California State University-Sacramento Top Questions

To start filling out scholarships beginning freshman year and not waiting until already being in college since I am finding it is harder to be awarded than it was for my friends while they were in high school still.

College can be a time of transition. High school was the beginning of my formative years, allowing me to experience life, sorrow,joy, happiness, tears. I would seek to discover my true passion, the career that most attracts me and pursue it. That career perhaps will not be popular with some, but it will be the career I have to grow older in. My life's ambitions are important and not only I will reap the full benefits in the career path I choose.

If I could go back, I would tell myself how much easier high school is than college. If studied as hard as I do in college when I was in high school, I probably could've graduated with straight A's. Don't use college as a learning experience. Obtain all the study skills in high school so that you are very well prepared for college.

Looking back, I haven't done so bad, but I could have done a little better. "Catelyn, do NOT procrastinate," I'd say. I would make sure I wouldn't wait to the last minute on assignments especially after having my internet crash in the middle of an essay minutes before it was due. I'd tell myself to not stay up so late because it's not okay to miss one or two classes when you have no idea what's going on the next day. I'd tell myself to be a little more involved in school activities. Don't be afraid, meet some new people. This isn't high school all over again, I promise. Don't forget to study for those tests, and don't forget to practice your viola. The music isn't as easy as it was in high school, but you'll feel so accomplished when you can play that really hard piece (you'll know the one). Don't hit that snooze button fifteen times. You'll wake up once you are out of bed, or there is always the yummy coffee at the cafe. Don't forget to relax!

Going back in time is somethinig we wish we all could do. If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take the time to learn everything instead of just cramming for the test and forgetting it all afterwords. I would also tell myself that my English teachers' lessons will come in handy while writing college papers. And lastly, I would give the best advice I could have been given, relax and enjoy your last year of high school because in the end you will cherish it.

Alisa, Since your parents do not offer motivation and encouragement, continue to offer yourelf motivation and encouragement. Without financial Aid and your VA benefits, you will not be able to attend school without student loans, so apply for all of the scholarships possible. You are supposed to study 6 hours for every 3 hour credit that you take, please begin to prepare yourself now. Your easiest solution will be to prepare a daily schedule. It is true, missing one day of class will mess you up academically if you are not cautious. Do not expect your professors to mingle with you, they are almost always busy. Last, but not least, academics come before fun and play, so maintain focus.

Elbert Hubbard, an American philosopher, once said, "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one." If I could go back to give one piece of advice to my younger self it would be just this "stop being afraid of making mistakes, explore everything and accept that you will make mistakes- that's part of life". So many people reach their late twenties and look back on all their mistakes with regret. I did the exact opposite; I look back and regret not taking risks and making those mistakes. I played by the book, I was so afraid of taking a wrong turn and regretting it that I ended up stressed and no better off then my peers who dove into everything head first, made their mistakes, and learnt from them. Ultimately, mistakes are made when we take risks and things turn out badly. Of course, I would never encourage anyone to take extreme risks, but risks are part of life and playing it safe is just as big a mistake as being an extreme risk taker; both can result in regret.

School has always been extremely important to me. I've worked hard my whole life to earn good grades and to really get the most out of my education, but I wish I had realsized that even though being dedicated to schoolwork is very important, it is also important to explore your other interests. You should be well-rounded, and when you get to college you should know yourself and your interests so that you can select a major and a career path. I didn't think it was important to have any extracurricular activities, so now I am still trying to explore my interests so that I can decide what I'd like to major in and what career path I would like to go into. If I could tell my high school senior self something, I would say that I should start considering possibilties and interests, and become more involved in activities outside of school.

Read thoroughly all avalable services, academic requirements, important dates, etc on the collge web site so that you could avoid wasting your time and money. Make good friends as much as you could so you can encourage each other and exchange information. You should talk to your professor often. Sign up for a club or volunteer activities. You would be surprised that there many things you can learn from them. Don't push yourself too hard. Enjoy your college life.

I am so grateful that I put my best foot forward. Now, I have the option of selecting the best college for me. With great grades, I can choose the right place to study to become the best English teacher, the lawyer, or the best novelist I can be. There will be no settling for whoever is willing to take me. I can turn my attention to being a part of campus life. I Icould run for student council or join an eco-friendly club that will contribute to making our community a better place. Then, I would set my sights on possibly earning a scholarship to offset the burden of high tuition. And when that big moment of recognition comes my way, the smile on my mother's face will be enough to say job well done.