Boise State University Top Questions

I have a passion for knowledge, my creed is the cliche "knowledge is power." As a kid, I'd sit and not have any direction when it came to researching what I cared for. Now, with a grading system and schedule flexibility, along with very interesting classes taught by brilliant professors, I can finally flourish and advance my epistemic journey through the pedagogical anomaly that is Boise State University.

My college experience has really taught me how easy it can be to shape yourself into whatever you wish to become. I have learned to see the world from a broader perspective and accepted my weaknesses as a student as tools in which I can better myself. I have experienced first hand the incredible strengths that having what small amount of college level education I already have, has given to me. Most of all, my experience as a student has grounded me in the sense that I have a better conception of the person I wish to be and the things that I wish to attain in life. Hopefully I can make a difference in the world and the lives of many others and without my college experience I doubt I would feel capable of actually acheiving that goal. All in all I have learned the importance of believing in myself and my capabilities and how my education has genuinely given me the strength and power to grow as an individual.

The advice that I would give myself would have been that I should have had applied for many other scholarships because the cost at Boise State University is too much for what we can pay. I got a high GPA at High School, but didn't have good luck of getting any scholarships. If I could give an advice to myself I would say that I should choose Boise State University to go because I have kept my grades up and I am about to be recognized for my academic excellence. Another advice would be that at college someone has to work much more harder than at High School. I have to read many books and memorize things either for a quiz or test the next day. It takes more effort at college to earn good grades. College is just another part of life, but we have to go beyond High School in order to have a great career. Now with this economic situation it won't be easy to find a job, so I feel proud for being in college. We latinos and Hispanics have to serve as role models for others and our siblings. Si Se PUEDE!

I could say anything. I'd make sure I knew how to do laundry and avoid tinge-ing everything pink. I would tell my highschool self to bring plenty of pictures to remember my old friends, and to have them on hand when explaining where I'm from to my new friends. I would teach myself better study habits, and to make friends with the library because studying in the dorms is less as likely to happen than the Apocalpse. I would remind myself that no one in college cares who you were in highschool, and that here, regardless of where you've been.. it's about where you're going. I would tell myself to never take a class earlier than 9 AM if I plan on attending and that late night classes really put a damper on things. All of these things are of great importance; however the most important thing I would tell myself is to embrace the changes college throws upon you. Learn, grow, and be great.. to focus, have fun, and meet every expectaion you have for yourself.

Looking at the person I was as a high school senior, I can offer only a few words of advice. I would say to myself, ?Take everything anyone ever said to you with a grain of salt. Your overloaded schedule at high school will make the first semester of college at seventeen credits be a piece of cake, so do not worry about the difficulty of the course work. The two AP classes you took prepared you well. The dorm room you will be living in is the size of a large closet, but everything will fit. Incidentally, this will reinforce organizational and social skills. People are more accepting at college, so you can start fresh. Think of this as a way to be yourself without dealing with half the school remembering who you are according to their memories of you growing up. You will make friends easily, and your time will seem better spent because you will be doing something you love rather than focusing on subjects that drain your positive energies. Whoever told you that college will be a challenge was right, but it will not seem that way to you.?

I would tell my "eager and nieve" self that the upcoming college experience will be challenging to adjust to due to the freedom that is allowed. And yes, it can be less busy then the active life you lead now if you make it that way, but that does not mean more time to slack off. Just stay on task, don't let yourself get behind, take your vitamins to avoid any long term illnesses, ie: the flu, and reach out to people don't be shy, be yourself and be open to those that you may not agree with. Join some groups that interest you, get involved somehow, maybe tryout for that sport team that you are scared to, there's nothing to lose. Take risks, but know your limitations. Just give it your best! That is really all that counts. You will look back come graduation and smile knowing that really lived life to its fullest so far, but there is a whole other adventure waiting for you! Take college by the horns and hang on! Trust me, you won't regret it. ps. Don't stress out about the little things, enjoy every moment!

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would have advised myself to have researched more about out of state exchange and tuition options. I also would have recomended that I commit myself more to organization, starting with a simple day planner and a set study schedule. After experiencing the last five years of frustration with academic advisors I also would have suggested attending a different university and creating a stron relationship with a good advisor from the very beginning so as to avoid spending six years on a four year degree.

There are four major mistakes that I regret. The first mistake was that I only applied to two colleges and didn?t look deep into their nursing programs, therefore I would tell myself to research more potential colleges and exploring their nursing programs thoroughly to discover what they have to offer. Secondly, I wasn?t financially ready for what was to come. I didn?t have a budget plan and rarely applied to scholarships because back then I thought I would apply for scholarships in college. Yet it?s just as hard to receive scholarships and my debt continues to build. Thirdly, I didn?t take my GPA seriously as I should have because I didn?t want it to be the center of my life where I had to receive a 4.0. Now in college my GPA determines if I get into the nursing program. Lastly, I didn?t believe in myself. I cut myself short from all of these opportunities because I felt that I wasn?t good enough. True since I didn?t give it my all in my studies and preparation for my future. So I would encourage myself that I can achieve anything!!!

The advice I would give myself is dont take a year off or a semester. Once you do that you start working harder and more and then it gets harder and harder to go back I have been out for almost 3 years and it was very dificult to get back into "school mode" and now I have more bills and rent to pay and its hard to get financial aid and loans. I would have filled out more scholarships and grants to try and get my school paid for and not having to do it all on my own now and not living with parents.

If I could go back in time and allow my self to know some information about college, I would tell myself to start looking for colleges, grants, loans, and any other possible way of getting money for that college. I would also tell myself to do it now for I have waited nearly three years after graduation to go to college.