Tulsa Community College Top Questions

Go straight to school, taking time off is a very bad idea.

The reason I didn't apply fora university my senior year of highschool was because, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to afford it. With me being 1 of 4 kids, I knew I would be on my own as far as paying for my school. I went to TCC knowing it would be something I could afford, while I could also live at home and work 8-5. With my third year approaching, I will soon be attending an expensive University. The advice I would give my high school self would be "Don't not be scared" and "Don't stress over money." Yes. College is expensive but, there is help. 17 is too young to be worried about things like that. I would tell myself to have fun, go to a University, and just be a "normal" 1st year college student and to leave financial stress for when you're grown. In hindsight, I look back and realize that everything has a way of working itself out- and though I can't go back and tell myself, I do my best to tell myself this moving forward. Everything will work out.

First, I would tell myself that it really does not matter how you look or dress in high school. When people tell you that you will not see most of these people after you graduate, they are not lying! Next, I would say that college is different than high school but in a really good way. So, there is nothing to worry about! You have way more freedom in which classes you take and when you take them. You do have to be more responsible once you start college. But you have been prepared very well, so you will do great! Then, I would tell myself you do not need to worry about losing contact with your friends from high school, or worry about not making new ones. You are used to having long distance friendships with the people that matter, so you guys will stay in touch. And about making new friends, you will make the best friends you have ever had next year, so do not stress about not making any friends. Finally, I would tell myself that college is more expensive than you thoughts, so save every penny you can!

Whenever my family brought college up in high school I always dreaded it. I absolutely hated the thought of endless hours of studying, being all alone with complete strangers, and trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. The key to college is just relax. Most students change their major, and they're just as nervous as you. Meeting new people isn't scary it is amazing. I've made so many friends who are completely different. I have many adults in my classes and it is so interesting and inspiring to hear their stories and why they decided to go back to school. Hearing how bad they want a degree makes me work even harder because I know it is the best thing to do. I would also tell myself that true friends will stay your friend no matter what. If they don't stay then family will always have your back. Time management is key to surviving classes and studying should be a main priority. Mostly though, just relax and enjoy these amazing opportunities of your life.

Take a big deep breath. Life is about to change and it is scary but so exciting! You're going to be on your own, make new friends, and have some of the best days of your life! Living with your friends is awesome and living alone really makes you mature. Now it will be a big responsibility getting yourself up and out of bed for early classes because mom and dad won't be there to nudge you along. Give yourself some room for mistakes and sleeping in a couple times, but get over it quickly and learn from your mistakes. Most importantly- explore. Make some new friends that you may not have otherwise given a second thought. Try new foods. Join clubs. Eat some healthy meals, not all pizza. Exercise. Sleep in on weekends. Don't be afraid to ask for help and seek out resources, because they are there. Write your friends and family often. Call home once a week, maybe more. They miss you, and I know you miss them. Most of all, have fun. This is the next journey in life so live it up and live up to your potential. You can do it!

If I could advise my high school self, I would say to research the application process more thoroughly. It wasn't until I enrolled in Tulsa Community College under the Tulsa Achieves scholarship, that I realized just how complicated the administrative side of college is. I was little prepared to tackle FAFSA, student advisors, class schedules, and book fees. Perhaps if I had been more prepared, the transition would have been much less frantic and overwhelming. In my Freshman year I would force myself to fill out that long application to join National Honor Society when they offered me a spot. I would tell myself to take AP Government and AP American History, because I would have succeeded in those courses and received credit in college. I would tell myself to volunteer more, because it would have exposed me to more experiences, and prepared me for the forty hours of volunteer work I now do for my scholarship. Finally, I would tell myself to quit the two jobs I held during high school, because even though I maintained near perfect grades my entire high school career, I could have used that extra time to prepare for college.

I would give myself some much needed advice. At the time, I had no plans to attend college and no ambitions. I would advise my younger self to place more importance on school and to put more effort into my school work.

I really would not tell my senior self much simply because going through different mile stonesin college has shaped myself in to the young woman I am today. College has been an expierence like no other and continues to be one. Within my first semester of college I became the Student Government President at my campus and there is nothing I could have told my senior self to help prepare for that. With that position came big responsibilites, I was now in charge of people who were way older than I was. I was also going to the state capitol to go to state meetings. I grew so much in my first two years of college. I would not have given any advice because life is not about what you WOULD have done, it is about what you DO.

If I could go back in time to my high school, I would tell myself, "Wake up! You can have it easy; just work hard, stay focused, and believe you can do this." I would also tell my 15 year old self, "You made it to honors; now run with it to get a scholorship. Think of no loans and getting an education; debt free!" "You may think you understand things now and how money works in the world, but I am sorry, you dont!" "...Make our futures better and work hard now because life is not about high school; that is just the beginning. Real life starts in college and after high school." "I love us and want us to have a better life in the fututre and only you can change that!", said by 25 year old adult me, with 3 children and working.

December 28th, 2008. The day I first stuck my finger down my throat to become perfect. I was a freshman in High School, searching for my place in a sea of pubescent teenagers. Naturally, I believed the stunning goddesses in my class had it all. I concluded that they held a magic that engrossed all within their presence; magic I did not possess. Ostracized by those around me, I turned to what I thought would be my cure to my social status: Bulimia. That was the first night I would purge my dinner. October 12, 2013. Six years later, forty pounds thinner, and severely depressed, I found myself in the emergency room. I was told my heart was going to stop within three weeks if I continued with Bulimia. Three months of treatment later I found myself the cure I had sought six years earlier: me. I am not defined by external appearance, my I.Q, or by my social status. I am defined by the empathy I feel, the love I bestow, and the hope I share. If I had only known that the magic I sought was already in staring at me in the mirror.

Taci you need to follow your gut. When it gets hard trust that you can make the right decision. And remember that when you dont make the right decision the first time, the world has not ended. You can try again.

Don't think you know everything about life. college is going to be difficult but it will be all worth it. become a better you keep away from all those bad influences. and hold it all together do all of your work because if you don't it will be a huge regret later in time.

If I could commune with my high-school-senior self, I would most definitely tell about how everything will be fine. I know I was really scared about going to college, and I never wanted to do anything college-related. It was really a constant stress for me. But having actually been through a bit of college, it's not really that big of deal. No one will leave you behind intentionally. There will always be people who will help out. It's just high school with a bit more freedom. I've even had the chance to gloat to my friends that are still in high school! Thinking about it, this will probably be how I feel once I get settled into a 4-year university. I'm a bit nervous to transfer, but a bit excited at the same time, because I'll be learning all kinds of new things. Everything ends up okay in the end.

Apply for scholarships, don't assume you won't win any. You can't win if you don't enter.

Right now Caleb, you dont know what you want to do with your life. You just finished highschool and you want to take time off and not deal with school. But these next few year of school will either hold you back or launch you forward in your long term educational journey. Getting through college, both financially and academically, can be a daunting task. The work you put in it now will pay off in the future. Maintining your GPA may seem like a waste of time. You will want to not study late at nights, and just play video games instead. But keeping yourself academically strong will help you pay for college. You dont see this now, but trying to get scholarships and pay for school when you have a wife and child is extraordinarily difficult. The amount of responsibilites you have now are nothing compared to what you will have in the future. So take the time to do things right the first time. Put in the hard work now. This will save you much toil and work later. You will be greatful that you did.

Learn how to mulitask, and manage your time! Most students in college have jobs sometimes more than one, some have children. We can all agree on one thing tho, and that is that most of us dont have all the time in the world to just focus on school only. I had to learn during the first year of college that i would be juggling school,work, and my daughter. You're going to have to learn how to be grown up and make choices for yourself, your parents can no longer help you when you forget to do your homework, or your computer crashes. These are things that you have to be ready for and know what to do when each happens! Dont procrastinate although many college students say that they like to wait untill the night before to study for a test..dont!! it'll only hurt you worse in the end when you get to upper level classes and you're not able to take in all the information at once. The last thing i would tell myself is..enjoy college it only comes once. Study, make good grades, and have fun!

To always follow your heart no matter what anyone tells you, because ultimately YOU know what you want, not anyone else. Find a place where your heart sings and you find your "nitch", because no one can tell you where you are happiest but you. Don't ever give up on your dreams, work with dedication, and do what others are not willing to do in order to be successful, because true happiness comes by following your dreams.

I would not waste so much time. I would not let addictions overcome my dreams and I would concentrate on my goals and make them happen. On the other hand if I did not go thru what I have in life, I wouldn't have my family and the sucess I have and the acheivements I can attain.

Dear Cheerleader Self, Friday night football and prom dresses won?t last forever. Pay attention in calculus - you will be taking it again in ten years. Do not under any circumstances fill out a credit card application until you graduate college and get a real job. The boy, Junior year? He?s bad news. Don?t waste your time. Don?t let fear of the unknown keep you from pursuing what you love. If you aren?t sure what that is yet, don?t worry. You will figure it out. (Hint: It is not accounting, so you can bypass that major declaration altogether.) Keep an open mind, explore your options, and don?t get caught up in your plans. They will change. You will change. At the same time, be aware that your work today will certainly affect your future. You will want to attend graduate school someday and they will want to see transcripts! So, study hard, have fun, keep in touch with old friends, and be open to new ones. Best of luck, 10 Year High School Reunion Self P.S. Did I mention your new calculus buddy is currently a senior at your high school? Small world.

I would tell myself to start signing up for financial aid and scholarships immediately. Make sure that I hit the books on material for the ACT and take as many times as possible to get a more useful score. To start capturing a vision on the major I want to turn into a career. Establish insight on how to think and learn actively. Set long-term goals along with short-term ones to open doors for educational and career opportunities. Put up dough for a computer considering the majority of my professors can only be contacted through email. Nevertheless, in advance go and explore my college, paying particular attention to the floor of my major. Remember my values as it will aid with college and career goal setting. And not to worry there are a great deal of resources if I need assistance with anything.

Don't tell yourself that you are going to wait a year and then go to college, because it will not happen. Look at me, I am 43 years old and I can not remember any of the stuff I learned in high school. It will be so much easier if you go now while everything is fresh on your mind. You can get a good job after you graduate college, instead of living paycheck to paycheck like I did for the last 25 years. I meet student that are so much younger than me and wish I would of went after high school, because of our age gap I know that we can not be long time friends. Trust me you will not regret it. Good luck and I will help you anyway that I can.

I would tell myself to work harder and not let my grades fall as badly as they did. I would also tell myself to work on more college aplications to get into a better school, so that if i were to get sick i wouldnt have to drop and then be going back two years later, getting ready to be married and having a baby on the way.

I would honestly tell myself that I should have focused more in high school. I regret not doing well and slacking off while I was in my senior year! Often students tend to get lazy towards the end of the year! This is exactly what I did. My dream was to start attending ORU in the fall of 2009, but the finances were not available, only because of my stupidity. There are consequences. Stay focused and do the best that you can even though it seems like the year is taking forever to get over!

Nothing is more important than higher education. Go straight there and don't let anything distract you.

When I graduated high school I purchased a small home and made the payments by working over 60 hours a week waiting tables. I picked up as many shifts as I could to pay for school and my bills, even if those shifts were during class times. After several semesters of not knowing a major I graduated with an Associates in Liberal Arts. Talking to myself as a senior I would tell me that I'll always have enough money to meet my bills; "Do not skip class to work!" I would also tell myself to try; "Without trying you can make lots of Bs and As, but make a little effort and you can make all As easily". Also, not to take a lot of random classes just to learn about something more. It's great to learn more about everything you can, but those add into your hours, and when you finally decide what you want to do, you will have nearly 100 hours that do not count towards your degree, and you will have to ask committees to allow you to finish your second Associates degee.

If I was to go back in time to visit myself in high school and give myself information about my college choice and future decision I would tell myself to be confident and make sure that I remember important deadlines and follow all the guidelines and rules my parents have given me.

I would tell myself that I should not worry so much about my future because I have plenty of support and resources to assist me in making good decisions that will lead to the life I want to have. I would also tell myself that I need to set clear and distinctive goals and work harder to achieve them.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to prepare to study hard and make sure to follow my parents rules and get into the habit of applying for scholarships so that I could succeed in the rest of my college life.

If I could talk to myself in High School I would remind myself to remain disciplined. In High School there were so many rules that I felt babied and couldn't wait to get out. And then when I had all the freedom in college I did not rise to the challenge. I have had mostly A's in High School and I would have told myself it is important to attend class and study in order to keep up with your GPA. I would have said, "Emily, stay focused." I would also tell myself not to be distracted by social life. I think I was trying to feel like I could go out any time I wanted. I would remind myself I am doing well not to partake in many activities that my peers do because they are a deterrent on the path to my success. I would say keep up the good work, you have found a good balance between work and play. And lastly I would tell myself be smart with your money, because textbooks do not grow on trees. I would tell myself do not worry about working so much, worry about keeping up your grades.

If i could rewind time and whispher in the ear of the that girl finishing her senior year .I would tell her to have confidence within herself. Llisten to know one else but her heart. Apply to that four year university, and break away . Instead of getting stuck here for the next two years. Yearning for your chance to fly away. Step up to the plate so you want have to face all of the things i have to face all because i was afraid to chase affer my dreams. Living in a house full of sins. Dealing friends who want nothing out of life, but to trap a guy by having his baby. Hoping and praying every night that you want become like them. I would tell her that it is okay to be different. That I know that it's hurts now, but you will make it thought it.

The main thing I would have told myself as a high school senior would be to have tried to become and officer in a club at school. I was involved in the National Honor Society, and other club, but I never held a position. Knowing what I know now about what colleges are looking for for scholarships, I definately would have strived harder to immerse myself into a school club. On a different note, I would have told myself not to be so stressed during my senior year and just enjoy it more. Senior year is stressful with all the tests, final grades, work, and applying for scholarships and acceptance to schools that I should have taken an extra breath or two and calmed down. I would have also mentioned that college life of course is no walk in the park, but that it can be very fulfilling and just plain fun!

1) Go to class! This is not anything like high school. Some professors give attendance points and those points can mean the difference between an A or B. 2) Get to know your professors. They have been through exactly what you are going through. Talk to them, email them, and call them. No matter how hard they may be on you?they do want you to succeed. 3) Treasure the long nights of uninterrupted sleep you are getting now, because nights like those will be few and far in-between once you start college. ?Sleep is a luxury, the time-oriented enjoy and the procrastinators covet.? 4) Always, always, always ask questions about whatever it is you do not understand. The worst mistake you can make is to sit there silently confused and try to play ?catch-up? right before your test. 5) Constantly know what your grades and gpa are. There is a plethora of scholarships and clubs that you are qualified for with the right grades. 6) And finally, LIVE IT UP! This will be one of the most challenging and fun transitions in your life. Do not be shy. Everyone is just as nervous as you are.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, i would tell myself that college is not just for the smarter and more well off students around me. I have had more opportunities moving around the country than any single student who has lived in the same area their whole life. Just because your grades are affected in a negative way does not mean that it is because you dont know what you are doing. Many teachers just do not understand how hard it is for a student to catch up at every new school. Take it slow and try to remember how that one special teacher taught you and apply it to your other subjects. Ask more questions without feeling intimidated, even though it seems everyone knows more than you. Talk to the career counselor early and find out about different careers so that you can try to figure out where your strengths are and work towards them while still in high school. Visit campuses around the area, even the local Community college, to get a feel of college life. Finally, know who you are and dont be scared of growing up!

I would tell myself to take things slow, and do not overload myself with work and school. More advice would be to not allow myself to get caught up in the freedom of college life, such as not having parents tell you that you need to study. The main advice i would tell myself is that school is the most important thing, and to always put it first.

I would tell myself to get involved with everything possible my senior year of highschool and as a college freshman. To be able to focus more on a career that is stable and not based on monitary value. To join a soriety, they will not only help with socialization, but with education as well. I would tell my self to concentrate on finishing, and not allowing my self to get overwhelmed with what's going on in the world. I need to be able to study on my subjects as being a Teacher, put my focus on graduating with my Bachelor's degree and to be able to make good decisions for the time being and my future, so that I will not have to look back at the poor decisions I made.

In retrospect, if I could return to myself as a senior in high school, I would advise myself to do whatever it took to complete my degree as soon as I graduated. As a non-traditional student and divorced mother of two daughters with sole custody, I find it more challenging to attend school now. I work 3 part-time jobs to allow me to work around my own college schedule as well as the activities and school schedules of my children. If I could return to myself as a senior in high school, I would want to show myself a movie of what my future held as it stands today. I would probably point out certain things like the dark circles and bags beneath my eyes from a lack of sleep, the cost for babysitters and childcare that I incure while in class and away from my daughters, as well as the absence of a social life and hobbies.

If I could go back in time and talk with myself as a high school senior, knowing what i know now about college life and making the transition, I would give myself this advice which was first given by bill gates himself. "Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades; they will give you as many chances as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bare the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life." The purpose of giving myself this information would be to spur me to realize that college is nothing like high school. It is long, expensive, time consuming, difficult, but the trade of all these difficulties are a future. Television shows and movies depict a grand life of an easy coming unequivocally but this simply is not true. By telling myself this quote i would invite myself to champion the halls of my academic Studies, knowing that the end justifies the means. Yes, friends may be forsaken, parties unattended, late nights never undertaken but nothing worth having is easy, and everything worth having is obtainable.

I would not change a thing about my choice of school, but my classes look in to them alot more.

As a high school senior, I was ready to get out there and start living life. I started college, but then rushed into getting married at a young age. The relationship didn't work, and we divorced. I took time off from school to get my life and my head straightened out. The time off hurt my ambition, and I almost didn't go back to finish my degree. I finally did go back because I was only a semester away from finishing. As I was finishing my degree I came to the realization that this wasn't the career tract that I wanted. I was so distracted by my "life" that I hadn't focused on where I wanted my future to go. I spent the next 6 years trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. Luckily, I did. If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior; I would tell myself to focus on myself and my ambition to succeed. There is only so much time we are given, and once you make a choice in your life it's very difficult to change it.

If I was to go back in time to talk to myself about what i know so far about college in my senior year is to not be as stressful as i was about college. Here are a few steps you can follow and know before you finish your senior year. The first two to four year is you taking your requirements classes, which is similar to high school classes. Money does not have to big that big of a problem as long as your working and paying it off because the last thing that should be on your mind is taking a loan to pay off school. But there is a lot of ways to work around that, which is to work and apply for as much scholarships as you can. It does not matter if you don't fit with the scholarship; just apply because it better to try and get something, then not getting anything. And no matter what, finish your FAFSA before March. You want to get as much money as you can to help you. If you are able to follow these steps, you will be fine.

I would tell myself to take as many AP classes as possible. Further more to do a concurrent enrollment at the community college during my junior and senior years, aswell as the summer vacation.

Be ready to work and study hard for what you want. Be willing to make sacrfices so you can better yourself and earn a college education. Attend every class so you wont fall behind and be lost. Dont try to over do it only take as many classes as you can handle because if you take more than 9hours and have a full time job, and dont give yourself enough time to study will find yourself retaking these classes. Lowering your GPA and pushing back your graduation date. So just be ready to focus and give it your all.

I know you have a dim view of higher education right now and that you're not at all interested in going to college right now. I know that you don't feel that you have the money available to go. Understand that every year that you keep from going to school will be one year more that you're holding yourself back. Every year, you will find it harder and harder to go back to school and every year you will find it harder and harder to get a decent job until you have a degree. As hard as it may seem to get into college right now, it will be exponentially harder to do when you are in your thirties. Without a university education, you will feel like your life is in a holding pattern and the frustration will be immense. Believe me when I say that the rewards for finishing college are beyond what you can possibly imagine right now.

If I could go back in time I would have prepared myself a lot more for college. I didn't realize that there was so much information and planning involved including the SAT, ACT, the required enrollment process at my college of choice, and the financial aid information needed. If I could go back, I would have talked to a councelor or advisor about college information and where to begin the process. I would have also taken classes in high school that would have met my specific career objectives to be prepared for my college courses and would have talked myself into learning how to work the internet and typing skills. I would have researched all of the choices of college's to go to and would have saved up money for the little unprepared funds that college has brought along. As a single, teen mother during my senior year of high school, I would have saved up money for expenses that arises and daycare funds. I really would have prepared myself a lot more than what I did but now I know how to prepare my kids for college during thier senior year of high school.

Work harder on you research papers and take school alittle more serious.

If I could go back to high school knowing what I know now I would have put my college and my future first. That did not seem as important to me then as it does now. I would tell myself what I wanted to do for the rest of my life instead of taking 6 years to figure it out. I would have told myself that even if I don't know what I want to do right away to at least concentrate on completing my basics. I would have told myself that I need to stay at college instead of moving back home after my first semester. I don't think I realized at the time that no matter what field I went into that I would have to have all my basic courses. My college experience has been a costly life lesson but I am very happy about where I am going now. I'm finally on the right track to completing my college education and pursuing a career in occupational therapy.

As a high school senior I was pregnant with my daughter. I would have told myself to adjust to being a new mother instead of rushing into school . I would have pointed out the need to ask about help for non-traditional students. There are a lot of resources for parents continuing their education and at the time I was just afraid and thought I was alone. Tulsa Community College would have been a first choice for me because of the flexibilty and lower cost, at the time I was so excited about getting accepted to the University of Tulsa that I didn't consider another option even though it was the most expensive school.

Don't stress too much before starting college. Let it work itself out, just don't get too stressed because it doesn't help matters any.

This is actually by second time starting college. I went straight after high school. I had no focus when I reached college. I think the most important thing that someone should have told me was that you don't have to go immediately to college. I screwed up my GPA horribly and am having to work extra hard 3 years after the fact to recover from it. I wish someone had told me to do some sort of service or something to discover more about myself before I went to college. I gained so much hands on knowledge and appreciation for learning from just going out on my own and doing latent learning verses sitting in a classroom. I ended up doing 14 months of service and that is where I finally discovered things about myself and my goals which is what drove me to return to school. Just having that end in mind has made college so much easier this time around. Also moving away from my family and friends was the best decision I ever made. Getting away from your normals pushes you to become the real you verses trying to live up to expectations of others.

There are several undeniable reasons why it is important to go to college. First of all, it is a great social experience. I have made so many new friends in just a year and a semester. There are an endless number of student groups and activites associated with the school that it is impossible not to become friends with many new people. Secondly, being in college teaches you life skills that would be hard to come by in the real world, at least without dire consequences. For example, the self-sufficiency required to keep up with all your homework and tests, and even the freedom to choose the times of your classes teach you valuable lessons about time management that if you waited to learn in the business world, could cost you a job, a large amount of money (i.e. an unstable investment) or even your whole future, depending on what field you decide to go into. Which brings me to my next point that in today's world and economy, the number of jobs available to people without college degrees is severely limited and most do not pay very well. It seems like the clear choice is college.