Washington State University Top Questions

When I arrived at university, I could hardly wait to start classes. I had not, however, thought of or planned for everything else that comes with the transition. If I could had the opportunity to talk to myself back before I began college, the best advice I would give myself upon entrance would be to engage. Engage in absolutely everything. I missed so much, and so many opportunities my first year because I was too nervous to engage. I would tell myself to let go of my presumptions and take chances, no matter how hard or terrifying, or even pointless they seem. Every experience is a necessary and crucial one, good or bad. Starting university is like a new life, the gateway to an independent future, as such, all aspects should be met with an open mind and childlike enthusiasm. The entire university experience should be something that changes your life, and every part is interconnected, so if any part is neglected, the overall experience will be lessened. As a new student moving into this incredible new part of your life, the greatest gift you can give yourself is openness, after all, an education isn't confined to a classroom.

Apply to several scholarship websites and just sit down and do the scholarships. This will make your life easier in the long run. Also always read your book before you attend the lecture on the subject. This way you will see it twice in stead of just once.

Fuck WSU Vancouver!

Wishing for a time machine, to send me back to my youthful and somewhat blissful frame of mind, I would force myself to learn to give up distractions and learn to stay focused. There is so much peer pressure in college, temptation ensues, and in the end grades slip or a test is failed. I dread the feeling of being a failure. I came to Washington State University to earn a degree, to do something with my life. When I spend a night out with friends or skip a class, reality hits me to keep me in check. In high school, I set too much time aside for fun; I never said 'no.' Carrying that mindset, I entered the university being a thrill-seeker. I have learned and realized that I have people encouraging me to make the best of my life; personally, I learned to remind myself that I am striving to improve my future, that is why I am here. I wish this frame of mind was innate while I was in high school. I have learned that leisure time is meant to be balanced with scholarly activity; it should not outweigh the time I spend studying.

Two years ago I graduated from high school. A new hair color and heavy backpack later, changes in my character and appearance were the result of my transition into college. These experiences culminated into a new perspective on life, which according to the Rod Stewart song, ?I wish I knew then what I know now.? If given the opportunity to drop some pearls of wisdom on my high school self, I would have a lot to say. First off, stop worrying. College is not as scary as episodes of Greek would have you believe. Go out and join as many clubs as you can, and participate in as many campus activities as possible. Worry less about losing your high school friends (Facebook will simply not allow that) and focus on meeting new friends at college, people who will open your eyes to new experiences and ways of thinking. In addition, please remember that it may be easy to procrastinate that homework assignment until the night before, but in the end you are just cheating yourself. Learn not for the grade, but for the idea of getting one step closer to becoming a responsible global citizen.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self. I would want to tell me that no matter how easy the class may seem, I should always study the night before. I took the Calculus AP exam in High School and I only got a one. So I would want to tell myself that it was very important to study for that exam and the class I took in general. I would remind myself that high school may be easy, but I am trying to prepare myself for college. I would also want to go back and tell myself not to waste my time with people who do not care about me. The other thing I would want to remind myself of is to persue my dreams. I should have played tennis in college, but I gave up without a fight. I would now want to tell myself to fight for everything I want and never give up easily!

If I could change anything about my transition process, it would have been to have gone to the community college and recieved my AA while still in high school. I spent my senior year attending the community college, but since I did not do it my junior year as well, I only recieved a few transferable credits. Other than that it would have been to not go to college with so many ties back home. I spent majority of my first semester coming home every weekend, and not fully living out my college experience. However, I have now become much more involved at the school now, and everytime I have to come home I spend the whole time counting down the days until I am able to return back to school. I attend the best university in the world, and I would not change it for anything.

Know before you go. Have some idea of the career that you wish to pursue prior to accepting the offers of any school, as well as what each school has to offer. Have your parents or school take you on school visits and get an idea of what an in state versus out of state school has to offer. Take into account things like distance from home, and coming home for holidays and breaks as well. A lot of people do not think about these things until they get to the school of choice, and end up dropping out because of the unknown information and aspects of each school. Make your decision based on what you want to do in life, not based on the party scene or how many of your friends are going to the school, because the party scene can be found anywhere you go, and if you are true friends with someone it will last during the time you are at school as well.

With any advice you'll do just fine. But trust your new friends, the boys will look out for you. Bewarey of those guys who come on too strong, they well hurt you. Have fun, be responsible, study hard and all will work itself out.

During my first semester in college, it shocked me to discover the competition among my classmates and the intense demands that each of my professors required of my time when compared to my high school classes. I found myself wishing I had learned better time management skills and acquired other learning techniques to help me be as successful as possible that first semester. Throughout my college years, I became well-adapted to the standards of my campus, often exceeding those expectations. If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, or preferentially, even sooner, my advice would be to constantly challenge myself and my limitations. I would have efficiently learned to manage my time along with countless essential shortcuts to empower myself for academic success. My advice to anyone transitioning to college would be to learn to ration time, prioritize classes based on workload, and be responsible in daily decisions, since each individual choice ultimately impacts academic success. I learned these things and more in college, and perhaps most important and rewarding of all besides academic success is finding ways to give back to your community.