Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

Knowing what I know now, I would definitly have expanded my horizon. I think that I would have applied to more schools and applied to scholarships. This is my first time trying to scholarships and hopefully I get accepted for some. I would also change not going to a community college. I feel like I am not experiencing the real college life. I would go to a dorm and live on campus. But again, the reason i didnt do this before was because nether my family or myself doesn't have enough money. So I'm crossing my fingers that I can get help this upcoming semester.

I want you to know that I am very proud of the person that you've become, it sure has taken a lot of work and dedication for you to get from there to here. You have shown yourself to be very responsible by never missing classes and always having your assignments prepared ahead of time. When you didn't understand an assignment you took the initiative and asked for help, and have even helped your classmates at times. Outside of classes you have stayed focused on your work, not allowing yourself to be drawn into the drama of boys and parties that is causing so many of your friends to fall behind. Sure, sometimes it is a bummer and you feel like you're missing out, but you understand that college is a wonderful opportunity for you to have so much more in life. You are learning the skills which will enable you to be more successful than you ever imagined. Stay on the path, and keep up the good work, it is not going unnoticed! P.S. I'm glad you've decided to put your whole heart into this, I just knew we could do this!

If I could go back in time to high school I would definately have payed more attention to myself to realize I had a learning disability that was not being treated. I was recently diagnosed with A.D.D. (Attention- Defecit Disorder) my freshmen year of college. In highschool I never thought it was serious because I had that preconcieved notion that everyone is a teen and has a scattered brain. I thought it was due to immaturity and phase of life. Little did I know, my learning disability could be treated with medication which I have been taking since my diagnosis. If I could have treated my learning disability I would have been able to balance more in my schedule with taking on more extra-curricular activities while taking higher classes that would have looked wonderful on my transcript. I have had the determination and knowledge to excel in my academics. I just needed that boost of discipline that could help me organize my thoughts and retain my focus on what was necessary.

If I could give my high school self advice, it would mainly be to tell myself to stop procrastinating. Back in high school, I never did an assignment earlier than the night before it was due, and that was good enough to get straight A's all of the time. Once I reached university, I was expecting to be able to do the same, and boy was I wrong! I would also tell myself to stop being so shy. Living on a campus as big as IUB can be a big challenge when you are afraid to talk to any new people. My hometown was small, and I wish I could have realized just how small. I was so used to depending on the same people that when I reached IUB, I was not quite sure what to do with myself. Luckily, I live close to home so the transition became easier. In the end, I would warn myself that college life is nothing like I expected. It is a place where I have completely changed who I am and have become stronger in trying to be who I have always wanted to be. Good luck with the change, Brooke!

Transitioning into college life can be a very difficult thing, especially when you go to a large college. When there are 40,000 other undergraduates, it can be difficult to create a social life. Back in high school, I had known everyone since 1st grade, and never had to worry about making new friends. I liked the friends I’d had since I was little, but they’re not here. If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to get involved as soon as I get on campus. If I had known how difficult it would have been to meet , I would definitely have gotten involved much sooner than I did. It took me eight weeks in college to realize that I really did need to start joining clubs and doing activities that I’m interested in to meet people that I can truly connect with. With so many students, it is easy to find people who are like you, but you really do need to look. And I’m sure I would have made a much faster adjustment to college if I could go back in time and give myself this advice.

I would definitely have checked out more schools. I had two schools on my list and when I didn't get into one, I just took the other. If I could go back I would have done more research and tried to find a better fit. Also, I would have worked harder for a better GPA. I always felt like my GPA didn't matter, especially because I tested very well on the ACT's. Looking back, if I had better grades I probably could have gotten into a top 10 business school.

If I could travel back in time, I would give myself a lot of advice. Foremost, I would tell myself to take more International Baccalaureate classes. I wish I had known how much college credit these classes were worth and how much money they could save me. I would also tell myself to apply for scholarships early and to be sure to complete my FAFSA as soon as possible to help with tuition. I would emphasize branching out and trying new things. I have probably missed many opportunities to meet new people because I was afraid to experience different things and get involved right away. Most importantly, I would stress the importance of going to office hours for extra help. I felt intimidated by my professors during the beginning of the year. Had I known as a high school senior how much my professors want to help, I would have been sure to attend office hours from the very first week of college classes. Finally, I would tell myself to continue to stay close to my family and explain how the transition to college can be tough, but a strong support system can ameliorate the adjustment into college life.

Looking back if I could give myself any advice it would be to apply for more scholarships. Senior year and the summer before you start high school the last thing you want to do is sit at a computer and write scholarship applications, but I wish I had. In this economy choosing to go to an out of state college was probably not the best decision financially for the daughter of a small business owner, but IU was the school I fell in love with. With my parents support I made IU my home, but it hasn't come without a huge financial burden. If I'd been more diligent in applying for scholarships when I was starting school I might not be scrambling and scouring the internet now for scholarships for college undergrads. By not applying then I simply put off the inevitable and made more struggles for myself.