George Washington University Top Questions

follow your passions!

The most important thing about choosing a college is giving yourself the flexibility to discover what you want to pursue a career in at an affordable cost. I would caution against applying to a trade or technical school, especially if the school was only strong in that one field, because that limits your options if you change your mind after your first year. Your second priority should be to find the best value for your money; choosing a school for its reputation should play a small role in this part of the decision. Instead, a school with a high caliber honors program, a wide variety of strong departments and a smaller price tag can be a better match. Finally, TAKE LOTS OF AP EXAMS! Getting credit for introductory classes before college gives you the opportunity to take more electives and a lighter schedule freshman year, so that you can truly take advantage of your school and avoid those boring 200 person lectures.

Life, to me, seems to be like planning a balanced meal. Food choices have to be chosen carefully in order to be sure that proper nutrition is incorporated into the meal. Too much of anything, no matter how tasty, can throw off your nutritional balance. Too little of anything can have adverse nutritional effects as well. If a well -balanced meal is the ultimate goal, then the correct balance must be achieved. Both high school and college life are balancing acts, too. Curriculum and activities and recreation and study time must be chosen with care in order to maintain the healthy balance needed for success. Too much of any one thing can throw off this balance, just as too little can have adverse effects. If a well-balanced...and happy...student life is to be achieved, then planning and goal-setting must occur. I have learned this. I have found this life lesson to be invaluable. This is the advice that I would give!

I would advise myself to think of the long-run and where I wanted to be when I finished college so that I could pick a college that had the program, the staff and the resources to get me to there. I would tell myself to think of what kind of place I would be comfortable, but that would also challenge me to experience new things. Get to know your professors, your TAs and your dorm-mates. I would say, have fun but remember that you're in school first and foremost to learn and earn a degree. I would say make new friends, but remember you don't have to keep all of them, take care of yourself and make sure you're happy. I would say there's going to be times when there are a million things to be responsible for and personal things going on and you'd rather let it all go, but work hard and perservere because it will make you better for it. Mostly, I would tell myself that there is going to be uncertainty, there is going to be doubt, but be confident, adapt and make the best of every situation.

I would tell myself to choose a school with people who are more similar to myself. While GW is a great place and I appreciate the opportunity to attend, I sometimes find myself feeling as if I do not come from a wealthy enough background to fit in within certain contexts. I would tell myself to choose a less expensive school so that I could take my time and not graduate early. And I would tell myslef not to underestimate the value of school spirit provided by a good sports program. While I am not unhappy with where I am, had I examined these aspects more thoroughly during the application and decision-making process, I fell I may have ended up somewhere else and been even happier with my choice than I currently am.

Money isn't everything. Parents may right now pressure you that you must choose a major that will in the end have a high paying salary, but if you don't like it, its just as miserable as life without money. This is your life, you choose in the end what you want to do. Take a risk and just do it. Even if you regret it, it can become a form of a great valuable lesson that will still help you succeed later on in life. Have hope for the future and enjoy the present. Hardships will come but if you enjoy what you love doing, you can overcome it and meet great success. Success comes because you overcome your obstacles. Be grateful of the upcoming obstacles rather than resent it and you will surely succeed.

I would tell myself not to be afraid to study what I want to study, even if it is not the most guaranteed direction. I would also tell myself to be sure I have the fundamentals down in topics that I want to persue further. Most of all, I would say to enjoy the time and not stress out about what was to become of my future. I think I also would have recommended to myself to study in Germany, to save money and have a better education.

I have thought about this question a lot in the last few years. Since graduating college, I have applied to many, many jobs, been through many interviews, and learned a great deal about what I do and don't want in a future career. All of the knowledge I have gained since graduation was a result of this experience, but I always wish I was more prepared for the journey to begin with. Upon graduation from GWU, I had my studies under my belt, and a minimal amount of administrative experience. If only I had the skills then that I have now to write cover letters, build my resume, and search jobs. My biggest piece of advice to a high school senior would be this: even if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, know what's out there. Start to research companies/organizations in your chosen field of study. Not only will this help you through your college career, but it will prepare you for the journey ahead. Also, don't be afraid to seek out training in resume building and interviewing - it is never too early to start preparing for the future.

I would tell them to not give up until the student finds that school that makes them say "Wow, this is where I want to be". Whether it's the academic programs, after-class activities, job opportunities, location, student population, dorms/residence halls - whatever! - I am a true believer of not giving up until you find that place that makes you feel like you have found your niche. At GW, the first time I stepped on campus, I was taken aback by the beauty of the school, I loved the student organizations, from photography clubs to the College Democrats to dancing groups, and I LOVED the location! After finishing my first year, I would encourage new students to take advantage of everything free and informative! Whether it's resum? workshops, student organization fairs or career seminars, all these little things add up to broadening one's overall knowledge, helping choose the right major and potential career path, and even opening doors to getting more involved on campus and making new friendships.

Where you go to college doesn't matter. If you are a hardworking driven person willing to seek out opportunity and take advantage of what is available to you then you will succeed irrespective of what university stamps it's seal over your degree. College is about learning. Learning about the world, about life, about other people, but most importantly about oneself. There may be some choices of college that will catalyze your learning even more, but the bottom line remains: your job in college is to learn. And if you're the kind of person who has a passion for that anyway, you can do it anywhere.