University of Arizona Top Questions

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself the following advice:"You know what you hear about the transition from high school to college being hard? Well, that is an understatement, so be open-minded to how college will affect your life. College is what you make of it so don’t compare your experiences to anyone else's. People say that some of their best memories happened in college for a reason, so don’t sweat the small stuff, have fun and take every opportunity that comes your way. Take any classes that sound interesting, and fill your brain with knowledge because, after all, this is what you are here to do. These are the times when you truly grow as a person, realize how strong you can be and realize that you are capable of more than you could’ve ever imagined. Like most successes in life, learning to keep a balance between work and play will guarantee you the success of acing your way through college, while making unforgettable memories with unforgettable people. Believe in yourself and you have nothing to lose, only more room to learn and grow."

I dream of going back and giving myself advice as a high school senior. I wish I could tell myself not to stress out as much as I did, just to enjoy the remainder of high school, and secure friendships. I would tell myself that the transition isn’t so bad as long as I stayed organized and stuck to it! School doesn’t get any shorter just because Biology is only held two days a week. I may go to school for three hours a day but I still spend at least eight hours advancing my education and studying for exams. College is very simple as long as I’m focusing on schoolwork, staying organized, and just relaxing. High school is different from college, there is more responsibility, but with that there is more opportunity. I wish I could tell myself to enjoy high school, but prepare for college not only by signing up for classes and buying dorm materials, but mentally as well.

I would tell myself that I school work is going to be harder than what you think it will be. It's going to be hard to adjust to new people, but it's going to be worth it in the end.

Don't worry. It's hard at first. The transition from small, comfortable, and familiar proves profoundly challenging, but don't give up. It's okay to not know what you're doing, to explore the infinite possibilities that youth offers. Chase that magical feeling when you have no idea what you're doing but somehow it feels right to explore this new world that's unlike anything you've ever known or expected. Yet somehow, you'll find familiarity in the unknown. Forget about what the audience expects, as their eyes press at the soft, unrestricted edges of your mind, where your ideas and heartfelt feelings lay vulnerable and unprotected. It's those kind of risks that matter most, the ones that push the boundaries of what's accepted, what's comfortable, what's even possible. It's then that you'll discover what you've always been looking for... yourself.

I would tell myself to buckle down and focus, its not a breeze like high school. Actually study and look at the textbooks, prep for your papers and exams. Have fun and learn about yourself, but don't think that school will just happen, because you'll suddenly find yourself behind your classmates and staring down a long road to turn around your situation.

Don't accept anything less than what you think you deserve.

Being able to confront my past self with the knowledge I know now there are many things I would tell my high school senior self. The first advice that comes to mind would be to tell myself to learn to plan well, that most of the obstacles he will face in the future will be because of his lack of time management and motivation to plan ahead. I would hope that advice would not fall on deaf ears because that skill is one of the most ideal ones he could have for a successful future. A less strictly inclined advice I would give is to not have so much fear, even though my high school self did not know who he was I want him to know that no matter what anyone says he is still himself, and to take his time in accepting that. I would also want him to keep an open mind and to not be offset so harshly by any negative things that may happen at the crucial time of adjusting to college. There are many things I would want to pass on, but the most important one would be to always keep an optimistic outlook.

Take more risks. Don't be afraid to take difficult classes that pique your interest even if they are slightly out of your field of study, just stay on top of your course load and ask for help from teachers when you need it. They usually really do want to help! One way to try more rigorous courses is to take fewer classes overall. Instead of five or six classes, take four really exciting, challenging options. Don't just go with the easy As. Anything you can do to spark curiosity and passion, to find what you really love, is worthwhile. You may wander a little on your way, but as long as you are focused and responsible at each step, a little detour here and there actually leads to a broader, richer education and a wider set of options for your future career.

Be yourself! High school is all about who is looking at you, and what you are doing. But in the real world outside of high school, none of the petty drama matters or exists. People that you think are your enemy, are actually afraid to be be themselves also. The idea of not caring what people think may be scary, or impossible to imagine, but it can happen. You are a beautiful person, who is intelligent, and caring. Do not let people get you down about issues that do not matter. Remember to always think about every situation by asking yourself, "Will this matter in 5 years?" If the answer is no, then move past it and be the bigger person in every situation. Love yourself, know yourself, trust yourself, and most importantly- be yourself!

Through my college experience so far there are many points of advice that I would give my past, high school self. The first point would be to not procrastinate! I have procrastinated with semesters, such as signing up for classes and/or buying books. The consequences were that I was unable to register for some of the classes that I wanted and that I did not have some of the books in time for my first class. This has caused me to miss homework, pester the teacher by asking him/her to send me a copy of the homework page, etc. A second, and huge point I would make would be to purchase as many books as I could from the Internet. I have spent so much money during my first semesters on books by buying them at school, and saved so much by buying them from Internet websites. A third point would be to apply for scholarships and other sorts of financial aid right away. I did not realize what help scholarships could be until I had to start paying for school myself and they are such a huge help and stress relief. These would be the main points.

I would tell my 18 year old self to start out as an undeclared major so you have more freedom with classes and have more opportunities to explore different careers. Also, to become friends with upper classmates, because they give awesome insider advice. Also, to apply for an internship as a freshman, so what if you get rejected? Don't be a punk and apply for everything that interests you (jobs, volunteering being a DJ), they're all opportunities to become a new and better person. Go to the career center and ask for brochures on how to write a resume, major/career fairs and information on different careers. Are you writing all of this down? No? Go buy a nice agenda that you will love to carry around and write EVERYTHING about your day in there, even your goals and to do list. Eat what you want, just make sure to brush your teeth and go to the gym. Don't forget the tests that life has given you and write doen the lessons you learned; 10pm classes are a real drag. There more than 1000 clubs, find one that is interesting. You only have four years. Go.

As graduation came closer and closer my senior year, graduating was the least of my problems. I was more worried about financial aid, what dorm to stay in, and how I would adjust to college life. I had no idea what to expect. My father had a hard college experience working whenever he was not in class only to enlist in the military after getting his associates degree. My mother, who grew up in the Philippines, only completed high school. My older sister decided to work instead of going to college. I thought I was alone in preparing myself for college; however, I used the euphemism “independent” to replace “alone.” If I could travel back in time and give advice to my high school self I would say that it is okay to be scared and to be mature enough to ask for help. I have always been determined to do things myself, but during my first semester of college I learned the hard way that there are some things that I cannot do without help, in fact it is the connections I have made that allowed me to succeed.

I would love to go back and tell myself to take chemistry in high school. It is such a difficult field, and having prior experience with the subject would have helped so much. I would warn myself not to live off campus the first year, because I missed out on so many opportunites. I wish I could warn myself not to live with the person I did first semester, because his drinking and drug use would ruin our friendship. Most of all, I wish I could tell myself not to worry so much; college is not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Friends are not that hard to make, and the classes are much more fun than they were in high school. I would let myself know that I don't need to try to major in a science that I don't enjoy, and just stick with the one major that I love, Veterinary Science.

During high school, I was well-rounded student who was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, while showing my commitment and dedication to my responsibilities as a cheerleader. Looking back on my past, I can’t say that I’d change many things. To this day, I still use the study strategies/techniques that I obtained in high school to help me succeed in college. I believe that my high school involvement as cheerleading has helped improve my time management skills. Without this, my life as a college student would be more stressful and unpredictable. Overall, I am a very organized and reliable person. I do not commit to things that I cannot achieve and/or get accomplished. It is these qualities of which I obtained mostly in high school that makes me who I am today. Without them I would be a completely different individual.

I wish I could go back in time as a high school senior and tell myself, "yes, everything is going to be ok." To step back, continue to work hard, and to just enjoy the last year in high school. To know that being uncomfortable in a new situation can make me a much stronger person, and to know that taking chances is O.K. I would also tell myself that its ok to be uncertain, but it is good to have a career in mind and to start taking internships seriously. Life is short and it is important to embrace each step of life, and to be prepared and excited for the next. Becoming an adult involves independence, yet it is still ok to look to my parents for advice and guidance. Moving onto college is an exciting and nerve-wracking time, but it is so worth the experience. Everything will be all right, just hold on tight and trust that it is all going to work out and it will.

I would tell my high school self to apply for alot more scholarships and to always go to class. Just because it isn't mandatory doesn't mean you shouldn't go. I would also tell myself that no matter where you are you will always make friends. So don't be scared, go with an open mind and a very big smile on your face. Also to have fun with college don't over stress it, but also don't over do it with the parties. Keep your eye on the prize, but loosen up. College will be the best four years of your life if you let it be. Smile and appreciate everything you are able to do, but when it comes to getting coffee get it after your 8 a.m class so you aren't always late and the professor doesn't hate you or bring the professor one too.

I would tell myself that laziness is a huge enemy in college. Not getting assignments done and procrastinating can really hold you back. I would also tell myself that it is best to ask for help whenever I need it. It's good to do things on your own, but it's foolish to think that you can do everything by yourself. Another thing that's just as important is talking to your proffessor. Visiting them during their office hours can get you some brownie points and they may bump your grade up an extra point because you showed them that you actually care about what they are teaching. Getting enough sleep is also another big thing, staying up late and partying is fine, but, overdoing it can impede on your study time and ultimately affect your grades. Studying and going to the library is super important as well. Lastly, I would tell myself to always be alert at parties and have fun with discretion. Drinking too much or getting drugged is not something that is good for your future. Never accept any drinks from anyone and don't bring anything too important to parties (like a credit card).

If I were to go back in time and give advice to myself as a high school senior I would say to stay focused. I learned the hard way and found out that although I am paying and choosing when and where I take my classes; I got side tracked. I let friends who were not attending college keep me out too late and party when I knew I had exams and class. I knew I should not have gone but everyone gives into the peer pressure at some point. Thus I would tell myself that I have a goal and need to stay focused because although it may seem fun at the time it will push back your goals. When looking back at times of partying, I must say it really wasn't worth it. Now I am still working towards my degrees which I was planning on having done a couple years ago. However the more you live the more you learn; you just need to take it all as a learning experience.

To learn ways of relieving stress without having to stray away from work entirely. I have had countless break downs this first semester than I could have ever thought possible. Constant breakdowns are not healthly and it makes work more unbearable than before. People would suggest joining clubs of interest but that takes some time of fitting into. I joined a club for nursing and I had a great time volunteering but it didnt have a close family feel considering there were about four hundred people in it. In this upcoming semester Im hoping to have a better time in a club called campwildcat. They help disadvantaged childern have good experiences through games, camping, and the arts. Another piece of advice is to not fear that you will get consumed in your classes. A person who doesn't work hard and gets everything handed to them should fear but for someone thats the opposite it's perfectly fine. Some classes in my perspective were easier than others. Lastly, always take advantage of studying with others or getting tutoring from services provided. It helped to renforce for my learning by teaching difficult material to another student who didn't understand it.

Dear Kira, It's me, I mean you, 9 years into the future. You're in for quite a ride, kid! When you start taking classes in a few months at Mesa Community College, you're going to take a World Religions course with a professor that will profoundly change your life. Listen to all that he says, for it will serve you well. You're going to spend quite a while at MCC floundering for what you want to do for a career. Soak up all of that knowledge, for it will also prepare you. Many years will pass, you'll marry Brett your sweetheart and you'll be happy during your career quest. Your academic/career epiphany won't happen until 2010, so just keep learning all you can! Here's the big news... In 2010, you'll discover that your love for religious studies and your passion for education will finally come together and you'll realize that you want to teach religious studies courses at a community college! Then you'll start persuing this goal at the University of Arizona. The transition will be smooth, thanks to the Transfer Student Center on campus. Enjoy the journey!

I would say join more activities to see where your interests are. When I was graduating high school I had no idea that I would want to become an audiologist. Pay more attention to your grades your senior year and even though friends and being social play a big part in high school life you will be happy and more prepared for college if you stay focused on your education that last year. Go to any freshman orientation that your college offers as soon as you can to get comfortable on campus and find your way around.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would take more time to look at scholarships and apply to as many as I am eligible for. Apply to several colleges and see what financial aid options are available for the degree program of interest. I would recommend writing essays for scholarships and applying to as many as possible. Financial aid is one is one of the biggest factors in continuing education.

If I could go back I would tell my senior self to have taken the AP exams more seriously in order to save money on general studies classes. I would also encourage the search for scholarships to also help save money. Other than that just to have more fun and not stress about applications so much.

There are several things I would go back and change. I come from a low-income family that cannot really afford many Universities. My parents do not have a degree and I am a first generation degree-seeker; because of this, a four year college seemed unrealistic right away. I would have told myself to not worry about attending community college for two years. It is more about looking at the big picture and not the immediate one. I would have also told myself that student loans are nothing when you are looking at jobs in a competitive field. I thought I would worry about student loans each and every day that I woke up, but honestly that is never the case because I am balancing daily life tasks as a student and employee. Most importantly, I would make sure to tell myself AND anyone else that grades are extremely important. Keeping grades up allows scholarships to be attained and that is free money. Dreams are not unreachable and you control your future; pave the way for success, and success will be granted to you.

Last year in high school and you think school is hard, you don't know anything yet! Life is very different once high school is over. There is more work, more responsibilities but there are also more satisfactions. In college there is no teacher that will run after you so you turn in your work or go to class; everything you do is under your responsibility. Everything you achieve is because of your efforts. So appreciate what you have now, live your senior year because after it comes a new life, a new beginning that marks your future. Thinking about this change is not to scare you on the contrary it is to prepare you for the new road you are about to take. So get ready, get set, and head for your future.

I come from the realm of a dreamer, a would built with imagination and ambition. I spent hours during my Senior year of High Hchool captivated in looking into colleges, dreaming myself into the college life and creating a world which was carefree, void of any serious struggles or conflict. Strong and confident, I was able to life vicariously through the worlds of reality and fantasy, dreaming myself at college and my life ahead. The practical acquisition of a happy ending I had undoubtedly brought me hope and optimism. And here I am at The University of Arizona, and I can definately say I absolutely love it. However, If I were to go back and talk to myself as a High School Senior about the college transition I would definately tell myself to continue working hard throughout my Senior year, since Senior year DOES count as well. I would also utilize various scholarship oppurtunities and try to get as many as possible. and most importantly, take the time to do some research various colleges. When making the transition, all I can say is try your best and end this amazing chapter of your life with success and happiness.

The advice I would give to my high school self would be focus on your school work. Yes you will have more than one opportunity to go to college (i.e. certification, associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate's) but your initial entrance will determine who you will be as you travel your road to bettering yourself and career. Go to class and act as if you are going to work (a job) everyday, it will force you to put your best foot forward and excell. Yes you are an "adult", so you must think like one, not a child. You will not have anyone standing over you to force you to do anything. Take responsibility for your actions (i.e. partying, not doing your work, sleeping), for your actions will determine your scholastic outcome as well as your future life. Also, relax!! Don't stress yourself out, but do your best. Congratulations and good luck!!

I would give myself this information, to not be afraid. When I came into college, I was scared out of my mind. But, I became a part of the school instantly, thanks to the activites (marching band) at school. Meeting new people is hard at first, but soon it becomes easy and once you have friends, you can get through even the toughest of times. Also, I should not be afraid of asking for help. In college, there are many things that are worthy of asking a question about. For example, how much money do I owe for tution? Where is the Admin building? Where can I use my meal plan? What charges go to my bursar account? Finally, most importantly, do not be scared if you are in uncomfortable situations. Be calm and find a solution. Say no to drugs, shut the door in the drunk guy's face, and do not give into peer pressure. When entering college (and life in general) there are scary situations that happen, but just because there are....doesn't mean that you have to be scared. Good luck!

This will be the fastest four years of your life so make every moment and decision count. Your success and experience is in your hands so embrace it. You are going to be surrounded by students from all over the world who come from different backgrounds and who hold different views. Just stay open minded like you always have been and stay true to who you are. Especially at a University like U of A, college has so much to offer you, but you have to find a balance. Take advantage of the clubs, organizations and especially connections you can make. This will only benefit your experience and future. Don't focus so much on one aspect such as your sorority, for this is one of your last chances to be in a swimming pool of opportunities. As hard as it can be to ignore all the social aspects of college, grades count! Thirst for the knowledge that is offered to you so you can become the intelligent woman you are capable of being. When you have a goal, attack it and dont wait because you don't want the chance of a lifetime to pass you by.

The best teacher is adversity, and forcing myself to adapt and learn in a brand new environment will only benefit me, and provide me with the tools to do so again in the future. The influence that the professors and students will leave on my life will provide me with crucial insight into solving any problem I am faced with in the future, so listen closely. During the next four years I will see numerous friends drop out because they weren’t focused, they didn’t have the drive and motivation to spend sleepless nights getting it done. Make sure you don't follow their lead no matter how much they influence you socially and stay focused on your long term goals. Always spend time to recognize and realize how my actions have contributed to my successes and failures, for this process is the only way to grow. View all upcoming challenges as a neccessary steps to reaching success and ultimately happiness. There will be times of defeat when I must keep my head held high, and times of success when I must remain humble. Last but not least: NEVER GIVE UP.

Prior to starting college, it is crucial to fill out the FAFSA online with a parent. It is not difficult and will not take more than an hour. The FAFSA allows students to qualify for grants and loans. It is important to apply to as many scholarships as possible; the money can become very helpful. Aviod procrastination and do not take any assignments or essays lightly. Certain classes only consist of exams and no assignments at all so studying is required. It is also necessary to be prepared for each course by buying all required books and reading your emails. It is recommended to live on campus because it allows someone to meet more students and you live near many resources such as the library and tutoring buildings. Unlike high school, some classes consists of 300 students or more and it is very crucial to pay attention and take notes because it is very difficult for instructors to give students individual attention. There are required courses that must be taken before starting on actual courses concerning your certain degree. It is not required to know your major right away. Take time to think it out; your major can be changed.

If I had the ability to go back in time and talk to my senior self about what to expect in college with my experiences so far, I would tell myself to take everyday by the day and to try my hardest at everything I do. My first semster at college, I was so excited. Being away from home, my best friend being in a walking distance of a minute, all the new people I was going to meet. WIth all of these new experiences there was one thing I let ship, my education. I spent more time thinking about what I was going to after I got my work done that I did not concentrate on that work. The work was completed haphaserdly and not to my full potential. If I had only spent a few more hours on that work I would have had a perfect GPA. To my senior self this is the advice I would give, " In the future no one is going to care about what I wore, who I hung out with or what I did. All that is going to matter is what I have achieved and how i have used it".

Dear Fernando, I am reaching out to you to give you advice about you college experience, As a freshmen you will do exceptional in all your classes and advance with an exceptional GPA. Your sophomore year remember that college is a path for a better future and don’t take it for granted, stop over analyzing what career path you want to take pick one and don’t give it your 110 percent don’t give up and don’t let games and your social life interfere with your academic’s. The University of Arizona will transform you in a way that you never thought it would you will change your way of thinking and as to your career path you will know what you want in time. The University of Arizona will offer not only an academic experience for you but a spiritual one as well. Remember Fernando, it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. You’re elder Fernando Carpena

If given the opportunity to sit down and have a chat with myself a year ago I'd say "DONT WORRY!". I would tell myself to not be stressed about making friends because everyone will be in the same boat when entering college. I would tell myself to be excited because what I am about to experience will shape me into the adult I have always dreamed of being. I would tell younger me to let things happen the way they are supposed to happen. Shortly after saying that I would also let myself know that I will feel, in my heart, what is supposed to take place. I would tell myself to stay true to who I am and to keep faith in the things I believe in. But most of all, if there was one thing I would tell myself, it would be to learn from mistakes and to allow myself to grow from every situation, no matter how good or bad it ends up being.

I would make sure that I focused on getting straight As so that I could get a scholarship and make my life a lot easier. I would tell myself to live at home for as long as possible because it would save me money. I would tell myself to not eat out and save my money for buying books and paying part of my tuition. I would make sure that I knew what major I want to pursue so that I could start taking the right classes by the first semester. I would tell myself to look into scholarships to help pay for tuition. I would tell myself to look online to see which classes I need to take for my major so that I can already have a good idea on what I would be doing.

I would advise myself to take the SAT more seriously. I could have done much better, but I chose to be lazy, and because of this, I did not do as well as I could have. I would advise myself to create better study habits, because that has been the most difficult part of the transition from high school to college.

After my high school graduation in May 2010, I was nervous about transitioning into the next stage of my life: college. The idea sounded so foreign to me. I had move out of my house and into a tiny room with a complete stanger. I was responsible for feeding myself, my school work, my finances, new friendships, my laundry. The list was endless. I was nervous that I was going to fail and that I would let the people i left at home down. But looking back, these responsibilites were nothing more than a stepping stone. I learned a lot about who I was as a person, and who I want to be in the future. In examining the adventures I had in my first semester of college, I would tell myself that being afraid of the unknown is alright. I learned it is how a person reacts to the new environment that affects the true identity of the person. If I had to tell myself any piece of advice, it would be to close my eyes, take a deep breath and to just relax. In the end, take everyday as it may be, an opportunity to learn something new.

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself would be to stop procrastinating. By the end of my senior year I managed to become a notorious procrastinator, but the moment I entered college all the coursework I thought I could finish later ended up being done poorly or not finished at all. Because of my procrastination I was not able to earn the grades I desired. It wasn't until the end of my first semester that I realized that I had to start finishing my assignments earlier than the night before their due dates. Once I started becoming more organized and focused with my assignments, my grades greatly improved. I have now managed to get papers and assignments completed earlier which has allowed me more time to study for tests. I feel much less stressed now than I did when I began my freshman year in college because I have made this change. I still have more room for improvement, but if I had worked to stop my procrastination in high school I would have earned much better grades during my first semester in college.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell them to focus more on school than anything else. In college you will get the biggest wakeup call of your life. The work is a lot harder and requires a lot more focus and studying than high school homework and exams. I would also tell myself to work harder on getting scholarships in order to help pay for school instead of leaving the burden on my parents. As long as you go into college with good time management and good financial support you will have a lot less stress, but besides all of the work college also offers a lot of opportunities and an environment where you can meet a lot of new people that have the same interests as you.

Stop what you are doing. In the end, gangs and drugs are not what will make you "cool". You will fight twice as hard with less than half of the opportunities because of the path you are going to choose. There will be missed opportunities to provide your daughter the amazing life she deserves because you would rather throw your life away and believe you are worth nothing. Stop putting yourself in situations that could kill you and start putting yourself in situations that will benefit your future. Because you will have one, and it will be more amazing that you could ever imagine. I know it seems like there are no resources and that the world believes you will always be a screw up. But, there are people and resources out there. College access isn't the strugle it seems. Step one, don't drop out of high school. Okay?

Transitioning from high school to college is a big step for everybody. College is the second chapter of your life. The first chapter ends after high school, the second chapter is college, the third chapter is your career, and the fourth chapter is retirement. Be prepared to have a lot more responsibilities in college. You shouldn’t be worrying about a boy, a girl, what clique you’re in, or what people think about you. Leave those things behind when you graduate high school. Achieving good grades should always be your main focus in college. Most high school students do the bare minimum to get by. In college doing the bare minimum is the worst choice you can make. Most college professors will not put up with the things high school teachers put up with. The work you do in college will determine the path to your career. In high school students rarely take advantage of extra help. Colleges offer many extra help opportunities, so take advantage of them. Make smart choices while in college, take advantage of all of your great opportunities, and get involved on campus. Make your college experience one of the best moments in your life.

If I were a high school senior and I went back in time, the advice that I would like to recieve is to take more advance classes and try and recieve a better score on my SAT and ACT. Also picking and applying to your new college is very exciting but can be extremely terrifying. Do not make a decsion on a school because of someone else, pick it because you know you can see yourself everyday there. Allow yourself time to think and don't just act of your first acceptance letter. Going to college is scary but at the same time it is the next chapter in life and there is honestly no way to prepare for it because everyone's college experience is different, it is our own journey. It's how you make it, just like not knowing what to do when enetering high school it is almost the same situation. Have a positive attitude and make the best of it, it may not be easy in the beginning but the end result will pay off.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself to do even better academically than I did. College is more expensive than I ever thought, and any scholarships right out of high school would have been a tremendous help. I received a small scholarship to the University of Arizona for my grades, but it would have been much more if I had a better GPA. I wish I realized how important and expensive college was my freshman year. If I only realized this sooner, I would not have ruined my GPA so soon. In addition, I would advise myself to get involved in every extra curricular activity possible. I also wish I were more involved in my community so I could use the activities and events on scholarship applications. Because there is no going back in time, I apply for every scholarship possible and cross my fingers from the moment I sign it until I hear back!

Don't be afraid of talking to people! I know you're very shy and withdrawn, but the only way you're going to get to hang out with that cute guy in Intro to Computer Science or learn about oulipo poetry from your TA is to actually talk to them. If you don't make an effort to talk to your classmates, your roommate, you'll find that they have no interest in you. Don't do what I did--don't have both your roommates move out without a word because they were tired of not being able to connect with you. You're going to college to learn, right? Well, the least you can do is to try to learn from all the unique and different people you're going to meet.

Hello Olivia, I am you in about three years. I am coming to you to warn you about college. The school you will go to is the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, it was a Pac 10 school, but now it is a Pac 12. You will meet so many new people form all over, even form different countries. Of course you will go to parties which is not such a good idea, because when that happens you start to get lazy. I know everyone's going to parties, but you need to stay home and study and remember why you are here. Your first semester will be rocky but it's ok, you will live through it. Now since you've been partying your final grades will be straight C's and one B, not your best. Study! Study! Study and TUTORING! It will pay off in the end. So stay home and away from parties, it will be hard because of your friends going out but trust me, you will be fine, you will live through it!

If I could back in time I would advice myself to really think about what I want to study and map out the classes that I want to take.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school teenager, I would tell myself to just be who I am. I don't need to impress anyone, as long as I can look in my mirror every morning and say "I like who I am", then that's all that matters. I would tell myself that it's okay to like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars because the people who do too are the ones you really want to be with. Don't overlook the "geeks" because they're the people who you will come to love most, not the people who are just there for the party. And I would tell myself that it's going to be okay, leaving small town Vermont for Tucson, Arizona is not the end of the world, it's just the beginning of a new one.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not be scared to do something different. Be brave and do what you know is right and make decision carefully. Do what YOU want and do not let any one influence you to do something you do not want to. Let go of the past if necessary. You do not need to hold on to everything; this is a new chapter in your life. I would tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. College can be a great experience if you make the best of it. Get involved and meet lots of people. These people that you meet will be in you're life forever if you choose. Also, meeting people and being involved can give you connections for your future career. Try your best in school becuase how well you do in college has a huge affect on your success in the future. Be greatful that you are even in college and pursuing a higher education. You are so blessed.

I would have definitely practiced myself in to spending a lot of time on my studies. As a high school senior and ready to graduate, I did not take much of my studies seriously. Most of the time that my homework and tests deserved were spent for facebook-ing and other social medias. A whole year of that and I got quite used to it. Of course, it reflected on my grades at the end, but like I mentioned, I was more in to college then than now. I really wanted to get out of there! I felt like college had to offer much more than my fenced high school campus. Little did I know that the offers of college also came with a lot of inevitable responsibilities. My first semester of college was definitely not easy on me. Putting in hours and hours of study time was so hard for me to accept since I had not been doing that properly for a year. I wish I kept up my hard work from my first three years of high school till my senior year so that there would be no specific transition needed in my study routines in college.

My motto today is to work hard and play hard. Be smart and manage your time wisely, it's very easy to get good grades here if you put in the effort. When the tests are done there's more than enough time to relax and have a lot of fun. That way you won't regret anything when you look back on these four fabulous years. You get out of it what you put into it.