Central Michigan University Top Questions

Even though you don't have to work very hard now, make sure you have the drive to work hard enough in the future. Also, staying healthy is one of the most important things you can do for yourself so make sure you are getting enough sleep, even if that means cutting out some social time.

I would tell myself to listen to my mother and spend more time studying. I am not the best at using my time wisely and that needs work. I probably would have taken more math classes and tried harder in my composition classes.

If i could go back in high school now with the knowlegde that I have now, I would of jump into the nuring field with no time wasted, because it'a harded now that I'm 23 working pay check to pay check trying to make it. Also it would of been a lot easier to get a scholarship or pell grant to help me pay for school. Now I am having a hard time and I want to go to school so so so bad, SO BAD.

I would first tell her to apply to more schools. I was clueless of what I wanted to do when I left high school so I only applied to two colleges. Second, I would tell her to work harder. I regret not seriously considering my future when I was in high school because it affects everything I am doing now. Even in my freshman year of college I was lost and confused, and my first semester grade of 1.3 reflects that. After I managed to adjust, I was able to get a 3.2 in the second semester and bring my grade up to a 2.2 but I still constantly feel the struggle to make up for that first semester.I love where I am at now, but it took me a ear to finally feel settled in and ready to handle how different it is to live on your own and pay for everything. But ultimately I have made some of the best friends here and I know that regardless of this advice, I wouldn?t want her to change much so I could still be where I am today.

I would tell myself to start saving money and develop better studying skills. There is not too much more I would say, my transition to CMU was not that difficult, it was very smooth. I just realize now that my studying skills were only mediocre and if I could have worked on them in high school I wouldn't have such a difficult time studying now (in the present time). My GPA would be higher and I would be less stressed out. Financially, if I would have learned to balance my money better in high school, I feel I would be better off right now. Yet, when I was younger I tended to splurge on everything. Therefore, if I would have saved my money more and learned to spend more wisely, I would be much better off right now. Those are the two things I would tell my high-school self to prepare myself for college. Although, I'm glad I eventually learned it-- instead of going through life not realizing what was stressing me out and becoming more and more confused.

As a high school senior, I was very undecided on what I wanted to do with my future and where I wanted to go for further education. I ended up staying at home and attending a local university for my first two years of undergraduate education. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not stay home for school, but instead to get out in the world and explore all the possibilities that are out there. The experiences that I have had in the last year or so after transferring to a bigger university three hours from my home town have been life-changing in a very positive way. If I had the chance to go back and change anything, I would definitely choose to get out of my hometown right away and get out there and experience the things that one can only have away from home.

It sounds cliche, but follow your instinct. Certain colleges will look amazing on paper but when you take a tour it is entirely disheartening. Even more, don't follow the financial aid. If a college is a better fit, but it's going to cost a couple thousand more a year, I would take the better school over the cheaper school. I took a full scholarship at a university that isn't academically challenging and wish I had not made that decision. As for making the best of your college experience, just make sure you have fun. Work hard and strive for good grades, but a 4.0 in college is entirely different from a 4.0 in high school and much harder to obtain. Don't kill yourself over a GPA and miss out on all the clubs and volunteer opportunities that your school has to offer you. Lastly, make sure you join a few clubs. Get involved in something fun like a musical group or sports team, but also find something that might help you in a future career such as a business fraternity or student teacher club or a political organization.

Make sure you visit the school and get invloved in any programs to move in early so the student gets a feel for the campus and if they don't have friends there already its a good chance to make new ones.

Visit the school before you decide. If you don't feel comfortable, then it's not the school for you. If you have a friend that already goes there, stay a night or a weekend with them. Live a day at the campus. It'll be a big help.

My advice to parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of the experience is to just go with what feels right. The only way to know how a college really is unless you visit, so I would suggest visiting all the campuses that you are considering. Also, going into college with a positive and open mind. By doing that, you will surely enjoy these next four, exciting years of your life!