Washington State University Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school student I would tell myself to get use to hours of homework every night. I would tell myself not to get a job and just focus on school during the semester. Next, I would tell myself to earn as much money as possible during the summers. I would tell myself to learn how to budged money, because college is amazingly expensive and the loans stack up. Finally, I would tell myself to relax and have fun because it?s all coming together just fine.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say that making the choice for a school is all mine, and it shouldn't depend on anyone else but me. Where I choose will be my home and family for a lot of the year for the next few years, so its important that I choose where I want that to be. I wouldn't tell myself where to choose, but I'm pretty sure I would make the same decision. I would also tell myself that college isn't easy, but if you put in the effort, it's possible to do really well. If you don't try, you won't succeed.

It is said that the first year of college is the hardest year. As a first generation student the transition from high school to college, and adjusting to classes was difficult. If I had pushed myself from the beginning of the year to get pure A's and B's instead of trying to get my grades up after mid-terms, I probably woud have had a better GPA ( at least a 3.5 instead of a 3.1). If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, and the first year of college doesn't have to be the hardest. I would tell myself to do homework as soon as possible because it actually does take longer than two hours per class to complete it. Also staying up all night the day before an exam studying is no help. It might of worked in high school, but it sure is not a good strategy for college. Keeping up with the readings is vital. Once you stay behind it's really hard to catch up.

I would tell myself to spend all your free time getting scholarships and grants as possible. That instead of taking the cheap and lazy way out and going to a community college like I did, I would urge myself to do what I had wanted from the beginning and go to Washington State University. I took ?no? for an answer and that?s not like me. Transferring here was the best decision I have ever made and I would do it all over again. The best times of most adults lives are the times they had during college.

The transition from high school to college was a difficult one. In retrospect there are pieces of advice I would have given myself as a high school senior. I would have told myself that, having a social life is important, the downtime is important in maintaining mental health. But if your social life includes alcohol or other substances, remember that they can do more harm to your person and your academics than good. Second, in college there is no ?behind? there is a projected path, but there is no penalty for admitting that as intelligent and stubborn as you are, it is just too much to handle. Admitting the necessity to change schedules and study habits and to ask for help, are not failures. They simply confirm that you are smart enough to know when your super powers stop, and the normal 19 year-old brain takes over. Ultimately, it will be a huge change, and large amounts of stress but success is achieved by slowing down, prioritizing, and maintaining personal happiness.

I did not anticipate how difficult the transition from high school to college would be. During high school, I was in the Honors program all four years and was involved in many clubs, groups and sports during this time. I thought that college would be no different than what I was handling in high school. For fall semester, I decided to take a challenging course load and ibecome involved on many other activities. However, I learned very quickly that I was being spread too thin, and not focusing enough on my classes. When I saw that I had received a 2.37 GPA for my first semester of college, I was devastated. I am not the type of student who is satisfied with just passing a class. Realizing that my whole outlook on college needed to change, I cut back on my extra activities and focused on my grades. Through my freshman year experience, I learned how important is it to stay in touch with one?s professors. I learned that if I want a good grade for a class, I must put extra effort into studying and be committed to understanding the information and participating within the classroom.

If I could go back and give myself any advice it would have been to keep up the good work in juggling 14 different activities, but to use all of my experience to apply somewhere else. The only thing that really keeps me at Washington State is that they are the only school in the state with a Wildlife Ecology Major and I can't afford out of state tuition. I would have told myself to apply for the WUE Scholarship and attend somewhere out of state to not only get out of Eastern Washington for once in my life, but to have a better college experience. The more scholarships I can aquire, the more likely it is I can transfer somewhere new and start over.

When submitting your college applications, make sure you fill them out completely and thoroughly. Complete as many applications as you can. The schools have deadlines and by the time you know what you truly want, it will most likely be past these deadlines and you can't go back in time. Keep your options open by applying everywhere and make visits to the campuses. You truly don't understand what it's like at a college until you are actually there experiencing it. Bring a friend and spend a weekend at your top choices. See what the environment is like outside of the academics. Talk to the people working and sitting in the cafes in town. Ask their opinion on the city and the lifestyle. They've been there and can tell you much more than a college pamphlet can.

To be able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior would be incredible. There would be so many things I would want to tell myself in hope to make my transition to college life just a little bit smoother. I would first try and push myself to apply for more scholarships earlier on, in hope to help take off some of the financial and emotional stress I faced my senior year. Since I?m typically a shy and quiet person, I would encourage myself to be more open to new opportunities and friends instead of trying to hold onto the safe and familiar past. I would also let myself know that although college is greatly different than any other educational experience I?ve ever had, it?s nothing to get overly stressed about and to just take everything in stride.

As a college senior I had no idea what I wanted in life. Sure, I thought I did...just as I think I do now. As of now, I have great goals and aspirations however; one thing I have learned after spending a semester in college is that these things are always changing. There is no way to plan out your whole life no matter how old you are. Life is constantly changing and however prepared you are for your future something will always surprise you, catch you off guard; not that this is by any means bad. These surprising circumstances are what keep life interesting and fun. The process of deciding where to go to college is important, but worrying about the future too much is unnecessary because nothing ever turns out quite like it's planned, for good or bad. Embrace the present, enjoy your last days of high school (because no matter how much you hate it now you will miss it) and look forward to an exciting adventure that waits ahead of you. College is what you make it, go where you feel you will be the happiest and then make the most of every minute.

I would deffently take more AP classes and also running start. So that you can get ahead of the game and also get college credits doing it. I would also tell myself to study more for the SAT and ACT because there are many more opportunties, if you have higher scores. Another thing I would do is take time to apply for as many scholarships as possible instead of waiting till you need money like I'm doing now.

As a high school senior, I slacked off. I'd never truly felt challenged in school and never experienced the drive to be the best. Once I entered my final year, my performance in school dropped even lower and my dedication all went away. If I could go back, I would teach myself a few very important lessons that I have been stumbling to learn this year. Being in college has been the biggest challenge I've ever faced. I have faced faltering friendships that have lasted since elementary, courses that actually have something to teach me, and, worst of all, I have faced the difficult challenge of having to learn how to study. I would love to go back in time and tell myself to straighten up my act and actually do well in school. I would lay out a plan on how to learn proper study habits. My high school senior self would get quite an awakening as I would give examples on some of the work I have been doing this year. The final note I would give myself? Working two jobs and attening university is not the norm. It takes hard work and tons of dedication.

Going back in time to senior year of high school, I would start out by touring several universities. I would make a list regarding if I wanted to go to a large school, be part of the Greek system, would want to study abroad, attend a research university, and attend a school that has numerous colleges within. In order to make the transition easier I would recommend finding organizations at the college prior to moving there, talk to upperclass men at the university to see what they would recommend bringing (i.e. for the dorms, attire depending on weather and school supplies).

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. That you should try to improve your study habits my senior even though high school is almost over. And I would also tell myself to cherish the last year in high school because it is a time that I will never get back.

Communicate, communicate, communicate! It is essential to communicate with your Professors. My first semester, I caught a virus going around and was bedridden for a month more or less. I never told any of my Professors what was going on. I left assigments undone, missed quizzes and tests, and did not do my part in group assignments. Thus my first semester grades were horrible, I was placed on academic probation, and lost my scholarship. If I had alerted my Professors to my condition, we could have worked out deal for finishing assigments late or they could have allowed me to drop the classes alltogether. As a result of my lack of communication and "fear" of the Professors, I have had to work twice as hard this year to bring my grades back up again. This means that now all I do is study and I have no time left over for social interaction or intermural activities. I wish I hadn't been so afraid of the teaching staff and sharing my personal predicament. Talk to your Professors, your classmates, and your friends. They will help you! A college year without open and honest communication, is no college year at all.

I worked hard in high school. Every AP class I could apply for I did, and before I graduated I had 30 transferable credits through AP tests which could transfer to many universities. I felt ahead of the game, but a 4.0 is not everything to succeeding in life. Even today I am not certain where I want to be a year from now, better yet in ten years, and I have the feeling that for some time now I still will not know enough to provide insight for upcoming students. I do know that everyone should explore their interests, looking for a passion which they could conceivably devote every moment of their life to. Once that is found, our drive, then we should pursue it. I know now that my greatest problem was in the questions I asked of my future: How will I make the most money, how will I pay the bills, how will I survive? Too many expend their youth trying to find out how to stay alive, and they forget how to -live.- Do something for the thrill of doing it, not the money it pays (if it also pays the bill, great).

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have plenty of advice to give high school me. First off, I would tell myself to only spend money on what you need in school and save every dime because it will be needed in college. After graduating from high school the gifts of money that are given from relatives should not be partly blown on a summer road vacation. Also I would tell myself that it is alright to change my thoughts of what I would like to do with my life after high school. Believe me; you can switch your college major many times. Another piece of advice is to read all that you should for college classes. The last piece of advice to help transition from high school to college is to say hello to everyone and be involved. In college there are many opportunities to make connections that could last a life time. These are many of the pieces of advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior.

Alcohol will be present everyday in your college life, yes people will try to provoke you to partake but refuse. It may be hard to step out of your shell to meet new people but these people may be able to help with your school work. It is very important to communicate with your professors as well as your advisor to make sure that you are doing everything to keep on track with your college timeline.

For most people, leaving home for college is a major milestone in one's life. It is where they start to discover new freedoms and opportunities that they never had before. After having experienced college for 1 semester, i would tell myself that the transition to college was not as hard as anticipated. By doing activities such as Marching Band, i was able to meet friends that i have things in common with. Participation in activities was important and crucial to jump starting my social life in college. Another important thing that i would want to tell myself is that although my time in high school has been largely structured by others, college is different in that you completely manage your own time for yourself. Along with the freedoms of being in college comes the responsibilities. A professor will not usually come to you if your grade is slipping as a high school teacher would. In college, you are expected to look after yourself and make your own decisions. Although the transition between high school and college is drastic, it is not so difficult as to fret about too much before hand.

The first thing that I would tell myself is that I should quit worrying about all the little things that surrounds school and life in general. Those would bog me down like an anchor on a ship. Another thing I would tell myself is that I should do running start, ,the program that allows Juniors and Seniors to go the the local Community College and start taking classes otherwise he will be there for three years. Now there is the thing about being social. It will help being social on many levels. First of all its nice to get out, and especially at the University. When you get into the more challenging course, and I recommed them whole heartly, find or create study groups to help with the understanding of whatever the material. This pretty much all I really would want to say to myself as a highschool senior.

Do not make the mistake of taking classes that arent needed. Keep your classes to the ones that you are interested in and will pay attention in, and if you do not get along with a teacher, try and change classes it won't hurt anything. Always go to class and always do the readings and homework; despite what upper classmen may tell you it is important. Make as many friends as possible, these are the years you meet your lifelong friends. Join clubs and groups; network with people who share your major and interests, that way you know people who can help you with studying. Only bring from home what you know you will need, you really don't have as much room as you think you do. Only buy what you need, you're on a budget now spend your money wisely, you're parents can't always help you. Overall, have fun, these are the best years of your life.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself from my senior year I would let myself know that not everything happens as planned but eventually everything works its self out. I would let myself know to go to college with an open mind and to try new things, no matter how uncomfertable it might make me feel. I would advise myself to take classes seriously and set aside time commited just to homework. But above all I would tell myself to have fun and enjoy myself. College is about finding ones self and trying new things. I would make sure to let myself know to have no regrets but to live my life with confidence and to go for my dreams and goals.

In a blazing Delorean or just a phone booth I would travel back in time and tell myself to just take things nice and easy, but at the same time tell myself to prepare ahead of time. College so far has been one of the most positive things that has ever happened to me, and by sitting back and relaxing before things happen, you won't get upset by all the little things that will happen. The best example will be your biology class first semester sit back and don't lose your cool. Then plan ahead, whether it is adding the dates of those exams into you planner, or starting the research for your upcoming essay! Getting back into my DeLorean, I'd turn and finish off by assuring myself that a lot of strange things are going to happen, but look forward to them, and know that everything that you face will turn out alright.

If I was able to go back to being a high school senior, I would give myself some advice about a few different things. First of all, I would make sure I knew successful studying tehniques. In college you must study to succeed which is a lot different than high school. By knowing how to study well you can make it a lot further in college. I would also make sure I knew how to balance my time between social aspects of life and school work. This advice will also help you go far in college and be successful. Another thing I would tell myself is to make the most out of my time in college by doing things out of my comfort zone. I was very shy in high school and I would make sure that coming to college I would be more outgoing and make the most out of my college experience.

I would tell myself to not room with a friend from high school because i doesnt work. I never saw my friend and i spent a lot of time by myself. I would tell myself to branch out and meet new people right away so that i wasnt alone for a majority of first semester. Having friends close by is what makes college worthwhile and fun. You need to have a good balance between doing your homework and hanging out with friends, even if its just watching a movie. Go to as many sporting events as possible because it helps make boring weekends more enjoyable.

I would make sure that I knew deadlines of the housing contract application. As a freshman I missed the deadline and I ended up in a residence hall that was not my first choice. I also didn't get to live with the roomate that I had chosen and was placed with a roomate that had a drastically different lifestyle than mine. This made the first couple months of my college experience very stressful. I was finally transfered to a different room with a different roomate but this made my first college experience a challenging one.

As a high school senior, I recommend three things: take AP courses, apply early, apply for as many scholarships as possible. AP coursez can help you prepare for the amount of work and study time you will have to put in for college, and it also can get you college credit if you pass the AP test. Take the classes seriously and prepare well for the test. When you apply for college, make sure you make many options for yourself in case you don?t get accepted in the college of your choice. Apply for 3-4 schools that you would seriously consider to attend. Try to apply early so that you can be ahead of everyone else and you will know sooner if you get accepted or not. Last, apply for scholarships early the year, no matter how much they are. College is expensive and the more money you can get the less stressful it can be. Talk to your counselors often for scholarship opportunities and the college you want to attend because they have many to offer.

Dear Jessica, This may be hard for you to hear, but please listen. Understand that things that you think may "define" you as a person, do run their course and do eventually end. Letting go is undoubtedly the hardest part, but it's disappearance will give you clarity and much-needed perspective. Your friends and family will always be your cavalry. Let good things find you, instead of looking for them. No man is worth your misery. And do what you want, do what makes you happy, and do not let others keep you from being happy. When you are drowning in in despair and being swallowed by adversity, the pain will eventually go. Just find the strength you know you have, because strength is born in the deep silence of long-suffering hearts, not amid joy. And remember, always think of yourself as a first-class citizen of the world - no one deserves better than you. You are so loved, Jessica

Take your time, there is always time to slow down and do it right. By that I mean, do not overwhelm yourself in the pursuit of getting done with school faster than you are able to. Also, know your options, be aware of the ideals of the schools you wish to attend, what services they offer on campus, and which school would best suit you and your personality and personal needs.

I would tell myself that without confidence, you have nothing in this world. I always knew I wanted to do broadcasting but I leaned on other people for validation. I would have surround myself with people who understood my goals. This includes frineds, family and even employers. I would tell myself to remain strong and not get upset if I did not receive a scholarship. I would have considered applying to more than one college. Although I was admitted to my first choice, I believe having more options would have given me more flexibility. I would also have kept in mind the cut-throat competition involved in the broadcast news industry. I would have not focused on people treated me. Instead I would focus on becoming better at my craft and doing the best job I could in college.

Learn the material you are being taught. This is your education, your future, and your knowledge, not just a degree. An A where the material was memorized and quickly forgotten is worthless; thus a B- is better than that A if you understand and attain the lesson. Apply for scholarships now, there are so many out there especially for seniors. Don't take longer than a summer off from school because it is so easy to get caught up in a job and before you know it, five or ten years pass by. The more time that passes before returning to school, the more obstacles you will need to overcome. Right now, don't worry about your boyfriend. Don't give up or change your dreams to fulfill his. Boys will come and go out of your life but you will have to live your life continually. You can start your family after you graduate college; otherwise you will be like I am, 32 years old before you graduate. It was a lot harder being a working single-mother going to college then if you keep focused now and take your own experienced and wiser advice.

I could answer this questions in two ways. First I would talk to myself as a sophomore in college before I was going to transition into a university. I would tell myself to do more research into what schooling my career will take. It would've made the best of my time throughout my college years. The second way I would answer this question is as a sophomore in high school. This is because I went straight into college my junior year. As for the advice for my sophomore year, I was pretty happy with how I handled that year. The only thing that I might change is to join more clubs in order to make more of my shortened high school experience. Overall, I am very happy with my decisions and have not had any regrets.

I would tell myself to spend some time really getting to know the people around me instead of jumping into friendships and relationships in a attempt to fit in and have people around me. There is this period of time freshman year where everyone is pushing to make friends and find their place and their group for the next four years and sometimes the best relationships will slip right by if you're too busy forcing friendships with others just for the sake of having friends. Also, I suppose I would tell myself not to seriously date for awhile. Getting sucked into a serious relationship at the very beginning of college is hard because pretty soon you've become wrapped up in this one person and haven't had much time to experience your independence by going out and meeting new people or having the opportunity to date more than one person which should be fantastic learning processes.

Advice I would give myself would be to not give up on the educational dreams and goals I have set no matter how hard life can get. School and family at times can become stressful but everything will be alright as time goes by. Don't always compare pass accomplishments because the present is now and the pass is no longer here. Transititon can be hard at first but effort will count for all that you put in.

If i could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior the firest thing I would tell myself to calm down. When your at college you meet so many new friends that you don't miss home.

If given the chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now, I would tell myself the following. First and foremost I would tell myself that high school teachers have not been lying to you all this time, that college is indeed a lot of reading and studying, lots more than we ever did in high school classes. I would also tell myself not to worry about being homesick too much, because while it happens, an easy way to fight it is to go outside and introduce yourself to people. This not only gets you more friends, but before you know it you won't even realize it's been months since you've been home! Finally I think I would tell myself that while college work is harder and classes are more complicated depending on the field and the direction of the courses, as long as you take it one step at a time and breath a little, you'll do alright. That is what I would tell myself as a senior in high school if given the chance knowing what I know now.

While college is amazing, in my situation, I wish I would have told myself to go to a community college first, and then transfer there after two years. Financially, it is very difficult for me to make things meet, and it probably would have been easier had I chosen a community college first. That would make my time at the university a little less stressful, and open up opportunities like studying abroad, that I might not be able to afford otherwise. I also would have told myself to go to a school where none of my friends are going, because I relied on my friends, and it made it more difficult to branch out and make new friends.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would say "You dont know what is coming at you. I assumed that the work load would be a little bit harder, but not as hard as it is now. Most seniors come down with what is called senioritis. This was very common, and very accepted. This was my first mistake. I became very lazy and did not fill out near enough scholorships, and let my grade point average slip. Keep working hard, no matter how hard it is. After going through a semester at college, I feel like I am more aware of how much work it is and how much effort I have to put in. I think of college like a book, MY book, I am the author of it. And I want my book to be the best book written. Therefore, I must put my best foot forward, always. And always do my best. To do this you must, make friends with your professors, seek help always, and surround yourself with people you want to be like. Your friends have alot to do with how you preform and who you become."

If I could go back to talk to myself when I was a senior in high school I would tell myself not to procrastinate when writing and researching papers. Just because it is possible to write a 5-8 page paper in one night it is not the smart thing to do. I would tell myself to take my time while writing, go back and reread the paper, make corrections, just don't had in a paper right after you finish writing it. Also I would say that there needs to be more of a balance between academics and a social life. It is ok to take time to be with friends, join clubs and actually become involved with them. Having many experiences will only help with life not only during college but beyond it as well.

If I could travel back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be more outgoing. While in high school, I was extremely awkward and shy. Once I got to college, my sorority helped me to overcome my awkwardness and shyness. To this day, I continue working on completely overcoming my shyness. I would also tell myself to know my limits and boundaries. While in high school, I had a strict curfew and set of household rules to follow. Once at college, those rules and limits no longer existed. I'll be the first to admit I went a little crazy my first semester of college. I'll also admit I made a lot of mistakes, but I see mistakes as learning experiences. If I had set my boundaries better, I would not have made many of the mistakes I did.

When I arrived at university, I could hardly wait to start classes. I had not, however, thought of or planned for everything else that comes with the transition. If I could had the opportunity to talk to myself back before I began college, the best advice I would give myself upon entrance would be to engage. Engage in absolutely everything. I missed so much, and so many opportunities my first year because I was too nervous to engage. I would tell myself to let go of my presumptions and take chances, no matter how hard or terrifying, or even pointless they seem. Every experience is a necessary and crucial one, good or bad. Starting university is like a new life, the gateway to an independent future, as such, all aspects should be met with an open mind and childlike enthusiasm. The entire university experience should be something that changes your life, and every part is interconnected, so if any part is neglected, the overall experience will be lessened. As a new student moving into this incredible new part of your life, the greatest gift you can give yourself is openness, after all, an education isn't confined to a classroom.

Apply to several scholarship websites and just sit down and do the scholarships. This will make your life easier in the long run. Also always read your book before you attend the lecture on the subject. This way you will see it twice in stead of just once.

Fuck WSU Vancouver!

Wishing for a time machine, to send me back to my youthful and somewhat blissful frame of mind, I would force myself to learn to give up distractions and learn to stay focused. There is so much peer pressure in college, temptation ensues, and in the end grades slip or a test is failed. I dread the feeling of being a failure. I came to Washington State University to earn a degree, to do something with my life. When I spend a night out with friends or skip a class, reality hits me to keep me in check. In high school, I set too much time aside for fun; I never said 'no.' Carrying that mindset, I entered the university being a thrill-seeker. I have learned and realized that I have people encouraging me to make the best of my life; personally, I learned to remind myself that I am striving to improve my future, that is why I am here. I wish this frame of mind was innate while I was in high school. I have learned that leisure time is meant to be balanced with scholarly activity; it should not outweigh the time I spend studying.

Two years ago I graduated from high school. A new hair color and heavy backpack later, changes in my character and appearance were the result of my transition into college. These experiences culminated into a new perspective on life, which according to the Rod Stewart song, ?I wish I knew then what I know now.? If given the opportunity to drop some pearls of wisdom on my high school self, I would have a lot to say. First off, stop worrying. College is not as scary as episodes of Greek would have you believe. Go out and join as many clubs as you can, and participate in as many campus activities as possible. Worry less about losing your high school friends (Facebook will simply not allow that) and focus on meeting new friends at college, people who will open your eyes to new experiences and ways of thinking. In addition, please remember that it may be easy to procrastinate that homework assignment until the night before, but in the end you are just cheating yourself. Learn not for the grade, but for the idea of getting one step closer to becoming a responsible global citizen.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self. I would want to tell me that no matter how easy the class may seem, I should always study the night before. I took the Calculus AP exam in High School and I only got a one. So I would want to tell myself that it was very important to study for that exam and the class I took in general. I would remind myself that high school may be easy, but I am trying to prepare myself for college. I would also want to go back and tell myself not to waste my time with people who do not care about me. The other thing I would want to remind myself of is to persue my dreams. I should have played tennis in college, but I gave up without a fight. I would now want to tell myself to fight for everything I want and never give up easily!

If I could change anything about my transition process, it would have been to have gone to the community college and recieved my AA while still in high school. I spent my senior year attending the community college, but since I did not do it my junior year as well, I only recieved a few transferable credits. Other than that it would have been to not go to college with so many ties back home. I spent majority of my first semester coming home every weekend, and not fully living out my college experience. However, I have now become much more involved at the school now, and everytime I have to come home I spend the whole time counting down the days until I am able to return back to school. I attend the best university in the world, and I would not change it for anything.

Know before you go. Have some idea of the career that you wish to pursue prior to accepting the offers of any school, as well as what each school has to offer. Have your parents or school take you on school visits and get an idea of what an in state versus out of state school has to offer. Take into account things like distance from home, and coming home for holidays and breaks as well. A lot of people do not think about these things until they get to the school of choice, and end up dropping out because of the unknown information and aspects of each school. Make your decision based on what you want to do in life, not based on the party scene or how many of your friends are going to the school, because the party scene can be found anywhere you go, and if you are true friends with someone it will last during the time you are at school as well.

With any advice you'll do just fine. But trust your new friends, the boys will look out for you. Bewarey of those guys who come on too strong, they well hurt you. Have fun, be responsible, study hard and all will work itself out.

During my first semester in college, it shocked me to discover the competition among my classmates and the intense demands that each of my professors required of my time when compared to my high school classes. I found myself wishing I had learned better time management skills and acquired other learning techniques to help me be as successful as possible that first semester. Throughout my college years, I became well-adapted to the standards of my campus, often exceeding those expectations. If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, or preferentially, even sooner, my advice would be to constantly challenge myself and my limitations. I would have efficiently learned to manage my time along with countless essential shortcuts to empower myself for academic success. My advice to anyone transitioning to college would be to learn to ration time, prioritize classes based on workload, and be responsible in daily decisions, since each individual choice ultimately impacts academic success. I learned these things and more in college, and perhaps most important and rewarding of all besides academic success is finding ways to give back to your community.