Coastal Carolina University Top Questions

I would apply for every scholarship I have ever heard of. The price of college, on my own, it taxing to my mind, health, and stability. I would have studied harder and tried so hard to make the merit requirements for my college's scholarships.

Make sure that you don't waste your time. Your future is in your hands the moment you enter high school. Apply for scholarships, do your homework, do your absolute best in everything that you do so that your life will be loads easier in the long run. Oh, and please, do take a math class you senior year.

Dear Erin, Believe in yourself. The road ahead is long and scary and there will be many times where you want to turn and run. Do not run. Face these hardships head-on, learn from your mistakes, and use each rejection letter and every criticism as fuel to push you even farther. You are not the best at what you do because there is no such thing. The idea of being "better" than someone else is highly illogical. You can only be the best YOU and be better than YOURSELF. Life is not entirely competition. Having a competitive edge does help and you must have a sense of drive and determination in order to succeed. However, your peers are a community and you cannot constantly compare yourself to others. Find your own success. Life has a funny way of working out and as long as you keep a steady pace and stay focussed when things go wrong the path to success will practically pave itself. Good luck out there champ, I know you will be amazing. Love, Erin P.S. College is awesome

At the end of this, the 2014 fall semester, I will have completed five and a half years of college. This was not the origional plan. My first school was a technical college, which I attended because I felt that I was not ready for a 4 year college. Next came the College of Charleston which I transferred to because I knew financial help from my parents was running out. When familial illness arose, I was forced to move to Myrtle Beach to be with my family and transfer to my current school, Coastal Carolina University. Through all my transfers, I have lost an estimated 3 years of college credits. With each transfer also came an unfortunate change in major, leading to a postponed graduation. Looking back on this very drawn out college experience I have some resounding advice to give my high school self. Take a year off before college! I was not personally prepared as a high school senior to attempt the college track. I know that I would have returned to school with much more success than I am currently achieving after a time of work and discovery. I could be a graduated and much healthier person.

If i could go back to my high school self, i would told myself stay focused your freshman in college. Because yours freshman year would be the most diffcult year at Coastal. I would also tell myself just study harder and particapte in different activities that are offered on campus.

Knowing what I know about college that I didn't in high school is how expensive college really is. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would strongly advise myself to apply for every scholarship I come across. There is literally free money laying around and so many students are too lazy to apply and try to get it. Having that money is definitely worth all the effort.

I would tell myself to go directly to community college before entering a 4 year institution. You save money, you have the ability to live at home, and it is easier to hold a job while getting college credits. Although I only spent one year at community college before going to Coastal, I grew up immensely. I had more responsibility and was able to deal with it because I did not have the pressure or distraction of the college social life.

I would tell them, to go and try your hardest in whatever you do. Don't procrastinate and take advantage of getting your education, not a lot of people get the opportunity, get it while you can!

Attend a county college first, to save on student loans but make sure you know the course requirements needed for your 4 year college choice. Focus on your grades and making friends in your courses to create study groups! These groups I have for all of my classes help me stay on top of my assignments and make friends! Make and maintain good relationships with your professors. This will come in handy when you need a reference letter and mentoring. Get a commuter meal plan and stay on campus more. Be active on campus. Join a group that closesly relates to your major and stick with it! Lastly, don't beat yourself up if your fisrt college choice doesn't work out for you. There are thousands of other colleges and one of them will be a great choice for you!

My advice to myself if I could reach back in time would be not to worry about class rank or being the most popular. My focus should have been friends and myself and my school work, because when you get to college none of the small things matter. You can come to college and be whoever you want to be. No one knows your past. No one knows how you grew up or what you do and do not have. College is about finding yourself and bettering yourself as a future professional. Most importantly college is an amazing opprotunity and it should be taken seriously. Never pass up the chance to attend, and take all assignments and attendance seriously. Lastly, I would remind myself how much paper work comes with applying for college and financial aid and I would train myself to better organize and protect these documents.