Washington State University Top Questions

When thinking back to high school, there were many people who explained to me how life in college would be. Now knowing exactly what it is like and experiencing it for myself, I would have to go back in time and tell myself that I should ask questions more and be prepared to speak to the professors and teachers more because the more you speak to them, they will remeber your face and help your with your grade by raising. Another piece of advice is that college is expensive and keep applying for as many scholarships and grants as you can and fill out the Fedural Student Aid every year. As far as the tranistion with high school life to college life, I would say make sure you have the organizational skills that are needed and make right choices because that is whats going to seperate the successful college students from unsuccessful ones. Finally college is not as easy as you think, the harder you work and more that you put into your studies, the more you will learn and take from what the professors or student teachers teach you.

College is a big step into the real world. College is all about finding out what you are and what you want to do with your life. The hardest part about college is having to do everything on your own. In college there is no such thing as being done with homework. One must study hard to get good grades . For most people, college is difficult to get used to because there are different expectations. Knowing what I know now about college, I would say that success is an effect of perserverance, motivation, and failure. without these three things there is no success.

Success in college is found by going to class and doing the work. It is not like high school where more time is spent doing tedious assignments to track a students learning. A college student is free to succeed or fail and must take initiative to do well. I would advise myself to stay organized and tackle one assignment or test at one time. Also, look ahead at future assignments and schedule times or days to work on them to reduce the stress of having to complete several assignments due around the same time. Finally take advantage of outside activities, such as study groups and clubs, early and throughout college. These will not only help academically, but you will also make friendships that will help ease the stresses of classes and provide you with a much more fulfilling experience than just going to class.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior with my knowledge about college now I would say, first and foremost, to set challenging, yet attainable goals. In the transition from high school to college a person can change who they are. Someone who didn't do well in highschool can turn that around in college to be successful. There is no limit on the success that one can find with the opportunities that college provides. The atmosphere at college is much different than high school. At college, the students who are there want to be there and want to be successful and learn. I would also say that college is about taking personal repsonsibility and initiative in the your education, because you get out of it what you put in. In high school we might be able to pull off doing homework the night before its due, or skipping the textbook reading, but in college, there isn't any shortcut. The experience that people get from college is one that lasts a lifetime. The friends we make, the experiences we have , and the things we learn will change us forever.

Start and finish college as soon as possible.

I would tell my younger self to relax and enjoy my college years. I would also tell myself that even though the work looks hard, and it may be in the beginning, that I will get used to it and begin to enjoy it. College life is a unique and wonderful experience, while making responsible decisions, I would advise myself that having fun is still allowed. There are many things that I could advise myslef on but I think the most important thing to remember is that you are paying for an experience not just a class, so try to experience as much as you can.

Go to college right after leaving high school & decide early on what program to pursue!

I would tell myself to make sure that you have a strong freshman year. Academicially, try your best. You are starting off with easy classes so take advantage of that and get good grades. Having a high GPA freshman year will help a lot when you get into the upper level classes that are more difficult. Socially, make good friends. Your friends will be in charge of your happiness and keeping you sane during some tough times. Find people who will support you and encourage you to not only have fun, but also do well in school. Be open minded, you will be exposed to many new things this year and you shouldn't be too quick to judge. Try new things, you are starting fresh and have so many opportunities, take advantage of them. Join a club, you can meet people with similar interests as you and it is good to have friends in your major. Talk to your professors, they are real people and enjoy knowing their studets. It's okay to go out and party, but be smart about it. Stay with people you trust and know your limits. Live life with no regrets.

As a high school senior, I underestimated the time I would have to put into being successful in college. I opted to coast with the minimum requirements and to essentially take the year off. To go back in time and tell myself to do exactly the opposite would have to saved me a lot of time in snapping myself out of the sit-back-and-relax mindset. This mindset eventually accounted for a lot of late nights in which all of my work caught up to me. I would tell my high school senior self that it is okay to go outside my comfort zone full of my friends and family and to throw myself into an environment where I know no one or anything, because in reality, everyone else in that environment is in the exact same position and looking to make a friend as well. College is nothing to fear, and I wish my high school senior self could understand just how exciting it is to be on your own instead of fearing being on my own.

The advice that I would give myself would be to become more involved with extra curricular activities. Studying is important but getting to know new people in clubs can help you to become a better person, or it could even help you to make new study partners that will help you get better grades.

If I could go back and talk to myself my senior year of high school I would tell my self to save my money. I always thought that I would be fine financially in college, but entering my second year at Washington State University I discovered I was wrong. As the housing market fell dramatically my mother lost her job as a real estate appraiser. My parent's income was cut in half. We recently lost our home and were forced to turn to my grandmother for assistance. My parents try their best to provide for me while I'm at school becuase I have no time for a job. It's hard to come home and see how much they sacrafice for me. For this reason I wish I saved all the money I made in high school so that I could finance my own education, or at least part of it, so that life would be easier on my family.

When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what to expect from college. I am a first generation college student and my parents didn't know how to help me either. When I first came to college, my experience was daunting. Now that I know a lot about college and the expectations, I would tell myself to visit the college campus and do a formal orientation. The most important thing has been networking and getting to know faculty and staff that will cheer you along the way. Especially as an African American student, it is important to be apart of the African American community since it is so small. I would also tell myself that hard work pays off.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy high school and not stress too much about the difference between high school and college. Many of my past teachers told us that college is much harder than high school, but now that I have been a student at Washington State University for four months, I would tell myself that that is simply not true. While the tests may be harder and count for more of the final grade, the actual work required is much easier than in high school. As a senior I was focused on getting into college and worrying about the transition. Should I get the opportunity to talk to my younger self I would advise her to work hard, improve her study skills for tests, but most of all not worry too much about it. College is a time to grow as a person and a student, take classes that you are truly interested in, and most of all learn about the world through both course work and life experiences.

If there is any information I think I would have benefitted from knowing going into the transition into college, I think it is how to best manage my time. Taking advantage of afternoons and weekends in the library is very helpful, and during my freshman year I spent a lot of this time at the fraternity hanging out with friends or watching TV. Had I been able to excel starting out, my GPA would be a lot better now. I would also tell myself to begin preparing early for the GRE and MCAT.

The biggest piece of advice I wish I could have given to myself: You are going to make mistakes, but learn from them, make the best of them, and move on because you will be a better person for it. I can honestly say my life would not be what it is today had I not found out for myself that life really does not care about the plans that you make and the missteps you take. My biggest jolt in college was realizing that my "plan" was no more because of choices I had made. I had to come up with a new one, and try my best to understand why the end of my path was simply the beginning of yet another long one. I know now those days were the perfect setup to what I now view as the perfect path for me, and it molded my character into that of someone more humble, more gracious, and more accepting of change and unexpected outcomes. I could save myself a lot of time and likely a lot of money with a quick glimpse into my own future, but the lessons learned are so much more valuable.

If I were able to go back to being a high school Senior I will tell my yourself a lot of things. I will tell myself to study harder on Tests that the teacher gives to me. I will tell my self the people I am hanging out with is not the right people I need to be associating with. I will tell myself I need to stay after school for all the tutoring sessions so I will be able to prepare myself for College.

Get involved! Being involved in college gives you great things to put on an application, give you great experiences, lets you meet new people, become connected, and ultimately much more attractive to potential employers. Being on the Crew team at WSU is one of the best experiences of my life and there's few things more rewarding. Trust me, getting involved is the way to go.

You're scared. Highschool is really difficult as it is. But relax and think about this: You're freshman year you already know you are going to be focusing on school and you won't have that Albertsons job. When you get to the college, plan ahead, stay on top of things, and talk to your proffessors. There is no reason for panicking as long as you are careful and work really hard! Other advice I can give you is do NOT worry about your social life when you're here. Sure, it's important you have friends for love and support when mom and dad can't be here, however, worrying about who likes who and who is talking bad about who is NOT IMPORTANT anymore. It will take over your mind when you should be focusing on your school work. When that's all done, that is when it is time to socialize. When it comes time to get back to school work, stop thinking about your friends or you will distract yourself. Study, work hard, and make time for fun! College is amazing and can be even better than highschool! (even if that seems impossible) ;)

First, I would sit myself down and tell myself to take a look around at everything I?ve done and appreciate the journey getting there. It was an amazing trip that caused me to grow considerably along the way. Second, I would tell myself to calmly look forward to the adventure that I?m about to go on. I needed someone to tell me that while college life is different, it?s not beyond what I?ve done in the past, just a little more intense. Lastly, I would tell myself to relax and live the life that set out in front of me, I deserve to be where I?m at and have worked hard to get there; I just need to enjoy the fruits of my labor and appreciate this new trip I?m on.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to be open to every option. I was so set on going to WSU. I followed my plan. I don't regret it but I do wish that I had explored more options and would have been more open to different ideas. I have learned to be a little more laid back and not worry about everything all of the time. I also wish I would have been more patient. I was so ready to leave home and get started with my life. Now I miss being home and what I had. I took it for granted. I wish I would have let myself enjoy that part of my life a little more.

If I could go back and meet myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself of the following. Firstly, I would tell myself to take a deep breath and not to worry, everything will work out okay. Then I would tell myself to do as many scholarship applications as possible. Although it may seem boring and tedious now, the benefit later, if you get one, is worth the work. Next I would advise myself that during the first few weeks of school it is important to be outgoing and social. You are in a new setting with new people, the more new people you meet now the more enjoyable your experience will be later. Along with this concept, I would advise myself to get involved in some way. Find some way to connect with a group on a regular basis no matter whether its government, intramurals, or just study groups. The final piece of advice I would give myself is that it is important to go to your classes. Even if you think you are not gaining anything, by going to class you are much more likely to be successful in that class.

I would have told myself that high school is a cake-walk compared to college. I did not know how to study properly while in high school and it took me a year in college to get the art of studying down. So, I definitely would have told my past self that I need to not procrastinate and study thoroughly, and that procrastination is definitely a college student's Achilles heel. I also would have told myself to not be shy since most people at my university are very friendly people.

Do exactly as you are doing, trust your instincts and live freely.

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! My freshman year I made a mistake and not studied as much as I should have. The transition from Highschool to College is very difficult, you really have to put your mind into your work. No fooling around. It's hard because you are so excited being at college now that you get distracted. You want to take in all the college experience at once. Take your time, You got four years to do so! Trust me, it's enough time! The class rooms were the hardest to get use to and the independency you need to gain so quickly. Professors always try to act hard at first, but as the semester goes on, they begin to open up and don't be affraid to go see them in office hours. I never went to office hours my first year, now I go and the Professor gets to understand you and how you work. That makes it so they can help you on a more personal level. Becoming so independent so quickly was fairly hard for me. Professors are nice, but they aren't highschool teachers. They move fast with learning: so lastly: DO YOUR READING!

I would tell myself not to fret so much over change. It?s a natural, necessary occurrence in life, otherwise we would all be mindless cogs in the societal machine. I would tell my high school self to embrace the change and push it as far as it will go. Don?t be afraid to make mistakes because we learn nothing, otherwise. I have learned that it is the change in life, and more importantly how we adapt to it that truly defines who we are in this world. I would also tell myself to keep friendships but to be more independent. It is important to have a support network, but above all learn to rely on yourself to achieve your goals. Friends and girlfriends that are meant to last will share your life and travel it with you, without actively altering it to your detriment. Oh, and PS? Stay away from Las Vegas!

There are several pieces of advice I would give myself in high school. First, stop spending so much money on things I don't need and save it for architectural supplies - nope, tuition doesn't cover it - and groceries. Keep up the search for scholarship money and convince my boss to give me more hours. Maybe even get a second job. Most of my classes are lectures, so practice note taking skills and learn to grasp the most important concepts that will be tested on. Living with a roommate and a floor full of other guys is pretty fun, so don't worry about meeting new people. But perhaps most importantly, I would tell myself to have more confidence around girls; I am in college with no dating experience! Experiment a little, and please ask out that girl - you know the one - to prom so I don't go alone. You will regret if you don't, especially when you run into her during Thanksgiving break. Finally, I would advise to learn to have fun, but balance it with studying and I will do just fine.

I would strongly advise my high-school-senior self that getting involved in college is one of the most important things you should do. Going to a university and not getting involved is one of the best ways to waste the experience. I would strongly encourage myself to join some highly engaging and really involved campus group, like a club sports team or hall government. It not only strengthens applications for all sorts of positions, but it gives you experiences, knowledge, and the background that employers want, and it shows that you're an engaged person who really wants to do something. Furthermore, it's an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable experience that you won't regret. Really, join something and be a part of the school life. You don't want to just get a degree and leave, otherwise you won't get your money's worth out of the school.

I would tell myself to nor rush and worry about college. Since I'm an 18 year old colleg senior I'm almost done with my college career before I even really figured out what I want out of it. Looking back, I would have enjoyed high-school more and not be so concerned with how hard I thought college would be. In contrast, It's been relatively easy. Teachers are amazing, learning is incredible, friends are fantastic. College is a place where learing is a high priority. I've loved school and my expectations of college have been surpassed.

Community college is truly a neccessary transition period before a four year school. Whether you take classes at a CC during high school, the summer after you graduate, or spend two years getting your AA, the credits are cheaper and the experience will teach you how to achieve better grades in college courses. Time spent on college courses includes mostly reading and studying, as opposed to daily assignments and busy work like many Freshman are used to from high school. When students arrive at a university, they are immediately distracted by the appeals of living on their own, making new friends, joining clubs, and getting a job; it often just doesn't occur to them that school expectations are very different now. Many Freshman avoid getting a job or participating in clubs/sports their first year because they want to focus on school. I advise against this because participation in activities that encourage responsibility and dedication transfers over to responsibility and dedication to classes, while a lot of free time encourages distraction and a social life that dominates over education. I guarantee your social life can still thrive in the background, even if your main focus in school is success.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that "taking a year off" was not the best idea. As you become an adult life often gets in the way and it only gets harder and harder to go back to school. Now, with a full-time job, children and a husband to take care of college cannot always be the number one priority. With family you never know when an illness is going to get in the way of a final. All of that aside, work hard. Sometimes it means staying up to the early hours of the morning, but if you work hard you will do well. Its not easy but it is possible.

I would suggest to my younger self to not chose homeschooling and running start but to stay in high school. Math in college is much harder then I expected and the extra years of help in high school would definately have prepared me better.

Going back to my seinor year I would advise myself to loosen up a bit, get a social life and take a few shop classes. All 4 years in High School I refused to take any "fun" classes; instead I took classes like calculus, physics and chemistry. I was entirely focused on getting into college and leaving my options open, however, I feel as if I lost a bit of who I was along the way. I never took any time to stop and find out what I enjoyed. Now in college I have found that I enjoy working on my car and training with the WSU Taekwon Do club. Only now am I finding who I am and developing my interests and personality. I wish I had come into my own years earlier. This is such an amazing feeling knowing who I am and what I want to do with my life.

I would tell myself that everything happens for a reason, and it really does work out in the end. And never lose your sense of humor :)

Don't stress too much! You're going to be sucessful if you put in the effort; it won't be the most difficult thing in the world.

I would tell myself that it doesn't matter as much how long you spend studying, but the quality of the time you spend studying. Knowing how to learn and teach yourself effectively is very important. I would also tell myself that pushing myself with more than I can handle, so I can graduate sooner, isn't the best choice. It's better to just do the best I can and still have a social life. College isn't just about succeeding academically, it's about making yourself a better, more mature, and more well-rounded person. I would tell myself that having fun and building life experience is just as important as getting good grades.

Succeeding academically and socially is key to your to future. In order to make a successful transition to college you must first change the way you approach your studies. In highschool most people take a passive approach to learning, on the other hand in college you must activley take steps to improve your understanding of the information. It is imperative to choose a school that can facilitate you in your quest for knowledge. Socially you must take aggressive steps to meeting new people because it is likely that you won't know that many. Steps you can take to meet new people are as simple as introducing yourself to the people in the rooms surrounding you, as well as joining common interest clubs, or a fraternity or sorority. You should not only just meet new people but try to make plans to go out and do something, because most college kids are open to meeting new people and its not weird to make plans with someone shortly after meeting them.

It is almost unbelievable to me the amount of information and life experience I learned during my first year of college. Looking back, if I were to tell myself anything as a senior in high school, it would be to enjoy who is around you while they're still there. The relationships with the friends you have in high school will never be the same once you come back, you'll change and so will they. So hold onto those sweet memories while you can, and don't take these people for granted. Don't sweat the small stuff! Life is much to short to stress out about things that are beyond your control, do what you can and the rest will work itself out. Take a deep breath and know that you're a smart, strong willed individual who has strong goals for the future. Don't let one, two or even three failures kill your dreams. Finally, be nice to your mother, and spend time with her! Family is so important. Your mother loves you dearly, and you will miss her terribly when you go off to school. Enjoy home cooked meals while you still can!

The most pressing thing to tell my high school senior self would be to actually ask out that girl I like, instead of ending up in college with no dating experience whatsoever - that's not helping anyone. I would also advise myself to be more open to joining student clubs and trying new things, especially while socializing with friends. Also, I would tell myself to prepare for the workload, especially the amount of work associated with an architectural major. But since I am only taking four classes, I would suggest that even though I have AP credit, go ahead and take that fifth class to fill up that extra time when I am actually bored - that's how I found this scholarship! Oh, and speaking of which, I would strongly advise applying for more scholarships than I did, and push the idea of getting a job on campus. Living wise, I would warn against the cold weather, but would say not to worry about living in a dorm - it's actually pretty roomy and a great to meet new people. Overall, my transition from high school to college has been smooth and exciting.

When I was 18, I had my G.E.D. and was in the U.S. Army, I had no idea of what I wanted in life. I spent a lot of time thinking about what was expected of me instead of focusing on myself. If I could go back, I would say to myself, "Look, kid. It isn't so important "what" you decide to do--but rather, how you do it. College isn't about surity of interest in a subject or wanting to know about things; instead, it's about discovery, evolving, finding passion and creating philosophies". Perhaps in retort I would cry out some negative self-deprecation so typical of an angst filled youth, yet I would continue on to encourage myself to realize my own potential by acknowledging that self-doubt, hesitance and anxiety exists within us all. I would tell myself to let go of pressure to finish things and think about what I want in life and what was most important to me in the world. I would remind myself to treasure my own ability to research, communicate, organize and motivate. I would remind myself that an inquisitive mindset causes natural change.

As a high school student I spent the majority of my time working, studying or attending class. If I were able to give myself only one piece of advice, I would definately have to remind myself to have a bit of fun. Now I am a mom with six children to provide for, a full-time school load, and a home to take care of. Time for myself is non-existent and stress is high. I would not change anything about the life I live now, but I wish I had taken the time to have fun, explore the world and examine the many possibilities our world has to offer.

The best advice I can offer for a parent about looking for the right school would be that you probably know your kid better that anyone, and if you think they will do well at one school push them toward it. Remember that the first semester of school is going to be both hard on the parent and student, so let time help the situation. Personally I didnt even like school until the second semester where I had a group of freinds I could hang out with on a regular basis and a basic study schedule to balance my time and social life.

I would advise the other parents and student to make the same approach that my parents told me to use. They need to look at the whole picture when deciding what college/university to attend. It helps to have an idea of what field you plan to study in that way you can start researching which schools have good programs in that field. In my case, business is my general field of study because I want to become a hedge fund manager. WSU has a strong business program and that helped in my decision. Narrow it down to about three to five schools. It may be a good idea to write down all of the pros and cons of each school. Do you want to go to a school that is out of state? A few years ago, I wanted to attend the USC but out-of-state tuition costs and expenses were too much for my parents to pay for. Tour the school to see if you like it. Once you research and carefully think about all of the factors that come into play in your situation; it is fairly easy to find a school that fits for you.

Visit many different schools and choose one that feels like "home." After all, it will be your home for the next four years. A strong community is important to succeeding at school. Talk to current students and find out how they feel about the community. Don't worry about stereotypes surrounding a school. Your college experience is what you make it.

In selecting the right college, academics have to be considered first; does the school provide a solid degree program which will help the student succeed in their chosen career? After all, four years and several thousands of dollars are being invested in this experience ultimately for the academic result. Secondly, the school has to be geopgraphically located so that the student is comfortable with the distance from home and the weather. If, as a student, you hate where you are and are constantly struggling with your distance (or lack thereof) from home and familiarity, you won't be happy and your grades will suffer. A happy student will be less anxious and get better grades. Making the most of your college experience will take stepping out of your comfort zone- you have to be willing to try new things and meet new people. My college social life revolves around a position on a sports team that I hadn't ever even heard of before college. Now the individuals on my team are my best friends and my classmates! Don't be afraid to let college be the most amazing thing you have ever done!

Finding the right college or unviersity that fits who you are can be difficult; however, visiting the campus when classes are in session should be able to give you enough information. Not what the campus tour guides tell you, but what you observe while on campus and the surrounding community. You should pay attention to the interactions that the students are having with each other and seeing if you can picture yourself in their spot with somewhat similar topics since you most likely will be expieriencing similar things. Most importantly is that you have to be able to visualize yourself going to the school without regrets to choice. Once on campus you should make sure to get involved with various student organizations since that will allow you to socialize and develope a network of peers that you can rely on not only socially, but also for career oppurtunities in the future. Good luck with your college search, and remember to just visualize.

When choosing a college or university, you want to find somewhere that you will be comfortable, but also somewhere that will push you to take risks and grow as a person. While your number one goal is to graduate, you also need to be in an environment that will let you grow mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Don't compromise with your college education, since it is the stepping stone to the rest of your life. Find a school that offers all of the programs, services, and experiences that you want to have in college. Don't make a decision about a school based on hearsay or reputations, whether positive or negative, but rather go and visit the campus, talk to current students, and then make that decision for yourself. Lastly, while this is a very important decision, don't be so caught up in it that it negatively affects your well-being. Most schools are very accomidating of transfer students, and if you find yourself somewhere that you aren't being successful, you can always transfer and start again!

Make sure the college you choose is good in the field you will be studying in.

I would say that you should definately come visit the school before you attend it in the upcoming year. Make sure that you are ready for life on and off of campus and know alot about the sports teams. Here at WSU we take a lot of pride in our various sports teams and especially our smaller club teams. It is really a great place to come to school.

Choosing a University can be a stressful experience for students and parents alike. Having gone through the experience myself I know how it feels. My best advice for students is to really focus on choosing a school that makes you feel at home while offering fields of study that interest you. College is a time for you to discover yourself and the school that you choose will have a great impact on that. Try to remember that you are attending college for you so it's you that should feel comfortable with the school. As for making the most of the experience, all I can say is get involved! Academics should come first but it's the things you do outside the classroom that can really shape your college experience. Find a club or sport that interests you and jump right in. Don't be shy, this is your time to make new friends and have a great time. Being involved also helps you feel more a part of the community at your school, and feeling at home can help make your experience a more positive one. Never be nervous to try something new, that's what college is for!

Most students attend universities that they are familiar with or that their parents went to. Even though this is a safe choice for some, I would encourage students and families to take the time to research colleges as well as personal interests way before applying to school. Certain interests appeal differently to each person, whether it be for academics or just to see the other side of the country. When it comes down to choosing which school to actually attend, go with your heart and initial instict. Be confident in yourself and families be confident that your student is indeed making the right choice. When it comes to making college memorable, it isn't a hard thing to do. Live on campus, in a dorm or greek house and right away you will see and hear about new things that might spark your interests. College is just the beginning of something bigger and better so trust in yourself and make the right decisions that will influence your future.