Montana State University-Billings Top Questions

If I could go back and give myself advice on college, the first thing I would say would be to be money smart. I would tell myself to start saving then, paying for at least part of school as you go. I did not do that until this past year, and am now stuck with a ton of debt, and on a future teachers salary in Montana, that is not going to be payed off very quickly. I would really emphasize the importance of saving money, and using it appropriately. Secondly, I would tell myself not to focus so much on writing down everything the teacher says; just write down key points in the lecture. Alot of information is lost when you are too bust writing all the information, you miss important things he/she is saying. Giving high schoolers the info I did not have is very important to ensure their success. I speak to high schoolers now, and explain to them how important it is to start planning now.

I am now a college senior at Montana State University Billings and looking back on my experiences, there is advice that I wish I could have given to my high school self. During my freshman year in college, I was content with being “good enough” in my academics. I would be happy if I received a B, even happier if I received an A. I also had this academic point of view throughout my high school career. It was only during my sophomore year of college did I realize that I was capable of earning straight A’s. Since then, I have resiliently worked hard and have achieved straight A’s for the past three years. In subjects where I received B’s, more specifically during my college freshman year, I have decided to retake them in order to earn the highest grade I can. From this experience, I wish I could tell my high school self: “You are capable of more than you imagine; do not sell yourself short.” If I had this information my senior year, I would have approached college with more determination and confidence, achieving more in less time.

If I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to not stress out about college, but take it seriously. Visit all of the college representatives who come and visit the high school. Take every opportunity to visit with all of the representatives and get a clearer view of what college is. Get to know them and let them help you through the college process. My number one advice to tell myself would be to save money now, get scholarships first, loans later, and get to know all of the faculty immediately. Scholarships do not need to be paid back and loans can become a difficult responsibility. If you want to have money, save it. Do not spend on extra things you do not need just because you have the money. Also, pay your loan while in college. This lowers the amount of interest you will end up paying. Lastly, I would tell myself to not be afraid of getting to know the professors. Faculty are there for you to help you succeed. Make friends with them and ask for recommendation letters. They are there for guidance when you need it.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a highschool senior, i would have told myself college is not scary and everyone can go. My parents did not go to college and therefor did not give me any advice or show any interest in steering me in college direction, because of this i thought only rich or really smart people were selected or got to go to college. I knew nothing about campus or the cool things you can do on campus, and it intimidated me so much that i was afraid to even go on campus. I would tell my younger self that college is my only option to really succeed in an adult life, choosing what i want to do and enjoying a job that i can choose.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, I would be sure to emphasize how important it is to take classes in high school seriously. I did not take school seriously in high school at all, and when I got to college, I had to make serious adjustments and changes. I was so focused on doing well in athletics in high school that I let my education suffer because of it. When I received my scholarship to play volleyball for MSU Billings, I really needed to buckle down academically, because I wasn't just playing volleyball for the love of the game anymore. I was being paid to play in order to have my education paid for. I still really struggle with school, but I work hard and try my best to do as well as I can. College would have been a lot easier for me though if I had just taken the time to do the little things right in high school.

If I could tell my high school self anything, I would say, "Don't waste any time or procrastinate. College is expensive; and you can't waste time or money while trying to meet such an important goal. Try your hardest in every class, and study more than you think you need to. If you put in more work, it will pay off. Don't get discouraged. Save up as much money as you can."

Change is a good thing. Many college students might say that high school was easy, but I believe high school was just as hard except just in a different way. College is a necessary adjustment that better prepares you for facing more obstacles outside of your comfort zone. High school seems like all there is to life when you are in it. The cliques and jocks make it hard for anyone to be different and still accepted. It's not so much that you belong to a category in college, but you belong to a family far greater than your high school ever was. Boyfriends, girlfriends, and even best friends may drift further apart as we go our separate ways. I have found that people who were meant to stay in your life will always make room. So keep pushing and keep thriving off of nobody but yourself. Find yourself, teach yourself, believe in yourself, and most importantly be yourself. The right people will come along and change your life without you even noticing. One day you will look back and realize you don't even know the person you were in high school.

Hey, Craig! It's me, you. I know this is a bit confusing, but bear with me for a bit. I have been sent from the future to tell you about this decision that you're making about where to go to college or even if you should go to college in the first place. Currently you are about to embark on a quest to make a lot of money. At least, that's what you hope it is a quest for. That's great; money leads to happiness, right? That's what I thought. And let me tell you, Craig, I was wrong. You will excel at what you do, and you will have a promising career begin to take shape. However, you will have a realization at some point. You will have a yearning deep inside of you for something more, for something that money cannot purchase. You will feel lost, and you might try to find your way by seeking even more money, but let me tell you, you will not find it this way. Do not waste your time worrying about finding the career that'll make you rich; instead focus on doing what you love.

This is your last year. You're a high school senior, and the time is slowly approaching for you to begin the journey to fulfill your dream. However, the journey will not be easy. I have seen what is up ahead and am here to tell you Never Give Up! You are about to embark on a long trek with several ups and downs before you come to your destination-graduating college. You will face circumstances and situations which you will ask yourself how you will overcome them? But just stay focused on the goal. Don’t slack off while in your senior year. Be the best that you can be. Study harder than hard. Demonstrate to the world that Yes you CAN make it. Take advantage of opportunities given to you, and DO NOT procrastinate! Take your time to study. College life is not a walk in the park; however, it will be glorious fun in the end. Keep in mind that even though you are on your own physically, there is someone greater always watching you. Don’t overburden yourself, but take it one step at a time. It’s the beginning of a brand new story.

Knowing what I know now, advice that I would give myself is that college isn't as scary as it seemed. Also, that I should kick myself into gear and try harder in school. Also, that I shouldn't keep using work as an excuse for doing poorly in school. I'm working more hours now than I did in highschool and I am achieving a 4.0 gpa, which I thought would never be possible. I would also tell myself that taking a year off from school was the best thing I ever did because it gave me the focus and determination that I needed to make getting that 4.0 possible. Also, I want to make myself realize that it wasn't the teachers that caused me to get the grades that I got in high school, it was my attitude. I think that having the right attitude towards school is all it takes to be able to achieve the grades that I really wanted, but thought I didn't have the time for.