Texas Woman’s University Top Questions

Because I did not finish college as soon as I was finished with high school, I would tell myself how much easier, how important college was to finish back then. I married my high school sweetheart and he finished college and got a very good job right out of college. He was transferred to several different states early in our marriage. I was able to take classes off and on at differet times, but college was put on hold many times. The longest time was when I was able to stay home and be a full time mother to my girls. Then about 4 years ago I was able to take a job at my daughter's elementary school. I so enjoy teaching there, my only problem is because I don't have a degree I can only be hired as a paraprofessional. I tutor kindergarten thru 5th grade during the day when they need extra help in all subjects. I love this job, but would like to do more, so I am persuing a Bachelors in General Studies and then a Masters in Teaching. College would've been so much easier had I finished college right after high school.

If I could really go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to actually save my money that I was getting at work instead of spending it on new clothes and shoes. I took money for granted and spent it every chance I got because I knew that I'd done well in high school and that I would get a good scholarship, but things did not work out the way I thought. Although I had the oppurtunity to go to any college that I wanted to in Texas, I really had no money to go. I actually depended on the graduation money that I received because I stopped working, which was not much. So I would honestly go back in time and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE my money because right now I am depending on loans and some family, which I also would consider a loan. I took things for granted and I should not have, but now I see. I will SAVE!

Dear Abby, Here are some tips you need to follow for college in order to survive. Sleep is vital! Even though the hours in school can seem less, sleep is very important. Don't drink sodas or caffeinated drinks! You are now independent. You have to contact your professors and make decisions your parents can't make for you. Make as many friends as possible. It's nice being surrounded by people who enjoy your presence. Don't let a load of work stress you out! Take one thing at a time. Remember, working out is your remedy! Don't buy easy mac, you'll get tired of it quickly! And, above all, have faith. Know that the Lord is always with you no matter what. Best of luck, Abby (from the future)

Life isn?t easy as I thought it would be; parents won?t and can?t be there to provide for everything because of their own financial situations. Because of this, work has become my priority, resulting in me putting school off for a while. Be prepared before graduating because if you don?t do research you will get stuck getting in debt with loans and losing the chance of a great career. For the choices I have made after graduating has cost me the chance of becoming a firefighter sooner. My lack of money has been the cause of all these hardships. Use my struggle for a better future as an example of what not to do. Don?t make the same mistake of becoming me.

When I graduated from high school, I went to a community college. I thought, "ya know, I'll save my parents money and it won't be near as intense as a university would be." I was also working at the time, and after I finished my first semester I thought I should take some time off. One of my worst mistakes. It took me three and a half years to get back to college. If I could go back now and talk to my self as a high school senior, I would say, "take this seriously! Please stick with it! It is worth it! By the time you're twenty two, you'll be graduating with a degree! You could be a teacher and not have to worry about a crappy job anymore! You might even stay and get your graduate degree! The possibilities are endless, Samantha! You have to work hard and study hard! And when you get that first A, it just makes you want to work harder! You can do it, Samantha! Just stick with it!"

As a first generation student, I feel that the majority of decisions that I was making were questionable, and that wisdom and advice from an experienced student could have really help. Weather it was financial or adacemics, the need for further explination or acknowledgement would have prevented me from make certain consequences avoidable. The different ways of communicating a concern or a complaint with a roommate would have also made my living environment a tad more comfortable. The environment of your living quarts could really affect the amount of productive studying is recieved and just how affective one is in their resident hall. Lastly I think that having a social involvement in school has made a great exoerience my first semester and I would advize myself to become more involved in different organizations on and off campus. Whatever the importance was in the advice that i would give myself as a high school senior, I can not imagine not experiencing this first hand and taking away this in the process.

The advice I would give my "high school senior self" would be; forget the boys, apply for more scholarships, and that the course work is not at all like high school work, you actually have to study to do well. My last piece of advice would be to spend more time with and ask my father everything I ever wanted to know about him because soon he would be gone.

As a high school senior you should make a list of potential Universities you would like to go to and research the school and narrow the list down to the best match to your needs. Apply for Scholarships and Grants to help with the expensive Tuition and books that the University require. Volunteer as much as possible because this will look fabulous on your Application because it shows that you are helpful and dedicated to make a change for the better. Teachers are more than happy to write a word of recommendation for you, but it is up to you to request the letter. These are a few tips to make College life easier and prepare for the major change in your life.

Nicole from high school, I think it is important that I tell you that you really are not prepared for what it is really like. As much as teachers try to explain it, it is just a leap of faith and learning process that you really have to experience for yourself. I would tell you that you will be a little lazier and sometimes a little out of the loop on what is going on around you because suddenly the world has become so big, but you're going to do great. You are going to love college and the way it will change your life, I promise. Don't ever regret not going to that school up north, TWU is the best place you could have ever gone to. I promise.

I would of took some college courses in the summer or while I was in high school and be more social. Also, being involved in extracurricular activites and know that I should study more.