California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

Pay More attention in class and don't expect it to be as easy as high shool, you aren't quite as smart as you think you are and high didn't prepare you for college at all!!

Going back to my senior year in college I would tell myself NOT to be afraid and that I am GOOD ENOUGH to go to college. I would also tell myself not to wait and work for three years before starting school, simply to disguise my fear, I would say just GO! I would tell myself that I am going to have so much support and that the professor are kind and the world just really isn't that scary. Use your resources, ask for help, volunteer, apply for scholarships, stay after school and study, and the list goes on. There is so much to say that it is a good thing I have learned from my experiences and don't have to go back and try to change my mind because I know what I have now and I know what I can do and I am so thankful for it.

I would advice myself that I will be prepared for college life. I was taught well for writing essays and how to study. Also keep myself focus and make sure to try my best.

I would tell myself yes Kortnee you have what it takes to attend the university of your choice. I would also tell myself to apply for scholarships since there are many scholarships out there for high school seniors planning on attending college. I would tell myself that even though you are fearful of attending college because of your low-income status and disadvantages, there are resources that will assist you. I would proudly yell to myself, "You can do it Kortnee!"

Hello me. I know back then we thought school was lame and useless, but I have learned so many things after graduating from ELAC. Education is very important in your life, without it you would not have been able to do the side jobs you do now. I want to tell you that you need to apply to Cal States and UC's. Even though you believe you will not get accepted you should still try. If you do not get accepted go to ELAC sooner. Do not procrastinate! You can do anything you set your mind to. Good luck, see you in a few years.

I would tell myself to believe in myself more. I didn't think I could go to college straight from high school because I didn't do very well in high school but now I know I could have. I would go back and tell myself to keep working and to apply to college and at least try it for a semester or two. Going to school then would have been easier than now while being married with two kids. I would also tell myself to have some fun once in a while and not always worry about what might happen. I spent too much time worrying about the "what if" instead of going out and having fun with my friends. I would hope that I could get my younger self to try some new things instead of always sticking with the safe and predictable way. If I would have taken some chances in high school and even right after high school, I may have went to college and already been started in my career. I have taken longer to reach my goals but when I do, I hope I enjoy it.

Hey there high school me, it's college me writting. I just wanted to pass on some encouragment and helpful tips. First off, put in a little more effort in high school. You might not think that it's worth it, but believe me you will be in a better place emotionally and figuratively if you get into Cal State Long Beach the first time. San Francisco State was a blast, but remember who you are and don't fall into groups that will want you to change. Friendships from high school are important, but hang on to those few close friends, they are the ones who get you through all the hard times ahead. Don't worry about fitting in, you are a funny, friendly, great person who will find the right friends. Start saving money now! It's expensive in the real world, but great fun, so plan ahead and don't put extra stress on yourself because of money. Continue the hard work, and always remember who you are and what you are doing this for. Stay strong, times get tough, but you will come out stronger and smarter in the end. Good luck high school me.

If I was allowed to travel back in time, I would tell myself to put more emphasis into my studies. Simply being the teacher's friend isn't enough to even see graduation day in college. Good grades take hard work and dedication. Choosing social life over class work is a mistake that should not be taken lightly. Choosing not to complete an assignment whether it is big or small can significantly impact your grades and GPA. High school friends are simply that and shouldn’t be the primary focus of one’s attention. College changes your perspective of former acquaintances and changes one’s priorities and goals for their life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior with what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would have advised my high school self to take some foreign language classes on the side and study abroad. I believe studying abroad was something I should have done during my undergraduate years because I could have had the opportunity to increase my network globally and garner experience in my major outside of the US. With the good amount of foreign exchange students I have made friends at California State University - Long Beach, I realized my global competition, especially many of them knew at least three languages, and made me become more openminded about finding good opportunities for me outside of the US. In addition to studying abroad, most importantly, I would advise myself to join a toastmaster's club to become a better communicator. Although I can join a toastmaster's club right now, I feel that it could have vastly improved my social and communcations skills. This is usually a weakness for most engineering majors such as myself. People can have brilliant ideas, but people need to understand them.

In high school, I developed a very intransigent idea of what I considered to be "success." My rigid idea of success involved high scholastic and career acheivements with no room for 'second place.' The college experience thus far has been an eye-opener. I have learned that there are infinitely many ways to acheive success, whether it is spiritual success, financial success, social success, or any other kind. The one stipulation for success that I now believe to be true is that happiness equals success. The only kind of success that matters is the kind that makes you content. And with that, if I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would try to express the importance and value of an open mind and an open heart.