Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Firstly, I would encourage my past self to apply for more scholarships. Even though I have lived in the United States for 13 years and in the state of Ohio for 12 years, I am not eligible for FAFSA because I am not a permanent resident, meaning I had to apply to colleges as an international student. Furthermore, internal scholarships that are provided by The Ohio State University are rarely bestowed to international students. Attending college for one year has put my family in debt and we find ourselves in desperate need of scholarships. I could have avoided the current frantic searching for scholarships had I applied to more last year. Additionally, I would also fortify myself mentally, and tell myself to never give up. College can be very trying and challenging at times, especially when one is taking difficult courses alongside very intelligent and disciplined students. Even though my confidence withered away at times, I persevered through it. Upon finishing my freshman year, I felt accomplished not only academically but also socially and mentally. If I had braced myself for an onslaught of work I would have been happier and more confident towards the beginning of this year.

Take high school very seriously as it will give you a major advantage once attending college. The more you accomplish in high school the more it will translate to the college world.

I would say to myself and any other high school senior to learn as much as possible about the field you want to study. College become much easier and more enjoyable the more certain you are about what it is you want to do. Make sure your finances are in order, because you dont want to add any unnecessary stress to your life. Also, be sure that once you get to college you are ready to get involved and meet people. It is a good idea to start now. Get outside your comfort zone, and begin to talk to people you dont know. When we were little kids we were always taught not to talk to strangers, now that we are adults, the opposite is true. Especially here at Ohio State is is important to be good at meeting new people and to have the ability to get involved with different activities and groups of which you have no previous aquaintances.

If I could wind back the clock of time and give myself some advice when I was back in high school I would tell myself that I need to pack a lot of pants and t-shirts! Being that Southern Adventist University requires me, or even Andrews Univeristy, requries you to wear pants during the school year. I would tell myself to work harder on scholarships and grants to help pay for college. If I could wind the clock further back in time I would tell myself that start doing scholarships back in my junior year if possible. I would also tell myself to trust God more. He is ultimately in control of my/our financies. He is creator, redeemer, my "Go'el" as the Hebrew word puts it. I would kick myself in the rear for not telling myself these things, and one last thing, I would tell myself that I should've put more work into my freshman year at high school then what I did to get a higher GPA and do better on the ACT than what I did. These are the things I would tell myself

The choices made today create the life lived tomorrow. I wish that I had gotten this advice as a high school senior. After graduating high school last May, I was utterly thrilled to embark on the city, dorm life, and the various opportunities for self-development, education, and fellowship that are presented at the university level. Simply stated, I could not wait to see what the world had to offer outside of my parents' house. After attending The Ohio State University for a year, I have been reassured that college is a great place for personal growth, education, and new friendships. However, there are a few aspects of college that I did not understand or expect prior to being a student here. Namely, I did not fully grasp that being on my own meant being responsible for every decision that I made, big or small. After being in college for a year, I have realized the importance of making morally sound and beneficial decisions in life. I know that if I want positive things and privileges in my life, I am responsible for taking every step down the road of success. Life truly is whatever you make it.

The advice I would give my high school senior self would be "don't be afraid to study anything!" When I first started college I thought that I wasn't smart enough to major in something that had a strong science core, but now I'm doing it and realize that if I put the work in I can pass any class. Since I didn't have enough confidence in myself to major in what I really wanted to, I wasted three years working on a degree I knew I wasn't happy with. I was uninterested in my classes and couldn't see working in the field the rest of my life. I would also say to my high school self, "if you don't feel like the major is right for you, change it! Don't just keep going with it so that you will graduate on time." I did this and ended up realizing that I just couldn't go through with the degree, so I wasted time and money pursuing somthing I knew I didn't want just so that I could graduate "on time."

Make the transition with a positive, open mind. These years are meant for exploration, learning and understanding. Speak up. Dont hold back. Go visit/research university of choice extensively. Don't let yourself get behind, buckle down from the beginning. Have fun! Time management and self discipline is crucial.

If I could advise myself as a high school senior, I would remind myself to be grateful. I once bore a lack of gratitude for the opportunity offered by my college education. Though I appreciated the financial assistance provided by my parents to help send me here, when I applied to college, my dreams were centered on the prestigious schools I'd once heard about. Always a high achiever, enrolling at the university most impressive was my goal. My attitude was challenged when I was accepted at the less romanticized university where I'm now a proud Buckeye. Initially disappointed in where I found myself, I struggled to find motivation to take full advantage of my education. Reading about two Sudanese refugees who recently graduated from Ohio State inspired a reality check. To them- and now to me-- Ohio State is a place where dreams can come true, with hard work and an open mind. I've since embraced my univeristy, but I lost time pitying myself for not precisely following the path I once imagined. Going back in time, I'd remind myself to be cognizant of the huge blessing that being a student here is.

The transition from high school to the first year in college is such a monumental and stressful period that, in many instances, students feel that the decisions they make will forever impact them for the entirety of their respective lives. Being diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder at the age of 9, I have had a particularly difficult time in my life keeping a clear head and simply breathing before making decisions. Now that I have become accustomed to the rigorous, fast-paced college schedule, I am now more comfortable in my day-to-day life. However, originally, I was quite stressed every day and simply did not enjoy my early experience. So, should I be able to go back in time, my advice to my senior year self would be to relax and enjoy myself while still placing a firm emphasis on academics. While I am pleased with my scholastic performance in this first year, I believe I should have allotted more time for personal enjoyment and still done well. Obsessing over school work and daily routines may have kept me organized for academics, but heeding the aforementioned advise would have helped me take more from my first college year.

That foreign exchange you did? Make you sure you use every opportunity to learn, every opportunity to make lasting friendships and connections. You'll need it and the confidence that you'll have coming in will be even greater. It's a big place, and you'll just be one face of many, but don't let that get you down. Education is important, don't be skipping classes, or thinking it's okay to put things off to another day. Work hard and you'll be able to get through easily.