Western Michigan University Top Questions

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to be prepared to work hard and not "slack" off. I would also tell myself that it is going to be expensive so get a job and start saving as much money as possible. Mainly I would tell myself though to not be scared to start a future for your career. I would make sure I told myself to stay strong in the struggles for money and to find my place in the school itself. Also to make sure to get the much needed sleep you need to survive the harsh finals and mid-terms, as well as just the short tests, which are just as hard as the major tests.

The largest piece of advice that I would have told myself as a high school senior is to apply for as many scholarships as possible and as early as possible. I kept waiting to apply for scholarships and when I did start applying, I only applied to a few scholarship programs. As tuition prices continue rising throughout the country, scholarships are an important asset to your education! By procrastinating, I lost many opportunities for scholarships, as well as rushed the applications, so that I was not well prepared for it, therefore ending with an unsatisfactory outcome when the awards were given. If I had applied earlier and for a few more scholarships, I may have significant less debt in student loans than I have now, which will be difficult to pay off for several years after I graduate.

A person who is finishing highschool is very different from and has a very different view of the world than someone who has been in college for a few years. I have started by going to a community college to complete as many prerequisites as I could before transfer to a four-year college to get my bachelors's. However, the transfer process is a little difficult now since I am not getting into the transfer process earlier. If I could give myself any advise when a was a naive highschooler it would be this: learn about more earlier. Instead of concentrating just on finishing high school I should have looked more into scholarships and possible colleges earlier. It may not have changed my choices much, but it would give me more time and help me realize what I was aiming for earlier on. Getting involved with helpful, comprehensive websites help a lot. A college councelor helps, too.

Be sure to take advantage of any and every opportunity presented to you. Any experiences that you can have under your belt when you make the transition from high school into college will be valuable in the long run, whether it seems like it will be or not. The actual change of schools is not what should worry you. Most of the learning at college comes outside of the classroom. You will learn about yourself and grow up, but never lose sight of who you are or where you came from, as that will always be important. Enjoy every minute of high school, live in the present but still look forward to the future.

To my younger self: don't take yourself so seriously. Focus less on what the future should be and enjoy the present for the good things that if offers. They will make you who you want to become.

I would tell myself to not overload on credits and to make sure you enjoy every minute you have. I would also reccomend that I shouldn't live with close friends because now I am not friends with them anymore. I would tell myself to study hard and to attend as many study groups as possible.

Yes, you really can teach old dogs new tricks, so don't let anyone discourage you regardless of your age, ! Make a plan, set your goals and jump right in and enjoy the ride of a lifetime. Forget about the cost of going to college; it's not a roadblock. Seach for scholorships, grants, and student loans. Also, if you think you get tired getting up for school now, just wait. In college you find yourself setting the alarm on your watch or phone so that you can wake up for your next class and gettin up from under the big pine tree or lifting your head from the table in the library. Your work load is enourmous and you should plan on having two book back with good sturdy straps to hold all you books, pencils, highlighters, and snacks. I advise two bags so that you can keep your Monday, Wednesday books seperate from you Tuesday, Thursday books so that you will always have the correct books and homeword assignments with you. I know, I know, it sounds like a lot of hard work, but don't dispair because in the end it will be all worth it.

If I could go back, I would tell myself to not date in high school and wait until college when both me and everyone else is more mature. In high school, I dated two different boys and I am not proud of what happened with them. We were young and immature, and I wish I could really go back and tell myself, as a high school senior, not to date. I would also tell my senior self to start looking for scholarships and apply for as many as I could as soon as I could. I did apply for scholarships as a senior, but I could have applied for more or spent more time on it. Looking back, even though the chances of winning a scholarship are low, the more I apply for the better my chances, and I should have taken advantage of that fact when I was a senior in high school.

If I could talk to me the high school senior, I'd say APPLY FOR MORE SCHOLARSHIPS!!! Lol, seriously though. I would say don't settle for what's easy or comfortable when applying to schools or choosing a major. Push yourself to really explore options and expand possibilities. Now is the time to take some risks and grow your dreams! Research schools online...go on campus visits...join college facebook groups to see what's out there. It may feel like you're wandering around in the dark for awhile, but stay loose--you'll figure out your best fit. Once you choose your school start learning about the traditions, programs, organizations, and opportunities for freshmen. Keep a notebook with school info, there's a lot to remember. If possible, take a few road trips to campus so you can get familiar with the campus and community. Definitely attend the new student enrollment program and get to know your academic advisor. And anytime you get nervous, worried, confused, lonely, or overwhelmed about something, remember that literally EVERYONE around you has been there...and most people are happy to help you figure it out. Breathe. Savor. Soar.

I would tell myself to not worry what others think, to be an independent idividual, and, most important of all, have fun with my college career. The first semester of my freshman year, I was a people pleaser; I put everyone else's pleasure and hapiness above my own, stressing myself out beyond belief. If I would have known what a headache it would be, what kind of trouble it would cause, I never would have been such a lame duck; I would have put my foot down more often. I was too dependent on others around me, making me weak and miserable. I had trouble getting out and having my own fun.