Spelman College Top Questions

To remember the saying my mom would always tell me when I was growing up, “God put erasers on pencils because we all make mistakes.” This advice would remind me to never forget to use my eraser. It’s imperative to make mistakes because the process of learning from those mistakes is how success can be reached. If mistakes are not made then there will be no growth. College is the place where students will take some of their most challenging courses. No longer will there be classes where it’s possible to still pass without understanding the material. Mistakes will be made with every turn of the textbook and as a student; I must embrace these mistakes as stepping stones to success. Mistakes causes a person to search for the right answers. When you finally get that problem that has been giving you a headache correct on a test, reaching academic success does not seem like such a daunting task.

As a sophomore in college if I could go back in time and talk to myslef as a high school senior I would tell myself to remain true to who you are and organization is key. During my freshman year of college I struggled during the transition from high school to college. In high school I perfromed extremely well although I did not have to completely apply myself. When I came to college I was shocked to find out that I actually had to study for exams and I had to have a sence of organization in my life, so that I would be able to balance my academics and my personal life. Learning to organize was one of the hardest things I had to learn as a freshman becuase I had to learn to allot time for every aspect of my life. My collegiate career was completely in my hands and no one was there to ensure that I got things done. Looking back I wish I was more eqip for what college had in store for me but now I am grateful for the struggles I endured becuase they made me a stronger person and a better student.

Dear High School Self, Make sure you learn how to study and look over your notes after class. I know you think you are smart know but you are about to embark on an adventure that will take you for a wild ride. When you sign up for your classes make sure you sign up for at least one AP course so you are used to the workload so when you get to college it won't fill like you are hit with a bag of bricks. I also want you to apply for scholarships because your tuition is $45,000/year. Just remember to enjoy your life because soon you will be doing homework for way longer than you do your homework now. Enjoy all the good treatment and the good food you are eating now because the food they have in the cafe is no where near the food you eat at home and the people are not going to treat with the warm and fuzzy you get at home.

If I was given a chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I'd definiltey give myself great advice. I'd start off stressing how much grades and involvement in clubs and activities really mean while applying to colleges. Another thing I would stress to the younger me is the importance of applying for grants and scholarships. Even though I did apply to several scholarships as a senior, I could have applied to way more in order to decrease the cost of my education. Taking AP courses in high school is just another piece of advice I'd give to myself because it prepares you better for your college career and introduces you to the curriculum of your classes. Last but not least, I'd tell myself to vist as much colleges as you can so you are fully aware of what you want out of college and university. I am very satisfied at the decision I made to go to Spelman but I still find it clever to explore all of the options you have as a senior.

With almost two years of college life under my belt, I would give my high school senior self a few pieces of advice. First i would tell myself to get involved! College is all about making new connections and meeting new people. Getting involved is a sure way to establish life-long friendships and learn from different types of people. Second, I would tell myself to build relationships with my professors. Teacher-student relationships are extremely important as the professors you form good relationships with will be willing to write strong letters of recommendations that will help you achieve assist you in achieving your goals. They also will be more apt to give you insight into opportunites they know of personally and share network connections with you. Next, I would tell my high school senior self to master time management! Time management is a vital part of having a successful college experience. Keeping track of assignments, extracurricular activities, and simply just being able to prioritize will ensure less stress mentally and permit good sleeping habits and help maintain good grades. Ultimately, these three pieces of advice are very important and when followed will ensure a smooth college transition.

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self I would have told myself that college is a whole new world. I also would have told myself that it is very expensive . I would have stressed the importance of applying for scholarships. I would have also stressed that it is important to take care of oneself. One of the main things i've learned from college so far is that my health is very important. Not just physical health but mental health. Its important to find my way to deal with stress. My first semester was very difficult and stressful, and if remained that way because I didn't know how to deal with my stress. College is all about time management. I would advise my senior self to not take that information lightly. I thought I was an expert at time management because I did so much in high school but still kept good grades. College, was a whole new ball park and I underestimated it. So I would tell myself to not underestimate it. I need to be as prepared as I possibly can, because the first time I wasn't.

Dear High School Senior Imani, Stop crying please. The people who are upsetting you will not matter next year. Just think about it: the ones who you are mad at are not contributing to your success. Focus on school. School will take you to the next level. Use this year of your life as a time to become closer to your family and better yourself as a person. Make sure your mind, body, and soul are healthy. This is important. Be a better you. Relax, breathe, and meditate while you still have the chance. This is the easy part. Life has not gotten hard yet. Senior year should be fun! Make it fun! Laugh, smile, and make friends. Make friends that will stay with you when life gets rough. Find friends who you can trust and friends who believe in you. In college, you will need some of the people who you "cut off" so be nice. Trust that not everyone is out to hurt you. Most importantly, be happy. Senior year is your time to shine! Show these people that you are going to be successful one day. I love you, Spelman College Sophomore Imani

Don't just settle! That would be the first thing I would tell myself throughout my high school years. If you don't try hard then it will show in your results. And even if you did try and your results don't show, just try to improve for next time. I would also tell myself to always strive for better, and never do the bare minimum to get by because in the end you won't accomplish much in the long run. Procrastination is NOT the key to success! Bad habits aren't easily broken, and procrastination is no longer a solution in college, unless your okay with stressful all-nighters and dry eyes from staring at a computer screen all day and night. Another major thing I learned in college was that "sometimes you have to say no," I know college is full of distractions but you can't always attened every event or be at every party. At some point you have to buckle down and get your work done. Now don't get me wrong college is time to have fun but also remeber your paying to get an education, not to party all the time.

When I was in high school, I spent a lot of time doing things my way and not really understanding the importance of other people's perspective and insight. When I got to Spelman and chose to major in Sociology, I quickly realized how the experiences of others could have helped me to develop a better understanding of myself. Within the sociology program, we spend a lot of time analyzing our experiences and how social institutions such as school, family, religion, recreational arenas and areas of the like influence the functionality of our society as well as our personal narrative. I believe that if I was aware of the importance of understanding the personal experiences of others, I would have been a lot more inclined to look at the wider scope of a lot of my personal troubles, creating a less dramatic senior year. I would also have developed maturity prior to attending college that a lot of my Spelman sisters had already acquired. Also, I would tell myself to focus more on creating lasting relationships as opposed to trying to be popular. Popularity does not support you through midterms and finals; strong, goal-oriented and supportive friends do.

Be fearless! The first step to getting anywhere is to decide your not going to stay where you are. Network and explore. Self , use your time wisely! Challenge yourself by taking advantage of the best your school has to offer. Don't settle for the minimum requirement. This determines whether you are going to be able to balance the realworld! Procrastination is a killer of success! Focus on your academics ! I know it dosent seem important now but, later it would surely pay off. Find Your Passion and stick with it! Don't let ANYBODY tell you that you cant do something! If its for you cant nobody take your blessing away!

The world and everyone in it makes you feel as though you have to make a decision about your career right now, but you dont. There are so many careers and fields out there that its impossible for you to make a choice, especially one that you'll enjoy. The first step is to know what you love. Think back to your favorite subject in high school. One that you were so passionate about that you found yourself using in your everyday life. Start there. If you are still unsure ,enroll in college as an undecided major. This does not make you a failure...it makes you openminded. Be sure to take a science and math class just in case the major you do decide upon requires it. Lastly stay curious and inquisitive. Things in class that peak your interest, be sure to ask your professor about. Join clubs and organizations that may talk about or be involved with that topic. Finally make an effort to stay true to what you love.The worst thing you could do to yourself is major in something simply because the career pays well. It will be torture to yourself to focus in class.

I would have told myself that this was not going to be an easy path and to take life and challenges one day at a time. I would have also told myself to be gentle and forgiving towards myself and to show myself the unconditional love that I desire. I would have told myself that going through rough times makes you appreciate the good times, because life is about looking at circumstances with rose tinted glasses, and seeing the postive in every situation.

Keep calm and trust yourself. If I knew senior year of high school I would be at my #1 college, life would be much less stressful. College life isn't everything it's made out to be in movies and it's not all one big party like they make it out to seem. Doing well in high school is important, but it's not a deal breaker. Community college after high school is doable, and it's very realistic. Don't stress if you don't make a 4.0, because life isn't all about your GPA. Believe in yourself, and you'll succeed.

Knowing what I know now about college life I would tell myself to stay focus until the very end, fill out a ton of scholarships, and be on top of everything. Do not think that your senior year is just a time to have fun and play around because it is really your hardest year in my opinion. Take multiple trips to different college and tour them entirely and really evaluate everything. I would also say go to every dance and event because in the end you will regret it. Do not go to college with same strategies you have now because they will instantly become irrelevant and college writing is a lot different then, the papers you thought you were writing in high school are nothing compared to the criteria expected from you in college.

If I was granted the ability to go back and mentor myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to not believe all the dreams colleges sell you. Spelman sold their student this dream of having the ability to express themselves freely and be accepted for who they are. Spelman promoted the ideas of sisterhood and having our sister’s backs. Spelman also promoted the idea of strong brother/ sister bonds between Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. Most of these ideas were false. Spelman College does not allow students the ability to freely express themselves. They want all of their students to be Christin feminist who love the idea of natural hair. There is a certain way Spelman College wants there students to look and I do not believe that it is fair. I believe I do not fit this stigma. Students at Spelman are really one-sided. They overlook the big picture in every situation. Spelman’s sisterhood is very faulty. The “sisters” only want to help when it is convenient for them. That is the situation with the Morehouse brothers. The brother/ sisterhood is very faulty. Spelman College sells false hope to their perspective students.

I would tell myself to continuously fill out scholarships. College is very expensive so it would make things a lot easier and cheaper if you do the work and just apply for as many scholarships as possible. Also I would tell myself to stay focused especially considering I went to college out of state. There are a lot of distractions such as parties, boys, and other social activities that can deter students from focusing on the main goal, which is finishing college and earning a degree. Lastly I would say, stay open. When venturing out there are going to be a lot of things that my cause you to question your own beliefs and thoughts so it is important to stay open to learning new information even if it may compromise other things you considered to be 'true.'

Assuming that I could go back and speak with myslef about college life , I woudl tell myslef that education is extremely important , listen to your educators , make note of things you dont quite understand. College life is every enjoyable but make sure to take learning serious , dont waste time on things or people that will only hurt you in life . I would also say that education is the key to unlocking doors into some successfull careers, to make the best of collge and choose the right educational career path. While you are on this educational journey to make friends ,because it important when trying to advance your career to have people you know in your corner helping you advance in life .

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would first tell myself to stop procrastinating. Time is of the essence and what better time to do anything than the present? I would tell myself to jump into as many extra curricular activities that I wanted to and to apply for as many scholarships as I could; get out of my comfort zone, for that is how we make progress. I would aslo tell myself not to get discouraged if I did not succeed at everything I tried for, because one has to fail in order to succeed.

Baby girl...do those scholarships!!! There is a long road of struggles ahead of you if you don't prioritize. Sit down and do what you have to do, whether it's homework or getting extra help in your classes. Take courses that challenge you and get help with study habits because it's a different world in college. You're not just going to slide through classes like you did in high school. Study a little every week so you don't have to cram. Most of all, you have lived your life free of problems and when you go to college, EVERYTHING becomes your problem; whether it's what you're going to eat for dinner that night or how you're going to pay for next year, or these "out-of-nowhere" dues for next semester. Life will hit you so hard if you don't preepare. Prioritize! Listen to your mother!

The advice I would give to myself as a high school senior to prepare myelf for transitioning fromm high schoolto college wold be to change up study tactics, such as, studying for a longer time period and more in depth and to ask critical questions while studying to get more out of the work. I would tell myself to keep up with assigned work with having a planner to remind myself when it is due because some professors do not remind students about an assignment that was made a week ago or further. Lastly, my advice would be that you do not have to try to go to every party. Parties are going to happen every week and focusing on the work and studies is what you are here for to better yourself, family, communtiy,and world.

Going back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to manage her time when she gets to college! Many college freshmen are not aware of the scheduling of college, for example how you don’t have an 8am to 3pm day. It is very easy to sleep in until you have your first class, go to lunch, take a nap, and go hang out or do extracurricular activities and the next thing you know your midterms are happening and you haven’t even bought the book yet. I would tell myself to take every class as if I want to gain a skill set not just for the grade; this includes doing outside research and exploration of the topic. Something I would have liked to know is that professors are not some scary misanthropes, but they actually appreciate when students come to their office hours for further help or guidance. Also I would tell myself to take undergrad seriously and think of it as the beginning of a prolific career. Most of all I would tell myself that I am proud of her and that she can be confident in the woman that she is becoming!

Over the summer I would prepare myself more for college by taking college classes, so I could have gotten a good feel of how they were going to be like. I would research the different programs at my school so that I would know if I have any interest in them. I would interact with other students who are going to attend my school via social networks. I would start shopping early for dorm stuff instead of waiting until the day I moved in. Research is the best key before going into any new situation. You have to learn adaptation.

Dear Jauhara, I know high school seems endless, but believe me it gets better. You will graduate, and it will be one of life’s most bittersweet moments. Continue to achieve academic excellence, and don’t let anyone get in your way of success. Feel free to take risks, because living life to the fullest is worth the risks. Begin to learn how to manage your time, college is all about time management and the sooner you develop this skill, the better. Begin to think critically about the world around you; think about the problems you want to see changed, and change them. Remember the world is spacious, so travel it. Saint Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Take every opportunity you can get to travel, and learn about people and understand new languages. Most importantly, never forget who you are, and remember to be thankful for all the family and friends investing in your life’s success. I wish you the best, and no matter what you will win! Love, Jauhara Ferguson

If I can go back in time to my high school senior self, I would tell myself college is really no joke. Classes will be obviously harder because your increasing your matriculation. So, that means you need to learn to have great study habits. I understand you barely need to study in high school but now times have changed. Also, procrastination is your worst friend. I know you have done it during high school but you can't wait until the night before to do a 12 page research paper. The transition wasn't that hard, college is just about building connections. I would tell myself everyone you meet from this point on can be a connection to your future. I know that you are 800+ miles away from home, and you may feel alone at times; you won't be because your sisters at Spelman are your new family as well.

Now that I have experienced my first semester of college, there are certainly some things that I have learned that I wished I would have knew as a high school senior. Some of these things being time management, balancing social and academic life and being able to work hard for the best grade in class. If I were to go back in time and tell my high school senior self some advice about college, I would tell myself to keep pushing no matter what. I would tell myself this because while experiencing college there are alot of obstacles that will get in your way. But you just can't stop. You have to keep pushing because you are paying tons of money for school. There is no time or no money that should be wasted so you just better do everything write the first time. Also, I would tell myself to learn some time management skills because you are going to really need it. It is hard trying to balance alot of things that come your way such as club activities, eating, exercising, and doing work. So if my high school self can obtain this, then we would be good.

The advice I would give myself is learn to be organized. It is important to be able to balance and social and academic life. And one more thing believe in your passion and do not take the easy way out. Because in the end you will regret not challenging yourself to be the best you that YOU can be.

Dear Venkayla, Do not let the opinions of others affect you while in college just because you are not fortunate to have what other students have. You may not have the money, a new iPhone, or the nicest clothes, but what you do have is determination, dedication, and most importantly God. Never let words take away your joy and make you almost want to commit suicide. You came to college for an education, you came to pursue your dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist, and make your family proud. College is about experiencing new things, finding yourself, and building lifetime friendships. Many apply to Spelman College, but only few are chosen, make the best out of your college experience.

The advice I would give myself making the transition into college would be to keep my work ethic and drive the same because as the workload increases there is no time to slack off and procrastinate. I would also say to be true to myself and dont change the person I am just because I am transitioning into the college life because others will see right through it. Remember the purpose of going to college is come out with a degree. Therefore, sticking with my goals and aspirations will allow me to be one step closer to one day becoming the doctor I always aspire to be.

I would tell myself to understand that fitting in isn't important. This is a time to find yourself and succeed academically. Don't be afraid to try new things and branch out of the friend group you had in highschool. Love who you are and who you are becoming. Test the limits and step out of the box because you might find things you like. It's okay to fail sometimes because those lessons give you a blue print of how to do it right next time.

As an incoming freshmen to Spelman College, I spent time with mentors, friends and family to ask for advice about prioritization in college. I stepped inside the gates of Spelman College with goals already in mind: (1) academics always come first (2) join at least three on campus organizations, one must be community service oriented (3) find the friends that will be in my wedding. Needless to say, I was so focused on my list I missed some incredible opportunities. For example, I found myself searching endlessly for the "friends that will be in my wedding." I would meet new people and pratically interview them! College is a brand new environment and most people come wanting to "start over" or move beyond their high school experiences. I wanted to come to college and find those "life long friends". Yet, I would advise my high school self to throw that goal aside. I would advise meeting more than just a couple people and don't try to just climb the social chain. It is never certain where individuals will find themselves years from now, so fight to create lasting friendships with as many people as possible.

As a high school senior, I pictured college as another high school but with different teachers. Unfortunately, I was completely wrong. It took me both semesters of freshman year to really adjust to the flow of how college worked. The old study and homework habits that I use to use do not work for the 6+ hours of studying and homework I have every night. It takes planning to be successful in college. The advice I would give to myself is to prioritize correctly and study at all times. Time organization is the ultimate key to being a star student. Planning your day hour by hour is what helps to keep yourself on track every day. There will be days that seems as if 24 hours in a day is just simply not enough. Academics should always be before anything. Always focus on what drives your GPA to a 4.0 then, you enjoy extra-curricular activities all night. College opens your eyes to real world that your parents, somewhat, shielded you from and you have to speed up the transformation process from child to adult. Be wise and pay attention.

Assuming that I can become a time traveler, and go back in time to “warn” myself about the upcoming trials of college, I would change history. I would let myself in on the secrets about applying for the right college and the actual way to prepare my applications. I would encourage myself to take more risk in school so that I can do more things that’s accountable and related to what the colleges are looking for, including Acing those test and knowing the meaning of my transcript as a junior in High School student. Knowing that it’s the junior year that makes or breaks you for the scholarship money that’s needed, I wouldn’t let setback hold me down, I would encourage max participation in all community events and make certain that I participate in the things that I need to in order to get the “so called” points that I need to strengthen my college applications. I would encourage campus visits and certainly researching all the ins/outs of the institutions before making a choice. I would encourage myself to plant the right seed in the right soil for the future of my collegiate experience.

I would tell myself you do not need everything. I would also say not to go crazy and eat everything you see because the freshman fifteen is real. Also to be cautious about the company kept around myself, not everyone is going to want to help you. Listen to your friends sometimes their right, do not be afraid to ask for help the strongest people do.

The advice I would give myself is to learn how to be independent. People here in college are your competition, so there are not many people that will truly help you to succeed except for the professors. Most friends that you have in high school will not be your friends in college, so dont try to go to the same college as your friends. Pick the college that would benefit you the most. With school work, make sure you do all of your required work and studying before going out to have fun. Don't stress over work and stay focused. Also learn how to budget your money because college life is the struggle. But most of all remember to be true to yourself and to only change for the betterment of yourself.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, the best advice I could give in terms of the college life would be to fill out scholarships continuously. As a high school senior, I did not fill out one scholarship then came to the rude awakening that I had no money to pay for my $40,000 tuition. I would tell my high school self that schoolarships are cruicial in determining your future. It could either make or break you. Not only that, but you have no money to do anything else such as extracurriculars because every pemny you obtain would have to go towards your tuition. To sum it up, fill out scholarships and win scholarships. It will make your life a million times easier.

I would tell my high-school senior self three things. 1) You are going to meet a lot of people and that is going to expose you to more than you ever knew. Take advantage of this and really work hard at making new friends. By the time you graduate, you will have a group of friends that will be around the rest of your life. However, reunions are more fun if you know more people. Don't get stuck witih only those you know. 2) The focus is to graduate, but plan on working when you graduate and do everything you can to ensure you have the skills and experience to have a job after graduation. Life doesn't always work out the way you plan, but if you have developed skills, you can more easily adapt to Plan B. 3) I would tell my younger self either work really hard at finding scholarships and pay student loans off as soon as you finish. Even if you have to live at home for a few years, the long-term benefit outweighs the short term inconvience.

Choosing the right friends in high school is one of the main things I wish I could go back in time and tell myself. Now that I know what a true friend is, here a letter to my youngerself explainng the things I wish I knew back then: Dear younger self, Friends are lifetime companions that we choose to share our lives with. High schools is a very interesting four years of life. You enter as a teenager and leave as an adult. You will expeiernce alot of things, but it is imporantant that you surround yourself with people who care for you and your well-being. Choose friends with the same goals so you can grow through life together. Make sure that one another is staying on a goo path. High school is a time where a lot of things are being thrown at you. Things can get really hard, and sometimes a good friend is what is needed to get you through the tough times. Motivate each other. Make sure they are working towards their dreams as well as you doing the same. At the ends of the day, friends are family that we choose, so cherish them.

Dear Synclaire, College is fun, but remember the reason you are there. You cannot expect anything from anybody, continue to be the sunshine person you are and try not to get discouraged. A lot can happen over the span of a year but you are not to allow hardships to break you, no matter what. You are pursuing your dreams, remember that. Continue to be kind, even to those who take advantage of you. You have been optimistic and kind hearted for as long as we have been alive. Sometime it is okay to remove yourself from a situation if you do not feel comfortable, and remember that sometimes you have to be a voice not only to yourself, but also to others. You are strong and resilient. Never lose sight of that or your goals. And most importantly never ever ever accept the word no. You can do anything, and you will! And dont forget you can call daddy whenever you need to, he has been your bestfriend this long and even though the transition is hard, believe it or not, you guys will only get closer through this experience. Smile, Laugh, Cry, and Love, shamelessly.

Never stop filling out scholarships and getting financial aid. Start applying for scholarships sophmore or junior year, that way when you are ready to go off to school you won't have to worry about searching for last minute scholarships and not having enough money. It's not a good feeling to have to think about how broke you are and worrying that you cannot afford to go back to Spelman for your second year. It actually hurts very much and to have to think about not having money to pay off your full first year while you are taking your finals, it is just way too much pressure. Apply for schoalrships! Make a deal with yourself, three scholarships per week, every week. You won't regret it. I promise you. Stay smart and make good choices.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take advantage of every learning opportunity. I would not avoid difficult classes because I now know they are the classes that I will likely have to take in college. Taking them in high school will better prepare me for college. In high school, I would also develop better study skills as well as organizational skills. I would pay close attention to writing techniques because in college a lot of papers have to be written. In addition, I would take as many technology classes as possible. I have found that being tech savvy is of great benefit. Another thing that I would learn to do while in high school is my laundry. I have found, you can mess up your clothes if you do not put the correct detergent in the washer at the proper time. Overall, I would tell myself to be more responsible and consider positive opportunities as chances to learn and grow.

When I returned home for winter break after completing my first semester of college I was asked many times the same questions that became almost expected upon reuniting with someone. How do you enjoyed being on your own? What are your grades projected to be? How do you like Spelman College? Knowing they would be asked I did not hesitate to answer. Then a family- friend approached me and from the look in her eyes I could tell she had one question that would answer all of those questions. She asks, " so Ciara, I have a question that may require some thought, don't worry I was stumpped when I was asked it too. Being on your own now, what is one thing you learned about yourself that you didn't know going off to school?" My answer, as she warned took some time to articulate, but my answer nontheless was this. I realized that my family is my best friend. With that understanding I would advise my highschool self to really step outside of the box I occupied for those four years and get to know people. Becuase in getting to know others, I get to know myself.

Bill Cosby said, “There is a time and place for everything and it is called college.” If there is any place where one will have a life changing experience it is college. If I had the chance to coach myself back in high school, with my current knowledge, I would provide three pieces of advice. It would be about funding, eliminating procrastination and valuable study habits. Anxiety arises and receiving acceptance letters from dream schools is overwhelming. For me, nothing mattered besides getting in. All I thought about was friends, shopping, and college life out of state. If I could give myself advice, I would’ve begged myself to apply for scholarships. I would urge myself to stay away from student loans; actually I would suggest books, and extensive online research. Also, contacting a financial aid officer at the school to find other sources of funding would be helpful. Between classes and extracurricular activities, life is consuming. I would suggest a planner to avoid procrastination. Staying organized is key to success. I would tell myself to find good study habits such as reading over notes and resources. With all of these tools, college would have been a piece of cake.

There are a lot of things going on currently in your life but don't worry about, things will get easier. Right now college may not seem like the right choice for you or even financially possible but you’re wrong, keep trying. You probably won't believe me but you chose Spelman. Now listen up because I have some advice for you. Commence scholarship applications today! Michelle is struggling attempting to pay for all of it out of pocket without your parents help. She is your sister, she shouldn’t even have to do this. Your roommate will become your best friends within a month. It won’t seem plausible at first. Your neighbors are going to be a monumental blessing to you, they'll force you break out of your shell a and actually experience college. Your first semester will be hard. Particularly being a Computer Science major without a computer. Your friends will joke about it. It's okay because you'll manage in your classes without it. When it come to First Year Composition remember: YOU ARE NOT AN ENGLISH MAJOR! It will be over soon and it won't have been all bad. Good Luck!

The advice I would give my self is to find a balance. Find a balance between school, work, extra-curricular activities, and your social life. Make connections, be more outgoing. Take advantage of every opportunity and person that comes your way, you never know how they can help you in the long run. SAVE MONEY. Spelman is more expensive than you think lol. Also be aware of fake friends and appreciate your real ones. Leave the long distance relationship alone. Find time for yourself, stop always trying to please others. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!! You were successful at it in high school, it hurts you a lot more in college lol. Oh yeah get used to paying for laundry, sharing your personal space (bathroom, room, etc.) with others, cafe food, no Wi-Fi or AC, & basic cable lol. But most importantly love yourself. Stay true to who you are. It may be hard when there is so much going on but you can do it.

Hello High School self! You are about to start your first year of college just some quick tips.... Have a blast! don't sweat the small stuff and always study first you might miss out on some of the events but there will always be another one. Stay active when you eat right and stay active you tend to have a better day and can focus more in school. Make new friends there are a billion people at your school be social and get involved. Don't worry about a relationship right now focus on school if you get the grades you get the gpa which in turn you will get the scholarships! Always look out for yourself because at the end of the day it's just you and no one else you need to do what is best for you :) p.s make sure your second home is the financial aid office! GOOD LUCK!!! :) You'll do great!

I would have told myself to take classes and studying seriously. I would tell myself not to worry about having a social life because that's not what you're paying to go to school for. I would also recommend befriending people who have similar goals that you do, and that want to be successful. The last piece of advice I would give to myself would be not to lose my faith even when times get hard.

Do better. Try harder and don't get too caught up with parties

Taylor, although you were a very involved student and will make the honor roll every year of your high school career, push yourself even more to do even better. The work you are doing in high school is nothing in comparison to what you will do in college. Spend more time writing now because once you get to college, you will be surprised how many essays you will write on a weekly basis. Also, have fun and don't take the kids you meet in high school so seriously.

I would make sure I tell my high school self not to let others (even professors) influence my choice in major. I would have went with my orginial plan and majored in Psychology instead of beinginfluenced to switch to Biology because I had a desire to go t Veterinarian school. I would tell my high school self to follow my passion and make sure I keep my close relationship with God.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to really learn how to balance school and a social life as soon as possible. Knowing what I already know about college life at Spelman, I feel like this is one of the hardest things to adjust to while at school. The longer you wait to really learn the skills you need in order to know how to balance these two things, the harder it will be in the future. The coursework only gets longer and the time limits only get shorter. I would also tell myself to be involved in as many organizations as possible. The more organizations you are apart of the more exposure you get to companies and opportunities that could help you in the future.