Western Oregon University Top Questions

David this is your chance to succeed in life, and no one is going to do it for you. This is your time, do not waste it! College life is not going to be like high school, your teachers are not going to hold your hand and walk you through your mistakes. They are there to teach you but you have to be willing to learn. You can’t play the same game you do every year. Buckle down and take your education seriously. It's not as hard as it seems and the benefits are worth the effort you put in now. When you get to college you have to be in charge. Do not settle for anything but your absolute best. Make sure you know what class's are available to you, and what classes are required for what you want to do. Sign up for your classes early and always talk to your councilor if you need help. Get the help you need! You are not alone in this. There are councilors and advisors in every department and they want to help you. Lastly do not leave things to the last minute, your only cheating yourself.

High school me, do not, under any circumstances, divert from the course that I have followed. Sure, four colleges in five years is a pain when it comes to transcripts, a timely graduation, and GPAs, but the friends you'll gain, the things you'll see, and the bad choices you'll make are all a part of who you'll be. Oh, and don't let anyone tell you not to be a writer: That's the most important, and the reason why you cannot divert from the course that I have followed. Writing is everything to you--if it isn't yet, it will be--and everything you'll go through is gearing you toward that one, simple fact: You will be a slave to your pen, and it will be the most glorious thing ever. So make mistakes (fail your two semesters), choose a useless major (interdisciplinary studies), and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone--this world is no place for hobbits (sure, you'll talk for ages about how much you hate Chicago, but you'll, honestly, secretly love it). Trust me--I know what I'm talking about.

I would first off tell my high school senior self that coming to a new school and it being college is not that scary as I made it seem. Making that transition to the college level of academics and living in the dorms is the best experience a person could ever have. I would tell my high school self to have gotten more involved with my hall while I lived in the dorms my freshman year, to talk to more people and socialize a lot more. Getting to know people is the best thing in college. Everybody is different and it is amazing to hear everyones story why they are here getting the education they are. The biggest advice I would tell myself to do is to start taking math classes your Freshman year of college. Math is a must for a lot of majors, minors, and different classes. By not taking math my Freshan year of college, I have put myself behind about a year or two for graduating. Overall, I would tell myself to just have fun, study hard and make friends along the way, they could last a lifetime!

Your success in school is determined by your motivation and dedication. You will accomplish your dreams, goals, and ambitions if you put in the work, effot, and believe that anything is possible.

Put in a more concerted effort to finding scholarships, even while in school. There is a lot of money on the table and creates a stressful school experience when you are not scrounging around for money and relying on only FAFSA as a backup. Learning is a lifelong process, as is earning and finding every dollar possible. Take advantage of opportunities whenever possible, as there are more than you think and keep striving to find to find as much as poosible. Leave no stone unturned.

High school is a time for refinement. One should already have an idea of what’s important in life. That doesn’t mean one can’t deviate throughout life. However teenaged angst and woes should be quarantined inside one’s alma mater.Going into senior year I felt a firm grasp on my future. I knew I wanted to study history, yet I was still juvenile. I fancy that enough time has passed to criticize senior me. Knowing what I know now, I would give the blond senior three pieces of advice. First, I would advise to take my head out of the sand and do better in AP statistics. Looking back, I was only three points from getting college credit. Though the repercussions aren’t serious, I may need to retake statistics. Next, I would tell myself to pursue friendships with those I met in college. I often think, “Why weren’t we friends earlier?” Finally, I would tell myself not to change. I’m satisfied with where I am now. Although it would’ve been nice to have the knowledge I do now, I don’t believe there to be any serious ramifications; meaning I did everything right.

Nothing is impossible. Establish your long term goal and move to it step by step. Do not give up on you dream if something is going wrong. If you need time, take the time, stop for a while, think, and plan how you can overcome temporary obstacles. You dream will come true if you are happy, motivated, organized, and direct your efforts to the most important changes in your life.

Study skills will be essential when you start attending college. Strong study skills will help you pass exams without anxiety, help you retain information you have learned, and even decrease the amount of time spent on homework. Become comfortable with public speaking as most classes will require some form of a presentation. Learn to enunciate and project your voice, and be able to present your ideas clearly. Good writing skills are crucial not only for passing the required English Composition courses, but for the inevitable term papers, research papers, and essays on scholarship applications. Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and a wide vocabulary are very important. While study skills, writing skills, and public speaking will prepare you on an intellectual level, it is also important to be prepared on an emotional level. Believe in yourself and your ability to excel in college. Never, ever give up. Your college years are a time to have fun, but can also define your education and career path. Keep your grades and GPA as high as possible. Always aim for the "A" because you never know when that one "B" in a class will keep you from being selected for the program you desire to enter.

If I needed anything from anyone before I met to college was advice, I am the only one out of my family to go to college and im hoping my brother and sisters follow in my foot steps. If I could go back and give myself advice I would have told myself to take more college credit classes so I could have furthered myself in college. I would also say have fun because the transition will be easy and making friends would be no problem. Also dont stress the little things only the big things!

In high school I thought I had college figured out since I had taken a few college courses. I had my future planned and was already stressing out over course loads. If I could go back I would tell myself to take a breathe and enjoy life as it happens. You don't need to figure out your whole life now because you never know if a class you take is going to make you see life in a new light. Learn from the people around because lessons don't just come from books and facts. You just stay focused on each day, get your work done and keep an open mind. You'll do fine, there will be mistakes but perfection is boring.