Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

If I could tell myself what to expect as an incoming frehman, I would say, "Listen up. Everything that everyone has told you about college is completely true. It is nothing at all like high school and you better be willing to put in extra time to focus on your studies. It's alright to socialize and have fun because that is the best way to make friends. Don't be the quite kid who doesn't talk to anyone in class, but do not be the kid who tries to make your classmates laugh with loud and obnoxious remarks. Everyone who is at college is there for a reason, and that is to learn and get a degree. Be kind, caring, and compassionate towards others because you would want people to treat you the same way. But most of all, work hard and study hard. College consists of four years that will determine the rest of your life, so don't mess it up. Believe in yourself and you will be able to accomplish anything you want. Good luck and most imporatantly have fun, because it is going to go by quicker than you think."

Whatever you do, take your classes as seriously as possible. If you don't, it is a huge mistake. Even if the class you're taking seems like an easy course, or it's something you've been good at since middle school, take it as serious as your most difficult class. If you don't, the class will surely take you for a turn, and that turn is definitely for the worse. College courses are much different than high school classes in which college courses advance much further into the subject, much quicker. I'll be easy one day and you'll blow that off and let your guard down, then it'll tear you down the next. Just, promise me, whatever you do... Take your classes very serious. Go to every class, every week. Take as detailed of notes as you can. Study every night for all your classes, even if it's just 30 minutes for each course. Just take your classes seriously.

If I had the ability to go back and talk to my high school self, I would tell myself not to be afraid of the unknown and have more confidence in my abilities. While I was in high school I knew that I wanted to go to college and I had quite a few local options. But I decided to go miles and miles away from my family and friends to pursue my education. But after my decision was set in motion I started to wonder if I had made the right choices. I would tell myself that even though the adjustment was frightening and stressful, it would work out for me in the long run. The choice that I made to move away has matured me and made me more optimistic. During my first semester none of my professors or classmates cared that I was right out of high school, so I had to adjust very quickly. But I did really well that semester and I was proud of myself. The faith that I have gained in myself has made me push myself further, and that push would have been great to give to my high school self.

The advice that I, as a college freshman in his second semester, would give to myself as a high school senior is very simple: show up, on time, for the whole time. As Woody Allen said: "Eighty percent of success is showing up". Students who show up, for the most part, pass the class. Those who take an extra five minutes of preparation to arrive early do even better. Individuals who show up not only to lecture hall but also make an active effort to pay attention for the full time period will find themselves in great standing with both their faculty and grade point average. Success in college is worked for, and showing up is worth far more than half the effort. The direct correlation between showing up and success is 180{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} true.

The main advice I would tell myself is that changing your mind isn't always a bad thing. I changed my major a couple of times in school. Prior to starting school, I thought this was a horrible thing to do. However, I learned so much through exposure, and ultimately ended with a major that I enjoy. I'd also warn myself about the amount of debt that comes with school. Before attending school, I had one part time job that paid minimum wage. It was difficult to afford gas, insurance, food, etc. Since then, I've acquired a full-time job, which I wish I had done a lot sooner, to help me with the financial burden. Finally, I'd tell myself to calm down. Yes, academic success is important - but not to the point of phyiscal and mental exhaustion.

I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible! I now know that student loans add up very quickly and scholarships can help tremendously.

I would tell myself not to worry about meeting new people and to just be myself. I am not the best at meeting new people, so I was really nervous the first day of school. There was really nothing to worry about because a lot of other people were feeling the same way that I was. Also, I would tell myself to read and type my notes because I learned how helpful that was towards the end of my first semester of college.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely say to make sure to let go of the past and try to start college with a completely fresh mindset. I have felt very nostalgic about my high school experiences, and it has held me back in trying new things in college. It has been hard to fully adjust to college life, and for a long time I was feeling as if I still had to return to my high school at some point. I think that if I were to start my first freshman semester again I would try to be more outgoing and talk to every person I see. It has been hard to branch out of my comfort zone and try to meet new people because I have been so stuck on the people I met in high school.

The advice I would give to my highschool self is to be open to all of the students on campus. Be outgoing and become friends with as many people as you can because most of the people on campus are nice.

The primary piece of advice I'd want to tell my high school self is to start practicing time management early and to dedicate extra time to studying physics and computerscience, which I am majoring in now at Kent State. The biggest problem I have faced in the transition has been the amount of free time I have in college that has to be divided up into time for studying, recreation, and rest; finding the right balance to be successful in classes and to enjoy the college experience is important to staying motivated and happy. And as for studying the subjects I am majoring in now I'd like to paraphrase a certain saying I've become fond of in college, "We start off by learning a little bit of everything and slowly specialize ourselves until we reach the point where we know everything about nothing." There is a whole spectrum of potential occupations and interests out there and college is one of the best times to hone our skills in the fields that we want to work in, so why not get an early start and have a head start in college.