Illinois State University Top Questions

"Allie, you need to get online right now and start applying for scholarships,and start saving up all your money now, because within the first three months of school you're not going to know where it all went. Take school seriously; it's not like high school, and there are going to be many tough times, but along with those will come fun times... Just don't be an idiot; you're paying good money to get an education, not to improve your social life. Yet don't let that stop you from making friends and having fun. College is supposed to be the greatest time in your entire life- if you make the right decisions. There will be times when you can go out and havefun, but you also need to do your fair share of studying, and you need to go to your classes. You're going to be confused at times, stressed, miss home, but don't let it affect your grades, because everything you do in the next 4 years will affect you for the rest of your life."

Sitting in my desk waiting for that monotonous bell to ring to signal the end of the class, I sure remember that! If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, there are definitely some points I would be sure to tell myself. Starting off, people in the real world can be pricks and unless you are stern with what you want, you will get walked all over. I learned this as I worked out for an entire year and went to try out for a team was told that I was a waste of time to the coach and I did not even get a chance. Secondly, this is your life now and you have to do with it what you want. You will have a mammoth amount of freedom and free time compared to high school, don?t waste a second. Last and most important, keep strong in your faith as you will be exposed to many things you do not wish to do. You heard it said in high school that ?just ?cause everyone?s doing it doesn?t make it right?; well; now you will truly get to experience that.

I would tell myself to relax. I came to college very high sprung and worried that I would not make it. I found that college is much easier when you relax and take the time to ask questions. Asking classmates and professors about something you do not understand is very helpful. I would tell myself to get out and ask questions when class materials do not make sense. I would also tell myself to open up more often. Talking to numerous people on your floor, in your dorm, and around campus helps you understand how the campus really works, and it could help you meet those best friends you have wanted your whole life. I would tell myself to be more active on campus. There is a lot of free time during the week. Watching TV, reading, and writing keep you locked in your room. You should get out there and meet new people and learn new perspectives about everything! Without other people, life will be inevitably difficult, especially at college.

I would tell myself as a high school senior is to live life and never regret. I would give myself advice to look for scholarships and grants while in high school because once you graduate from high school, life is just beginning and money doesn't just fall out of the sky. Also, college isn't always what you think it will be, it is going to be so much more. More friends, more teachers, more life to grow. You might think your life is over with once high school is over but life is just starting and gettting more intense.

I would tell myself to be ready to put in more effort than you were required in highschool. Don't let friends peer pressure you to go out when you have things to do for school. Make your school work the most important thing. Try to find a job early, most jobs where the school is your employer fill up quickly. Don't be afraid to meet new people and everything happens for a reason. Keep an open mind and remember college life is closer to the real world than you have ever been before, but there is still a bigger world out there that you will enter in a short 4 years. It is easier to keep a good GPA than to let yours drop and try to bring it up. Have fun!

If i were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice that I would give myself would be to choose a school that would allow him to take more classes that were related to his major, and not require so many general education classes. Since I am a Criminal Justice major, I would advise my high school senior self to apply to Westwood College or a similar school. I would also tell my high school self about the benefits of attending a school such as Westwood College, such as the luxury of being taught by professionals from different fields in the criminal justice system. I would also mention the great internship opportunities that would be available to him.

First I would have liked to tell myself that it's ok to go to a community college first to get your gen eds out of the way, because when I was a high school senior I was angry with my mom for making me go to Harper. I would also mention how I should have gotten involved more, and try to do more community service because it would look great on a resume, and it would help when looking for scholarships. I should have saved up more money so when I later found out about volunteering abroad and helping other countries I would be able to do it. One last thing I would tell myself is to spend as much time with your family as possible. They may be a pain some times, but they're your family, they have your back and you never know when something might happen.

Senior year of high school is a very exciting time. Students are about to finally leave home, in pursuit of an education that will lead towards a future career and life. The promise of a new beginning creates a feeling of being on top of the world for many students. However, this feeling can lead to many problems during the college transition. If it was possible to travel back in time, the biggest piece of advice I could offer myself would be to stay on task. It's easy to get distracted during freshman year, and even easier to forget that you are in college, not for partying, but for an education. If I could do it all again, I would read all assignments, take extensive notes and study diligently. With these changes, I would have made a smoother transition into college and would have been much more comfortable with my new surroundings. Many high school seniors do not realize it, but a higher education does require a large amount of work. Once this is discovered, it is much easier to succeed in not only a university setting, but also a future career.

If I could go back and tell myself something different that I know about college that I didn't know then it would be to go to school in the city. Initially as a senior I remember being apprehensive about going to the city because I was afraid I would not know anybody. One semester into college, I have made friends with people I never would have been friends with in high school simply because I was a proactive and invovled student. To my apprehensive senior self I would say go to school in the city school because you need to be in an urban environment to form connections and relationships with professionals in the graphic design industry. These professionals will teach you concepts beyond the classroom that may present and internship for later in college helping me to jump start mywork into the creative industry. I would tell myself that making the transition to city life would be difficult compared to living on a campus but, that life in the city provides opportunities that rural campuses cannot. Most of all though, I would tell myself to always believe in myself and take everything day by day.

Work hard, do not let anyone tell you, you cannot do it, take educations seriously, and chase your dream.