Kansas State University Top Questions

In high school, I never needed to try very hard to do well in a class; this is not the case in college. If I could go back, I would encourage myself to build better study habits. Procrastination was an awful tendency for me in high school; that cannot happen in college! If one gets even a little behind, it takes a long while to catch up. As I progress through college more and more, I find that there are many people who have been preparing for these years since they could write. I wish that I would have done better to tune up my skills in mathematics and science and to expose myself more to my major. College takes some getting used to, and in that transition period, it is hard to focus on classes and not one's friends next door. If I would have known, always making time for my schoolwork would have been on the top of my list in high school. It's all about building better habits and breaking the old ones; if one doesn't start college off right, it is difficult to overcome that. Always strive to be better.

Go above and beyond. When people say you will need some time management skills they were being modest. Be overprepared, get super organized, and keep track of deadlines.

I would advice myself to take as many opportunities as possible. Do not be afraid to take risks and put yourself out there. Going to a big college can be intimidating at times but everyone there is in the same position. Join a club or take part in a sport, you will make friends faster this way. Get to know your professors, they are there to help you on every step of the way and they will, all you need to do is ask. I also would advice myself to get things done ahead of time, this way I will not be as stressed as much and can focus on extra curricular activities. Last, go to all your classes. You may think that it will be fine to maybe skip a few here and there, but it will set you back in the long run. Going to class makes college a lot easier.

I graduated as an overly pretentious junior who assumed that, because she had maintained a 4.0 while busying herself in nearly every available extracurricular activity, she knew all there was to know about the real world. My senior year has instead been substituted with a head-first plunge into a mess of financial disaster and self discovery. If I could travel back in time to speak to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to put my life on hold and appreciate the bliss of those last minutes of childhood. I would make myself realize that one more year of high school could make a world of difference when it comes to surviving the whirlwind of confusion that comes next. I would explain that scurrying off to a new school in a new town does not mean that the things that plague you will magically disappear; you have to stand strong and confront your demons. Life is what you make of it. Slow down and enjoy it while it lasts, because nothing lasts forever.

I would tell myself that there is no time like the present. Try not to put off searching for scholarships and financial aid because if you do, they will disappear quickly. I would tell him that college is about connections. Become friends with your professors, class mates, and whomever else you meet. People are willing to help as long as your kind. I would tell him to stay on top of homework and do not allow yourself to fall behind. You have a history of procrastinating, that is a habit that you need to break as early as possible. College is not made in years but in semesters. It is to easy to lose track of whats going on around you and then find yourself with a low grade during your finals. Keep your head level and know that you have to take care of business because there is nobody around to hold your hand. Keep working, paying bills, do your homework, and go to class and everything will work out in the end.

The transition from college and high school seems to be a tough time in some people's lives. One thing to do in preparation would be to take the most advanced classes possible starting the freshman year in high school and to strive as much as possible for a perfect GPA. The point of this would be to get as far ahead as possible in order to make yourself more wanted by colleges. With the extra knowledge early on, you can set high standards and reach those standards easier. Another point of advice I would give myself would be to take more summer college courses in order to get a head start on the freshman year of college. The point of this would be to get all the general education classes out of the way at a generally cheaper price and to be able to start with specific classes to a designated major in order to get a feel in the set major and decide if that is a possible future goal in life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would tell myself is to take college classes over the summer so I could come in with some of my general studies out of the way. I came in with no college, and found myself having to take classes that weren't overly difficult, but were required. If I had taken some college classes such as Composition I and Speech, I could have focused on high level classes and begun working toward classes more related to my degree. The second thing I would tell myself is to never be content with my work. I settled for a 30 on my ACT score when I had opportunities to raise it. I had figured while not out of the park, a 30 would still be pretty distinguishable on a resume. However, as I soon found out, I could have received thousands of dollars more in scholarship money if I had only raised that score a mere two points. Finally, I would tell myself to enjoy the small things in life, for we can only live our life once.

Over the past year and a half that I have been a student a Kansas State University, I have learned a tremendous amount about what it takes to successfully transition into life as a college student both inside and outside the classroom. Being the youngest of six children, all of whom have graduated from a four year institution, I thought I had a descent grasp on what to expect when I went to college, but I was mistaken. Some of what I had learned from my older siblings was applicable in relation to school work and professor expectations, but the biggest trasition and something that can only be learned through personal experience was social life as a college student. Being on my own I had to make decisions for myself and live with the consequences either positive or negative. If I could go back and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would say don't worry about the academics because really they are no different, but rather prepare yourself mentally to be challenged socially and morally. College is a time of growth and learning, but be careful and watchful of yourself and what you choose to do.

If I could go back in time and tell my senior self about college I would tell myself about how rewarding it is. College has its hard moments: classes are tough and some things don?t always go my way, but college has been the best time of my life. I would tell myself that college is all about confidence and work hard. If I have those things, my scholastic career will be a successful one. I would also tell myself that it?s necessary to have fun sometimes. In order to be a balanced person, you have to have equal time between studies and relaxation. Lastly, I would tell myself to try new things. Even if something new might seem scary or hard, it?s important to try. Trying new things leads to meeting new people and learning more about who you are as a person. So, for the transition from high school to college, I would say that it is necessary to work hard, be confidant, have fun and try new things. College is about expanding your mind, so I would tell myself to do my best and not give up when the going gets tough.

I would tell myself that I have made an awesome decision in my college choice and decision to move away from home. I would also tell myself to continue to stick to my moral values and stay close to God. He is going to get you through everything and take care of you. So my advice to myself, don't change for anyone and stick to what you want to do and everything will work out fine.