Northeastern University Top Questions

I would tell myself to relax. Every high school senior is so stressed with the idea of getting into college, leaving home, starting over, making new friends, and succeeding in classes. My transition was difficult at first of course but after awhile I started to fit in smoothly. But I was harder on myself than I ever should have been throughout the whole thing and worried too much about things I shouldn't have. I would tell my younger self to relax, be yourself, and give yourself a break sometimes. I would also make myself get involved earlier on to meet more people that have the same interests as me and make the transition a little bit smoother. And last but not least, have fun!

The advice I would give myself is to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Being a Pharmacy major, I wish i talked to students who are currently in the same 6 year program I am in. I would ask them about their experiences, how they like it, and ask for more information about the program. I would definitely tell myself to visit the school and its surrounding. I would then ask myself if I could see myself being there for the next 6 years and if I would be happy. I would do this to all the schools I was applying to and then make a chart comparing the pros and cons of each university. I would then make my decision and try to make the best out of it and have no regrets.

With the knowledge I have now about college life, I would have endless information to share with my past self. Most importantly, I would tell myself that I would perhaps fair better at a college that is known more for it's creative programs rather than their business ones. There are many other colleges in Boston that I could have applied to, and I would remind myself to keep looking at them before deciding on Northeastern. Knowing myself the way I do, however, I know I would probably still make the same decisions. Therefore, I would have to impart the most important bit of wisdom that college has bestowed upon me: if none of the internships in your field offer any sort of pay, there is a solid chance that your field will never deliver a decent pay after graduation. It may have been better if I could tell myself to rethink my major and perhaps study somthing that would translate into a more stable job that I would enjoy doing. Looking back it seems that the best I could offer myself would be to think more seriously on what it is I want to do with my life.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it is that stress does more harm than good. True, there are some situations that seem impossible to get through, whether it be a paper deadline, class registration process, or even meeting new people. If I could go back and visit myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to have faith that everything will work out in the end. Life isn't over because you forgot to turn an assignment in on time, nor is it over when the guy you like doesn't want to go out with you. So don't wear yourself down worrying about things you can't change. Have the wisdom to change the things you can. College is a time for new experiences. Just be yourself and ride the wave of life. Life throws us curve balls at a rapid pace. We just have to learn to dodge them.

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was a high school senior I would say, "SLOW DOWN!" Looking back, I think I was in such a big hurry to get to college that I didn't take the time to truly appreciate the time I had left in high school. I would also assure myself that the transition to college, while it can seem daunting at first, is really not so bad. I'd say, "Erin, you made new friends in kindergarten, obviously you'll be able to make new friends here too! And yes, you have to be much more independent that before, but there isn't anyone working at your college that doesn't want to help you succeed in any way they can." And finally I'd throw in, "Good luck! Be yourself. Just keep working hard and keep your head up high and you're gonna be just fine."

If possible, I would tell my former self that it would be wise to room off campus for the first year. Campus living is convienent but overpriced. In addition, I would have advised that I should have applied for more scholarships, grants, or financial aid. Any little bit would have helped. Another tip I would have given for my first year would have been to buy books online at half.com instead of at the school bookstore. Used books are just the same as new but half the price! It seems as though any advice I could give pertains to finances...and that is because college is expensive. I have found that out first hand and I've learned that in order to make it out without massive amounts of debt you have to learn to be thrifty. Without the stress of money, it's a lot easier to concentrate on school so the bulk of the advice I would give would involve how to save it.

May 8, 2007. Graduation caps flew through the air as hundreds of camera flashes erupted in the crowd. Happy tears streamed down mothers faces and slighty shocked, though happy, students hugged each other and stood for photos. As I caught my falling graduation cap, I felt I was ready to fly the coop and begin the life I thought was awaiting me. Naive? Certainly. Ambitious? Oh, absolutely. Appropriate expectations for what was to come? Definitely, no. If given the chance to pass along some hard-earned wisdom, I would say only this: be gentle with yourself. College is a place where growth is not only necessary, but unstoppable. Inherent in this growing period, is plenty of pain and angst to accompany it. I thought I was abnormal, and I truly believed no one else struggled as I did. Given the opportunity, I would not want to take away the struggles I had that first year of college, I would only remember to be gentle with myself, allow myself to lose my mind a little so I could grow it into something more. "Be gentle," I would say to my overeager, 18 year old self, "and enjoy every moment."

At this time senior year I had already been accepted to all of the schools i applied to. Once i recieved all of my acceptance letters I visited reach school and then made a pro's and con's list for each. That is how i chose Northeastern University. I was very nervous on the first day because i didn't know anyone. I was petrefied that I wasn't going to make any friends and I was also nervous because i was assigned to live with all engineers even though I did not want to. But once i got settled in my room, my roomate and I went around and met people and they were all very nice. Then i vertured upstairs to the health science majors' floor and thats where I meet all my close friends. Everyone thinks they arent going to make friends but you are just kind of thrown into the situation and friends just happen really, it is nothing to get worried about. Also, joining clubs and participating in sports helps a lot as well. I am on the girls club lacrosse team and have made a lot of friends that way.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to not be so selfish when deciding what school to go to. All I was interested in back then was going to a school away from home in a new and big city. I did not concern myself with how much money school really costs and how that would hurt my family financially. I chose to go to Northeastern University because it was in a big city and because it offered the co-op program. I have since learned that many schools offer internship programs comparable to Northeastern's co-op program. If I could go back in time I would have applied to a few schools closer to home because they would be less expensive or at least enroll in schools that offered me better financial aid packages. I was living without a care in the world and as if money meant nothing to me, but things have definately change since then. My father is currently a displaced worker and my mother works multiple jobs to keep the family going. I feel as if I have burdened my family.

I would tell myself to be sure to be very social and know that the first people you meet aren't going to be your best friends for the rest of school. I would tell myself to be very open and try to get invovled and no worry about what other people think. I would also tell myself to enjoy every experience that is out there and embrace the new environment in which I had decided to put myself. I knew Boston was far away and I was unsure about coming here all the way from California, but I would tell myself that I could do it and that not even the weather could keep me from loving it here.