Spring Arbor University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I definitely would because there would be quite a few things that I would tell myself. One of them being that all of my homework that was due for that week, I would get it all done by the Sunday before. I would do this because if there were any big projects or additional homework added on to my load then I would have the extra time to do it; and I would also be a lot less stressed out if I had done that. Another thing that I would tell myself is to appreciate the time with my family and friends while I still had the time to spend with them. I am an hour and a half away from home and even though its not that far I still get homesick and I miss my family sometimes. So I would tell myself to take advantage of every second that I was with my parents and sister because I would miss them very much once I went away to college. These are two of the most important things that I would tell myself.

Listen up, high school senior: It's okay to not know exactly what you want to do, no matter how many times you will be asked in the next 4 years or so "What do you plan on doing with your life?" It's okay to not follow your high school friends to the university that they think is perfect for you. It's okay to not worry about loans and how you will pay for school (that's what you have to look forward to after you graduate college: paying them off). It's okay to dream big: who says you can't do something? There are ways to improvise. You only live once, so why not make your college years the best years of your life? Take advantage of campus activities, sports, and community living: most of us won't be able to do these ever again. Go to class: this isn't high school...you're paying for it. Step out of your comfort zone and gain the priceless experience of it. Make connections and network, because even if you don't know what you're doing, someone else can help guide you in your misdirection.

Regard the next four years as a privilege. While developing relationships and having fun are valuable aspects of college, do not pour all of your time into your social life. Do not neglect the reason for which you are furthering your education: the continuation of knowledge towards a specific future. You will write many papers, read many books, take many tests. Each assignment really does count, and it really does work out better for you if you begin the work prior to the night before it's due. Engage your mind in your classes. Take the time to consider the material you are reading and studying and truly grow in knowledge. You will change in these next four years. Look forward to building strong relationships, growing in knowledge, advancing in maturity and time management. Do not squander these next four years.

I would tell myself to get better prepared not only for college, but for life itself. I had to endure some hardships when it came to selecting a college and paying for college that I would go back in time to tell myself that adivice. I would also have worked harder in school to get much more scholarships in order to pay for school as well.

College is a chance to start over with a clean slate, in a sense. In my case, I went to school 14 hours away from home and knew absolutely nobody upon entering college my freshman year. Knowing what I know now after 2.5 years of completed tertiary schooling, if I could go back to my very first day I would advise myself to be the individual I desired to be. Throwing off any former labels or stereotypes I may have received in high school or elementary school, I could have possessed any kind of character or personality traits I wanted. After all, nobody knew who I had been for so many years prior to entering Spring Arbor University. Therefore, if I were to make the same transition again, I would simply start over and allow myself to become who I was created to be, without hindrance.

It is going to be fine. It is a lot more work and you will sleep a lot loss but you will be able to do it. Save money and get ready for a good time.

I would tell myself to be open to other people and new experiences. I was incredibly nervous to transition from high school to college. I'm really close with my family and the thought of leaving home terrified me. I'm still not a big fan of being away from home, but I've made some great friends through my university. I would tell myself to not be nervous to meet new people. I would encourage myself to take leaps of faith and not to worry about what someone else might think of me. It's important to be yourself from the very beginning; let others know who you are and what you believe in. You'll make friends for who you really are and they'll love you. I would prepare myself to love others more unconditionally and accept them for who they are.

Get out there and talk to people - be social because everyone else is looking for a friend too! As far as grades, just stay focused and you'll do great! Sure there's a lot of work to do but you're a hardworker and you can keep up with it. College is way better than high school and the people here are a lot less shallow. You're going to love college. Just be bold, have some courage and don't be afraid to look people in the eye and say "Hi."

I would tell myself that I need to learn to be more open. College can be a lot of fun right from the beginning if you force yourself to try and make new friends. I would also say that it would be a good idea to go over the rules of the school, to make sure that you are willing and able to follow them. Along with this, I would suggest talking to a few people who already attend the college of your choice, to see how they like it. I think I would also suggest that you would plan to go home more often than you would think you'd want to your freshman year. Being away from home for a long time, especially if you're not used to it, can be very stressful.

In giving advice to parents and students, I would make sure the student knows a little about what he or she wants out of life before determining a college. I would advise high school students to do some type of day on the job before determining the career path he or she would like to follow. It is very difficult at a young age to know exactly what you want out of life, so a student needs to be very careful about determining where they want to go. One great principle to follow when making a life changing decision is Define, Learn, Do. Define what you want out of life, learn from someone who already has what you want, and then do what they did. This is a very sipmple principle to follow, however, it can make the world of a difference if applied correctly to determining a college. For example, a student should interview someone in his or her perspective job field and also interview someone who attends the perspective schools that have a program for that specific job field. Asking the right questions to the right people is key for students looking to attend college.