Dakota State University Top Questions

The first piece of advice I would give to myself is to start scholarships early and apply for as many as possible. Any amount of money that is donated helps tremendously. Financial aid does not cover everything, so having money that is awarded to you to cover the remaining balance is helpful. If you are awarded the scholarship be grateful and show it. Transitioning to college life, I would have given myself different advice. That advice would be to finish your homework early. Take the time between classes to work on it. It will help you to stay on track. College courses are tougher than high school courses so pay attention and work hard. One more piece of advice I would have given myself is, don't be afraid to make friends. Get involved right away, open up to people, and befriend them. They will be the friends that will be there for you for a lifetime. College isn't just about the school work and the discipline. It's also about the experience, so work hard, but save room for new experiences and the new friends you will get close to.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to learn how to study and how to ask for help when I need it. My first year of college was a huge transition and was completely different than classes from high school. I really never studied much as a high school student, but was still able to maintain good grades. I started college as a human-biology major and quickly learned that I had no idea how to properly study. My first step was to admit that I needed help, which was very difficult. After committing myself to tutoring and learning to ask questions, my grades improved dramatically! It would have been so great to know proper studying techniques early on, instead of learning how to while trying to adjust to college.

I think the conversation would go like this: Me: Hey past me! Past Me: Why hello there future me. What are you doing here? Me: Well I just came back to give you some advice, and hopefully get a scholarship! Past Me: Really? What kind of advice? Are we talking about how to meet girls, or get rich quick? Me: No, we're talking serious stuff. I want to tell you how to be prepared for college. Past Me: Oh, I already know all that stuff. Me: Well, you kind of do. I just wanted to tell you to pay close attention in high school. Everything that you learn in college will build on the foundation that started in high school. Pay attention in calculus and physics (especially physics) and listen to everything that your teachers are saying. They really want you to be prepared, as do I. Past Me: Well thanks for the advice. Me: Yeah, no problem. I've got to go now. My hover-car just arrived. Past Me: They have those in the future?! Me: No, I was just kidding! See ya later, and good luck.

I wish I had taken more AP classes in high school. It would have prevented me from taking sevearl general classes that were very similar to classes I took in high school. They tend to get boring and I could have saved the tuition money.

Dear High School Self: I know it seems hard right now but trust me your hard work will pay off. Do not worry about the cliques that are all around you, just be yourself even if people judge you. The sooner you learn to be you and not have to worry about others the better. College is a lot easier on you so hold tight to your good grades and don’t get put down with all the pressure. I know you are counting down the days till you are out of there but enjoy each and everyday because you will never get those days back. After high school, you are a kid in an adult world so you grow up fast. Hold tight to your child-like creativity because you start to lose it fast. Challenge yourself in every way you can. Listen to these words of wisdom because no one can tell you what to do but yourself. Love, The much wiser You

One piece of advise that I would give to myself is to fill out more scholarships. After being in school for about two years, I found that it was starting to get harder to pay for tuition, even though I was getting finacial aid. Another thing is to study more and try harder on the assignments. Studying for tests isn't the greatest thing in the world, but if you want to get a good job after school, you need to know certain things. One last thing is to be more social. When it comes to meeting new people, I get very shy and basically keep to myself.

If I could go back in time, to when I was a senior in high school, I would give myself this advice: slow down. No matter how hard it may be, slow down. You have five years of schooling to have fun and still get an education, dont blow your first semester by partying all the time and neglecting your studies. Slow down, meeting people and partying should never come before schooling. If you screw up at the beginning it will forever affect your time in school afterwards. More advice I would give myself would be to create a routine. It may be hard to resist partying, stay up late and go to class on a few hours of sleep. In the long run it will all catch up with you and hurt you eventually. Your body may be young, but it's not indestructible. Don't go crazy and wild just because your parents aren't around anymore, take care of yourself as if they were. One last piece of advice. Enjoy the little things because life flashes before your eyes.

Since I've just started, I really haven't had a chance to learn a lot, but I have gotten a good start. I have always been interested in how computers work and I have been learning about how to design programs and it's definitely something that I can see myself doing in the future.

I have gotten a lot out of my college so far. Being a returning student I know now that what I learn is based on the work I put into school and I am more perpared to spend the time learning the infromation. I am working in a medical records department at the local hospital but need this education to furthur my career. With a daughter in middle school I am starting to look and see where I want to be career-wise and I want more so that's how I ended up enrolling at DSU. This is my first year back after a tweleve year break and I can say now having theworking experiences I do see how all of the things I am learning correlate to the real work field. Which as already benifited me with my current position. I want to continue learning and putting that knowlege to good use. I want to stay in the health care field becuase I truely enjoy the fact that health care is always changing which makes it an ongoing challenge.

I have gotten so much more out of my college experience than I could ever have imagined. I came here looking for a degree and I feel I will leave with so much more. The friends I have made are ones I will have the rest of my life. The information I have/am gathering will take me far in the Graphic Design field. I am not your typical college student, as I am completeing a four-year degree in three years. While this feat has many challenges, I feel Dakota State will do what it can to help me meet my goals. This university will give me the tools I need to succeed well after graduation. When I graduate in one year, I fully intend to aid DSU's excellent placement ratings, for I can go anywhere with my degree in Graphic Design from Dakota State University.