Central Connecticut State University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd tell myself to participate in more volunteer work. College has taught me so far, that if I had volunteered more as a high school senior I'd be better prepared for the interaction with large numbers of people I've never met before. I'd also tell myself to enjoy the time I had left because college is not as easy as high school was no matter how hard I thought it was then. I’d also tell myself to start early, complete as many scholarship applications as I possibly could because every cent counts.

I would tell myself to not fear success. My biggest fear in high school (whether I realized it at the time or not) was to try at something and actually succeed. After having my financial aid cut in half and having no where to live freshmen year I worked hard to stay in school, earn money, and get an apartment because I finally felt the pressure to do my best. I would tell my high school self to spend less time being envious of others. Life is what you make it, and if I don't work for the things I want no one is going to do it for me. I would tell myself to take in all that life has to offer, and that a genuine education is more important in the long-run than grades. I would remind myself not to take life to seriously, because its only just beginning. I would warn myself against getting involved with the wrong crowd and emphasize the importance of staying on task in school and at work. But most of all, I would advise myself to get the most out of every opportunity. Because thats what school is, an opportunity.

Hello, Mr. Northrup, I am you in 20 years. So I see you are daydreaming about girls again? Listen, this life is fast. You'll learn that in a few years when you become a funeral director. Yes, you become a funeral director. As for now, I have a simple mission -- to get your butt in gear! Look, girl "friends" aren't always "friendly" ; friends may come and go; your parents can't always help you; you will have children. That being said, PREPARE. You must be determined. You will want to find and support the "right" girl; your circle of friends will probably thin out to one or two best buds; your parents need to know you can hold your own; your children need a role model. Find and fufill your truth. Make your life count. Don't just goof off and "get by;" Seize each moment of opportunity with vigor. Man, go to college. Get a degree. It'll be worth it. All those relationships will be enriched. Most importantly, YOU will be enriched.

High School was indeed a difficult year for me. Freshmen through junior year of high school, I was caught up in the fixation of having a lot of friends and popularity, I wasn’t focused on long term goals, S.A.T’s, or even graduation. I was more concern of being the “cool” girl at school than being a student. If I could travel back in time, knowing what I now know about college life and making the transition, I would tell my younger self to put education first, stay positive, make the grades by striving for the best and not be mediocre, believe in myself more; stop thinking that I am not capable of anything, lastly follow my heart and not let anyone discourage me from achieving my goals or deterring me from my destination. Teachers throughout high school are preparing students for college, training them in academics and the “real” world, what many of these teachers fail to do is warn you about the transition from high school to college. That once you step foot into the college atmosphere the world is on your shoulders, you have the responsibility of an adult and more expectations from professors.

I would tell my high school senior self to be better prepared for college. I did not scope out all my options as to where to go to school that would best fit my major and be financially accessable. I would tell myself to apply to as many scholarships as possible so I would not be in the straining situation I am in today. I have no idea how I will pay off my next semester but if I applied to more scholarships my senior year of high school, I might have less of a financial burden. Definitely the amount of scholarships would have increased if I knew what i knew now: College is not cheap.

Now that I am an experienced college student I would have a lot to say to myself as a high school senior entering college. College is not what is displayed by television and a movie, college is hard work! The work load is completely different than high school but can be manageable if you are committed to working hard and staying organized. Sometimes it can be hard to stay committed to school work when there are so many more fun activities going on in campus but there has to be a balance. I have learned that you cannot attend every fun event on and off campus because school work comes first. It is important to have fun at college but it is just as important to get what you are paying for, an education. Organization is a key tool to help find the balance between school and fun. If you are organized, you will find the time for school and fun rather than letting one slip away. Schedule your time out for each and every day, putting school first, and then see what openings your day has for fun. This schedule will keep you organized, committed to school and happy.

Past Self, your idea of college was pretty accurate. It’s really like another version of high school, just with a more flexible schedule and no more living at home. Don’t worry, picking Central was the right call. You love it there because you’ve found a great Biomolecular Sciences department to study in and great classmates to hang out with. Try to get to know the grad students in your department as soon as you can, they’re really helpful and fun to spend time with. You’ll end up hearing conversations about current events in science that you’d otherwise miss. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is about housing. Please, oh please, don’t live on campus more than a year. For what it costs for food and housing, you can rent an apartment all year round right near campus. It’s important to get to know people that go to school with you and living on campus helps that process, but it’s not worth staying there all four years. P.S. I Already know you will, but make sure you get into an independent study program fast, they’re fantastic.

If i were to give the high school me adivce for going into college I would tell myself to take more AP classes that my high school offered. My high school offered many classes that if you were to pass the class counted as college credits. I took only one AP class which helped me out a lot actually in school. I recieved 3 credits in english therefore I had to only take 1 english class for my entire college career. I would also tell myself to get more involved with extracircular activites within high school like student government. There are many clubs in college that mirror those that are in high school. It would be a great benefit to just transition from a club I was involved with in high school to the same club in college.

The one term every college student should know is academic excellence. Academic excellence is the personal achievement of a motivated person who works to their maximum potential. Academic excellence includes good work ethics and a strong interest in your studies. It is a crucial goal to aim towards in order to succeed. Academic excellence opens the door to countless opportunities and leaves the individual with a strong sense of accomplishment. Before you work towards achieving academic excellence you must first master some important factors that will help strengthen your personal responsibility. One important factor in preparing yourself is to begin practicing good work ethics. Getting into the habit of practicing good study skills will only benefit you as you manage your time to survive and accomplish academic excellence throughout your studies. Procrastination is a major issue that most students struggle with; however it can be controlled through time management and self motivation. Take the opportunity to set up study groups so that you can push yourself to stay focused and gain knowledge from others at the same time. College is all about expanding your knowledge so that is why it is important to enter as a motivated and driven student.

I often reminisce about the memories before my college years. If I can go back in time to my high school witty self I would take a step back and educate self. From K12 to senior year in high school the school officials prepared us in the way they assumed what college would be like. I had no clue what I what getting myself into except going to Central Connecticut State University. How was I going to pay for college and debt? Will I get a job right after school? There is no preperation for school because it is a learning experience. However, my motto throughout my years in college is "work hard, play later." I will tell myself along with other students'' who plan on achieving higher education to learn about the different majors, research jobs related to that particular major. In addition, learn about the financial aid and loans. Try to get an internship and network appropriately, so there is a likelihood in getting started on a career. Strive for your passion and reach for the stars.