California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

"Stop. STOP! What the heck- STOP! What do you mean you're going to be "the loner" in college? They don't have stuff like that anymore- freshman don't get trashcanned... College life isn't what you think it is; status isn't decided by designer fashion anymore. It's not determined by what you're involved in. There's hardly any superficial status at all. Everyone is forking over the same amout of money on school, and we've all chosen to be there for the same reason. Granted, you'll face the frats and soroities, but life would be dull without a little of their drama anyways. So relax. Don't think you're not going to make any friends- it's not like high school where the clicks have clicked since the day they all learned to tie their shoes. Most people are in the same boat as you. So just be how you've always been- chipper and upbeat- because there's going to be a lot of homesick kids that could really use a friend. Oh and don't use bleach... you'll ruin about 6 of your shirts the first week of school.

Do not slack off just beacuse school is almost over and avoid the advanced placement physics teacher at all cost. Everyone says senior year is the easiest, but in actuality, it is definitely the most important because it is the last chance for you to make any memories as well as improve your grades. Colleges for a well rounded person so grades alone will not cut it. Do not forget to join tennis! It might cost a lot of money but it is a neccessary investment because not only will colleges know that your in athletics but you can avoid the freshman 15 (weight gaining) in college. Most likely, you will spend more time at the college campus then at home. You will meet new and old friends and of course spend lots more money than you do now. Last of all, I know you will spend hours deciding what college to go to, regardless of that decision, you will not regret it and you will definitely pull through. Trust me, I know.

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would have encouraged myself to be more social. I missed out on a lot of wonderful experiences by being shy and keeping to myself. Most students would pick the cliche answer of telling themselves to work just a little bit harder in order to receive better grades. By the most part, I'm satisfied with the grades that i received in my college career. But the college experience does not only revolve around academics. College involves the life-long connections that one makes while socializing with the people around them. Currently I'm a senior who's staying in the dorms for the first time and I wish I could have stayed there in my freshman year. Before this semester, my life was a routine that involved school and work. I did not have much of a social life so I decided that I needed to make a change. Staying in the dorms was one of the best decisions in my life. The life-long friends that I've made outways the price that I paid to stay there.

If I could go back to high school, I would tell myself to stop thinking about silly things like boys and social life, and start focusing on what really matters. I didn't do terribly in high school when it comes to gpa, but I still wish I had done better and maybe had better school prospects. I would have also told myself to talk to my professors on a regular basis in order to build a good academic network, and to also get involved in campus organizations as often as possible. luckily, I am going to change all of that this coming semester, and I had already began this process last semester.

The advice I would give myself is to do my best in all the classes that I take. Also I would tell myself to try and take honor or AP classes and participate in extracurricular activities such as the debate team, decathlons, or class president because colleges and universities take that into consideration during the application process. When choosing a college it is good to take a tour of the school you will be attending in the future to get a good feel of the environment and area where you will be for the next four years. If you are in need of help or assistance, go out and look for it, don't wait help to come to you because it may never come. Discipline is the key to success and it is not always what you know but who you know.

I would tell my old self to relearn study habits so that it would be easier to study in college. Also, I would tell myself to stay active physically, since walking around a large campus all day does a lot on the body.

Take full advantage of all of the student services provided by the school. These services are only there for your benefit, they are very helpful in all aspects of college life. They can help you figure out financial issues, make a more specific education plan, and even help with career goals. The fees of these services comes out of your tuition, not taking advantage of them would be a waste of your own money.

You spend the first two years of college completing GE requirements for your bachelor's degree before you actually start taking classes that focuses on your major. Passing as many AP classes that you can actually handle is helpful. Begin developing excellent relationships with your teachers. By developing close relationships with professors, you get extra help with homework or essays and they can also write you helpful recommendations for jobs and internships. Get involved in as many clubs and organizations that interest you because you meet a lot of people and make lots of friends. Don't be pressured into joining fraternities/Greek life. Seriously think about your priorities and do your research on them before you join. You can still create close bonds with people and still have fun even though you're not in a fraternity. If you have any questions about sex, drugs, alcohol, or peer pressure, you should talk to your parents or someone you can trust. Living on or off campus means interacting with other young undergrads with tons of freedom and "raging hormones." Talking about these issues will help you learn how to deal with them and make smart choices like a mature adult.

Look here Carmen, college is a wonderful place where you will meet great people and learn from amazing professors, but it does not come in cheap. Make sure you start applying for scholarships now and find weekend jobs that allow to save money because even though the state may give you money for school, books and other neccesities do not come in cheap. Also, start building a good resume and get involved because the more you do, the more you get. Money is not given to any random person, so have some good qualities that are out of the extraordinary so that your chances in receiving the scholarships increase. Most of all, enjoy you last year in high school, because after this you are on your own. Best of Luck, prepare for all nighters.

The most critical factor I would suggest to myself would be to relax and be conservatively pro-active. Many seniors in high school tend to become stressed about what college life has in store for them, and it ends up either hurting them academically and/or socially in their final year. It is unfortunate because it should be their most positive and exciting time of their high school career. I would advise myself to not worry so much about what is ahead and focus on what's at hand. College has proven to have a relaxed and exciting environment that provides a huge relief when college freshman enter their first week of classes. I believe the stress on high school seniors, including myself, is unecessary and a product of the constant hounding and reminders by school officials and parents. Although it is important to be pro-active when applying for financial aid, scholorships, etc., it instills a false image of what is ahead for college freshman. While that would be my most important message, I would also advise myself to come to college with an open mind. The options of career paths and variety of friends is like no other.