Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Dear 16-year-old Jemille, Congratulations on graduating early. You’re being pressured to go to college right away. You should take a year off while working to decide what you really want to do. When selecting your school, try to look at how well-rounded the program is. The difference between an education at CalArts and an education at CSUN is enormous. Both schools can be fun if you make them fun. As hard as it is, since your school options are close to home, deal with your folks until you graduate. I know this is not what you want to hear, but you will thank me. Most of the things that you are looking forward to in dorm life are exactly what you should be trying to avoid. Speaking of the wrong crowds, you should stick with your choir friends. They’re good people and they care about you. This new party group that you’ve joined is not going to take you anywhere. You will have some fun times, lots of scary times, and it will take you years to recover. I love you and please take my advice. You will thank me! 32-year-old Jemille

Work as hard as you can, and don't get behind. While it is important to have a life and enjoy your time at school, make sure you don't waste time and keep up with your classes. Cramming for exams doesn't help in the long run and setting aside time each day for course work and studying will make a huge difference.

The first term at school is the easiest time to meet people, because everyone is trying to make friends. Even if you don’t like the first few people you meet, there are plenty of other friendly faces. No one knows who you were in high school, so you can have a fresh start. You’re going to learn to work with people you don’t like, but don’t always trust first impressions. Go to your professors’ office hours for help. It may be intimidating and awkward, but it will be worth your time. Leaving people behind is a choice, not an inevitability. Make the choice not to leave the ones you love behind. Distance is difficult, but the important people have a way of keeping a place in your life. Time will fly. One minute you’ll be homesick wishing to be back home, and the next minute you’ll be home again and wishing you were back on campus. By not going home as often, you’ll feel more at home on campus and think less about your old life. Try something new, especially if it scares you. Odds are it will be a great experience.

Emily, I am writing to you from the future to tell you about college and things you need to know. So pay attention! The most important thing you need to do is take your studies seriously. I know you have the tendency to just hangout with all your cool new friends and blow off work but that is the worst thing you can do! The gpa you have controls everything, not only the scholarships you are ellligible for but also for applying into the program you want to study.Trust me, at OSU it is hard work to get good grades... there are lots of all nighters ahead of you! Another thing you need to know is that getting involved and taking all the opportunites that present themselves to you is vital. Volunteer, join a club, get a job, go to that dance recital that you think will be weird but will actually be the funnest night of your life! Just do everything you can because these four years will fly by and soon you will be out in the real world soon. Enjoy this time and meet new people everyday, make crazy memories and keep doing what you love.

If went back in time and talked to myself as a high school senior I would give myself advice about several important things for college. The first advice would be about working and studying longer/harder to keep good grades in college . For instance I would say, study everyday for 2 hours instead of 1 hour and don't study minutes before the class nor start an assignment the day before. If one doesn't study hadr enough everyday for their classes then they won't get a good grade and they maybe excluded from receiving student financial aid. The second advice that I would give to myself is to go get help from the teachers and ask for IEP acommodations such as, extended time for tests/homework. With out the help of IEP documents for acommodations or the help of teachers, the classes may be more challenging making it harder for a student with disabilities to succede. Finally the last advice would be to find a job as soon as possible to be able to pay for the classes incase if financial aid is not awarded. Otherwise, the eligilbility to stay in college will be more difficult to maintain.

Looking back, if there is one thing I could tell myself or any incoming freshman, it would be to make the most of every opportunity and to always give 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} in all that you do. All people and experiences are a chance to learn and grow and you never know what might have a lasting impact on your life. Some opportunities will only come knocking once and you don't want to look back and have any regrets, so follow your heart and your passion and never let fear or doubt get in your way. I read a quote recently that says, "The world is a university and everybody is a teacher. When you wake up in the morning be sure you go to school." For me, this says it all and truly embodies the mindset that I wish I had as an eighteen year old entering college for the first time. So, as I enter graduate school and a new chapter in my life, it is the advice I am giving myself now and the same advice I would have wanted to hear four years ago.

"Geeks", in the end, get the pretty girls . Be a "geek." Always listen to your teachers, they are there for YOU. take more notes now, because you'll wish you could write faster to take better notes. even though you might want to sleep in, WAKE UP and get to that class on time. Lastly, always smile.

Make sure you stay active throughout high school and keep involved in clubs and sports. Try to figure out what study skills work best for you and focus on perfecting that. Learning your study style early on will help immensely in college. Learning to manage your time and keeping organized in all aspects of your life will lower your stress level in college. If you can find a stress outlet, some kind of hobby or activity, college will be much more delightful. Also, do not be afraid to be yourself, try new things, and hang out with different types of people then you did in high school. New experiences are what make college so fun and exciting. Do not stress about school work and financial problems too much, enjoy the new experiences and friend making.

My biggest challenge in college was staying on campus. I was assigned to a suite, so I had three roommates and six other suitemates. One of my roommates was my friend from high school, but everyone else in the suite was unknown to me. The year was rough. All of the girls were different from my friend and me- they were all into partying and drinking on the weekends, and they even got written up twice. It was difficult living with girls that treated me like I didn't belong in the suite or just ignored me altogether. However, I survived the year. Part of college is learning to live with others and telling myself that got me through the year. Always be nice to others no matter how they treat you or act towards you, and don't change who you are. Another thing I struggled with is honors chemistry. In high school, I loved AP Chemistry and I assumed I would be able to handle chemistry in college. However, honors chemistry very difficult, and I considered switching to regular chemistry for the rest of the year. But sticking with honors chemistry and studying paid off in the end!

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would mention the following things: 1.)First and foremost, it is ok to make mistakes. 2.)College is a time to discover who you are and define yourself as an individual. 3.)Apply for as many scholarships as possible before starting college! Every penny counts! 4.)Do not be shy, the friendships you make in college can last a lifetime if you allow them to. 5.)Just because you are a freshman does not mean you cannot compete for an internship. 6.)Get to know your RA, they are there to help. 7.)You will learn most lessons outside of the classroom. 8.)If you are in doubt about taking a certain class, take it. It will probably turn out to be one of the best classes you have ever taken! 9.)Go to every class, no matter how early in the morning or late in the evening it is. 10.)Have fun! College should be the best time of your life.