University of Alaska Anchorage Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Kassidy

Do not let the trepidation and fear of the workload and cost of attending college get in the way of your education. You will become the first member of your family to attend and graduate from college. You should start now. Obtain a part time job that is related to your schooling. Do not let the fear of being accepted get in the way either. Just work hard on everything you do. Everything will work out as needed. Find out who the financial aid instructors are at the College. Meet with them and create a path way to success. You are more intelligent than you think. College is very different than high-school. The struggles you have in High School will not be there when you enter college and you will succede. Go forth and prosper.

Gina

Don't be so afraid of college and the unknown! Although college is very different from high school, you'll do great. Try not to procrastinate too often; it feels good to finish assignments early. Don't be afraid to participate in class or to ask for help. There ; really are no stupid questions; the professors want you to suceed. Try not to get too stressed out. The assignments will be tough, and you will become frustrated, but just do your best; that's really all you can do. Your best will be good enough. Don't be intimidated by other college students; everyone has been exactly where you are and felt exactly as you do. Try to have fun and enjoy the overall experience; you will miss it when it's over.

Matthew

I'd tell myself to be more bold socially. I never lived on campus, and I had heard stories of people living on campus and developing their social skills as a result. Being a student who lived either at home or off campus, I didn't have as many opportunities as I would have had if I lived on campus. I don't regret living off campus, but being a shy student in high school, it took me a few years to grow out of those old habits and feel comfortable talking to strangers. College is a different beast than high school - there are many more people, and most of them you'll only see in one class. To enjoy college and maximize your learning through study groups, you have to be comfortable talking to people and forging connections. So if I were able to talk to my high school self, I'd encourage myself to get out there and talk to people. Because many times, people are excited that someone wanted to talk to them!

Mason

I would tell myself to research more about colleges and to have an open mind when it comes to picking a school. I would tell myself to not overlook University of Alaska Anchorage and University of North Dakota. I would remind myself that college loans horror stories are absolutely real, and that it would not be considered a failure to attend an in-state university. I would stress the fact for applying for every scholarship I'm elligible for, and don't be too relaxed on accepting whatever the student loan amount would total. When you get to college, be more open to dorm mates, people on your same floor. Use the Alaska card, everyone is fascinated about Alaska and it is the easiest ice breaker to meet new friends. College is the transition before arriving to your career, I would remind myself to enjoy every bit of it, no matter where I am. Meet as many people as you can, become Facebook friends, and do you best to keep in touch. College is exciting, so take it all in.

nicole

Make sure you order your books and supplies before school starts

Jack

Go to college now. You are smart, talanted and able to do anything. Pleasedo not wait till you are older to go back to school. With your drive and ambition, you can create the clean renewable energy your world needs. Get started now, do not wait until you get older. Thanks Jack! The world is watching.

Victoria

Get a part-time job and SAVE YOUR MONEY! Using student loans to fully fund your college experience is not any effective way to go to college. Another thing, make sure to be involved in plenty of extracurricular activities. Get involved with the community, volunteer, this way, you get to know your community and probably encounter people who could possibly change your life.Lastly, and probably the hardest to do, concentrate on the bigger picture. The things that happen to you in high school, the good and the bad, really don’t matter in the long run. It is important to focus on your future, your career, and to not get caught up in the daily drama. It is really easy to get involved with the wrong crowd but if you keep what really matters in mind and focus on your goals, then you can easily avoid going down the wrong road. I am not saying to completely forgo a social life, I am saying to make sure that you avoid those people that can bring you down and emotionally (and sometimes physically) harm you. Have fun, you are young, but remember that high school doesn’t last forever.

Nou

In life there's no going back in time. But if there is and I'll go back in time and talk to myself about the good things and bad things. What I should do and shouldn't because now everything I did back then I am very embrassing myself. Because now I'm in college everything will change and I'm going to be in my own world and discover the excitment world. Everything I need to have those things now its really hard to find, because back then I didn't even think of anything. I was wasting my life, my time. Now thinking back it just hurting me. But now I'm on my way. I'm even stronger because this time I knew that I can do it. I'm not giving up.

Rachel

I would tell myself to make copies of any reference letters I got for scholarships so that applying for future scholarships would be easier. I would also tell myself that even though it may seem like I have a large workload, to take it with a grain of salt and not stress out too much.

Erin

I wish I could have told myself to take high school more seriously. I wish I had gone straight to college after high school and completed my degree then.

Ariel

If I could travel back in time and give myself some advice, I would tell myself the following things: •Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. •Do what makes your soul happy. •Set goals and work towards them. Do great things. •Make good choices. •Step outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid of failure. •Opportunity looks like a hard work. •Get good grades. •Save money. Build good credit. •Travel far and travel often, because you may never get the chance to again. •Enjoy being young while it lasts. •Eat dinner at home. •First impressions are very important. •Take care of yourself. Remember to eat healthy and get plenty of sleep. •Learn to balance life, love, friends, school and work. •Don’t lose touch with good friends or teachers that made an impact in your life. •Make new friends, too. •Don’t take yourself too seriously. •Practice time management, there are only 24 hours in a day. •Be on time and punctual. •Volunteer. Give back. Pay it forward. Perform random acts of kindness. •Don’t wait for “real life” to start, it’s happening now. •Make time for your family. •Live, laugh, love and smile!

Ardrienna

Every semester about a week into the start of classes, I never fail to pass by a group of students assessing the damage that the cost of books inflicted to their bank accounts. They usually compare the total damage and the one with the most devastation wins the sympathy of the group. It is horrible to witness. If I could give advice to my high school self it would be to take full advantage of being a student and look for ways to save money during college rather than waiting until after graduation. For instance, If at all possible, never buy a hard copy book. A little known fact is that most textbooks have a website, and on that website there is usually an electronic version of the book available to students. The e-book version of the very same hardcopy textbook is usually half of the regular price. Some sites even offer the option of renting the e-book, instead of purchasing the book outright. This option cuts the initial cost by another thirty to forty percent. In the past I have paid only $50 for a book that originally cost $250 and saved a bundle each semester!

Kelsey

I would sit down with two cups of coffee and tell myself, "things will get better. I'm not going to give you advice, but there are things I wish I knew a little sooner. Remember those girls who said you were stupid? Remember how many teachers patronized you because of your grades? Yeah, well, that doesn't matter. Grades aren't everything, but it's important to be both smart-working and hard-working. The people with the 'high' GPAs are considered to be the smartest in the shallow, self-righteous world of high school, but you're going to have a high GPA and a brain. You'll be practical scholar." "So, no advice? That's it, then." My former self seems confused. "Listen, you turn out okay -- great even. Really, without advice, you will find a way to thrive. I mean, look at me -- look at us." Before geting up to leave, I pay for both cups of coffee. "But, if you wanted some kind of advice.... I guess you could floss more."

Aleixs

I think overall high school is a time when people lose sight of what is important in life. Some lose sight of themselves, family, academics, or career goals. I seemed to lose sight of them all. Still, if I was only able to tell myself one thing I would tell myself that everything was going to be ok. While I know I should have strived to do better in school I think it was more important for to learn early on from my mistakes. During high school I did below average and I immediately began to struggle upon the start of college. However, this struggle only made me disappointed in previous lack of effort and pushed me to try harder in my academics. By working hard and staying determined I realized I can do anything I put my mind to. I just recently graduated with my Associates of Arts with a GPA of 3.7 and immediately moved over two thousand miles away to attend the college of my dreams, University of Alaska Anchorage. I will be starting as a junior in the fall of 2013 and will be working hard to obtain my Bachelor of Arts.

Kelsey

I would tell my high school self to enjoy my senior year. I would tell myself to have fun with my friends while we are all still together. I would encourage myself to apply to scholarships, but I would also advise myself to not stress out. Senior year is a time to enjoy. It is the last year where I will be with the same people and in a familiar place. I would tell myself to explore all of my college options, to not limit myself. I would tell myself to focus on my own goals, and to not worry about what everyone else is doing. I would tell myself to be proud of the decisions I made. I would tell myself that there are many ways to approach my college education, and all of the options are good. I would tell myself to make memories, to take advantage of every opportunity presented to me. Senior year is a time of transition from being a student to being and adult that is in control of my future. I would tell myself to be confident and know that I will make the right decision.

Brianna

The best piece of advice that I could give my self is to really really narrow down what you birng. The dorms, not matter how much you think you can cram into them, are NOT that big. I was pretty well prepared for college as a whole I did a lot of asking around about it but I just wanted to bring all of my stuf with me. That didn't really work out very for me. I have barely enough space for all of my things and I have bought a lot since I came here. So even if you say you won't need to buy something because you brought it with you, I promise that you definitely will. Either that or you will buy something else.

SARAH

I would advise myself to take as many AP courses as possible during my senior year. To enroll in college courses during my senior year and to work two to three jobs the summer preceding fall semester at the university. I would also advise myself to be fully aware of the pre-requisites for my profession to avoid having to take numerous useless courses. I would also advise myself to take summer courses to finish college early. Lastly, I would advise myself to enjoy the journey. Because it goes by very quickly.

Bradley

Brad, I know that you want to be succesful with your career at Six Flags and attend Carthage next year. The next four years will be full of unexpected twists and turns, however your hard work will pay off. You will travel and live in places you never would dream that you would have and meet amazing people from all over the world as well as gain valuable experience in the business. However, this will not be because you are going to Carthage next year for school. If I could give you one piece of advice, opt for a cheaper alternative with Oakton and you will still be able to open up the doors to all the wonderful career opportunities without paying nearly as much for your first year of school. Carthage is a great school, but the way life will unfold it is not something that you will be able to afford to finish. Keep your eyes, ears, and options open. Always follow your heart: you may be surprised where it might lead you.

ALANA

If I could go back in time I would tell myself that you'll make mistakes and thats okay. It's the best way we learn. If I were to tell myself that I'd save myself a lot of money and a better academic transcript if I woud just get serious. Depending on if younger me listened (which I probably wouldn't) I would have missed out on living is Hawaii for three years and the great memories/experiences I've gained in my life. I would make sure that I always be me and not change because it is what someone else wants. I'm greatful for the things i have overcome and the adult I have grown into. I may have a couple regrets but I wouldn't want to change me for anyone ever again.

Marc

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self I would give myself on how to do better in school. In high school I was a procrastinator who did the bare minimum; ever since graduating I have been trying to change myself. I would start with advising myself about time management; how school is more important that work or spending time with friends. The next piece of advise would be ways to become more organized and how to incorporate these skills in all aspects of my life. My final tip to my past self would be useful study habits such as flash cards, study groups, planners, and note taking. This advice I feel would have helped my past self to become more successful.

Pelalyna

Oh lyna! If only you prepared yourself with scholarships the year before you started college! Then your freshmen year would have been a lot easier. You wouldn't be scrambling around last minute to look for money to pay for your tuition. You could have put those writing skills to a test while they were still fresh!

Stephanie

I would advise myself to be more socially active, to volunteer more, do more research, participate more in school. I would also have told myself to get into an accelerated program. Very few students get to graduate in only four years. I certainly did not. I would advise me to take advantage of more university resources like study abroad, internships, and undergraduate research. However, I would have encourage myself to let go more often and to have more fun.

Chardonnay

The advice I would give myself is that everyone struggles in some way in college. Dropping a class isn't the end of the world. College classes are expensive, I would start applying for scholarships now. In college, the instructors treat you like adults, not high school kids. They don't call your parents if your not showing up to class, they'll just drop you from the class. Your parents don't play mcuh of a role in college. They help you get there, the rest is up you.

Ashley

If I could go back and tell my high school senior self some advice it would be pretty much that yes, you do need to go to college. I went straight to working after high school, and it was a miserable experience. Now I am two years behind most of my classmates. I would have been almost done with college by now, but because it took me two years to realize that I did indeed need college, I feel behind in my life. I would also tell myself that student loans are a terrible thing, and that I should have tried a lot harder at gaining scholarships. Having the stress of knowing you are thousands of dollars in debt is not a fun feeling. Lastly, I would tell myself to take the SATs because it would have allowed me to skip several required college GER courses. In the end I would just say relax, have fun, and enjoy life in college because it is a lot better than high school.

Mario

If I can go back in time to when I was a high school senior I would advie myself to get better grades and pay attention more often. School is expensive and if I caould have gotten a higher GPA I know for a fact that I can have a better chance of applying for more scholarships in order to pay for college. Also being in college right now made me realize that I can not joke around like I did back in high school, I must get my work done and I actually wish I did not joke around as much as I did in high school. College is something that I take serious because it can either make me or break me. If I do what I have to do I can pursue my dream, on the other hand if I don't pay attention it will be difficult for me to make my dream come true. I really want to become a Computer Engineer in this life and make my parents proud by being the first person in my family to go to college and graduate.

Phillip

Stay in school and get your degree. Matain a high GPA and achieve overall sucess with a well paying career.

Elisabeth

Were I to understand everything that I do now, I would advise myself as a high school senior to do a few things. First, I would say to start earlier in planning what college to go to. It's always possible to change your mind if your focus changes, but there is sure to be less stress if you have a solid plan to start with. Secondly, I would advise myself to start saving and searching for scholarships much earlier. There is no sense in taking out a student loan when a few hours each month in the years beforehand could have prevented it. Finally, I would advise myself not to be so afraid of making mistakes. No persons career or life path is ever perfect, but the mistakes add character and experience. Furthermore, worrying about making mistakes can cause one to hesitate in making decisions. That itself could be the worst mistake of all.

cheyanne

I would tell myself to watch what I eat, be more active in the campus activities and use the campus facilities to exercise more often. Before running off to college, I had a job set up, housing (dorms), and financial aid already on the green light. I was very prepared for the transition of college, but I just wish I would have been more active. UAA is a very active university, they host sport teams, clubs, and affordable outdoor activities on a weekly basis; I just never took advantage of it all. I would also tell myself to scout for more scholarships! I thought I was so prepared for college that I didn't take enough time to look for scholarships like this one. You can never have too much financial help! Especially when you are a degree seeking student such as myself.

joni

It is important to remember why you chose to come to college and stay focused on the goal. The goal is to learn as much as you can and apply it now and in your future career. Always check your syllabus and keep on track with it. Deadlines should always be highlighted and keep everything organized. You should stay on the professor's good side as much as you can. Also, get a part time job to have for gas money and food. Four years may seem like forever, but it goes by really fast, so stay focused and "Eyes on the prize!"

Rachael

none

Pauline

I would tell myself to just go for it and not wait a year or so, because it may be long er I am now just getting my degree I will be 48 years-old when I get it. Start off at a 2 year community college for your prerequirments. Make sure they will transfer over to the 4 year college. Short cuts are never realy a short cut so just do what you need to make your dream come true with your career.

Janelle

College is a wonderful experience, but you have to put in the time to realize it. There is alot of hard work, which you are not ready for. You will have to start off with many prepatory classes, so it will set you back some time. Once you work hard and finish those classes you will be ready to start college classes. You really have to focus on studying and concentrate on what is important. You will meet many new people and do many new things, and that is great! You must remeber though why you are there. You are there to further your education. Thats what must be done first before fun. Study then have fun, remember college is one of the steps to having a better life.

Michael

College has taught me a lot of new things that I would never learn on my own. It allows me to break the walls of my comfort zone and discover new knowledge that was previously foreign to me. This kind of discovery freedom is something I am grateful for since my father didn't attend college and my mother never finished. So I feel so grateful just to have the opprotunity to even embark on a journey to quinch my thirst for knowledge.

Kayla

The most important thing I learned at UAA was to be analytical. Do not accept information presented, rather make it be proven to you. Knowing where the information is coming from, how the sample was selected and whether it is representative to the community or population are all very important to the significance of the findings. The entertaining thing is, I only took two research oriented classes and believe they have led me to gain a better understanding of almost everything I read or research about. The concepts I learned in those two classes taught me to investigate further and to find a deeper understanding, not just accept the face value.

Eric

I have learned many different aspects about Air Traffic Control (and aviation in general) that I had not known before. Since attending I have made many new friends and have got to known people from all over. It has been fun to get to hear my teachers tales about when they worked as Controllers and what has been changed since then. I enjoy attending UAA and am proud that Alaska has such a great aviation department for me to attend. I am sure that I had made the right choose be attending UAA. I have had many different types of teachers, from the damanding to the more liberal easy going. I think that so far I have experianced University life as it is thought to be, and am glade that I got to stay in my home state to enjoy the wonderful outdoors of Alaska.

Lisa

I got the most out of my college experience by living in the dorms for two years. I learned that a lot of people my age don't have social skills, so as a result, I got to strengthan mine by associating with people like that. I also learned that if you have great social skills it'll get you further in life and what you need to achieve. I want to work at newspaper or in the journalism industry when I'm out of college, and if I end up being a journalist, knowing how to work and talk to people will be a very important factor in how I conduct myself within interviewers, and while working with coworkers.

Sharon

College provided a multidimensional view of the world. Could I sum up every benefit of my college experience in 200 words, probaly not. In retrospect, I can identify the most important qualities I now possess thanks to my college experience as one: the ability to critically think about the cause and effect of a decision prior to making that choice. That is, unbiased and looking at who and what might be dramatically affected and how to problem solve instead of rectifying a horrific mistake later. Two: I learned the power of communication through effective writing. Regardless of the benefits of employable skills, written communication is one of our most valuable assets to present our views in a logical and reasonable presentation. Written communication can protect "our civil liberties" "protect us from injustices" and, describe a thought or feeling. Three: I learned to appreciate the aquisition of new knowledge every day. Since my college experience, I view knowledge as a gift that is there for the one whom seeks it every single day.

Megan

My college experience has given me the passion and dedication I have always desired. While the value of education is priceless, the perseverance and self-motivation I have obtained has made me an overall better person and student. During my entire academic experience, I have enjoyed pushing myself to excel and absorbing as much information as possible. Thus far, my college experience has challenged me and allowed me to feel a sense of achievement and continues to fulfill an intrinsic desire to learn. I am very fortunate that my mother, a valued educator, has opened my eyes and encouraged me to seek my college degree. I feel that college has not only affected me, but I encourage my friends to pursue a higher education in their desired areas of interest. I plan to instill these same values in my future children and generations to come. These educational experiences have been very rewarding and I look forward to continuing my studies until I have acquired my desired degree in Engineering Management.

Jessa

What I got out of my college experience are techniques that I can use to be successful in the career path that I have chosen. I plan on becoming a webdesigner/web developer. Some examples would be time management and different things from each class that I have taken. Time management is important to me because as a web designer I need to get projects done as quick and efficiently as possible for the clients. As I'm attending my classes I remember the important things that can further my career. In my English class I pay attention in properly writing sentences, so the web page content will make sense to the readers. Then in my classes such as painting, photography, and design I incorporate everything together to get an idea for a design for a web site. Every class that I think is important to me because it builds up my skill level on becoming a webdesigner.

Andrea

Being a college has an amazing value in my professional and personal life. As a college student I have been able to expand my academic and life knowledge. At my college I have been able to not only attend a diversity of classes but to also be part of my school activities. I have been given different opportunities to use my skills at campus and that has broaden my knowledge on the importance of been a good leader. Personally my college experince has given me more than what I had expected to take from it. I do everything that I'm given the opportunity to do. As a matter of fact thanks to my college experience I have been able to succeed at my job in a law firm. Also, my position as Treasurer at my Student Government Association has allowed me to improve my leadership skills. People don't take advantage of being a College student and that is a shame. I know that I have and to the fullest which is why I feel confident on everythig I do. I'm 20 but I have experience in different fields thanks to my College.

Brett

So far I have gained some very useful job related skills but these skills will also benefit me as I continue with my education. Some of these skills inculde technical knowledge such as computer skills, advanced mathmatics, and problem solving. I have also gained some personal skills from the interactions that I have had with ohter students and my instructors. These things have made me a better employee at my place of employement but more importantly have made me a better person and a better participant in my community.

Meneka

I have learned a lot from the classes I have taken at UAA. However, that is not the most valuable thing I have gained. What I value most is my ability to speak and communicate with people and my new found confidence in organizing events and people. When I first got to UAA I was extremely shy and I didn't know how to get started in working with other students or making a difference on the campus. However, with the help of various student government bodies and clubs, I now have the confidence to make things happen. I helped to successfully organize a fundraiser for relief for the earthquake in Haiti, something I couldn't have imagined doing when I first started college. I also now have a network of people that I know I can go to if I need help doing anything. Because of this experience, I know that in the future when I have a job and am working to make a difference in the world, I have the abilities to find ways to make things happen.

danielle

i have been able to further my knowledge at an exceptable price of tuition. its a easy and accessible campus. close to town and has everything i could need.

Kayla

My college experience has been great, I enjoy being treated like an adult capable of doing my work without feeling like I am being babysat. I also enjoy the freedom of living by myself and make decisions for myself. I am exited to get a degree and finding a career that I enjoy and having my own income.

funmilayo

first of all i like the fact that you get to make your own decision, i know about 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} make the wrong decisions by the first or second semester because the "freedom" to make their own choice got in their head. but eventually we all get use to it one way or another and start to make positive choices. if i can turn back time i'd go back to my high school days and do somethings different but being in college is the real experience i wouldn't change a thing about it. for every diifficulties i challenged in college it made me a stronger, wiser and more willful person because everyday of college open my eye to reality and it keeps reminding me "this is the real world" well literally not the real world but yes college is an eye opener. if i can be this mature while attending a junior college i can't wait for what a four year college has in store for me nor can i wait to become a pharmacist. The over all satisfaction i get from attending college is the feeling of getting one step closer to my life's ultimate goal .

Renee

As my teenage years steadily dissipated, I watched my friends, one after another, head out on this journey of self-embetterment. through college. I was poor, on my own, and trying to cope with becoming an adult. I worked hard at professional jobs but always envied the experience that so many I knew were getting in school. Now I am in my early twenties, and most of my friends have graduated. I have only just started my college career. I could feel bad about a late start, but I don't. Working has given me perspective, and school is the perfect outlet to award myself with a sense of accomplishment. I have familiarized myself again with my strengths and weaknesses, surprised myself with my abilities to learn and apply, and appreciate the hard work of millions of college students around the world working towards similar goals. I have made new friends, and feel good that I can often give and receive help. I belong to a network, that is as self-less as it is selfish. As much as each person works for themselves, they are working equally hard to make college valuable for everyone else as well.

John

This question is difficult because it is quite simply hard to gauge what anyone would need to improve upon, or prepare for in that transition; and also because I actually was attending college already as a high school senior! Since I didn't have many credits left to fill, my correspondence school had a program that paid for up to two classes for two semesters before I graduated. That made my transition to UAA extremely fluid and comfortable. In the event that such a program was not available to me, I would strongly compel myself to focus foremost on basic core classes such as Math and English. Those skills are immeasurably useful everyday, not only for college, but for all my life. Secondly, I would be encouraged to begin thinking about where I wanted to go. As I type this, I'm currently a Justice Major, and if I had the same consuming drive to do this then that I do now, I would have taken more relevant specialized classes. Finally, I would convey the importance of involvement in the campus community, touring the facilities, talking to faculty, and maybe even studying out there to get that feel of belonging.

Joseph

I was never one to take academics seriously always first to think physical strength was the greater of the two. I would first mention the importance of reading and how it enhances your writing ability, as well as taking math more seriously. To get to the heart of what I?d say takes me back to essay I just wrote for my English 108 class, it was a narrative about me and my struggle with my mother all the way through high school. To keep it brief it was a journey off her dragging me out the bed in the morning and standing over me to get me to accomplish my homework. I would have rather played ball all day then study. Because her I?m able to write this today so I?d tell me listen to your mother and treat school like basketball you only gain what you put into it. If you want a wet jumper you?d shoot a thousands shot a day, so apply those principles to your studies and I can only imagine where we would be today.

Yoshihiro

Yoshi, I know you?re stressed about college, so here are a few pearls of wisdom to make it an amazing, eye-opening experience: First, learn as much as you can, right now. You lack certain life skills and qualities, like organization, passion, money management, and core beliefs. Reading books like 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Zen to Done, and How to Win at College will teach you these things, empowering you to thrive in school. Second, stay calm. I recommend breathing exercises. Life will be up and down, slow and fast, easy and hard. Calmness and clarity will lessen the lows and amplify the highs. Third, in the midst of growing and living at college, don?t forget about your friends and family. College is only one of many life stages; friends and family are life-long. Treat them well, and have fun.

Nathan

I would of kicked myself in the behind and told myself I should of taken college classes while I was in High School. I had that option and never took it. I could of gotten ahead in life but I never took the chance.