Roanoke College Top Questions

Dear High School Self, Knowing what I know now at the end of my freshman year of college I have a lot to tell you. No matter how prepared you think you are for college you are never prepared. High school tries to prepare you but in reality it is all up to you to prepare for college life. Number one, if you are a failing a class or think it is over whelming do not be afraid to drop it, you are not a failure for dropping it! Learn studying skills before you go to college; it will help you when you have your first big exam and have no idea on how to start to study for it. Whatever you do, stop your procrastinating habits before you enter college for they will only harm you in the end. And most importantly do not be afraid to try things you never thought about trying before, whether its joining a sports team or a club. Take heed to my advice. Love, future college self!

If I could go back in time and speak to my high school self I would tell myself to prepare for the real world. Being in college gives you a new sense of responsibility. Be prepared for more homework and having your mind learn things you never even knew existed. Also to try your best at being social because having at least one friend on a campus like this makes all the difference.

The hardest part about college is being able to afford tuition and college expenses. With that said, do not let your decision be based purely on Money. Although money is tight, and at times it will seem almost impossible to be able to afford. If you let money dictate what you do in life you will never be happy. College is about more that your GPA, no matter what any one tells you, although it is very important it is not the only thing that matters. Growing and becoming an adult is what college is about. Learning not only academically but also socially. You will meet people from all walks of life, by learning about there experiences and how they grew up and where they are from you will gain a better understanding of life. Just because you grew up in Chicago doesnt mean every one has the same view and ideals as you. By surrounding yourself with people who come from different walks of life. You will become a more well rounded person.

Apply early, apply local and for public schools. Also I would tell myself to visit the campuses of the schools. And maybe also take summer courses at some institutions.

If I could go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, I would ensure that I learned how to study properly and developed a great work ethic in academics before college, including avoiding procrastination. Now that I am a senior in college, I realize how much time management and organization play into succeeding in college. A good work ethic is the most valuable thing a person can have when attending college.

Dear Self, I know right now you're stressed out. You are ready to graduate and get the hell out of high school. You're thinking to yourself, "This doesn't matter anymore. In a few months I'll be walking across that stage and then going off to college to start some more boring courses and get a degree." However, you couldn't be any more wrong. Why? Well, The school you CHOSE was no public highschool. You CHOSE a place of HIGHER education - a school that encourages you to do your best, to step OUT of your comfort zone. A school that holds your heart - Roanoke College. Self, what you need to know about college is that it is NOT full of ingreatful students who do nothing but sleep through a class and earn an "A++." You chose a school where you have to study your ASS off just to get a C. What you will realize when you get here is how good it feels to succeed, and how MOTIVATING it is to fail. So self, don't say that high school doesn't matter, because without it, you wouldn't be where I am today. -You

I would tell my self to make the most of high school. To find a balance between studies and friends. Also I would tell mysel to start the scholarship search early. There are so many scholarships available to high school juniors that I was not aware of.

Never let anything get you down. You are strong enough to take on the world. You're not alone. There are people out there who want to help you succeed. You applied to colleges alone, you got accepted, the world isn't ending, it's begining. You're about to start a new life in a new place with new people, you can start over, or you can let the past make you stronger. You don't have to take on the world alone. College will be great, you'll make friends there, you'll take the classes you want, you'll start your own life where you can make everything work. When it feels like the world around you, the changes that you need to face, are sufficating you, that will make you stronger, don't let it bring you down when the pressure comes. You will learn to be independent but that doesn't mean that you're alone, you can lean on people, your friends, your family, to help hold you up when you feel as if the world around you is crashing. You made it to college, you did it on your own, now keep going.

Looking back at my college life and what I thought it would be like when I was in high school there are a couple things that I would want to warn myself of. The first, be confident in yourself and what you do. Don't feel like you need to change who you are to be liked by others. You will be able to find your own group on campus and fit in without changing yourself. The second thing would be peer pressure and believing in yourself enough to know that you don't need to do anything you don't want to do. Lastly, I would tell myself to have more fun. You worry too much about getting good grades so that you will have a better future with graduate school and although that is important, you have to explore, go on random adventures with friends, take advantage of things you may only have a chance to do once in a life time, and study abroad. Do the unexpected and don't regret anything.

I would advise myself to look into more scholarships to help pay off my education. I never truly understood how much it is to attend college, and I am truly grateful for my parents who have helped me get to where I am today. By looking into other scholarships, I would have been able to help my parents out more and cause less stress on my family who works extra shifts at their jobs to make sure my family has enough money to fund the best education for me as well as for my younger brother.