Duke University Top Questions

Don't go by what is on paper. If you only look at lists and rankings, you will miss the essence of the college and will not get an adequate understanding of the school. The only way to learn about a college and to decide if it is right for you is to visit, talk with the students, and spend a couple days there. Too many students send their acceptances to the college with the highest ranking, and do not consider their gut instincts. There are so many variables to consider, and prestige is only one of them. Even if you get into Harvard, would it be worth it to go if you weren't happy? Choose a university where you think you can succeed, and where you feel you can experience an unforgettable four years and leave a better person. Get your goals in order. Are you going to college to party, or to study? Do you want to live it up these four years, or do you want to work hard? Small school, or big? The decision on which college to attend is the biggest of your young life thus far. Don't let it go to waste.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are plenty of things that I could tell myself so that I would have been more successful my first semester in college. First of all, in high school, I definitely took developing study skills for granted. It's so easy to cram the night (or the class period) before a test and still do well. However, this is not the case in college. It's very important to have strong study skills to be successful in classes. It's also important to manage your time very carefully because you are given more freedom in your life to do what you want. Another thing that I would have told myself is to enjoy the waning hours of relaxation. I'm not saying that college is about working 24/7, but it is hard to find time to rest without getting away from your studies, especially after being a second semester senior. Live life to the fullest while you can because you don't know how long the calm will last.

The hardest things in life are the most worthwhile. Some transitions are difficult and college is a time of tribulation, especially when you're a thousand miles from home with people that you've never met before. Remember what got you through high school and continue to rely on God, your family, and your friends. Keep Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight," close to your heart and remember that your family is always one phone call away. Never be afraid to admit you're scared, because there is always someone to share your fright and another to lend you a hand. God has a plan for your life and no matter how hard it is to see sometimes, faith is believing that one day you will understand. In Robert Frost's words, "I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." It's a long and winding road, but there's a spectacular display just around the bend. It may be tough, but it's definitely worthwhile.

Looking back now in time, I wish someone told me my senior year to relax and enjoy myself more. It was not necessary to be so nervous about going from the west coast to the east coast for college. I became so worked up with school, crew, and my job as a way to hide how nervous I was about the upcoming transition I was going to make. In hindsight I had no need to be so stressed. College is a time where you are supposed to branch out and really find out who you are. I feel like I have definitely grown up a lot in the past semester and already have learned so much about myself. I have even noticed I am much happier and content with myself despite being so far away from the comfort of my home and family. Deciding to leave southern California and experience something different, the likes of Duke in North Carolina, was the best decision I could have made for myself. Therefore, I wish last year as a senior in high school, someone told me that everything was going to be more than fine; it was going to be great.

If I could talk to myself in high school, I would say to calm down and to enjoy the end of high school much more than I did: it passes quickly, college goes even quicker, and one must enjoy making memories while one still has the freedom. I would encourage myself to try out more extracurricular activities that I didn?t have the opportunity to do in high school. My first three semesters I did the same activities as in high school; I still enjoyed them, but I didn?t try anything new. My fourth semester I started tutoring elementary school children, and I found out that I really enjoyed it. I had seen ads for tutoring as a freshman, but had never pursued it. Now I wish I had started doing it from day one! I would encourage myself to make the same friends that I did. I found people with the same values that I have, who like the same things I do, and who are fun to be around. I briefly tried to fit in with a ?cooler? group, but I?m glad I stuck to my true friends ? they make the college experience so much better!

The piece of advice I would give my high-school self would be not to take anything too seriously. Yes, these choices are seriously going to impact your life and grades are no joke, but everything is what you will make it to be. There is no reason to worry about whether you'll fit in or whether your professors will hate you and bombard you with intimidating workloads. College life is less of an anxiety forced upon you and more of an open arena for you to explore. You get to take the initiative to tackle new avenues and find new problems. Nothing is concrete. Everything can and will change. Feel free to get involved in any off-the-beaten-path experience and stop expecting there to be a path for you to follow. The days of fast track anything are over because there are simply no tracks. So don't feel pressured to build up any constraints just yet. Relax and go with your gut. And never be afraid.

Follow your passions. Instead of worrying about will make you happy in the future, think about what will make you happy now. You should be living every moment to the fullest - not constantly stressing about a distant graduate school or career. Drop anything that you are only doing "for your resume" and spend that time on your favorite activities. If you follow your life passions now, you will be much a happier and satisfied - not to mention authentic - person. Everything else will fall into place. I spent my time in high school careful calculating a plan to get into a top-tier school. Looking back, I wish I had spent more time going to football games, hanging out with friends, and just enjoying being a teen. I don't think the sacrifices that I made were worth it - I may have even been happier at a regular college. If you do what makes you happy now, you will no regrets looking back at it.

Keep PUSHING. Yes, it is hard to work up the energy senior year to make As, impress your teachers, and stay engaged with your community. But once you get to school, that effort will pay off with an easier transition into college life. Cherish the moments with your family and friends, but know that amazing new experiences are waiting for you in August. Seek them out! Try new things: join a political club, get a part time job doing something you love, volunteer at a local school, organize a food drive, meet your professor outside of class, have coffee with a senior who you admire. Make the most of every moment. Anyone can be successful in college with hard work, but only you can tailor the experience to be perfect for you! Never be intimidated by those for whom college seems easy; the challenge will make you stronger, a better student, a better friend, a better person. So push yourself to get there. Because college is a time of self discovery, a time to achieve your dreams. You can do it, and do it well.

Don't go to college with a girlfriend. Explore a wide variety of social groups and activities, and stick with the ones that feel like the best fit. Make friends who share your interests and passions, but don't compromise your values in order to fit in with a group. Most importantly, take your classes seriously. The new freedom is great, but if you're not there to learn, you don't deserve to be there. And don't fret that everyone around you seems to know exactly where their lives are headed; odds are, they're probably lying.

High School seniors need to understand the importance of their college choice and to choose carefully. Check out websites that tell about colleges, ask people who have been to the school what it is like. The official college brochures will always paint a pretty picture. The high school student needs more information than the college provides. There are several questions to ask. Are the professors experienced teachers or are they researchers? Is partying expected or optional? What are some of the traditions for students? Are the dorms decent? What's the local transportation like? Is the on-campus food good or just edible? These aren't covered or covered well in the brochures, and you have to live there for at least four years! Also, the high school senior should not slack-off during the senior year if he/she is expecting to go to a top-notch school. Keep up the learning.