Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

If I could travel back in I would give myself a huge choice. ?I have experienced college,? I would tell myself I have come to love college and enjoy being there always besides finals. I would tell myself of the good experiences at Virginia Tech. Then I would explain his choices. I have brought back the winning lottery numbers for a lottery sometime in the future. I would freak out in excitement. ?So now you have to choose.? Are you going to forget about school and take the chance to win the lottery or are you going to go the place you know you will love. Skipping school would mean giving up on all my aspirations to be a mechanical engineer. Something I have wanted ever since I chose engineering. I would immediately travel back to the future. The choice would be all on me. But, I know myself and I know I would choose going to college. This event in my life is now going to be the major drive to push me to do even better in school and graduate and become a mechanical engineers. I would give up the lottery to follow my dream. Wouldn?t you?

Yestuday, I stumbled across a time machine. Of course, I had to get in and try it out. You know see if it worked. I shut the door behind me and the contraption started spinning. All I could see were flashing lights. When I recovered from the dizziness I opened the door to find my high school. I ran out and was not surprised to find my old friends in the usually spot. I ran in for a hug and to my surprise they could not see or hear me. As I looked around and listened in on the conversations I came to the conclusion that it was the last week of my senior year. Just then I saw her, well me. I looked so happy and ready to take on the world. Why did I not have that same feeling? What happened to it? I could not let myself lose sight of what I wanted to do in college. I had to do something. But what? I was invisible. Just then it hit me. I will leave myself a note reminding me that as long as you have discipline and stay on track that you can accomplish anything.

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to settle for a school. When I was picking schools, I chose to go to a cheaper in-state university instead of the more expensive private college that I preferred. When I started off school I was unhappy and ultimately I am trying to transfer schools for next year. Higher level education is one of the most important things a person has in their lives and being happy at a university is directly related to how well a student will preform. I didn't really realize that when I was choosing a school, but now I do. Don't settle when it comes to education or any other part of life, is what I'd say. Being this age and going to college is hard enough without being someplace where a person can't reach their full potential for happiness and academic success.

Make sure you take hard classes and study what you are interested in. I really wish that I had taken more relevant courses in high school, like AP Biology or AP Psychology, rather than the classes I had taken which I had no interest in pursuing further (AP Spanish for instance). Be open to new experiences and people as well, it helps make you a more-rounded person. Do things because you are interested in them, not necessarily because "it looks good for college."

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that going away to college, rather than staying close to home, can be difficult to transition into, but in the end it is very beneficial. Being able to meet new people of all different backgrounds, lifestyles, and cultures is very enlightening and prepares you for the real world. I would also tell myself to learn to become more outgoing, because it is no fun just staying in your dorm room every night doing nothing. Academically, I would tell myself to keep ontop of my grades, and the professors in high school are less likely to care about what excuse you have for not turning your work in on time. I would tell myself that college is a whole new world. Instead of classes consisting of around thirty students, they are more likely to consist of about two hundred students (in an average lecture). In all, I would just tell myself that working hard in high school and being outgoing will get you far in college.

Open your mind to learning and change; both will be with you for the rest of your life. Take as many opportunities as you can; you never know where they'll lead you. Stay humble, but remember to strive to be the best; there will always be someone somewhere who's better. Conduct yourself with honor and integrity, keeping in mind that the hard right is always better than the easy wrong. Commit yourself to a set of values that will build your foundation as a leader and Naval officer; Brotherhood, Honor, Leadership, Loyalty, Service, Sacrifice, Duty and Ut Prosim. Keep in mind that to be able to lead, one must be able to follow first. Despite the fact that you may fail, never quit.

I would tell myself to earn as much money ass possible. There are many things you need to purchase that you wouldn't think about on a daily basis. Also, appreciate your family. Leaving home with a good relationship with them will help you deal with any personal or financial problems. Also, get in the habit of a steady diet or exercise plan to keep off the extra freshman pounds. Get involved in things that interest you quickly so you can build your resume, meet people, and become a larger part at your university instead of just a number.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to slack off once in a while. I worked so hard in high school, trying to gurantee a scholarship for college, trying to prepare myself for college, and trying to fit in with the extrememly competitive environment my high school fostered. I forgot to live. I never got to experience the normal things a high school senior got to experience; i was too busy applying to colleges, applying to scholarships, and trying to get perfect grades. Now that I'm in college I realize I should have been a kid while I was still a kid. I should have gone out with friends on the weekend and been more rebellious at a time when society accepts it as the norm. I also should have spent more time with my family. Now that I am away I realize I should have left studying for college and been with them more.

It is necessary to take a break from studying every so often and have fun. You are still a kid and you only live once. Your college choice and decisions you make are yours and yours only. Your parents will not be taking your classes or living in the dorms, so do not let them decide where you go to school. It is necessary to pick a school where you can see yourself on the campus with the other students and where you feel comfortable in the classrooms and residence halls, after all, you will be living there the next four years of your life for the most part. College is an excellent environment for making new friends. Even if your friends are going to different schools, it will work out just fine. On the first week, the majority of the freshmen do not know anybody, so they are all in the same boat. When you sign up for housing, pick a random roommate. This way, you automatically have a new friend. Lastly, it is important not to stress too much, everything will work itself out in due time.

Honestly, when you come in you may think you know what you want to do with your life, major in, etc. This will change...don't stress out about it, you will figure it out.

If I were able to go back and talk to myself as a HS senior, I would tell myself about the transition from HS to college classes, as well as remaining more open when meeting people. In high school, I was top 10 of my class, but when I came to college, I was taught that college is much harder than I thought. I came with the mindset that I would get straight A?s, just like HS; however, if I could go back in time and talk to myself I would inform myself that I must develop study habits and study many hours a week to succeed, nothing comes easy. I came to college away from friends and family, out of my comfort zone. It took me time to break out of my shell. I would tell myself to bring my outgoing self from home to here- just be myself and find those who accept that. If I knew these two things, I would do even better than I am doing in college now. These were learning experiences and only made me stronger. I love college and being able to continue my learning for my future endeavors.

I would tell myself to stress out less and focus more on the people/relationships around me.

There are many things I would have done differently as a high school senior. I would give myself advice about my classes and my study habits. Now that I am in college, I know that you must put in numerous hours of studying for each class. In high school I didn't study at all and still got good grades. When I got to college I quickly learned that I actually needed to study for my classes, yet I found out I didn't even know how to study. I would tell myself to study for my classes in high school and learn time management to help my transition to college be easier. I think that if I knew the amount of work I would have to do in college I would have tried to study more so I would be better prepared for college.

I?ve learned many things since senior year. I?m understanding what kind of individual I am. I?m now independent, no longer have my parents there to wake me up, make my lunch, or help me with school work. You're on your own. I?ve learned in college there?s no extra credit. If you don?t study for a test, you fail; period. You have to apply yourself. I?ve always been a hard-working student, but I can honestly say that I?ve never worked so hard before. In High School you had to do your homework, if you didn?t do well on a test it?d be okay because you had homework to balance it out, college is quite opposite. There are huge classes. You have to make yourself go to class, introduce yourself so the professor knows you, and have to control yourself to pay attention. In most classes there are just 3 tests, no homework, no essays, just tests. You have to prepare and study, and not just the day before the exam. You have to set aside and devote time to study days in advance if you want to do well.

"High school Julie, take a moment and think about what exactly you want to study." That's how I would start a discussion with myself. I would rethink my original major and come into Virginia Tech without a major and explore different areas before picking a major. As well I would tell myself to spend more time with friends on the weekends insetad of sitting alone in my dorm room. Yes I made better life choices than other people I know but I also felt alone when I had friends I could have easily hung out with. Other than that I would not tell myself to do anything different because mistakes made, or nothing done at all, help to define who one becomes, especially in their first semester or year of college. A lot of growing up occurs quickly upon starting college and without them people would end up very different.

Dear Self, You are about to embark on an adventure of enormous proportions! As you are a senior this year, I have some tips to help your transition to college be smooth. First of all, the rest of this year be sure to really appreciate your family and friends. You will miss them a lot especially at first, and especially your mom. Spend some extra time with everyone you love and be sure to let them know you appreciate them. Secondly, keep up with the work ethic you have developed through high school. College is really hard and you are going to need all the study skills you can get! Don't be afraid to work hard for what you want, but don't be so focused on being Valedictorian. You aren't going to get it, so lighten up and don't take yourself so seriously! And lastly, it would be good for you to focus on being more comfortable around new people. You are about to be surrounded by a campus of new people! Don't be afraid to make new friends! You are a good person, and I expect you'll do well. Love, Your Older Self

What I would tell myself as a high school senior after having gone throught a semsester of college would be to begin asking questions in class because in a class of two or three hundred people the professor will not be able to tell if you don't understand the material he or she is explaining unless you raise your hand and ask them during their lecture or during their office hours. I would also tell myself to not care or not to be embarrassed about asking a "stupid" question during class because your question maybe simple for some of the other students in the class, but there is a good chance that several other students had a similar question. I would also tell myself as a high school student that once you start your classes make sure you introduce yourself to your proffessor and make sure that they know you or recoginize you. This can come in handy when you need to ask for help from professor on assingments, tests, etc. and they will be more willing to help you if they know who you are.

I would advise myself as a high school senior to get the help as soon as possible from a professor or a teaching assistant once I find difficulty in a course. Also, college is not at all like high school. The work is more demanding at a college level than at a high school level. Also, as a student I would not compare myself to other students since it can be very discouraging when it comes to competition in the major. In addition, even though academics comes first, students must realize they need a break and not to continously study all the time. Students should also make time to relax and have fun. As a student, I would be more persistent to professors in asking questions even though they seem bothered by the student. The student pays the professor to teach them, so why not ask as much questions in order to understand the course. Also, I would suggest students to be wise with their meal plans. Try not to over - eat every day by eating four meals a day or else their meal plans will run out quickly.

College is a very demanding environment. I spend 2-4 hours a day in lectures but the rest of the day is consumed doing homework and studying. In high school I did well and never had to study. The first two years in college I found myself with a low gpa and struggling. I began to go to office hours and speaking with professors and doing well. Now before every test I always go to the professor and ask a few questions to make sure I know the material. When I have tests, the weekend before the tests I dedicate my Friday and Saturday nights to studying. In high school studying on a Friday night is not necessary and probably looked down upon. It is one way I have found success in college. I have also found writing out goals before every semester and placing them on my wall where I see them everyday has contributed to success. Goals give a foundation for something to work for in life. Every semester that I have wrote down a gpa I want to obtain as one of my goals, I have exceeded that gpa. My goal this semester is a 3.7.

Throughout high school, I spent most of my time focusing on extracurricular activities like theatre performances and in-school TV productions. I let these activities take priority over my school work and often experienced a less than preferred result when it came to grades. Don't get me wrong. I graduated high school with a 3.5 GPA. This, however, was not enough to get me into my dream school; Virginia Tech. Instead, I was forced to attend Christopher Newport University for a year. This unfavorable situation forced me to change my priorities and rise up to occasion. Although I know what behaviors I could have altered to perform more successfully in high school, I would not change the series of events that led me to where I am today. In fact, the hardships of my high school years brought me to a point in my life where I had to step up, motivate myself, and pursue my dreams. I always wanted to attend Virginia Tech and I was devastated when I was denied admission my senior year. However, if I had not been denied admission, I might not have become as driven and hardworking as I am today.

DO NOT TAKE COLLEGE LIGHTLY! It is harder than you think and you must READ the assigned text and really dedicate yourself to your work and ignore all other distractions. Reach out to people and meet lots of people within the first couple weeks, dont just limit yourself to the people that you know from High School.

Top 10 most important things to know: 10. Talking to people is scary, but the alternative is loneliness, so be brave. 9. Do the reading. Even if the professor goes over it in class, reading helps you remember it. 8. Answering questions in a room with three-hundred other students is terrifying, however, your professors will notice. 7. Managing your finances carefully is one of the best ways to avoid frustration. 6. Use your meal plan. Otherwise you end up buying a bunch of sodas trying to use it up by the end of the year. 5. Don't take your computer to class. Ditto for your phone. It's way too tempting, distracting, and will make your professor angry. 4. Keep doing what you love. Find a way to work it into your schedule. 3. A failed test does not mean you fail the class. It does mean you need to change your approach to the class. 2. Cut everyone, professors included, some slack, they all have a lot of pressure on them too. 1. Let go of worry. Whether it's about an upcoming test, a paper you submitted, or concern over being liked, letting go is healthy.

When I was in high school, I was worried about what would happen afterwards with all the money I would need to recieve for college and bills. I believe I scared myself into just joining the military and then when that fell through I didn't know what to do. If I could go back, I would tell myself that worrying about what was going to happen was a normal thing but the scholarships were still out there. I would also warn myself to apply for them even if I thought I was going into the military just in case things didn't work out, that way I could have a back up plan. Taking full advantage of what is given to you doesn't make you seem greedy. It only makes you seem eager to pursue your eduaction and interest in the future. Being able to take part in that is a wonderful thing and anyone that was in your situation would be greatful to take full oppurtunity of everything they could. Not only would I give this advice to myself, I would also give this advice to my friends and family because education will always be worth something.

It's ok if you don't have a defined career path, just be open and explore all posssibilities that interest you. You have to take responsibility, but don't be afraid to seek help. And above all else have alternate plans. Doing what you love is important just be prepared that it may not pay the bills so find alternative choices in the case that plans change. Find a path that can lead you anywhere, not pigeon hole you to certain job or area. Keep a balance of social activities and academics, don't tie yourself down! Make and keep contacts that can help you network-get to know professors, TAs, anyone who may help you later and don't be afaid to ask for their help or references.

Knowing what I know now and returning back to alert myself about the upcoming school year would have been an invaluable tool. Having only been away from home and in school for three months the knowledge and experience I have gained will last me a lifetime. The first thing I would tell myself is to relax and not stress out at the prospect of leaving my family and friends and taking on the challenges of college all alone. I found out that I was not alone. The quick and long lasting friendship I made in the first several weeks of school eased my transition so well. The the biggest concern I had upon leaving home was how quickly I would transition to college life. I found it to be a rather smooth transition and I made more friends in the first several weeks of school than I did in four years of high school. Being able to return and tell myself, "Hey this isn't so bad." would have been the best advice I could have given myself. In closing, I love college and I would not trade the experiences I have already gained for anything in the world.

Many students in high school make all A's, in college though, that is no easy task. The best advice I could give would be that grades are not everything in college. They are important, but there is only so much you can study before you drive yourself up the wall. Experience college not only through your classes but also through your friendships. If you don't give yourself time to rest and relax, college won't be any fun for you. Be safe, be smart, and make good grades!

You have so much potential but because things come easy to you, you don't apply yourself as much as you should. Stop being so lazy now so that you can aquire the study skills that you will need in college. College is completely different from high school and things won't be as easy for you as they are now. You are very bright and talented so take advantage of those gifts and put them to use! Love you!

Dear Past-Me, Greetings. I know you are well and eager to jump into our college experience. As your future-self, I possess the unique ability to give you a heads up about what to expect at our new school and to advise you on how to prepare. Firstly, I should warn you that high school is NOTHING like college. We have developed useful study skills over the years, but I must tell you now that we need to step it up a notch if we can hope to survive this experience. Plan on studying at least eight hours a day. Deal with your homework assignments as soon as possible and don't procrastinate. Secondly, be sure to get enough sleep. It is tempting to stay up late and party, but I promise you'll regret it during your exam. Thirdly, take care of yourself. Nutrition directly influences your grades, so eat healthy and excercise frequently. It may seem trivial, but as your future-self, I can tell you it makes a difference. Lastly, have fun. College is an amazing experience, and you don't want to waste it. The friendships you make will last a lifetime. Sincerely, Future-You

There are many things I would go back and talk to myself as a high school senior. First, I would tell myself that I need to take more college credit classes in order to make my schedule in college not so difficult. Also, I would convince myself to take better notes and keep them organized. This is important so that I can go back and look at them when I am in college. Another thing I would talk to myself about as a high school senior is to study a lot more for Advanced Placement tests. I talk to myself about that because if I could have done a little bit better on those tests I could have gotten out of taking some college courses. Lastly, I would tell myself to relax and have a fun senior year. Before coming to college I worried a lot about what it would be like, so now that I realize how it really is, there was no need to stress and worry about how my life would be after high school.

Learning to manage your time is the most important thing that you can have. Everything else will fall into place as long as you can be able to balance studying, sleeping and relaxing. Also, do not be afraid to socialize and make lots of new friends. Networking is a great way to learn material in class and get connections to companies and things of that nature.

There are a lot of things I would tell myself if I went back in time: get a date for prom instead of tagging along with your best friend, don't take AP Spanish, don?t fall for that sophomore, etc. However, the most important thing would be stop listening to people when they start dictating how I should live my life. My parents thought I should be a pharmacist so I wasted my first year of college set on pharmacy instead of my dream career in wildlife science. Engineering majors said I was wasting my life for wanting to study something as 'useless' as wildlife science. Racist supremacist told me that I should go back to my country and work in a rice field. Homophobic bigots warned me that I'd burn in hell for my perverted tendencies for the same sex. I wasted so much time trying to fit into someone else's definition of life that I stopped living myself. It took me long enough to realize that I shouldn't be ashamed to stand by my colors and to risk everything to achieve my goals; my only regret was that I didn?t realize it sooner.

You're better than what you think you are. That would definitely be my biggest advice. I never really expected much from myself. I figured that I would be fine working at Walmart like my mom did. My parents always wanted the best for me and my siblings and gave us what they could. The day of my graduation I was as happy as I could possibly be, I was the first female to have ever graduated from my father's side of the family, a first generation Mexican-American, and the first person to attend college from both sides of my family. I procastinated too much and foscused my attention on temporary things. My advice to myself and current college student's would be to seriously think of where you would like to be in five years and do up to the impossible to get there. I always knew that I wanted to graduate from college with a degree in Social Services. I have one more year to go to accomplish my goal and I'm not even close. Keep focused, picture yourself in the career of your dreams, and make it happen! I dare you not to try!

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd tell myself to sit down and take some notes. Life at college moves at full speed, and while there isn't much of a curve to make such an adjustment, there are things that can be done to prevent oneself from falling behind. First and foremost, always attend every class. There's no better way to get the information you need that to get it straight from the source - the teachers. Make yourself known to each and every teacher, so that you become more than a face in the crowd. Teachers are more willing to help students that show the initative to seek such help in the first place. I would tell myself that there's no such thing as studying too much. There can be time to hang out with friends and have a life, but study everything you need to for class is just as important. Keeping tracks of things, whether using a calendar or a planner is very beneficial in staying on top of things. The most important thing I would tell myself is to just have fun. College should be an enjoyable experience.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get focused early. In college there are a number of distractions that hit you within the first couple days of arriving. When there's a party going on three doors down and a rave happening in the quad outside your window, who's going to want to be sitting at a desk studying? I would tell myself that I came to college to be a student, first and foremost. Anything other than that comes second. You might not think it's the fun choice, or the right thing to do at the moment, but in the long run, when you're walking across that stage holding that diploma, you'll know it was the right choice.

College takes a lot more work and dedication than high school. It is important to learn what methods of studying work, whether it be writing notes, reading outloud, or any other method imagined. Books need to be read, and studying has to be consistent. Cramming and all-nighters just will not work. Parents are not going to be there to make sure homework or studying gets done. The responsibility is placed completely on the student. But college is not all about work. Getting involved and having fun are necessary parts of the college experience as well. There are tons of clubs to join and more than enough new people to meet. The friends from high school that were going to be there forever suddenly start to grow apart, and college friends quickly take their places. Honestly, with the right time management, everything a student wants to do can be done, including school work. It may be hard to adjust at first, being away from family and friends, but remember that everyone else is experiencing the same feelings the first few months, just trying to find his or her niche and make it through all those first semester classes unscathed.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior about going to college or furthering my education through other schools, I would say, "Linda, this is the most opportune time of your life! There is a whole world out there waiting for you to explore it. Going to college will be an experience you will never forget. Make new friends, study new subjects, try different activities. You might find something new that will interest you. Meet and greet your peers with a handshake and a smile. Show others that you are willing to do what it takes to make it happen. Challenge yourself to do the best that you can. You can excell at whatever you set your mind to do. While you are enjoying your new activities, you will be growing in body, mind and spirit. You will emerge a new person, ready to tackle the rest of your life, confident and eager to move forward. Don't let anything or anyone stand in your way. It is your life. Just do it!

I would encorage myself to take more advanced placement classes. I went into college with 13 credits that I earned from high school. If I had used the classes that were offered to me in high school to my advantage, I may have been able to enter college as a sophomore. Other than that I am pretty happy with the way everything turned out. I applied to five different colleges, with I think was the right decision. It gave me the choice to pick which college I wanted to go to after I was accepted to the ones I applied for. And, it also did not leave a doubt that I might have made it into that really hard college I wanted to go to. I knew whether or not I made it. That makes the choice I made seem perfect.

As a high school senior the only thing that was on my mind was graduation. I was just focused on spending time with my friends, because you never know when your going to see them again. If I could go back to give advice to my senior high school self, I would tell my self just to focus on school work a little more, and take a little more time studying for some tests. I'm going to admit that I got a case of the senioritis, I started to slack off towards the end of my senior year. So now that college is here I'm going to learn from that mistake and study hard and embrace the new friendships that come with college.

I still remember the anxiety I felt as I stepped into my dorm room for the first time back in August. I sat on my bed thinking how my parents were headed back home, four hours away, and there I was on an unfamiliar campus with thousands of new people. The first day of classes did not ease my nerves as I sat in a classroom of 500 students for the first time. Coming from a small community where I knew the same people my whole life, I was very apprehensive to make friends and succeed academically. Now, after completing my first semester at Virginia Tech, I would tell my old, intimidated self not to let nerves take away a great experience. College is much different than high school, but it is the place to discover unknown aspirations, challenge yourself to reach beyond your goals, and realize who you truly are. I should have let my eagerness to learn and my curiousity to become involved in my new Virginia Tech community overtake me. I did not have to be sure of who I was when I got to Virginia Tech, but rather embraced the experience of finding out.

I would go back and tell myself to be more outgoing in college. College life is not just about academics, I am gaining valuable life skills. I can make friends with many people who have similar interests as me and have fun as well as learn.

I would tell myself to take certain classes that would help me in college like Chemistry, biology, anatomy, and calculus. These are classes I could have taken but at the time, I was planning to persue a different major so I took courses like physics and statistics. I would also tell myself to try my hardest because in the end it is always worth it. I often find myself not completely understanding concepts now because I never mastered them in high school. This forces me to study extra and relearn things many times in order to succeed. I remember being hesitant about going to Virginia Tech at first, but I would tell myself to go there because I love it there now. The hardest part of the transition to college is not just the school work, but now having to take care of myself all day everyday. I need to buy groceries, tools, and supplies that i need every few weeks, and I was not used to that. I would tell myself not to stress, and just take what life deals me and make the best out of it.

Do not expect others to just always come up and talk to you; sometimes you have to be the one to start conversations. It may not seem like it, but most of the students are in the same boat as you. Most kids came to school not knowing anyone or maybe just one or two people. Do not be afraid to start up conversations with them. The worst that can happen is they do not talk back and that's okay, you can just talk to someone else. Odds are you will not see that person anymore. Also, be sure to talk to your professors and sit in the front row. This shows them that you are interested in their class and eager to learn. You may seem like you are getting in their way when talking to them after class, but that is simply not the case. All professors have office hours. Attend as many office hours as you can. This not only helps you learn more but also helps you build a relationship with your professor. Having this kind of relationship with your professor often times positively impacts the way in which your professor grades your work.

As a high school senior I thought I knew it all. I figured I'd go to college and be perfectly fine because I was "independent" in my opinion. All my friends and mentors thought so too, but when I finally got to college the first thing I learned was that I wasn't comfortable being with myself. I would cry as soon as I was alone because I missed being surrounded by people and I didn't know how to be confident without people complimenting me. I'm not an attention hound, but as the first week passed I began to realize that I enjoyed the attention of my parents around and my friends nearby, so if i were to go back and give myself advice it would be to get comfortable being alone with myself. I learned that really quickly in college because when you go to a new place alone, you have no support system nearby. You are on your own. You have to learn to support yourself and convince yourself to go out and meet people. This is where being comfortable with yourself helps.

If I were to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work alot harder. It's easy to get caught up in all the fun your senior year and maybe you should think about your GPA a little more. Don't stress on the small things, but really believe in yourself. Also, never give up on yourself. If you believe you can do it, don't let anyone hold you down. Try to improve the way you think and mature yourself for the real world. Belueving in yourself will take you alot further in life then you would think. Also, go ahead and plan on what you want to do. Don't waste your time partying, but do remember to have fun and remember that you only have a few more months before you become a college student.

I would tell myself to just relax because everything will go fine. Transitioning from high school to college was one of the best experiences of my life. Although I miss home when I am at school, it's a great way to meet people and accomplish my career goals.

Acceptance letters. Rejection letters. Housing application deadlines. Fafsa. Graduation. Financial aid packages. Honors application. Orientation. This and much more compile the transition from high school to life after high school. Stressful is just the beginning of it. Everything the four years of high school prepares you for is about to smack you in the face all at once. But there's no need to panic. No. Don't let yourself fall into the usual barrage of "what ifs." Everyone is going through the exact same process of moving on to new adventures. One of the main things to never forget is to have short and long term goals but not set expectations. Life doesn't go the way you always predict. And to remain flexible during this period of such insecurity and uncertainty is key. Another is to overestimate your classes, your professors, and your workload. The minute you think "hey, this isn't so hard. I can let up a little bit and live a little more" is the moment you fail to progress. And progressing is an integral part of this college experience.

I would definitely be much more open-minded about choosing my major. I came into school completely set on majoring in engineering and I waited until my sophomore year to really sit down and decide that engineering was not what I really wanted to do. I think that if you aren't totally sure on what you want to do in college, you should definitely take your time to figure it out and don't rush into a certain major just because it has good jobs, etc. I had my mind set and narrowed in on a major far too early and I didn't really even know what it was all about. Finally, if you are in this situation, don't hesitate to change majors.

What I learned in the transition from high school to college had nothing to do with grades or little details, instead I learned a life lesson that I will never forget. The lesson I learned is often used as a cliche, but at least to me it was something I ignorned and didn't take the time to measure its importance. This lesson is don't grow up to fast, live each moment to your fullest instead of focusing on what the future holds. Don't spend your senior year with anxiety and worrying what the next step in your life may hold, instead sit back and enjoy high school, as it only happens once. There will be a time for college and being an adult, but don't let that get in the way of being a kid. Senior year is the time where you think you are ready to say goodbye to everything you have ever known and to most of your relationships of the last1 2 years. College is here and I am excited to see what the future holds, but I will never forget to live in the present and never look too far ahead

Prepare to be prepared. From the day you first set foot on campus as a student, things will start flying at you from all directions and things will be expected of you that were not before. All of a sudden you are in a place where you don't know anyone, can't find the nearest Post Office, and are expected to live for the next 4 years and be sucessful in it all to boot. Be prepared to learn in a different way than you ever have before and will challenge you no matter ho well you did in high school. Be prepared to walk around campus and get lost until you can find the dining hall or the English building. Be prepared to be asked about your finances, your knowldge of Algebra, and which professor you have for Sociology because they all use a different book. But most importantly be prepared to meet people and make relationships. More will be asked of you than every before and it will be daunting, but it is irreplaceable to have good friends to talk to, listen to, and enjoy this once in a lifetiem experience with. Oh, and have fun!

Keep your mind open to the possibilities of change. Leaving your old familiar world may be difficult, but with enough time and effort, friends and new experiences will present themselves. Although you may have a plan for your future, never shut out the idea of change. As you grow and mature through college, so will your interests. Explore your options, join new clubs, and take classes outside your usual focus. Talk to your professors; aside from getting help in your classes, you will gain important references through networking, learn about internship and research opportunities, and even create lifelong friendships. Take advantage of the resources and possibilities open to you on campus, including clubs, career centers, intramural sports, student centers, and university provided tutors. College will be hard and overwhelming at times, but take the trials in stride, use your best judgment in all situations, and never forget to take care of yourself. Classes, grades and friends are important, but never sacrifice your health or reputation, because they will be with you forever. Above all - eat well, exercise, and enjoy life.