University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

There are so many things I want to tell you! I know the first year of college was tough, but I've got some advice for you that will make it just a bit easier to navigate. My first advice is to take only what you really need to survive in college. It is easy to convince yourself that you need that huge tapestry wall hanging, but, trust me, it will fall off the wall, lots of times. Instead, fill your wall with pictures of the family because you will miss them so much more than you think. My next advice is a bit more serious. Please don't worry about what you are going to do after college and what major to choose. This a time in your life when you are allowed to explore. Take classes in disciplines that are foreign to you. Try a theater class or an art class, even if you think you are not artistic. The things you learn about yourself can be life-changing. Do not be afraid that you aren't doing it "right." You will find your path in time to graduate. Lastly, call home...often. They miss you terribly!

I was only a senior 6 months ago but I think I'd tell myself to chill out. Nothing is terrible and everything will be fine. I wish I would have put more effort into my pharmacy technician class and tried harder to get a job. There are a lot of things that I would do differently but mostly I wish I could tell myself to tell my mother that her constant hovering wasn't helping and was just making me more stressed out.

Get involved in the University. It makes it much easier to make friends and experience new and amazing things. Although friends from high school are still good to have, do not rely on them too much. Try hard to branch out and do things you wouldn't normally do. College can be an amzing time in your life to open doors and network, but at the same time, never forget to work hard on your studies. I know that on the surface college does not require as much written work or as many essays as were required in high school. However, do not underestimate your classes. Every class needs to be studied for, because unlike high school there is not as much classroom or one on one time with teachers. Always work hard. But be careful not to overwork yourself. College is a balancing act, you must remain psychologically happy while at the same timeworking very hard and not stressing yourself out too much. Just always stay true to yourself and be happy.

Apply to colleges early in high school, and those for scholarships too.

There's not much I would tell myself. Probably not to listen to what everyone says, especially the people in the family. The ones that did go to college majored in English, not science, they will have no idea what you're going through. The ones that didn't go to college don't know what they're talking about in general. Be prepared to make a lot of mistakes and even more embarrassing blunders (although you should be used to that by now). College is the perfect places to embrace your goofiness and where you can finally be you. For once, make friends that are cool with who you are and are okay with your weirdness. Finally, don't let anyone tell you what to do while you're at college especially the family, again. Actually, just forget what the family tells you in general and do your own thing. This will be the only time you can break free from them and create yourself, by yourself. Really, just learn to be true to who you are, as cliché as that sounds.

Don't be scared. It all seems a lot harder than it really will be. Remember to keep up the good work after first semester and try not to make yourself sick during second semester by not taking care of yourself. Try to be social. Not everyone is like the people that you knew in highschool and you have a better chance at fitting in here than you ever did there. Try to sleep regularly. Really, I mean it. Don't panic over your school work. Panic has never done anything for you before and it won't now. Talk to people. Spend more nights out and doing things and less nights in your room by yourself. Be at least a little bit assertive with your roommate because you do share a room. Most of all remember that you can do this. College is going to be better than you can imagine so start getting excited.

Do not stress the small things. Stay focused in class, keep making good grades. The friends you have now will help you become a successful student. Study as much as you can and stop procrastinating, you're going to love every second of it.

Well I’m about to enter my second year of college but before I do that I need to go pay my high school self a little visit. When I go back in time to the beginning of my high school senior year, I’ll have to prepare myself for the future. The high school Bryson needs to know that his senior year of high school and freshmen year of college are very important. I would tell myself to stay focused and dedicated to my studies. I would also tell myself to make a balance schedule between school, work, family, and friends. Knowing this information from the beginning would’ve been a great help!

My advice is to make college your own--make your own decisions because in the end you are the one who is going to live with them. Realize that you are in the infancy of adulthood and this opportunity to define and shape your future comes once. Making mistakes and deliberately placing yourself outside of your comfort zone is crucial to building your character and discerning what you truly want (and don't want) out of life. There is no substitute for experience gained through mistakes, so make them, and don't be discouraged when you do because chances are, your mistake in college will serve as a reminder to make the better decision in the future.

The transition from a small high school to a large university was a culture shock. The lectures were twice the size of my high school graduating class and I was overwhelmed, convinced that everyone else was sure of who they where, what they wanted to be, and were unafraid to try or do anything. Looking back, I realize that my lack of confidence was exasperated by the time I spent online, distracting myself with social media. If I could, I would go back and tell myself to unplug the laptop, delete my profiles, and step out from behind the computer screen. The negative effects of social media were two fold. First, I was comparing myself to false representations of my peers. I hadn't realized yet that no one's life is really how it looks on Facebook; that everyone carefully edits their profile to present the most attractive and interesting version of themselves. Second, my laptop was an anchor that kept me glued to my desk seat instead of out exploring the opportunities unique to college. Moving forward, I am careful to limit my time online. College – and life – is too brief and exciting a time to waste.