Syracuse University Top Questions

From what I know now based upon my college experience, I would tell myself in high school to prepare to be extremely busy with school work. I would tell myself to make the college transition quickly and to get on top of my school work as soon as possible. My engineering courses in my first semester of college weren't easy tasks to complete. I would definitely inform myself about this because so that I may do better in my courses. I'm not disappointed in myself with what I have achieved and done in my first semester of cellege so far. If I did have a chance to go back and talk to my senior self, then I would basically change minor things and try to improve my study and work skills for my college life. But most of all, I would tell myself to have fun and to enjoy the experience even more than now because my college life only comes around once and I would want myself to make the most of it.

Having gone through my first semester at college I would go back and tell myself to relax and to take things as they come. It is extemely important to understand that everybody is in the same situation and have been exposed to a new environment outside of their comfort zone. It is very much a learn as you go experience, and while meeting other people everybody helps eachother and you begin to learn from one another. It becomes a much more stressful transition when one is overwhelmed and trying to make everything work at once. I would also go back and tell myself how to manage my time. Being thrown straight into classes and learning a study method that woks for you does take some time, but everyone will learn in their own time what works for them. Going to college is learning experience for everybody, but going in with the right attitude wll help make the transition period much easier.

If I could go back in time I would give myself the best advice possible. First I would definitely have to emphasize the fact that no one in college really knows exactly what they want to do after college when they are only in there first year. I would tell myself to really research different jobs that interest me and try to talk to professionals who were in those careers. Also perhaps the most important piece of advice I would have to give myself would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible because now that I am in college I realize that it is not cheap. I would say that senior year of high school is not the time to slack off becasue there are other students working as hard as possible to achieve their goals. I might also have to punch my past self for being so lazy and not doing more work with all of my free time.

As a high school senior I had no idea what kind of a transition the transition to college would be like. I had been away to camps before and I thought the adjustment would be somewhat similar, but I was totally wrong. I really didn't know how much I would miss my family until I was actually away from them for two months. So I think preparing myself emotionally to be away from my family would be the start because there is no one in the world who cares about you more than your family. By starting there I would also let myself know about the academics differences between high school and college. The first thing is you can not fall behind becuase once that happens there is almost no way of catching up. Reading is also big in college and although most of the reading is not required I would strongly suggest reading everything that is assigned to read because it greatly helps with homework assignments and tests. Going to class is also important because I am paying for each class and they're expensive and falling behind isn't recommended if you want to succeed in college.

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, the advice that I would give myself is carefully analyze. With this being said, I would seek counsel, make the best decision and pursue the career with perseverence. I was not totally aware of the full purpose for highschool counselors. As a matter of fact, my counselor approached me and put me out there in the college world. I would have talked to my counselor sooner instead of being extra timid and to myself. I am glad he identified the matter though. I had too short of a notice to decide which of the 3 colleges I would like to attend in my transitioned area. I would have made a better plan than regarding the college of my choice. I would have visited the site before attending. I would have gotten affiliated with the college school status. Making the best decision would have carried me a long way. It would cause me to have the driven energy to attend college non-stop. It would encourage me to stay abrupt in my studies. Decision making is a touch of wisdom. I am purposed minded that a winned never quits!

As you are challenged by new experiences throughout your college experience, one must remember to remain confident in his or her abilities, creativity, and ethics. Allow yourself to experience the world wisely, and never be intimidated by a new professor or a lesson. When you talk to new people, speak confidently. When you are confronted with conflicts, react calmly. When you are exploring new subject matter, remain courageous. Most importantly, do not lose sight of your goals. Do whatever interests you, and never let an opportunity pass unexplored. Opening every door in your path leads to many possible journeys. Give yourself a chance and enjoy every moment.

If I could go back in time, I will tell myself to read more books. In college there are so many textbook readings for each class that sometimes there is not enough time to read for pleasure. If I read more in high school, I can improve the pace I read, improve my vocabulary and most importantly just reading for fun. Although some of the texts I read in college are interesting, sometimes having the time to read a juicy mystery book will provide a variation and thrill while I read. Now that time is limited in college, it's really hard to find excess time to just sit back and read. If I read more in the past, I will probably read at a faster pace and save time to do things that I enjoy.

As easy or as clich? as it may sound, the best piece of advice any high school senior needs to hear is only three words long. After completing my first semester at Syracuse, I have realized that these three words are the key to getting A?s in college. ?Keep working hard?, no joke. Many people think they are going to goof around in high school and then once they get to college, where the grades ?count? for the real world and getting a job, they will start doing work. If only it were that easy. To me, education is cumulative and it begins the moment you absorb your first piece of knowledge. If you do not develop study habits or good work ethics, you can?t just change that once you get to college. It takes years. Those who didn?t do well in high school or thought it was acceptable to not do work because they were seniors, are struggling now. I always asked myself why I worked so hard until the day I graduated, but now I know. The study habits I developed throughout my entire education are what have made my transition into college education seamless.

Dear Catherine, I hope you are having a fun and exciting senior year! I've been able to look into the near future and provide you with valuable advice for the quicly approaching tranisition from high school to college, so listen up! Do not worry about making friends, it will happen naturally. Make yourself available and be open minded to the menagerie of opportunities that will be out there. Get involved! You'll learn more about yourself and what you stand for by surrounding yourself with new and exciting activities or events. Network, network, network! Whether it be socially, academically, profesionally, start building connections at all levels. They may come in handy at any stage of life! Lastly, use this experience not only to pursue your passion for education but to explore. Audit classes you've always been interested in, and to reinforce a previous statement, GET INVOLVED! Good luck, you'll be great! Sincerely, Catherine

Do not expect anything because if you do, you are setting yourself up for a huge disappointment. First of all, when applying to colleges make sure you actually could see yourself at those schools and don?t just apply to them because they are so-called ?good schools? or because a search engine told you it was a good match for you. Do all of your research ahead of time and figure out what it is you actually want to get out of the college experience. Don?t just apply because somebody told you it had a good program for whatever field you want to go in, but take location, weather, social life and the distance away from home and friends into consideration. Once you have chosen the right school for you don?t expect the transition to be easy, even if you are used to being away from home. Be open to new people and personalities and don?t be scared to break out of your comfort zone, especially if you are doing the college experience on your own. Finally, although it may seem like it at the time, parties aren?t the only place to meet new people.

The most important thing to remember is that college is not as scary as you think it is. At Syracuse University, there will be people who want to make sure that your transition to college goes as smoothly as possible. Don't be nervous either: you will make good friends, who will become just as special to you as the ones you've left behind. Be sure to join a club or two when you arrive: clubs are a good way to meet new people who are interested in the same things as you, plus you get to put on all the fun events Syracuse holds. Make a point to sift through the course catalogs from all the schools on SU, so you can experiene all types of subjects when choosing courses (you might even find you want to minor in a few!). Don't forget that you can only do college once, so whenever there's an event going on, go to it. Whenever there's a class that interests you, take it. Do anything you want without regrets, because this is the one time you can. Lastly, pack an extra coat, because it is cold as hell.

When choosing a university, remember this is the next four years of your life. You should enjoy every minute and choose the school you want to go to, not the one that seems the most logical or one with the cheapest tuition. Don't think of these next four years as time to endure too, make every possible effort to have fun, learn, and grow!

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself is buckle down and really study a lot more than you already do, college courses are no joke and must be taken seriously

In order to ensure a successful transition from high school to college, the advice that I would go back in time and give myself is to keep an open mind and be welcome to change. This is because in high school I was in a very familiar setting and so I was always comfortable, but upon initially entering college I was in a completely different setting which brought about a lot of discomfort. I did not want to accept the change in my life, and so in the first couple weeks of the semester I was very quiet and not welcoming to the plethora of people I met. Eventually I was able to develop a comfort zone and through time I grew to love the school and all of my newly acquired friends. However, I lost a considerable amount of opportunities within the couple months of school, including creating friendships and joining various clubs and organizations. This is why I would give myself the advice to keep an open mind and be welcome to change, so that I would be able to make the transition from high school to college more easily.

If I could go back in time to my high school self and tell myself what something about college life, the most important thing I would say to myself is not to worry so much about my social life and worry more about my studies. As a high school student I mostly hung out with friends and did the marching band but I was ok in my studies,but that would of been something that I should of been able to work on so I could apply for scholarships for school. I would also tell myself that college life is very much different from high school life because all the work is on me and I can't screw up because if I do it's my fault and not to pay attention to my social life, I could talk to my high school self.

I can definitely attest to the stresses of high school life. For me personally, I was so caught up in college visits, interviews, AP exams, and other obligations that I easily overlooked things I probably shouldn't have. At the time, the application process for college seemed mundane and rather useless-- the prompts were broad and generalizing questions about who I was and who I wanted to be. I always hated them because I just didn't know the answers or what I was writing felt forced. However, looking back on it, I don't think I truely appreciated what those applications did for me. I never noticed that some of the prompts were as much for me as they were for the schools I was applying to. Those questions prodded me to develope an identity, to find out who I really was. If I could do it again I would really embrace some of those applications and really try to get a grip on what they are driving at. It's only dawned on me now that what those applications wanted were what I should have been doing all along.

Hindsight is always 20/20. I know now that room mates are not suppose to cause stressful situations and that is one thing that I would tell myself as a hogh school senior. Don't sweat the small stuff. I have had bad room mate experiences twice now and I worried that I would have this porblem as a senior in high school. However, now I know that I cannot sweat the small stuff because I cannot control it. i cannot control my room mate entering the room at 2 AM and turning the lights on, waking me. I cannot control the constant chatter and webcam conversations that my room mate participates in with no courtesy to my need for silence. Thus, I would tell my high school senior self to prepare for annoying things that are going to happen and that my temper needs to be kept in line when little annoying things build up.

Save your money. College overall is very expensive venture. Get a little part time job that will afford you the opportunity to spend shrewdly.

Assuming I could go back I would change so many things. As a high school sophomore I chose to accept a full scholarship to play soccer at Syracuse University. It was the first and only school I considered. At the time it sounded like a dream come true because I wanted to attend a big school in a big city. Come to find out as I went through school, soccer was not for me but I pushed my way through because I knew it was the only way to attend Syracuse financially. I was cut from the soccer team my Junior year, left with nothing. If I could go back I would choose not to play soccer and focus on my academics. Soccer caused me a lot of stress and took away the focus I needed to have on my academics. Now I need to graduate with a certain GPA in order to follow my dream of becoming a nurse. I wish I could have known what I do now when I decided to take the full scholarship, but I am prepared to take every obstacle as a lesson. I wish to stay there and get the degree I deserve.

"STOP WORRYING! You're future is set at the Syracuse University School of Architecture, so there is no need to freak out. Don't let the little things get to you." This is the one piece of wisdom I would give to myself as a high school senior. It is something I still need to tell myself now and then. In high school, I was so scared about the prospect of leaving home without knowing what the future would hold. That painfully shy person, who sometimes creeps out of the deep inner workings of myself, wanted to curl up into a ball and stay home for just a few more years. I was never comfortable with standing up in front of a crowd to make a presentation. Knowing full well that I was going to architecture school, in which I would have to make presentations in front of peers and professors every week, did not help that shy, unfamiliar person in me. "There is nothing to be afraid of! Everyone looking at you and your presentation is there to help you. They have to go through the same thing so stop worrying. You'll do fine." I'm so wise!

While you may be nervous and homesick your first year of college, one thing to remember is that everyone is feeling the same way. The first couple weeks will be tough, especially if it is your first time away from your family and friends for a significant amount of time. A suggestion of mine would be to go out and try to find organizations or extra-curricular activities that you enjoy. Not only will you have something to keep your mind off of being away from home, but you will meet other students with the same interests as you. One big regret that I have is not becoming more involved in clubs my freshman year. Another tip that I have is to keep the door to your room open, while you are inside of course, the first few weeks of school. It shows that you are approachable and as people walk by, they will likely poke their head in and say hi. It is a great way to meet people on your floor. Finally, do not change who you are and what your morals are just to fit in. Your true friends will appreciate you no matter what.

Have faith in yourself. You?ll do fine and make friends but the time you have is what you make of it so if you want something, go on and do it. Don?t be so afraid of what ?could? happen that ?could? could turn out to be something really good but you never know until you try. Read everything because it will pay off in the end, and don?t slack off the second semester just because you did fine during the first one. Trust your knowledge and take every opportunity to learn more.

I would tell my self not to stress outquite as much. I found the college search very stressful because i wanted to find the perfect school for me. one of the biggest stress factors for me was the cost. I almost didn't apply to the school i attend now because of how much tuition was and how long the application was. I'm so glad i didn't listen to my parents about the cost because in the end the expensive private schools are the ones with the money to help you out financially. I'm also glad i put in the extra effort to apply to all the schools i was considering, even though there were a lot of them. so overall i would just tell myself to keep working hard and get through senior because college is a blast and you'll love it!

I would let myself know that it's not worth it to stress wondering about whether I'll be able to make friends and fit it. I do! There are so many people at college that everyone can find a special place for themselves. There is something for anyone and everyone that will make them feel happy and at home. I would tell myself to just enjoy my last year and my last summer at home. Savor your last moments with your friends and family. I owe a lot to them, but college is a time to branch out and really find your niche. It will feel weird at first, but there is no doubt that you'll eventually get to a point when you are totally conent and comfortable.

First, I would tell myself not to be too focused on one single subject and spend more time on various subjects. I used to study intensively in only one subject. Now I understand that knowledge in a broad area is more helpful than proficiency in single subject, because with experience in a variety of subjects, I am more likely to discover my real interests, which is crucial to me to decide a major in college and a career in life. I cannot afford wasting one or two semesters before I finally find the subject I want to focus on. Second, I would tell myself not to care too much about grades. In high school, the education is exam-oriented, which means everything I did was supposed to help me get good grades on my college entrance exams. Consequently, I mistakenly thought that getting good grades was my ultimate goal. My college experience tells me that studying is an enjoyable thing, not suffering. If all I care about are my grades, I would never have the courage to take challenging courses that might negatively affect my grades. Thus I would never feel the happiness and the thrill of exploring unfamiliar fields.

I would tell myself to just relax. The transition wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be. I did transition well into college and made many new friends. I had been very worried before I left for college about what would happen when I got there, but everything ended up being fine and I absolutely love it now. I would also tell myself to enjoy the process while I can, because it only happens once in a lifetime. There is only one time in my life where I apply to college for the first time, choose which one I want to attend, and then actually go for the first time. Finally, I would remind myself to stop worrying so much and just have fun because that is what college is supposed to be.

Though I am still relatively new to the college lifestyle, I have transitioned into a completely different environment than what I was previously accustomed to. If I could tell myself what I have now learned, it would be this: in college (as in life), you only get what you give! I would tell myself not to expect any academic or social achievements to be given to me. Just as you cannot earn an A without putting any work into a class, you cannot make friends without putting yourself out there and being open to meeting new people - and trust me, college holds so many amazing new people to meet. Whether you are close to home or entering school not knowing a soul, make sure you put effort into all that you do, and that effort will be well worth it. Also, trust me when I say that college academia is much more demanding than high school, yet much more intellectually challenging and well worth it. Lastly...get excited! It's true what they say, these are some of the best years of your life.

The first thing I would say would be "don't expect to make best friends right away" I personally trusted girls too much whom I called my 'best friends' and ended up getting hurt. Make sure to be very open and talk to lots of people in your classes, education comes first so make sure to have a study buddy in class that way you can at least always have someone to talk to. College is emotionally challenging and it's nice to always have someone there.

If I could go back in time and have a discussion with myself as a high school senior, I would give myself advice about making friends, balancing time wisely and tips for doing well in classes. I am fairly shy and introverted when it comes to meeting new people, so I would make sure to tell myself to step out of my comfort zone and try hard to make conversation with new people in classes and be the first to introduce myself. This will help me to make friends outside of those who live on my floor. I would make sure that I understood how important it was to balance time with friends, time for homework, and time for myself. In order to be happy, successful and stress-free, it is important that I balance my time wisely. I would make sure that I understood that in order to do well in class, it is important to read the textbook and study a bit every night instead of waiting until the night before a big exam to cram in loads of information. Lastly, I would assure myself that taking naps is still okay, even when you're in college.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would say: "You know, Tiffany, you should really take the time to apply for more shcolarships! I know you really don't like to write essays and all, but the time you have to take to write those essays is far shorter- and cheaper- than the time it will take you to pay back those terrible student loans. Oh! The thousands you will save!! Your cousin got enough scholarships to get all the way through college, and I know you are smart enough to do the same. Please hear my plea and take action! You will be so thankful that I pressed the issue! Now get started. Some of the essays are actually fun. I'll be seeing you in the mirror. Don't procrastinate!"

Do not pack too many bottles of shampoo. The bottles take up too much space and force students to pay too much up front for a product that can be purchased over time. Other than these practical reasons for foregoing multiple bottles, life lessons can also be learned from restraining this purchase. Buying many bottles of the specific shampoo you know and love from home is a representation of cutting yourself off from new experiences. Without testing many brands and being open to finding a more satisfying lather, rinse, and repeat a student may be stuck in their comfort zone. It is important to try new things at college and let yourself be unprepared for what is to come. If you free yourself from a cycle of sameness you allow for a more interesting and memorable college experience. What may leave your hair silky and fresh in your high school days can isolate you from finding your true passions and true friends during your time at college. Remember to seek that ultimate shine for your locks and open some space in your plastic storage bins.

?You can?t depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus.? This statement, made by Mark Twain, embodies a truth I wish I had known upon entering college. Coming from a small high school, where people seemed to fit into stereotypical categories such as jock, nerd, etc., I felt confident determining who would and would not be my friends when first meeting people at Elon University. If I could go back in time, I?d tell myself, ?People are too complex to fit into restraining stereotypes, and holding this view only leads to hasty, fallacious judgments of others. When you drop this mind-set, you?ll find your closest friends become those with whom friendship was least expected, and they will support you through your ?rollercoaster? of collegiate experiences, always keeping your best interest in mind.? As a wise author once noted, when you view the world through unfocused, or, in this case, judgmental eyes, it misconstrues your view of people and the world around you. Although I wish my pre-college self had realized this, it?s a lesson I had to learn on my own?and it changed my life when I finally did.

It is good to know what you want to do going into college, but be aware of other opportunities other than the specific area of study one is interested in. Do not be too single-minded and consider minors in other fields that may enhance your appeal to employers in the future, but still stay focused on what you want to achieve. Make more time for fun and exercise. College isn't all work.

Before I arrived at Syracuse University, people would always tell me, "College years are the best years of your life." After hearing this cliche statement over and over again I was curious to find out why. As a college freshman I have been able to realize that college provides you with various opportunities to succeed. Not only are you stepping out into the "real world" but it is a time for you to take notice on the type of person you really are and what sparks your interests. Making goals for yourself is extremely important because it serves as a motivation. My goal for the Fall 2009 semester was to attain a 4.0 average and because I was very determined I achieved a 3.9 GPA. It is also important to realize that when you begin this new chapter of your life you need to adapt to a different atmosphere along with getting to know different people. You cannot become enclosed and you cannot always be to yourself because not only will it affect your social life but you will find yourself being depressed more often than others because you have no one to turn to.

If I could visit myself in the past, I would reassure myself that moving from a small town in Ohio to a large city in New York is the right choice. I would remind myself to always clean up after myself, vacuum at least once a month, fold my clothes when I put them away, and most importantly, to be myself. I would tell myself that each move I make in life comes with great responsibilty and great friends.

I would tell myself, above all, not to be afraid of the transition. It's just like any other, you'll get used to it. I would tell myself not to be shut away in my dorm room and worrying about the work load and homework, because it's all very manageable, you just have to be in the right frame of mind. Instead, go out and have some fun. Make some friends, and join some clubs. Talk to people, and find things to do on the weekends. My biggest problem was not having a secure group of friends and feeling utterly alone my first year, and I would tell myself to change that, to be the outgoing person I was in high school and have now resumed being. Becoming antisocial helps nothing, and only worsens things down the road. I'd also tell myself that things do get better, even if you don't believe it. The classes improve, the friends improve, and even though there's more work, it no longer feels as terrible as it did that first year. If you can survive that Freshman year, you can do almost anything, and you will survive.

Well my senior year in highschool I was getting looked at by a couple colleges for football division 1aa. Being my arrogent self I declined to even hear these schools thinking I would just walk on a D-1a team and play. I missed out on a lot of free money because of this and am now in debt. Senior year winding down I got the dreaded girlfriend I thought I was in love at the ripe age of 18. The Uni of Hawaii offered me a preferred walk on position I went through all the preperations to go there, but love struck I made a rash decsion and decided to take fall semester off and enroll at a local college in my city during the spring. I was young and confused. I have not played football for 2-years I have transferred to Syracuse and am struggling to pursue my dream still...My advice would be you can't fall in love in your teens, take what you can get, and study. Everything will vanish but if you get good grades you will succeed and get into the "dream" college therefore eliminating indisicion .

Dear High School Me, It may sound clich?, but time management is by far the greatest factor in determining the ease of your transition to college life. Of course, your number one priority should be studying and completing assignments on time; however, do not underestimate the importance of making friends, joining clubs, and participating in other extracurricular activities. Set aside time to get to know people in your classes and in your residence hall. These people will be experiencing many of the same things as you, so it will feel comforting to discuss your problems and successes with them. These friendships will also come in handy if you are struggling in a class and need tutoring. Leave time in your schedule for clubs, which provide a much needed break from schoolwork. Joining a club is also another great way to meet people with similar interests. Finally, do not forget to allot yourself time to just relax. It is not a crime to do something fun with the new friends that you have made, or to simply have alone time. Every night, take fifteen minutes or so to reflect on the previous day and plan the next. Sincerely, College Me

Get your work done! You can have fun on the weekends, but you don't need to be going out five nights a week. Study hard, this is what you're here for! You don't understand how easy it is to fall behind! Final exams will be here before you know it and you'll suddenly have 800 pages of rhetorical theory to read in one week. Read the syllabus, create a study schedule and purchase a big calender to write down all of your reading assignments and term papers!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself about college life, I wouldn't tell myself too much. I feel as though I am very honest with who I am and how I act. If there is something I want to do, I'll do it. When I went off to college, I didn't hesitate about many decisions I made. If I gave myself any advice, it would probably be to take more opportunites to go out and check out local art venues. It's hard to understand public transportation, especially coming from a town where there wasn't a bus route per se. And in Syracuse, the public transportation is incredibly important. So overall, I wouldn't give myself too much more advice besides just get out and explore the town some more. It would help with my studies and give me some time to reflect on what I really want to do.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry and that everything will work out for the best. I would assure myself that starting over in a new area knowing nobody is not as hard as it seems. I would encourage myself to get involved in campus activities right away and to be involved in more than I am now because it is a great way to meet a diversity of people. I was very disorganized so I would tell myself to get organized and stay organized. Avoiding procrastination is key to staying on top of schoolwork and doing your best, so I would stress this. I would advise myself to make good friends and to avoid those who are a bad influence. I would also remind myself that even though I will be far away from my home, if I ever need advice or just want to talk to someone that it is just a phone call away to my family or friends.

There are many things that a high school senior worries about when preparing for the transition to college life. For me, it was whether college would be the same drab time as high school, or would the things you hear about college being the best time of your life actually be real? As a senior, I hoped that the latter was the case, considering I was extremely ready to get out of my small, claustrophobic high school, where I felt I never really found my place among other students who seemed to have their own niches set. If I would have known that I would meet some of the most amazing people when I entered college, I would have been a less anxious high school senior. It is good to know that going to college is truly like starting over. It is so different. There is no need to worry about what your classmates thought of you in high school. That time is done. It may sound cliche, but no one will care who you were in high school when you enter college. It is a fresh start; one that was absolutely able to change my life.

I thought that college would be a scary experience and would be a knightmare. I was nervious and scared for myself, because i was alone on a large campus with people i did not know. However, if i knew what i did now, i would of been more calm and a little more friendlier, However, i did adapt to the college life and found friends, with whom will be my friends for the rest of my life. Finally, i was able to handle school work and social life very well, which i thought i would not be able to handle initially.

Amy, stop looking at me strangely. Yes, I did notice there are two of us. I am your future college self. Yes, I understand that you don't believe me, but listen to what I have to say anyway. I have some very important advice for when you go to college. Please take notes. Thank you. Ready? Here it goes: First of all, don't be afraid to be outgoing. You will make many friends if you just let your bubbly, vivacious side show. Next, get involved. Join a club or two clubs or five. On another note, don't eat the desserts in the dining hall. Otherwise you will gain ten pounds. Of course I can't forget: go to athlete events! Sure, you will have to endure the football team losing(constantly), but then you can watch basketball win! But go to some concerts and plays also! Otherwise you will regret it. Also, don't feel pressured to drink. People in college will respect your decision to abstain from alcohol. Finally, be a nerd. Find the library. Study hard. Ask questions in class. Your GPA will thank you. Oh, and by the way: you choose Syracuse University.

I would go back and tell myself that the transition is not exactly going to be easy, but stick with it because it will be better. I would say to go into college with a clear and fresh mind because you don't have time to let past stresses and problems hold you back and keep you from accomplishing what needs to be done. I would tell myself to be who I am and don't change my personality for anybody. You know you're not perfect and don't strive to be because you need to be content with who you are and everything else will fall into place. Last but not least I would tell myself to make sure I stick to my plans and don't let anyone distract you because they will try to, be the outgoing and passionate person you are but don't let anyone take you for a fool. Study hard, education is a privilege...Don't take it for granted.

Ah, naivet?. If I could go back, would have liked to know the concept of getting involved. I was over-involved in high school and decided to take a break once college rolled around. Finally, in the beginning of my sophomore year, I joined a few clubs and organizations. The friends I?ve made through those have been amazing; they?ve taught me more about what I?m doing and about myself. I wish I could go back and tell myself to jump right into it. Why wait? Sure, you?ve got your whole life, but don?t waste any time sitting around in the dorm room. I wish I knew all of the amenities of campus. I?m beginning to discover the best places to study (and sleep) on campus. Recently I?ve begun to find the restaurants, museums, and shows the surrounding area provides. I can?t help but wonder how much more I could have experienced had I known about this earlier. Classes are important?college is about academics, after all?but nothing can beat the memories of what I enjoy most. I just wish I found it sooner.

I would tell myself that moving away from isn't as easy as I though it would, and I that running away from my problems isn't easy either. College isn't just some vacation or some escape route from a crappy home life, but a new adventure that I need to take seriously and really focus on. I would have told myself that leaving Las Vegas for New York was the best decision I ever made, but I still had to work to change my life for the better and become the independent person I am today. Because I left home when I did, I can now stand on my own two feet without anyone else helping me. I wish I could have told my high school self about all the home-sickness first, but after I got over that, the person I became was much stronger and a lot happier than before I ever left!

Join clubs or groups on campus that you are passionate about and not for the social life. It will immerse yourself onto the campus-life culture, however be very aware of the damages being too involved in a sorority and fraternity can do. Be focused on your studies first and look for ways to get ahead rather than partying too much.

I personally would not have done anything differently. I am very happy with what I have accomplished at this school. I have made many new friends and have done very well academically. My internship in Dubai last summer confirmed this belief. In my opinion, the best program that my school has to offer (engineering-wise) is the internship in Dubai for civil engineers. Each year six students are selected to stay in Dubai for 5 weeks to work on construction sites that are in all stages of completion. I learned more in those 5 weeks than I did in almost all of college. The academic side of learning is extremely important, but practical experience is at least just as important. I feel that schools (at least my school until this program arose) do not provide enough real-world experience. With this in mind, I would encourage students to participate in programs that offer practical experience (no matter what their major may be). It is extremely important in terms of gaining knowledge, resume appearance, experiencing other cultures (abroad programs), and gaining real-world experience. Academics merely reinforce practical experience, they aren't a substitute.

I would definitely tell myself to have excellent time management skills. Aside from the rigor of classes, I am involved in a radio station, TV station and the Executive Board of my fraternity. Having to balance all of these activities can seem daunting from week to week. However, over the last two years, I've learned how to plan ahead, schedule certain work loads ahead of time, and still have opportunities to have an excellent social life. In high-school, time management was honestly never an issue because everything was so cut-and-dry: you went to school in the morning, had athletic practice afterwards, did homework, slept, then did it all over again the next day. At college, there are curveballs thrown at you every hour. Whether it's one paragraph of an essay, a beat reporter from Georgetown only being able interview you within the next hour, to a couple of guys playing football. Things are coming at you at all moments, and its so important to have the ability to keep everything in order and completible in a timely fashion. Hitting deadlines and planning, especially in my field of journalism, is key to excellence in college.