Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

Leaving the comfort of your house, your family, and your familiar hometown is terrifying; but while this huge change in your life is like jumping off the edge of a cliff into the unknown, that experience of falling will change your life in ways that you cannot imagine. Don’t let yourself be inhibited by fear; take chances in college. Do things that you’ve always dreamed of, because now you have the chance to do them. Learn how to make genuine friends in all of your classes. Having someone to share the high and low points of the semester with makes all of the experiences more memorable. Focus on your studies and get excited to learn new things! Take time to find a few things that bring you pure, unadulterated enjoyment, and use those to keep your sanity in the coming years. Look at college as a brand new start. A fresh, crisp, clean page where you can write whatever you want. And the beauty of that thought is in the knowledge that all the people you meet and become friends with in college will know who you are—not what you were, but who you choose to be.

Dear Jordyn Kilgore of 2009, You were right! College is amazing. Although life was difficult in high school your focus and drive to get off Maui and explore created an incredible future. Things to remember: don’t let other people decide your destiny. Everyone has their own experiences whether good or bad; you have to get out there and decide your own. Find friends that are on the same proactive plan as you. Friends you come across that are lost take time to help them out. You may be focused on your dream, however the only way to create a better world is to make sure others can accomplish theirs as well. Jordyn, I know college seems impossible with only your mom to support you, but get up and do scholarships, because there is bound to be someone out there willing to help you out. Keep following your dreams and the support will come. You can do it! Love, Jordyn of 2012

"Never give up! Do not ever lose hope in fulfilling your career dreams! Start preparing today for the future you want tomorrow!" I would stand up on a desk and deliver my speech with as much confidence and vibrato I could muster to get the message to really sink in. College is such a different playground from high school. "You must persistently apply yourself and stay disciplined in your studies." It's just too easy to get caught up in the social joys of your newfound freedom. However, I would also reassert my beliefs. "College is about finding out who you are as an individual. Don't be afraid to pursue your interests and try other things. This is all part of the learning experience." No one told me that college was going to be like a punch in the face. Yes, it woke me up and motivated me to excel in my college career, but it hurt! College is the place of opportunities. "You will need to pace yourself. Use critical thinking in making life changing decisions, but keep an open mind to possibilities. Don't let personal insecurities hold you back. The world is yours!"

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice I would say, "Will, at the beginning of college everyone tries to meet everyone and it is great to be outgoing. But after awhile, people begin to settle. They become comfortable with who they are and the friends they have and by the middle of the first semester it will be easy to settle into the routine and the friend group that you have. Instead of settling keep on meeting people and keep on sitting with random people just to get to know them because that is how you will continue to build great relationships that you would otherwise miss out on if you settled into your routine. College is going to be awesome man and you are going to meet some incredible people. Stay strong in the Lord and stay true to yourself so you can hang on and enjoy the ride."

Going back in time I would be such an interesting experience because I could tell myself how important it is to get involved. I have learned through that by getting involved with organizations on campus I am able to meet people within all these different organizations instead of having a general group of friends in high school. Another thing I would tell myself is how pivitol it is to have time management. In college there are countless ways to get distracted and being able to have self-control and focus is definintely very important in order to do well in my classes.

If you don't know what you want to do start the with the basic classes. Learn how to save money and not use it on unneccessary items. If you have a roommate set up ground rules and have a contract that everyone signs. If they do not abided by the contract go to the office and find out how they can help. Allow yourself to go home but not every weekend. Go out and don't stay at home all the time.

Lose the TV. There are many ways to get involved, have fun, and meet new people during your college years. There is going to be a lot of work to be done, yes, but there is also going to be a good amount of down time. Do not waste it! Join some clubs. Get out and volunteer. Make time to spend with God and in fellowship with others praising the Lord.Pick up that hobby that you have never had time for and make time for it, because for the first time in your life you decide, all the time, what you are going to do that day. Carpe the heck of that diem and every diem, and college is sure to be the best time of your life. Nothing is wrong with a little TV or video games, but what ever you do, do with friends. Make many friends, but remember that one good friend is worth more than 20 people you know. Live everyday with no regrets, especially when it comes to packing up and going on that road trip or doing that project last minute. You will never forget the memories that you make here.

Try your hardest in high school. The choices and work ethics you start now will determine your future. What you do in high school open doors for and during your freshman year in college. Once you get to college, your freshman year opens doors and determines the rest of you college career. Your college career then determines your first job. Although you will not have a single thing from high school on your resume by your second year of college, it is the root which has shaped where you are in college and where you will go.

The number one thing I would tell myself would be to work super hard when I got into college. I would tell myself to study hard and put in a huge amount of effort into my classes. The second thing I would tell myself as a senior would be to apply for more scholarships. When I was a senior I started the scholarship process late and therefor did not get to apply for as many as I wanted to. The third thing I would tell myself would be to join more organizations. I am currently in one organization but I wish i would have joined at least one other, but because I decided not to I regret that decision. The last piece of advice I would give myself is to make plenty of friends in my classes and make study groups. Friends in classes and study groups have been one of the best things of my college career.

There are so many great opportunities for you out there Sandra. Right now, it may seem like the small things are the end of the world and you may doubt how far you can go sometimes but don't worry. Soon enough you will be surrounded by friends who love you and will be there for you no matter what. You'll have the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and, most importantly, learn something from every single one of them. You will have the ability to be a leader in your community and to impact the lives of everyone around you. Whenever you think that you're at a standstill, you should know that you're going to go far. You're going to get an education that most dream of and you're going to do good in this world with what you learn. Keep your head up, because it's all going to be worth it.

I would tell myself to find an advisor who knows about how to enter the career path that I was interested in, and utilize that advisor to plan out my undergraduate education. I would also tell myself to time manage more efficiently, and stop thinking the way I did in highschool. College takes work, espceially if you want to get somewhere worth getting to. And while it's important to work hard, when it comes to joining organizations, join the ones that you are going to enjoy and with people that you like rather than ones that will look the best on your resume. You will find that you get a lot more out of the experience, and don't regret giving up your time for it.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself when I was in my senior year of high school, I would tell myself to listen to my mom when she lectures about scholarships. It's so important to do scholarships so that whatever money I can get will be applied to my education. It was always tedious and boring to me, filling out form after form but now, I wish I would have spent hours on end doing those scholarship forms because it's hard getting through college without money to fund you through. And evedyone's short on cash these days. So I would tell myself to take the scholarships more seriously and to stop whining when my mother nags at me to do them.

Your senior year, participate in everything that you are passionate about and have the time to do well. Be a leader. Hold office. Take initiative. Don’t just build your resume – build the person you want to become. Decide what your field of study in college will be. Do this in time to choose the right universities, and also to choose the best courses to take this year. Don’t be tempted to slack off – take those hard classes that will prepare you best. Next year, live on campus! There is so much activity that happens spontaneously when you live with thousands of other freshmen. Your first semester away, find the right organization for your interests/passions, and throw yourself whole-heartedly into it. My best college friends are in my freshmen in Service and Hosting group. In addition to our meetings and service projects, we spend lots of time together studying, eating and socializing. Choose friends who will be the kind of influence you want. Want to study? Hang around with studious people. Want to be fit? Hang out with friends who play sports or work out.Go to class. Every class. Every time.

The first piece of advice I would give is to remember why you're attending college in the first place and to never lose sight of your goals. Half of the incoming undergrad students either end up dropping out or having to stay another year- that doesn't make it okay for you to do that. Focus and graduate. Grades are important- very important. It's one of the many factors that determine your future. Don't let peer pressure, alcohol, or relationships lead you astray from your goals. Know what's wrong and right. Be strong and confident with who you are and remember that no matter what happens- God won't throw an obstacle in your path if He doesn't think you can handle it. College is a time for you to stretch out your wings, but you're not ready to fly yet. Reach out to the different people all around you and dedicate some of your time to volunteering- trust me, it's a rewarding feeling. And never be afraid to ask for help- everyone has to start from the bottom before working their way up. Have fun, but remain focused at the same time!

Dear Senior Self, Hang in there! I know it seems escape from the cliche nightmare that is high school will never come, but it will. College will be a welcome change as you find a diverse population of people that share your interests and truly care for your well-being. Do not shy away from social interaction! Your peers are actually interested in getting to know you: the sweet girl that wears cat sweaters. Make friends with those you sit next to in lecture. They will serve as both social and educational resources throughout the semester. While working up the courage to speak is difficult, the payoff is great. You will more often regret not speaking rather than speaking up. Also, stay organized! With more classes, sports clubs, organizations, and campus events than you've ever had available, your schedule will be quite full. An updated planner will be an invaluable resource to you. Most of all, have fun. Enjoy the time you get to spend in college! It is a unique time of opportunity, friendship, and learning that should not be taken for granted! Good luck and gig 'em! -Your College Self

Although I have completed only one semester here at Texas A&M, I could say that college is something each and every one of us must experience in order to completely be moved by the significance of the huge step you make into your life. I would tell myself that in order to make one good decision, you will have to make about 5 bad ones. Mistakes and faliure are inevitable so one shouldn't be so uptight on being perfect. College is about finding oneself. Who would you like to be in the next 4 years? You can't plan the future, so there's no use in trying to, but one thing you can do is make goals of what remembrance you would like to leave to your name. Being the perfectionist that I am, I would say that these would be great things to keep in mind, not only in college, but also in the huge obsurity that lies ahead of each of us, life.

Never miss a deadline. In high school, some of your teachers would push the deadlines back and give you more time. But in college, its either you turn it in or its a zero. Organization and time management are also very important. College is very fast paced, and there is more work and studying than there was in high school. One of the major differences with high school and college is that in high school, you spend most of your time finishing your homework, but in college you spend most of your time studying for upcoming tests and exams. Taking advanced placement classes and duel credit in high school also helps a lot once you get into college. Also make sure your professor gets to know you. Go to their office hours, because whenever you need a one point grade bump, it helps for your professor to know you. You can succeed in college, but all you have to do is make the effort to work hard.

i feel that if i had the chance to go back to high school. i would of taken my senior year more seriously. i feel that i should of taken more advantage of the opportunities that our teachers gave us to prepare us for high school. the things i could of done differently is not be lazy in class or payed more attention because we dont realize how hard it gets once we git to college. now that i started coege wow that was a big change! but a great exoerience it is a lot of responsibility and hard working thing to do. i saw that i was having hard trouble studying or taking really good notez or even how to prepare myself for a test. so i decided to go to the tutoring center to get a lot of help on those maain things..ao i did and i was seen thT i improved on my studying skills and note taking skills. im really looking foward into my second semester in coege ready and prepared not nervouse im very motivated Nd confident to take my classea because i know i will succed in college and do my best .

I would take myself out to eat, a calm environment and we would talk casually first, then get into the real descussion. I would tell myself to keep my eyes open posters more on campus, you might just look at them and think "O, thats cool!" and keep it moving, but actually read them, they are posted for a reason. To stay on campus more, dont go home as much, no matter how much you want to. Guys will be guys, stay sharp and listen well, just because they a little older does not mean they dont play. Your friends that you make will always be there for you, dont get mad at them for stupid reasons. You are all going through the same withdrawl from being home and the stress of classes. Forgive them, be the bigger person, that's a big step towards growing up. Stay single because boys are to much trouble. Ask around about math teachers before the Add/Drop days end. Go to tutoring, make time for it. And lastly, have fun but study anyways, this is not high school, your mom is not here to hold your hand! Your family still loves you!

Rachel, it would be financially beneficial to take some dual high school/college courses through the program offered by ACC and Leander ISD. You can receive some college credit for very little cost which will also help you to get out of college a little quicker. When you start your Freshman year, you can start to take more courses that Spring semester. Yes, it is good to take about 12 or 14 that first semester as you get used to the demands but after that, you can handle more because you will do the committed work you have to do. You learned in high school how to go to someone in the school say a counselor or a teacher for extra help when you had trouble. That will serve you well. Continue to take ownership of your own learning. Do continue to be involved with extra-curricular activities, do volunteer work and get plugged into a church immediatly, it is very rewarding to become a part of this College Station community and gives you a feeling of belonging. READ more!! When your parents are talking politics or news, listen. You will want to be able to discuss national,world topics.

I would tell myself to keep pushing, and to push even harder then I did. I would tell myself not to let what people said to bring me down get to me and take my focus off of my work and to never depend on anyone because the college life is all about responsibility and making good decisions. I would tell myself to always strive for the highest dont ever strive for less because when you put your mind to it you can accomplish so much more then you think and there are so many different opportunities out there to explore so keep an open mind.

Stay committed because even though it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be worth it.

The uiversity experience is nothing like high school. You are an adult now and are expected to walk, talk, think and interact with students, mentors and other university staff as an adult. This means you have to take responsibility for yourself and your actions. mom and dad cannot write you a note to get out of class, and they don't care if the dog ate your homework. Everything you do at a university level is kept on record, they are called transcripts. This is the fundation of your future in your career. It is the backbone of your resume and portfolio. If your transcript reflects nothing but bad grades and unattendance, than your future emloyer will assume to expect the same from you on the job. University teaches you to think within and without the box. You may explore new ideas and concepts you never conceived of in high school. Don't listen to the old stories of "I remember back in my college days", university education is not about parties and demonstrations. It is about enlightening your mind to create a new and better future for the generations to come. Make a difference for yourself and the world.

If I could go back to my senior year in high school, I would tell myself to “Keep Calm and Carry On”. There is no need to panic about the little things. You have time. You can’t know everything nor will you ever. You are competing to be more than a ranked number; you are competing for a job in the work force doing what you have endlessly prepared for. Don’t worry. Everything will work out. There is no shame in dropping a class or realizing you are over your head. Just do what you need to do and you will have success. All you have to do is find a balance of fun and of academics and you won't suffer from burn out nor will you grieve from low grades. Make time for the things that are important. Prioritize your time well and don’t guard your desires to do what you want to do. Know how to be youself and understand that others are there for you and in a similar boat as you. You are never alone in a place that wants you to succeed and welcomes all to the “family of A&M”.

I would definitely tell my senior self that college is more than going to class and listening to lectures. College becomes one's lifestyle and it should be taking seriously at all times because school is vital part of being able to get ahead in this college focused society. I would also explain that school or certain fields are not for everybody. A person should definitely look into different fields before picking a major soley on how much money one could make. You should enjoy the major and definitely embrace it. It will benefit a person if they love what they do and be positive in every step of college. It is a ride but the memories, friends and hard work all pay off in the end.

College is a different world and freedom is the main cause. Freedom to skip class, go out on Tuesday night... and Wednesday night. With this freedom comes a needed skill that most college freshmen have yet to find - maturity. The maturity to complete a task and say no when others tempt them with fun parties. It seems easy? It's not. You will be surrounded by thousands of teenagers just out of their cage; they have little guidance and it is scary. In high school you are given a book. A teacher reads through the book, tells you what you need to know, and sends you home with homework problems to work out. College is not so motherly. You are advised to read a book; the choice is yours. The structure of high school is gone and it will knock you straight off your feet. Those first tests will be brutal, keep your head up. The true test, however, is if you can stand back up. Don't be discouraged. You have the maturity and brightness to do great things, remember that. You will learn more about your abilities and perseverance in four years than you ever imagined.

Even though college is really fulfilling and time taking, making yourself a part of a group or an organization is a need. Getting involved is something only aggies told me once I was already here but I was really overwhelmed with how big the school was and the amount of people there. I didn’t want to get involved in anything because I thought I could always rely on what I had done in high school but reality is people don’t really care what you do in high school yes it might matter when you’re applying to schools but when your applying for scholarships you need actual community work. I wish I would have known the organizations really don’t take up as much time as people say or explain it. Leaders understand when a member can’t attend a meeting because of academic circumstances. Getting involved in college is a need that I wish I would of know walking in because now I have wasted a whole semester with no activity involved with an actual group.

If I could give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would have advised myself to learn how I learn. When I left high school, I thought I knew how to study. It turns out, I had been doing it wrong this whole time. Before college, I was never in a position to understand how my brain learned or how to practice the best studying methods for me. I wasn't even aware there were different ways someone could learn. During my freshman year of college, I felt like I was sinking. I had no idea what I was doing wrong and I wondered why the effort I put forth in high school wasn't showing any resuts for me in college. It took me a while to figure out how I learn best, but understanding that has changed how I see solutions to other life obstacles. The idea of understanding different ways to solving a problem is far from unheard of. However, if I could go back and speak with myself as a high school senior, understanding how I learn would have been a huge advantage.

College is your chance to chase the experience that will propel you into a fulfilling and rewarding career. Set goals to do well academically, and keep the bar high. Speak with your professors to learn from their experience and for counseling in work and school. Trust your abilities and pursue success aggressively. Trust your passions and pursue your dreams wholeheartedly. Find a good role model, and don’t be afraid to meet new people. Friends are extremely valuable. Surround yourself with encouragement, avoid those who seek to dishearten you, and never give up. You won’t achieve everything you want on your first try, so you should always think forward and be open to making changes. Meditate on who you are. If you are in touch with yourself and your surroundings, you can bring together the resources to make your dreams come true.

If I could go back in time to give myself advice, I would tell myself many different things. The first thing I would say would be, do not be afraid to get invovled. Do not get too busy and invovled however, so that you are not be able to finish your course work. Remember that the first round of college test grades do not define you and you can do better. Do not ever stop trying, going, and learning. Sometimes professors really do not care, however, that is a rare case. Always be willing to talk through a problem that you have with another person. Be open and inviting to others; be excited to share experiences with people that you may not really know. Forget the highschool drama and embrace the freedom of college and everything that pertains to that. Understand that a grade will not define you; realize, however, that you are in college and that your job is to be a student. Try not to let roommate issues frustrate you; those issues do not matter all that much. Above all, be open to new ideas, friends, and things. College is the best experience thus far.

Even though it was only last year that you were still in high school it has felt like forever. You have matured and gone through many experiences such as being in a sorority and having to deal with time management issues that you did not expect. I would advise that you sever your ties with other kids from your high school when you get to college because there are so many new people to meet and please just be yourself because that is what you messed up the most! Call your mom and dad more than I did (at least twice a week), and do not decide that the group of people you start out with at the beginning of the semester will be the group you finish with. Also, keep studying until you get where to your goal because that is what you should do. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something because they are not brave enough to do it themselves. Really, just trust your instincts because you were raised to be independent and do not do anything your parents would not let you do and you will be fine.

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to never stop trying as hard as possible in school, socially, faith, and sports because the possibilities are endless in college. In high school, I thought I was a good student who was focused and had the drive to excel at Texas A&M University. However, coming to Texas A&M as a freshmnan, I started making the same mistakes that many college students make, such as drinking, procrastinating, and slacking in my classes. My last two years of college, my priorities began to evolve and I started to focus more on school. So many doors have opened up for me. Now that I am excelling at Texas A&M University, I have had many opportunities to attend graduate school, become a youth leader at my church, become a camp counselor for a freshman orientation program, and to work for the athletic department's laboratory. I hope to use my knowledge and experience to help guide incoming freshman in the right path of having the best college experience and to utilize every gift and talent they have with endless opportunities.

For myself, the transition of going from high school to college was quite overwhelming. I went from being a senior on top of the world and about to graduate into a nervous and uncertain freshman in an unfamiliar place that I knew little about. If given the chance to go back in time and give advice to myself as a senior, I wouldn't even know where to begin. I think the first thing I would tell myself, would be to relax and calm down-that everything would turn out just fine. The very next advice I would give would be all about the dangers of procrastination. I would stress how applications won't fill themselves out and turn themselves in, and if I did wait too long, I would miss my chance. I would tell myself to learn how to manage my time better and appreciate any free time I get; I would tell myself to be prepared for a much larger workload than I was used too; and I would tell myself to quickly learn about the wonders of microwaves and Ramen noodles and to get used to sharing a bathroom with three other girls.

Enjoy the time that you have now with your family, friends, and other people who you have grown up with over these past four years. Soon you will find yourself in a whole new situation, away from the undying support and love that is provided under your parent's household. You will no longer be able to play and go out with your childhood best friends everyday, make sure you spend your time wisely and cherish every moment you have with them. Make sure your parents know that you love them and that you truly appreciate everything they have done for you to make you successful. Know the importance of money for college, to avoid always struggling for strap cash during college, just to buy overpriced textbooks. Continue to read everyday! Study habits cannot be broken due to senioritis, because they are vital in college. Stay ahead of the game in everything you do and make sure to make deadlines way before they are approaching. Do not take sports for granted either, most student athletes will never play again after high school and it will be missed dearly. Enjoy your days of freedom, but do not forget to manage time.

The main theme to advise myself would be to live on the things I only need and not want. I would tell myself to make a budget for all college expenses and miscellaneous items. I would live off campus to save more money from oncampus costs, but close enough to ride my bike to campus; this way I do not need to purchase a parking pass. My budget would also include conservative spending on foods; this may include reducing the amount of times I spend on "eating out". As for the rest of my college life, I would join any kind of group or organization. As important as it is to take time for studying and listen to class lectures, it is just as important to make friends and offer my own time of service. College is not just about making the "grade", but educating yourself for the "real world". This includes making an impact to your society and market niche. By being a part of an organization, you allow yourself opportunity to build a social network of friends and colleagues as well as offering your skills and professionalism for service. College is your place to make a better world.

Looking back on my high school days, I am filled with memories of friends, cheering at football games, and the first grade class that I was a teacher's aide for my senior year. If I could go back I would remind myself to cherish these times I had in high school. As a senior I had no idea how hard college life would be, or how much studying I would have to do. With the experience I now have I would remind my senior-self the importance of not only listening in class, but also truly learning the information being taught. I would also explain to my senior-self that just because I was making good grades in high school did not mean that I was fully prepared for college. Therefore, I would explain how important continuous hard work, determination, and faith would become in college. I would challenge myself to take advantage of the helpful teachers and people I had around me in high school. These teachers truly wanted their students to learn and succeed. Furthermore, I would tell myself to invest more time with my family. They are the ones who support you through everything.

I definitely would take as many AP and dual credit classes as you can in high school and try to do your very best in them, because as hard as that class may seem, it will most likely be much harder in college. Getting credit for college helps in other ways as well. For example, it may help your class registration date get bumped up to an earlier date, allowing you to get the classes you want at the times you want. It will also allow for you to take more classes that you are actually interested in, rather than spending all of you time doing core classes. Finally, apply for as many scholarships as you can.

So much pressure is placed on the high school student to choose the right career and college. While everyone has regrets, looking back at my high school years, I wish I would have done a few things differently. I made a romantic, less than practical choice at eighteen towards a career in art. Thirteen years later, I realized that very few people are able to earn a respectable living as an artist and while the concept of the starving artist may sound romantic to some, it is not ideal when you have a mortgage to pay and a family to support. I found that high school improperly prepared me for the rigors of college demands. While brains alone may get many students by in high school, college demands a good work ethic, study habits, and organizational skills. Unfortunately, I did not learn these skills in high school or during my first try at college, but until I spent an ample amount of time working, raising a family, and running a household. Looking back now, I would advise myself to take workshops on building study skills and to choose a career in nursing- that I could always return and study art.

Challege yourself your senior year. Take as many AP classes as possile. Prepare yourself for the SAT or ACT tests. Get involved in a few school organizations. Volunteer in your church. During the summer, go on a mission trip through your church.

Strange to be giving you, me, advice but you could use some. College is not as scary as you might think, you'll be fine. Really do your best in all your classes now, even though some of them may seem miniscule. It all helps. The AP classes you've taken and are taking will help out emensely. Enjoy your last year here, and don't worry you'll make new friends. Send out as many job applications as you can even if you have to repeat certain stores a job will definately help you save for college, don't worry if the first 20 don't have any call backs. Also look for scholarship applications early in your free time. Remember while your on campus to go to bed on time! Don't make excuses, just do it. Keep studying the way you have been and you will do fine.

Do not skip a single class. Do not spend your weekends binging. You will not be legal to drink for awhile anyway. College is a privilege, not a right and should be handled with importance. There are several reasons in which university is regarded so highly. As a scholarship student you need to understand you are continuing education while somebody else foots the bill, federal and state governments, and scholarships. Essentially you are being paid to learn in order to better your life. Nobody actually pays the 'sticker price' provided by universities. Roommates are essential find a couple you get along with, but be wary of slackers and moochers. Plan ahead for exams, professors are usually more than willing to work with you BRFORE exams but you should know if you are doing poorly in lecture by the depth at which you understand the current material. Professors are very busy and will not tolerate students who waste their time. Studying for final exams is not the time to learn the material; it is the time for review. Lastly, remember that you are very young with plenty of time to party and college is a gift not to be squandered.

I would tell myself to take high school a little more seriously. I didnt feel like high school prepared me as much as I thought it would for college. Take high school seriously because it will pay of in the long run when you get to college.

You need to be able to MANAGE YOUR TIME. You're going to want to sit around on Facebook all day before going out to party all night but you need to use going out as a reward for studying hard. You can still go out the night before a test, as long as it'll be relatively easy and you know you've studied hard for it. Just act mature and stay responsible. You've got the rest of your life ahead of you to stay up late and hang with friends. Don't think that you need to do it every night your first semester. Just buckle down and study hard when you need to and it'll all be worth it in the end.

Thinking back to my senior year, if I could give myself advice knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to enjoy those last few moments of high school. After high school, I got a taste of the real world and what it’s like to be on my own where my parents are not overlooking every move I make. I would tell myself that college is hard work and to be prepared for that. Help is not shoved down your throat like it is in high school; you actually have to go seek it from your professors. So be ready for that. I would tell myself to prepare my study habits accordingly to avoid all nighters because they are no fun. I would then tell myself to be as friendly as you can. Even if you’re scared, make as many friends as you can because they will be there for you and to help you along the way. A study buddy is never a bad thing. If I could go back to my senior year of high school, those are definitely the pieces of advice I would give myself.

I would advice myself to apply to as many scholarships possible, and tell myself the time spent in those scholarships are worth it. All the time that I put into applying for scholarships is time spent wisely. I would also advice myself to not worry about my friends a lot and worry about myself. In college you'll make friends that would last more than a high school friendship. I would advice myself to go to the college that I'm going to, so I can get a tour. Get to meet my college teachers so you can make a good friendship and she can get to know you a little bit better. Search were I can get the same books but for a cheapter price. Last but not least advice myself that "YOU CAN DO THIS, DON'T GIVE UP, EVEN THO YOUR AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT YOUR GOING TO ACHIVE YOUR GOALS!"

The main thing I would say is to learn time management skills. Procrastination doesn't fly in college or the real world. Dont take any classes pass/fail, as they don't encourage you to do your best. Learn everything about Dual Credit before signing up for it so as not to regret it later. But I would also say to enjoy all the time spent with friends and don't take it for granted. In the end, your friendships are really all you remember about high school, so make them count. Enjoy life, work hard in school but know that as fun as high school is, its not supposed to be the best time of your life. Thats what college is for and that is what you have to look forward to. It may be intimidating at first, but don't be scared: everyone is in the same boat.

Just go for it. My older brother moved out in high school and neither of my parents, or my step parents had attended college so I felt I had no resources to find out what needed to be done to go straight to university after high school. This is not the case at all, there are so many resources available for students about the application process, what to expect, and how to get there. I thought it would be scary to finally move out on my own and hold myself accountable but it's much smoother and easier than I had anticipated. My best advice is just to go out, utilize your resources and go to school! Stay concentrated on the goal and the future and you'll do fine.

I would tell myself to get more involved, have fun, and just enjoy the ride. My first year in college was mainly a transition year, trying to find the best organization for me, getting used to college classes, and trying to meet new people. I think I was just so nervous about starting a new life in college in a new town all by myself, that I didn't feel as comfortable or enjoy myself as much as I should have. Everything was pretty routine for me. Go to class, work on homework, study, and hang out with friends every once and a while. My sophomore year changed everything though- I made a ton of more friends, I found an organization that I love, I became more involved in school traditions and school spirit, and I just enjoy myself more. Of course I still focus on my school work, but I also make more time to have fun and relax. This is the time in my life that I will remember the most; these are the friends that I will have for life. That's the advice I would give myself- to just enjoy life as it comes.

I would tell myself to do exactly what I am doing now. All you can do is keep moving forward and enjoy yourself completely because as long as you work hard and have fun everything will work out just the way it is supposed to. Stay open to new ideas and never turn your back on what you truly believe in.

If I had the opportunity to give my high school senior self advise about college, most of it would be concerning financial aid do's and don't that I had to learn the hard way. After thinking about it, I would opt out of telling myself about the fact that I would later switch majors, because I did learn alot from the experience that would be lost if it didn't happen. I would say that one year living on campus is plenty. I would say to not get the meal plan it is a waste of money. I would say to figure out the least trafficed bathrooms in each building, always sit close to the exits in class, and learn the bus routes they know the fastest way around town. Finally I will tell my past self that A&M was the right choice and you are going to love how much you grow there.