University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

I would tell myself that college is all about discovering who you are and who you want to be. Don't be afraid to try something new because you are afraid that you may fail. Even if you do fail, there will be memories and life lessons that you will take with you for the rest of your life. Remember that everyone else is experiencing the same transition and learning the same lessons. Let this commonality bring you together. Three years after all of these things happen, you will still grin at the silly mistakes and assumptions that you made while transitioning into college. College is life in a microcosm. It is an exercise in trial and error that will repeat itself for your entire life so you should learn to enjoy it.

I would try to be more open and outgoing in classes. Now that I have learned that most everyone in my classes are looking for study partners and the like I realize that if I were just a little more open minded and outgoing that I could have made a lot more friends in my college career, and probably could have done better in a few classes with the help of other classmates. I am glad that I chose to go to USC because there are so many people willing to help me including teachers, alumni, and other students. Most of the time all it takes to get help is simply asking!

Will first I tell my self to put more money aside then I actually did. I apply for more scholarships in my senior year than I did and probably would have been more involved in extracurricular activities.

I was tell myself to think more about what I wanted to do wth my life and to always look for the positive side of things. It is important to look for the positives because if you don't the negatives will always get you down and make college life that much harder. I would also like to tell myself to start being organized and managing my time well because if you don't go into college knowing how to manage timew wisely, college can kick your butt!

Go ahead and think about what you really enjoy in life, and use that when deciding what courses/major you will have. I'm sure you already know this, but I'd like to put it up-front in your mind: college is about taking control of your life and leading it in the direction you want it to go, likely not the direction that seems easy or that is suggested by other people. Keeping this in mind, along with having the will to succeed, you will be happy with the decisions you make in college and you will be setting yourself up for a life that you will enjoy.

I would advise myself that as a freshmen there are two vital parts of transitioning into college. The first being to not let yourself loose first semester to party and do all the crazy things you imagine college being about. Even though parties and going to bars are easy ways to make friends, all the excitement keeps you from performing as well in school. My second piece of advice would be to stay calm and level-headed because you will experience a ton of life-changing occurrences through your first year and being able to sort your way through life and not get caught up in the chaos is a huge help. Developing trustworthy friendships, not just being friends with partygoers will make or break your year as well. I believe the friends you make in college will be your friends for life, and the high school friends that you maintain a relationship will continue to stay with you through the rough times.

I would definitely have taken the SAT and ACT tests earlier so I would have had more time to bring up my scores. Also, I would studied a lot more as a freshman or sophomore in high school to bring my GPA up more for my junior and senior years.

The most insightful advice that I can offer to parents and/ or students is to visit a college and see how the students treat one another. A big thing that is easy to notice is whether or not the hold the door open or hold the elevator for you. Also see if you notice how social students are walking around, does it feel like everyone knows everybody, like a big family kind of vibe. This doesn't mean that the school is small, just if the students are united. Being in this kind of environment makes the whole experience easier and more enjoyable. Someone can make life long friends in that type of open and easy-going environment.

I would explain to them that first you want to figure out what is your major. Then after you have completed that research to see what school are ranked top for that major. After you have done that look at the statistics of that school like employment rate after graduation and others. Finally see what finacial aid they offer and what scholarships you can apply for. If you feel that you are undecided on your major try a local community college to see what is out there and what options you have.

The best advice I could give to students and their parents would be the same advice that was given to me, follow your heart. With that being said, I advise going to the different campuses and asking questions. The student should be able to feel at home on campus, because it will be their home for the next four years. As far as making the most of your experience, once you have settled in, get involved. This is your school now, be a part. By being involved in the many events, organizations, and activities, you will make the most of your experience. Be careful not to overload yourself though. By doing these things, you are sure to have a great experience. Hold On, the time will fly by.