University of Southern California Top Questions

When I graduate college, I hope to have learned every single valuable thing I could have. Whether related to my field of study or not, every little bit of knowledge is important. Even things that aren't necessarily academic are vital to a college experience. The people I meet and surround myself with, teachers who are there to listen to me when I have problems, they all play a part in shaping who I am and who I will become. I want to be a well-rounded individual set on making my dreams reality. College will help me do this.

Out of my college experience, I've gotten the chance to really strike out on my own and experience part of the real world. College life brings with it not just new friends and faces, but a new set of rules and ways of learning that I have never experienced before. These new ways of learning have really helped me as a person to take responsibility, get the things I need done, and to have a successful future in the health industry. College has been a valuable asset to me because it really has taught me how to see the world in ways I couldn't even comprehend. The college experience is giving me the tools and resources I need to really become what I want to be and that is to help people. Again responsibility, respect, and most important the pursuit of my own happiness is what my college experience so far has taught me and will continue to teach me.

My college experience so far has been one in which I've discovered so much about myself through developing my own support system. It is quite an experience to be so far from home and create a good group of people I can count on, all through my own decisions. Being from Florida and coming to LA on a whim, this is a reassuring feeling for my own self-confidence, allowing me to grow in many new ways. There is nothing more satisfying than the accomplishments you know you achieved through your own decisions.

There are many experiences that i have gotten out of the college experience. A sense of independence, hours required of studying, materials that maybe required for classes and much more. It been valuble because i would not be able to get the type of experience out side of college. It also enables you to become more responsible and mature person. It is a priceless experience that any person would appreiciate and love.

College has broadened my veiw on culture and ethics. I am better able to bridge the racial and ethnic boundaries to create new friendships and networks. I have also learned a lot about hard work. Being an honor student in highschool without doing homework was easy, but college taught me to step up and make sure my work is presentable, and know how to present it. I have aquired many skills necessary for a career in any field, and the pasion to continue on with my engineering studies to the best of my abilities.

I am who I am today because of my college experience. College was my time away from parents and established friendships, in a new (and stimulating) educational setting, in a new city, and I got four years to learn, explore, and take risks. I forged life-long friendships in college, I met the man I'm going to marry, I learned in class and from my community, and I gave my career direction. Even better, I learned how to be a strong, independent woman. I faced some challenging roadblocks in college, but I rose to the occasion, and when everything worked out okay, I proved to myself that I can trust my judgements and that my ideas are worthwhile. Even for all of this, I do not miss college (although summer vacation was pretty great!). I was ready to graduate because I was ready to show the world who I've become.

I have learned who I am and how strong I can be.

What I have got out of my college experiance is wisdom, maturity, growth as a person and hope. College started for me immediately out of high school, and it was a rough journey. I chose the wrong school for myself, and i ended up transfering to finish my education. I've realized the vast amount of wisdom and knowledge i received was once i started to believe in myself, and depend on myself that I am a strong person, i work very hard to put myself through college, i'm in college full time and work 2 jobs to make ends meet. Having to do these things has shown me how much better my life will be once i'm finished with school. Having to pay for college on my own with no help, and work as hard as i do has made me a very mature person at a young age. But i accept that, and i embrace it because everything in the end has made me a better me. Getting my education gives me the hope that i will have a successful career one day, which is all i could ever ask for.

I am the first in my family to go to college so this whole experience has been new to me as well as my family. It was a difficult process going into everything without any structure or advice, but Ive kept strong and maintained my goals and have managed to get through it all so far. College has been an amazing experience for me so far, education is a beautiful thing and I am eager to learn new things everyday. College has taught me to manage my priorities as well as my time. I have techniques of maintaining relations with my friends and family, as well as keeping my grades up. The friends I am making today at school will become my lifelong friends, and I cherish these moments I have of absolute freedom, not being tied down from the financial responsibilities my parents deal with. I do not take for granted my collge experience, I am involved in on campus activities constantly making new friends and I love being aware of the events on campus. College is shaping me into a well rounded, educated, outgoing and motivated individual.

When I first came to USC, I imagined a world full of sorority girls, fraternity guys, and football jocks. While this population is significant at the school, I have found my value in discovering those other groups which make the school a place where being quirky can be an advantage. Most of my classes are very interactive by nature and being able to speak up either to question beliefs or discuss them is a gift. Living in Los Angeles is not exactly easy in the sense that it is so big and a car is required to get around just about everywhere. But being at USC makes me forget that I am in a city I dislike because the atmostphere on campus can be likened to that of an East Coast school with West Coast weather. Opportunity is the biggest reason why I feel lucky to be at USC. At USC, I have been given opportunities and the guts to go after them.

There are times where life will be really difficult but do the best you can, and everything will work out eventually.

Dear Amanda, After six years at a rigorous all-girl's school, I know you're burned out and ready for college, but don't forget about your friends. You're a student at Marlborough School longer than you're at USC. Keep in touch with your friends who have always been there for you. A few thousand miles and different time zones shouldn't impinge on your friendships. At Marlborough, you always talked with teachers about anything: your class, their families, your weekend plans. In college, don't be intimidated by your professors. Reach out to them and visit them during their office hours, just as you did in high school. Additionally, meet the people in your classes. You never know when you'll need to borrow someone's notes or want to exchange study guides. Lastly, don't spend all of your time holed up in your room. Go see a musical on campus or cheer on the basketball team at a home game. Life is too short to sit around by yourself, sleeping or surfing the internet. Make the best of your college years. You have the rest of your life to work and stress out.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to either take courses at a community college to satisfy the basic lower division courses required for my major. Science courses do not really change much; there is only so many ways one can present the same facts and information, especially after having taken so many AP courses in science. If I did this, I would have more time to take other courses in the literature and arts, courses where the material depends on what the professor presents and not what a textbook presents. This would broaden my spectrum of knowledge from merely the sciences, to encompass other fields, to make me a more well-rounded individual. On the other hand, if I had decided not to take these courses at community college, I would tell myself to either take another foreign language or dedicate myself to learning how to play an instrument adqeuately or perhaps even to apply for programs to study abroad during the summers of my high school years. My chosen career path does not leave me many opportunities to study abroad, but I believe studying abroad is a good experience for any college student.

I would tell myself not to think about what other people have to say about a school. As it turns out, they don't matter in the long run. Everyone has an opinion on what is a "good" school, a "fun" school, a "weird" school, etc. In the end of the day this is going to be an experience that defines you and it should be made for the right reasons. I would tell myself to try very hard on the AP exams because if you score high enough you can get credit for many of the general education requirements which opens up room in your schedule to take the classes you really want to take. I would also tell myself that in making the transition be open to talking to anyone and everyone you meet. These are people you will spend four more years with and each one of them could potential be a great friend. I would warn myself about the importance of balancing school work and social activities. In college it can be tempting to party all the time, but ultimately you are there to have an amazing experience and recieve a wonderful education. And finally, RELAX!

If I could go back to when I was 17 years old filling out college applications, the advice I would give myself is that I can do what anyone else can do; I am capable of going to a UC, private school, etc. The reason I say this is because I didn't think I was bright enough to attend any other school except for a Cal State or Junior College. I felt intimidated for some reason that I wasn't the "right" material for these prestigious schools. I let my insecurities get the best of me when I should have been positive that I am good enough for any college due to being a hard worker and having excellent grades. Everyone told me to apply to USC, Pepperdine, etc but for some reason I did not. By not applying, I live with the thought "what if." What if I applied to USC right out of high school, would I have been accepted then rather than transferring in? It is something I do regret and therefore have told myself that I am just as good as the next person and plan on living my life without wondering "what if."

At first, balancing school and your social life can be difficult. There are going to be many fun parties, extracurricular activites, and plenty of schoolwork. I have learned that school must always come first and foremost. You have to remember that what you are learning in college will most likely be applicable to what you will be doing in the real world. Second, I would say to reach out to your teachers and advisors. I have found mentors in my professors inside and outside of the classroom by reaching out. I was selected to attend a Design Study Tour in New York City, touring some of the top design firms in the country, with two of my professors, whom I now look to for artistic guidance and career advice. Google your professors. They are usually a lot more knowledgable than you would think. They are professionals in their fields of study and you should take advantage of their teachings and views. Lastly, I would advise myself to attend any extra campus events and lectures. Famous scholars, performers and activists speak at USC weekly and you can learn a lot just by watching and listening.

Looking back in my high school years, I was relatively uncommited to the education system, often times choosing to hang out with friends over studying. Although hanging out with friends is great, but since I left my high school, only a few have remained in contact with me today. Because of this, I believe that I would not be struggling as much now if I had studied at a more rigourous level, coping with the stress that followed it. By conditioning my mind and body for the stresses of college would have helped me a lot more, as I am slowly building up new study habits and methods.

The biggest hurdle I encountered in the transition to college was determining what I wanted out of life. I cannot say that I fully valued the impact the college experience was going to have on myself. After graduating high school I thought I knew the basic path I wanted my life to take. However, that changed drastically after coming to college and was immeresed in a new learning enviroment. Being placed around other high achieving students maybe me realize the range of possibilities and experiences that are aviailable at a school. Unfortunately, I initally failed to take advantage of all the services and benefits college had to offer. If I could go back in time I would reiterate the importance being open to everything the college has to offer and participate in as many things as possible. These experiences have given me great personal satisfaction as well as real world experience and life time friends.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to always study hard no matter. There may be times when I will feel tired and worn out from studying for so many hours however, just pushing yourself a little bit longer will really pay off in the long run. If you become lazy and refuse to study then the consequences will be severe no matter how hard you had worked over the sememster. I would also tell myself to manage my time better. I learned that making sticky notes or to do lists helps especially when you rank things by putting the most important task first. Making lists helps keep your mind clear and it also helps prevent stress. As long as you do what you need to do on the list in a timely matter then you can have plenty of free time. The last thing that I would tell myself is go to the library as often as possible to do homework and study because even though the dorm room can be quiet, you will get plenty of visitors.

As a current college sophomore, I must say I have made a few mistakes during my college experience. Among those mistakes deals with my grades. I tried so hard to do well my first semester and spent every waking moment in the library, but the work did not pay off and I ended up getting a few poor grades my freshman year. I realized that I did not take advantage of office hours and I did not actively engage myself in lecture, lab, or supplemental instruction. I would tell myself that had I been more engaged, I would have had a better grasp at the material. Also, one reason for my poor grades was that I never took a break from school. To me, school and the college experience were synonymous, so I had almost no social life and, as a result, I am about to start my fourth semester of college with very few casual friends and zero close friends. Having a social life really helped this last semester and I ended up doing very well because I maintaned a balance between academic social activities. Ultimately, I tell my senior self that college means academics and adventure.

If you want to continue on this road to future success, you need to stay focused. There will be a lot of parties that your friends will beg and plead with you to go to, and since it will be your first semester there, you will be tempted beyond belief to want to go instead of doing homework, but you need to resist that urge. You have no idea the regrets that will ensue if you do not make your studies your first priority, above making friends and having fun. There will be plenty of opportunities to have fun that will not compromise your work, so make sure to not always seek what's the most fun to do instead of what school work needs to be done. The work will be hard and you will get frustrated, but the reward of straight A's at the end of the semester will be worth all of it. Lastly, don't be discouraged by everyone else having fun without you so that you start to feel left out. Your true friends will be around to have fun with you when you have free time as well.

If my present self and my past self were sitting in a room next to each other I would first advise my high school senior self to, "visit each school that you have received acceptance letters from. It is very important to picture yourself living and attending school there. Make sure to not only look at the university itself but to also look around at the surrounding areas. You must visit the local shopping areas or hot spots where you will be socializing, running errands and associating with the local residents. If you cannot picture yourself living in a certain city or living amongst certain types of people, then it is not the right school for you." "Also, do not let your friends influence your decisions when it comes down to the final decision. They will try to peer pressure you in to schools that they got accepted into making them appear to be the better choice. However, it is not their opinions that matter but only yours. Make sure to always be independent and to have your own thoughts because ultimately it is your life and your future for the next four years, not your friends."

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior i would tell myself to really concentrate on school work. As a senior im sure most people are persuaded to do things they wouldnt normally do. It is really important for students to know that playing around about your grades your senior can really affect what college you get into and also how much help you get to pay for college. I would tell myself to try hard as i possible can to get the HOPE scholarship because thats money you can get for just having good grades. I would tell myself to study alot more than i did. I also would tell myself dont be advised by other peopls behavior because you have to pay for the consequences of things you do not the other person.

I would go back and tell myself to simply relax. I created a lot of stress and pressure during my senior year; worrying about college applications, studying for finals, and preparing my financial aid. I missed out on some activities that could have really been entertaining for me, becuase I chose to go home all the time, constantly checking deadlines and filling out applications. Now that I am in the college enviornment, I have learned to take time just for myself. No books, homework, or deadlines ever cross my mind during this self-time. I probably could have avoided mental breakdowns if I simply stopped for just ten minutes, to free my mind of all stresses and obstacles. I now have a more free, uplifting state of mind that allows me to enjoy myself more. As a senior, I would tell myself that everything will get done on time. I have to trust myself that everything will fall into place, as long as I don't stress or worry, and create an organized schedule that always has time to relax.

The best thing to keep in mind when making the transition to college is to keep an open mind. College is a totally different animal from high school, and people shouldn?t expect it to work the same way. Classes may be a lot harder than you expect them to be, so be prepated to spend extra time studying. People are different and you never know who will make the best friends that you will keep for the rest of your lives. Try to make as many friends as you can at the beginning of the year, and eventually pick and choose who you really want to hang out with, but still keep in contact with everyone else. Explore classes in different departments to learn what you truly are interested in, rather than simply be on a one-way road to learn you were never really interested in it the first place. College is meant to be a learning experience, so experiment with different things, but don?t over do yourself. Don?t stick with something just because it is familiar with you, take risks, but just use common sense to keep yourself safe and on track.

Oh, Innocent Youth, you think you've got your life figured out. You're fresh from highschool and proud of accomplishing the despair of puberty. Your bright, cheery eyes foresee a concrete future that can't be compromised or lost. You are naive. Do not expect to know everything or try to take on more than you can actually handle. Multitasking in high school, procrastinating, and cheating, are not going to work here. You will be thrown upon your own skills and forced to find a morality that merits the self you will become. You will be lost so that you can develop your own adult mind and find it somewhere around graduation. Do not despair when life challenges you and the college experience becomes overwhelming in its surreality. College will expand your mind and set a burning fire in your spirit to travel and know the world with your own eyes. You'll learn that a new course does not defer your dreams but it enriches them. College will guide you toward your full potential and purpose. It will inspire you to break free from a pool of numbered identities and stand out--an individual who knows true freedom.

Sung to the music of "If I were a carpenter": - If I were a high school student, looking for a college; I'd think about book smarts and other kinds of knowledge. I'd learn about numbers and how to write essays; and I'd contemplate others ways to fill up my hours and days. There is so much communicating and so much networking; that helps you build a future and figure out working. You make new friends and move away from home; the theme paper you write will be called a tome. And don't forget those who helped get you there, your family, teachers and friends; they worked so hard and burned the candle at both ends. Using 20/20 hindsight it seems to me; means working as hard as you possible can, to be all you can be.

You need to work hard. You have to not let anyone tell you that you cant do it. With all the struggles that you have been through in your life like your dad leaving you do not let that stop you. You ae strong and I believe you can make it. You need to be more focused and motivated so you can succeed in college. James you are smart and very good in school. Take your time nd keep ypur priorities straight. You can do it!

As I wrote ?2010? on the corner of my MATH218 notes, I remember how a few years ago, I wondered what I would be doing when the world turns into a new decade. Worrying, most of the time, about how life would turn out for me. Is my SAT score high enough for me to get into my selected college? Will I make enough friends? Who will pay for college? If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stop worrying too much, and focus on the present because the present, indeed, is just as important as the future. Looking back, I realized how all the worrying did nothing to who I am now, if not to detriment it. If only I knew to live my days purposefully, truly living instead of worrying too much. If only I knew to plunge into each day with a conviction that everything, indeed, is going to be fine. And even if things did not turn out quite well, I would know to run the race with courage and joy, instead of uselessly worrying about the finish line I dream of reaching because worrying would not get me there.

Everyone is going to have their own unique transition and experience in college. Personally, being from Southern California and going to a school close by home was not an ideal situation. I originally wanted to go away from home and explore a part of the world that I have never experienced before. I was scared that by going to USC, I would not grow as a person and miss out on something potentially bigger that I could've discovered elsewhere. However, after my first semester here, I was completely wrong and I realized that it was all about my attitude. If I was going to be at this school for the next four years of my life, I needed to have a more positive outlook on how I would spend my time here. That is exactly what I did, and I have discovered so many new opportunities, people, classes, professors, etc. that I know I probably would not have found anywhere else. After changing my attitude, I realized this was the perfect school for me after all. And that is probably the best advice I can give...you'll be happy wherever you are depending on your attitude towards it.

Arielle, you cry and you worry that you won't get into any college. Your grades are amazing and many schools will love you. Even though you wanted to get as far away from home as possible, you chose the closest school that you applied to and you know what, you love it. Being close to home is kinda nice and the environment is anything but surburban. In college you open up to many different types of people and learn as much off campus as you do on. The workload that you took on in school hinders your perfect social life, but guess what, you make it through coming out as a well rounded student who went out maybe more than you should have, but have grown because of it. Your final year of school you will find yourself jetsetting throughout Europe skyping the love of your life back in the States. GET EXCITED, the transisition to college is going to be one of the easiest things you have ever done, because USC is one of the greatest schools in the world.

Dear Gabriela, College will be one of the most exciting stages in your life. Although you are worried about leaving home, do not hesitate because living in the dorms will enrich your experience both academically and socially. You will always have somebody to help you on a seemingly impossible math problem and a good friend to confide in. When you begin your first semester, make sure you visit your professors during their office hours a couple of times during the course, so that they can get to know you. This will benefit your grades, help you network, and they will not hesitate to write you an excellent letter of recommendation when you need it. Classes in college are not hard if you manage your time correctly, and realize that unlike high school, everyone around you is there to learn because they chose to attend college and are paying for the best education. This will, help you put into perspective what is important, and make you realize that school needs to be a priority. However, make sure you make time for social events; because this will help you get back to your work with a clearer mindset. Best of luck! Gabriela

I would tell myself to stop dwelling on the future and enjoy the present more. During my first years of college I had trouble enjoying what was currently going on in my life and making the most of my experiences. I am more confident about my future now and should have been able to do this before. Thinking about the future is important but enjoying the present is the key to happiness. It is an important thing to consider when you are that close to your future and on the brink of change once in college.

It's a totally different world without the structure of high school. Time management becomes crucial, and you need to focus on making sure that you get the essentials done before tackling anything else. You will invariably bite off more than you can chew, but that is to be expected. Persevere when things seem bad, because even if you don't believe it you will make it through. You have much more freedom than you can realize, but this comes with a responsibility out of which blame rests solely on you. Look for the good people to be friends with. Even if you are not sure about something, but you know you want it, go for it, because you don't want to always wonder what if. Have fun, keep safe, be studious, and try to enjoy the smaller things. Also, watch out for the late night food runs - tempting as they may be you will regret eating immediately after you are done. Oh, and everyone talks to their parents, so don't feel like you are the only one or are being a wuss for doing it. Finally, hold on to what you know is right.

The advice I would give to the High-School-Senior me would definitely to stand up for myself and to have the confidence and ability to say NO to people when they're making me do something I don't want to. Along those same lines, I'd also tell myself to learn how to tell when someone is being manipulative by making me feel sorry for him/her, and to learn to not take anyone's B.S. that way. I would tell myself to not base relationships just on looks, because if you become someone's boyfriend before getting to know his personality, you're going to get in trouble. And related to that topic, I would tell myself to be more perceptive of my relationships with my boyfriends, and to be better able to tell when it needs to end, instead of letting it go on too long, because once again -- that just causes trouble. Also, I'd tell me that formatting your answers correctly is just as important as getting the answers right in college classses. Lord knows I've lost a few points that way.

As a high school student it is difficult to imagine yourself as an independent, mature adult with responsibilities. You live at home and and rely on your parents to supply you with food, shelter, cash, unconditional love, and support. Things are taken care of by your family so it leaves you to live in the moment. Without responsibilities that go beyond studying for tests and perhaps keeping your bedroom somewhat neat, there was no need to think about deadlines or finances. The best advice I would offer myself today is to have listened more carefully when my parents tried to convince me to focus on my studies more. I would definitely inform me that attention to details such as specific deadlines are extrememly important not only for school but in life. Procrastination is a very poor choice as people love to trample over procrastinators and leave them behind. While I've definitely taken on more personal responsibility as a student at USC, I am still haunted by some poor study choices made in high school that cost me to prove myself at a Jr. College with a 4.0 and scholarship opportunities. I have learned this lesson.

Looking back on it, I don't regret the choices I made transitioning from a high school student to a freshman in college. It was tough, but I would want to tell myself to have fun, but be more aware of the choices you make before you consider having fun. Think about why you are attending a university that costs over $50,000 to attend and consider the consequences. Make sure to do well but also go out there and try new things. Try to get involved and meet different people so that when time comes, you'll find your real friends like I have found today. I dont think there is anything I can tell myself that would have necessarily prevented me from making the mistakes I did freshman year, but it would have helped to know that the stories are true; once you get to college the style of teaching is different, the baby-ing is gone, and it is all about individuality. I would have told myself to realize that I am no longer a little girl entering college, but that I need to take steps on my own and also take accountability for all my actions.

Get more involved on campus. Even if you don't make friends for life it's better to have them on campus while you're in college than to just see them once a week when you go out dancing. Stay focused on figuring out what it is you want to do, and take more advantage of the resources USC offers like the career center.

I suppose I would say to be strong, be fearless, but at the same time be humble and dont stress.

Hey, Jade. Don't try to be someone you're not. Life is just going to get harder and you will have to make some very adult decisions on your own. Don't doubt yourself because you are a very smart and capable. It is going to be an adventure and a never-ending learning experience. Enjoy it! Play Hard! Study hard!

I graduated high school dead set on becoming an architect. Although USC has a great architecture school, it didn't take long for me to realize that there were more options that I had never considered. If I could go back and give myself some advice, I know that my younger self would be hard to convince, but would need to better understand that change is great, and keeping an eye out for opportunities is essential to success in college. I would have also made myself focus more on financial aid.

Learn to study now, because that's the most important skill you can take with you from high school to university. Life will be complicated enough, equip yourself with the right tools now to succeed. When you arrive, make sure you step out of your comfort zone. Do all the things you thought you would never do, but do it with class and responsibility. College is the one time in your life where you can have your cake and eat it too: you have your independence without all the responsibility. Jump on opportunities as they arise, and never stop thinking about the future. Four years may seem like a long time, but before you know it, graduation will be upon you and the next step in life will seem much more intimidating than college ever did. Above all, stick to your values. The freewheeling college lifestyle is great fun, but like all good things, it'll come to an end and you don't want to leave the best four years of your life with a feeling of regret.

Even though senior year is basically a blow-off year, make sure that you challenge yourself with difficult classes, even if it means taking them at another high school or college. If that isn't possible, try much harder to get a job in order to learn real time management skills because the course and workload in college makes sleep very elusive. You come from a place where you are the smartest by a mile, but in an elite, private university like USC, you will be considered an average student at best. In order to make up for the huge gap between your schooling and your future peers' you need to work a thousand times harder and not let yourself slack off in your schoolwork. It doesn't matter what your grades or rank are in high school, but it does matter deeply how prepared you are to stack up against students from some of the best private schools in the country.

BEDROOM - NIGHT Estefany sits in front of her computer finishing an essay, wishing she could finish high school and move on to college to become independent. A kind of commercial break appears in lieu of the word document on her computer screen. An older Estefany speaks to her. OLDER ESTEFANY: Hey! Who says college is a guarantee that you?ll gain independence? Many college students who live away from home are still dependent on their parents for various reasons, so don?t even think about blocking them out. As long as you still need your parents for financial and emotional help, you depend on them. You may think you?ll finally be liberated once you can make your own decisions, but this new freedom can be hard to manage. You?ll discover that it?s difficult to make decisions after so many years of allowing your parents to decide for you. My biggest advice for you as you transition to college is to accept the support that your parents can give you! Being a college student does not necessarily imply becoming an independent person. Independence comes at its own time, whether that time is before or after college.

Get a job earlier in high school and save money for college. Apply for as many scholarships possible and keep applying.

Have a general course of action, a plan, to tackle so that I will not regret having no moretime to take classes that I would have liked to take.

The honest advice I would give to myself would be to not get married and follow through with my dreams. Because of my early marriage and family choices, I have so far, only attended a vocational college for a 12 month program. I feel that the real 4 year college experience is something all should experience. Not only for the class education but the things many can learn about life and themselves from the entire experience as a whole. I have only made it partially through my journey, and the career field I chose (nursing) requies constant educational upkeep and I greatly look forward to accessing everything that any college may have to offer.

Be more outgoing. Get more friends. Try to not be such an introvert. Because after a while it does get kinda lonely. Though the friends you do get are great, you could use some more. And well you already know after first semester that you don't really want to be an architect.... Tell mom and don't be. Go do theatre design. That's what you really want to do. And try to be more involved in silks and band. Cause who knows in 2 years the silks may no longer exist..........Don't procrastinate so much. Try to finish your work ahead of time that way you won't be so stressed out all the time. Majoring in architecture will be the hardest thing you've ever done..... Possibly even harder than college applications. And if you don't work hard you aren't going to get good grades.... I know I got 2 Dpluses first semester....... Don't do what i did. You can do so much better.

College is like recess. When the bell rings on your last day of high school, recess has begun. Run outside and go wild! There are new playground toys in college and one may look like a slide, but it's not. It's actually a grading curve - fun at the top, but it really hurts when you hit the bottom. Kick the can is still a fun game (especially when you're broke). The nightmare of being last picked for kickball doesn't go away - now the game is called "pledging a fraternity." Remember your archnemesis, the teachers pet? Well, it just so happens that he sits next to you in your anthropology class (no, he won't share his answers will you and yes, you will still be plotting against him even after graduation). You will fall down and get hurt. Dust yourself off and go see Amy (she lives down the hall from you - she's not a nurse, but might as well be). You'll know when recess is over because another bell will toll - your alarm clock on your first day of work. Recess was too short, and so is college - enjoy every minute!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that when you start school doesn't martter. I was spring admit to USC and as a result, I felt ashamed because I thought I wasn't as good as the other students because I wasn't accepted in the fall. However, once I started school, I learned that you're randomly selected to be a spring admit; it is not based on having lower qualifications. I would make sure I understood this so that I not longer would have to dwell on it. I would also point out that by not attending USC in the fall I was able to attend a community college, save money, make friends, and get many of my general education requirements out of the way. Community college also helped me to make a smoother transition to university life, as I already understood how classes were conducted at a college level.