Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

I would tell my high school senior self that college is not like high school. You need to study and focus on school work and not put it off until the last minute or your grades will suffer because of it. You don't want to just get by in college, you want the good grades. Also, time management is crucial, learn how to set time to study and then you will have time for anything else, play or work. College is the real deal and it is the best years of your life, take it seriously, and make something of yourself. Don't waste time.

If I could go back into time and give my past self advise, I would tell myself to keep on keeping on! Never lose sight of your dream. There will be many trials and times where you will be beaten down and feel like you can't go on but you can. Have you friends speak truth over you, talk to an advisor or pastor. The number one thing you can do is believe in yourself. You are your worst critic and you shouldn't listen. Know the truth, believe it, and run with it.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would tell myself plethora of items that would have helped me out in the first year of university. I would start by advising myself to not succumb to the infamous Senioritis. Because of the ?disease? I lost a huge amount, if not all, of the interest of finishing my advanced high school courses. I would follow this advice by smacking myself upside the head and yelling at my senior self for only taking the SAT once. My coupled score of English and mathematics was forty points shy of automatic acceptance into Texas A&M and would have saved me a lot of unneeded stress if I had gotten all 1300 points. I would also mention that we should have applied to more scholarships to help our dad who is paying for two college students at the same time. I would proceed to warn myself about not getting too cocky over the easiness of college courses since because of that we would fall short to gain the ability to enter Honor roll courses by 0.17 GPR points. Finally I would congratulate myself for entering Texas A&M.

First, look into ALL of your options. Just because something is easy or convenient does not mean it is the best choice. Make sure to ask questions: school counselors, advisors, and other school professionals are valuable resources when making decisions about college. Apply for every scholarship and grant you can get your hands on, and really find out what your financial options are. Go to community college to get the basics done: it is easier and cheaper. Take summer school when available. Get involved. Having a feeling of inclusion and family helps you feel successful and accepted. Make sure to be tolerant. You will meet many different people with many different points of views, and it is so important to practice acceptance, kindness, and open-mindedness. Be especially easygoing with your roommates. They will drive you nuts, they may be inconsiderate, and they may not be your best friends, but don't stress the small stuff and just make sure to be the best roommate YOU can be.

I would tell myself to put myself in situations that are outside of my comfort zone more frequently. I would also emphasize the importance of not only academics but also in having fun becuase you are only in college once in your life.

Though your close relationship with your family is a strong priority in your life, don't let that deter you from fully focusing on school and making friends. It may seem tough initially, but your close relationship with your family won't change. They'll need to adjust to your move as well, but they'll be just as supportive 100 miles away. Choose a school that you feel passionate about. You should never feel as if you're settling when it comes to something as important as higher education. It will be your life for the next four years.

Stay focused on school because that is your main priority. Meeting new people, and being on your own is great, but you have to always remember the main reason that you are in school is to get an education. You can't let the hype of college life affect you and become one of the statistics that never finish college and drops out. ALWAYS keep your eye on the prize.

Remember that you are not alone in this transition. There is a whole class of freshmen students who feel the same way as you do. Feeling alone and isolated will make your adjustment to college extemely difficult. The wise thing to do is to form connections with other people as soon as possible. Most universities offer a wide variety of school sponsored camps, before school starts, to help freshmen meet other students. I recommend that you take advantage of these events. If nothing else, these camps help break the ice and remind you that there are others who feel the same way that you do. Another way to make the transition easier is to join a club. There are a wide variety of clubs open to all students. Find a club that interests you and attend a meeting. The key to a positive experience during your first year of college is to remain open to new possibilites. The fear of trying new things will limit your college experience. Make a concerted effort to keep this fear in check. College is so much more than school books and lectures. It is a chance to grow as a person. Seize this opportunity.

I have often wished that I could have known in high school what I now know about college life and how to successfully manage. The single biggest point I would stress to my high school self if given the opportunity is to attend each and every class. Regular class attendence increases ones chances of success exponentialy. The second most important thing I would tell myself is to not think I know everything and accept the fact that it is going to take hard work and dedication to succeed in classes. Finally, I would tell myself not to do things the hard way and to actively seek out help and advising from the many programs and institutions whose sole purpose is to help college students succeed. I would stress the importance of looking for grants and scholarships such as these, as they make college life much easier and allow the student to focus of the academic material, which is what is really important.

Attend a 2 year college and then trasfer, this way it is cheaper and you can get a higher gpa and do not frustrate with the wiped out classes at the university

The advice I would give myself if I could go back in time would be that I should be prepared for the most difficult transition anyone at my age and lack of exposure to extreme academics will experience at this early stage in llife. Happy that I became an Eagle Scout and winning a nationwide essay contest that touted my achievements amongst other academic successes while in high school which gained me self-confidence, I would have to remain focused, improve my study skills and realize that I am an adult who will from this time forward, remain self-reliant.

If I could go back to senior year in high school I would start by telling my self to enjoy every minute you've got because, soon you will have to join the real world and you don't kjnow how good you have it. Then I would tell myself that college is a lot more demanding than high school and that you can't fall behind or you will then be fighting an uphill battle ten times steeper than if you just get your things done when you are supposed to. Also despite what I just said and this is the really tough part don't forget to always find time for fun. College is supposed to be the greatest time of your life filled with you best memories, so get out there and make memories. Don't ever let an opertunity pass you by and always thank God for everything he has given you. You have been bleesed with a good family and great friends but never miss out on making more friends. Love the time you have and don't ever waste a minute of it. Life is to short to be depressed. Love yourself.

Pay more attention in your classes

I would tell myself that there is nothing that anyone could have ever said to me that would have prepared me for college more than I was. It is all about facing the things you don't know are coming. Life is 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} what happens to you and 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} how you react to it. If I were to return to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get out there and try everything because the only way to fail is to not try. Fail forward, so that at least you are still moving when you fail. I would say to not judge others because if you do, you cannot get to know them for who they are. Leadership is about relationships and making the REAL aspect come out. Find out your purpose because that will lead to your passion which will lead to the power and impact you can have on the world. Deal with adversity well by accepting it, adjusting to it, having a good attitude by being flexible, and then pursuing your ambitions and goals. This is what college and also life is about. Get excited for four amazing years.

I would tell myself college is fun, but you still have to study and do well in classes. High school is easy compared to college it would have helped if I had worked a little bit harder I might have been a little more prepared. I would also tell myself to not worry about the big classes. Almost anywhere you go there are gonna be big classes its just the way it is. It was as bad as I thought it was gonna be. Scholarships are another thing that are important. They helped me out a lot, but I had to apply for them which takes time. It is worth it though.

The one bit of advice I would go back and give myself is that even though I applied for many scholarships, I should have put more effort into finding more to apply for. My parents are not financially able to help me and it is up to me to fund my education. I have taken out loans to pay for my education. If I had gotten more scholarships, I would have been able to borrow less. I currently apply for whatever scholarship I can. I believe that whether it is for $10 or for $10,000, it is money I don?t have to borrow. This would be what I would change. I had prepared my self for the transition into college by taking dual credit high school classes. I learned how to ?budget? my time between high school work, college work, and a social life. This ?budgeting ?of time is what I still use . It has helped me find a balance between school work, volunteering, and going out with my friends. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship. It will be a tremendous help and blessing in funding my goal of becoming a Pediatric Pulmonologist. Mary Yantis

Study hard! Start preparing now for a crazy work load, all-nighters, and striving for excellence. Know that perfection cannot be reached but your best is all that matters. So what if you don't have a 4.0, you are doing great just using the talents that you have to achieve your dreams. Keep pressing on! You can do it! When it feels like you're doing horrible in a class, stick it out! Talk to the professor, build relationships with classmates, and encourage one another. Your best is all that matters, and at the end of the day you want to be able to stop, breathe deeply, and tell yourself that you've done everything you can to do your best.

Take everything seriously, school comes first, then have fun later. Do work on time and read before, basically listen to the professors. Not to get morning classes, but if you do make sure you have enough sleep. If you work, just one job that does less than 20 hours a week, because again school is more important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait. Don't go just yet. Figure out what you want to do with your life first. When the time comes. Go full force don't give up and don't stop.

I would tell myself to work harder that first semester of school. I felt like I didn't understand how hard you need to study and how important it is to go out there and get involved. I feel like I also did not join enough clubs my freshman year and that I was not as involved as I should have been. I should have also told myself to make more friends to study with for those hard classes. Studying with a person helps you focus and I know I need that help. I would explain to myself how to schedule my classes wiser and how tierd I would be and that 8am classes would not be very wise! I would also tell myself to go to the help groups on campus that we have like the writting center to help with my projects in class instead of proof reading them myself. I have learned a lot in my first year and would have lots to tell myself if I went back in time. However, I am also glad I learned it the hard way too. I am glad I expirenced the things I did, even if it was hard.

I would tell myself to get more involved in several organizations and branch out a little more, but for the most part, I have enjoyed my college experience just how it is.

I would tell myself to start making good study havits right now. I would tell myself to budget my time so I could have more than enough time to study. I would also tell myself to start saving money. Although I work right now while I'm in college I still struggle for many because I always seem to run short. I would tell myself to start saving money because I wouldn't have to worry as much about working and could spend more time worrying about school.

If you don't really know what you want to major in, go with General Studies. C's do NOT give you degrees. Try different things in college, you might find something you're interested in. Be truthful to yourself, that way you don't waste time or money in the long run!

I would tell myself to get more involved early on in my college career because that is how everyone makes lifelong friends. I was always quiet, so I would have told myself that the best way of getting involved was through volunteer organizations and not a sorority that wasted my time trying to fit me in.

Apply for as many scholarships you can, start off as an English major because you know you love to write and have a knack for editing, so it's the obvious choice (or a VIZ major because you're an artist and love working with computers, which makes it the other obvious choice--or, hey, why not both?), don't buy meal plans because they're ridiculously expensive compared to trips to the grocery store, get a job that isn't a student worker position because those don't help you get in-state tuition, and STUDY.

Take as many dual credit classes as you can and don't lose focus when you get to college. Slacking off will get you one step forward and eight steps back at A&M.

I would tell myself to study more, save more money, and to cut loose a little more.

I would remind myself that knowing my exact career is not a necessity right away. I have plenty of time to figure out exactly what suits me, and what makes me happiest. I would remind myself that stress is not helpful and that I have plenty of resources to help me through. I would also remind myself to rely heavily on my faith, because with that strong foundation, anything is possible.

Learn how to study efficiently. Be money wise, Take as many AP courses as possible, be very mature.

Pay more attention to getting into college. As a senoir in highschool, I didn't pay attention at all. My SAT scores were really high and is the reason I got into any colleges, but I was slipminded about the process and didn't get to chose really. I also let others dictate what my life would be and didn't push for the things I really wanted. So, "be your own person" and "pay more attention to choice" and "go for that boy florian with all your heart" those are the things I would like to go back and say.

I would tell myself to establish good study habits now and convince myself that anything is possible, you just have to work for it, but never, never give up. Even when things seems bleak there is always something or someone there to help you get through the hard times just when you are about to give up, you just have to learn to ask for help. Also don't ever let anyone tell you that you are smart enough because it isn't true because there is a big different between college and high school. In college you have to work hard for your grades meaning you have to study everyday.

I would tell my self not to take the classes I did first semester. I didn't listen to my dad or my advisor when they tried to tell me not to take Organic Chemistry, Calculus, and Genes, Ecology and Evolution all at the same time. I had a hard time keeping up with my classses. Studying for one and forgetting to studying for the others. Also, my downfall was waiting until the last minute to study for anything. I had so much distractions, watching tv on my laptop and hanging out with friends all the time. So if I had the chance to tell my high school senior self I would tell him to choose his classes wisely, set time aside to study and actually study. And if he starts to struggle, he should immediately go to tutoring and to the professors office hours to seek help. I would tell him study each day so that he won't have to cram for the exams the night before. One last thing, never ever pull all-nighters, they are not worth it. Get a good amount of sleep before each exam.

When chosing a school, try to step a little outside of your comfort zone to maximize your learning experience. If you grew up in a small town, go to a school that is in a more populated region. This way you will meet and interact with different types of people and become a well-balanced person. One needs to be exposed to different personalities so as to become familiar with working in diverse teams. The working environment will place you in teams, so a more diverse college experience will prepare you better.

Diveristy and unity build the foundation of a community. When you have thousands of your best friends asking you to hang out every night its pretty hard to get homesick. Throw in some character, and you are guarunteed to have a unique experience, something that you'll enjoy telling your folks about back home. Tradition is what really brings people together to remember the past and build experiences for the future, while hearing stories is nice, living them out and building upon them are even better. Excellence will help you aim for achievement and give you the ability to strive for what you believe in. Optimism will motivate you to take on the impossible. Loyalty will give you a sense of belonging to something greater than yourself. Find a place with these core values and you will have found a school in which you will succeed.

Make sure that you take a tour of the campus and talk to some people who have gone there. It is important to feel like your going to fit in before you even get there, and these people will give you the best representation of the school itself. Don't be afraid to start over with friends, because everyone else is too! Have fun and get involved but not too involved to where you are overwelmed and can't keep up with your studies.

I just recommend feeling the campus for a few days. Go and visit all the things on the campus you want. Definently go and sit in on a class, because if you see one proffessor, you will end up getting a feel for what classes will be like later. Figure out how many greek houses there are and figure out if you want to be in one before hand.

It is important to manage your time wisely. Studying and writing papers honestly doesn't take very long as long as you have your time well organized. Twenty minutes of reviewing your notes after class every day can be more valuable than 2-3 hours of cramming to reteach yourself what you've forgotten when you get to an exam. Also, when you just review regularly, you won't be studying under stress like you would during a cram session. I find that I really retain information better when I'm in a casual mood when reading it. Twenty minutes per class a day to review notes also leaves with with plenty of time for social activities later. Outside of class, make sure you don't JUST do the reading assignments, but also review your notes. I can't stress that enough. Many of professors I have had value what they think over what their assigned text books say.

Mom's and Dad's while very helpful can also be overbearing when it comes to the college search and experience. Prospective college students need to learn to be on their own as quickly as possible without mom and dad constantly holding there hand every step of the way. Let your student take their own initiative. If they're ready for college they'll get there own their own. It's ok to help with things they might forget, but let go of the riens and let them be big kids, so that they can ultimatly mature to adulthood on their own.

The best advice I can give parents and/or students about finding the right college is to be realistic about the location of the college, the financial responsiblilty that the college incures and making sure that the student can adjust to the environment and fit in. In order for the student to make the most of their college experience they need to know how to balance their school time and their fun time. College is about having fun and meeting new people but the main reason your at school is to get an eduaction and a degree. If a student can learn from the start how to balance their school and work time their college experience will be great. My best advice is to have fun and work hard because this moment in your life is going to determine your future and who you become.

Students should honestly follow their gut when deciding what school is right for them. Research the campus, talk to advisors and students, learn about the services the campus offers and go see the campus. Go to a campus can make or break your decision, you may love the school on paper, but you get there and it just is not what you were expecting or the people are different than you thought they might be. Use the paper research in order to narrow down your schools, but do not let it be your soul deciding factor. Also, don't go to a school because somebody wants you to. If you are like me and paying for most of your education, you don't want to be unhappy with what you are paying for just becasue mom or dad wanted you to go to this school. It is ultimately the student's decision, so parents...let them make it!

My advice to parents would be to let your kids do things on their own. They need to experience what it is like to live without your constant supervision. That's not saying that you shouldn't be active in their lives, just let them find themselves. And to the new students, I would suggest living in the dorms for at least the first year. This gives you the chance to meet quite a few new friends and allows you to wake up 5-10 minutes before class and still make it on time. I would also suggest that you find a mentor at the beginning of the semester, even if you think you know how to do everything. Your classes might surprise you. Don't be afraid to talk to the professor either. By talking to the professor, you show him/her that you really want to learn the material and they are usually very good references for later jobs and careers.

Don't worry too much about finding your perfect match. Find someplace within the bounds you need; if you have chosen the right place, it will help you to grow to love it. Find a few qualities that are specific to your needs and never let your future grow dim. Find a place with lots of student activities, or at least those that you know you'll be interested in. Even if you don't have solid interests going into things, college is a time for exploration and discovering who you are, while learning to succeed in a real world environment and preparing yourself for a career. Never be afraid to try new things, and dont be afraid to find something flexible. Take time to learn what you like, what you love, and what you have a solid interest in. Make friends in different places and love your time spent developing your persona. Study hard and if you have trouble, don't hesitate to look toward newly found friends, professors, peers, or even administrators for help. After all, you pay to go somewhere, make them tailor to your future. Keep it bright and never let yourself down. Keep smiling.

Apply as early as you can because if you are not Top 10 percent in Texas it's harder to get in, but possible! The Corps is great whether or not you want to be in the military and there are many other awesome organizations at A&M. A&M is a large community so it is imortant to get involved and plugged into organizations on and off campus like a service group, Bible study and a church. Get to know new people and strive to use the things you learn in college to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Don't flake out on your faith just because some professor or student tells you Christianity is dumb. Be active in class and engage in the community. Don't be the person who cannot be ready to present a defense of what you believe when it is questioned. Be informed and understand other view points and belief systems in order to better relate to those people and converse with them effectively. Apply for as many scholarships and financial aide as you possibly can and continue doing so throughout your college career. Trust God.

One of the biggest things you van do to be sure you are at the right school is to shadow a person. Many schools such as my own have a shadowing program where you will follow a student around to get used to the feel of everything around. You will be able to familiarize yourself with every aspect of the school. When you are in school try to get involved in whatever you are passionate about. At Texas A&M we have over 800 student organizations so you are bound to find something you will like. I have talked to many upperclassmen that have regretted not becoming involved earlier in their time in school because you miss out on so many oppurtunities to meet new friends and give back to the school or community.

I would suggest that students apply to and visit as many schools as possible. After they visit the schools they are interested in they need to really evaluate what the most important things they want out of school are. Some students are more concerned on having fun in college, and some students only care about a strong academic program. Everyone has different personal preferences and instead of listening to what other people think they should do they need to decide through their own instincts what school is going to fit them best and why.

Visit the college in person. Consider quality of life factors, such as the rec center and dining halls. The size of the school is not only a factor to the classroom, but social activities as well.

Every college has an attitude of its own. Whether you are into sports, arts, studies or a social life, there is a perfect college or university for you. Do not settle for any school based on other people's opinions, say your parents', classmates', or significant other's, but rather the university that you connect to and feel as though you can be apart of. Upon entering the university or college, become PART of the school. Make friends, join a group where you can pursue something you love, and most importantly, get out of your dorm room. You are paying for a college education, which involves much more than the classes and credits you take towards your degree. While studying and being academically excellent is pertinent, so is getting the full college experience which encompasses much more than what they teach you in classes or what you read in your textbooks. College is an important time in life when you establish who you are as an individual and what you will do in your life, and choosing the right university to help guide you on that path is one of the most crucial decisions in your life.

Visit every school you are considering; you might do all the research possible online and decide that you love it, but once you visit you might feel completley different, thats how I was with a couple. The minute I stepped on campus I knew thats not where I needed to be, when I stepped on the A&M campus I automatically felt like thats where I belonged. College is exciting because you finally will be on your own, making your own decisions, able to stay out till whenever you want; but it is very important to not lose sight of your academics, which is why you are there to begin with. I know I went off thinking I wouldn't fall into the traps of staying out late and having a good time, but it's really easy to fall into it and it happens before you know it, so learn how to balance your time well. Join an organization and get involved, its a great way to meet upperclassmen and friends, and they can definitly help you get used to college life.

Finding the right college requires some research depending on what you are looking for. One must know what the school offers for them and their carreers in the future. And while in college they should join clubs or organizations where they can meet new people and make friends for life.

The most important thing to consider is what you want. Although other opinions matter, it is you that will be virtually living on this campus for the next for the next for years. In addition, you must pick a major that you enjoy because otherwise classes will be miserable for you and this iwll seep into other aspects of your life. Finally, it is important to have fun and relax in addition to studying, as balancing work and play is the key to success both academically and socially.