North Carolina State University at Raleigh Top Questions

I love college. To make the transition from high school to college, I would definitely have taken more on- line classes in high school. Those classes are done at your own pace and are easier than when you get to college. I didn't take as many classes as I should have as a senior. I thought my senior year was to be fun only. I should have gotten a part time job to have saved money for college. It takes so much money now as a freshman in college. My parents tried to tell me but I didn't listen. Working would have been a better use of my free time and would have made my life a little easier. Another good idea would have been to volunteer more. As I fill out more scholarship applications, it is almost a must. It really looks good on the scholarship application.

If I could talk to my past self about college, I would say two words: don't settle. The Design school here at NCSU is a good school for a state university and for people interested in things like architecture and graphic design, but it is not what I would have wanted to further my career as a student more interested in the fine arts. The people can be very conservative and I feel this school isn't as creative as it could be. A lot of focus is given on math and science, so be prepared to get to know people who are talented in both. If I were to give myself advice on living and going to class on this campus specifically, I would say: Get a car. Raleigh is a city that has a lot of urban sprawl. If you want to go to the grocery store, you will probably have to drive. There are convenience stores on campus, but they are very overpriced and have limited stock. Downtown Raleigh doesn't have much in the way of clubs or a local art scene, but it is trying, so I would tell myself to check those out.

I would say take schooling seriously. You need to take as many challenging courses as you can get a taste of what college work is like. It is very challenging especially if you do not know how to manage your time. Time management is a big part of being successful in college. You do actually have to sit down and study. College professors go at a very rapid pace and you have to be prepared to keep up. If you fall behind, do not sit back. You do not need to be afraid to ask for help, many of the teachers are more than willing to help a student, but if you do not ask, they will never know. Lastly, go out and make new friends. College can be overwhelming but making new friends helps you make the transitions you are going through easier. Experience the college life but work hard.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself that I should not underestimate how college is going to be because it is a completely different experience. I would explain to myself how difficult it will be to study and to do the homework required for all the classes that I will be taking in the next year. Then I would explain that I should eat better because in college there seems to be no time to get a descent meal to relax and eat. But most importantly I would say to myself, learn to use time to your advantage and prioritize the things that you need to do. The advice that I told to myself is the most important in dealing with the transition for high school to college.

I would tell myself to get more involved with the sciences since I was undecided before. Also, emphasize how much I loved plants in high school so I should make a career out of it. Another big issue I would emphasize is that change is inevitable and to just let things happen on their own. Pertaining to making friends, I would tell myself to go out as much as I can and not sit in the room. Overall, college was not what I expected so this advice would have been very useful.

The advice that I would have gave myself would be to first decide what I wanted to do with my life. Exactly what kind of career I want to pursue and which would have a job available. To minimize cost I would have attended a two year community college and got my basic courses out of the way.These two years should have given me enough time to think about a career and take some electives and test the waters. I would have told myself to look for more scholarships and fianacial assistance for school. I I would have told myself to do more research on the universities that I had interest in and see which one the best fit for me. Also look out for cost that I did not need while attending college. I would have told myself this is an experience of a life time and to go for it because, you never know what you can become. One thing I did tell myself was that this was a chance to help my family, myself ,and the world with my contribution to my education.

You can't stay the same and thrive. You musn't focus on potential mistakes or losses because it requires too much of your energy when what was no longer exists. It is fuel for what will be. The unexpected and the unprepared for should be anticipated because it's the way the world helps us grow. Your ability to respond to change is the only certainty in your life. Awareness is everything, Hillary. You are going to realize that you don't know very much, but as tough as this is, it puts you in a position to do some serious learning which is exactly what you need to do. And you will find you don't have to know it all because when you confront your limitations, you open up to a new level of learning. Keep in mind also, experiences alone don't add value to your life. Instead, it is the insight gained from reflecting on those experiences that is valuable. Socrates said, "the unexamined life is not worth living." Reflective thinking helps piece together the big picture of life. Don't be afraid to fall. What you learn in life's struggles, everyone learns.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice that I would give myself about making the transition from high school to college would be to learn how to keep working hard in order to achieve my goals in life. College is not an easy place to transition into from high school. In high school, I had to work pretty hard to keep my grades up but the classes are not nearly as challenging as the classes that I am taking now that I am in college. I would tell myself to just keep working hard and to keep my mind on the ultimate prize which is to become a great meteorologist. I would also tell myself that, when a difficult class comes along and it is very hard for me to understand it, I should not be afraid to ask for help. Most of the people that graduate from college had to have tutoring help for at least one of their classes. Most importantly, I would tell myself to never give up and continue to work hard in order to acheive my life-long dream of being a meteorologist.

Don't ever sell yourself short. You know more than you think and things will work for the best if you always try your hardest. While the trasition from highschool to college will be difficult, there is always a silver lining. Instead of focusing on the things that will make this transition difficult, focus on the opportunities that lie ahead of you. You have the chance to make a difference, not only in your life and lives of those close to you, but to complete strangers as well. It is up to you what you do with what is being presented before you. Make the most of it and always think positive. There is nothing that you cannot succeed in with enough determination and support. The choice is up to you!

Work hard in your high school classes, especially in your AP classes. AP credit can not only be used for college credit, but this credit can be helpful as you can pursue a double major because all the time you have. Also learn a study technique early so you do well in all your classes, this is important in tougher classes. Take advantage of office hours for all your teachers.