Colorado State University-Fort Collins Top Questions

If I could go back, I would tell myself to look for and apply for every scholarship available. I would tell myself not to give up so fast on the financial aspect of college. I would encourage myself to join in more extracurricular activities for my first year in college. I would also remind myself to save as much money as possible, for not only for my bachelors degree, but also for graduate school. If I could go back, I would tell myself that GPA isn't everything and that most schools look for community involvement, too. I would go back and tell myself not to put all my eggs in one basket, so to speak. I would tell myself to go on many campus tours to see where I felt the most at home at. If I could go back, I would tell myself that it is important to look at the college where I would be the most successful at the end of the day.

I Must apologies, I simply could not do an essay of 200 words. I had to do a poem, a free formed sonnet. Normally a sonnet has every other lines last word rhyme. It goes in an A,B,A,B pattern till the last lines having the same ending word in an A, A, pattern. But I figured that Life is not bound to structural rules, you will always get something new. I'd rather make my sonnet express how life is (especially high school), unstructured, flowing and not something entirely expected. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself to smile I'd tell myself to climb That it's only for a wile The top is almost here Can't give in to fear Because the end is almost here Soon I will get to cheer It's not time to let go the wheel Because you still need to steer Trust me, I know how you feel So Get in that car and put it in gear Soon that letter will be here The letter that says you're admitted here

Dear Self, I know high school was a great experience for you. You made a difference because you were involved in everything! College is a whole different game and it is full of choices that are not only tough, but will change your futures direction. I know you value staying debt free but please do not work full time. Sacrifice the time in the summer and apply to as many grants and scholarships as possible to keep school costs low. In doing so, college can be an enjoyable time full of adventure mentally, physically and emotionally. Furthermore, please say yes to every positive experience. Take advantage of every opportunity to grow and discover who you are becoming in the now and future versus whom you were in the past. Let the past go and start new! Discover who you are as a fun lovely adult, while still maintaining responsible qualities any good citizen should process. Make good choices but good choices are not always the fun or easy choices. College is the introduction to the rest of your life so work hard at it now so you earn the right to play hard later! Best of Luck, ME

Knowing what I know now about college, I would go back and tell myself that I should have taken homerowk and tests a lot more serious. Now that I am in college it is a lot different. The work load is a lot heavier I have as much as two chapters per class in one night. If i could go back I would have taken the time to actually get my time management together and putting an effort into my homework instead of being forced to be able to do it now. Also i would have taken my tests a lot more serious. In high school if you missed or did bad on a test it was ok, you could make it up or do extra credit. College classes have maybe three exams and a final and your exams are majority of your grade. Plus if you miss the exam there is no make up you take a zero for that grade. If i could tell myself to do anything differently it would have been to actually take my academics as a whole a lot more seriously althouth i ended with good grades i did what i needed to pass.

If I had the chance to go back in time and tell myself something about college-life, I'd remind myself that when I take an online class to check and double check the dates on when things are due. If I don't, I'll end up missing a HUGE final that's due, and it'll drop my A in the class down to a C. I'd tell myself not to take Humanities class online, because it's difficult without the lectures. I'd also tell myself that going to school four days a week ontop of working is going to drain me of energy. I'd warn myself to go to school only two days out of the week, for the first quarter, and spend the extra two days off, studying and catching up on precious sleep or the road ahead will be very difficult, especially with Math. Lastly, I'd make sure I knew how to correctly use an audit system to find out what classes I REALLY needed, so I wouldn't end up taking pointless ones.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in High School I would convey a lot of information to myself. Number one when I ask myself how this will relate to the real world the answer is it will come up on college exams so listen and learn it do not skate by and think you have escaped the tropical storm because a hurricane is swiftly approaching. Also the calculus and physics classes I chose not to take, take them it will make the transition and class load so much easier. Another piece of advice I would relay to myself is to focus on having fun in high school before college starts and your studying non-stop just to squeek by. Lastly enjoy the home cooking because dorm food is not the best in th world but it keeps you full and focused just like the mini-wheats commercial says and focusing is the number one attribute to being successful in your college years.

Now that I have spent about a year and a half as a college student, the most important and critical advice I could ever give my past self would be to go to bed consistently before midnight or, better yet, 11 or 10pm. Back then I would stay up late, pull all-nighters, and procrastinate all the time, always ending up hungry and sleep-deprived. Now I am exhausted from going all around campus and cannot find much to do late at night just because I have gotten my act together and get all my work done way before the last minute--which, admittedly, is still extraordinarily strange. Having free time is a little bizarre, but nice nonetheless. Plus, I can go to bed and wake up easier at 6 or 7am, something that would be next to impossible; my body and mind possessed zero motivation to move so early in the day. Sleep is a wonderful thing high schoolers take sorely for granted, as well as several college students, but once one realizes the joy of waking up with slightly more energy, school is much more fun--or just bearable enought to get through without a nap.

I would be sure to tell myself that college classes are not easy and they will consist of most of your free time outside of class. Make sure to practice good time management skills before going to college because that will be the hardest part for you. Do not get caught up in the party scene because it will not pay off for you in the end and will only reflect poor results. If I could go back in time I would also tell myself to research and apply for more scholarships so I would not be so stressed out about money and would not have to work as much in my free time. I would also make sure to look for jobs prior to moving into the dorms. One last thing I would make sure I knew would be to make sure to make time for myself so I won't be as stressed. Find a stress release place early in the year.

Believe in yourself. It's OK not knowing what you want to do because it's expected only that you will go to college and graduate, those answers will come. If you don't believe in yourself who will? Take these steps so that you don't have to stress over the small stuff and set yourself up so that the great moments and decisions can come when you are ready. First, go to a state school for your core curiculum. They are relatively affordable, maybe not as affordable as community college, but there is no guarantee that community college classes will transfer if you need them to. Classes that don't transfer mean you will pay time and money for them again. Second, do your best. You can get As; college is about taking tests, figure out how to take that classe's test. Those As will give you opportunity for scholarships and admission to premium schools for your undergrad or graduate goals. Third, become a better version of yourself. Enjoy the first few weeks of parties, but then work on yourself. Find volunteer opportunities... soup kitchens, fundraisers, etc. You will like yourself, others will notice too.

live your life to the fullest because you won't be able to go back; live without regrets. Also, what you learn is important for the future and will make life easier for you. Finally, it is scary at first but eventually you will feel great about becoming independent and becoming a mature adult who will go on and do amazing and spectacular things in the world.