Howard University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to young Tylar McNulty about college life, I would tell here to stay focused. When I first arrived at Howard University that had been the first time I had been away from home. I was so excited about being on my own and not having to answer to my parents that I did not take my schoolwork seriously my first semester. I would tell myself that even though I am away at school, I am there to perform in my studies. I would tell myself to set time away every day to go to the library and study for each class; if there is no homework for me to work on, then I will read on to the next chapter to stay ahead of the class. I would just tell my young self that attending Howard University is a privilege, and that I should do everything I can to make the best out of my experience.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advice myself to work harder and start early. These simple words would have made a world of difference in my transition into college because I would be more prepared for college. I would advice myself to work harder because college is a lot more than fun and games which was the perception we were given as seniors in high school. By working harder and keeping my GPA high while still a senior in highschool, I would established a study and work habit that would eventually come in handy as a college student. I would also advice myself to start everything early because by waiting to begin my college application, FAFSA application and Scholarship applications so late in year, I missed out on a lot of great opportunities. After a year in college, I believe that early birds do get worm . Many opportunites in college are set up in a first-come-first-serve standard where students who are first in line are presumed to be the ones working hard and dedicated to recieve anything.

If I could go back in time I would have challenged myself to apply for more scholarships. I did not get many scholarships to go to Howard, and they only offered the top scholarships to the highest performing students, and at the time I did not fall into that category. This put me at a huge financial disadvantage and forced me to work a full-time job, while I was attending school full-time. Spending so much time working made me feel very disconnected from the Howard community. I did not get an opportunity to do many of the extracurricular activities that characterize the college experience. When most students were building lifelong friendships, I was working trying to make ends meet. Morever, the time I spent working off-campus cut into the time that I should have been studying. Consequently, my grades suffered. Had I spent more time applying for scholarships to attend college, I would have had more resources to actually enjoy my time there and I would have been a better student. As much as I hated completing the seemingly endless scholarship applications, doing them would have paid off, literally.

Dear High School Self, I am writing to you as I finish up my sophomore year in college. I am attending Tarrant County College, and will soon transfer to Dallas Baptist University after I get my associates. I know that you do not have intentions of staying at a community college for more than 1 or 2 semesters, but this will change. Here you can save ALOT of money, and participate in smaller classes where you can interact with your professors, and really absorb a great education! Remember, this is why you are going to college! Yes, you need a degree so that you can one day get a great career, but rememeber that you are here for at least the next 4 years, and so really dedicate yourself to learn in ALL your classes! They are ALL valuable to your future. Make an effort to get an A in your classes, not just pass. Set high goals for yourself! If you take the time to study, you CAN do it! It is not impossible. When things start to feel overwhelming (and at times they will) stop, breathe, and remember: "I am just here to learn". Then, do just that!

If I could go back in time to give myself advice I would tell myself to get more involved. I would remind myself to get more involved in not only just my scholar studies, honor society, art club, and mentoring; I would tell myself to get more involved in community activities. I would tell myself to volunteer more and make a difference in the community. Also I would tell myself to have transfered straight to a four year university, to not worry so much about the costs that I would have found a way to have payed for it eventually. I would tell my past self about all the opportunities I missed out on going to a community college and then transfering because I didn't have the funds to attend the university at the start. I missed the chance to join many of the design teams, Student Government, and many even an opportunity for selective honor research. By the time I transfer I won't have much time to get involved on campus or in the community. I would also tell myself to keep up the good work and congrats on graduating top of the class.

Quite frankly, I would make sure that I would have gotten a job during senior year in between and surrounding my sports seasons in order to offset some of the fees for applications, transcripts, enrollment fee, pictures, trips, prom, and so on; having a small amount of additional income would have made a world of a difference. Also, with that job, I would be able to work up until it was time for me to go to school at the beginning of August. I would have told myself to study harder for my AP exams, so I could bring credits with me into my freshmen year of college. I, also, would have told myself to take the SAT and the ACT more seriously, so that I could have more scholarship money from the university I am attending now. I would be sure to tell myself to apply for at least 5 scholarships a week to increases the chances that some of my fees would be paid for. Lastly, I would have to really tell myself to focus as much as possible on ceasing to procrastinate, for that would be the enemy of any potential success.

I actually wouldn't go back in time because as a high school senior I had a mom who was willing to "push"me into college. Her persistence in telling me to focus in school rather than everything else going on, got me to graduate high school with honors and advanced diploma. Her persistence still continues as I work hard to get my degree. I know I have to keep my GPA up in order to get scholarships and know what I am going to maor in and what my back up major is.

If I could go back and talk to the high school version of myself I would say two things. First, I would tell myself to enjoy being carefree. I would tell myself to enjoy all the moments leading up to graduation (prom, pep rallies, hanging out with friends etc.), because I will never be that young and carefree again. Time flies and there is plenty of time to be an adult. The second thing I would tell my high school self would be to really pursue scholarships because paying for college is no joke. I worked hard in high school and had the GPA, I would definetly encourage myself to remain consistent in the hunt for scholarships because now I regret not applying for more. If I could tell my high school self anything I would say enjoy yourself and look for scholarships!

A year ago today I took a trip to Washington, DC to see Howard University. I was a senior in high school and it was “Accepted Student Day”, also my first time visiting campus. The welcoming committee, full of faculty and students, took us on tour, to lunch, and showed us all the reasons we should come to Howard University. It was love at first sight. After completing my freshman year at Howard University, looking back on that day there are many things that I wish I could tell my high school self, but there is one bit of advice that seems most important to me. I’d tell myself to start prioritizing and making daily schedules. The most difficult aspect of college has been prioritizing, setting aside the right amount of time for the right things and saying no to the things I do not have time for. I would tell my high school self to start making daily schedules and sticking to them so that they become ritual when I get to school. I’d recommend calendars, planners, and sticky notes galore because the most challenging transition in college is making time for what is truly important.

The biggest peice of advice I would give myself is to learn how to be independent. It was a huge shocker when I went to college and noticed that I was truly on my own. My mother or father wasn't around to make my meals or tell me to do my homework. I had to make desicions on my own. I wished I would have been more independent in high school so that the transition to college would've been much smoother.