Mississippi State University Top Questions

What should every freshman at Mississippi State University know before they start?

Simone

There I am sitting in my bed as if i do not have homework. Why? Because I am toolazy to do it. I can always wake up early and do it in the morning or I could get the answers from someone else. There I am again, letting the days go by without starting on my project that was assigned a month ago. Tonight is the day before it is do. Now I am rushing trying to get it done because I procrastinated when I could have done it ahead of time so I could do my best. Once again here I am, lying in the bed staying up all night. Out of nowhere someone appears in my room. It was me. "I advise you to step your game up because college is not a joke," future me said. I replied, "I know." "You should start taking classes more seriously and stop procrastinating because it is only going to hurt you when you come to college. Plan ahead of time to get your work done so that you will not stress. And stop staying up all night because it is not healthy," future me explained.

Thomas

I played baseball all four years of high school, and I let it make life decisions for me. I chose to follow my dream of playing baseball instead of attending the school that I thought truly fit who I was. I have always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon, and looking back, I realize following your dream requires you to give up other things that you love. I would tell my high school self to chose the school where you want to be and the school where you can surround yourself with others who push you to be the best you can be. College is not high school. College is where you grow not only academically, but as a person. Sometimes you learn the hard way, and it is tough, but here you learn who YOU are. I have been fortunate enough to have incredible friends and family. College is fun and frustrating all at the same time, but it truly is an experience you can look at and tell just how much you have grown as a person. Enjoy it all. Strive to make a difference in someone else's life.

Anna

Apply for every scholorship you can. It seems like a waste of time, but anything will help. College is expensive, you can make it less so. Don't be afraid to say what you feel and do what you'd like, within reason, in a few months you will be so far away from all of these people that none of it will matter. Charish the "last times." The last fooball game is going to be emotional, the last yearbook class more so. Don't be afraid to show those feelings. Spend more time with the people you won't see until Christmas, spend less time questioning everything. Have fun, because you are about to finish the easiest part of your life. It's going to be a fun year, make sure it is a memorable one too.

Lauren

Your twenties are the years which you build the foundation for your life. Your source of happiness shouldn't come from other people. Learn to spend time alone and grow to love your own company. Quit focusing on your reputation... focus on your character. You'll make choices because you feel in your heart they are the right ones, don't concern yourself with the ideas of others. People often go to college because they HAVE to. Go to school to learn. When you're through learning, you are through. Keep your childish sense of wonder. If you go through life seriously, you'll be miserable. Sometimes it is hard to laugh when you're in a tough situation, but it'll always pass. Don't let your emotions overrule your head. Set goals, and write them down. Open up a retirement account, and save some of your earnings. Believe in something greater than yourself. The crystal balls in your life are your family, country and health. Everything else is a rubber ball. While juggling responsibilies do not forget which will shatter if they are dropped. And last but not least... gratitude is the most powerful feeling in the world.

Hannah

"Hey, you!" The girl sitting in the desk at the back of the room glances over at me and widens her eyes. She looks around the room and I see the panic rising. I walk over and sit beside her. She's uncomfortable, I can see it in her eyes. I would be to if I saw someone who looked like me walk in. I lean towards her and say "I'm here to help you." She ask, "With what?". I answer "College." She nods, "Okay?" I lean back, "As you can already tell I'm you. This is advice. You have to make a really high score on your ACT and apply for a bunch of scholarships. College is way to exspencie and you'll strugle through it and not have any fun. See your school counslor and get extra help for the ACT, she'll help you make a high score. It's really hard in collge. Not the work it's self but the cost of attendece is out the roof. You have to try your best." She nods and I stand, "Now I have to get to class. Be good." I turn and leave the room.

Matthew

I would tell myself to not slack off and apply for Georgetown University like I wanted to. I would also tell myself to apply for more scholarships and play basketball very hard to earn a full basketball scholarship to a great college. In addition, I would tell myself to take advantage of the opportunities that was given to me that year.

Katie

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I think that I would have to tell myself to exercise as much as a can. In no way have a gained the “Freshman Fifteen”, but I feel as if I am seriously lacking in energy. During my freshman year at Mississippi State University, if I had an hour or more between classes during the day, I would spend the break napping. Even after classes were done for the day, I would go back to my room, take a nap, then wake up and do homework. I was averaging around 3 naps a day! I think that if I had started exercising before I got to college, I would have a routine that would help me develop reserves of energy and stamina.

Valerie

If I could go back in time and talk myself when I was a senior in high school I would definitely tell myself that paying attention to your GPA is crucial. Allowing yourself to have a high GPA in college opens up doors to plenty of programs that would help you succeed. Something else that I would tell myself would be that college life is about working hard and enjoying yourself. To enjoy yourself, it is wise to do work ahead of time which would help you not stress out when completing assignments last minute. The simple advice that would be given would go a long way.

Maria

If I could go back and talk to myself as high school senior I would tell myself to go to a university straight from high school. Knowing now how much longer it actually takes to transfer from a community college than speculated I would tell myself to go for it and not look back. The money you actually save going to a community college first, does not recompense for the time that could have been better spend getting farther along in my education. Not having to worry to try to compete with other people for classes at a community college especially with students that are not even serious about their education and end up dropping within the first two weeks of school. Actually going to a university gives you the full college experience of being in an environment where education is actually encouraged. Yes, going straight to a 4 year university costs way more than the transfer route. But there is no better investment than the one you can do for yourself, for a better future. In the long run the benefits of going straight to a university outweigh the cost.

Lynlee

It's okay to not know where you're going. Get an education while you can and don't lower your standards for anything.