Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

I would have told myself that it is okay to take your time to find friends at school. You do not have to get along with everyone you meet. You do not even have to get along with the girls on your floor. Penn State is a very large school with tens of thousands of students. You will find people who you can relate to, who share your interests and who want to be your friend. I was very distressed during my first year about friendships. I have come to terms with the fact that I will gradually meet the people who belong in my life. Despite roommate problems and other friendship issues, I will be okay. Finding your place takes time. I have learned to be patient.

Dear high school self, do EVERYTHING you can to get into dual enrollment; it will save money on classes and books. Applying for scholarships at the college of choice and outside scholarships online will be helpful and should be at the top of the priority list. Do not blow money on things that aren't a necessity, such as, parties and random road trips to amusement parks. Meet with the college and high school advisors as much as possible and make sure you are on the right track with applications, essays, and scholarships. Never be afraid to ask questions and become aware. The future IS important; do not shrug this stuff off. Yours truly, trying to graduate college self.

Always have an open mind. There are a lot of opportunities that will present themselves, and keeping an open mind will allow you to become something you might have never even imagined. Also, work hard. I know that everyone tells you that, but there's a reason. Work when everyone else is sleeping. Work when your friends are out. Work, work, work. But also, keep in mind that you need to play a bit. So, let loose every once in a while. Set apart a day of the week where you forget about everything related to school and just enjoy the moment. After all, you are in college. These are the best years of your life. So work hard to achieve the best you can be, but enjoy the simple pleasures of life, because once you're out in the real world, you're always going to yearn for the years of the college life.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. It's easy to make new friends when there are thousands of other people also trying to make new friends. Also I would not worry so much about doing well in classes because if you try hard enough it will either work out or you will change your major to something you can do; either way it will work out.

Don't be afraid. Follow your dreams, make friends, and do things that you might be too shy to do. Be open to new ideas and accept differences from other people. Don't stay home and do nothing. Go out and do something. Hard work is always necessary. Socializing is important, but you must get your work done. Nothing that is worth having comes without hard work. You will be surprised by your own potential.

Although I was aware of this in high school, if I had viewed the journey to find and believe in myself in a more serious light, my transition to college would have been less emotional. In high school, many of girls traveled in packs, liked the same hobbies, and shared the same opinions. If one friend liked Britney Spears, she would feel more at ease if her best friend listened to her music as well. The comfort in knowing that someone was supporting you and proving that you were not the only one standing was extremely satisfying. Once I entered college, I came to realize that finding someone who was exactly like myself was extremely difficult. Instead of basing my feelings off of what my friends felt, I had to form my own beliefs from my own experiences with the world. I had to believe and trust in my decisions without the guidance of my friends. Basing my desires on my friends’ beliefs was highly unacceptable. I needed to become my own person and mold myself from my independent experiences in the world. With this experience, I felt less alone and enjoyed venturing into areas of my life.

If I could go back to high school there are a few pieces of advice I would give myself. One would be that I should try to be open to trying new things when I got to school, to join more clubs and give myself more opportunities to meet new people and to give new things a chance. I would also tell myself to make sure I stay focused on academics, but also to have a social life. You have to balance the two in order to have a successful college career. You need to stary focused on academics and get good grades, but it is also important to make connections at school whether that be life long friends or people that can help you out in the future. The last piece of advice I would give myself would be to make sure that I leave some time for fun and stress relief, there are some things you have to take seriously, but never to take things too serisouly and get overly stressed out about small things, sometimes things might not work out how you wanted but you just have to go with it sometimes and not get too stressed.

I would tell my self to focus and plan ahead. Many students including myself didnt plan early on about college and scholarships. And at the time i didnt realize how important my grades would be. I would also tell myself to be more involved in extra carricular activities

Rebecca, as your future self with one year of college finished, I would like to give you some serious advice. As I'm glad that you are going to college to better yourself there are a few things you should know. First, high school is a cakewalk compared to college. To succeed in college you have to want it and do all the studying and assignments that come with it. Second, study hard in high school and take the classes that will benefit you in college. As you anticipate a future in the medical field I suggest science and math classes. Third, you can never study too much outside of class. Utilize the random 10-15 minutes that you have waiting for something else to happen, they help greatly. Fourth, go with your gut. If you aren’t positive about your major, change it. Lastly, have fun. Going to college is serious but you need to take time for yourself, too. Taking everything too serious will cause you to burn out and your grades will suffer because of it. Rebecca, I hope you follow my advice and it leads you down a successful road. Do what feels right, good luck!

With the understanding and experience that I have attained from my time in college, I would advise my former self to become more familiar with the various degree options and how they would apply to a career in a related field. Additionally I would advise myself to pursue a dual degree/double major in a closely related field. With a little more advanced planning, it is very possible to obtain two degrees in the time that it would take most students to earn one. All it takes is a bit of committment and course coordination. A dual degree would not only benefit my future career by providing an additional wealth of related information, but also allow my resume to stand out above the rest when viewed by a potential employer.