Brown University Top Questions

At the end of next summer, you and your best friends will head your separate, college-bound ways. So remember to value your time with them throughout the year; don’t become irritated over petty disagreements, be supportive, be dependable, be honest, and be fun-loving. Cherish this time with your friends. I know the college application and decision processes are stressful, but keep this in mind: if you learn as much as you can about each college, when it comes time to make a decision, there can be no ‘wrong’ or ‘misinformed’ one. So do your thorough college research, and don’t sweat it. College requires an immense amount of organizational and time-management skills to which you’re not accustomed. During high school, avoid this future difficulty by preparing yourself; focus on exceptional backpack and binder organization, even when it seems excessive or unnecessary. Be excited about your transition into college! As my college move-in day approached, my anticipation was laced with worry. However, I found that students who felt excitement, rather than worry, towards the college transition more quickly adapted to the dramatic change. Oh—and try harder in math first semester—you get a B.

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know to be Successful (Well Survive) in College 1. You'll miss your bed maybe more than family (it's okay) 2. Find a group of friends that understand you, keep them 3. Dress nice for 9AMs people are actually watching 4. If you drink, remember you have to wake up the next morning 5. Set "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World as your alarm, he wrote your life story (minus the whole girl part) 6. Doing work sucks, but you still have to do it 7. Waking up for class sucks, especially Monday's, but once again you still have to do it 8. OFFICE HOURS!!! 9. Even though it's easier to feel bad for yourself, remember you got here for a reason 10. Everyone makes mistakes you are no expection,first semester is the best worst time of your life. If your grades start to slip don't worry and remember you're better than that. 11 (but only because I like you). Don't put having fun on hold just so you can get work done. You will never have another time like this.

My Darling Christine, Although I realize you must be mighty scared out of your wits to even think about doing so, I strongly urge you to get on that rollercoaster called Life As We Know It and finally embark on the adrenaline-pumping adventure you only dared to taste in your dreams, dreams from which you awoke in bittersweet frustration because you didn't think those dreams could ever reach fruition. Are you not currently living a nightmare, one which creeps along the shadows of both day and night, cruelly reminding you of your Fear of the Unknown and What Ifs? So chat up that one guy you've been admiring from afar for so long. Enroll in those hip-hop dance workshops. Take that leadership position, even if it means talking to a humongous group of people and feeling like your heart's beating faster than it does when you're pulling an all-nighter and racing against a ticking deadline bomb. Open your heart to new people and experiences, especially those that frighten you the most. Fasten that safety belt and take the worthwhile plunge. With Love, Your Future Self P.S. You're braver than you think!

I would tell myself to slow down and have far more caution over how you navigate pre-orientation socializing. Nowadays, social media enables us to connect with other prospective students and other students who have been accepted to your school. This may seem like an excellent way to make new friends, organize activities, ask questions, become popular, and meet students with common interests. In reality however, it's a wonderful way to set yourself up for disappointment. Online friendships and not genuine. Messaging and chatting does not allow you to asses the true nature and friend potential of a person. You should always wait until you reach campus to socialize. This ensures that you spend your pre-college summer doing more productive activities. You should get offline and use the time after you have been accepted and enrolled to familiarize yourself with the institution and all it has to offer. Seek opportunities in your area to build your resume ans augment your skill set, such as volunteering or internships. Most importantly, use this time during the transition to spend time with your family and friends, who you already know and love. Take time to appreciate the transition. Don't rush.

I would tell myself not to feel compelled to jump s rapidly into the "adult world." I mean this by saying that I felt I was obligated to "not think outside box" after such an amazing liberal arts experience and simply be a doctor, a lawyer, or a business person. This was a huge mistake. I wish I had spoken to more of the available alumni, Brown professors, and others before deciding that law school was the choice for me and specifically, what kind of law I wanted to practice.

You will meet people unlike anyone you've ever met before. They will defy your expectations. Check your preconceptions--that girl, laughing like the girl you hated in high school, will be your best friend. The boy on the track team, the one you wanted to call a "lumbering jock," who you assumed would proudly claim not to read, has read more than you have. There's always books you haven't read. It'll be scary, because these people know so much. Who are you to assert anything? Who are you to discuss your thoughts if you haven't read half as much as they have? You'll be scared, but be yourself. The connections you make, the thoughts you have--they're unique. You can contribute. And please contribute, in class, in dorm-room discussions that last until the sun rises. Listen, too. When you fail that first paper, don't go cry. That does nothing. Throw it at your friends. One will fix your commas, another will find a fallacy. The history buff will identify an oversimplification. Fix it. And smile, because college is about improving. To succeed you must fail. But never forget to smile.

Ignore anyone who says any of the following: "You're smart for a black girl, but you won't get in. No one from around here has what it takes to survive there. You're too scared to go that far away. Just watch -- you'll stay right here, like you always have." Ignore them. Send that application anyway. I know you want to pretend it doesn't matter one way or another to you, that you're doing it "just to see what happens." But we both know you want to go to Brown so badly, it hurts, and before the admissions officers see that you deserve to, you need to believe it yourself. You will feel out of place sometimes around your many wealthy peers, but remember: you're not the only one receiving financial aid. Sometimes you will feel like you only got in because you're black, but when you end your freshman year with a near-perfect transcript, it won't be because your skin is a certain shade of brown. My advice to you, Mini-Me, is: don't be afraid. You can do this. You were meant to do this.

As a high school senior, I was independent and hard working. I looked to college as an escape from home life and a way to prolong my becoming an adult since my childhood was cut short by adult responsibilies. My college choice came down to the University of Miami and Brown University, which would cost less. For most people, the decision would be obvious, however, I wanted a fun social life to make up for what was missed in high school. I went back and fourth with the decision until the absolute last day and decided on Brown, but dwelled on the tv-like social life I gave up at Miami. Looking back, I still think about the fun I could have had in Miami, but I would not have grown as much academically and personally nor made such deep connections as I did at Brown. My advice to my high school self would be, "Don't be afraid, the best in life has yet to come. Go to Brown to focus on your academics and becoming the best woman you can be. After that, you will have your whole life to live...with more money to live it with."

- Congrats, you graduated but don’t start celebrating too soon. There’s a lot of work left. - Think about what kind of person you really want to be and go make it happen. - Meet everyone you can. The more you learn about others, the more you’ll know about yourself. - Don’t forget to drop a line to your “homeboys” every now and then. You’ll be glad you did.- Set goals but be open to detours. Often the most rewarding journeys are on the roads less travelled.- The skills you’re learning now will be outdated soon. That’s ok. Learn to love learning!- Alcohol is actually the most dangerous drug. It is crazy-hard to avoid but whatever choice you make, don’t let it dominate who you are.- Don’t let yourself be stupid. It’s not cool. Always put in your best effort. You’ll sleep better.- Start working on your post-grad move (career, graduate school, etc.) in your Junior year. Remember, you started picking colleges in your Sophomore year.- Don’t be afraid of failure. At the end of the day, if your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game.

Dear Self, You will come to a crossroads several times in your life. What you do now will affect the options available to you and the decisions you will have to make in the future. Please listen to the following advice so that you will know what you need to do when that time comes. 1) Always do your homework and study for tests. This is important, because the more knowledge you gain now, the easier it will be to learn while you are in college. 2) Strive to get the best grades possible. The better your GPA the more opportunities for scholarships and options for colleges/universities you will have available to you. 3) Apply for scholarships early. Start your freshmen year, the more practice you get the better your odds of getting the scholarship! It is never to early to start this! 4) Listen to your elders, they know what they are talking about. Talk to people that have already gone through college life and were successful. The better you do in school, the more opportunities available to you. 5) Never give up! Hard work and committment really will pay off in the end. Sincerey, Your Future Self