University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

If I could give any advice to myself as a high school senior it would have to be that things happen for a reason and that you will end up where you need to be. When I was applying to schools I wanted to go into the prestigious schools like Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and UNC Chapell Hill and when I chose USC I felt as if I was cheating myself. However, no matter what the school's name is if you take all of it's resources to your advantage you can succeed more than you could ever imagine. In a school where biology is not one of its top majors I have managed to secure an awesome research opportunity, and internship in Ghana for the summer and a trip to Costa Rica to help underpriviledged children just through the school's resources. I would just remind myself to always be kind and fair to others and try not to stress about the small things.

Knowing what I know now about college life If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would make sure that I filled out all the scholarship applications that I could've possibly filled out. I would have also begin working in order to save up because it's EXTREMELY expensinve. Especially for someone like me coming from the home of a single parent. I know that things will get better in the end though so I decided to go to college anway. I would also make sure that I join clubs and organizations so that I would be able to list things of that nature down when filling out applications for scholarships.

I would tell myself to be look for more scholarships. I never realized how expensive college can be and with my mom being a single parent it is very hard for her.

Its not as hard as you would expect, all you have to do is pay attention, and don't be afraid to talk to new people on campus.

Listen kid, I don’t have much time. The science holding this device together is only good for two hundred words. Life if easy for you right now, isn’t it? You’re laid back, pressure free, and counting down the days until you can get the hell out of this town. College is just around the corner, and you have no idea what’s in store for you. In fact, the senioritis that you and all of your peers have picked up might just be the death of you one day. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to save your life – in a manner of speaking. If you want to survive college, you are going to have to learn to crave knowledge. You need to discover an insatiable hunger to learn. And you must NEVER stop learning, not even while you’re on vacation. Read your books. Read them again. Don’t just regurgitate information. Those flashcards may help you now, but your critical thinking skills plummet into the abyss in the process. Isaac Newton invented differential-integral calculus ON A DARE. I encourage you to do your best. But I dare you to do better.

When moving in or out, be prepared to wait in line and expect it to be chaotic.

I have expericed some significant challenegs and adversity being an African-American male and I have observed and expericend they negative actions of others. I understand that I would first evaluate the program and college campus atmosphere beforw making an investment into any insitution. By evaluation I would make a trip to the campus and talk to fellow students and something people don't consider is talking to graduates and see how they have beneifited after their graduation from their institution. I would make stronger allinaces withing the communtiy and with professors so that I will be able to seek consultation when I am in need of assitance. I would talk to indivduals that are culturally different and I would bulid more healthier relationships with my colleagues and professors. Once I bulid that string alliance I can seek their help when I come fac to face with a challenege and I would receive a sufficent amount of help from them becasue of the relationship that I've established by removing myself from my comfort zone and bilding courage to experience new ideas. I would make firm alliances with the indivduals I know will impact my life.

I would go back and tell myself to stay focused and think about all the decisions that you make. I would remind myself to never give up and to perservere through everything that comes your way because you are strong, smart, and can do anything you set your mind to.

If I could travel back in time to give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to read Cal Newport’s “How to Win at College” before actually getting to college and to develop time management skills. Newport was a college student who interviewed many different successful students enrolled at a variety of colleges around America to find out what made them successful and what tips they could give to other students. He compiled his research in this amazing book filled with priceless advice on everything from room decorating to study methods. The information in this book would have made my first semester of college and my transition from high school much easier. I was devastatingly overwhelmed after the first two weeks of classes. I had so much to do with no idea where to even begin much less how to actually get everything accomplished. The first semester was difficult, but thanks to “How to Win at College” and a lot of personal trial and error, I survived. I learned how to manage my time, followed the advice and tips in Newport’s book and successfully completed my first semester making the Dean’s List.

I am currently attending Linn Benton Community College full time. The advice I would give myself is attend class every day and on time, do your homework, use others to study with and you will succeed.