North Dakota State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Be prepared for that which you cannot necessarily prepare for. Without a doubt, money should be saved, grades should be maintained with the utmost care and secondary schools should be scrutinized, but the single idea to keep in the forefront of your mind is openness. You are bound to make mistakes. Maybe you will change your major four times, or fail a class, or whatever it may be. While I am not justifying any sort of wrong doing here, I do believe that there is value to be taken from things that don't go according to the preconceived plan. The bottom line is that this is college; this is an investment in an education, in life, that no matter what, no one can ever take away from you. Avoid getting too tied down at this point. Time, as well as a vibrant education will reveal limitless opportunities, and even when you're not in class, college will leave you with things no one will ever be able to rob you of.

Stick with NDSU, its a good choice

Through my transition to college I found it really nerve wracking. If I could go back I would let myself know that the transition to college would not be stressful at all and not to get so nervous about it. I'd tell myself to just breath and enjoy the end of my senior year. I would also remind myself to enjoy planning Teens Giving Back, the youth volunteer event I planned and executed my senior year. I'd remind myself to be extremely grateful to those that volunteer to make Teens Giving Back happen and to give it my all. As a final note to myself I would say, "keep an open mind about everyone you meet, all the places you go, and all the things you encounter, because you never want to wonder what if..." It is the 'what if's of life that will eventually hold people back in the past instead of allowing them to continue on with the rest of their lives.

If I could travel back in time and be a high school senior, I would tell myself to be sure to get involved right away! Don't be afraid to check out new Clubs, Orgs, ect. I would also tell myself to push myself to meet people. In the beginging things seem daunting and a scary, remember that everyone is in the same boat as you, so just go for it! Another thing I would tell myself as a high school senior is to ask for help when you need it. It's never fun if you dig yourself a hole in the begining of the semester, or to feel like you are never able to catch up on your work. My advice: start your homework early, don't wait for Sunday night, it's the easiest cure for Monday morning dreads. Don't forget to get active. Make exercise fun, and make smart eating choices. Another insight I would give myself as a senior is get to know your proffesors! If you email them, or visit them during office hours with questions, they will get to know you and come time for the grade you want to be remembered!

If I was able to talk to my high school self here's what I would say: Chillax Yo. There is no need to spend so much time worring about what college will be like. College is full of so many different opportunities and people that amazing things are bound to happen. As long as you put yourself out there you will find your nitch, your place to belong. There's no need to try and change who you are and no need to try and fit in with the "college image". In college there are all walks of people. It would be near impossible not to find people who think the way you do and have the same morals you do. No matter what you think you are not alone in your fears though. 3000 students came in to college feeling exactly the same way that you do and now together we have all grown to be more comfortable with ourselves and each other. College is a time of growth, change and oppportunity, so don't fret, just allow it to happen. And also, go for the nice boy, because he's more than worth it!

I've always thought about this question myself. If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself to go into college with a more open mind. College is about discovering yourself. Picking a major doesn't necessarily mean that is what you should do in ife. I would try and persuade myself to really look into many different opportunities and fields of study. I would also tell myself to fill out many more scholarships. I didn't realize how hard it is to obtain scholarships nor juggle a job with school also. Money is tight and thriftiness has to be present with you everday. Finally, the most important piece of wisdom I would give would be to have fun. My parents always told me this will be the best part of my life. Don't get bogged down thinking of finances and homework all the time. Socializing and exploring is just as important. Hopefully these tips would be enough to change my outlook on college a little more positive than it already was.

If I could bo back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to get involved as much as possible. You can make friends in the classroom; however, the main area you make your close friends and have the most fun is through extracirricular activities. You do not have to be a great athlete or gifted to be involved. Join a band; join a choir; join an intermural sports team. North Dakota State University will accept you for who you are; people at the college are very friendly, are very excited to meet new people, and the organizations on campus are very fun. College is a place to make lifelong friends. Yes, you go to school to learn chemistry, history, wellness, and the like; however, the main purpose of school is learning how to be a responsible, loving, and caring adult. Friends stick with you through good times and bad; therefore, get involved at NDSU. You will not regret it!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself and give myself advice of what to expect and how to make the transition in college, I would tell myself that I should get involved day one. In college, you know a very small majority of students when you first come to college. If you get involved right away I feel as though it makes your experience so much greater and more fun. You meet so many people regardless of what you become involved with, and learn so much about yourself and others around you from being involved in organizations. It also is a fantastic way to network with others and ultimately increase your knowledge of what employers are looking for and seeking, as well as being able to add things to your resume, which, ultimately plays a very large part in you succeeding in college and getting a job offer. Another thing I would tell myself is don't regret a single thing. If you spend all your time regretting something then you are wasting your time and not living your college experience to its fullest. Lastly, I would say always be yourself, it's who you are!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior I would tell myself to take as many math classes possible. This is would make the transition way easier and allow myself to take more upper level classes. Finally I would tell myself not to worry about the school work because its not as hard as you think it will be. Just make sure you manage your time so you can make friends and more importantly succeed in the classroom.

When making the transition from high school to college, I did not have any trouble moving from home and meeting new people. However, there has been trouble getting over old habits. Having the ambition to do the things that I ought to do, like exercising and completing homework, is more difficult now that no one is there to see it through. Without that external authority figure, it is much harder to force myself to get things done and the impact of not doing those things is evident. I wish that I had the drive to put them into some kind of routine before coming to school. The more important thing that I would to my high school self is to say that I am worth it. I deserve to get into my major of choice because I am going to put the effort into it. I deserve to attend a good school. I deserve to be surrounded by amazing people. I deserve the life that I make for myself. This is most important because this kind of attitude creates an unstoppable force. One that cannot be reckoned with. That is the kind of person I should strive to be.