Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Top Questions

I would take advantage of every opportunity given to me.

I would tell myself to study! Study hard, study long, study often! I would tell myself to pay attention to details in school. The grades are everything. They influence the amount of money awarded to you and the attention you recieve from schools. Try to not worry about the social side of school as much and worry about the academic side more. Learn how to use my time and make better study notes. Pay attention to the Teacher they are only trying to prepare you for college.

SAVE YOUR MONEY! You'll need it to buy and maintain a car and to pay for your credit card bills! Also, practice your trombone over the summers. You'll lose ground.

If I could go back in time to my senior year of high school I would focus more on my academics and prepare more before each class.

Don't take things too seriously. Give yourself some time to relax. However, you must learn to manage your time. It is important to find a happy medium. Get involved in as many activities and clubs as possible. Those are the best ways to make new friends. Explore yourself. Go out to parties and have some fun. Get to really know yourself. You are just now becoming your own person. Live on campus. It's a great way to meet people. Be outgoing. Let people get to know the real you. Be active in class. Don't just sit and take notes. Use the campus resources such as the writing lab. If you have already have friends at at your school from home, don't depend on only those friends. You should branch out. Keep in touch with your parents. They love to know what's going on in your life and actually worry about you being away, and it is really hard for them to make the transition as well. Do your best. Have fun, but don't let up on your studies.

Do not rush your decision. Make sure you take the time to check out every college you are remotely interested in. You will be there everyday for four years and you want to make sure you college is wear you fit in, feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed. It is your new home. Plan ahead. Save money. There is more money that goes into college besides the tuition, books, and room and board. If you are undecided about your major, dont fret. There is plenty of time to decide, classes to help you, and people who are in your same boat. Try to stay involved. Every organization you join gives you more chances to make friends. Talk to people, but make sure you put your studies first! Most importantly, have fun! These are your last four years to be a "kid"..then comes the real deal. Life.

I would visit all colleges/universities that look appealing and maybe spend a weekend with a current student to get the feel of what is to be expected there. You can find out a lot about a university by spending time with someone who knows the place well and who knows about the on campus socail life. If you have a great experience sitting in on a course, learning more about the college, and getting aquainted with other students, you will have a great experience when you attend. In addition to visiting, I would also strongly suggest meeting with an advisor and disability services (if applicable). An advisor will help you decide your study plan and works best for you and disability services will give you accomodations for studying such as tutors, more time on tests, and help with study skills. Also look into where you will be living, this will give you an idea of what to be expected when the school year comes around as you head off and move to college.

The most important advice I could give when choosing the right college is to visit the ones you pick. You never know what a college is really like until you talk to the professors, see the campus, sit in a class and/or talk to students. SIUE wasn't my first choice for schools until I visited and loved it. Now I'm very glad I chose SIUE above the rest.

FInd a school that meets all of your expectations and don't settle for anything less. Once you get there, don't worry about what others think about you, and just put yourself out there. The less you worry about things, the more fun you'll have. Don't hesitate to ask questions or stand out.

When you decide which college to attend, do not base your decision on other people. It may seem like a good idea to pick a college that is close to your boyfriend, but later on down the road you will regret that you did not pick the college you really wanted to go to. Decide what is important to you and also what is realistic given money and location. To make the most of your college experience, live there, get involved, and talk to the people next to you in every class. If you have to commute, stay on campus from early in the morning to the evening. Go to class, if you only do this you should be able to at least pass. You only have four year (hopefully) so make the most of it.