Washington University in St Louis Top Questions

I graduated college with so much more than a diploma in my hand and a few fun facts in my brain. Most importantly, Washington University in St. Louis provided me with tools to develop into the successful adult that was buried somewhere deep inside my nervous, 21-year-old, graduating self. These tools came in several different forms. The first is represented by the structure my mind applies to a variety of problems, be they academic or every day. The first tool was the gift of methodological and logical--but creative--thinking. The second tool was more tangible: a career counseling service that could work compassionately and realistically with me on all my strengths and weaknesses. Third, during my time at Wash U, I accumulated many friends (and friends of friends). This group consists not only of my emotional support network, but also of an extended, professional network. Finally, Wash U provided me with a standard. I use this standard to set the bar for the graduate programs to which I apply, the researchers for whom I work, the friends with whom I keep company, and, most importantly, the high standard to which I hold myself.

I went in to this experience with an open mind and few expectations. I wanted college to be what it was, not what I imagined it was going to be. Thus, I tried to take off the rose-colored glasses when I walked through the doors. Each day is a new challenge. I have never been pushed so hard academically, in my personal life, or professionally--and I love every minute of it. I have taken an intense sense of self-confidence from my time here at Washington University. I know that when I walk into a difficult situation that I am capable of not only shouldering burdens, but of moving mountains. I trust myself to be able to work hard and flourish in a harsh environment. This will be extraordinarily useful in my future career as a physician. Additionally, I have made friends that will be a part of my life indefinitely. I have nothing but positive feelings for the university I have chosen, and I would encourage others to try to find the sense of home that I have found in Washington University.

After high school, you think you've learned a lot. Enter college, and you realize that you have only skimmed the surface of knowledge. College has been a valuable experience for me because I have been able to explore the subjects that interest me in greater depth. In chemistry, I have had the opportunity to participate in and facilitate a study group, creating a community of scientists that are eager to discuss their ideas. This kind of collaborative learning not only helps me understand the material better, but it has also given me the confidence to present my ideas, even if they may be incorrect. College is preparing me for the real world where there are still many unexplored topics and no definite answers to questions. It has made me into a thinker who is excited about learning and eager to begin changing the world.

College has taught me about what it really means to be a leader and not a follower. Moving from a 2 year college to a 4 year university has provided some challenges that I would not be able to master without leadership abilities that I gained at my 2 year institution. Without college I do not believe I would have the best opportunity to succeed or provide for a family one day. College has and will be one of the most important endeavors of my life simply because there is no other experience quite like it. Learning to rely on yourself instead of others is the foundation of college and simply put the best lesson to learn. When you follow and don’t lead yourself, you end up in a terrible position to not succeed. Every successful college graduate, I believe, learned how to lead and succeed from their time spent in college.

Quiet, antisocial, passive. Ask any student in my high school and these would be the three common words used to describe me as a high school student. Throughout my high school career, I was looking for my niche. I found it, however, a little too late when I finally began to open up in my Senior year. But just like that, months flew by and I was hugging my recently discovered friends good-bye as they left for their colleges and I left for mine. Just like that, I was at the beginning. The days preceding WashU were anxiety-ridden and fearful. It took me years to open up in high school; would college be a repeat? As I greeted my floormates and classmates on the first days, I made a choice to try harder. I realized college was an opportunity to throw myself into a new environment and either sink or swim. I swam. In my first semester, I surprised myself by joining karate and obtaining a job after only three weeks. WashU set the field to my future friends and goals. Attending WashU has taught me not to sit back, but rather freestyle through the uncertainty.

My college experience has taught me to challenge the norm. For example, having only men's and women's restrooms seems normal, acceptable. But what if a transgender woman needs to use the restroom and she doesn't quite fit the profile of a woman or a man? If she walks into the men's room she will be ridiculed. But if she walks into the women's room she will likely be called a pervert and even arrested. How is this fair? It is not, and our society systematically attacks people like this fictional character daily, but people don't realize it. What college has taught me is to not simply accept what I've always known. It's taught me to be an independent thinker. An individual!

I have gotten several major things out of my growing college life, including a higher education, which is the most important, connection with mature people and the surroundings, as well as becoming closer to my community as a whole through different factors. This first semester of college I have achieved a 4.0 for 16 credit hours. I hope to maintain that high GPA all the way through my college life, which will be at least a Master's Degree worth of education in either chemistry, meteorology, or engineering. College has taught me to not give up, to strive for my best, and to never look back on the negative aspects of life by just looking toward the future and all of its potentials it has in store for me, as well as my friends and fellow classmates. Together, if we all strive to go as high as we can, we can all make the community a better place and offer the best for our children, inspiring them to reach their potential by showing that we all can make a difference if we just strive to be the best we can be.

Choosing WashU is one of the best decisions of my life. The academics here are stellar, especially for a pre-med and while it is tough, professors, advisors, TA's are always there to help. Class sizes are reasonable and I never have to worry about not graduating on time because of overcrowding. The school is the perfect size- not too small to feel claustrophobic, but not too big to be unable to spot friends at the DUC or while walking across South Forty. As a WashU premed, I have found the curriculum challenging, but luckily without intense competition between students-Cooperation is more prevalent and the drive to succeed is internal. For someone into science, research opportunities are numerous- I was able to start doing research at WashU Medical School my freshman year. Even as a top 15 university there is no pretentiousness-I have met some of the nicest, laid back people and have spent many nights up till 5 in the morning having amazing conversations and making friendships of a lifetime. St. Louis can be boring, but we have fun-frats, dorm/house parties are popular party destinations. When I say, "I love WashU," I mean it.

College is the place where you start to manage your own life and your own schedules for real. It's a place where you learn your own responsibilities in the choices that you make. You will learn to pace yourself and you will understand yourself more in terms of how much work you can pull in one night, how much social interactions you might need, or what kind of people you hang out with. It's also a chance for you to do or learn whatever you want. I've learned magic, hypnosis, and singing in about 4 months since I got here. Those were the things that one would never be able to learn in high-school classes.

Attending Washington University has really shown me how much I love to learn. I went to a tiny prep school so being able to take classes in a range of subjects from engineering to writing and music to archeology has been a much welcomed change. I love the university setting and access to libraries so much that I want to get my PhD and become a professor myself. Above all, however, I believe the most important thing I have gotten out of WashU are my friends. I had a tough time in high school with finding friends who would be there for me through whatever, but I've had absolutely no trouble here finding great friends. My freshman floor, sorority sisters, and fellow mechanical engineers are the best friends and best support group I could ever ask for, and I'm so thankful to have them.

I've learned to push my limits. As an architecture major, we are known to have absolutely no lives beyond our little nooks known as our studio. Our schedules are preplanned for the following 3 years and its more than difficult even finishing the major. However, I've always been interested in Supply chain management and logistics, and wish to explore how I can incorporate the study of shipment and movement into the into the study of building and desiging. Living in a society where green architecture and sustainability is coveted, I believe that by minimizing transportation of supplies and optimizing locality can further open the realm of sustainable arhchitecture. Trying to fit two different major requirements into 4 years of study hasn't been easy, yet with the support of others and the motivation of wanting to explore an area of study that is relatively unknown, I learn everyday that sometimes all it takes is a little strength and stuborness.

I am from a rural area and as a result have not had much world experience. Attending a world-class university has opened up a whole new range of networking and academic possibilities. It has challenged me academically, personally, and socially, and I believe I am becoming a better and more globally aware person as a result.

In addition to all the liberal arts skills I have learned, such as grammar, math, and art appreciation, my college experience has taught me indepence and the value of a budget. It has taught me how to critque and analyze intelligently. I have learned to research extensively before jumping into anything that sounds good. I now know how to apply for a job, approach an interview, and conduct myself in a professional manner. Nothing in life is easy, but with a lot of hard work, no goal in life is unattainable.

The experience I have gotten out of college is one I will always remember. Being the first in my family to attend college, my experience is valuable because I know with my degree I can be successful. After graduating with my Associates of Arts in August 2010, I have transferred to a four-year university to earn a Bachelor's degree. I know I am able to get a job at a successful company after graduation in June 2012. I have received the experience of meeting people and making new friends while attending school. I also have had the opportunity to get experience with the industry I want to have a career in, fashion. It is valuable to me to attend college, because without it I would not be able to have the same opportunities and experiences if I had not attended. I am able to take my experience at college and use it with the career I pursue upon graduation.

Perhaps this is generic, but since I've been in college, I've realized that I'm no longer 'that' girl who's on top of her class. In college, everyone is phenomenal in not only academia but athletics, music, and performance. I've learned that college is a lot tougher than high school, and it's definitely not as easy to get that A. So i've taken a step and said to myself, "don't let not getting an A tear you down, you're in college, it's tough, but as long as you're doing the best you can, you're doing a great job." I am not nearly as grade-oreinted as I was before, I've gotten to take that breather and realize that grades aren't everything. It's the social aspect, it's the knowledge you actually LEARN and not memorize before a test, and it's the fact that I can love myself without basing my wroth on a simple letter on the transcript.

I learned that there are so many different kinds of people who attend college. Although they have various personality, they are all smart and deserve to get into Washington University in St. Louis.

I am here to push myself out of my comfort zone. And yeah, till now, i made it well.

I was recently discussing this very question with a good friend of mine, and found that what I have gotten out of my experience here at WashU has not been primarily academic. Since coming to this school, I have met and fostered relationships with a number of different people who have been instrumental in my life. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today if I had not come to this school, if only because of the people I have met and the experiences I have shared. I have grown deeply in my faith and my desire to help make this world a better place, and I have discovered many things about myself that I never even considered before. I know that I have formed lasting relationships with people not only on this campus but in the surrounding community as well, and I hope that we will continue to support each other in our endeavors to gain a deeper understanding of the world long after we graduate. While I continue to learn from the best and expand my academic knowledge, I believe my experience at WashU has been more than just a career path.

High school and college is completely different, college has taught me that it is a faster pace and that very few care about the indiviuals. success. I am not saying that is a bad thing but good. It has given me more of a drive to succeed in my career choice.

Out of my college experience thus far, I've learned more than anything else, what it means to really work independently. I've had to learn, as is expected, how to balance an immense amount of class work with the desire to make friends and be social unlike I've ever had to do before. My friends here and I always discuss how it's difficult to manage that, unlike High School, home and school are no longer separate. But, in order to be happy, I've learned to take everything in stride, get ahead, and, along with spending time with my friends, make time for myself. These skills are going to be so valuable in any job I hold in the future because, like school here, work will most likely follow me home and I will need to know how to balance my life and my job.

The most valuable part of the college experience so far is the connections made while at school. I've learned that it's more important to have meaningful friendships with fellow freshmen than having straight A's. And since I am part of the January Program at Washington University in St. Louis, I also had the chance to discover myself in a way that would not have been possible if I was an average student. Being a January Programmer has helped me understand myself more and allowed me to attain dreams that I would have missed out on otherwise.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself a pat on the back for all the hard work I accomplished. Without a doubt, there were times during my high school career when I questioned whether six AP classes in one year was too much to handle, and if it was really worth it to attend a highly competitive university. All I can say is, it has been well worth it. As for what is to come, I would tell myself to relax and take everything in stride. The transition to college was more difficult for me than I had expected--I had a hard time finding my place on campus and letting go of my inhibitions about going to a college where I knew absolutely no one. The key is to keep an open mind about everything: classes, student groups, and friends especially. I would remind myself of the importance of being friendly and personable, because those qualities have taken me far in my college experience. Ultimately, I would tell myself to enjoy the ride, because there is no way to know what the future will have in store for me.

There are several notes that I want you to take about the things we are about to discuss. First, in all capital letters write CREDIT CARDS ARE BAD. They really are not but in the hands of the ill informed and the impulsive, they are dangerous weapons. Those pair of shoes that you had to have for the party even though you didn't money in the end may cost your that dream house 6 years down the line. So, stay away from the vendors no matter how many free shirts they offer. Second, walk through the library. Walk past the sleepers and find those students that are in the rooms actually reading the books; Make friends with these people. They will be a vital asset to you when it comes time to study for midterms. Third, you are away from your parents but there were methods to their madness. (i.e. cleaning your room, doing your homework) Last, take as many pictures as your phone will allow. The moments that you will experience are unlike any others you've had thus far. These are going to be the times of your life; Enjoy!

Lisa, college is exciting, scary and challenging. It is the first time in your life you will be living in a place without your parents. Of course this will be thrilling but it will also be hard. You are leaving everything and everyone you know to begin something different. It?s ok to be homesick. As someone expecting to play varsity soccer, your time management skills must be flawless. Not only will you be travelling, but your academic workload will be far more rigorous than that of high school. Thus, individual accountability and responsibility will be crucial to your success. Choose a college that allows you to explore any subject of interest. This will help your transition. This way, if you happen to dislike a subject, you can always change and or transfer to another program. Take risks, get out of your comfort zone, explore the unfamiliar, and fail. Push yourself academically and physically. For not only will you learn a lot about yourself, but those that stick by you through thick and thin will be friends for life. Show patience for others and yourself, and allow yourself to change. Don?t be afraid and most importantly, HAVE FUN!

I would start off by telling myself to take more classes and not spend so much time goofing off. I should of taken more math classes at the very least. Sure having a lot of time was nice, but the extra time i did have could have been put towards better preparing myself for college courses. Probably the most important thing I would tell myself is not to blow the amount of money I did on items that are not necessary. I never liked to study but I would warn myself that it's a very crucial part of schooling, especially in college if you want to pass those harder exams. And do not slack on those class readings that are assigned for the next day because the chances of you being called on seem to increase drastically even if you do not think so. All in all tell myself to take senior year more seriously.

Don't worry. College life is great. You WILL make friends and still seem to stay in touch with the old ones. You'll maintain your GPA and manage to get some great parties in as well. It's a little bit difficult to get used to at first, but after a while it's just like being a home just a lot more fun. I know that moving from a small town to a big city seems like a huge transition, but once you get to St. Louis you will fall in love and never want to look back. Spanish will be hard but keep studying. It'll pay off at the end of the semester when you're practically fluent. Use the library. I know it seems intimidating at first, but it's actually not. It's so quiet and perfect for reading and studying your notes. Going there actually improve your grades! Who knew? Good luck with the rest of senior year, I know you'll have a blast. Give Mom a kiss and tell her you'll be calling her a lot soon, because you will! She really does understand more than you think =)

When hearing about colleges and universities you are considering, never believe your ears. No matter how many times someone tells you how great a school is, it may turn out to be your worst nightmare. A college can be rated the happiest campus in the country--but not for you. In selecting Washington University, I knew I was going to a challenging school, and I thought everyone here would be great, would be nice, fun, laid back, accepting. My thoughts about the academics were true, but otherwise, everything was wrong. The accepting school I chose to attend turned out to be judgemental of my lifestyle--Christian, alcohol-free, studious. I never expected that a school with such a great social reputation would turn out to be socially repulsive. I didn't do proper research, and now I'm stuck. I'm stuck financially and academically, because those options are not available elsewhere. So, do your research, but know it won't be enough. Visit the school, get a feel for yourself over a weekend. Then, you will be as close as you can get to real college life, even though nothing will be enough to prepare you.

A key fact I learned during the freshman year of my college career was in the selection process. I found that no matter how much you think you love one particular college you never exactly how much you will love it when you live there. I went into Northeastern with the mindset that this would be a great college for me, and as a result neglected to consider even a college right down the street from where I grew up. I left with the mindset that I wanted to get out of my hometown, as far away as possible; however, I came back soon enough, realizing that this was the place I want to be. I would tell myself that even though the college transition is a rush, with deadlines, school visits and tests you really do have to sit down as best you can and consider all the options presented before you, even if those options don't necessarily make sense at the time.

Relax! The transition to college is not nearly as stressful as you think it's going to be. You just need to be willing to put yourself out there and meet as many people as possible. At the beginning, friendliness goes a long way; this is no time to be shy. You also have to remember that you will be in an academically rigorous environment. Don't be shocked on the first day of classes when you are not the smartest person in the room. Try to learn from everyone else, and don't be so intimidated by their intelligence that you are too scared to participate. The most important thing to remember, however, is to just try new things. If a friend wants to make an impromtu trip into St. Louis, go along. If you have to choose between seeing a fantastic speaker with an acquaintance or staying in with friends, take a chance and go to the speech. In order to get the most out of your first semester, you have to be open and willing to try new things, no matter what anyone else tells you is best. You're in charge now. Good luck!

If I could go back in time and say one thing to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not be afraid to follow my heart instead of my brain. Senior year of high school, I decided to go to the highest rank university I was accepted to, The University of Pennsylvania, while my girlfriend (soon to be fiance, fingers crossed!) boarded a plane to Washington University in St. Louis 1,000 miles away. Freshman year of college was undoubtedly the hardest year of our lives. We would find ourselves counting down the days, and talking on the phone in the freezing cold, so that we didn't wake our roommates, until the early hours of the morning. I knew I couldn't last four years like that, so I made what I consider the best decision of my life and applied to transfer to WashU. I'm proud to say I am currently a sophomore at WashU and enjoying every minute of it. In essence, I would tell myself to be myself and to not be afraid to make a decision simply because everyone else thinks it is the wrong one.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing that I would tell myself would be to relax. The college application process proves to be very stressful, but in the end everything will work out for the best. Stressing about whether the colleges I have already applied to will accept me or not is not going to affect the final decision and causes me to lose focus on what is really important to me at the time. Next, I would tell myself to take a physics course in high school, because although I still managed to learn the material presented in my college courses, many of my professors assumed that everyone in the class already had knowledge of physics which was disadvantageous for me. Last, I would tell myself that no matter where I end up, my college experience will only be as good or as bad as I make it. The most important thing that I can do is to go into my college experience with a positive attitude and an openness to new experiences. Academics are extremely important in college, but learning doesn?t end in the classroom.

The major advice I would give myself would be to never stop meeting new people and making new friends. There are so many amazing people out there, and most people get comfortable with their small groups of friends that they make during their freshman, especially during first semester freshman year. Do not hesitate in going up to someone new and introducing yourself and starting up a conversation. You never know who might become a great new friend and allow you to see the world in a whole new way, who is different from anyone you have ever met. There are so many intelligent, passionate people out there, many with different backgrounds and ideals than your own. People here are incredibly accepting, so do not worry about being singled out or judged; just be yourself and let youself be out there. If you do not, you will not be able to meet all of those amazing people and have the best time of your life.

To my younger self, Before you start college and go far away from everything you've ever known, take time to really appreciate your past - your friends, family, experiences. Now get ready, college is going to blow your mind, in a good way. You're going to meet new people with different personalities, opinions, religions, cultures. Be open to it all. No matter how hard you might want to fight it, give everything new a chance. Overload yourself with activities the first few weeks so you can find your own niche in your new home. You can change your mind later. Transitioning is going to be an emotionally draining experience, but with a satisfying end, I promise. Don't forget who you are, but don't shut who you might be out. Everyone is going through the same thing, so find some friends and get through it together. Mingle! Even if it's against your nature! Surround yourself with all kinds of people, and hopefully you will find those that will be there for you forever. Most importantly, respect yourself and the people around you and I know that you'll excel. Good luck in your journey of self-discovery.

Working hard is just a matter of sitting down at your desk every day and working hard. It is not that difficult of a skill - your room will be so small that half the time you spend in it will be sitting at your desk anyway. Instead, learn how to manage your time so that you don't need to sit for 4 hours on a Sunday night to do a week's worth of work. Truly working hard is working well, which entails efficient and spread out studying. Don't be afraid that a half hour of work here and there every day will cut into your social schedule - it won't. You'll have more free time in college than ever. In addition, make sure to add a half hour to an hour of exercise every day. That won't cut into your work or your free time either, and you can incorporate it as part of your social schedule. Exercise is important to your physical and mental health. Eat healthy and not too much, and not all the time. Drink a lot of water during the day, and go to sleep early. You'll be fine.

I would tell a high school senior that you definitely have to be a hard worker to do well here, but there is still things to do around St. Louis and lots of good places to eat. But don't let your social life get the best of you or you won't do well. It's also easy to overcommit yourself too early because there is a lot of different activities to get involved in.

As you make a decision about college, I would like you to ignore all of your initial criteria for the ?right school.? First, the fact that you love your small school now does not mean that you need to attend a school of 2,000 students or fewer. You will always be able to find a small, comfortable community within the school. Second, you have lived in a small town all your life, and while you would certainly love to go to school in the country, give the city a chance! There are so many great schools that are in or near cities but have fantastic campuses that will make you feel like you are in a small town. Finally, I know that you have always planned on staying close to home and that you might get a little homesick if you move too far away. But when else in your life will you have the chance to move to a new part of the country and still live in a fun, supportive environment? If you disregard your initial ideas about what college ?should? be, you will see that Washington University in St. Louis is the right school for you!

Dearest Self, I know you are anxious to start college, to prove yourself, to make sure that you have made the right choice in leaving, but let me assure you that you have made that correct choice and that you will prove yourself there. Please remember to enjoy right now though because someday you will realize just how blessed you were to come home every day to such an accepting and loving family. Stay true to yourself, Lydeah, explore your options more, and do not be afraid to grow and develop yourself. Do not dwell on the past, you are who you are and you cannot change that, so embrace it more readily, regardless of other people's opinions! All in all, remember where you came from, and that every step you carry your family with you. Be true to yourself, love others, and know that the world is hard enough on you, so give yourself a break....and above all flesh out your passions, have fun, and create memories! Love always,forever, and truly, Lydeah

The word healthy can be defined in many ways. Healthy may mean working out 45 minutes every day, never staying up later than midnight, eating from the vegetarian food line or sleeping in every day until eleven o?clock. It is different for every student. I found it challenging to discover what this meant for me. I realized it was not possible to follow my high school routine in college, as I had to deal with the sleeping schedules of two roommates, survive the grind of midterms and motivate myself to walk to the athletic complex. However, once I found my healthy lifestyle things changed. I was happier, more successful in class and had even more free time. This is why finding and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important. Not only does it do exactly what the word personifies, keep you healthy, it allows you to accomplish many things you didn?t think you had the time, effort or desire to achieve. Whether your goal is receiving a 3.95 G.P.A., becoming captain of the basketball team or becoming President of student government, it can be fulfilled if you make sure to maintain one thing: a healthy lifestyle.

I was addicted to Barnes and Nobles in high school. I could work, coming home accomplished after flying away from the tempting voices of my facebook page. When I came to college I knew that I would need to find this perfect study environment on my campus, and eventually I succeeded in chosing Olin Library as my new, collegiate "B and N." I would read just as I had done back home at my bookstore, but after a few weeks of this routine I realized I felt lonely, something I never had experienced in high school. I now know why, and because of it, I know what advice to give my 17-year-old self. Stop thinking that academics are the most important aspect of school. They're not. All I saw during my hours at B and N was the homework completed. I forgot about friends from school who would come to have lunch with me. Coming into college I was so focused on what I saw as what got me in there, my GPA. I forgot that my personality wrote my essay, and much of my character comes from how people in my life push and inspire me.

Don't stress yourself out! Finding and deciding on the right college is an important choice to make, but whatever choice you make, it will work out in the end. You may think that one college is THE place to go, and attending any other school would simply be sloppy seconds. But even if your college plans don't work out as you thought, don't worry! No matter where you end up, you will find that college life on the whole is an overwhelmingly enjoyable experience, and you will learn new things and find such diverse opportunities that you can't anticipate. So, though you may have done all the research and you may think you know which college will offer the best education, or offer the best opportunities for your future career, or blah, blah, blah...College is more than just a ticket to a career! While education is important, college is an overall experience, and it is best to find a college where you feel comfortable. So do the research, VISIT THE SCHOOLS, and choose your favorites. But, if it doesn't work out exactly as you thought, don't get upset. It will still be awesome!

Ashley, As you grow up I realize that you are trying to speed up life. You need to take a step back, and live life as it is given, one day at a time. Life is a journey, it?s all important. Every step informs the rest. The goal is to enjoy it, live it to its fullest, do your best, live respectfully and with joy. And when you make mistakes ? and you do make them ? pick yourself up, apologize and keep going. Not only that, but make sure you work as hard and efficient as you can. Study until you can?t study any longer because when you get to college, the workload triples and you DO NOT want it to come as a surprise. And have fun because the college you will be going to, you will be hitting the books and sleeping if you want to do well. Oh, and Ashley leave the boys alone, they will be of no importance once you go to college; trust me! Also, don?t worry because you?re an intelligent, motivated young women and will do great but be ready for the challenge!!!

Dear self, Please know that in college, the life is completely different - though the newfound freedom is exhilirating at first, it is only a matter of time before the real work sets in. Don't think that just because your parents aren't there that you can let yourself go. Even in freshman year, your GPA is important; the people you associate yourself with are crucial as well. These are perhaps the friends who will attend your wedding, take you to the emergency room after you fall down the stairs, or even plan your funeral. Also, in choosing that single college, do not pick the one your best friend, boyfriend, or enemy is going. Decide for yourself, which school you want to start anew at. And most importantly, do not settle. If money is the issue, talk to the financial aid office - more often than not, they will help. Never let anyone deter you from your dreams, even your parents. Because though they tried to hinder my dream of going to Washington University, my dream school helped me more than one can imagine. And always, be grateful to wherever you get accepted to. Sincerely, Christine

Read more and always follow what yourt parents say about life because theyt know more than you and are jusdt trying to keep you from making the same mistakes that they made. understand that knowledge is power and it WILL give you a better life. Keep a good reputation and gain a lot of good experience while you are young so it will pay off when you are old. Do not hang out wiith the worng and remember that what you do today effect your tomorrow .

When I look back at myself as a high school senior, I consider my personality to be extremely carefree. This never proved to be a problem in high school, as my workload was light and manageable, and my family was always there to encourage/pester me. In college, the situation is drastically different. My mother and father live hours away, and I have only myself to depend on. If I choose to slack off instead of getting a head start on a research paper, it is entirely my decision. I had some trouble with this concept my first semester of college, and struggled frequently. The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to start being more responsible and self-reliant. I would tell myself never to merely take the easy way out, because giving minimum effort becomes a habit nearly impossible to break. I think by following that advice, my transition into college would have been much easier.

You can do well at any college

I know you're nervous about classes and grades. I also know you won't believe me when I tell you this, but calm down. You'll be fine. You won't always be the top student anymore, but you also aren't going to be the worst. I'm sure you'll want to spend all your time studying and before your first exams you'll have read your books and notes until you've memorized each line. But keep in mind that classes, while always important, should not be your only focus. Hard as this will be for you to believe, the library isn't the only place on campus worth spending time. Hang out with the people on your floor. Join clubs. Try new things. Meet new people. While you're at it, explore the city and check out some parties. I'm not trying to make your college experience comparable to John Belushi's in ?Animal House,? but we both know you would never let yourself do that. I'm confident you'll figure out how to handle the work load. Just don't forget to have fun. Life isn't only about class.

College is a blessing, and the most important thing to know going into school is never to waste the blessings we receive in life. There is nothing wrong with having fun, and college should be fun inside and outside of the classroom, but always remember why you are there. Always finish school work first, and then move on to the other parts of your life. Always remain open to growth and give to the surrounding community, as you never know what you may learn or receive while giving of yourself. Regardless of what you know now, you do not know everything. Yet, despite the fact that you do not, this does not mean you cannot succeed abundantly. If you stay true to yourself, your faith, and the dedication to academics I described earlier, you will succeed. Know that success is not about material prizes or defeating others, but about bettering yourself and knowing that at the end of the day you gave everything you had. This is what school is about. Do not waste it.

College is an entirely different world than highschool. You will deal with more stress and work than you ever thought you could, all while socializing more than you ever thought you would ever want to. Your health is the most important thing. You may thing you are invincible to all the micro germs that cling to a peice of food the instant it hits the ground, pick it up to continue eating, but you are not. Universities are disease factories. You can handle anything, from the all nighters in architecture studio the night before a final review, to hanging out with your floor until four in the mornng, only to get up four hours later to go to an all day dance rehearsal. You can do all of this, so long as you are healthy. Remember: Eat, Sleep and Exercise! Create as regular a schedule for yourself as possible. And, most importantly of all, enjoy yourself and remember that age-old song, "Make new friends, but keep the old."

As you get ready to go to college think about a few things. Who are you as a person? Are you more social or more studious? I know that I was more of a serious student who worked hard and didn't spend as much time with friends. That may have hurt me as I transitioned to college. Back home I had a small steady group of people I was comfortable being around, and when I got to college it was shocking to get thrown in without the support of the people I had gotten familiar with over my past twelve years of school. I think that the ability to work with and socialize with others is essential to ensuring that you will have a satisfying college experience. You need to be able to relax and work with others. While academics are obviously important, I would remind myself that being a friend, a teammate, and a classmate is important as well. I would tell myself to focus on being there for people as well as staying focused on my schoolwork.

Before coming to college, I wasn't really stressed about anything except what to pack and that I would inevitably grow apart from my friends at home. In fact, on my last night a couple of my best friends and I cried about this fear, only to video chat with each other the second we got to our new respective homes. What actually surprised me about college is how keeping in touch with some people from home, actually brought me closer to them than when we saw each other daily! Regarding the transition, I tend to be a person that needs to know information in advance to plan but I quickly realized here that I just needed to go with the flow and make connections with people naturally by being yourself. Finally, the last piece of advice I would give the senior version of myself is... 2nd semester senior year must come to an end and so does the work ethic that was lost with it. College is time to kick it in to high gear because your education is completely in your hands now so be the best you can be to make your family proud.