Stony Brook University Top Questions

After staring college I realized how many dedicated and hardworking students there are out there, just like me. It is refreshing to see that today's youth is not only concerned with pop culture and partying. There are students out there who are highly motivated and know exactly what they want from life. I've met so many students who don't want success for the money but rather for the platform it gives them to help people. I'm glad I attend an institution that is predominantly science. I am with hundreds of other pre-med students and instead of competing with each other, we all help one another with information and ways to get into medical school. I don't think any other school prepares students for medical school as well as Stony Brook does. We have an insane amount of work but we know it's for our best so instead of complaining, we do it. I value each and every friend I have made because these are some serious superstars who are going far in life. Hopefully I can continue on in this journey with them as well.

College was a new and exciting experience for me. It made me take on more responsibility, but it's worth it knowing that I am getting closer to accomplishing my goals. I've gotten new insight to how this world works, and I wouldn't give up what I've learned for the world. College isn't all work and no play. It's about finding the right balance between the two. Being a focused student can help you find that balance, and make your college experience the couple of years of your life.

I've gained self confidence and my leadership heightened to a great extent. I'm more involved, more mature and I'm a more experienced individual ready to face the challenges of the world. I've also met some of my best friends and I made connections with faculty members. I love it!

Living your life usually means that everything has more impact, whether triumph or mistake. College can be the first chance anyone has to make real mistakes, the kind that can change your life. If you're lucky, someone grabs you by the throat and kicks you back to where you're supposed to be before you fall too far. If not, you might just be out of luck for the decade. I have learned that balance doesn't always require everything. One experience is taking far too many courses, all of which are notorious for workload, and joining two or three clubs at the same time. Failure in any one of these commitments is an excellent teacher. There are only twenty-four hours in the day, only fifteen weeks in a semester. Once those have been filled to capacity, something will break. I learned more from my classes than I ever thought possible, but not all of it was taught. The most important thing I?ll take from college is balance.

I am currently a student at Stony Brook Southampton College, the main focus of our college is to understand environmental issues and find ways to correct the errors that our predecessors have created. As a student of Marine Science and sustainable studies I am very concerned about the impact of mankind on earth. I feel as if college is just a stepping stone in which I will find and hone influential tools to help me impact my community and hopefully the world. I currently have invested my own money into my own personal project to create small easily maintained, gardens that can fit inside your window, if a fraction of us owned a personal garden we could ease our constant demand from our earth. I would love to not only continue this project but I would love to see it spread and prosper not only through my campus but throughout the world. I am using the latest technologies, to create an optimal environment for soilless farming. My ultimate goal in life, not only in college is to turn the clock backwards, and to diminish the constant draining of our environments resources.

My experience at SUNY Stony Brook University helped me determine who I am today. It gave me the opportunity to be as social as I wanted while more importantly offering me interesting courses in my English Major. The passionate teachers inspired me the most out of my entire experience. I visited teachers at their offices many times throughout my two years there and the information still helps me today. I was a student who wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, and the teachers and academic councilors who I spoke to while I attended Stony Brook helped me head in the right direction. My college experience was valuable to me because I needed direction, education, and experience. I received all of these as well as great food at Jasmine and culture at the Staller Arts Center. College in general gave me experiences with students from all different backgrounds and helped me further my knowlege. I believe that we as humans should never stop learning, and college helped me continue through a stage in my life where I was unsure of where to go or what to do next. I wouldn't change it.

The two most important things I've gotten out of my college experience are knowledge and responsibility. I have already learned so much in my classes from my first semester at college that I find so interesting. I especially love my psychology classes, since it is my major. I am so fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to continue my education and work towards a future in the medical field. It's hard to believe that not too long ago women weren't able to attend school or have certain careers, so I am proud to be able to attend undergraduate college and hopefully continue forward to medical school. The second most important thing I've learned is responsibility. Since I am dorming, I am learning how to live on my own and manage my time and money. Living at home, I didn't have much responsibility while I was in high school. Now that I'm on my own, I am doing laundry, ironing, cleaning, and studying without being prompted. This was definitely a step I had to take in order to learn responsibility and become more independent.

I would tell myself not to be afraid. I remember worrying about the transition from high school to college and moving away from home. The transition will be smooth because I know that you wanted independence and a chance to "see" the world. Well you will get that chance and you will be happy. Do not stress out just remember that you have to practice prioritizing your time and work. Also all those stories about lots of parties and gaining the freshman fifteen are true...well kind of. Of course there will be parties but only if you seek it, if not, you will hardly know they are there. Also in your case, it will be freshman ten, so remember to stop your late night habits of snacking and eating in front of your computer. Moreover on academics, take classes that interest you, lots of people are unsure of their future so you are not alone. Finally, these four years will be great, make the most of it. Take in the new experiences and dare to explore your passions and take some risks. You will be just fine.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior year, I would advise myself to put an end to procrastination and socialize. The transition from high school to college is a huge step and it's crucial to make sure you don't fall into the open gaps in between. Parents and teachers always told me to get rid of unhealthy habits and start focusing on what's important. Leaving things off til the last minute was always a part of me and a bad habit at that. Continuing this habit into college caused me to drop down from an A to a C, which ultimately affected my grades and slowly started to eat away my future ambitions and goals. Grades are important but socializing and forming a social network is crucial as well. Whatever career you choose to pursue, it relates to business. Business isn't accomplished alone but through the strong bond and network of people who support each other to reach the top. It is crucial to network with people on campus and create a strong foundation that will help you go up the ladder and rise to the top.

I would tell myself to make sure that when I got to college, I would not get distracted. I should always stay focused on excelling in my grades, never allowing myself to get too tired. Even when times get stressful, continue persevering and keep my eyes focused on the goal. "Success in any line of work demands a definite aim" (Ellen White)

If I could go back I would tell myself that starting at a community college was the best thing for me. In high school I was upset that while my friends would be going away and to four year schools I would start at a community college. I would tell myself that community college is not a "reject place." Instead it would be a chance for me to find out what I really wanted to do with my life. Going to a community college first helped me realize my dream of going to Stony Brook University where I currently am.The small class size and individual teacher attention at the community college is what I needed at that time. The key thing though that I would tell myself is that I was not a failure for going to community college and that instead I was doing something that was smart for me.

Just breathe! This is a time period where everything in your life is probably changing. You're graduating high school and becoming an adult! Scary right?! But just remember: you're not going through this alone. When you arrive at your campus you're going to be overwhelmed with mixed emotions of excitement and fear. But so is every other freshmen that you meet. So don't judge anybody because you're all alike in that matter. It doesn't matter what ethnicity or race you are, what town you come from, or if you were the captain of the football team. Everyone's anxious about this experience. Embrace these people because they will become you're friends and you're support system. There will be days when you love the college life and others when you're going to wonder why you're even there. Stick out the rough times because it'll be worth it. Go to your classes! They're difficult and require more time and hard work than high school did. But you can do it if you stay focused. Go into the experience open minded, give it 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and you'll get 200{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} back!

If I were able to go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take every day as it comes. Each day is another opportunity to make a friend and develop a relationship with someone from whom you can learn so much. These friends can be there for you your entire life and would do anything for you. Love and take care of each other.

I would tell myself that it is important to learn time management. I've made some great friends here but we have very different schedules due to our different course selections, and therefore I'd need to know that I cannot assimilate myself according to my friends' work habits. As a chemical engineering intended major, I'm bound to come across some demanding work and sometimes I'll have to sacrifice some social events in order to succeed. I also had a boyfriend my freshman year and that hindered me from experiencing college life. I am now participating in a few clubs and have even performed on stage for a cultural event night. I've met some great people outside my usual group of friends by going to tutoring sessions, study groups, and professional office hours. I would encourage myself to take part in intramurals for sports I've never even played before, just for the heck of it. Though I've never won any championship, i had a lot of fun. Most of all, I'd tell myself to have better sleeping habits. I've learned the hard way that a bad rest WILL affect your performance.

Knowing what I do now as a college freshman, I would tell myself to take all the AP classes I could so I could be farther ahead in my studies than I am now. I would also tell myself to go out and visit the college, as I failed to do that the first time. Also, I would tell myself to really make sure the campus environment is what I am comfortable with, my current college is far to big for me and I made the wrong choice the first time, but I recently applied to a smaller scale school that I hope to attend next year. Along with this, I would tell myself to not be afraid to make friends and be myself. Being a shy person in high school it carried over to college and I found it a little diffiult to find people like myself and make friends. But in the end I have found many great friends I hope to keep throughout my life.

I would say that this college needs the students to be organized and well aware of our duties. For example, we need to check our SOLAR account on the school website on a daily basis to see if we have any bills to pay, check our GPA, or any holds that a department has put on our account. BLACKBOARD requires us to check our homework reguarly. Such softwares tests how responsible we are as a student. If we show no promptness in these affairs then obviously our grades reflect it consequently. Also, I had been less interactive with fellow students and faculty memebrs. One of the main skills to be acquired when coming out of college is to have strong communication skills. If I was about to go under the college transition, I would advise myslef to be more interactive so as to know about different college events and get more friends. Forming study group with the classmates helps tremedously. It helps ease off the anxiety of midterms and exams along with studying diligently and helping each other.

I would tell myself: College and the transition into this new lifestyle is tough enough, so choose what you feel is best for you. Don't let others influence you whether it be family or friends. When you get to college you are an adult whether you choose to be or not. Being 18 or just in a college class won't allow for your parents or friends to help with the class. So make sure you visit the colleges your interested in and feel out what is best for you even if it means going against what your parents say. In the end you are paying for your education with loans out in your name so go somewhere that will bring you happiness and will teach you the most. Doing what's best for you will be the best decision you have ever made.

If I could go back in time to give myself advice about the college transition, I wouldn't tell myself anything. As a matter-a-fact, I wouldn't waste the electricity, gas, or whatever powers my time machine to even go. I don't believe in destiny but I do believe that adversity builds character and by depriving myself of the opportunity to flounder a little bit at the beginning of my academic career I might not be half the student and person that I am as I am writing this. At the end of my first semester of college, my cumulative GPA was 0.87 but by the time that I graduated four years later my GPA was 3.1. I think that people, myself included, learn best from first-hand experience so giving myself any advice I'd be doing myself a huge disservice, in addition to invoking the Grandfather Paradox of timetravelling.

When I began in college, I vowed to work as I possibly could to excel academically. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be less critical of my academic performance. Overall, I would tell myself to try to foster a balanced life, including but not limited to academic achievement. More specifically, I would try to instill in myself the value of continuing community service, an activity that always made me feel fulfilled, throughout college - instead of putting academics before everything. I would emphasize that there is no need to feel guilty for making the time to develop friendships, and that time for myself is just as important as academic excellence. Additionally, I would make sure to let myself know that reading books for pleasure isn't slacking off, and that reading the newspaper every day is just as important as completing my academic comittments. I would tell my self to keep in my mind the end goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others, and to not let my motivation for academic success crush my love of learning.

I've pondered many times about the idea of the abilityof me to be able to go back in time. I would have so much advice and insight that I could give to myself that would of really help me for the first semester of college. The thing that suprised me the most was how much you really have to read in college. I always knew that you had to spend a lot of time reading, but after experiencing college myself, do I kow how much there is. I would tell myself to grab books and read them not once but two to three times. Never in my life have I had to read the same thing several times. Taking chemistry my first semester opened my eyes and readied my brain to prepare reading endless chapters of the same topics. The biggest tansition from High School to College to me is, the reading and studies. If I could, I would tell, not only myself or every High School senior but to every High School student to read as much as they can becasue thats really the best way to prepare for work, and level of complicity in a College.

If i were to go back in time and give myself advice about college, i would tell myself to broaden my horizons and get involved on campus. In college, one deals with many new experiences and situations and if that person can keep an open mind, each situation will be a learning experience that will not only teach that person something new, but allow them to have fun with something they don't usually experience. People go to college to educate themselves, but they should educate themselves not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom. They need to interact with others and learn about the experiences others have lived through and through the sharing of information, both people leave the situation wiser because they can now relate to others more and learn more about themselves in the process, which will help them interact with others in the future. College prepares people for problems they will face in the real world such as maintaining relationships with others and the testing of one's beliefs and ideas. If one enters college with an open mind, whatever they learn during their four or five years there will last them a lifetime.

Hey Cait. Yeah, Cait, that's what they'll call you in college. No more Catie B. So, just like you thought, college is going to be everything you want and more. You're finally going to find your best friends. I have a couple words of advice though. Don't get that job at the Telefund; you're going to hate it and feel bad for asking all those people for money. Being a telemarketer is a bad idea. There's going to be this great group of people called Pocket Theatre. You'll want to be spending your time there. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Your life will be so much easier if you don't try to handle it all on your own. SBU has such a great network of people that are there to help you. Your professors, unlike the majority of your high school teachers, realize you're a human being and that sometimes human beings have legitimate problems. Be open to new things. You're going to meet all sorts of people and your best friends are going to be the people you least expect. Most of all, be yourself.

If I had the ability to go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to do the best, because I feel as if I didn't do as well as I am capable of doing this semester. I would tell myself to read the lecture notes after each lecture so that I am sure that I understood what happened in class. Also to never do the homework at the very last minute. We are given a schedule of the homework at the beginning of the semester, so to just pay attention to that and keep my priorities in order. I would also tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions, if I am not sure why I had received a certain grade in that class. By asking questions, I would be able to know what I can improve on for the next homework, and maybe even get a better grade. I would also advise myself to try to prepare for orientation day because that was when we made our first semester schedules, and if we take too long at orientation, the classes we want may be full when we're done.

College is nothing you expected. The freedom you've been imagining since the beginning of the year is not as care-free as you might think. College is difficult. You'll have to deal with roommates, classes and adjusting to being completely on your own. Know that you can handle whatever comes, but also know that your family is there to rely on. Admitting you need a bit of advice or help from mom and dad is nothing to be ashamed of. Don't get caught up in stress over the little things. College only comes once, and it's time to enjoy the full experience. Stay focused on your goals and you'll go far, but don't sacrifice possible friendships and bonds with others that didn't come as easily in high school. Dealing with roommates will be difficult at first but it is crutial to keep an open mind. Enjoy the last few days of high school, but know that college is truly your time to shine.

If I could go back to being a high school senior and knew what I knew now, I would certainly made different choices from the choice that I made. Number one, I would meet with an advisor in the program of study that I was interested in the school that I was interested in. I would then attend all the information sessions of the schools that were offering the program that I was interested in. I would also take very specific notes at those sessions about all their requirements and keep a note book. I would join a group that provide support and information about the program that I am interested in. for example stony brook nursing offers a pre-nursing society that helps perspective students get information from students that are already in the program on how to strengthen their application. And last but not least, I would research all available financial aid available for students that are interested in the particular area of study that I want to attend and apply to all of them.

I would say "Dorothy never look back and regret the past, the best is yet to come".

My dearest friend, I would like to advise you to apply to all of the Ivy League schools as well as Stony Brook and Texas A&M. It would be satisfying to say that you at least got into any of those schools. Stony Brook is a great fit and remember that life is way different once you meet new people. It is scary at first but, as I am sure you will do, put yourself out there to meet new people and become friends with many of them. Do not stress about the RA position, it gets easier with time, and do not get in over your head with extra curricular activities, it is not worth the stress and time devoted to it. As for school, work hard at it and you will do fine. Keep the focus and go towards that original goal. Love what you do every day and do not regret your actions. Feel free to socialize a bit more when it comes to the ladies, but also do not let it affect your school work. Take advantage of the resources provided for you and appreciate the love and support from your family.

Looking back at my high school experience I would have to say that one of the most important aspects of college is the balance between a social life and the academic one. For me all of my social events always happened in school, an over participants in all school activities and events. I only allowed this to happen because my High Schools course load was slim to none, I was in all AP and Honors classes, so all my efforts went into things outside the classroom. I always knew that what happened in HS would transfer into college but I seen nothing wrong with what i did. Now a freshman in college, I have learned the hard way to keep a strict focus on my school work and if there is enough time, have a social life. After all, we are in college to get an education, having a social life is just a perk.

It is very hard out in the "Real" world without a degree of some sort, and if you take your general classes and you are still unsure what you want your major to be maybe you will meet others just like you and they will give you some decent ideas, in regards to moving forward with a major. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and talk to your counselor, they are there to help you, ask any and all questions, remember, "there is no such things as a stupid question", and not asking questions can be more detrimental than asking questions. You might think you have all the answers, because it's your senior year, but life has only to begun for you. You can make wise choices, or unwise choices, but the the first step you must make is to pick a school, and sign up for classes, and that very well maybe the hardest thing you have to do, the first step is generally the hardest step, but if you take one step at a time, and ask questions, you will be juts fine, I promise.

College is a place to learn about your career, but it's also a place where you learn more about yourself. The advice I'd give to myself is to try new things. I would advise myself to try every club, look into sororities, make new social groups, and just get out there and learn more about myself. I look back now, and I don't remember every class I've taken, or every grade I've received, but I do remember the friends I've met, and the chances I've had to try out new things but never did. If I could go back, I'd focus on school and my course work but I'd also focus on the social aspect of college more.

Having the chance to go back and talk to myself in my senior year of high school, after obtaining some experience in college the first thing I would tell myself is to study more and get into better study habits. The classes in college are much more intense than the ones I have had to take in High School and therefore I did not have to study as much as I do now, it is a hard transition going into college not knowing what to expect with the material given, exams and grading. But I do know you have to work hard for every good grade you plan to earn and achieve. Another tip going into college is to join extracurricular activities as soon as you start your freshman year. I waited for my sophomore year to join a sport and I am enjoying it so much, I love having something to do after classes, working out, traveling, meeting new people and gaining new experiences. My only regret is not joining a sport/club sooner. So going into college, study hard and a lot but also make room for activities you will enjoy.

Don't make decisions based on fear, pressure, or other people. This is the one time in life that being selfish can help you succeed. Plans A, B, and C should all make you equally happy. Remember that roads tend to run parallel and just because you get on the wrong one, doesn't mean you have to turn around and go backwards to get to the road you were looking for. Sometimes continuing down that road, with open eyes and an open heart can take you exactly where you needed to be in the first place. Do not give into the myth that says where you go to school, what you major in and what sorority you join, etc., will make or break your college career and your life. Believe, instead, the truth that really it is YOU as an individual who will make or break yourself in this entire process. Maturity is not measured by a number of years, or how many things you have experienced in life. It is measured by how you choose to handle to obstacles you have been faced with. A failure can sometimes be a blessing in disguise; and lastly...Life goes on.

I would tell myself to study more. I have never really had a need to, and so never truly developed the skill. But now that I'm in college, I have a great need to study. I feel that those who studied in high school did far bettter because of it. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to not worry. Some of the courses I took were hard, but that doesn't mean that they were impossible. Worrying about it in high school did me no good. I would also tell my younger self to not worry about roommates. I ended up with two wonderful roommates. But worrying about it in high school didn't help the situation. Finally, I would tell my younger self that navigating through all of the paperwork is not impossible, and so therefore, don't become frustrated. It is all for your benefit, and it can help you.

Knowing what I know now about college I would tell my past self to take my time when making decisions. I would tell myself to make sure I put myself first and not others. I would tell myself that sometimes it is not worth walking on the road less traveled. I would tell myself that it is okay to say no to people. I would tell myself to just double major in Health Sciences. I would tell myself to make sure I make friends and enjoy life. I would tell myself do let sorority life consume me. I would say " You can still love your organization and not let it consume you." I would tell myself "Just cuase a guy is nice to you that doesn't mean you have to date him, love him and marry him" I would tell myself to that it is okay to be selfish and put myself first because no one is really looking out for you, so you need to look out for yourself." I would also tell myself to just keep the resident assistant position. I would tell myself to have fun and enjoy.

If I was given the ability to turn back time to my days as a high school senior, I would not give myself any advice. I am a strong believer that the challenges and obstacles you face make you who you are. I believe that the huge transition from a high school of 67 students to a college of 40,000 students was a big challenge for me and in a way, made me a stronger person for being able to cope with that challenge. "What doesn?t kill you can only make you stronger.? Life is not about taking the easy way out. Instead, it is about finding your way through the difficult times and growing because of it. Therefore, I would not give myself advice on how to make the college transition easier. I would want to figure it out on my own.

Always know how to manage your time. They say, time, is something, that once is gone, it never comes back and it's true. Never let yourself fall for the "maybe later" trap. While it may seem like procrastinating doesn't do much of a harm, it really does kill you in the long run. Be sure to not waste your time socialising, or partying all day all night.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior about what to expect in college, I would tell myself not to worry. I would tell myself that college will be just as adaptable as entering a new class with a new teacher. It's important to be yourself, and do not give into peer pressure because real friends will accept you for who you are, not what you do and don't do. I would tell myself to be open minded about the people I would meet, because there are many different ways to look at life, and you're bound to disagree with some. Regardless of that, everyone is in college for one thing. To make something out of their lives, and you can accomplish anything by just doing what you're supposed to do. Mistakes happen, and they are okay to make. What's even more important is to learn from them.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say that I shouldn't worry too much about life beyond college, at least, not yet. I was so worried about picking a major that would be good for a career, but I realized that this shouldn't be how I pick classes or a major. When I got to college, I found that the major I had chosen would be helpful, but it wasn't something that I really enjoyed, so I changed it to something that I was interested in. Now, I pick classes that are educational and fun, which means that I will probably remember the material more, and be less stressed about it. It doesn't matter if my major helps me get a career, because if it wasn't a major I enjoyed, then my career would probably make me miserable in the long run, anyway. College is about furthering yourself, but its also about being yourself and improving on who you already are. The experience is more worthwhile if you have fun while learning.

I often think about being able to do this. I do not regret any of the choices i have made during my college career, but sometimes I wish I knew what I know now. Perhaps the only thing I would tell my younger self would be to work hard. However; even if I had the chance to give my self advice, I probably would not do it. I believe that facing adversity is important in order to learn and better ourselves.

If I was an High School senior and I would give myself an advice it would be to never settle for less than my ultimate best. When I was a high school senior I did not finish appliying for Ivy league schools due to the fact I believed that I would not get in. So to me it was more like "what's the sense in trying". I would've told myself to finish those applications and to believe in myself. I also would have told myself to be more confident. If noone else did, who would? Also I would have told myself that everything happens for a reason and to just trust my gut instinct, or my intuition. I also would have told myself to hold my ground and be strong and not to let people walk over me (which is what happened freshmen year) and to focus. Transitioning college is probably the most scariest yet the most exciting experience I have ever had in my life. In order to survive one has to be true to one self and their goals. I wish I knew all of this but I wouldn't change my experince for the world.

Any extra time that you have use it wisely. School work can become very overwhelming.

I would have told myself to remember to use and practice time management. I think that would be the one thing that would make a difference in my academic carreer. i would have also told my self to work harder on my math skills becuase i did struggle a lot while here at stony.

Read the rules carefully- sometimes they can help you.

I would go back and take more AP classes. I realized that the main benefit of high school that carries over to college are AP and other college classes taken. I took 5 AP classes in high shool and i wish that i took more. That makes your college transition easier becasue you have more credits comming in, some of which may apply to your major. AP STAT taken in high school gives me credit for a class in both of my political science and sociology majors.

If I could go back in time, I would warn myself that college is challenging and in order to achieve what you want, you need to remain focused despite distractions. While social interactions are very important, they should be balanced with a healthy schedule. Time management is also very important to succeed in college - this prevents excessive stress and helps you plan out what needs to get done and by when. Also, never give up. There are a lot of people who may criticize you and/or the career path you wish to take, but never listen, especially when they tell you that finding a job is highly unlikely. Pursue the degree you wish to use in the future, and absorb all you can from your classes because becoming an educated individual is important and fosters motivation to achieve your dreams.

Make a decision about which college you will be sttending sooner and take more AP courses.

Please do not be shy. Be confident in approaching people. College education is not the only form of education in college. Socail interactions also helps you grow. The best educations are not in the classroom, but outside. Do not stay in the dorm too much. Even during the winter, get outside.

I feel that if I had been more assertive in high school, I would have been more prepared for the level of initiative it takes to do well in university. While nothing is inaccessible to me now- clubs, events, recreation, research/internship opportunities - everything takes more self-involvement and self-motivation than in high school. As a senior in high school, everything was available to me sequentially and characteristically; I was very involved in extracurricular activities and clubs in high school, but although I put in much effort, it never required as much self-motivation. I would tell my past self that I need a better sense of initiative to do well, not only in classes by going to office hours and getting to know my professors, but in anything that requires more than the 'average' standard of passion and ambition.

College is an experience to discover yourself, and what you are passionate about. It is a time to experience, learn, play, and work. Managing your time is the most important tactic to develop, as you are all alone now - nobody will be telling you what to do anymore. Networking, and making friends will happen, if and only if you want to make it happen, by participating in your classes, and through extra-curricular activities, whether it be sports or clubs. Learning to communicate is key as well - you will need to be proactive with your professors, and potential club members, or teammates. Find help when you need it, because once your GPA is disappointing, it is hard to get it back up without a developed plan and new resolve - it is very easy to become lethargic and unmotivated! Don't let anybody tell you what you should take - study whatever interests you the most, as you will always do better with subjects you look forward to learning about. In the end, you want to find a job that you wake up every morning excited for. College is a short, but lasting experience: enjoy it and take advantage of your priviledge.

I would tell myself to engage in an internship or volunteer program in a field that would be related to my major in college so that I may be a step ahead than the other students. I would also tell myself to strive for a higher gpa and SAT score so that I could get more scholarship or even a full four year scholarship to attend college.