The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Top Questions

Be more aware of scholarships.

Don't be afraid to follow what you feel. Life is not about making as much money as possible, it's about being happy with yourself and what you do!

If I could go back in time I would advise myself to go to college right graduation. It is harder to earn your degree with children and a full time job. Don't be in a hurry to get out on your own, let it happen when the time is right. I really wish that I could get a do over and graduate from college first and then start my family. I would be further advanced in my career and not just be an entry level employee at the age of 41.

I would tell myself to study harder in high school. I would also advised myself to take different subjects than what I had taken to achieve the goals that I am working toward. I also would have listened more to the advice that I had received from teachers, parents and friends that had graduated before me and were attending college. I did not realize how important additional education was in high school and did not listen to friends that were in dead in jobs telling me to study and do well and go on to college. My college life would have been so different if I had known what I know now. I was totally unprepared for college and have to work harder than most to achieve what I want out of life.

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school I would tell myself not to worry about rushing into college. I would tell myself to try and get on board with a volunteer group and travel the world for a few years to gain some sufficient life experience before trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. Most kids going straight into college from high school do not know exactly what they want to do and end up wasting a lot of time and money switching majors several times. However, if college is something that you absolutely want to get started on straight out of high school then I would suggest getting the general requirements out of the way before trying to choose a major. Overall, college is a really great experience and I think everyone should get the opportunity to study if they so choose, but it should definitely not be something that anyone rushes into because it's a lot harder to get as much out of the experience when you can't focus on your personal needs as a person. You have to live a little to figure that out.

Be prepared to spend most of your time studying because there is no time for slacking.

If I could travel back in time to deliver the sum of my collegiate experience to the frazzled, overworked high school senior I once was, I would have but one message to convey: Above all else, take pride in what you have accomplished and will accomplish, and settle for no less. The world I found myself in upon entering the University of Tennessee was overwhelming, to say the least. The new and interesting people I was to meet and their ways of life were beyond all I could have imagined, and the blur of it all was more than enough to throw me for a loop. At times, the excitement distracted me and even made me feel inferior--like just another face in the crowd of orange and white. It was far easier to find my place and excel when I thought about just what I had accomplished to get where I was and realized that I was more than capable of making my mark in a huge way. Though my first semester was a little rough, all it took was buckling down and refusing to settle for less than my absolute best to transform me into a confident student.

Pick something to major in and stick with it till you achieve it, make sure you understand all the grade requirements to achieve this, and do not buy a car the day befor school starts... overall have fun with every moment.

I would tell myself that college is very different from high school. The people there are more open to new things and the classes are a lot harder than what you expect them to be. Learn your study habits, don't worry about finding friends, and just be prepared to have a good time. Don't stress! Everything will work out in the end.

You were born a psychologist. All your life, you observed others, attempting to understand everything about them, so you wouldn't have to try to understand yourself. Now it is time to learn. Form your own opinions, explore, experiment (safely), and don't take the easy way out. Stop cowering in the corner, afraid that someone will disagree with you. Instead, embrace disagreement, allowing for your beliefs to be questioned and your mind to be opened. This way, you'll differentiate the beliefs you actually hold from the ones you just hopped on the bandwagon. Don't be so stubborn that no amount of good evidence will change your mind, but also don't be afraid to defend your beliefs with good evidence yourself. By now, you have formed your tight group of friends that you hold dearer than life itself, and you're terrified of losing them. You won't. They were there through all your hardships so far, and they will continue being there, just a phone call away. However, don't allow your loyalty get in the way of equally wonderful new friendships. Just as important, you will always have your family, with love, advice, and support.

Wow, this is a really tough question, but I believe that I would tell myself that you cannot get through school by not studying and by just going to class. I did not have to study at all for my classes in high school to do well, and that was a HUGE problem that I had comming into college. Therefore if I had to give my self one piece of advice, I would tell myself that the most important thing to know going into college is that you cant expect to learn by just going to class. It is very important to read what the teacher has assigned to you as well as complete any homework before classes and tests. The most important thing that I have going on right now in my life is getting through school, and now that I can understand what I have to do to succeed I am one step closer than I was last year.

Do what you love instead of falling into the traps of society. Instead of thinking about majoring in Chemistry for the money, go for the Arts and do what you wanted to do in the first place and create creative pieces that doesn't persuade, but educate people about the differences one has - Let them know that they are still human. Doing what you can to swing by and focusing on what people care will make your life miserable. You should focus on the endless doors opening for you and take every chance to love every moment of it. To embrace who you are and to give yourself the opportunity to be successful. College isn't just about finding who you are, but also about finding those connections through doors to make you...YOU!

Don't smoke!

Before choosing a college, be sure to tour the school and apply for all available scholarships. and grants Getting a feel for the school beforehand will cause you to be more comfortable when school actually starts. Don't be scared to get involved in clubs, organizations, or teams because it always helps to make friends even though the transition seems overwhelming at first. Also, occasionally taking fun, elective courses can help lower stress from other classes. Having fun, meeting lifelong friends, and making lasting memories is the most important thing in college, besides your studies toward your degree of choice. Remember to stay focused and work hard in order to keep a high GPA and maintain or earn scholarships. Also, professors are more than willing to help if contacted during office hours. Don't be intimidated by them. They're generally very friendly and they won't bite. College is the last chance to let loose and have fun before going into the workforce of the real world. Have some self-control and don't go too crazy though. Make the most of the time you have here!

If I could go back, I would definately tell myself to be true to what I love. My freshman year of college I took classes for majors that I believed that I was actually interested in. However, they were not classes that I enjoyed. I took accounting classes to become an accountant, I took a psychology class because I thought I could possibly want to become a child psychologist. In reality, I only wanted a career that would allow me to have a large salary when i graduated. I had the will power to persue both of those careers, but I was not in love with either choice. If I could talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would stress the fact that I need to go for the goals that I am truly passionate about. I love American Sign Language. Whether or not I am making a six-digit salary, I love doing it.

Don't Stress!

Danielle, when you get to college soak it up. This is the best advice I can give myself. Don?t waste one second being unhappy and get involved with everything that interests you. Remember that everyone is in the same boat you are. Finding new friends, being independent from your parents, living in a new place, and making your own decisions are all characteristics of every college freshman. Don?t be scared, instead, be outgoing and open to the extraordinary. Many things will change you within your first year, but always be happy with who you are and who you become. Listen as well as communicate, attend events that interest you, get involved with some type of organization, be open to new ideas and always put school work first. You are first and foremost attending college to learn. College is about the experience and at the University of Tennessee you will get that experience so long as you soak it up.

Follow your own path. Look for a college that will be fun as well as challenging. Don't worry about where your friends go. This is a new chapter of your life, and of the lives of all of your peers. Don't worry about fitting in. There is a place for all of us in college, no matter what campus you happen to end up on.

First off, decide what kind of person you are. Know what you like and dislike, your goals and desires. Know what your budget will be and if you need financial aid. Don't tailor yourself to fit the school; find the school that's tailored to you. Your college career will be much easier if you pick the school that is the best fit. Also, give yourself plenty of time for research. This process should be somewhat enjoyable, not a frantic scramble to reach your deadlines. Absolutely visit your potential colleges. Make sure to ask plenty of questions- talk to the students there, go on the campus tours, etc. When making this decision, you must at all times be open to new things while keeping your goals in mind. The college that's right for you may not be what you had envisioned, but you might be cheating yourself out of the best opportunity if you were to discard a school because it wasn't picture perfect. Keep in mind that no college will be exactly what you want. The college experience would be rather dull if there were no surprises or discoveries involved.

Just go with your gut instinct. Try to have an idea of what you do ultimately want to do in the end. Switching majors is time consuming and hard.

College is about putting yourself out there to obtain knowledge and experience new things. It allows the opportunity to do things that you might not have had the ability to do in high school. Choose your school based on the merit first, but never forget the social aspects as well. Meeting people from different walks of life encourage growth within yourself as well. Be kind to everyone and try to learn all you can. This will be the only preperation you will have for the rest of your life... USE it properly! Live it up! These are truly the best years of your life!

Start looking for colleges early and choose one that has a good program for your field of interest.

The best college may not always been the largest college. Investigate colleges where the student will feel at home (school size, academic programs available, campus setting, extra-curricular activities available, etc). This is the student's college experience, not the parents'. The student should have the most input on where he/she wants to attend school. In order to make the most of the college experience, the student must become involved with people and activities on campus. There is a plethora of clubs, organizations and activities for the student on the college campus. It is important that the student discovers what they are interested in and finds their niche.

Make sure you like the campus and location. If you try hard and are open to others, you will find good people anywhere; your environment/campus look will not change though.

My advice would be to really look at state schools. Most state colleges and universities have a flagship campus and other smaller campuses. This is a major advantage as you can chose to study in the setting that you are most comfortable in, smaller more quiet areas or in a bustling city. Furthermore state colleges offer a big discount when compared to private institutions. Another thing to consider at a state college is the abundace of extra-curriculars like sports, interest groups, plays, sorrorities and fraternities, and volunteer groups.

It's not about picking the perfect school. It's about finding a campus you like and can live with and enjoy. College is what you make it, friends come so easy if you just get yourself out of the dorm/library. I came into college with many friends i knew from high school, but I met so many more people through club sports and general socializing. A college campus is so diverse, it is hard to find a school that doesn't have multiple options coursewise.

Be both open-minded and decisive, never sit around and wait for things to happen for you.

Be open to try everything (within reason). Give every college a chance cause there will definitely be one that will fit you perfectly even if you didn't know it would.

Go with the school that you feelwould best fit you.

I think the most important thing is to have something you absolutely love about your school. Whether it be the sports, the campus, your major, etc. It's very important to love your school from the beginning. Always visit the campus. You'll know right away whether or not it's for you. And please don't settle. You will be absolutely miserable if you don't go to the school you picked, or if you have a bad attitude about it. Also, you will not have fun at school if you choose not to be outgoing and meet new people. It may seem hard and scary, but everyone is in the same boat as you. Everyone loves making new friends, so there's nothing to worry about. PLEASE don't follow a friend or a boyfriend to college. Either you'll break up, lose touch, or start to change your opinions about the person. Now's your time to shine, don't screw it up. Make as many new friends as possible. These are the greatest years of your life with the people that will remain your friends through the rest of it. Don't take it for granted!

In order to find the right college for you, look into what you would like to do in life. After figuring that out, find a school with a good program in your desired field and visit it . When you do finally choose a college, be open to meeting new people and try to interact with as many as people as you can. You can never have too many friends. Do not take the university for granted. Go to class, scream as loud as you can at sports events, and enjoy your life because your only four years away from the real world so have fun.

Visit the campus for atleast a weekend before you decide to go there for school. Take advantage of your time in that city and see as many different things as you can.

Make sure you know what you want and don't settle for anything that doesn't have what you desire (certain sports...) Do your research on how you want your school to be and don't be afraid to go far away for school. Try many things and take advantage of all opportunities, because you never know when you could make a connection with someone to something you need help with in the future.

The advice I would give to prospective college students is simple: know what you want. Whether you want to attend a private or public institution, how far away from home you're willing to go, number of students at the school, male to female ratio, graduation rate, and most importantly for me, MONEY. If you know your family isn't wealthy, apply for all the financial aid and sholarships possible. Paying for college out of pocket isn't a bad thing, but it can be avoided. The advice I would give to the parents of prospective college students is to let him/her choose what's best for him/her. Give them your input, but don't make their decision for them. If they go to the school you want them to go to, they'll regret it for the rest of their life.

Dear Student and Parental Unit of Said Student, Finding the right college takes a little time, but the most important thing to look for in the potential school (beyond its degree options) is how comfortable it is for your lifestyle. If a school is too small, too big, or too big of a change, then your college experience isn't going to be as good as it could be. You will be preoccupied with what is not working for you with the school rather than studying for that next test in your class. So, before you go looking at all the Ivy-league and big named colleges, first consider the type of environment you thrive in. If large classrooms are distracting and unpersonal, a small campus is probably for you. If you want a wide array of educational and networking options, a large campus is probably for you. Next, make sure your college is within your price range. Every student has to make choices to save money, but that choice shouldn't be whether to buy groceries or not because of the price of tuition. Explore your different options to make sure you choose the right college that suits you.

Students should start searching for colleges when they begin high school, so that when they begin their college career, they will be happy with their choice. Campus tours are very helpful when it comes to choosing a college. A student's freshman year of college should be spent taking classes they find interesting; when it comes time for them to declare a major, they will have personal experience to help them make the right choice. I suggest a student introduce him/herself to the person sitting beside him/her on the first day of class, because, more than likely, he/she will not know anyone either. Even if they do not become friends, each will still have someone to contact if they have to miss class, which should only be done in case of an emergency. Finally, students should not spend all of their time studying. Friends made at parties and campus events can provide advice on certain classes and professors. College, though it should be taken seriously, is a time for self-exploration. Be responsible, but do not be afraid to try new things.

I would tell future college students to chose a school where they will be comfortable. You are more likely to succeed if you feel at home in your surroundings. That does not mean that one should stay close to home for their education, however. I encourage future college students to go to a school far away if they believe that is what it takes for them to succeed. Choose a school that has an excellent program for what ever major you are pursuing. To make the most of your college experience, branch out! Try new foods, talk to people you would not have given a chance in high school. Take a course that sounds interesting to you, you might just find your passion in life! College is one of the only times in your life to have such diversity in your life. However, always be safe! Have fun and focus on making your dreams a reality.

For parents, I would say to make sure that you really know and understand your child's needs. Just because your child graduates from high school does not automatically mean that they are ready to move out and away to large universities. Likewise, there are students who graduate from high school and are ready to move out and away to large universities. The important thing to remember is that the beginning of your child's college education is crucial to their development. You want to be sure that your child is serious about college and is willing to put forth 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} effort. Also remember that their is nothing wrong with Junior Colleges and Technical/Vocational Schools. Be actively in involved in your child's college search to assure them that you are supporting them. Allow them to make the decision, but if you are paying the tution and other fees do not hesitate to negotiate with options. As for the students, college is supposed to a fun and exciting new adventure, but understand that you are there to get a degree(s). Your transcript will follow you wherever you go. Use sound judgment and ask for advice!

Choose a campus where you can feel at home. Choose a campus that is safe. Choose a campus whose tour impresses you. Talk to the financial aid department and make sure they are helpful. Don't be afraid to contact students or professors at a university to ask them questions that you might have. Once on campus, get involved and find your place... even the largest universities can feel like home if you find a way to make it your own!

GO ON COLLEGE VISITS..... IT IS ESSENTIAL

I think that doing research early on in your high school career to find the best school dealing with the desired field is a students best bet on knowing they will get the most out of their collage years and the continuing education. Collage is not cheap and to make the most out of your learning expierences while attending I think it is best to have a goal and a direction up front, apply yourself and everything else (social life, extra curricular activities and work) will fall into place. Make the most of everything you do and feel proud about your acomplishments.

I think it is very important to make sure one visits the school before deciding if it is right for you or not. I visited several schools and after my visits, I knew which ones were right for me and which ones weren't. On that college visit, ask as many questions possible and make sure you understand everything. Do not hesitate to ask for a much deeper clearification. The campus you select should have activites that appeal to you and your interests. Make sure there are things around that you like to do, that way you can "escape" the normal work load and routine of going to class and doing homework. Make sure your heart is there! Do not choose a school based on relationships and friendships. Selecting a school should be a decision that is made by you, for you and no one else.

It is more than just visiting the campus; talk to students who have been there for awhile, make a list of what your seeking in a college and make sure the prospective schools are compatible.

If you are a student trying to find the best "fit" for you when it comes to your future college, definitely check out books or websites that have rated colleges in terms of a variety of different areas such as academics, student activities, greek life, etc. Especially pay attention to comments regarding life at school made by actual students that are or have attended the particular college. After you have put together a list of all the colleges you think that you may like to attend, if at all possible, make arrangements to visit the different campuses and take part in guided tours. Also check to see if the college offers opportunities to meet up talk with current students. If you do get a chance to meet students that are currently attending the college, don't be afraid to ask questions. These students are sure to be your best source of information regarding student life on campus because they are actually living it!

you need to find a major and a school that fits you best. If your school does fit in your overall plan it hard to enjoy school. For me i change my major three times and it extend my time there. This made me have to figure out how to pay for school and with limited finincal aid i had to take on two jobs to pay for school. You need to focus on how you are going to pay for school and have an idea of what you want to do. this will help you figure out what school is best for you.

I would advise students to be prepared to change things about themselves. In college, it is a different world and you can't always pull through being the same person you have alwyas been. I personally have changed so much during my last 3.5 years at college, some for the better and a little for the not-so-good. You have to take your classes seriously and ATTEND CLASS!!! That's the dealbreaker and the only way that you will be able to keep up with what's going on. My GPA has suffered because I was a straight A student all through high school and never had to pick up a book to study, I thought college would be the same way for me, but boy was I wrong! If you can find the right balance between school and working, your social life will fall into place. Don't try so hard to make yourself a social butterfly right away because it won't work, just give it time. Parents need to be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} supportive of their kids. College has made me laugh, cry, and cry harder, but I have loved going through it!

Go where you will be happy. Live away from home. You HAVE to live away from home. I knew people who didn't and they missed out on a large part of the college experience. It's a big part of the college experience. You can't miss it!

Parents should let their kids find a college that's right for them. Students should find a college that fits their personality, and not go with just their friends. When you go with friends from High School, you tend to not get as much out of the college experience or meet as many people. Go outside your comfort zone.

Finding the right college all comes down to where you feel like you can make the most of your journey to self-discovery. It doesn't matter how expensive or cheap a college is, just as long as you can find who you really are inside. In college you will make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from those and to keep working hard for that degree. The funny thing about a degree is that it really is just a piece of paper that gets your foot in the door for an interview. It doesn't guarantee anything, so that's why the experience in earning it that (hopefully) made you a well-rounded person can come out.

The right college choice should be reflective of the type of environment that you thrive in. If you enjoy lots of people and space go to a big school. If you thrive on a close knit community go to a smaller school.