Willamette University Top Questions

I step into a time portal and find myself back at Roosevelt High School, starting myself in the face. I blink at myself and the college me opens my mouth to talk: "First, you should go to Willamette. Take advantage of all of the oportunities you have. Go to talks on campus, look at clubs, become involved in the community. Take interesting classes. College life is interesting and go into it with an open mind. Don't miss out on oportunities because of what your friends want to do - be independent, that's what college is for!" My college self puts an arm around my high school self. "But, most importantly, college is a chance for you to discover who Sarah is. Take the classes that stand out to you, that challenge you to think. Step outside your bubble and attend club meetings. And use these opportunites to reflect. To find out the way you think about things and to discover who you really are." College me steps back and takes a long look at high school me. "Have fun!" Then I step backwards through the time portal and find myself back at Willamette, ready to take my own advice.

College is a complete 180 from high school. Given the opportunity, I would tell my senior self to, above all, be appreciative. I realize now I passed up numerous opporunities which could have increased my probability for success. I should have payed more attention to my teachers' lectures and been more actively involved in classroom discussion. I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships so my parents and I don't have to worry each day how they will pay for the household bills, how I will finance my education, and if we will even be able to afford my return to campus next fall. I would have told myself to prepare for the intellectual changes and strugles, but moreover to be ready for great emotional changes. I would advise myself to spend more time with my friends; they had so much great advice to offer and lessons to teach which I overlooked. I would tell myself to not worry about the little things so much, and be happy with myself when I tried my best but fell short. It's not all about accomplishing every goal, it's the journey and the lessons that matter.

If I could go back in time the first thing I would tell myself to do is to branch out. I think being part of a college campus is a huge step and going around and getting to know people is so much fun. Another thing would be to be more independent. Its great to have your friends, but being able to get out and be a leader and stand up for yourself is something to be proud of. I would also tell myself to be more involved. If i had really thought about where I was going in life I would do more. I am doing things on campus and in the community now and I love it! Get used to talking to teachers and being ready with questions you may have is another tip. Most of all just have fun with what you do because you will get where you are going with whatever route you take, and do things with a smile :)

High school and college are totally different. They are different socially and academically. Do not start slacking! Even during senior year, passing AP tests can really help you in the long run. Also, college is a whole new level academically compared to high school. Sure, you may only be taking 4 classes instead of 6, but the workload you receive from those classes offsets the fact that you are taking less classes. Do no be afraid to ask for help! Yes, college is very intimidating at first, but you have to remember, your professors are there to help you. They will do everything they can to help you succeed. Once you get to college, get involved! Join clubs, intramural sports teams, anything! Not only is it great for meeting new people, and even lifelong friends, it also enhances your networking which will definitely help you in the future. Most importantly, have fun! College is suppose to be enjoyable! Your studies are important, but if you are miserable for four years, it's not worth it! So go out there, study hard, meet new people, and have fun with it!

Benefiting from the clarity of hindsight, I could have saved myself alot of time spent worrying about the future!! As an ambitious student in high school, I fretted way too much about things that were beyond my control. Also, perhaps surprisingly, SAT scores don't really matter after you get into college. So, don't go into college focusing on what you can already do or how great you were in high school. No one really cares. Instead, reset your mental game, and establish what you wish to know! Be a sponge! Embrace every new opportunity as a life experience, and that the highs and lows of life always teach you something about your character. College after all isn't only for academic development. Also, and perhaps most importantly, establish relationships with professors and faculty. The sooner you create a dialogue, the sooner you'll have an advocate to support ambitious endeavors. Don't be shy! Professors are people too, even if they have a scary amount of knowledge in their brains. Overall, allow yourself to explore your interests and stop worrying about the future! Be diligent, work hard, and keep an eye on the tasks at hand.

When I was a senior in high school, I was so focused on getting to college and getting out of my small town, that I didn't take the time to enjoy my senior year. I was taking seven classes, I was heavily involved in several different organizations, I had applied to nine different schools, I was working two jobs and I focused more on my studies. I stressed a lot about money. I stressed about how to pay for college, how to pay for the applications, and how to pay for the college visits. I could only pick one school, and my decision was based on whether or not I could afford it, not which school I actually wanted to attend. If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would have told myself to slow down and enjoy it. I would have also said no matter where you end up you will always have the stress of money and the impending doom of finals will feel exactly the same, so don't spend now worrying. There is plenty of time for that later so why stress out now?

Having struggled until the very last moment with making my final college decision, I would most definitely tell myself not to worry so much. College is, by and large, what you make it to be. If you want to get a lot out of your college experience, you will. Colleges are set up to help students succeed, so no matter where you end up, you will be able to accomplish as much as you wish to. Also, when making your college decision, make sure to take cost into account. Though the cheaper school might not be your first choice, it is most likely just as good and will afford you a lot less stress when you get into college. Having to work while trying to learn and experience as much as possible in the few years you will be spending in college adds a lot of stress. If you are going to get a job, make sure to sign up for something that you will enjoy doing. Ideally, try to find work in the area that you intend to major in. That way, you will be gaining experienes that will be useful when trying to find a job after college.

Not only is the transition from high school academics to college academics a big one. Another transition I had to conquer is my new change in scenery from Hawaii to Oregon. After getting past those two obstacles I would tell myself the following: 1. There is a very loud train outside your window so go to sleep early because it will wake you up every hour; 2. Study before playing; 3. Just because it is sunny outside does not necessarily mean it is warm; 4. Daylight savings is something that you will just have to accept, do not fight it; 5. You are going to make a new group of great friends, so be prepared to create some of your most cherished memories.

Kristine, no matter what anyone says, college is NOT as easy as high school. Once you get here, you can expect numerous amounts of all-nighters, perpetual dates with the library, and a newfound love for all things caffeine. There is definitely more freedom and independence to do things your own way in college, however with that privilege comes more responsibility on your own part. TIME MANAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. Start practicing now; organize due dates and meetings in a planner, get ahead on projects and papers and most importantly, remember that although academics are a huge part about college, the experiences you will have will teach you more than anything you can ever learn in a book. So as much as possible, try to balance your exciting, new social life and challenging academic work.

I would tell myself to try harder to get a job. Not only would it be nice to have money for collge as well as for general spending, it would really help me to get a job now that I am in college. If I had had experience in an office I may have landed one of the jobs I didn't get. Having experience and references really makes a diffrence.