University of Southern California Top Questions

Arielle, you cry and you worry that you won't get into any college. Your grades are amazing and many schools will love you. Even though you wanted to get as far away from home as possible, you chose the closest school that you applied to and you know what, you love it. Being close to home is kinda nice and the environment is anything but surburban. In college you open up to many different types of people and learn as much off campus as you do on. The workload that you took on in school hinders your perfect social life, but guess what, you make it through coming out as a well rounded student who went out maybe more than you should have, but have grown because of it. Your final year of school you will find yourself jetsetting throughout Europe skyping the love of your life back in the States. GET EXCITED, the transisition to college is going to be one of the easiest things you have ever done, because USC is one of the greatest schools in the world.

Dear Gabriela, College will be one of the most exciting stages in your life. Although you are worried about leaving home, do not hesitate because living in the dorms will enrich your experience both academically and socially. You will always have somebody to help you on a seemingly impossible math problem and a good friend to confide in. When you begin your first semester, make sure you visit your professors during their office hours a couple of times during the course, so that they can get to know you. This will benefit your grades, help you network, and they will not hesitate to write you an excellent letter of recommendation when you need it. Classes in college are not hard if you manage your time correctly, and realize that unlike high school, everyone around you is there to learn because they chose to attend college and are paying for the best education. This will, help you put into perspective what is important, and make you realize that school needs to be a priority. However, make sure you make time for social events; because this will help you get back to your work with a clearer mindset. Best of luck! Gabriela

I would tell myself to stop dwelling on the future and enjoy the present more. During my first years of college I had trouble enjoying what was currently going on in my life and making the most of my experiences. I am more confident about my future now and should have been able to do this before. Thinking about the future is important but enjoying the present is the key to happiness. It is an important thing to consider when you are that close to your future and on the brink of change once in college.

It's a totally different world without the structure of high school. Time management becomes crucial, and you need to focus on making sure that you get the essentials done before tackling anything else. You will invariably bite off more than you can chew, but that is to be expected. Persevere when things seem bad, because even if you don't believe it you will make it through. You have much more freedom than you can realize, but this comes with a responsibility out of which blame rests solely on you. Look for the good people to be friends with. Even if you are not sure about something, but you know you want it, go for it, because you don't want to always wonder what if. Have fun, keep safe, be studious, and try to enjoy the smaller things. Also, watch out for the late night food runs - tempting as they may be you will regret eating immediately after you are done. Oh, and everyone talks to their parents, so don't feel like you are the only one or are being a wuss for doing it. Finally, hold on to what you know is right.

The advice I would give to the High-School-Senior me would definitely to stand up for myself and to have the confidence and ability to say NO to people when they're making me do something I don't want to. Along those same lines, I'd also tell myself to learn how to tell when someone is being manipulative by making me feel sorry for him/her, and to learn to not take anyone's B.S. that way. I would tell myself to not base relationships just on looks, because if you become someone's boyfriend before getting to know his personality, you're going to get in trouble. And related to that topic, I would tell myself to be more perceptive of my relationships with my boyfriends, and to be better able to tell when it needs to end, instead of letting it go on too long, because once again -- that just causes trouble. Also, I'd tell me that formatting your answers correctly is just as important as getting the answers right in college classses. Lord knows I've lost a few points that way.

As a high school student it is difficult to imagine yourself as an independent, mature adult with responsibilities. You live at home and and rely on your parents to supply you with food, shelter, cash, unconditional love, and support. Things are taken care of by your family so it leaves you to live in the moment. Without responsibilities that go beyond studying for tests and perhaps keeping your bedroom somewhat neat, there was no need to think about deadlines or finances. The best advice I would offer myself today is to have listened more carefully when my parents tried to convince me to focus on my studies more. I would definitely inform me that attention to details such as specific deadlines are extrememly important not only for school but in life. Procrastination is a very poor choice as people love to trample over procrastinators and leave them behind. While I've definitely taken on more personal responsibility as a student at USC, I am still haunted by some poor study choices made in high school that cost me to prove myself at a Jr. College with a 4.0 and scholarship opportunities. I have learned this lesson.

Looking back on it, I don't regret the choices I made transitioning from a high school student to a freshman in college. It was tough, but I would want to tell myself to have fun, but be more aware of the choices you make before you consider having fun. Think about why you are attending a university that costs over $50,000 to attend and consider the consequences. Make sure to do well but also go out there and try new things. Try to get involved and meet different people so that when time comes, you'll find your real friends like I have found today. I dont think there is anything I can tell myself that would have necessarily prevented me from making the mistakes I did freshman year, but it would have helped to know that the stories are true; once you get to college the style of teaching is different, the baby-ing is gone, and it is all about individuality. I would have told myself to realize that I am no longer a little girl entering college, but that I need to take steps on my own and also take accountability for all my actions.

Get more involved on campus. Even if you don't make friends for life it's better to have them on campus while you're in college than to just see them once a week when you go out dancing. Stay focused on figuring out what it is you want to do, and take more advantage of the resources USC offers like the career center.

I suppose I would say to be strong, be fearless, but at the same time be humble and dont stress.

Hey, Jade. Don't try to be someone you're not. Life is just going to get harder and you will have to make some very adult decisions on your own. Don't doubt yourself because you are a very smart and capable. It is going to be an adventure and a never-ending learning experience. Enjoy it! Play Hard! Study hard!