University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Sarah

I would tell my high school self to take a deep breath and relax. I was, and sometimes still am, the type of person that wanted everything planned out to the last minute. I was a little uptights and very focused on my goals. During these past four years I have learned to relax and go with the flow. My best memories are when I little go of my fears and didn't overthink what I was doing. Everything will work out, whether you plan it out or not.

Elena

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to breathe, and breathe deeply. There is no class worth stressing yourself out to the point of tears over. Your perfect school is waiting for you just a few months down the road, and the grade you got on that statistics test isn’t going to take that away. You’ve got this! It seems daunting to realize that you will be completely on your own – without your parents, your boyfriend, your best friends. But what you don’t know yet is that you won’t ever be alone, not even for a second. Everyone you love at home will always be behind you to catch you if you fall (and sometimes you will), and there are some pretty extraordinary people waiting to love you and support you from the moment you step on campus. You are intelligent, and you are strong. What you are not, however, is superhuman. You’re a person, and you will make mistakes. The most important thing is that you keep breathing and allow yourself to feel blessed each time your lungs expand. Just breathe, Elena!

Jason

Quiet, shy, and creative Jason. Don't come to college as the obnoxious freshman who thinks he can take on the world just because he made it to college! I'll tell you now, your first semester will be your hardest semester because you decided to take the maximum amount of credits and by mid-semester you dropped half of them. You were on the verge of probation one and even considered dropping out if not for the wonderful professors and advisers that reached out to wipe that crying face of yours. I'm glad that you made it to college, but take it slow! No need to rush and graduate within four years, you only get to be an undergraduate student once, so instead of worrying for the future, enjoy today! Enjoy the things that people take for granted today that they will be wishing for tomorrow. Wake up with a smile everyday and tell yourself it's going to be a great day and it will be! Explore your emotions and really come to terms with your identity because tomorrow is an abstract idea and you don't know completely what it will bring. Enjoy kiddo!

Grace

I would tell myself not to be afraid. I stayed home and went to community college my first semester. I saved alot of money, but looking back I realize how worth it it would have been to go to college right away as a freshman. I would also tell myself to focus on what I want, since this is the one time in life that you can focus entirely on yourself and follow your dreams. Also, I would remind myself to be myself and accept this experience as a fresh start because there are going to be a lot of changes and it might be scary, but embrace it because college really is so much fun! And in so many ways!

Morgan

I would tell my younger self to study more and take academics more seriously because its important in college. I would tell myself to steer away from partying freshman year and instead focus on academics and making new friends. Last advice I'd give myself is to start searching for the right professor to do undergraduate research with sophmore year instead of waiting till junior year and to take academics and GPA very seriously because graduate schools expect very good GPAs.

Alex

To be honest, I am a high school senior. I have been taking college classes since I was a freshman so technically I’m a college senior as well. Although I only have enough credits to be a college sophomore. Needless to say, it was kind of difficult to fill out this survey and made it impossible to answer this question. I wish I could go a couple of months into the future however. I would ask myself where I finally decided to go to college and how I figured out how to pay for it. As for advice, if the future me is anything like I am now I probably wouldn’t be very helpful. If I could go back in time to when I was a scared freshman, scared that was going to get shanked in high school or shanked in college, things probably would have gone a lot smoother. I would tell myself college is nothing like prison (not that I know what prison’s like). I would tell myself to stop worrying so much and that all my constant panicking about grades would stunt my growth and give me ulcers.

Anna

Transitioning to college is a fun and exciting time in anyone’s life. Many high school graduates, like myself, were excited for the freedom that would come with transitioning to college, but little did I know with that freedom would come many responsibilities. After completing my first semester here at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and not doing as well as I had anticipated, I would go back and tell my former self two simple words that would make a huge impact, “Time management”. I went into the fall semester feeling confident and in charge, but by midterms I was unsure and everything seemed to spiral out of control. I fell behind in classes and couldn’t seem to make up for lost time. You simply cannot make up for lost time in college. Time management is key. I may not be able to go back and tell my former self this, but I have changed my time management skills since last semester. The work load seems more manageable, I’m staying ahead in my classes, and once again I am feeling confident of what this semester has to bring, all because I learned how to manage time efficiently.

Sarah

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self about college, I would tell myself to be more outgoing. My first year of college I did not make a lot of friends. I was afraid to put myself out there and go find friends. I choose the passive route, hoping that friends would come to me. I know now that this does not happen. If you want to make friends you, and only you, have to go out there and find them yourself. I would tell myself not to be so afraid to ask a classmate to hang out or grab lunch after school or to go and knock on your neighbors door and ask them to come and watch a movie with you. The worst that could happen is they say no. Life does not give you anything without a little effort. Yes, making new friends can be hard, but it will not hurt to try. Put yourself out there or you will risk a lot more than someone saying no.

Teng

The advice I will give myself will be that college isn't what the teacher in highschool tell you and that the professor in college are more lenient. Do your homework even though the professor doesn't assign it and study for exams. Take advantage of the services the college provides for the students, also try to make as many new friends along the way so that later on you can ask them for help when needed.

Rebekah

The most important advice I would give is to not wait to live life until after you have achieved your dreams because you will always have more goals to strive for. It is true that hard work and perserverance are extraordinarily important to realizing your dreams and completing your goals, and yet these are not the only aspects which you need to keep in mind while beginning your college career. Maintaining balance and perspective in life will undoubtedly assist in achieving your goals even though this fact can be unintuitive at points. When faced with the decision of studying 51 hours for a final exam or studying for 50 and helping a friend for one, realize that that last hour will more often hinder than help your grade. Even if you find it hard to altruistically offer assistence or kind words, you will more likely than not need their help in the future. Lastly, understand that the vast majority of people want you to succeed, do not disappoint!

Zachary

You are doing a great job of having a good time and enjoying your senior year, although when it comes to the books you need some work. You and your girl Lindsey are still going strong and right now money is tight. You are trying to go to Indiana Wesleyan but it is pretty expensive, but it has everything you need for school and you'd be closer to Lindsey. So my advice is keep enjoying your Senior year and make some memories but work hard at school, shoot for that top spot on the class rank and give up some weekend activities for that GPA. I would also recommend that you try taking the ACT a few more times, I know you're not the best at testing but the higher you score the more you can recieve to go to your dream school. Have a great time in high school and make a strong enough memory to never forget those times, cause you're gonna have an awesome senior year. Although if you want to have an awesome college life at the best school with your favorite girl, make sure you're hitting those books too.

Dustin

Make the most out of every day. Study even if you don't think you have to so that you can get really good grades. Also enjoy every workout for wrestling because it is only making you a tougher person more ready for the real world.

Rose

Looking back on my senior year of high school, I find that I have a lot to reflect on. I spent a large portion of that year fretting about club gymnastics and keeping to myself. After transferring in the middle of Junior year, I didn’t spend a lot of time getting to know my peers at the new school. In the spring of my senior year, one girl begged me to join a Cabaret dance show, which I did with some reservations. Now, I’d really like to thank myself for taking that opportunity to perform and make more friends. Within my first semester of college, the end of my gymnastics career came as I was cut from the college team. I took it hard since I had been doing gymnastics since I was two. Looking back, I would have told myself not to worry so much about a sport that would no longer be in my life so shortly after. The experience made me reflect on who I am, but it also made me wish that I could have told my high school self to enjoy school more, make more friends, and just be a plain old kid.

Emily

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely have some advice to myself. I would tell myself not to be afraid to meet new people and try new things. When I started out my freshman year, I was pretty shy and didn't try to meet many people because I was used to the cliques in high school and was afraid of rejection. I now realize that was very foolish of me. As a freshman, basically everyone is starting over. You have a new environment, new opportunities, and can be whoever you want to be. Don't be afraid to be yourself because that is how you find true friends.

Casey

Going into college as a freshman I thought I was ready for anything but I was wrong. If I were able to talk to my high school self I would say, open up. Be prepare to push yourself, you are capable of so many things it you just stop worrying about always doing things perfect r right. You will learn so much more if you’re willing to risk, fail and then risk again. If you do this you will learn so many things about yourself and the things you want in life. So get out of you head and go explore all of your possibilities.

Danika

Given the chance to go back, there is a LOT of advice I would give to myself as a high school senior. The most important would be stop worrying! It may seem like college is the end of the world as you know it; having to make new friends, start new classes, join new activities, and move to a new place is definitely an overwhelming prospect, but you're not the only one having to make that change. So... join as many clubs as you can, smile at everyone you meet, hang up decorations in your room, and go to all your classses! It will feel like home quicker than you thought possible; all you have to do is go through the first couple weeks willing to accept what comes at you. The second piece of advice I would give (ESPECIALLY to myself) is don't go into this overconfident. College is a whole new level academically, and the quicker you learn good study habits, the better. Even the smartest students are going to run into that class that leaves them pulling their hair and praying for some sort of understanding, so get yourself prepared while you can.

Katherine

If I were to give myself advice about my future college life, I would encourage myself to stay calm and to not worry about being so far from home because ulimately, this is where I will be the happiest I have ever been. Although close to four hours away from my hometown, I have never felt more at home in La Crosse. The campus is everything I could ever ask for. I am surrounded by so many motivational and helpful students, as well as professors. This is also where I met my bestfriends and can connect with people who accept me for who I am. I would never leave unless my major made it absolutely necessary. All through out high school I felt I did not belong, but at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse I do. I would advise myself that the best is yet to come and to always perservere.

Jeremy

In high school, it was the responsibility of the teachers to ensure that the students learned and understood any and all material covered in the classroom. In college however, that responsibility falls on the student, although the student does not need to study alone. Most students realize the value of studying with a group of their fellow peers, but the facet that is often overlooked is the importance of who exactly makes up the ideal study group. While studying with friends may be fun, the odds of getting sidetracked and distracted are very high. Additionally, if no one in the group shares an intended major or career field, it is unlikely that they will be able to help each other understand difficult concepts. The best, or ideal study group should be comprised mostly of students from a similar intended major and from the same classes if possible. This way everyone will have an understanding of what the material covers and will hopefully be able to explain any unclear topics to the members. While meeting new people and quickly forming a study group may seem daunting or unnecessary, they are both crucial to surviving and thriving in college.

Jenna

Looking back on those naive and blissful high school years there is so much that I wish I would've known about what it means to be an adult and a college student. Like a vast majority of today's youth I imagined the college experience as partying, attending football games, and having crazy adventures . Although there is plenty of opportunities for these events to occur, college is also a very challenging time in your life. The transition between dependence to independence is shockingly hard. In order to make that transition easier I'd advise myself to spend as much time with family and friends as possible because the pain of leaving is unexpectably strong. Take advantage of your hometown and appreciate the people and places you've grown up with because they made you who you are. I'd also tell myself to learn great study habits because college is a whole new playing field of academia. My ultimate study tips would be to learn how to take your own notes, read actively, and manage your time. Work hard and play hard because college is all about the balance of both these extremes of life.

arett

Making mistakes in life is part of growing to improve and further our learning. Assuming that if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would undoubtedly make sure to do three things, focus on my goals, work hard, and never give up. During the transition from high school to college I learned that in order to succeed I must know what I want because if I don’t I will just walk on a path without an ending. It may seem hard to determine how to start planning our future not knowing many opportunities are right in front of our faces, therefore, we have to focus on a goal and work hard. One of the most important traits through this transition is that in order for someone to be able to help you, you have to help yourself first. If I could have talked this to myself, I’m pretty confident that some mistakes could be avoided. However, I have learned to move forward, not to relinquish easily and tried not to create the same mistakes again.

Cory

If I could go back in time and speak with the high school version of myself, I would say many things. For one, definitely dual enroll, it will save a ton of time and money. I would also say to not stress as much about the college process, I know it seems intimidating, but it isn't half as bad as you'd think. In addition, I would encourage my "former" self to keep up the hard work and strive for the best. Finally, I would say, just enjoy the remainder of high school, it is the easiest part of your life and that there is plenty of time for work later.

Colton

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that college is a challenge and to take as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as you can. Doing this would have saved me a lot of money and have given me many college credits before I would even enter college. I would also tell myself you need to be passionate and motivated about what you want to do in your life because you will be doing it for the rest of your life.

joann

If i would go back to my high school days it would be lovely with the things i know now i would be the lucky is person a live.

Kimberly

Graduating high school can be a relief and once you enter college it's easy to develop a mindset that is more focused on having fun than studying. While it's fine to have fun in your college years, it's very important to remember that the education choices you make now will affect your future education and job pursuits. Always strive to do your best, achieve the highest grade, try new things, and take advantage of every learning opportunity presented to you. College is very different from high school. While you are allowed much more freedom and independence it is important to remain self-motivated. While a professor may not notice if you miss class, not attending classes can hurt your grade. Procrastination can also affect your grade. Allow plenty of time for studying so you do not have to stay up late studying for exams. Large projects should also be started well in advance of their due date to help alleviate stress closer to the due date. This is especially important for projects that are due at the end of the semester as this is the busiest time. Above all - believe in yourself!

Janette

I would tell myself that be prepared for an adventure of a life time! That college is nothing like high school at all. Take a college and career success class, it really helps. Any college preps you can take, take them! The most imprtant adive would be that don't over do it, take your time and really use your time wisely. Take classes that interest you, make sure you connect with your teachers, use your resources on and off campus. Learn what your strengths are in learning styles and in studying styles. Get organized mentally in all your classes. Keep class notes about everything you learn in class is a must. Being im college is a life changer. It is a turning point in life that separates the doers and the dreamers. College sets the pace for a solid, structured, successful future. I would tell myself that there are things in life that can wait, but the expience you get from participating in going to college is not one of those things. I would tell myself don't take your future for granit take hold of your future with both hands and run with it! IT'S YOUR FUTURE! !

Mariah

Being a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse I look back now at the transition from a high school student to a college student. I often think that things would be quit different if time could be rewind and I were able tell my past self what college is all about. For starters, volunteering with children or individuals with special needs would be first on my list. I would let myself know that getting involved in the community is very rewarding and it also gives myself great experience in my future career. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be, pushing myself to take harder classes and putting more time into my schoolwork by forming better study habits. Knowing these things now would have made my transition to college more efficient. But, the biggest thing of all would be saving my money to be more financially prepared, because college is a valuable investment for my future.

Kaitlin

Dear My Senior High School Self, Picture your life in a jar, now picture the jar filled with golf balls. The jar look’s full but remembers it’s not. Now your jar is also filled with pebbles, Watch as the pebbles fill the left over opening spaces. The jar looks pretty full doesn’t it? Now imagine pouring sugar into the jar, the sugar fills up every little remaining space. Now your jar is filled remember the jar is representing you’re life. The golf balls are the important things you’re family, you’re education and you’re health. If everything else was lost your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things like your job, you’re car and house. And the sugar well is everything else, like the small stuff. If you put the sugar in first there is no room for the gold balls and pebbles, you would never have time for the important things. Take care of the Golf balls first; the things that matter most and the rest will follow. Set your priorities this year because what matters most will get you through the year.

Rachel

If I could travel back in time, I would tell my high school self to get a job. If I would have got my Certified Nursing Assistant certificate earlier in life, I would be able to work as a CNA and have more experience. I would also make money which would have helped me out. I did not receive any scholarships this year as a sophomore, so college has become expensive. By working my senior year I could have made money to help pay for this. This would lead to less stress that I am feeling now, and not have to work as much as I do now trying to make money.

Sara

College is nothing like what is advertised in the media, what rumors you have heard, or even what adults have described to you. When preparing yourself for this next big leap in your life you need to take a few steps and consider all of your options. The practice ACT courses seem trivial and unimportant to you right now, but later on you are going to wish that you took that little step to get a few points higher or to feel completely prepared for when you go in. Although tests are not the only important thing when it comes to college or any type of schooling, you need to remember what it is you love to do. I know that you love a lot of things and that is perfectly acceptable, my advise is to volunteer and experience everything you can first hand. By volunteering you are going to open doors for yourself that you never thought possible. Do not sweat the small things and relax because college is a time where you will build not only yourself, but your career as well. Enjoy the time to experience and influence others around you.

Morgan

I would tell myself to keep an open mind. I always wanted to know what college or what career was the perfect fit for me. In reality, no one knows the answers to those questions. We must keep an open mind and do our research. I highly recommend job shadowing in different fields before looking at colleges. I had no idea what field I wanted to go in so it was hard to make a decision about which college I wanted to attend. If it takes you an extra year to figure out what interests you that is normal and is better than not going at all. Another thing, is don’t think you have to follow in your older siblings footsteps. Yes you may be a lot alike, but you are different people. So, don’t feel because you know a lot about their experience that you should do the same path they did. If that’s what you want then go for it, but if not don’t rush to conclusions. All in all, think for yourself and chase after what makes you happy, and if you don't know what that is search for it.

Nicholas

Create a regular studying habit now. Get in the routine of studying for one to three hours a night. This will diminish a lot of extra stress that would be created by waiting until Sunday or the day before a test to complete work/study. Learn how to get out of your comfort zone by asking questions and socializing with people you usually wouldn't. A good way to be academically successful in college is to form study groups with classmates, most of which you will not previously know. Also, asking questions in class is great for fully understanding material. Even if you feel like it's a stupid question, it could help prevent stressing about something you should have asked about earlier. Create a tentative schedule and goals for the week each Sunday. Something as simple as study for three hours on Tuesday, complete job applications by Thursday, and have lunch with John on Wednesday will take less than an hour and make your week less stressful.

Evan

To start, I would tell myself to make good study habits. One of the biggest things I learned about college during the first semester was, professors did not assign many worksheet or simple, small point assignments. The majority of the points from my college classes came from quizzes and tests and the occasional writing assgnment or group project. Good study habits give students a better chance of being successful. To go with the study habits, I would tell myself to not study only a day or two before a test. Make it a long term study session that goes throughout each unit or chapter. In order to retain the material, it is important to continuously study bits and pieces at a time everyday so when it comes to the day before the test, it is ingrained in the brain and you will better know the material than if you cram study the night before. I would also tell myself to relax and enjoy every single day of college. Give yourself time each day to relax and have fun without worrying about school work. It will reduce stress levels and make the experience a lot more enjoyable.

Morgan

Keep looking forward. College is everything you dreamed it would be,plus more. The freedom is great, but you need to remember that becasue of that freedom you have to make decesions for you're self. You can't rely on others and there isn't going to be someone reminding you every step of the way. Another word of the wise would be don't give up on your studing. I know AP Calculas is hard, but that is how your college classes will be. You won't be able to just ride along- you have to create your own path and that starts with the effort you put into your senior year. Good luck and make the most of it!

Sadie

When Senior year hit, I had no idea what to expect. I knew that I needed to take hard classes, show up for school, and be what i wanted to be in college. Many seniors took senior year not very seriously, but I knew I still needed to. My freshman year was one of the hardest years of my life, but when I changed that around my sophomore year I couldn't have been happier. I knew that I made it this far with who I wanted to be, so I needed to keep going. I was very scared to leave my High School career and all my friends and family, but I knew I needed to. The advice that I would give myself now would've been not to be scared and not to be sad that everything was ending because college is the best thing that could happen to somebody. You find the love for your life, you find the friends that you will have forever, and you find the career that you have been waiting for. So don't be scared and just go for it and make the best of everything.

Mariah

As a high school senior, I was worried about picking the right college, figuring out a major, and making friends in a new city. I was happy in high school and had many good friends, and was worried about trading it all in for the uncertainty of a new social setting. After making the transition and making it through my first semester, the first thing I would tell myself, is to be more confident in my instincts. Choosing La Crosse was a phenomenal choice for me, and it would have saved me quite a bit of stress. Similarly, believing in myself and not worrying what other people thought of me, would have helped immensely. I spent a lot of time being quiet and not introducing myself to enough people, therefore alienating myself in a way. When I did eventually figure it out, and worked to put myself out there, most people had found friend groups and weren't looking to get to know new people. I still made it through my first semesters, finals and all. I have a few close friends and for now, that's all I need.

Brianna

If I could tell myself one thing before completing my senior year of high school, it would be to find out who your true friends are. Having trustworthy, reliable friends are a huge part of a successful transition to college. It doesn't matter if your friends go to school a hundred miles away or at the same school you do. In the whorlwind of getting settled in your dorm room, frantically searching the internet for cheap books, and trying not to annoy your roommate already, having a friend who knows you for you and not for who you are trying to be to your new college friends will be the backbone of your transition. Senior year of high school is the perfect time to find those friends who really understand you, because it's your last year and who cares about stupid high school drama and being in the "right" group of friends? You'll never see some of these kids again! Find those people who really care, who you'll want to talk to every day even though you are miles apart next year. Those are the friendships that'll last a lifetime.

Jaclyn

n/a

Emily

If I could go back in time and give the high school version of myself advice, it would be one long conversation. However, primarily I think it would mainly consist of an argument between my two personalities. The college me would be yelling at the high school me, telling me to CALM DOWN! The high school me would fire back the millions of concerns and worries that I had at the time, claiming it was impossible to stay calm. If there was time to get past that spat, I would emphasize the importance of taking the time and effort to do scholarships. That while it is easy to succumb to "senioritis" and do nothing but take naps during study hall, a couple years from now you will be ears deep in loans no matter how hard you worked in school. I would tell myself that I'll thank me later, and that in the long run it would be very worth it. Although I did multiple scholarships while I was a senior, I didn't do enough, and I truly wish that I could have had this conversation with myself a year ago today.

Vicente

I would tell myself to go to Grad Bash, Prom, and all other school events as it becomes harder to meet people in college, not an impossible task but a bit more difficult. I would definitely tell myself to either ask out the girl from my biomed class or tell her how I feel because, even if rejected, I could at least have peace of mind once High School was over. I'd tell myself to be more adventurous but not forget about homework. Also, to not forget about test dates, picture day, and the deadline for entering the senior quote in the yearbook. I was very forgetful. Another definite advice would be telling myself to start working out (push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, and squats) and continue being vegetarian as it will pay off. I'd tell myself to not worry about receiving money from FAFSA as I will get none and to start applying for scholarships earlier. I'd tell myself to start working on my cosplay early as I will attend Supercon in the summer, and to buy the items from goodwill (cheaper). Lastly, I'd tell myself to save money for the hedgehog I'd buy.

Carrie

Looking back at my high school years, I was surrounded by constant pressures: I was involved in numerous sports, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer groups through my church. With all of those distractions, it was difficult to take time to figure out who I really was as a person because I was always just acting as others around me did or expected me too. Peer pressure is so common in high school, but rarely recognized by those who are being influenced by it the most that it is happening before it is too late. If I had the chance, I would tell my high-school self to separate myself for awhile from what my teammates, coaches, parents and friends were doing and to take time to explore my own interests, strengths and weaknesses. Once I entered college, it was beautiful because I got to discover myself, but I wish I did not have too. College has been a wonderful experience, but it also has been frustrating deciding my future because I had no clue coming in what I wanted to do with my own life because I had spent so much time worrying about filling in commitments for everyone else.

Junruo

Try to take as many business related courses as possible, try to build up knowledge on subjects such as Accounting, Economics, and English. Have an effetive time management technique and study technique. Remember there are tutors and professors you can reach when is needed. Must know that a semester isn't as long as you imagine, you need to treat everyday as it's the last day of class and work hard.

Mercedes

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior the first thing I would tell myself would be to relax. You only get one shot in life, and I would tell myself to keep up to good work, but to stop and make sure to enjoy the little things. I would tell myself to spend time with friends and family, and to cherish every moment. I'd make sure I understand that my education is vital and that studying abroad is monumental in exploring yourself! The final idea that I would share with myself as a high school senior would be to make sure that you volunteer and still have fun, have adventures, and explore yourself and the every-changing world around you!

Toni

Make sure to enjoy your freshman year. Join clubs and organizations and don't become lazy. Don't pass up opportunities and make sure to become involved with volunteering and other opportunities. Learn how to balance social life with school work. It is incredibly important to build strong friendships and connections in college, but it is also important to learn and obtain information required for your future career. Make sure you balance your time and find a quiet place when you need it. Also, do not be afraid of change. If you feel that the college you chose is not the perfect fit for you, don't be afraid to transfer or continue on somewhere else if it will give you a better college experience in the end.

Lauren

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to be more relaxed about my classes. I am a very hardworking student, and I stressed myself out during my first semester by focusing so much on what grade point average I was going to get. Yes, my grades are very important, but I realize now I should have allowed myself to experience more of college life. I would tell myself to take the time to hang out with people more and join more clubs so I could be more involved. College is about learning and grades, but it is also about making connections with others to enjoy the new transition that occurs as a freshman. It is the wide range of opportunities that makes college so great, and I would tell myself not take that for granted.

Kiersten

If I could talk to high school me, I’d have so much advice I could give. The first thing is try your hardest at everything, I know you’ll be up late or staying after classes getting help from teachers but it’s worth it. Stay friends with the people you have always been friends with. Don’t change yourself to try and become popular. People are going to love you for who are you no matter what and your true friends will always be there for you through everything. Another thing is, that boy, he’s not important, think about college, that’s what your focus needs to be. Who cares if everyone is going to the movies or a football game? Study. Yeah, go out every once in a while but if you can get your GPA up first, that should always be you priority. Apply for a million scholarships. That $41,000 loan your about to take out is going to start building up. Use the opportunities with you high GPA and apply for those easy scholarships. But still please try to enjoy your high school career. It really only comes around once in your life.

Chelsey

Plan ahead. Growing up, people had always told me that I have plenty of time to figure out what I want to do. In my opinion, this is more or less a lie. Sure if spending thousands of extra dollars to stay a few more years in college sounds great, then I suppose these people are correct. However, spending extra money for no reason was never my intention. I would make sure to figure out everything much farther in advance. Anything from what I wish to do in life to what classes I need to take the get there, would be figured out before even stepping foot into college. As of right now, I am still unsure of what I want to do, my guidance counslor misinformed me to take the wrong math class, and therefore has set me back an entire year. Though others may think this is fine, when considering all I have to pay for, I'd say no. It's quite unacceptable. I would make sure I knew exactly what I wanted before going into school.

Meg

Be active in school activities. Meet people and start networking on day one. Find at least one extra-curricular activity that you find interesting each year. Try new things, new jobs, new friends. If you feel like you're starting to fall behind, or your grades just aren't what you think they should be.... TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS!!! They can be more understanding than you would expect, and more than likely, they will have SOME sort of suggestions to help you get or keep your grades up. Sometimes, professors have tricks to remember their particular subject, and SOMETIMES, there may even be an underlying learning issue....and learning issues aren't a bad thing. College is a new environment. New stressors and new environments. Even a change in study habits, or a different testing area can make a HUGE difference in your grades. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Professors WANT you to succeed!

Keondre

I would first start by telling myself to make sure to focus on your school work. Heading into college is a different experience and chapter to your life. You will have more freedom than you could possible envision and it's up to you to make sure that you stay on top of things. I would also say enojy every aspect of college and try to take advantage of all the opportunities that are in front of you. College provides you with the opportunity to meet new people, try new things, and become the person you choose to be. I would adivse myself to mix things up and not to just stick to what's normal or comfortable.

Jesse

Looking back at high school and choosing a college, I wish that I would have looked more into who would be my roomate my freshman year and how I would get along with them. For those who read this, just take some time to try and find a roomate before the college you choose ends up putting you with someone. Try using a roomate finder and getting in touch with the people. There are many things that will change between your senior year of high school and the end of your freshman year of college. Everyone grows up and changes in some way while starting to learn how to do many different things by themselves. For many it is very scary time, but don't get too worked up about the little things and just have fun. The last bit of advice that I would tell myself about the transtion into college is just to make sure and get out to make friends. Go talk to everyone on your floor of the dorm and try to get along with as many people as you can because who knows, one day they might just end up being your best friend.

Toni

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to go with my original dream of going straight to college instead of trying to take the easy way out and join the military. I would explain the many pleasures of being a college student and how similar most of the work is to the things I was taught in high school. Most of the lessons that I learned in Naval Bootcamp helped me to realize how much the military isnt for everyone with myself being one of the many. I would stress the fact that I needed to keep my focus on my school work in my last years because it caused my GPA to fall dramatically and may have prevented me from getting into the college that I have been dreaming to go to since my freshman year. In close i will let myself know that I shouldnt let the oppinions of others matter to me and take away from my goals in life and what I want to accomplish in my life no matter what the situation that I am presented. Bring on the challenges self!