Stetson University Top Questions

I would tell myself to be the best I can be and to try my hardest to to meet my goals.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to apply yourself more. I would covince myself to stay focused and study every night. Then my grades would have been better and I could have applied to academic scholarships while I was in high school. I would also tell myself to start researching on colleges that would be right for me. I would try to convince myself to explore different types of scholarships.

Make close friends right at the start. Dont get wrapped up in a social life, make grades your first priority. Get involved freshman year, dont wait till later, you will be missing out on a lot of amazing experiences and meeting great people. Make connections with upper classmen they will be a great resource for you. Remember to always have fun and learn as much as you can along the way.

Make sure you prioritize. Always place your classes before your friends. Keep in mind that your GPA follows you forever--friends come and go. When you are given an assignment, always go the extra mile and do research on the topic--even if research isn't required. One of the most important bits of advice is don't assume you know everything beforehand. Chances are you don't.

Start early, and make sure you have an open mind to all possibilities. Make a list of your goals, and see what school matches up to them. Then make the dream into a reality

Have fun with your parents when you start looking for colleges. It is an amazing experience looking for the place you will spend the next chapter of your life, so enjoy every minute of it. Make sure that you visit the schools you are interested in, because seeing is believing. You will know when you step on that campus if you are meant to live there or not. Make sure you ask lots of questions. Talk to admissions counselors, professors, and even students. All of these people will give you different perspectives, which will help make your decision even easier. Once you are at school, make the most out of your college experience as possible. Learn with an open mind and soak in as much information as possible. It's a crazy world out there and you'll need to be as prepared as possible. But when you have spare time, live it up. Have fun with your friends, go out and meet new people. College is the best place to make connections and build bridges. Live without regrets and laugh at every chance you can. Not everyone can go to college, so appreciate the moments you ive in.

Throughout high school I never knew where I wanted to go to college. I grew up in a small town where just graduating high school was a big accomplishment. However what I did know was that I wanted to find my own path in life. Don't settle for less when it comes to your education. Try things bigger than you thought you were capable of. I applied to many colleges and even though my SAT scores were not perfect I still made my application reflect who I was inside. Colleges really don't just view you as a test score. So get involved, show what your true interest are and apply for that Ivy League school even if you think your scores don't make the cut. If you are truly a great fit then they will select you regardless of your scores as long as your grades show that you have to foundation to do something with what you've learned. I got waitlisted at my dream school even though all my teachers and even my guidance counselor told me I didn't have a chance. I still gave it a shot, and it made all the difference.

My first piece of advice to parents and students is that college is not for everyone! Some students are not mentally prepared for the freedom and responsibility that comes with college. Too many of my friends from freshman year flunked out or dropped out because they realized college wasn't for them. So students: Be prepared! Along, with you extra long twin sheets and fake ID, bring some wisdom, some responsibility, and a drive to do well academically. And Parents: Be prepared! Your college students don't need to hold you hand anymore but along the way they will need your wisdom, your encouragement, and your approval. Please don't keep them chained to your hip and please don't drop them off at the curb with only a goodbye.

Study hard and play hard.

The college search is all about finding what is the best fit for you as the student. Make sure to look at schools of all sizes and compare them to eachother. This will help you notice the differences in each school so you can really find what you do and don't want to be a part of. Be sure to also focus on what schools are offering for scholarship and grant packages because you don't have to pay these back, however, for loans, you will. In addition, make sure that the school accepts outside scholarships from your high school, employer, etc. Finally, look at what majors and organizations are available and also consider how flexible the school is in creating new programs. A school that is willing to help you customize your future is a school that cares.