Old Dominion University Top Questions

This college experience as let me know that it is not the same as high school, the work will be harder and that even though you want to party and have fun, you have to study and do the work in order to pass the course and to be able to graduat on time. I have also come to understand to accept people from where they come from, I have been around people that have lived here but never from other countries and it is nice to talk to someone who also has different opinions and ideas about things that are different. It has been valuable to me to attend this school because it made me realize that I have potential to do something in life, when at first I had no idea what I wanted to do after school or what major I wanted to persue, the school helped me pick a major and told me what types of jobs I can get with the degree.

I have gotten the experience of a real college life, being in a town of people your age. (Being on campus-living). Lots of activities to learn how to be safer and smarter. Lots of differnt groups to learn and expand you mind from. I have also met many unique people and focused alot of my time on learning their stories and helping them morem so than just being a friend.

As soon to be a Mechanical Engineer I would have gone back and made sure I would have used my time more diligently. Now that I have co-oped with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center I know that there are opportunities I should have taken advantage of. Immediately joining engineering activities that relate to space and applying for internships. Be adventurous and look for extra ?curricular activities, volunteering and make time to explore the area. If you just open your eyes you'd realize the possibilities around you, so take control and don't be afraid. One of the most key things to remember is to not cut yourself off at just the classroom, if you have a chance to learn anything whether at work, from a friend, an adult giving you advice or a professor, listen and absorb what they are saying. In every opportunity now I try to literally squeeze the most of what I can out of it. You are entering college not just to learn and get a degree but to get the most out of your 4 years, whether that includes joining a research team launching satellite payloads into space or joining a club activity.

My advice to myself would be to have taken more time to sit down and look for scholarships. When I was a senior i felt that making sure i had my plan together for prom and other events were more important than sitting down and looking up financial aid. If I could go back I'd tell myself that while all of that is an important part of your senior year, you have to think beyond that and prepare yourself more for what is ahead of you. I didnt think that financial aid was that important, but now that I am experiencing it first hand I know that it makes your college life more enjoyable and less stressfull. So, I'd simply ask myself to be more prepared for my freshman year of college, because it is a completely different life than high school.

If i could go back in time back to highschool, I definitly would have chosen to do more AP work. I feel now as though i didn't try my hardest. I should have really taken 5-7 AP classes throughout my highschool career to get college credit. I really should have gotten these credits because now i am trying to get a degree in criminal justice as well as a certificate program with information technology. When you have these extra credits it also allows you to go directly to coursework that deals with your major. So you don't have to deal with your GEN ED's.

If I could go back in time to give my high school self some advice, I would tell her two very important things. The first thing I owuld say would be to look for scholarships. Scholarships are so impotant and I regret that I only applied for a few during my senior year. I didn't realize just how expensive college is. With the costs of textbooks, meal plans, and tuition, college can easily break the bank. I would tell myself to apply for every scholarship I could find, because although it might take a while to write a bunch of good essays, it is completely worth it. The second thing I would tell myself is to get out and be more involved in college life. When I first came to college, I found myself very reluctant to leave my dorm room. I found out about half way into the semster that you've got to explore the campus. I wish that I had met more people that first semester and tried more new things because there is always something to do. I would tell myself not to be afraid of going out and maybe joining a club.

Advice no.1: In the midst of meeting people and making relationships, learn not only about yourself, but also learn "people." Don't close yourself off, but make yourself available to welcome friendships. This makes academics a little lighter. Advice no.2: Come to college with ambitions centered around understanding your potential. Don't come to college to get away from home or to party it up. Come to college with believing you are making history so that in all the things you do, whether it's studying or hanging with friends, you are doing it with intention. Simply be intentional and purposeful. Advice no.3: Train yourself to master the art of time management now instead of later. Learn the way you learn best before you get into college so that you won't find yourself procrastinating and then incidentally flunking a class. Advice no.4: Do not depend on your advisor or counselor to tell you anything. Use them as a resource but do not depend on them. Pay attention to deadlines. Sometimes classes can only be taken at a certain time, or that certain majors only accept new students at a specific time. Pay attention to them!

Summing it up in a few short words: do the required reading! The transition will be much easier if you actually do your homework and the readings for your classes. You will feel much less overwhelmed, and much more positive about your experience as a college student. I also recommend that you learn time management. Learning to manage your time is a key to success in college. But, as mentioned, it is not only important to make time for studies. You will also need to make time for your personal well-being. If you learn how to maintain both your studies and your personal life, you will most definitely make your college career and absolute success!

I would tell myself to make sure that I stay on my finances because it is very hard to manage money when in college. If I knew this prior to starting in the Fall, I would've made sure I worked to save up money because accounts get low, and there is no money to come back once it's gone. I am now in a financial bind and it is definitely not fun!

I would be giving myself a long list of advice. Be more involved with extracurricular activities on campus and be more social. Go out and have fun more often outside of the dorm room. Be more open-minded about musical preferences and dancing. Try not to dwell on the past with high school worries. Try to work in a job, it helps with time management. Keep up with all classes and don't slack off because the class isn't interesting.