Boston University Top Questions

It’s surprisingly easy to bob through college like a paper boat on a stream. I careened through my academics without much reflection, and before I knew it, I was docked at graduation. Hindsight is 20-20 but this much is true: set a goal greater than graduation and create a structure that enables you to attain it. Take small steps to reach bigger ones. Assess. Reassess. Network with professors in your field: pick their brains and inquire as to how they arrived at the present moment. Degrees are one size fits all: meet with your academic advisor and consider tailoring your curriculum in ways that suit you best. Join an organization to meet people who share your values and interests. Drink, eat, sleep in moderation. Exercise and discover healthy ways to reduce stress. Be present. Schedule and honor time for yourself. Consider graduate school or PhD programs, if that is your thing. Be kind to yourself. Mistakes are inevitable. You can always start anew. Cherish free pizza. There are few times in life where so many resources are at your disposal. From art and music, to mental health and career development, be opportunistic and understand that you have choices.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself not to be scared or nervous. The transition from high school to college is certainly daunting, but there is a learning curve. All that I would need to remember is the importance of finding a balance. There is so much to do and see and so many people to meet at college, and doing all of those things and gaining those experiences is as important as studying diligently. If something appeals to you, whether you think you have the skills or experience to do it or not, just go for it because this is the time to find those things out about yourself. Don't be afraid to discover new things, because that is what college is all about! Don't worry too much about whether you will get it, because it comes naturally and even if it doesn't, learning how to deal with that is all part of the experience. In short: college is a time of trial and error, so make the best of it.

Study consistently, you can't start cramming a few days before an exam and do well! Go to office hours, and do homework with a study group. Be more friendly and social! Initiate social events, and join something. Friends won't come to you. They can only reach out halfway, and you have to reach and meet them. Don't spend hours wasting time on the internet. If you're not doing schoolwork, at least do something worthwhile. Read, draw, explore Boston. Have something to show for your time. If you think you're unhappy with your major, your plans, or your classes, don't ignore it and hope 'it'll work out'. Examine yourself. Don't be scared to let go of things you don't want, no matter how much you used to want it. This is the most important thing of all: Even if you make every single mistake I've warned you about, forgive yourself. Part of moving forward is looking forward. Don't compare yourself to others, or be upset if things aren't perfect. Sucess isn't some far-away mountaintop. If you're climbing, you're successful already.

The first thing I would tell myself is be organized. When you suddenly can do whatever you want with your free time, sometimes you truly don't remember all the work you have to do. Planning ahead and staying on top of work will alleviate so much stress. Don't forget to enjoy yourself and don't forget to call your parents! They miss you more than you know

Keep as many friendships as possible and don't ever use anybody as a temporary means to an end. You don't need to stay in touch with every person you've ever known, but you'll realize years later that you've turned your back on good people and in some cases, it will be too late. Do what makes you happy, but keep an eye on the future. I have never regretted a single art class, but there's nothing wrong with sneaking in a marketing class or two. You'll have to learn a lot of those skills later. Artists need to know how to communicate, too. Trust me when I tell you to continue studying Spanish. It will come in handy more often than you think and it's a lot harder to pick back up when you're in your late twenties. You're going to do very well by following your heart, but if I could sum up what I wish you'd done a better job of, please stop and think about what you're doing and how it will affect your future and the people around you more often that I did.

I know it's scary going so far away from home and most of your closest friends, but know that this is going to be the best year of your life. You are going to meet so many great people and have so many great experiences that you never had before and would never have been able to have if you had stayed in your comfort zone. It's going to be scary, I'm not going to lie. But embrace that feeling. Embrace the nervousness. Because nervousness is the feeling that comes right before something great happens. You are going to grow so much as a person, and have the time of your life. Now for some more specific advice. Go check to see how Spencer is doing early on in that party in your room; he's going to throw up. Definitely hash out the details of who gets the bathroom in the suite before deciding on who you'll be living with sophomore year. Also, set two alarms for your statistics final second semester. Just trust me on that one. Above all, remember to be who you are and give everything your best. You'll be fine.

Do not slack! You may think you know it all but that is not true. Procrastination is the enemy and it is up to you to take it down. Make flashcards after every lecture and study because good grades will not be handed to you. You will regret it (terribly) if the semester ends and you are left with bad grades that you know you could have avoided by studying more.

I would tell myself that it is really important to balance everything that you want to do and not get too overwhelmed with everything going on. Just take things one week at a time, don't think about everything all at once. Otherwise it will drive you crazy with all the thing happening.

Here you are thinking you're fully prepared to go to college. Attending a college-prepatory high school and balancing school, church and sports are not enough. There is still some more preparing to do. You need to prepare yourself. Remember that Boston University is not Classical High School. You are attending one of the best universities in the world. You received an amazing scholarship from them and had great grades but once you are here you need to continue to strive to do your best. Even though it is a lot harder and there is smaller room for error it does not mean you can't succeed. Now you are learning to be independent and manage your time better. I know you very well so my biggest word of advice to you is don't drown yourself. What I mean is you tend to forget that you need time for others and yourself. You focus and worry too much about being the best because you came from a poor family and are a first generation student. Remember, you can do this. You have a new chance at the day every morning you wake up. Just be you!

Dear me, You have no idea what awaits you. All these nights you've stayed awake thinking you don't want to go to college will be quickly forgotten; brushed aside as silly. On move-in day, you will think you can't do this; but YOU CAN. And you will, all 4 years. You'll make friends with people on your dorm floor who will enrich your life and bring out the social side in you that you never thought you had. Being around them makes being at school so exciting that missing home doesn't even occur to you. Just be smart, not ignorant. Guys are immature. Focus on you (Trust me). Classes are not much different than high school, there's just less dilly-dallying and the material is satisfyingly richer. You will succeed through the work load, getting everything done to your standards and more (you will now have the free time to do it; even to sleep in! Also, start yoga sooner, it will help). Being at BU is like... being at camp. Except you're not a kid just having fun, you're becoming an independent adult whilst broadening your intellectual world. Be yoU!