The University of Montana Top Questions

The first thing I would inform myself is a little bit cliche, but is also incredibly true. It is NEVER too soon to start filling out scholarship applications and collecting information. Before I had even thought about where i wanted to go, some of the more well-known and prestigious schools I loved already had closed their application dates! I was heart broken. Luckily, I ended up in a school I love, but I sometimes wonder if my life would be different if I had begun the process earlier. Another thing I would tell myself about college is that I would miss home more than I thought I would. There is nothing shameful about bringing ur favorite teddy bear to school! Appreciate your home and your family and visit as often as you can. Another thing I would advise is to put yourself out there. Having great friends, new and old, will make the transition so much easier. Being shy will not make you happier in the end. Have a good attitude and everything will work out. And the last bit of advice I can give, concerning the "freshmen fifteen", stay away from the cafeteria and go to the gym!

If I were given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior with the knowledge I now have about college life, there are many things I would tell myself. I would tell myself not to be so afraid of the unknown. College is such a great experience with so many opportunities and such a great volume and diversity of people. Take advantage of every opportunity that you get and get involved with different groups and clubs pertaining to things you are passionate about. Academics are important and try to get good grades, but do not make studying your whole life. Get out there and do not be afraid, just believe in yourself and all your dreams will come true.

There are many things that I could advise my younger self on that would have made the transition from high school to college that would have made it go more smoothly. Coming from a small Christian high school with a grand total of twenty nine students and only one teacher for every subject things radically changed when I got to college. I would advise myself that even though there would be five times the number of young adults in just one class and though things would be vastly different it was nothing to stress yourself out over. Next thing, the teachers, they would be different and all of them with different personalities, but try to approach them all the respectfully because you have to show to them that you are willing to go all the way to make that final grade an A. Most of the other stuff that will change needs not be told, but is better off as a pleasant surprise for the upcoming year.

My first piece of advice would be set a goal, aka choose a major! I didn't really even know what a 'major' was my first semester. I was told by my parents that I was going to school. Period. Unsure of even what field I wanted to go for, I randomly picked a school and blindly picked general courses. My first mistake was choosing the major "undeclared". I just went through the motions. Without a goal in mind, it was difficult to feel passionate about school. I did not have the momentum of working towards something. I would advise myself to make a decision and stick with it! My second mistake was 'taking a semester off' to work. I was forwarned about it, that most students don't return to school after taking a break. THEY WERE RIGHT! If you leave school and find security in a steady-paying job, it becomes difficult to give that up to go back to school. In sum, I would tell myself to pick a major, plug into the support systems of the school, such as an advisor, that you can be held accountable to, and don't give up no matter what.

oh boy, if i could go back to my senior year, i would probably think a little more about what i wanted to see happen in my adult life. I would really think long and hard and also do some investigating on a few different career choices i had in mind for myself. You may think you want to do a certain profession and then you do it and hate it and by that time you could be married with children which can make it difficult to better your education. In which you will have to make priorities . You may not be financially able to go or you may have problems with babysitting. Alot of different things could hold you back, alot more responsibilty as an adult than if you were to go right out of high school. I would tell myself to be smart, set agoal and complete it, set myslef up to be independent so that as an adult, i can count on myself.

If I had the ability to go back I would tell myself to slow down. Don't be so anxious to get out of high school or away from your family. Don't focus so much on the future so much that you are missing opportunities in the present. Have fun with your peers and your family, they won't always be so acessible. Figure out who you are and don't let yourself forget it. Expect to grow and change. Don't plan on everything being perfect, you will make mistakes. Don't dwell on them, learn from them. Not knowing exactly what you want to be is not the same as not knowing who you are. Make sure not to think so loud you can't hear your heart. Smile whenever possible. Stress doesn't fix anything, ever. Anything coffee can't cure, time will. You have to love and trust yourself but most of all you have to believe in yourself. And the last thing I would say is, whoever said high school years are the best years of your life, did not go to college. =]

I would encourage them to choose a major they enjoy doing rather than a practical choice for security or money. The idea of working for years at a job you don't like is not worth the money. Do something you have dreamed of doing for a while that makes your heart excited. Get a part-time job so you can save off taking out loan money. Try to work during the summer as well. Make friends who build you up and encourage you. Learn how to swing and salsa dance. Try to make meeting dates a prioirty and keep your body in top shape as you look for love. Spend some money for clothes at a thrift store, there are some cute clothes that save you some money. Look into personal questions that arise about the world from class even if you don't get credit as homework. Searching for answers will expand your mind as your heart guides you. Try to read textbooks ahead of time before the semester starts because it will make it easier to keep up in class. Remember to value and spend time with your family. Stay active and enjoy nature if you can.

Katie, you are preparing to begin your freshman year at the University of Montana. You are excited and nervous. Let me, your older and wiser self; give you a sneak peak of what your life will soon look like. Living without your parents will be as refreshing as you hope for. You will clean your room when you please, and will not pull weeds on weekends. Your parents will not, however, disappear from your life. They will call every day, sometimes twice, to check on the state of your laundry. Don?t worry about making friends though; everyone you live with will be just as anxious to meet people as you. Classes are way harder than you are anticipating. The word studying currently has no meaning to you. You will be pouring over science books for hours at a time, and still struggling. You are so sure of your path in life now, so positive that you will become a doctor. Well, just give that certainty a few months and it will be gone. The classes will challenge you and push you in ways you only dreamed of in high school. In short, your new life is challenging but exhilarating.

Don't be afraid to be yourself. There are a lot more people in college that could share your interests and would make great friends. Also I would say to try everything you can. Learn a few languages, take some art classes, just take advantage of the variety of classes and activities. But mostly I would tell myself to enjoy it and not worry so much. its an opportunity and a beginning. Treat it like the great experience it can be.

My senior year in high school I would have a few things to tell myself. The first is to not stress out and rest up a bit, because I would be taking many more credits than most freshman and also have a job. I don?t always spend my money as wisely as I should when I think I have enough of it, so saving as much as possible and not putting as much money as I did into furnishing my apartment would help me pay future bills. As I watch my savings disappearing like candy at Halloween and with no money coming in and no help from parents, I would need to get a job as soon as school began, quite literally. Since the only thing holding me back from becoming involved with community and fully applying myself to my schoolwork is lack of money to pay essential bills, and working too often to try and catch up with those bills, applying for scholarships would save me. No matter how crazy my life gets in the next year before I go to college, it's not as crazy, cold or hard as my first year in college.

Advice that I would give myself would be to not feel rushed. I started my first year of college feeling like I had to choose a career and that was it. I would let myself know to have a general idea about what I wanted to do but not feel like I had to choose right then and there. These are actually the most important years of your life because they are establishing your education for your later career. The most important thing however would to just take it day by day and try your hardest so you can at least say you gave it your all and know inside that you did. oh...and GOOD LUCK !!!!!

If I could travel back in time, and talk to myself as a struggling Freshman, I would tell me self to concentrate on school more, save my money and accept myself for who I was. Throughout high school, I was just trying to be accepted, and was struggling with accepting my sexuality. Senior year, I came to the realization and accepted I was gay, but hated myself. I woud say to stop trying to change yourself for others, and be yourself and see who comes to you. Also, I wasn't the most dedicated student. I know I am very bright, but lack the motivation, which somewhat messed me up for any scholarship opportunities. Since I did not receive any help with school, I would have also busted my ass for spending so much of my money on unecessary things. Overall things, I think I would just say to relax, do what's best for YOU and not others and to set your priorities right.

The only advice I could give to my high school self would be to just stay true to myself, don't lose focus, and don't lose heart. I look back at my somewhat spread out college career and realize that if I had really stayed focus and not lost heart after getting denied from a program a few times (not because I wasn't qualified, but because of limited space), I would have stuck to it and be done with everything by now. I have learned a lot being out in the real world, though, but I definitely am regretting not having persisted. The other advice is just to stay true to myself. Nobody else can tell me what I want or how to do it. During the transition, I think a lot of people, including myself, just start listening to everyone else around them, doing what everyone else does, and so forth. On that path, you lose what you really want for yourself, and instead start doing what everyone else around you wants. With those pieces of advice, I don't think myself, or anybody for that matter, could go wrong or have a hard time in college.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself one word of advice: relax. The transition from high school to college was not nearly as scary as I made it out to be. Living more or less on my own, as well as sharing a bathroom with thirty other girls, seemed like a natural progression as opposed to some horrible new experience. I never got as lost as I feared I would, and the larger workload was never so much as to be unmanageable. That word of advice also would extend to my remaining time in high school. I could have relaxed and had more fun my senior year instead of praying for it to end so college could begin. Having classes in the same building, home-cooked meals, and being taken care of when I'm sick are definitely things I no longer take for granted. It is also too bad that my laundry no longer does itself. Had I known these things back then, I believe my senior year would have been more pleasant, with my focus on the present and less anxiety for the future.

Dear Breanne, As you near your graduation day and the day that you will be leaving home for college, keep in mind that you have plenty of family and friends that love and believe in you! You are an amazing person with a future as bright as the sunshine outside your window. Hold your chin up and wipe the tears away, everything happens for a reason. As you begin college in the fall, constantly remind yourself that you are beautiful. Be yourself and stay true to yourself. Follow your heart in everything you do and never be afraid to be yourself. When college life, dorm life, family life, and all the other aspects of your life collide, remember to stay level headed. You can become anything you want to be because you are capable and devoted. Never let others put you down because you are better than that. Stay true to your dreams and never be afraid to reach for the stars. Life will not be easy and you must understand that with every challenge there is also a victory. Stop trying to please the people around you and live your life for yourself only. I love you - Breanne.

If I were able to go back in time I would advise myself to relax. College is a major life change that is confusing and stressful but the more a person worries about the future and the changes at hand, the less they will be able to enjoy the path. Once college begins and some of the fears are eliminated, one realizes that the stress beforehand was only holding back from possible experiences. College is a place of discovery. I would love to be able to go back and tell myself to set those fears aside and enjoy the ride.

I would tell myself to relax about going to college. The transition is easier than I expected it to be. I would tell myself to be confident in the knowledge I acquired during high school and congradulate myself on taking the more difficult classes. I would want to tell myself to look at the colleges in my own state and to not be so dead set on going out of state to school. I would tell myself that I was going to meet the best friends I have ever had and that I was going to find exactly what I wanted to do with my life; all within two hours of home. I would also tell myself that everything works out the way it is supposed to, even if it may not seem to be exactly as I wanted it to be. I would also tell myself that Missoula feels more like home than home does.

since i have been out of high school for nearly six years and am just beginning college, i would go back and tell myself that in these rough economic times that you need to go to college and get a good job because without a collegedegree it is really hard to find a well paying steady job. don't be scared to go to college, it will help you and you will feel better after getting that degree. be the first one in your family to go, it will be fun and there are lots of new things to discover like meeting new friends. the hardest part is starting the process. there are grants and financial aid so you don't have to worry about money. you never know, this decision could change your life for the better and will probably be the best decision you will ever make in your lifetime.

I would go back to tell myself to go have some more fun during my senior year. Go out and do more things with my classmates. If i don't learn to spend time with my classmates it will make my college life dull and boring. I would, also, have myself not be so boxed up and just be more willing to try things. I would try and convince myself to step out of my comfort zone so i could find more things that interest me. One thing i would have myself so is pursue playing football in college. It will bug you for the rest of my life that i did not try to see if i could play college football. The last thing i would do is tell myself to find my true friends and then get along with them, not just talk to everybody, but not really spend time with any of them.

Do the big college experience. Community colleges are great for what they are, but you are looking for "The College Experience." Dive headlong into what you really want, don't hold back for anybody cause it's your life. Work your butt off this last year and take as many AP classes as possible. Do some community service and get involved in clubs and organizations. Look around for scholarships. College isn't cheap but it's completely worth it. Don't be afraid to apply to all of the colleges you want to go to. If they turn you down it's not the end of the world and if you get accepted you'll feel much better about yourself and you'll have your pick. Don't be afraid to move away from home it will still be there when you get back. When you get to college talk to your instructors and your peers you don't have to do it all yourself, there is help out there. Advisors are AWESOME utilize them. Remember you can change dorm rooms if you need. The college wants you to be successful take advantage of all it has to offer.

Curranty I am studying to be a music teacher. I am looking into implementing a music program into a juvenille detention center when I finish school. This being said, it would have been helpful for me to know more about the requirements of detentional teachers before I started college. Looking back I wish I would have known more about "running start" programs so that I could have gotten my general requirements out of the way. I find it quite difficult to complete all my "general requirements" while learning to be a teacher myself. Completing my generals early is definately something I would have told myself. Being homeschooled gave me time to be involved with my community through vounteer programs. However, I wish there would have been opportunities to help at the local juvenille detention center. Being able to spend time with the teachers there, and to work in the facillity that I will one day be teaching in, would have been irreplacable. Hands on expirence will give a person knowlede that no book learning could ever do. Therefore that is the last thing I would have told myself, "to get more expirence in my field of study before starting college."

If I could go back in time I would tell myself that college is something that I thought I knew about going into but really had no clue. As a freshman I came in expecting it to be non stop school and hard work and nothing else. As the year got started I realized there was a lot of time thats given to you that is for anything and its something you don't want tot ake advantage of. Instead of using time between classes as a fun time I would take the time to use as a break/study time because yes you have to work hard but theres no one there anymore that will tell you, you need to study, you need to do your homework, and you need to go to school. So going into college the biggest thing you have to be ready for is being by yourself and taken control of your life.

I would tell high school students to learn to study and to take classes to help them be prepared for college. I would tell them to rearrange their schedules so that they get the best teachers for each of their classes so that they are sure to have the opportunity to learn so they are prepared for college. If they aren't prepared, they have to take non-credit (expensive) classes so that they can learn what they should have learned in high school. I would also tell them to get involved in their high school. That makes it more fun.

College may seem alot more expensive and stressful than you realized, but if you work hard and get a good education, that education will be priceless.

If I could go back I would tell myself to study extra hard and take everything in. I noticed that I missed out on some skills that I should have learned in High School. With pushing myself harder in my High School years it would have helped me to transition into the college academic level easier.

I would first tell myself to become organized. A desk calendar will be a great investment so you can write down all upcoming projects, exams, readings, etc. so you can look at what needs to be done during the week. Having different binders for each class will also help, so notes will not get mixed up or misplaced. I would also say sit in the first two rows towards the middle. This will limit distractions during lectures and allow you to pay attention better. On the first day of class, I would recommend introducing yourself to your professors so they can match a name with a face. This way if you have any problems or questions, you will feel more comfortable approaching the professor and s/he will be more willing to work with you as the semester progresses. The last thing I would say is GO TO OFFICE HOURS! This is a chance to get help on homework or anything else class related. If you become familiar with the professor, s/he may be more willing to meet with you if his/her office hours do not fit your schedule.

There is no better time to start your life than now. Even though you are tired of school, ready for a break, just keep going on with your education. You are unsure of what direction you want to go and that is okay. Explore different fields and always remember that this is your life and you should go after the type of life that you want, not what other people want for you or what is expected of you. This is your life, live it. On a more acedemic stand point, schedule time for studying, writing papers, and doing homework. Setting up time for that is much easier than trying to create time for it after the fact. Never hesitate to ask for help from the instructors. They are there to teach and want to teach. Don't be afraid to make friends. Friends can make a great support network. Lastly, enjoy college, it goes by faster than you think.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would warn myself about what lays ahead. I would warn myself to be financially prepared. Since I began college my loans have run out twice and I have had to pay my tuition and pay for my books out of y own pocket. I would warn myself that even though school is going to be hard in both a mental and financial sense that I should not give up and continue school. I would tell myself that life outside of school is going to be rough as well. In one year I lost my grandfather to cancer and only a few days later my girlfriend of almost three years left me. And although I thought about giving up I didn't. I knew that later in life I would regret not finishing college. So I would make sure that my senior self would know that although times would be hard my family and both new and old friends would help me through even my darkest days.

I see myself as teenager. I have only been away from her for a few years, but she is bright eyed and curious of what is to come. If I could tell her how things were going to turn out, I don?t know if I would. It is only because I have lived through necessary trial, that I have become the person that I am and who she will be. Words are fair warning, but the voyage through the wilderness is the only way to enlightenment. The mark of a true scholar is the application of the lessons that have been imprinted through a most certain crash course through life. These are my remnants from just such a journey; Do things with integrity. Compete gracefully. Always say thank you to the people who guided you. Remember the things that made you happy when you were a child, for they are good therapy for the difficult times you will inevitably face. But most importantly, remember that tough times will pass, but you will never forgive yourself if you forget your dream and starve your soul.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be several things I'd advise myself. The first advice I'd give would be to be outgoing. Many college freshmen struggle with homesickness and miss their old friends and family. The best way to overcome this is to meet people on campus. Joining extracurricular clubs, for example, is a great way to meet people of similar interests. The second advice I'd give would be to take academics very seriously. Though there can and will be several distractions at college, academics should be top priority. While I graduated college with a 3.39 cummulative GPA, there were a few semesters where I didn't do as well as I could have. Looking back, I would have advised myself to spend more time in the chair and less time goofing off. The final advice I'd give would be to not stress out so much. College is an enriching, memorable time of one's life but it can become stressful and busy. I'd advise myself to take a deep breath, relax, and focus on one thing at a time.

I would tell myself that life really is not as serious as everyone makes it out to be. It is important, and curious, and wonderous; but it is not as serious. Don't fret over not knowing your major, do not be scared of puking while trying to speak publicly. Don't let an advising appointment make you nervous, or not know what will happen if you take that weekend off. During your lecture classes, feel free to smile when your professor makes a joke. This isn't a funeral home, it's college! So laugh and celebrate being able to just go for something.

Besides family, school should be the first priority. The opportunities that are available for people with a college degree are for the most part better than those that just hold a high school diploma. Also I would insure that a 401K plan was set up with the first job that I had, even 1{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} at that age can grow a lot by the time you get out of college and into a profession. Lastly I would tell myself to go after your dreams and make them happen rather than just sitting back and letting life go by. Grab those opportunities as the come up and learn from your mistakes to grow and mature.

Don't be scared. Things are different, but still much the same. Stay motivated and confident. Save your money and always work hard. Stay determined and keep your eyes on the prize. Spend more time with your family and cherish the time spent together. You will miss them.

I know you are going through an episode of panic right now, but you don't have to be. Remember to take a breath now and again. No matter what happens next, it will be the best for you. This is the start of the rest of your life, but you don't need to know exactly what each step of that life will look like. Just take things one step at a time, and it will all turn out how it should. College is not the big scary world you think, but rather an exciting place where you can finally be yourself. You have been prepared for the academics part better than you think. Just stay focused and find the balance. Best of luck!

I would have started looking at colleges in my junior year instead of trying to decide at the last minute before application deadlines. I would have only looked at schools that offered the exact curriculum I was looking for and not choose a school due to it prestige.

While you may think that you are busy now and that life is moving too fast it isn't. When you get to college life is going to pick up, in a good way mind you, but pick up it will. I know that you feel that there are a great many things that you want to do and you don't think know is the time to do them. Well you are wrong. Get involved, go explore everything no matter how silly.

To begin I am now 27 years old. I knew when i finished highschool i needed a break . I have always wanted to travel and spending just one month traveling throughout europe i felt i learned what no classroom could teach. So i would advise all seniors to take a year break before going straight into college. Educational opportunities don't end at a certain age. Travel the world or explore in your own backyard. It can certainly be a smooth transition for some but for most i feel at 18 knowing what you want to make of your life in a world as uncertain as ours is quite daunting. Plus I feel most public schools though they say they are preparing you for college , there is something they aren't able to give as much. A confidence in one self , a meaning to education that i feel has been getting lost in todays' educational system. I want to be a part of that change of routine or set schedule of growing up. To help build that self purpose in young hearts. We can think and live in a life of our creatiion. Slow down! Go at your own pace!

When I was in high school, I was sorely lacking self-esteem. Most of my classmates did not respect me, I never had a boyfriend, and I considered myself a nerd--I was the one with the straight A's, the band geek, the benchwarmer. But if I could go back, knowing what I know about myself now, I would tell myself to stop the self-pity because I have a lot of potential. I have skills and abilities that, no matter what anyone else says, are wonderful gifts and they will be appreciated someday. I would also tell myself to listen to Daddy because he is right--this place is in fact a small pond relative to the rest of the country (nay! the rest of the world!), like the ocean in comparison. Lastly, I would tell the younger Me to be nice to my schoolmates because most people are good at heart, and will treat you with respect if you treat them with respect. If I had known these things, I believe my high school experience would have been more enjoyable.

Challenge yourself even though the classes are put into low challenge mode to compensate for all the slack students the college accepts. Be your own motivator. Second, choose projects that bring out the best in you and are what you care about, not what your parents or teachers tell you to choose. Keep exercising. Leave friends that are toxic quickly and move onto better people. Take dance classes like swing, salsa and ballroom. Enroll in classes you always wanted to but never thought you could, so you can discover your passion in life. Practice getting a boyfriend or girlfriend because time flies quickly.

The importance and availability of financial aid and scholarships is something that I wish I would have known more about in high school. College is expensive, and knowing more about the cost and assistance available I believe would encourage more people to seek higher education. I would have to tell my high school self to develop strong and productive study habits. In high school, it was much easier to do work at the last minute and still do well on an assignment, whereas in college, it is important to manage your time and get things done in a manner that produces good results. Being away from home and restrictions, it is easy to get caught up in one's social life and forget about school for awhile. This can take a toll on students academically and mentally, and I think that having those solid study habits going into college would be extremely helpful as opposed to trying desperately to develop them during finals week.

My biggest issue with starting college was learning how to conserve my money. When you get out on your own and you realize you are in control of your own life, and free to do what you want, it sometimes goes to your head. Sure we have family and friends to help guide us on the right path, but we aren't always thinking clearly with our newly-found freedom. If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I'd tell myself that it's a rough world out there, and more than you think is based on money. Money goes to tuition, books, room and board, food, and so much more. My biggest challenge was budgeting my money in a manner that made the most sense, and I wasn?t too great at it. As a result, I had to come out of school and work for a while in order to hopefully go back in the near future. I know now that my mom was right when she told me to not rush life, and to enjoy being a child. It's a lot easier and a lot less stressful!

Right now, you are worried about what your perspective major is, let alone what you'll do with the rest of your life. Two words: don't worry. A year from now, not only will you be in a great college you didn't even consider applying to at first, you will have already chosen a major that works for you. College life is so much different than that of high school. You pick your class schedule, you prioritize your time, and you decide what works best for you. As long as you finish your high school career with good grades and put in your applications by the deadline, you're set for your college career. Don't stress so much about your major, it's a big learning process of trial and error.

I would encourage myself to consider student life as much as academics when it comes to choosing a school. I transferred from my first school because I felt like the administration was making no effort to improve student life for students (and it was a residential college). It seemed to me that students spent ALL their time studying or in their dorm rooms, creating a school full of isolated, depressed individuals. In order to counteract that, a few of my peers and I started student advisory boards to improve student life. If there is an issue on campus, go ahead and take action to address that issue; the entire reason that colleges and universities exist is to serve students. If students are unhappy or unfulfilled, the school is not doing its job. Become active, socially and politically, to change the climate of your campus. Also, take advantage of Intermural Sports and free fitness classes... you won't have much access to those once you graduate. Finally, cherish the friendships you make; many of them will last for a very long time! Study and succeed, but don't let that hinder your social or physical life; enjoy school!

I would go back and tell myself not to worry about the transition to college, as intimidating as it may seem. I would remind myself that there are many people in my life that are willing to help me make the transition, and make sure that I will be comfortable when entering college. I would tell myself that I have the means to be great at college and to use my talents in effective ways. I would also remind myself to keep working hard in school and on scholarship applications, as they will help me immensely in the next four years. Also I would tell myself to make new friends at college while remaining loyal to my friends from high school - no matter if they went to a different university. I would tell myself that even though I will go through some hardships and a terrible loss my senior year, that I will use it to move forward with new strength. Despite this, I would remind myself to have fun and that the best four years of my life lay ahead of me!

I wish I could go back even further, maybe sophomore year. Far enough back that I could tell myself it is possible to go to college and that it is worth it and to try harder. I took the easy way out most of high school and it was only my senior year that college became a reality. I would tell myself to get more involved and to go for honors classes, and soak up as much public free education as I possibly could. There are so many classes I have to pay for now that I could have gotten college credit for in high school. Thats one thing even my senior year I hadnt fully grasped. I have to pay for every little thing. I would tell myself to take as many classes as I could and to do flagship. Another thing, I would say to my slightly more innocent self is to take school as a privliage, not just something you have to do, or just another garauntee in life, but something to cherish and take full advantage of. I have so much respect for my education and learning in general now that it's mine to persue.

Dormitories tend to be a very busy place; so many lives are crammed into each building. It does not create problems between people, arguements happen naturally. The residents are kind and most tend to want to meet new people. Everyone devolops different schedules. When there is always something happening, it becomes very easy to get caught up in socializing. The biggest problem I had entering college was laying aside time to study. When a slot of time becomes open, where there is nothing happening, take advantage of it. Use it to sit down and study. A lot of the time, the morning is the most effective. The key is being well rested. You may think that the room mate would be an issue. At first, he was. Like any shared living conditions, the room mates should set rules and abide by them. Usually the basis of the rules are similar. The need to be able to study is mutual. The number one concern is being able to focus on school work.

Get motivated! Get out and meet people; get good at it. Apply for more scholarships.

I would tell myself to make sure I take classes that are interesting. Even if some classes are not necessary, try to gain as much knowledge as possible. Also, I would suggest learning the values of networking early on, and to always practice those skills because you can never tell when you will meet a person that can help you out considerably with your career goals. Be sure to keep an open mind and try to see things from another person's perspective, because you will meet a large number of people with incredible insight.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would say that the most important thing is learn how to study and listen. The next thing I would say is don't get distracted and stay focused because life is short and a college education is the best way of achieving your dreams. The last thing I would say is that college is nothing like high school and no matter what you are interested in the is an opportunity to find like-minded people and activities that will expand your dreams and guide you into a career and a more satisfying life.

To major in the biological/environmental side of agriculture- I started in math, thinking I'd have to teach to pay off my student loan. Reconsidering it though, I've decided that teaching is not what I'd want to do. I'd rather be in the outdoors more, and be able to and get my own little place out in the woods and grow and hunt for my own food. Therefore I would not have to rely on others.