Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Your college major does not decide who you are or what you want to do with your life. Your major does not necessarily determine the job you will have. Dabble in classes that interest you and you will find what's best.

"Dear Self, Stop stressing about college and only apply to one school. When you finally arrive at college, be nice to your roommate; she will be there for a whole year. Also, be friendly to all the girls in your building, especially your hallway (they may become your bestest buds). It's also nice to smile at random people- talk to them too! Join yoga classes!! When it comes to academics, please do not stress out; there is help available. Your professors care, so mingle with them after class, and do not hesitate to ask for help. It gets awfully cold in the winter, so don't forget your scarves and gloves! Lastly, just keep in mind that college is sooooo much better than high school; you have so much freedom- it is absolutely beautiful. Oh and do not forget to call your parents often- they do get worried. Just remember, you will make mistakes and regret decisions, but it's life, just keep living! Trust me you will have fun, and cry, and get stressed out, and hate the world, but it's all worth it! Smile, be happy, "success will come to those who seek it!" Love, Yourself"

For starters I would let myself know that it's okay to put yourself out there. Don't stay cooped up in your room all day studying. It's okay to have a balance between studying and socializing. Most importantly be open to new ideas and ways of life. There will be no one who isn't interested in your story because everyone is unique. Oh and start getting to know your professors right away, go to office hours and let them know who you are and what you want out of their class. As for staying active, making working out part of your schedule and take the time to discover new sports at the gym (particularly wallyball because it's gonna be your favortie). Lastly, start making connections; friends and faculty, you never know when you might need a ride somewhere or a mentor for your research project. You have an idea of what you want to do with your life so start, you want to go to medical school then start volunteering at the Free Clinic, there's no need to wait to start doing what you want to do. Have fun. Believe.

The only thing that I would do differently in high school is to take AP Statistics instead of Photography and Multimedia II. As a senior, I think I made the transistion quite nicely. Part of that came from the fact that I grew up in Blacksburg, so the only thing I really needed to worry about was making friends. I am kind of a shy person, so the only advice I'd give myself in High School is to be more confident in who I am, and the people who don't like me for me aren't worth my time.

Do not pick a major that you think will get you the highest paying job, pick the major that opens the door to a fullfilling job that offers you joy and enables you to help people around your community, the United States, and the world. Work not for the money, work to make the world a brighter and better place!

The only thing that I wish I did different during my transition process was to go out and meet new people sooner. So I would go back and tell myself to not by shy and embarassed and to go make friends on the very first day and not a few weeks after. Other than that I like the way I transitioned myself into college and I wouldn't want it to have been done any other way.

I would tell myself to get as involved as possible and work on time management. Getting involved is a great way to meet new and interesting people. Time management is important in maintaining a social life and acheiving academic excellence.

What an opportunity it would be to go back in time to myself as an eighteen-year-old high school senior to give myself advice and possibly start all over again. If I ever had such a blessing, there would be plenty of advice I would offer myself. First off, I would recommend trying to join another club or organization besides band. It's understandable that valuable social experiences and leadership skills can be gained through band and music activities, but branching outside of that social circle would greatly be beneficial. Because many of the problems primarily stemmed from social insecurities and/or anxieties and meeting new people could remedy that to some degree. Academically speaking, math is most certainly the strongest challenge. Find someone, whether it be a teacher or fellow classmate, that could help explain things better so better grades could be achieved. I would also recommend taking an SAT Prep Class to help prepare for the SAT test so that a better score could be attained. Establishing a better relationship with the guidance couselor because they are such valuable assets to a student, especially during senior year.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would say to work on time management and procrastination. In college, I have a lot of free time that I need to use wisely because the tests are harder and there is less guidance from professors. In high school, I could study for a test the night before and get an ?A? or ?B,? but college test have much more information. Also, if I don?t do well I cannot depend on extra credit to help me out in the end. There are no easy grade boosters in my classes now; therefore, I have to give studying one-hundred and ten percent of my effort. Procrastination has greater consequences in college because my math class requires I learn the lessons on my own and take quizzes and tests by a deadline. There is no lecture so I have to put time aside to teach myself or find a tutor. There is more responsibility on me as the student and I wish I practiced this more in high school so that the transition would have been easier.

Dear Me, As you go through your senior year of high school, enjoy every opportunity because it flys by. When applying for college, I know it's a long process, but take your time and make sure to apply for scholorships; mom and dad could use the extra help. Research the different majors that you're interested in and have an idea of what you want to do before you take a bunch of classes you may not need and end up behind. Make sure to spend time with your little sister and brother, you're really going to miss them. Once you find out who your roommate is, email her and get to know her so it's like seeing a friend when you move in. Set goals for freshman year, for your classes, and what you want to accomplish. Make sure you meet as many people as you can when you move in, these people will be your friends throughout your time at school. Get involved. Find a club, join a sorority, or any other of the countless opportunities. Don't worry because you will end up at the right school. It's perfect. -Me