Wellesley College Top Questions

I can be extremely shy. I would tell my younger self to not feel so self-conscious; the truth is, everyone feels that way the first few weeks of college. The questions "Will I make friends? Will people like me?" might be present, but even so, put yourself out there. I regret my first couple of weeks, where I kept to myself and stuck to what I knew. The third week, when I saw people jamming music in the dorm common room, I finally took the plunge. I spontaneously whipped out my mediocre singing voice and a violin, and those people became my best friends. Join things, you never know. Regarding grades, I would tell myself to prioritize. What if there's an event going on, and I have a test worth 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my grade tomorrow? Probably shouldn't bomb that one. What if it's one of the best events of the year and I have a minor quiz tomorrow? Go to the awesome event! I definitely had moments where I should have worked instead of played, and vice versa, played instead of worked. Have priorities, but try to be smart about them!

Dear Christine, I appreciate your enthusiasm to impress the pretty girls and handsome boys, but I assure you it is not necessary. Unfortunately you won't stay friends with most of them so bring it back to you. Remember how excited you were when you were doing Habitat for Humanity in Texas and Virginia? Those were times your soul came alive. Find more times your soul comes alive. That reminds me, George... you're little brother. You will have terrific conversations with him before school this year. Over coffee or cereal, the two of you will talk about everything. In college you may see George slip away from you, start getting involved in drinking, and eventually drop out of school. So I ask you to cherish every single moment with George. Create as many deep moments with him as possible. When you look back on high school, the moments with George will be the brightest, most memorable moments that make your heart warm. Forget about the boys and the parties and what you look like. Focus on your soul and spend as much time with George as possible. He will always be the light of your eyes. With Gratitude, Christine

There are a couple of things I found out about myself while I was transitioning into college life, both academically and socially. First is that no, I can't live without friends. The first thing I'd tell myself as a senior is "Hey, I know you're going to a Boston-Area school like a lot of your friends, but you need to meet new friends on your campus!" Maybe then I would've discovered the amazing group of friends I have now way earlier. I also found out that my favorite subject was not in fact English, but History. Honestly I wish I would have taken more classes that I just wanted to take, rather than sticking to a plan that is now useless anyway. So the second thing I'd say is "Ditch the plan. Take what looks cool!" Lastly, on a wholly practical level, I came into Wellesley with the worst senioritis-hangover ever. I wish I could go back to my senior year self, and scream "Keep studying! You can rest in the summer!" And maybe then I would have done better on some placement exams and not have to review material.

If I could go back in time and visit myself as a high school senior, I would offer myself words of comfort. Before I left home for college, I was terrified; I'm from California, so I was nervous about leaving my family and attending college in Massachusetts. I cried for days leading up to my departure. Even though, deep down, I knew everything was going to be all right, and that I would love college once I got settled in, the thought of leaving my family, friends, and beloved hometown was overwhelmingly sad. Now that I've completed one year of college and discovered how much I enjoy it, I wish I could go back and tell myself all about my positive experiences at Wellesley. I would talk about my caring roommate, my three best friends, my extracurricular activites, and, most importantly, the safe, friendly, environment that makes Wellesley feel like home, despite how much I worried that it would never feel that way. I would tell myself to be brave, and to keep in mind that no matter how scary college may seem at the moment, I will never regret having to undergo this dificult transition.

Hello, Gail. It's me (you!) from the future. I know you're busy studying for the SAT Subject Tests, so I'll make this brief. You'll be moving thousands of miles away to a completely new region of the U.S. New England is cold, so bring snow boots and lots of sweaters. More importantly, though, be open-minded and friendly. Your first roommate will be amazing and gregarious, and you should take up her offers on going to a social event or hanging out. You shouldn't repeat the same habits you did in high school, i.e. completely forgoing a social life. Academics are important, sure, but did you know the best students thrive on a healthy balance with both social and academic fuel? That said, you'll meet many smart people in college. A lot of them are valedictorians. Don't overestimate your abilities, and never be too proud to ask for help. Even if you don't understand a concept the first time, keep asking for guidance! You'll never learn otherwise. Study at least 5 days in advance, and use the quiz-and-recall method. All right, cheers. Good luck.

If I was able to go back in time and give myself advice during my senior year in high school having the knowledge I have now as a college student, I would tell myself that studying is the most critical aspect in recieving a good grade. I would say that staying after class just for a few minuets to have the tecaher clarify any questions you may have will greatly improve your understanding of the subject. Your teacher is there as a resourse to help you, so utilize him/her. Your teachers want you to succeed, so do not be afraid to ask questions and recieve their help. Take organized notes during class so that they are understandable when you review them later on. Do not sit close to your friends beacuse they will distract you and cost you the knowledge of key concepts. By doing these things, you will be able to stay ontop in college and not fall short given the tough curriculum. Last, but not least, be yourself and enjoy the experience.

Be strategic in what classes you take, when you take them, and how you take them. Since no one stressed the above statement to me when I was a first year college student, my G.P.A. remains a poor reflection of my academic effort. Working hard is a fraction of the G.P.A. recipe. The other ingredients include the professor, the semester in which a student takes a course, his/her decision to take the class regular grading or pass/fail, and of course personal life issues. Had I been a wise incoming student, I would have gathered a variety of opinions on different professors, taken math and science courses pass/fail (considering that these are not my areas of strength), and probably arranged my schedule differently. I would not encourage myself to be obsessed with the G.P.A., but at the same time remind myself that despite any personal disagreement with the G.P.A. labelling system, it is something that will affect my future.

I would tell my high school self to reach out in all aspects of the college experience. Whether it be in class, at the campus center, or at orchestra, it is important to extend your connections in every opportunity presented. There are so many individuals at Wellesley who are intelligent and share the same interests. To make the most of the collegiate experience, not only is it important to study hard, it's also important to develop friendships. This is one of the most important aspects of the first few weeks of college. However difficult the task may be because of the overwhelming number of unfamiliar faces, it is entirely feasible. As a transfer student in high school, I was discouraged because of the difficulty in successfully transferring socially into my new educational atmosphere. I felt the same when I first arrived to college, but I now know that everyone felt those exact emotions upon arriving. Therefore, I feel that it would be important to tell my high school self to be as outspoken and as friendly as possible because developing friendships are of paramount importance and reaching out to others is a feat we all must overcome.

As a high school valedictorian I felt the pressure to get accepted into an ivy league school. I blindly applied to five top schools solely based on their rank and never visited the campuses even after I got accepted to them. I could not have made a more wrong choice. Yes, education is the main reason for going to college, yet it is definitely not the only one. Looking back at the college selection process, I wish I had done my research as to what type of environment I would be living in, how the social life was, how happy current students felt at such school, what type of weather would dominate, etc. As I apply now for graduate school, my decision on the schools I apply to will be based on whether they are a right fit for me and not because of their prestigious image. This time around I will visit the campuses, talk to current students , sit in on a class, talk to a professor, have lunch in the dining hall, and explore all the resources available to me. I am very grateful that I have a second chance to learn from my mistakes!

First of all, RELAX! College is as much about personal growth and enjoying the experience as it is about grades and academic prestige. The friends you make in college are the most amazing people you will ever meet and you should not be too stressed out to meet them. Friends will help you through the toughest times, and you will feel rewarded when you help them as well. Second, college is a lot more challenging than you expect. Getting good grades in high school was difficult and arduous, but getting the same grades in college will be next to impossible. Do not worry though! When you push yourself to do your best and set realistic expectations, you will be prouder of a "B-" that you earned than an "A" that was too easy. The most important lesson is how to motivate, discipline, and appreciate yourself. Picking yourself up after a disappointment is one of the hardest things to do; know that you tried as well as you could and keep looking forward. Finally, no mistake can ruin your life. You are the master of your fate: If you flunked one test, try harder on the next one. Live & Be Happy!