New York University Top Questions

Looking back on my senior year of high school, I realize that much of the anxiety I felt had little to do with the practical side of going to college, and more to do with the emotional side. Going to NYU meant leaving behind all of my family and friends, all of the places I had known my entire life. I was terrified of starting over, of not knowing a single soul in New York City. As senior year continued on I began to panic, wondering how I would ever find friends. In hindsight, it?s clear that finding friends should be the least of a high school senior?s worries. College is a completely different place, filled with thousands of people. It?s impossible for a new student not to find someone with shared interests. Being oneself is a difficult task in high school, a place filled with preconceived notions of who everyone is. In college the slate is wiped clean, and all that is left is to jump in and make the most of every moment; no fear, no regrets.

College life was really different from what I imagined. If I could go back in time to the times of high school senior year, I would think harder before making a final decision about where to go for college. I chose to attend an out-of-state college because I wanted to go away from where I lived so I can have a brand new start in life. However, making the transition was not as easy as I thought it would be. Living in a place where I knew no one and having to meet new people and to make new friends were very hard at first and are still hard. If I had a chance to go back, I would probably think more about moving and living on my own with no family and friends around me. Also, I would not have slacked off during senior year. Most high school seniors become lazy because they have nothing to worry about after submitting in college applications and receiving decisions. If I could go back, I would work hard so it would not be hard getting into the studying mode when I come to college.

Fortify your communication skills. Take more science courses. There are many advices I could tell my high school self. However, none of them would be as momentous as the following: Do not come to New York University. As I concluded my application, I envisioned the happiness I would encounter. My need to gain an outstanding education while leading the perfect college life at NYU could become a reality. When I stepped into my first class, though, I watched students approach their classrooms with eyes of hopelessness. I tried to communicate with some but they would begin to cite the reasons why they dislike NYU, most of which were true. For example, the NYU financial aid package is not as great as they promised it to be. Due to this, I think on the thousands of dollars my mother has paid NYU to cover the expenses left over. I ask my younger self why you would want to attend a school that brings more misery than joy. NYU does bring loneliness and academic agony to its students, so why bear with it. To that end, I only hope that my younger self heed my warning.

I would give myself two pieces of advice if I could go back to my senior year. All through high school I was not a procrastinator, finishing assignments well ahead of their due dates. There were times when I relied on my mom to help edit essays or print a final copy for me. This fall, as a freshman, I quickly learned that I cannot wait until Sunday night to print something due the next day because printers and laptops have a way of knowing that I'm under pressure, it seems, and choose that moment to malfunction witout a parent to lend a helping hand. It's much better to plan ahead and get the job done several days in advance. As a senior, I wish I had known that it would be a short time before I met a new batch of friends and could leave some situations behind, never letting them haunt me again. During my senior some of my adolescent teenage girlfriends spread untrue rumors about me out of jealousy . Their actions hurt, and I wish that I had realized that in a few short months, I would be meeting new people and creating new friendships.

Dear Self: As you are about to embark on possibly the next chapter of the most important stage in your life, I would like to inform you of certain tidbits of information you may find vital to keep in mind. Time passes on fleeting wings. Even in idleness, it flaps away at the same pace. As each experience passes, realize that they are now lost and can never be recovered. Bear this in mind, because if you decide that watching the latest episode of the hottest show on television is more important than studying for that history test, that decision can never be revoked. Each decision in life is followed by resounding consequences that must be endured. You must be sure that these results for certain behaviors are acceptable. Grasp every opportunity available to you, beacause again, once they are gone, they are gone for eternity. Approach things with an open and accepting mind. As I'm sure you will be studying/traveling abroad, this is of crucial importance when encountering a different culture. Aim to understand and learn, and not to judge. When you set yourself up with an obstinate attitude, you will confront more impediments on your path.

I would tell myself to get ready for change. I went to high school with kids that lived in the same area of the country that I lived, so I for the most part shared similar views, acted in similar ways, and believed similar things that they did. But, when I went to college out of state I was thrown into a new way of life with people who believed completely different things than I did and acted in ways I never before experienced. No longer could I assume that everyone thought it was okay to be rich, or that everyone I met was a Christian. I also had to deal with change in my every day life. The comforts of home like a good, hot meal, a car, and money were no longer available to me. I has to learn how to cope, so I spent countless hours trying coming up with new recipes with ramen noodles, walked every where I went, and read a book or the newspaper instead of going out with friends. I would tell myself this change will be hard, but in the end it will expand my mind and make me a better person.

Instead of looking forward so much, I would try and focus on the present. As a high school senior I tended to focus on what was coming and how it would be when I got there, in example, college. I lost track of the presence, which I believe should be taken less for granted, seeing as the present is all we have. I was very caught up on the whole college application process, test-taking, and making sure I had a nice array of Extra Curriculars under my belt, that I lost focus of the beauty of being a senior, of the beauty of cherishing your last year, with teachers and friends that you may never again see in your life. It is often that we linger on the past, hope for the future and forget to cherish the present. If I were a HighSchool Senior right now, I would definitely give my mother a hug and kiss everyday when she came home from work, and really mean it. I would not just barely look at her and wonder what she would be cooking for dinner that night. Now, I know better.

Hey, 17 year-old Gemma. You're about to start a journey that will one day involve you living in an apartment in Bushwick, making nice dinners for wonderful people you always hoped would be your friends. Don't spend so much time worrying that you won't like anyone, or that no one will like you. You're about to come into your own. Pack for it, Gemma. Most importantly, bring a good pair of shoes. You'll be walking a lot. You have classes, rehearsals, and meetings to go to, and you'll want to explore. Those shoes will take you across the Brooklyn Bridge and through two years of creating (ideas and actual structures - you'll build a Plexiglass castle your freshman year alone), wandering, and discovering. On second thought, you should bring a bike. There are so many places to go and you'll want to go fast.

Kacey, listen: College isn't going to be everything you expect. New York City is exciting, fast-paced and full of opportunities, but it's also stressful, expensive and noisy. Try not to let that get you down, but don't be afraid to admit it when it does (because it will). Study hard. Don't take that Introduction to Psychology class - you're going to want to, since you did so well in AP Psychology, but this'll be different. In fact, avoid big lecture classes. That isn't the way you learn, and taking them is a waste of time that could be spent on a discussion seminar in which you'll retain information about what you're studying and about yourself. You're going to be hard on yourself, and that's alright, but remember that college is also about socializing; don't let the stress of classes and the city eat at you to the point where you won't want to spend time with friends. Oh! And budget yourself - it sounds silly and it's hard to say "no" to going out sometimes, but in the end, you'll be thankful you did.

My educational experience was unique in that I was already taking courses at a local junior college by the time I was in my senior year. Therefore, the thing that I would have told myself at that time would simply have been, "Keep moving forward." Due to health reasons, I had a rocky time through junior college, and nearly thought about stopping my education altogether. I am so glad that I did not make that choice, but I also wish that I had been more aggressive about getting my degree. Being sure that one is taking classes most helpful for your chosen area of study and taking advantage of opportunities outside of class are so important. They keep one's focus on the goal while simultaneously helping to achieve it. Many obstacles can get in the way of one's education, but with drive, one can still keep moving forward.