Texas Tech University Top Questions

College is a time of new places and new people. It's a long tough journey but don't forget who you are along the way.

I would tell myself to make sure and start applying for scholarships right away, in the first semester of senior year. I would also advise myself to go straight to Texas Tech instead of taking a year at community college. The transition would probably have been easier straight to the 4 year college. I would tell myself to live in the dorms the first year, because they take alot of the stress of off students that are living away from home for the first time. I would tell myself to budget my dining bucks, because there are only a certain amount each semester. I would also advise myself to make my first class start at 9am so I could be done with class earlier in the day and have more time for homework and other activities. I would advise myself to bring my car to college, because it makes traveling and getting errands done that much easier. I would lastly tell myself to get a job immediately or as soon as possible after arriving at school, because you never know what expenses might pop up!

The advice I would give myself is to not be afraid. Balance your social life and academic pursuits equally, but never forget that what you're paying for is an education and not anything else. Making friends with people who respect your morals and won't pressure you to do anything you don't want to do is very important. Understand that college is different from high school and that you should speak your mind if you disagree with your professors, but do it respectfully. Get involved in clubs and take advantage of all the services your tuition pays for! Get the most you can out of your first year, because you'll never get it back. This advice applies to all four years of college!

I would want to teach myself about all the different opportunities available to me. I didn't know all of my options until I attended college. I love my school and where I am at right now in my life. The transition can be hard from some but coming in as a first generation college student I am so proud of myself and how far I have come.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would tell myself three things I wish I had known when I first started college. I would advise myself to learn how to balance classes and school with other pursuits such as social life and work. It is crucial to balance these things effectively, since focusing on only one will cause burnout and disinterest very quickly. I would also emphasize the importance of getting involved in student organizations, as this is the easiest and most natural way to get to know my fellow students. In addition, I would say to keep my priorities straight and to keep my thoughts centered on people outside myself and on causes other than my own. The best way to accomplish this might be to get involved in a volunteer service opportunity such as a soup kitchen, after school tutoring program, or an animal shelter. I believe these three things, balance, involvement with peers, and continual adjustment of priorities, are very important in adapting to a new phase of life, such as college.

If I could go back in time to my senior year, the first thing I would tell myself would be to apply to colleges before February. I missed out on being able to apply for many scholarships because no one advised me to do so, therefore my first year of college has been very hard to pay for. I would study a little more of the traditions because when I got to my college, I knew nothing. I would tell myself to get used to riding a bicycle because at the beginning of school it was a pain to get back into bike-riding shape. I would tell myself to be more open to people because in college it is very hard to be shy and have fun. Since I live in a dorm, I would have prepared myself for possibly having a roommate that doesn?t like sound when sleeping or goes to parties every weekend. I would also tell myself to keep away from 8:00 classes. Finally, I would tell myself to learn how to dance what almost everyone dances at my college, because at every party where there is dancing I usually look like an idiot.

When choosing a college best for you, keep in mind what you want most out of the college. For myself, I was interested in a Texas university that was school spirited with high ranking sports as well as academically recognized. I also wanted a comfortable campus to be able to go to events, sports, activities, as well as easily walk to class and find quiet study areas for tests. Texas Tech University turned out to be my pick in college and offered all of the above and more. I do not regret my decision one bit. Good luck for all those seeking a college education!

When trying to find the right college, make sure that you look for colleges that are focused on your major and have good programs within that major, also with a good financial price a year and, if possible, can support you with good finicial aid or scholarships. If you find a college and decide to change your major once you get there, then find out whether or not that college has good support for that major. If not, attend that college for a semester while trying to see if you can find another college to attend. Otherwise, if you like being at the college you have chosen despite the fact that the college doesn't have that great of a program for it, just ask yourself this question: "Better education or better enviornment?"

Just pick the right one for you... And do your homework on your chosen school

You want to find a school that you personally like. You have to give it a chance and experience campus life and off campus life. Find out what kind of traditions the school has and see how much pride the students, faculty, and staff take in their school and academics or the careers they have chose to fullfill their life goals.