Stetson University Top Questions

Save money and be prepared. College is expensive, it is no joke. Loans are serious, and financial aid isn't going to cover everything. I worked hard in high school, now in my first year of college, I would have told my high school self to work even harder. College is competitive. A summer job is necessary, and saving all the birthday money and spare change counts. Don't underestimate the 100 dollars and why you should save it. That money could make all the difference in college. Be prepared. College is one of the best experiences of your life. Make sure that you enjoy every moment. Here I am in second semester already. While enjoying college is important, be prepared for all the "free time" that comes with it. Free time is such an important necessity. Learn to balance school work and free time. Should you be watching tv or working on the essay that is due in two days. College is a lot of freedom and responsibility. Be smart and learn to balance the two. Don't stress out. College is worth every penny and every second. Work hard, and save. Success is imminent.

For once, the people you'll be surrounded by actually want to be at school and will actually try to learn. Which means you should step it up and actually try for once. College is a refreshing, sometimes stressful, challenge. Also, don't be so hesitant to make friends. Not only that but you (surprisingly) won't be moving again to new state- you'll actually be in Florida for a little bit. So far you're up to 4 years in this place. You're really going to miss the snow, but if you can get through college then you can go somewhere cold, like Colorado. Oh and you get your first boyfriend your Sophomore year- he's British, 21, ridiculously cute, nice, and a marine... and he just got a motorcylce. So when that sleezeball that you thought you liked stops talking to you for no reason during your Freshman year, don't worry about it. Keep your chin up and wait it out, a real man is just around the corner. It's okay to feel. College is more responsibilty and more work, but it's also a place to become the real you.

As a high school senior, I focused only on living in the moment, never the big picture. I focused on one test at a time, one homework assignment, one day, one period, and never acknowledged that soon my future would be starting with me as the only one to make it happen. If I could go back I would start applying for scholarships early, I would apply to as many colleges as possible, and tour campuses more often. Although I love Stetson University, I was blinded by my sheer love for the school, and chose not to look at the amount tuition would be for the year. As a result, I am forced to look at other options for the rest of my college life. If I would have started the process sooner I could have found more scholarships to help fund my college career, I would have seen more campuses to compare in my process of choosing a college, and ultimately, I could have found a more suitable route to take in creating an environment where I love my school, have a trying schedule to fit my education needs, and can afford the process.

Dear High School Senior Self, Take a deep breath! You are almost there! Applying to colleges can be overwhelming. Hearing the word college may also stress you out. This is why I emphasize to breathe. College is not as scary as you think. College is a new environment, a chance for you to be anyone you want to be. Take chances, be outgoing. Don't worry so much. The other students are much more friendly than you think. Don't shy away from new experiences, get involved. Being involved on campus really helps with the transition. Take risks and discover new things about yourself. Work hard and strive for your goals. You can graduate college! Try not to be so hard on yourself when you don't get the grade you want. Learn from your failures, and reach for your own excellence. So take a breath and enjoy the ride because your time in college will fly by. Sincerely, Your Future Self

If I could be a high school senior again, I would tell myself to start preparing early. Apply for as many scholarships as possible because it is insane how expensive college can be. Also, I would tell myself to look into classes as well as the professors that teach them. Talking to other students to see who to have as a professor and who not to have can make a huge impact on your workload in college. As a college freshman, one of the best things that I did was going into college blind. Meaning that I did not room with someone that I already knew. This forced me to get to know people around campus and make friendships I wouldn't normally make. Looking into clubs and organizations on campus was also a really good thing that I did. It got me involved and kept me extremely busy my first semester which helped me from getting homesick too much. In conclusion, I would tell my high school self to prepare to be blown away by an amazing college experience. It is already flying by and has been some of the best few months in my life.

The first piece of advice I'd give myself is to plan ahead for mistakes and accidents to happen. I'd tell myself to make sure I finish all of my school work ahead of time and save the money from my paychecks. Being granted total independence can make one feel invinsible, but when an obstacle is put in the way, having the extra time and money makes a big difference. The other piece of advice I'd give myself is to get into a healthy routine as fast as possible. As a college student who is probably working a part time job, being healthy and well rested is astronomically important. Establishing a routine can also help keep someone out of trouble and eliminate procrastination. College is the time to put the knowledge of the real world that parent's instill in their children to the test as well as learn new things. Learning new things can be a great thing, but keeping a level head and making better choices with your life is the best and easiet way to get through college.

If I were to go back to my high school self and give her advice there would be many different things that I would want to share because knowing these few things would have helped me in my transition to college. Most likely the first thing that I would tell myself would be that college is so much different from high school. No one cares about who you were in high school, whether you were popular, a jock or a geek it doesn’t matter when you enter college you are still a small fish in a big pond. Secondly I would say get involved in extracurricular activities, not only do they look good on a resume but they will give you a break from classes, studying and stress and they are absolutely the best way to get to know people. Lastly the most important tip I would give myself would be, the faster you learn to manage your time in college the more successful you will end up being. College is an amazing experience and overall you will end up enjoying it more if you are able to juggle everything that you want to do.

Be mentally prepared for the workload. Don't involve yourself in a relationship!

I would say do not forget to look back. I would also say do not forget to look forward. And side to side, especially when crossing the street. As light hearted as my advice may seem, it is very important advice that I did not get as a high school senior. My parents divorced when I was three. During the school year my sisters and I lived with our mother and grandparents in The Carlos Avery Game Farm. The summer months were spent working on my father’s dairy farm. I had an interesting, yet simple life. College was very different. I had chosen a private university in the city and I was the first of my siblings to go to college, so naturally I was very excited. I allowed myself to become distracted. I joined a sorority, attended fundraisers, and ‘social events.’ I changed majors, and schools, twice. I procrastinated on my homework and my grades suffered. I lost scholarships and had to withdraw. I had disappointed my family. Had I been paying attention back then, maybe I would be still moving forward. Instead I am going back to try again, but this time I have focus and determination.

Beware of people who would use you. College is a bigger world than high school, even if Stetson is a smaller campus. You can trust no one with yourself, there are people who would use you for their own gain. Your friends are not always your friends. Don't surrender your social life though, just be cautious. And don't give up your social life entirely for school work. Learning is the main purpose for going to college yes, but your mental stability is also important. Hang out with your friends more, get to know the people you live with more, be in the common area more. You can't go through life being a recluse. And hang out for that Mr. Charming, you shouldn't listen to what everyone says about them either. Because your perfect one is waiting for you, and you will find him! Balance caution, learn time management, and push the issue of bringing your dog with you more. Learn not to be so dependent, and don't panic so much about tests! Go to the sessions Stetson has for time management and study skills, use the resources! And go to the Counseling Center when needed!