California Lutheran University Top Questions

If you thought high school was a breeze and you didn't need to study, that is not the same in college. Make sure to find a way that helps you study and can retain that information. If you have any issues about material in classes, don't hesitate to talk to a TA, professor, counsellor, or anyone that can help you. Know your limitations and work on them so they don't become a hinderance to your future. Studying is important, but so is friendship. Don't isolate yourself and give yourself the opportunity to have some fun and to try new things.

With the knowledge I have now of the present, I would tell myself to prepare for college as much as possible. This includes saving money, getting a job, and doing as many scholarships as possible, because this school is financially burdening. The biggest advice I would have given myself, is to overly prepare for the AP tests. Passing those tests with high enough scores can result in earning college credit. I didn't understand in high school that passing four AP tests out of the seven I took would have saved me an entire semester of college, and that much more money. The debt that I will accrue in these four years will take me a while to pay off, and preparing for this financial injury in high school would have saved a lot of pain. I had plenty of time in high school to fill out scholarship, but now I have to do it in between class, sports, and a job. College is much more time consuming than high school.

If I was a high school senior who was transitioning into college, my advice to myself would to be to keep my future goals in mind, and ask myself if what I was doing was helping me get closer to my goals? Often, the transition is greater then one realizes at the moment, but looking back, there was more then just the transition of high school to college. I was growing up and it was happening quicker then I realized. By this I mean that I did not realize how many decisions I had to make for myself. Especially, when it came to how to finance my education. In my opinion this has been the most stressful part about being a college student. As a high school senior I had all these misconceptions about college life. I thought of college as a fun time. A time to experience what I thought I could not as high school student. I thought it was about fraternity and soroity parties. I was more about my social life then my education. Now I realize the value in education. It is an ivestment in my future and my future lifestyle.

It's perfectly okay to be afraid. It's the scariest thing you've done yet, but you'll get through it. This school has offered you not only the educational experience you've always wanted, but some of the best friends you could ever ask for. You'll change and grow in so many wonderful ways, that any fear you harbor will quickly fade to a memory. You'll learn about who you are, what makes you tick, and become stronger and more independent than you thought possible. Yes, these things are scary, and rightfully so, but it's all part of growing up. You'll be ready to grow once you get here. Try not to worry. It's okay to cry, to be uncertain of the future. But trust yourself, love yourself, and hold your head confidently high. You will dazzle, you will be happy, and you will be successful. Waste no more time hating yourself and keep working hard as you always have. Don't ever let anyone else dictate your worth or what you can or cannot do. Only you have the power to decide those things. You will be fine.

If I could go back in time to my high school senior year, this is the advice I would give myself about transitioning into college: get involved on campus, don’t be scared to make new friends, and don’t expect to be best friends with your roommate. To get involved on campus, join a few clubs that interest you, go to sporting events, go to talks around campus, join an intramural team, and try to get a job on campus. For making new friends, wander the halls and the campus, hang out in your dorm’s common area, and go to activities in your dorm put on by the RAs. Going into college, I was expecting to be best friends with my roommate, but that isn’t how it turned out to be. Go into college wanting to be civil with your roommate, and if you end up being friends, that’s great! But mostly work on being able to live together. Get to know each other first before deciding on being friends. That will be difficult to do, but it will make things much easier. Doing all of these things will make your transition into college stress-free.

College is a transition. Ups and downs are sure to occur. To prepare for college, I would advise myself to get involved, care about academics, and take care of myself. Firstly, get involved in both social and school related activities to pave the way for a smoother transition. Form healthy relationships with reliable and trustworthy people. Having true friends will provide you with someone to talk to, and to empathize with on rough days. Secondly, remember that you are in college to receive an education. Take time to study everyday. If you dedicate time and energy to your studies , you will set yourself up for success. Talk to faculty. Whether to clarify an assignment, discuss a grade, or to chat. Faculty is there to support you, so take advantage of their wisdom and assistance. Lastly, make an effort to eat healthy and exercise. There are healthy options, you just need to pay attention to what your eating and not eat too many of those cookies. Find some form of exercise that you enjoy! Working out will help you maintain your weight, de- stress, and re- energize. Also, sleep, it's worth it. Just remember have fun, but study!

I would tell myself not to be afraid, and that it is ok to go out and find yourself. I would tell myself that there is so much out there in th world to see, and by going to college it can help me find out who I am, and who I am meant to be. In high school I didn't imagine that I would be able to actually pursue my dream of completing college and getting my bachelor's degree. If I could go back in time and tell my young high school self what to do, it would be to just jump and do it. I was so afraid of what college life would be like, and I feel like thats the main thing that I would tell myself. Don't be afraid and I'm a lot smarter than I think I am.

When I was a high school senior I wish I could have told myself to get in contact with my program director, Dave, instead of only listening to a general advisor while signing up for classes. I didn’t know exactly which program I should be in, but I knew what I wanted to do. Knowing Dave as I do now, I know he would have made sure I was taking my classes in the right order and kept me from taking classes I didn’t need. During my first semester of college I unnecessarily took a 5 credit hour Calculus class and a total of only 12 hours. I knew I would struggle with Calculus, but I didn’t trust my gut and I ended up in a situation where I couldn’t drop that class without losing my financial aid but the grade I was earning would seriously damage my GPA. It took hard work to get past that mistake, but I managed to earn a 3.70 and graduate from the honors program before transferring schools. Now, I tell every senior I know that it’s important to get to know your program’s faculty advisor!

Stop pretending that you don’t care, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Community college is the perfect place for you, so there is no reason to be disappointed or prejudiced. You’re saving thousands of dollars; you’re going to meet incredible students and faculty, alike; you’re going to win an essay contest and act in some brilliant plays; you are going to learn so much. The only way to experience this, however, is to commit to this school. Do not waste your first year using unfortunate registration dates as an excuse. Fill out the paperwork, and become an actual member of the Honors Society; you will have so many more opportunities. Go to club meetings between classes. They have free food. Speak to your professors during office hours, as many of them will become your mentors and friends. Ask for help when you need it. Take literature classes. Join the theatre department. Psychology seems a more stable career path, but it isn't your passion. Finally, I know moving out sounds like a good idea, but you’re better off staying at home and saving your money. You’ll need it when you transfer to UCLA!

I would tell myself not to be so careless. In high school I had no direction and absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life and I wasn't much interested in finding that direction. Now I do. This past I year I discovered what I want my direction in life to be and I've never been so sure of myself. Becoming a funeral director is such an amazing avenue to help people and give them closure. Actually, I wouldn't tell myself to stop being careless, I'd just introduce him to the funeral industry. That would have solved a lot more problems much quicker.