Rutgers University-New Brunswick Top Questions

You mean besides the fact that college isn't easy? I'd say the biggest thing is GO SEE AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR! Rutgers is so big that it's easy to get lost in the crowd and take a bunch of wrong classes, like I did. Advisors aren't going to pursue you to figure out if you're doing ok. I mean, how can they? There are tens of thousands of students at RU. A few wrong courses can totally throw your groove off track and you'll end up spending a bit of time making up for your screw up freshman year. Also, freshman year is the year you really have to be careful about what you choose to prioritize. It's incredibly easy to get caught up in all the fun and forget about studying but if you screw up freshman year, let me tell you, it takes tons of work to make up for it. Balance is key (I'm sure this is true at every school) and after freshman year when you get into the flow of things, fun will come just as naturally!

I would tell my past self to not slack off during my last year in high school. While others believe that senior year is a year for relaxation and enjoyment, it really is not. By studying hard and staying ahead of the class in terms of grades, you actually ensure that you willl continue this attitude when you enter your college year as a freshman. Also, I would tell myself to not only study, but also relax. By studying hard, but also giving myself time to relax, I will be able to understand that by mainitaining a good study schedule I will make the maximum effort that I can when entering my freshman year. I would tell myself to understand that when in college, even though your are by yourself, you are not alone. You can attend study hours, office hours, and even create a study group with a bunch of determined students to help you stay ahead. Lastly, I would tell myself that besides from studying hard and creating a study group, participate in a club or club sport, as to allow yourself time to relax and also have fun and enjoy your college experience.

Relax. Take a deep breath. Diana, you've made it this far and you're going to go on to a whole new world. Living in college, away from your parents, on your own is exciting-and a little overwhelming. You're going to have more freedom than you have ever had in your life. Freedom to express yourself, freedom to meet new people and new challenges, freedom to decide who you are going to be. Take a good long look at yourself in the mirror. Are you are who you want to be? It's okay if you're not. One day, you're going to find yourself, understand yourself and you're going to feel so proud of all of your accomplishments and of the person you're going to develop into-and are still developing into! Take each day as it comes and don't sweat the small stuff. Keep a sharp, careful eye on the future and, please, don't let ANYTHING, your fears, your shyness, your quiet demeanor stand in the way between you being able to burst through the doors to your brilliant future.

If I could go back in time and could talk to myself I would tell my self to find some type of college class that I could take while I was in high school. I would tell myself to apply to college really early to get a great headstart. I would also tell myself to listen to all the teachers . Listen to what they say and to also follow up on every question that I had. Making the transition from high school to college has not been too big of a step, but I have learned to make wise decisions and to better myself through school. Starting early on college classes could have helped me a lot, but those classes was not offered to everyone in my school just to specific students i just think that if I would have gone to the college myself and sign up I could be in those classes. I would be ahead and not like an average student.

Be realistic about your finances. There are some things that are just not affordable and that needs to be taken into account.

I would apply to more schools and give myself a bigger choice instead of just going to Rutgers.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be more outgoing with other students. I was nervous about making friends when I first attended college, so I shut down and kept to myself a lot. I managed to make a few close friends that I know I will keep in touch with for years to come, but as a senior I would have liked to know that every college freshman was in the same boat as me. Not many people knew each other and that made it easier to make friends. I would have told myself to be open to trying new things and discovering new talents as well as broadening my friendships. I would have loved to know that making new friends and discovering new things was not as scary as I thought it would be.

As a high school senior I was terrified of making the transition to college life. What if I chose the wrong major, or the wrong college, or what if the excitment of college life will consume me and I will fail out of school! As a current sophmore of Rutgers University and a twice consecutive visitor of the Deans List, I think Bob Marley said the best advice that I could ever give myself, "Don't worry about a thing, because every little thing will be alright." I realized that as long as you're studying a subject that you are passionate about, there is no better motivation than your thirst for knowledge on that subject. As long as you keep a level head, time manage studying and social life, and are completely passionate about your major, there is no need to worry about anything. As a member of the National Honors Society in high school and a graduate with a 4.0 GPA, i should have known that I was well prepared for any curve balls that Rutgers threw at me. I just wish that I saved myself the anxiety, which is where my advice would have been handy.

If I could back and talk to 17-year-old me, I'll describe to her how wonderful college life is- but that it involves a lot of work. As a high school senior, I have been told countless times how much work college students engage in. To some extent, I've been used to it. I was enrolled in numerous AP and Honor courses, and I always focused on staying on top of academics. But it wasn't until I came to college that I realized how much more reading and writing there really is, and how there is always- always!- homework. I'll emphasize on how excellent time management is a must! But I'll also be sure to stress that I'll meet marvelous people and make fantastic friendships. In numerous ways, I have grown out of my shell, and I want the shyer, younger me to be very aware and excited for all that lies ahead for her.

I would tell my younger self to not worry about the little things that bothered me in the past and to be prepared for a much tougher, yet more rewarding, time ahead. College has been much more engaging and demanding than high school ever was, and I simply was not conditioned for the challenge in the starting years of my college education due to the relative ease I had with high school. Passing on this knowledge and providing the warning of what would be coming to my younger self would have benefitted myself as a person and my work ethic overall.