Assumption College Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, I would definitely emphasize the importance of studying everyday and keeping up with schoolwork. As a high school student I did not create a daily study habit, but rather studied the day it was necessary. Being in college now and seeing how demanding all the classes are, it would have helped me a lot if I had created a daily study habit of going over my notes and reviewing what was done in class. This has been the hardest challenge for me as a college studnet and it is definitely something that affected me when I got to the school.

I would say to get out there and have fun, be yourself, and just talk to people. Education does come first and to take it way more seriously than high school. Professors don't care about where you're from or who you talk to, just how you perform in class. Show everyone that you are a mature adult, don't slack off, and just keep your head up. Know that everything will fall into place and be okay.

If I could go back in time and give high school self advise, I would tell myself to expand my horizons. Yes, staying close to family and friends is a comfort but that limited my list of colleges down to very expensive New England colleges. If I had expanded my horizons as a senior in high school and looked into schools farther down south, I could have found just as nice, if not nicer institutions with much more affordable costs. Making the trasnsition from living at home with your family to being at college and living on your own is hard. By choosing a college you absolutely love, that trasnsition will not be as difficult.

I would tell myself to take a deep breath and to not worry about who you will be rooming with, what teacers you'll have, or the price. I would tell myself that it would be ok if your roommate is not your best friend because there will be so many people and clubs out there that will broaden your social world more so than you could have imagined. I would tell her that the teachers are tough and the A's are hard to get but if you work hard, participate in class, and study a lot then you will be fine and it will be ok if you get a B in a class because the subjects are difficult and that B will still allow you to stay in the honors program and you will not lose your scholarship over it. As for the financial part, I would tell her that yes it is stressful but the Financial Aid Office is there to help you understand your bill and ways to pay. The will give you information on more scholarships if you ask and help you find ways to pay for your education. It will be ok.

If I could go back in time, there is a lot of advice I would give myself. The most important advice I would give myself however is to be extremely open minded going into college. I would tell myself to be open to meeting all kinds of people, and to be open to exploring things I wouldn't necessarily think I was interested in. I would tell myself that college is a place for descovering yourself and your passions in life so if you go in and just stick to the things you know and stay in your cofort zone, you are not going to get the best experience. College is not about being comfortable. It is about taking risks and finding who you really are.

Looking back, I would tell myself not to stress as much going into college. As a senior, I was a 3.8 student and I often worried about keeping my grades up and balancing a social life. After my first year of college, I realized that finding that balance is a lot easier than I expected and there was no need for the type of stress and anxiety I put myself through. Although I thought that high school did not prepare me for the transition, I realized that coming from a large high school to a small college did indeed help me transition and help me in branching out socially and academically. If I had stressed less, I may have enjoyed my senior year more than I had and become more conscious of family and friends that I would soon leave.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to stay focus on my school work and that fun and games can happen whenever and grades are actually really important. Having a good GPA is beneficial in so many ways and it should be my goal to maintain a good one. I would also tell myself to lower my pride and ask for help when it is needed, academic tutoring is actually really helpful and I would advise myself to go to a tutor when I am struggling. I would tell myself that transitioning takes work and a strong mindset. I would also tell myself to become involved in as much as possible but focus on your school work first!

Dear High School Self, Do not assume that you can get away with doing an assignment last minute, because really, your professor will not. High school work is not equivalent to college work- especially when it comes to reading and writing papers. Cramming is not a success. Professors WILL call on you- hiding will not help. Enjoy the security of highschool while you can! However, don't be afraid of college and being a busy bee to find what you love. The cliche's are true- it is a time to find yourself!

Making the transition into college life is not going to be scary. It's going to be a gradual realization that you are your own boss now, and that you have the ability to do anything. You can do your schoolwork on time and get stellar grades; or, you can allow yourself to fall into a rut of late assignments and late nights. Don't assume that because you have this freedom, you don't have to work hard anymore. The only difference is that now it's your own responsibility to motivate yourself. What inspires you? Keep it in mind because you may lose it along the way. Never be afraid to be yourself; if the people you surround yourself with don't appreciate the real you then you have the wrong set of friends. Being around people you connect with, and having relationships that thrive off of mutual support, are the two most important things you can do in college. If you have these connections, motivating yourself to be a better you will come more naturally. You have the power to succeed- every tool you need is inside of you. You're smart and capable, never forget that.

Love yourself. When you love yourself, you can handle whatever life hands you. College is a time of discovery, and loving yourself only fosters this. Do what you need to keep confidence in yourself and your abilities, it allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and find adventure. It may be easier said than done, but if you put your time and effort into loving yourself, nothing will keep you down. Eat the extra slice, give someone your number, and dance when you have no rhythm. Love yourself no matter what, and find adventure in what you do.