Jeannine
Academics should be your prime focus although it should not be the only thing you are worried about and make time for. Having a social life is very important because that is one way to meet people and develop great friendships. Start getting involved on campus right away because that will make the transition easier since you will be with a group of people you have common interests with. In high school, senior year is suppose to be fun and sometimes a lot easier than the other years. Do not lose focus and not do your work because if that happens, school work in college will be a lot more difficult since you have to put much time into it. The work may seem hard but it is managable. Going out on the weekends are fun but make sure you know your limits and be careful. Make sure your priorities are straight because it is very easy to get distracted from schoolwork and do other things instead. This could greatly effect your GPA. Just have fun but know when you need to be serious. It is an amazing experience that is unforgetable and life changing. Get to know your professors!
Emily
If I could go back and be a high school senior again with the information I have now I would first of all tell myself, to study because that is a major factor of being a college student. I would also tell myself to apply for as many grants and scholarships possible to help with the cost of tuition. Overall, the advice I would give myself would be to work as hard I a could and that would help with what was to come in college.
Lynn
The best advice I could give myself would be to take advantage of everything infront of you. When I graduated from highschool I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life , but I knew that my parents wanted me to go to college. So I went to UNC Wilmington. The campus was beautiful and there were so many new people to get to know, but I kept thinking to myself I didn't really need a college education to get a decent paying job. These thoughts lead me to failing out my first semester. I never went to classes, stayed up all night and slept all day. I didn't try to meet or get to know anyone on campus. Ten years and two children later, I realize that I missed out on an opportunity of a lifetime. I missed out on the possibility of a career and more importantly, I missed out on getting to know who I was on my own. It is extremely important to have self discovery. Give 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and you will be amazed at what you get back. I am seeing the reward now and I wish I hadn't waited.
Ashley
Just because you are on your own does not mean that you have to go crazy. Concentrate on your school work and make sure you get it all done before you go out and socialize becuase two years down the road you do not want to look back and be dissappointed in yourself for the grades that you recieved. Also become active on campus it is a great way to meet people and help your transtiion move for smoothly.
Jasmine
The best advice I would give my former self is get all you can. Take advantage of the dual enrollment that your school provides, begin applying and looking for colleges as soon as possible and also fill out as many scholarships as possible. Get all you can while you can.
Thomas
Never settle for something that you haven't been to/. Go to every campus and see how it feels. Never let moeny get in the way of an education. Work your butt of to pay for what you can, and take out loans if you need to. But never allow money to be a restriction on your future.
Key
It most definitly has to be the students decision to decide the right college for him/her. The student knows deep down in their hearts what types of environments are right for them (small cities/ large towns). It's also a good idea for the parent to help make the decision because most of the time they are the one's who are paying but it's the students who have to actually attend the big/small classrooms and live on the campus. The student should also enjoy every minute of their college experience. They will engage with people from various ethnicities/backgrounds and learn new things everyday that will become a part of them for a lifetime. It's a great opportunity for a successful future and life.
Jessica
Do not just look for a college that is close to home, pick something that when you get there you know for a fact it is the right place for you!
Amanda
Get as much information about prospective schools that meet your career goals then visit the campus and see how the students and faculty interact. Talk to staff members and counselors and review the curriculum. The best school is the one that will not just get you the degree you need, but it's also the one that will allow you to grow socially and become a responsible, successful young adult.
Amber
On finding the right college I would suggest trying to visit every scool possible that the student shows considerate interest in and explore the surrounding area. I would also recommend a hosted sleepover and class day for the student's top choices. Most important: do not to be frightened off by price tags. There are a lot of scholarships out there, and setting aside at least a few hours a week for scholarships could prove to be very helpful. Also, many schools give away huge chunks of financial aid (not to mention state and national aid).
On making the most of college I would advise students to try the different activities or clubs that he or she is interested in and explore the opportunities that his or her school has to offer, because it helps with meeting people, and becoming more responsible and motivated when you have non-academic goals. Take advantage of the tutoring facilities and communicate with professors if there is a problem. It will be hard, frustrating, and defeating at times, but take them as lessons and never give up on yourself because just about every other student has felt that way at some point in time.