to stay positive and keep focus on not just becoming a college graduate, but becoming a more skilled and knowledgeable individual.

I would advise my high school self to take as many advanced placement classes as possible. These types of classes can prepare you for college. I would also have studied even more. However, I am quite pleased with how I turned out and the university that I am attending. I tried my best throughout high school and have been able to maintain HOPE Scholarship to this point. I would mainly just try to tell myself to be whatever you want to be. If you try hard enough anything is possible.

I would tell him to start studying now. You will have loads of free time that you will waste because you don't know how to study properly. You need to buckle down now! You need to get into good study habits before it is critical that you have them. If you don't learn how to study you will have a very hard time throughout school untill you do.

I would have told myself to be prepared for a challenging experience. High school can be tough, but college is something you really have to put 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} effort into. You can not procrastinate when it comes to projects and papers. You really have to learn all you can about what you're being tested about, because your professors won't just give you the answers. I never really had to study much in high school, but in college, I study at least four times a week. I also would have told myself to make sure I read the material we're going over in class to stay on top of things. The transition into college was fairly easy for me because I knew going into college I wanted to get all I could out of the experience, so I go to class everyday, and I make sure I am aware of what we are learning. The last thing I would have told myself would be to start saving your money now, because books are more expensive than I ever prepared myself for.

"Ok, suck it up, I know you're deathly afraid of money and debt due to growing up in a very poor household with both of your parents not having a formal education and neither being able to help you financially, but you need to get out of retail. You are too smart, dedicated, self-motivated, passionate and an over all well rounded awesome individual to waste such potential in the customer service feild! I know you love to help people into a more natural way of living, food and nutrition wise, but just think of what you could do with an education helping the planet, which in turn will provide all life with a more sustainable way to live. You're happiest in nature, you're not happy caged in grocery retail. So why not share your love and passion for an over all better way of living. With your love of nature, your hard work and dedication to the cause will go a long way. 'Mother Nature' needs more beings like you on her side so go out and use that potential you have stored inside of you to do so. Everything will work out in time."

If I could tell my high school self advice it would be to keep all my chemistry notes, save money for groceries/expenses, and to just prepare mentally. I would tell myself to try to avoid the foreign porfessors because they are difficult to understand. Chemistry is way harder now that I can not understand my professor. I would tell myself to save as much as I can because groceries run out very quickly! Life of a college student is hard because I am basically on my own now. The transition from high school to college is easy but hard because things tend to pile up if I do not keep my priorities straight. Finally I would tell myself to prepare mentally because there are tons of things that can drift my focus away from school work. If I do not come in with a mind set for work then it will be increasingly difficult. All work now and play later is the most important thing I would try to tell myself because on that basis things will always go smoothly.

If I could go back, I would take my senior year and that summer to make sure that I knew myself as well as possible. It is important to know yourself, so that one could make choices such as, what time to schedule my classes? Am I a morning person or a night person? How much work am I really willing to put in? Should I be full time or a part time student? I would also have made a year by year plan, both socially and academically. Try to figure out how I would balance those two parts of my life. I would have talked to more adults and other college students about advice as I transition to a college student.

If I could back in time and talk to my high school self. I would tell myself do not be scared, do not procrastinate, also apply your self because you will be the future of this world, no matter what you do, just make sure you do it to the best of your ability. Then I would say believe you will thank me later.

I would advise myself to go straight into college. I waited three years before deciding to further my education. If i had the chanceto talk to myself in 2009 I would make a point to emphasize how important school actually is and how much farther it can take you in life.

If I could go back to high school, senior year, I would convince myself that college is going to be a great, one time experience, full of benefits that will help me throughout not only my career, but my life. Scared, worried and alone going into college, I really wasn't sure what to expect from the classes, the teachers, or the workload. Everything was new to me, nothing was familiar. The transition from high school to college was a huge leap, but college becomes the place to make lifelong friends, and if you meet the right people, together you will succeed. Not only that, but because of the transition into "adult" and living on your own, the life experience for some completely changes as the parental guidance isn't focused on one's self anymore; thus, in high school, begin to make good choices for yourself, because who you are in college, makes you the person you will most likely become later in life. Take control for your actions and responsibilites, meet people and have a good time, but remember the reason that you are in school, the get a higher education and succeed in life.

Theresa, you are about to complete high school. I have some friendly advise I'd like to pass down to youcan't stress enough how important it is for you to take you education from this point on very serious. Look at it this way, you are setting up your future. In this day and time, it's so hard to find a decent job without a degree. Now is the time to plan your future, set goals and diligently strive to prioritize whats important to you. College can be fun and rewarding at the same time. As long, as you keep focus on your goals along the way. Life passes by rather fast, believe me. You may think you can put it off throughout this journey but procrastinating only hurts yourself. You have to believe in yourself because you can do it! You will always have obstacles in life. which will make it even more rewarding for you when you finally are able to walk across thestage with a degree that will lay a foundation out for you as you venture into your career.

I would tell my self that I need to apply for as many scholarschips as possible, save money to try to pay for school and not take any loans. college can get stressfull at times but if you manage your time right every thing will fall into place. Do not put off your work untill it is the last minute because when you do that the work piles up and its hard to get caught up

Past Me, Heads up: the life you are living and life you want to live are about to diverge into a fork that cannot be backtracked. That's right, your future starts right now. You have the next year to push yourself. No, not purely in academics. I'm talking serious personal growth. Sure the busy work is pointless; none of these subjects apply to you. That's not the point. These classes you cannot stand are a test, a test to see if you have the dedication to get what you want. Push for those grades that will get you in the school you want to go. Speaking of, you know what you want to do with your life. Don't settle in Georgia just because you can qualify for a state scholarship. GO WHERE YOU WANT. Do what you want. Now. There is not a right or wrong here. Yes financial debt might be part of doing what you want. However, by choosing to go down the path that will bring you utmost happiness, you are guaranteeing imminant success. Success makes your financial debt in the near future completely irrelevant. Start today. Your concerned older self, Jeremy

I would tell myself to take my test more serious and be more focus on school. I would have took my easy college course earlier so i would have to take them my freshman year of college. But I am now learning from my mistakes and becoming a better person. I am more focus this year and am taking my college life 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} better than I took my senior year!

college is a very important transition in a student's life becuase it is the stepping stone to becoming what you always wanted to be as a little kid. I would say that all the hard work and light nights staying up doing homework and studying will pay off. If i want something i have to go get it and not just stand there hoping that it will come to me. There are a lot of things out there that i can do but the most important thing is that i do something that i would love to do.

Knowing what I know now at 26, Id tell myself to prepare for life. Life and death. I never appreaciated how important it was to learn something everyday. Coming back to school after years of not learning is difficult. I would tell myself that school is life, learning is life. All the things I thought were so important were meaningless and life only gets harder after. I tell myself to listen to my father, he was your biggest supporter. Id tell myself that these are the only years you have to make him proud. Id tell myself not to drop college because he passed away the same month college would have started for me when I was 18. I would tell myself not to give up, when your going through hell keep going. Dont just do whats expected, exceed. Id tell myself that working hard makes things easier. So if I could tell my senior self what I know now at 26 Id have my Master of Arts in Education by now. I'd be prepared.

My advice would be to care more about what I studied. When I was in high school I just wanted to be finished. I didn't care about what I was studying. All I wanted was my degree. Now that I am going to college I have to pay for my school and I actually care about what I am studying, even if it has nothing to do with my major. I have found that the classes I care about the least, even if they aren't very difficult, are the classes I struggle in the most. But when I go into a class with the attitude that I want to learn and not just waist my money, not only do I do better in the class, I actually learn more. If I had cared more about what I was studying in high school then I would have an easier time today in college. I would have learned more and been more prepared my college level courses. So my advice is, even if you're not paying for it, take advantage of it, want to learn, and you will be a smarter more prepared student in the future.

The first thing i would tell my myself is that college is fun however college also has a higher academic standard. I would make myself aware that in order to succeed academically in college i have to improve my work ethic. I would also suggest to my high school self to start reading more. It is very common in many classes that teachers have mandatory reading assignments and it would help me complete those assignments if I already have a sense of reading on a daily basis. The most important thing I would tell myself is about time management. Knowing how to manage your time in college is critical and the more efficent I am, the better off I will be academically and socially in my college life.

I would tell myself to pay attention to every moment of high school. Value every up and down that I encounter, and write it down. There is not experience comparable to a person's senior year, and it is a shame to have trouble remembering the most important parts. I would also tell myself to value and define the true relationships I had. Those people will be with you throughout college, no matter how far away they are. Everyone else will just be acquaintences. Another important point would be to consider what you want out of life. Think about the type of person you want to be, rather than how much money you want to make. In the end, it is your character that will take you places, not the number on your bank account.

I would tell myself to have fun and enjoy the time in college, it's a memory that will last a lifetime.

College is about learning about yourself; how fast can you understand a concept that is given to you, how you intereact in different environments, and how you can develop as a person in terms of maturity and professionally. College is the gateway to the 'real world', and it is easy to mess up if you can not adjust to the transition. Highschool prepares you for college, however, they sppon feed you most of the way. If I could go back in time to talk to myself, the biggest thing I would stress is time management. College is expensive so most students also work part-time or even full-time to pay expenses; housing, meal plans, supplies, ect. I did not think time management for college was any different than highschool, but I was wrong. In college, you have to learn the materials more on your own, not to mention how tedious lab reports, final projects, and design classes can be. College is also about having fun, so another I would say is, join as many clubs and organizations as possible. You should never go through college alone, because you never know when you'll need the help!

If you already know your major. Don't bother taking courses that doesn't correlate with your decided major. Also, you don't need to be honors or AP at everything - meaning don't overload unnecessary workload. Just do well in the courses that are required or pre-requisite for your major.

If I could go back to my high school self I would start off by saying that it really doesn't matter what people say or think about you. All that really matters is that you are true to yourself. Just because everyone else is wearing a certain type of clothes or participating in certain events does not mean that you have to do those things too. The next thing I would tell myself is that people will come and go out of your life so don't be afraid of people leaving and getting hurt. Every chapter in your life is going to end but that isn't a reason to not enjoy it. The last thing I would have to say is to live life and have fun. Enjoy every minute of each day because you never know when those days could end. All in all be a person that is kind and enjoys life because you never know where life will take you.

Work hard, very hard.

I am still technically a high school senior. I am Joint-Enrolled through the MOWR program. While technically Joint-Enrolled, I am a full-time student at Southern Polytechnic State University; all my classes are at SPSU; and I live on-campus. Honesty, this is the greatest academic opportunity I have ever had, and I intend to take full advantage of it. Time management is integral to college success but differs greatly from high school, even the Advanced Placement program and courses. If I could go back and talk to myself last (junior) year, I would advise myself to prioritize first. I had five APs in one year, technically, with other classes, volunteering, sports, and other extracurriculars. I needed to prioritize, to ensure I completed tasks of high priority, and not to stress as much over other little things that tended to distract me at that point. Next year, I will probably want to go back in time and tell myself not to overload. With the Joint-Enrollment, full-time college schedule, extracurriculars, the Honors program, volunteering when I can, and my internship, time is scarce, and energy can be lacking. I regularly catch myself in unstable balancing acts.

Take as many AP and dual enrolments as courses as possible when in high school. You will not believe how jealous you will be of the students that did so and have 30 or so credits, enough to be a sophomore, before they even start their first class. It is extremely helpful to get some of those classes out of the way as early as possible. Also, try to buy books early at an online source that it is a lot cheaper than the school bookstore. Additionally, remember to stay on top of all you assignments, once you fall behind they are usually no catching up. That is how most people fail classes based on my observation.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself that what I do now as a high school student really reflects the school I’m accepted in as a college student. During my senior year I was like many other kids my age "naive". I was comfortable and not aware that I was becoming a grown up and things were about to change. I went to a college for a semester, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. For more years than I would have liked I worked on different jobs getting experience. I did eventually go back to college and am still going to college now. I would tell myself the importance of a college education and how I had to be prepared to commit. I am not dissatisfied with the way my life has turned out thus far. I would tell myself to try hard, but also enjoy the ride and not let life pass you by. If there is something you want to be in the future you must go for it and not let any obstacle stand in your way.

As an experienced college student, I would tell any graduating senior to prepare for big changes. Most of the time, after graduating from high school, there are two big changes coming. First, college courses, which by them-selves, are time consuming and mentally tiresome. Second, moving away from home, which for most students will be the first time they will auctually live away from there parents. These two changes combined with the urge to go out and enjoy the night life can really impact a students college career.

If I could go back in time...WOW!! The first thing would be to finish high school naturally! I made it to the 12th grade before I dropped out due to some personal problems. I only had a few months before graduation. The next thing I would tell myself as a senior is go straight to college!! I waited 10+ years before I attained my GED, and another 3 years before I enrolled in any type of college. It is a much harder thing to do when your older! Especially if you have had a family in the process. The more excuses you make, the longer time goes by, the harder it becomes in my opinion. I often think about how far I could be in my education or my career path if I had gone straight to college. I try to instill this in my daughter. So I would tell myself, dont give up, its too important. With a small whack upon my own head, I would say "Wake up" You only get one life, make the most of it. Education is a beautiful thing! Having said that, it is NEVER too late. I'm living proof!! Thank you

I myself was a very reclusive person in highschool and kept to myself for most of my school career. The first thing i would tell myself is to join more organizations and groups. They would greatly help me through my classes and just having people to back you up when you need help. Secondly, though no less important, I would tell myself to work on my organization. Learning to work with calendars and using organizers to keep my information together. So that when it comes time for projects or tests it it would not be a surprise everytime and I would be able to prepare myself better.

I would tell myself to that it's going to be a tough road as the I, like many of the students, progress to concentrated classes to complete their degree. I would also tell myself to keep up, if not, try to stay ahead of class by researching outside of class; and do not procrastinate in college, work piles up quick!

High schools students are so immature--I didn't realize that at the time. I thought that I was nearly an adult. Now that I am in college and I see how much mroe of the world there is, I would tell myself not to stress so much about the people bullying me, teasing me. They were, (and probably still are), mean, insensitive kids who didn't know the first thing about real life. I would tell myself that college was going to be a much friendlier environment, believe it or not, and to get my head out of my ass and to earn a better grade in Geometry.

I would tell myself to apply to more schools just to have many options. Also, I would tell myself to research many schools to show the rankings on the best school for mechanical engineering. Another important thing would be to tell myself to plan my high school classes accordingly to what I will be taking in college. Only take the AP courses that you want to get out of the way and not take in college. Don't take the important college courses junio year so once you get into college you have forgotten the material over senior year. The decisions on what you take and when you take classes in high school is extremely important.

If I could go back and tell myself a few things about going to college, I would have a few important things to tell myself. First, I would tell myself that you probably won't stay close with all of your friends in high school like you think you will. Everyone goes to different schools and you'll wear yourself out trying to keep up as well as you currently do. It's ok to move on and make new friends and keep up with a few if possible and those are the friends that matter. Second, I would tell myself not to stress out as much. College is a lot of pressure on high school students and you might not get the same grades as you did in high school and that is completely ok. Finally, I would tell myself to try my hardest, be proud of what I end up doing, and build up a resume as much as possible. Throughout college you should get involved in clubs to build up your resume and do things to further your application. If you do all of these things you'll be fine and ready to graduate from College.

The advice I would give my highschool self is be prepared for college. I didn't take the SAT soon enough to get my scores back in time to apply for scholarships. I should have started thinking about college more my junior year. Also, I should have applied for as many scholarships as possible. By not meeting the registration deadlines, I'm having to pay for college with student loans. Also, I would tell my high school self to be a better time manager. Its very easy in college to put assignments on the back burner and not get work done until the last minute, or not done on time. Some final advice I would tell my high school self would be to be myself and make many friends as soon as possible in college. Having many friends on campus make the whole college experience more enjoyable.

I was not a good student in high school. As a matter of fact I barely showed up my senior year. I would go back and tell myself how important education. It took me many years to finally realize that and it took to be laid off from very secure job to realize that it can happen to anyone. I would say pay attention in class and go to college right after high school to not waste anytime. I am now 32 years old and trying to do something that could have been done a long time ago. Education is a stage in life that we all have to go through and wether we decide to go earlier in life or later we are still going to have to go through it.

Dear Self, Its been a while since I've seen 16, but its good to see you after some 15 odd years. Much has happened since, and I have learned a few things. Right now you're distracted by what most young people are distracted by and that being your social life. A social life is an important part of life, but its only a part of a life. Learn to balance the success equation by scheduling study time into your daily routine. Being a successful high school student can put you ahead of the game in college and incorporate those necessary skills one needs to do well on the college level. You can never practice good study skills too early. Finally, attend class everyday. You can't rely on the note taking skills of others come test day. Just being there lets your professor know that you care about the class and at the very least making an effort to learn. Overall, be responsible. Your work represents your attitude. Do work you can be proud of. Sincerely, Yourself

I'm a non-traditional student who attempted college right out of high school, but stopped going two years in. I wasn't interested and didn't take the academic part seriously. After dropping out of school, I worked for a few years and then joined the Army in 2001 (pre-9/11). Though I was always taught how to conduct myself in an honorable fasihion and was given astounding examples within my family, my experiences in the military gave me the sense of responsibility that I needed to truly grow up and live by the values on which I was raised. After three combat tours and the good fortune to survive, I was finally ready to contribute to society. This time around, I'm an adult/veteran/husband, and I take nothing for granted. That is part of the advice I would give myself as a high school senior - don't take anything for granted and live with a sense of purpose. The other advice would be to surround myslef with positive influences, recognize that I will make mistakes but should strive not to repeat the bad ones, and understand that reputations are built on actions - good or bad.

Don't hesitate to get involved on campus. Make sure that you do the summer program for incoming freshmen, and don't slack off. This place is great, and you should definitely pick it over your other options. Get organized before school starts, cause it will help you more than you could ever imagine. Try to enjoy the summer before you leave for college as much as you can, cause there is no going back to those care-free days. Most importantly, apply for as many scholarships as you can.