Texas Tech University Top Questions

Going back to the 2008-2009 school year when I was a senior at Coram Deo Academy in North Texas, I would not tell myself a great deal about college except that it would not be as easy as graduates before me suggested. Because I attended a college prepatory school for all of middle and high school, I believed I would be completely ready for college, and this was verified by others who graduated before me, went to college, and felt that classes were easier than in high school. I would also tell myself as a senior that I need to plan to get more involved in university life, which would make me work harder on my studies. I have come to learn in college that I work better under pressure. I should have gotten involved in more activities on and off campus at the beginning of college, rather than sitting idle in my room and putting off the assigned reading and homework for classes.

Look closely and carefully because the choices you make now affect your future. This is a big decision and you should'nt take it lightly. Make sure you research the field of study you want and pick the school that can offer you the most to achieve your goals.

I would tell young self to work harder in my dual-credit classes because it effects my future G.P.A. I would also tell myself to look more in-depth at different colleges because there are a variety of different things that some colleges offer and others don't. I would also tell myself to put more consideration into the possibility of going to college closer to home, because of the problems that being far away from home cause. Towards the endof my senior year i knew where i was going to college but i didnt know exactly what to expect or how to handle certain things, so finally i would advise myself for help from those around me who knew what college is like instead of trying to do everything on my own and making mistakes.

Fortunately, I was able to attend a college preparatory high school and learned early on the importance of balancing your time and studying. If I hadn't, I would be telling myself to make sure and attend class every day. Take good notes and read over them every night. Please don't procrastinate because it only makes studying for tests that much more stressful. Also, don't be afraid to raise your hand in class or ask a question. Professors are there to help me succeed and they welcome any questions. In the beginning, it will be hard to balance new friends, new atmosphere, new routine, new independence, but you MUST be able to find time to study, study, study. Don't be afraid to stand up and set a good example for your friends. Start a study group. Attend a study group. But, most importantly, study...you will be glad you did!

The main advice I would give myself is to do more to prepare myself financially for college. Looking back, I now realize I missed several opportunities to improve my qualifications for financial aid, such as raising my ACT score, or taking the SAT to get another score. I would also advise myself to apply for more scholarships. The financial aid they give you is really important in order to make school more affordable. Such awards won't cover the entirety of college. The only other advice I would give myself is to not take on a larger work load than I could handle. If you do and can't manage your time appropriately, there can be negative consequences.

If I was able to go back and give myself advice in high school it would have to be don't take your high school years for granted. I would advise for more AP classes because colleges look for students who challenge themselves and taking AP tests provide a great opportunity to walk into college with credit hours. Also, I would suggest taking advantage of the summer by taking dual credit courses at the near by community college because it helps in the long run in tuition and eases the stress of getting your prerequisite courses completed. After all of the college applications are completed set time for searching for scholarships, grants, or loans. There are unlimited sources where students can find financial aid, you just have to take advantage of your time in high school. The last thing I would tell myself would be that the hard work will pay off in the future and open the door for better opportunities.

I have learned that college is the nuts and bolts of the rest of your life. Not only do you learn to network with others, you gain skills for a successful career. College is never something that is going to detain you in any way. But, these are things that everyone knows about college. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school about college, I would say grab every opportunity you can. Know that you will make mistakes, and things will get better. Pick yourself up when you are feeling down. Be friendly to as many people as you can. Talk to an elderly person, not only do they have an endless supply of knowledge, but it warms your heart. Keep your friends close to your heart and your family closer. Finally, remember that you are so lucky to have this experience of going to college be sure to thank your parents for everything they have done to help you along the way, and soak up everything. College is a blast, and it goes by so fast, so hold on tight you are in for the ride of your life. :)

If I could go back in time and talk to my former self as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to complete more duel credit courses and AP classes. This would have given me more credited hours coming in to school and allowed me to graduate earlier. With the major and minor I am working on, I will need to take eighteen hours a semester as well as do school through each summer in order to graduate in four years. A smaller load each semester would be beneficial in many ways. I would be able to hold a part time job to help pay for school and I would have more time to study for important exams. It will be hard work and I can do it, but I wish I would have known to take college credited classes my senior year in high school to make my path to graduation easier.

After being in college for a semester, I know what it truly means to make the transition and adjust to the college life. If I were given the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would discuss the importance of time management, responsibility, and long term goals. Since college is usually the first independent time in a young adult's life, learning to manage time wisely is key. With all of the different activities and distractions occuring on and off of college campuses, making sure you prioritize your time is very important in order to be successful. Independence in college means that you don't have your parents or guardians looking after you all the time and making sure that you are doing the right thing. This is when being responsible for yourself and your actions is necessary when making smart decisions. Also, college is the next step in preparing for a career, so it is important to consider your strengths and interests in order to figure out what path you want to take. Ofcourse, you don't have to know your career when you begin college, but it certainly helps to have ideas and goals!

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to remember to be more open and not as quick to make assumptions about others. College has helped me understand that I come in contact with many different people and there is no way I know what another person is experiencing. The actions of others are directly related to their current circumstances and it is easy to judge unless I take a step back and try to remember that their life experiences can be very different than mine, thus creating a behavior that I might considered out of the norm. In other words, I would advise myself to increase my understanding, empathy and patience for others.