Utah State University Top Questions

Making the transition from high school life to college life is hard. Learning to be responsible and independent aren't things that come easily. You suddenly have to learn what to buy at the grocery store, be responsible to go to class and keep up on the homework, and to find your own way socially. There's times that you'll miss home and want to just give up on college. But if you remember to just push and focus on the reasons you're there, you'll learn a lot about who you are as a person and how you can continue on. That's what college is all about. While it is about learning and growing academically, it's also about learning and growing personally. If you keep that in mind college can be one of the best times of your life and a time where you'll look back and see how much you can change after high school. Study hard, make time for friends and family, and don't forget to learn about yourself in the process.

Dear Myself as a High Schoo Senior, I want you to know that you are strong and can do anything you put your mind to. This is my number one advise is dont make a decision just because, really think about if a particular school is really right for you. Life will go on if you start school a semester later then you really want to. Next is to make sure you save a apply for many scholarship even if they dont really apply to you, you just might get them. Stay with your original plans. You have really thought about those and you have had your heart set on them for so long, they are what you really want to do with your life. Lastly, going to a big school shouldnt be your number one priority getting out into the world and going to school for what you want should be. Get out there and make the best of life because it is going to happen if you like it or not. Carlee Johnson In the Future

Don't give up. Everything that happens now will explain itself in the future.

Make sure you study hard and research each college thoroughly. Make sure to plan out how you will pay for school. In your freshman year dont get overwhelmed with the new freedom at college, it could ultimately be your downfall. Staying involved on campus will also help as a stress reliever from the daily work load.

Remember to put yourself out there and have fun. Move out and live on campus for the experience. Be involved in any and every activity that you can. Most of all, don't stress the little things!

I could take weeks trying to tell myself all that I wish I knew now. First of all, I would have gone and either volinteered or tryed to visit more areas that I did not know about. For example tried a medical feild because there are so many jobs that I did not even consider because I did not know anyone in that feild in my life. Second, I would have tried harder in classes not just getting better grades but actually learn more of the material so that I could achieve more acidemically in the faster pased college classes. I loved sports and lettered in three varsity sports my last two years of high school and did not realize that I should have carried on into college because no one in my family played college sports. I feel I would have loved it and focused more in college because I would have had more structured time. I do like school but homework is another area that I wish I would have spent more time. Last I would remind myself that it goes fast and that working hard now will bring greater rewards later so do all you can now.

When I was a high school student, I was completely unaware of all the materials and skills I would need in order to be successful in college. I was unfocused, floating through life without a care like a hot air balloon, choosing not to worry about scholarships or internship opportunities much. Now that I am in college, I would go back and warn myself how important it is to be versatile, not just in school but in your chosen study area. It's vital to apply yourself to learning and being open to new ideas from all areas - being closed minded serves not only to alienate yourself from the fascinating cultures and people you could learn from, it also ensures that you will never broaden your horizons and limits your ability to qualify for many job opportunities. Employment is a constant worry for many students, but what I didn't know back in high school was the importance of seeking ways to gain job skills long before actually applying for a job. Now that I am attending university, I know for sure that I would tell my past self this: Apply yourself to lifelong learning.

I would tell myself not to risk my education for what I thought was fun. You have your entire life to play, but the longer you live in the world the harder it will be to go back to school. You will acquire bills and maybe a family that need you. This can make it challenging to go to school cause you may have other responsibilities that need your attention. You can make your life much easier by entering college right after high school. We all want to be done with school and live our own lives. Those lives are much more difficult without an education. You and your family will struggle without a degree, both financially and enjoying your career. If you truly want to make a difference in the world you have to do something you will enjoy. College is the opportunity to find yourself and discover your passions. You may think this wont be you. I just want to take some time to myself. Please remember that alot of people will loose themselves on this journey, and it can be hard to find your way back.

If I were to travel back in time to my high school self, the most important thing I would have to say is to not hide away in my room at home or at college. I would say that you need to get out and play games with the girls on the floor of your building and to be more social because the school year goes by faster than you think and all too soon is move out day and you probably will never see those girls again. That would be the most valuable piece of advice that I could give my past self because it is very applicable to me in the present and the friends do move on in life and will move away, leaving you wishing you knew them better.

College was this fantastic, new experience that I was completely unprepared for. I was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and then moved 2,000 miles to Logan, Utah all by myself. Things were so overwhelming at first that I would sometimes experience anxiety that just made things all the more overwhelming. If I could go back 4 years to give myself advice, I would tell me to "calm down!" Most of my freshman year is a blur from rushing around and feeling nervous all the time - and the only thing on my plate was Rugby and 14 credits worth of classes. By the time I graduated, I held 3 jobs, coached rugby, and was averaging 20 credits a semester and was breathing far easier than I was when I was a freshman. I would tell myself that it is far too easy to get caught in the un-important and think that I am overwhelmed when really all I need to do is close my eyes, count to 10, then get back to work!