West Virginia University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get a summer job. I didn't realize how hard it would be to pay for college. It's impossible to work a job and also be a full time student with over nineteen credits a semester. The reality of the price of college is overwhelming and puts a lot of stress on family members as well. I should have gotten a summer job earlier to help contribute to the large amounts my parents are having to pay for my education.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself, or any one of my classmates, as a high school senior I would focus on informing them about the difficlties I faced in my first year of college. As a freshman in college, I worked extremely hard and persistantly in order to recieve good grades and form good relationships with my professors. I suffered the most in effectively studying and preparing for my exams which resulted in average grades. If I could talk to a senior in high school I would encourage them to take their senior year extremely serious and focus on learning how to effectively prepare themselves for exams in college. By this I mean it is important to understand who you are and what type of learning style you have. If I could have learned what types of studying were most effective for myself, my transition to college would have been much smoother. Looking back, my biggest mistake was not taking high school seriously and I would encourage the high school senior me and classmates to have focued more when I could afford to in high school.

the best advice i would ive my self is to read the books my teach assigned and study a head of time so you are not cramming for your test the next day. i would also tell myself to be open minded because there are lots of things your teachers did not prapare you for college.

I would tell myself that even though its your senior year and it's the time when most students goof off, to really take it seriously and be in such a rush for it to be over. I would tell myself to cherish every moment because it will be over before you know it. I would also say that college is not as scary as you think. As long as you go to class and pay attention, its really not that hard so don't waste your time and throw your money away. Its a great experience, you will meet a number of great friends that will last you a lifetime.

I would say that WVU is whatever you want it to be. If you only want to come here to drink and party then WVU will be a perfect fit for you. Likewise, if you want to crack down, study, and do well in your classes, WVU is great for that too. It all depends on what you want to do, and WVU gives you the opportunity to learn as much as you want.

Try to get your basic classes out of the way first.

You must come in prepared for the drastic change in scenery. You will be tempted to party on a nightly basis but it is essential that you focus on your school work in order to get off to a good start. I witnessed multiple kids get sucked into the party scene and they eventually were forced to drop out because of it.

Go to a community college, a good one, and study your general education and prerequsities there. It will be a great experience and will save you thousands of dollars. Join clubs, meet people and get yourself involved in the campus life. Volunteer. Apply for internships. Make life happen for you. You'll want something to write on your transfer application and you might as well have fun with. Fight for the classes you want, not literally of course but continue to attend even when you're wait listed or the teacher is boring or you feel like you have a million other things to do. This is your education and you deserve to get the best from it. Don't spend the night before cramming for a test. Instead, study throughout the semester, make flashcards, form study groups and spend time really learning the information. It will make a difference. Make sure to fill out your FASFA on time. In fact, make sure to do everything on time. Keep a planner. Talk to multiple counselors, they all have different perspectives. Stay organized using binders, post-it notes, folders, taping things to your wall, whatever works. Strive for your best.

Toni, as a high school student, you took AP and Honors classes and did really well without putting a lot of effort into anything. That's not how college is. You can't get by without doing your reading assignments and homework. Try working on your homework every night after school but on the weekends, have fun. You've never had an easy time making friends, but if you don't start making them in college, you will regret it. Whenever things seem impossible to overcome and you cry yourself to sleep at night, it's really going to make a difference if you have people you can go to. Also, get involved in a student organization. You'll change your major several times but enjoy it. College is work, reading, writing, laughing, crying, struggle, and play all balled up into one. Embrace it, and don't regret a thing.

To be able to go back in time and talk to my high school self would be a truly amazing thing. When talking to myself I highly doubt I would reveal much of what would happen in high school me's future because when I look back at my past few three years of college I wouldn't want to change a thing. I would give myself a few words of wisdom though. I would first of all warn her that there will be boys on campus, lots and lots of boys. I'd tell her that she'll experience heartbreak, but remind her that she's strong and she'll have the best friends to put her back on her feet. I'd tell her that her friends in college are going to become her family away from home, cherish their friendship because it's a beautiful thing. Lastly I would tell her to enjoy everyday and the beauty that comes with it. Take chances, be silly, dance and laugh for no reason, and never lose hope because hope and faith in something is what will keep you going the rest of your life.