Northwestern State University of Louisiana Top Questions

Increase your study habits and don't treat it like high school. Make wise financial choices until you get a job. Get close to people with goals and determination. Don't waste time doing things that won't benefit you or make you happy in the long run. Finally, stay safe.

In truth, I do believe my senior year of high school went by too quickly. I was afraid of leaving home and not being around my mother, who supports and loves me unconditionally twenty-four/seven, everyday. When I first toured Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, I was nervous at first, but the welcoming environment I had encountured when I had arrived quickly dimmed my fears. Now that I am a sophmore at the university, I have learned that leaving home and everything you know may be scary at first, but I know that I can always return to my home to visit. Making the transition to college from high school is a life changing experience and one that I believe is very enjoyable. With this transition, I have managed to make connections with people from different parts of the country by building life long friendships. In conclusion, if I had the chance to go back and talk to my high school self, I would tell myself , "Do not be afraid of change because everything will be okay. Just stay true to yourself."

One of the things that people tell you all the time is that college is a completely different creature from high school. That, at least, is certainly true, but what they don't tell you is exactly how. Your entire life will be thrown into the air - if you were the nerdy kid who was bullied in high school, no one else knows that. If you were the jock who everyone loved in high school, no one cares in college. You are who you make of yourself, so if you want to abuse your newfound freedom to do nothing but sit in the dorm and play video games, that's fine; people will treat you as the person you pretend to be. If you're friendly and talk to people, they'll happily talk back, especially because their lives are just as upended as yours. Finally, remember that your professors are people, just like you. While they might be tired of new freshmen, if you introduce yourself to them during their office hours, and if you are persistent with talking with them individually on a weekly basis, they will be far happier to help you than they would be otherwise.

If I was a high school senior and getting ready to attend college there would be a lot of advice I would give myself. I would save more money to make sure I could make most of the ends meet and also have some spending money left over. I would focus all of my attention on campus life and get out to make more friends. I would be more involved in campus life such as various activities, sports, and organizations. I would allow myself a little free time in between classwork and always include myself in functions around the campus. There are so many things that I would tell myself, but above are just a few.

My #1 change would be I would not spend so much money applying to colleges. Instead I would have saved the money and just planned on going to junior college getting my general studies done, which is what I ended up doing. My parents spent a good $3,500 on applications and SAT preparation, which I didn't really need. I think everyone just gets caught up in applying to school and SAT scores, and in the end, it didn't really matter for me. You will still get into a good four-year school without SAT preparation or even the highest scores if you attend a junior college. I believe the application process is just a way for schools to make money when you consider the majority of the applicants do not get accepted. Also, instead of trying to be involved in everything in high school, I would concentrate on just one or two things. I was involved in everything ASB, AP classes, theater, cheer, choir, NCL and in the end it really didn't make a difference. So do what interests you without thinking this will look good on an application because it probably won't matter anyway.

The advice I would give myself if I were able to go back in time is nothing. I know you may be thinking why. Well, everything that I was expecting college to be was it. As a senior, I was happy to attend college and go into that next stage of life. I wouldn't go back into time because the way college turned out to be for me is the way GOD wanted it to specially for me. I was prepared to learn, to party, and make new friends. The college life is fun and a very good learning experience; literally.

I would warn myself to take college seriously, to do the absolute best that I could academically, and to hang in there because four years passes a lot faster than I could ever imagine. I would advise myself to take advantage of any scholarships possible and to have confidence in myself. I did the complete opposite when I entered college six years ago. I was not confident and did not realize the potential that I had. I dropped out of college and went to work full time. Along the way I had a son and quickly realized how essential an education would be in providing him with the life he deserves. I am a full time nursing student and have raised my grade point average significantly since the first time. I know that my college journey would have been much easier if I would have finished school the first time. I would not have to juggle school, work and a child but I do believe that my son is the motivation that I did not have back then. If I could do it all over again I would take school seriously and receive my degree before I had children.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would push myself more than I did. I would have told myself to apply for all the scholarships available to me. Along with that I would have left my little city and attended one of the many great universities I got accepted to. I would tell myself to be more responsible and independent because that's all college is about. In college you don't have the teachers reminding you what is due and extending the deadlines, instead you're all on your own and it is up to you if you want to succeed. You must have the want and drive to succeed, because you are now in the real world. You can either climb your way up or fall straight down.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transitions, honestly, I would tell myself to first of all, listen to mom! She knows best! Second, even though you didn't have to study in high school, it is not that easy in college! You have to do the homework with out mom telling you too. You have to study without someone forcing you too. Also, just because you are sheltered by mom and you couldn't do whatever you wanted, when you get to college and get out in the real world, YOU have the choice of what you will do with your time. Going out to bars and clubs isn't all that great anyway. Getting you degree and getting a great job is what means the most! You are on your own in college!

First of all, I would tell myself that college is nothing like high school. When you come to college, you gain complete freedom. This can be good and bad. You do what you want, but you have to find that perfect balance. You cannot be so concerned with grades and have no social life. College is all about finding that perfect balance.