University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

Dear Senior Amanda, I'm just here to add a few things to your list before you head off to college in the fall. You need to really start appreciating two things: mom and dad and home cooking. Mom and dad are not going to be there to help you build your resume up or to clean up after you. I know you appreciate them already, but this is just a double reminder. And home cooking.... I cannot express to you how much you're going to miss mom's chicken and biscuits. Home cooking becomes somewhat of a delicacy in college. Homemade baked goods that people bring back to school after breaks are precious and envied by all. But if anything, I want to reassure you that your hard work in high school will pay off. The fact that you already taught your self and practiced good study skills is going to make your college classes manageable and will let you have fun in them too because of it. And as a side note, don't get involved with anyone over the summer because there are lots of cute boys at college too! ~Good luck!

Girl, get your head on straight! You've been a straight-A student since first grade, and now is NOT the time to start messing up. I know how easy it is to get caught up in all of the parties and skipping classes and sleeping in, but you know thats not you and you're better than that. Finish what you started at the end of sophmore year. Just get your applications in, apply for your scholarships, and make that college money. I've always been the one to get homework and papers done early for classes, jus because I knew it would benefit me in the future. I've always thought ahead, thinking, "If I get this done now, I'll have more time to do math homework next week.". Or something along those lines, so it's not so much the academic advice I would give myself, as the actual experience advice. I'd tell myself to envision what I want, and just go for it. Don't follow the 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of freshmen who fail out of classes because they're wrapped up in the experience. Know what you want and BE STRONG. You'll be okay.

I'd encourage myself to be more socially outgoing. As a freshman, I was more timid in social situations, and I feel like I missed out on part of the college experience because of this; only recently have I realized benefits of being more involved. As I've made friends and become involved in Nihon Club, the Japanese student organization, I learned to put myself out there, to the point where I've been an officer of Nihon Club for three years, even serving as president for the past year. I'd also advise myself to be more financially aware. While I've held a steady job since freshman year, and have spent cautiously, I recently went on short trips to Japan and England and replaced my broken laptop--fulfilling, but expensive. I wish I had investigated scholarships in addition to those the state and university awarded me. Next year--my fifth and final--my current scholarships will expire after their four-year limit. Because I don't earn enough to cover school-related costs and have a brother also in college, my family and I are left with few options besides loans in addition to those I already have.

The main piece of advice I would give myself as a high school senior about making the transition to college would be that everything they taught you in school up until now was pretty much useless. Now this may seem harsh but when I sit in my classes surrounded by 300 other students while the professor talks at an unimaginable speed, writing every couple words I can actually understand, I think to myself, "THEY NEVER PREPARED ME FOR THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL!" There are no bathroom passes or make up work assignments, no "teacher workdays", or lunch times. Every time a teacher in high school says, "Now this is how the professors teach in college" is wrong. College is tough, but with quickly learned diligence and the strive for keeping your eye on the prize, YOU CAN SUCCEED! I believe that college is something that no one can really prepare you for because everyone's college experience is different. If you work hard, be yourself, strive for success, and wake up everyday saying, "I will conquer today, today will not conquer me", then you will succeed and you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

I would tell myself to never give up. The college life is worth it and it will change your entire outlook on life. I would let myself know about all the amazing people I have met in collge and that I should always leave time for some fun. I would tell myself to allow people to see and understand my scars, because while some people in your life will turn their backs on you when you need them the most, there are people out there who will love you and your scars. And, that while moving away from all the people you have known will be the hardest decision of your life, it will help turn you into a stronger and smarter person.

I would tell myself to get my time management skills down, so that it wont be a major problem once you get to college. When you think about how many hours a week you go to school in college compared to high school its much less but at the same time its way more distractions and if you dont know how to wisely manage your time then you will never succeed in college.

i would tell my self not to ge too comfortable with being lazy and do more work than is required to graduate

College is going to be amazingly wonderful with endless opportunities, so go ahead, go crazy, and do as many new things as you possibly can. Transitioning between high school and college is one of the most exciting, frightening, and character building shifts of your life. Enter with no expectations as well as an open mind, because college is nothing and everything you imagine it will be. Make use of all the resources and opportunities the college has to offer whether it is clubs, student government, internships, and the newspaper it does not matter just get involved. Meet as many new and interesting people each day you can, because you never know who could make an impact in your life. Study hard and do not let your grades slip or else we both know Daddy will bring us back home very quickly. As far as class goes get up, dress up, and show up prepared. The professors want you to do well but good grades depend on doing your part. Also, participate in class so your professors know you by name. Live it up in these years you will make memories that last a lifetime. And do not forget to SUCEED.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, the main thing that I would emphasize is the importance of staying focused. As an undergraduate, there were many distractions and, although I was fairly successful in avoiding these, there were many times where I lost sight of the true reason I was in school. Education, preparation, and experience are the main focal points I would discuss with my high school self. In addition to this, I would also encourage myself to explore other classes and areas of interest. I think that when I was in school, I was always under the impression that I would study art or learn another language at another point in my life. I now wish that I had taken the opportunity to do this in school because once I entered the difficulties of every day grown-up life, I realized how difficult it is to complete all the things I once dreamed I would.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I should have studied more to get prepared for college instead of taking the easy way and procrastinate on every essay or homework assignment. I applied for colleges, but my ACT score was miserable. My work ethic should have been better. I am not the study, hit the books hard, type person. Even though playing sports and doing school functions, I wish my GPA was higher than I expected. Even though it was a 2.8 GPA, thats average for me. That's telling me that I took the easy way out and I should have done better. Thats why I want to concentrate more on my studies when I am in college getting my physical education degree. I am excited to get my foot in the door and ready to get my life started on the right track.