Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

One major change that's entered my life since I've been in college is the ability for me to become open-minded to many aspects of personal and academic life. Entering an new environment, living with new people, and going through a wide range of experience has made me questioned my old ways of thinkin, making me revise my ideas, and opening up my mind to a new, (and in my thought), better view of life. Because of this life-changing experience, I have found my experience here irreplacable, and will continue it until I graduate.

I refined my identity in college. It's more than my world-class education, the piece of paper hanging on my wall, and the Aggie ring that's more precious than my wedding band. The college years have been the best years of my life, and only those that have also attended college will ever understand that. College is a safe place and time to transition into adult life; it's OK to fail, make not-so-great choices, stay out a little too late one too many nights in a week, and change your mind. It's more than the cliched spreading of your wings; I made friends for life, learned what I did NOT want in a mate, discovered what it meant to come home, and finally set my own personal bar of success. College is valuable for what is learned in- and out-of the classroom.

Texas A&M has provided me with more opportunity than I knew was available. It showed me how to dance, constantly reminds me to stay healthy, and often showcases competence in both students and professors. Every teacher has been open to discussion during lectures, all the tests are sufficiently challenging, and most of the people on campus know to return a "Howdy." The "Howdy" is perhaps the strongest impact. This tradition unique to A&M reminds us that every single one of us Aggies are in it together, that we are here to support each other and be supported. Whether this guy was a peer teacher, that lady was a professor, that man is in the Corps, or you've never seen that girl before, a "Howdy" warrants a smile and a reply, giving an instant and consistent ice breaker for interacting with anyone around you. This has translated to a greater ability to interact with the world at large, something no amount of lecture can build up. Anyone and everyone has become approachable, and even off campus Aggies know to stick together, and can share stories of the good old days as they work to improve the world together.

College has been an amazing experience that I am glad that I have had so far. From just two and a half years, I have seen so many different aspects of the world that I would not have captured from my confined home. My first experience started with marching band and Central Michigan University. I instantly made several friends and felt how much college could be welcoming. From there on, living on campus became a breeze. Any problem I had, I had friends that I could go to with my problems. I then joined KK Psi and became more involved in band. After my band experience, I went down to Florida for eight months to do the Disney Internship. There I met people from all over the world and I got to experience all their different cultures. College has opened my eyes to many different aspects of life. Now I see from different point of views, have better time management, and understand what a real full time job means. With just this short time, I feel I am ready for anything to be thrown at me.

My college experience has been a journey, and with every step, there has been support. After a ten year break from my first disheartening college experience, straight from high school, I decided that my career path had reached a standstill. I had finally found a niche in the job market that I greatly enjoyed, working with and on computers. I was terrified, and felt that it was too little, too late for me to try to get a degree. Feeling sure that I would meet scorn and derision, I enrolled at ITT Technical Institute. I had never before felt that my secondary education was being taken seriously, and that my goals and ideas were being taken seriously. I started my first day of classes with excitement, and absolute joy at the chance for a learning experience. My first hesitant steps on this path have evolved; as I have begun a lifelong run of learning. I have increased my confidence in my own capabilities, and have learned more about myself than I believed possible. This journey began with one step forward, and will forever be a lifetime adventure.

What I have gotten out of my college experience is the ability to experience different setting that were previously unknown to myself. I grew up in a small East Texas town. I have experienced different music, different foods, and seeing different people everyday. This has been beneficial to me because I now know how to interact with people whose ideas and values are completely different from mine. Starting college was such a complete culture shock to me. I had always thought of myself as open-minded, but going to a university completely confirmed this. My beliefs have expanded and so has my network of individuals and opinions. I LOVE GOING TO COLLEGE!

My college experience has introduced me to a variety of responsibilities and opportunities that have helped me to become a stronger person. My eyes have been opened to problems that I had not known before. And, along with those problems, i have developed a stronger more adaptable way of coming up with my solutions, all alongside my generation.

Attending college has allowed me to break out of my shell. I went to a small charter school for high school and I was the Valedictorian of my graduating class. I have always been shy and comfortable just sticking to the same group of friends. For college, all of my friends split up and none of them ended up going to college with me. I was worried about getting a random roommate and having class in a gigantic lecture hall, but this year has turned out to be one of the best of my life. I became best friends with my roommate and met so many interesting people. Although classes weren't the highlight, I maintained my GPA and the lecture halls weren't all too terrible. I enjoyed late nights studying and finals breakfasts, things that made me feel like a genuine college student. I have come to be able to make decisions on my own and feel independent, like a wonderful world is waiting for me and I am almost prepared to handle it!

My college experience has taught me to have faith in myself. I always wanted to have a calling in life, a profession I could be passionate about, but I was not completely confident I would find one. At the end of high school, there seemed to be a dizzying array of schools and majors to consider. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the vast selection, but going to college has allowed me to narrow down my choices. Once I began exploring my interests, I felt myself getting closer and closer to finding my calling. It was not long before all my classes were ones I really enjoyed. My confidence grew in knowing that I could figure out what was best for me. I did not need a counselor or career aptitude test to tell me what might be a good fit. I realized that if I followed my interests and intuition, I would find my passion. Along the way, I have met great friends, learned new things, and become much more self-disciplined. However, the most valuable thing I have gained from attending college is the certainty that I will truly love what I do after college.

My college experience has allowed me to fully discover what I want out of life. It has enabled me to find and take opportunities that have served to enrich and grow my knowledge of the world and myself. College is a time where you can truly pursue your dreams and make them become realities. Texas A&M has been a great place for me to do that because it has so many things to offer. While it is sometimes easy to get lost in the hugeness, if you are willing, you can truly experience what being in college is all about. I have been able to reach for the stars and being here has taught me to keep reaching.

I have finally gotten the freedom I have always wanted. I get to make my own decisions and learn more about myself in the process. The enviornment here has helped me to become a more giving person and look at the world around me. Without Texas A&M I would not be the person I am today, or the person I hope to be in the future.

As of right now, I have gained lots of useful information gaining knowlegde to be a successful graduate. I am currently looking forward to an Associates Degree in drafting and design from the ITT Institute of Technology located in Dunmore, PA in March of 2012. Seeking scholarships is one example of the useful informaion I have aquired over my past experiences with past colleges I have attended. Another thing I have realized since I started school is that it is good to always keep learning and accept the changing ways of the future. This helps me understand different techniques of electronic devices to learning about interest rates on buying a house. It has been valuable to attend college because I know I will be able to find a career path that I enjoy. I have recently been laid off from my job due to lack of work. However, I personally noticed that people that have earned their degree are still working full-time with great health benefits. Attending school also gives me the piece of mind that my family and I will be better off in the future financially and job security.

Attending college has given me more responsibilty than ive ever had before im not a kid any more at 18yrs old, This college experience has really took me by surprise , My first semester seemed very hard and I know it was because I was new at everything , I Met and became friends with a whole new set of people those of which helped me through most of my frist semester by creating study group so everyone could get the help they needed no one was left to suffer, I very glad that i was given the opportunity to attend college because in the long run my eduation wll help me get my dream job to become a Neonatal Nurse , im very thankful to god becuase without him I don't were i would be at this point and time of my life , Im also thankful for my family support and love that also helped me along the way

Attending college has helped me thus far gain a better understanding of who I am and what I want out of life. I have the freedom to make my own decisions regarding the academic path I choose to follow. I have the freedom to succeed or to fail simply by going to school and doing the work that is required of me. I am learing that only my decisions and my choices will determine how successful I will be. That alone is helping me gain a better understanding of how important this time in my life is and to take it seriously and be responsible in the choices that I make. I am learning that I have that drive and the desire to be the best asset to society that I can be. I want that and I can do it. The value placed on higher education is only realized when you apply yourself and recognize that there are no obstacles that you can't overcome. I am and will continue to become a stronger, more independent and self-sufficient person as long as I take advantage of this learning experience.

I've gotten a large network of friends who are in different industries so that when I graduate it will be easy for me to find a job or internship. I believe that networking is one of the most valuable things that I've accomplished while attending my university. Additionally, I've learned alot about myself personally and I feel that my college environment has enabled me to grow and develop myself more than I would have if I attended a different university.

Assuming I could go back in time and tell myself as a high school senior any advice I have for making the transition into college easier, there would be a few key things I would share. The main thing I would try to convince myself would be to make more responsible decisions financially. To save up my money as best I could and try to find a job ASAP. Although I am never truely irresponsible with my money, I do tend to make uneccessary purchases without thinking of the consequence. Being in college for me means that I am fully responsible for all of my bills and finances, therefore; I must save as much money as possible and make wise choices. Another important piece of advice for myself would be to keep a positive attitutde. College has brought a lot of obstacles my way and has caused a great deal of stress. I would make sure to always stay strong and try my best no matter what. Through this, I will be able to pull through my hardships.

My senior year was such a hectic year. Besides the peer/social pressure of waking up early and dressing nice and spending hours on doing your hair and make-up, I wished I knew that in college: shorts, a messy hairdo with no make-up and a pair of Sperry?s is basically your everyday wardrobe otherwise all you hear throughout the day is ?Why are you dressed up?? Sleep however, is probably the number one thing you wish you could buy out in the convenient store. Another thing I wished I knew before I came to college is that a calendar and a planner will be your two best friends for the whole year. Once you have received every syllabus every class, write down every quiz, test, exam, etc for every class because it will be a life saver because as we soon find out, studying only the night or few hours before an exam will be as successful in college as it was in high school. Lastly, the final thing I wished I knew in high school would be that books are a privilege. However, buying or renting books online comes out way cheaper than the local bookstores.

There are many things I would tell myself to improve upon before arriving in college. The transition was simple, but I would say that my lack of knowledge in classes and financial problems now was life changing for me. In high school, I never had to study. I was 8th in my class, and told myself I could do anything. When I got to Texas A&M, my study habits were completely awry due to the fact that in college, you really have to study to get the grades you want. In high school, I really wish I would have forced myself to work harder in my classes, so it would have prepared me more for the classes I am currently taking. I also wish that in high school that I would have worked at my job more, as well as be frugal. This is because now I am dependent on my financially stressed parents to eat, and sometimes it really isn't enough to get me through the day. I feel as if it also affects my grades sometimes. So now I really wished I had worked harder and saved my money. This advice would have helped me greatly.

I would tell myself if I could go back in time to high school to study more. Also I would have tried reading more. At Texas A&M, and I'm sure every other college there is massive amounts of reading each week, in which I was not prepared for. Also, I would get more involved to build my comincation skills. I found out in college comunication skills are a major part of success.

I would say to myself, "Find your inspirations, be weary of some of your decisions, and stop doubting yourself. Fee yourself from the life that you have upheld up until now and become who you really are. Do not attach you to the same style of life, meet new people, and recreate yourself. Loosen up in some situations, and talk more, exercise your tongue so it becomes more congruent to what others are talking. Take chances and make mistakes. More importantly begin adopting new study skills that you will end up needing one because college concentrates on the responsibility of students to attend to their tasks, primarily studying. Prioritize yourself with keeping up to date, which in requisites it might cause conflict with some due dates. Learn to be independent, simply by not relying with your parents with some documentation. College is different, and the protection from parents ends when signing the application. However, the most important thing is accepting your consequence; learn not to ever give up. Anxiety and depression, comes as an added bonus, but it never means that is the end, for one is can be restore.?

Sitting in my apartment while I am away from home at one of the biggest universities in Texas, I think back on how nice it would have been to have the intelligence I have now, making my transition into college life much easier. There are so many things I would have done differently while I was finishing my senior year. First and foremost, I would have definitely applied for more scholarships during my senior year to help cut some of the expenses that my parents have to pay for my current school year. I know it has been stressful for them, trying to make sure they can make enough money to support my education. Lastly, I would have told myself not to be afraid to get involved in student activities once the first semester of college starts. The most important thing during my transition was finding ways to meet and become friends with other people. I realized after some time that you need other people to help cure the loneliness that comes with being away from your life at home and in your hometown. Combined, this would have made a better first semester of college for me.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take it slow in the beggining of college, at least for the first year. As you grow and learn during college, your interests and goals may change. If you jump into limiting, major-based classes too soon, it leaves little room for changing or exploring other academic concentrations. I would tell myself to be sure to start only with the basic courses, the classes that are generally required for a vast array of majors. That way, I could give myself plenty of time to be sure of what major I wanted to pursure before taking any unnecessary coursework that might keep me from graduating as soon as possible.

I think if I had the chance to go back and advise myself for the future I would probably break down and cry. Being a triplet, it was hard for me to split away from my family and be alone. I wanted to pursue my career and I'm ok now, but when I first left I felt really homesick. I think what would have really helped was going to the orientation camp ("Fish camp"); I had work and I didn't think it was very necesary at the time but I wouldn't have been going into all blind and alone. Atleast I would've known someone. The hardest thing for me, though, is being so far away from my best friend and significant other. When you want someone in your life and want to be a part of theirs it is really hard to balance everything out from far away. I love my classes and opportunities and clubs but that's only Monday through Friday afternoon. I would tell myself good luck and enjoy the summer, you'll be fine, just stick to what you believe, make some friends that kind of think the same way and live.

I would tell myself that this is no longer a world where countries form barriers between each other. We are now in a global economy, where something insignificant in one country can have a ripple effect across many borders and affect other cultures and countries. I would tell myself about the importance of learning other languages, respecting other cultures, and the wonderful experiences that can come from studying/traveling abroad as much as possible.

Go back and enjoy what you are doing - don't just learn the material; know the material inside and out. Budget your time so that you have more time for working, socializing and studying. Study even if you don't get assignments to do, and take responsibility for your education. Try to stay ahead in your readings, having an idea about what will be covered in class as you walk in, so that you can ask questions and participate in discussion. Get as much one-on-one time with your teachers as you need, and make sure that you understand everything that you are going over, even if you think you will never need to know it again. Get a routine going - plan a bedtime, and wake up at the same time no matter if you have school or not. Avoid missing school if you can - even if it is a waste of time, once you start skipping you tend to skip more and more, to the point of having a problem. Eat a good breakfast and lunch - they will get you through the day with a better attitude! Most of all, make sure that you do your best!

Knowing what I know now about college life, I would tell myself to manage time from the beginning of the first class and get all organized with a daily planner. Keeping tests, and projects organized is very important, from the very beginning. If a freshman gets in the habit from the first day of school, it will be routine and will never seem to be a pain. Good grades usually follow this plan, so staying organized definitely has its advantages. I would also tell myself to put myself out there. No one is going to come find you, especially at a school with 40,000 plus students like Texas A&M University where I attend. Putting yourself out there and joining one club the first year is just enough to meet new friends with similar interests, but still remain on top of schoolwork. After the student figures out his time and how much free time he or she has after that is when a second organization or sport should be added. Everyone can be successful at college as long as the student practices good habits from the beginning.

The first thing I would tell myself is ?Read everything assigned to you?RIGHT AWAY.? After starting college classes, I learned how easily you can get behind on readings. I would definitely tell myself to study more and not to over think what the professors are lecturing about. When giving social advice, my main point would be to get involved! There are so many opportunities to join clubs at Texas A&M and it?s not hard finding the perfect one for you. Another thing I would advise would be to always do your best to get along with your roommates since they are the ones you have to spend most of your time with! Overall, the main thing I would tell myself would be to work hard but remember to have fun because this experience only comes once.

I would tell myself to not take the easy road out a difficult situation. If I could go back I would change the way I handled a situation with a class and my grade in that class. Instead of taking the easy road at the time, I would tell myself to stick with it and do the best possible job, as thats always better than giving up.

I would tell myself to study harder, and work more. School is expensive, you can get there, but then you have to pay. Save money, and don'y buy stuff you don't need like a camera or eat out every friday. In my experience, they sa they have money, but tell you we ran out of funds and I'm sorry bout you have to pay the rest out of pocket.

Many opportunities will arise to discover who you are when you enter the journey of college life. In those circumstances, choose what you want to do, not what others may influence or pressure you to do, otherwise you will regret missing out on those moments. Be friendly to everyone and work hard in everything you make a commitment to. Step out of your comfort zone because people can surprise you, and even through tough experiences, you will come out stronger and wiser. Are you interested in arts, sports, community service, or politics? Go ahead and try out all the organizations you are interested in (without comprimising your school work), and make lifelong friends through those activities. It will take some trial and error, but figure out early in the semester how to manage your time and balance your social and academic life. Most importantly, make the most out of every waking moment because it will pass by faster than you think.

The advice that i would give myself is to pick 3 majors in which i am interested in and do some reasearch on them. The internet has so many resources to explain and even show you a video about the field in shich you are interested in. Aside from the internet I would recommend calling different shows and asking if you can come an shadow for the day. It's really good to have a few options because when your a freshman you may think yo know what you want to study, but you may start to study it and not even like it at all. I would also recommend to start college applications early and find as much aid as possible. Make sure to meet and greet someof your fellow classmates also. You may never know if they can help you study or be a study partner.

If I could go back in time and talk to my younger self, I would help myself find the right college. I knew what I wanted to study in college, but had no guidance in finding the right school. I would love to go back and be that guidance for myself. I would also tell myself to stay in school no matter how frustrating it got. Now as an adult, I'm having to go back to school to finish my undergraduate degree when most of my colleagues are getting their masters degreees or beyond. I would also tell myself to experience life more and take advantage of being young while I still could. I was too quick yo grow up and get in the real world that I didn't let myself take advantage of having fun in college.

The first advice I would give myself is to apply EARLY, as opposed to stressing out at the last minute. I also would encourage myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible, instead of waiting until the summer to begin my scholarship search, it is never to early to look for scholarship opportunities. The next thing I would advise is getting involved on campus early on. It is always best to have a network of friends in place as a support system when it is your first time away from home. It aids in homesickness and also insures that you have someone near by to help you when you need it. Not IF but WHEN because eventually something will happen that you will need help with. Also I would prepare myself for the long sleepless nights of studying and paper writting. I would remind myself that college would be nothing like highschool and that it will require dedication and commitment. It takes more than book smarts to excel in college, it takes the determination and will to do well. If I would have known that initially I would have done beter my first year at Texas A&M.

If I could go back in time to my senior year of high school and give myself advice, I would tell myself to work harder on my high school classes so that I would have a better chance of receiving college credit in some courses. I would also tell myself to become involved in a club or organization as soon as I got to college, so that I could meet more friends and possibly engage in some kind of community service that would be meaningful. Additionally, I would tell myself not to worry, that I was going to be just fine!

You can spend all of your time studying to get good grades in classes but need to pace yourself. You can literally always find something else to do for classes. You can wear yourself out studying quickly so that you don?t want to study later on the next semester and have to break that habit of procrastinating. Fill free time with activities you enjoy by joining clubs and participating in the activities, join an intramural team and go to the Rec Center, and find places to volunteer at. You may make lifelong friends, but only if you leave your room and get yourself involved in activities. Future employers for those first one or two jobs will look heavily at what you did with your time in college as well as your GPA, so make sure that you get involved and keep track of what you do. Lastly, for those times when you are studying for classes, it is a good idea to have places outside your room to work. Don?t worry too much if you do badly in one class or one semester, you still have the rest of your college time to make up for your mistakes.

The advice I would give myself if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior would definitely be to keep going on with what I told myself. To push it to the limit. In addition to that, I would also tell myself to apply to more colleges and don't be afraid of rejection. In the future you are not afraid; you confront the storm full on and strive not only to succeed in college life but be successful in all aspects of life as well.

Take your time with everything and don't rush through high school, because everyone says it will go by too fast, and they?re right. Don?t stress about picking the right school, because in the end you?ll end up where you?re supposed to be. When trying to decide, think about if you can see yourself on the campus, walking to class, hanging out in the dorm rooms, hanging out with friends at the hot spots in town, mingling with people, attending sporting events?that?s what it really all comes down to?you?ll just get that feeling where you know you?re supposed to be there. Apply for scholarships early and make sure you fill them out completely, and ACCEPT THEM on time when you receive scholarships. Go out the first few weeks anytime you get invited to something?you?ll make immediate friends because everyone is in the same boat. Find the balance between academics and your social life. STUDY harder than you ever have had to. All in all, just enjoy yourself and come into your own...you'll never get these four years back.

Dear Denise, You keep hearing so many, many things about college life from so many, many, people. Yet here's what I want you to do: stop listening!! With the exception of this, that is. College is something that you create for yourself. You're given four years, a big desk, a small room, and a giant ball of clay to mold anything and everything you desire. Transitioning into college life shouldn't be stressful, it should be eye opening. The hype of living away from home is real, and all the exciting "adventures" you hear about are real; yet, there is no need to stress out in search of the "perfect" college experience. As you struggle through classes, the friends and fun times will be there waiting for you when you're done. As you stumble out of the dorm room at 7:59 for your 8:00 class, your bed will still be there an hour later when you stumble back in. And lastly, when you think you miss home too much and go back for a weekend, on Sunday you will be pining to get back to school and the new home you've come to love.

There are two main pieces of advice that I would give myself if I could travel back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school. The first piece of advice would be to prioritize as efficiently as possible and work my best at not putting things off. This would allow me not only to have a better quality of work in college but also more time to to learn the material thoroughly. The second piece of advice would be to get involved in the organizations and clubs the university has to offer. Get out there and find something that you like to do and build as many relationships with people as you possibly can.

I would advise myself to not make assumptions on what college would be like, and to not take any moment for granted. Time in college goes by way too fast. I would tell myself to never let stress and a large work load discourage me because as long as I stay focused, I can do my absolute best and I'm 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} confident of that.

If I could go back and prepare myself for college life the main advice I would give myself would be to: 1. Stop expecting my mother to always do things for me and become more proactive in getting things done for myself. 2. Speak up for myself and become more verbal when talking to others. 3. To always be aware of my surroundings. 4. Strive to have a higher GPA and class rank, as it makes more scholarships available to you and college is expensive.

Going into college, I was terrified. Everyone had always told me I would constantly be stressed, tired, and overworked. Getting here, I realize that I was more stressed just thinking about the idea of college, where as now, I notice that everything can get done without all the stress. If I could go back to tell myself something as high school student, it wouldn't be anything. By worrying so much before, it allowed me to overthink it, so when I got here, I just felt that everything was almost a breeze.

Dear carefree, college-bound Victoria, So you've decided to attend Texas A&M. Congratulations! However, let's not make the assumption that you can breeze through it just like senior year. This is no time to get chronic senioritis. You have to work extra hard to get the needed GPA for your scholarship. No one ever told you about those "intro" classes. Don't let the title fool you; they are really "weed out" classes. And you may have thought you learned chemistry in high school, but this isn't the case. Work hard and don't lose focus! The people at A&M are not who you thought they were either; they are friendly, funny, and outgoing. I know you're not excited for these new experiences (like Fish Camp), but trust me these are the best experiences of your life. Make new friends, and don't forget about your life-long friends in California. You'll fall in love with the Aggie Spirit. Leaving home won't be as hard as you think! Remember that it will always be hard work, but if it's something your passionate about it's worth it! -Victoria, Class of 2013

Rewind. Back again to Pre-Cal, Anatomy, and Government, what a bore, but now thinking about it, i was really lucky. I know i could have done more AP classes to add up credits for college and i could of filled out more scholarship applications, but i didnt and i now sometimes regret that. Right now i would probably have less classes to take and less loans, but im not going to stick on the negative, lets look at the positive. College life is nothing like what i thought it was going to be; ive gone through my first set of college finals and guess what, im still alive. College proffessers arent the horrible people percieved on TV, they are just there to help you understand, and parties arent the norm, with good friends college is actually peaceful. So erase all you preconceptions of college from fake teen movies and give the real college life a shot, youll be pleasantly surprised.

If I could go back and give advice to myself as a senior I would tell myself to choose my major carefully and think about what makes me happy and what career will make me happy. I would tell myself that even though choosing to go to Texas A&M because it's where my parents want me to go that I will fall in love with the school and need to start making the right decisions when it comes to doing things for myself and not others. That I need to stop doing things that others' approve of and want me to do and do what I want to do with my life and makes me happy. It took me almost a year to realize that no matter what I choose to do with my life, as long as I'm happy, my parents will support me no matter what. I would assure myself that as long as I studied and worked hard my new life would go almost completely as planned. I wished I knew then what I know now because I know my college life and transition would've gone a lot smoother.

Even when this was not my first choice of school to attend, I love it here. Campus is beautiful, peers are friendly, and size of the town is perfect.

Four years pass by faster than you expect! If I could go back and do it all again, I would have studied for a little bit every day; that way, studying won't seem so tedious. I would have talked to all my professors instead of jus tintroducing myself; you never know how they can help you out. I would have joined a major related club earlier to learn more about my major and to make more friends. I wish I had made a plan of all the things I needed to get done everyday before hanging out with friends; making plans really helps you because a lot of unexpected events will pop up. I am glad I made the effort to join clubs and sit with strangers at lunch. The strangers I met at lunch turned out to be my best friends. However, I regret not spending more time with "myself"; weird as it sounds, being able to be by yourself is a value that I am trying to acquire at the moment. Focus on school, and find good friends. Meeting a lot of people is one thing, connecting with a few is another.

There are three main topics I would tell myself if I could talk to myself as a high school senior. I would tell myself to make sure that I apply for as many scholarships as I can so I don't have to struggle or worry about loans. I would also tell myself to practice studying more efficiently because college requires a lot more studying than high school. Lastly, I would tell myself to walk my diet because before you know it, you've gained several pounds and have cut back on exercising. Walking around this large campus is not enough to keep down the weight. I would tell myself to take full advantage of the rec sports center as much as I can because they provide countless equipment and sports to help you keep fit. I think this advice would help myself with the transition to college life.

I would tell myself that I need to realize that college takes more work than high school and that you have to be self motivated!

Try not to procrastinate. Even if you only do a little bit everyday, keep working towards the end. This will also help you keep up in class and you will be prepared for tests instead of trying to cram the night before. That never works anyway. Another thing, you are not the only person who lost their "How to Make Friends" survival kit. Remember all those other freshmen? They're new too, so reach out. Also your professors get kinda lonely in a room that is 200 to 1 so go talk to them. They won't bite, unless your class is Vampires 101. Lastly, get involved, get involved! The reason you want to go to a school is for a good education, well at least your parents hope so when they send the school their last dime, but there is also a lot to be learned outside of the classroom. Getting involved with other activities gives you opportunities to work and build friendships with a whole range of people as well as discover new things about yourself. Don't be afraid to challenge your own beliefs, it's ok if they change. Oh yeah, did I mention get involved?