University of Arizona Top Questions

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

LaTanya

Dear High School Self, Stop worrying about those little boys, and pay more attention in class! Stop taking naps and do your best! Break out of your shy coma; meet and connect with different people. Join a club or group; get involved in more activities. A new and interesting world awaits you; make it your own. Make it your best! Love, Me

Meghan

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to clamp down on procrastination, as soon as possible, because what was acceptable in high school, will more than likely never be acceptable again. Due dates are due dates, regardless of any circumstance. I would also tell myself not to over stress or worry too much, because everyone has a rough transition. College is the part of your life where you begin the journey to find yourself, so embrace every moment because you will never get a chance to live them again, even if you wouldn't want to in the first place. Be yourself and do your best, then you cannot fail.

Denise

While friends (and boyfriends) are there now, they are only temporary. Start putting more time into studying and making an effort to become more involved in class because when it is all said and done, your future depends on this and the decisions you make will effect the rest of your life; it is so much easier to attend school while you are young. It really is not as hard as you think it might be, especially when you put your mind to it.

Ralph

If I were able to go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior there would be serveral words of advice I would give myself. For starters, I would tell myself to not be so shy in the classroom and get involved. The more involved you are in a classroom setting the more you are able to learn and to retain vital information. I would also tell myself not to be shy and meet new people. Anyone you will run into is just as nervous about meeting people as you are. Bite the bullet and you won't regret it. You need to be able to interact with people not only in high school or college, but in your career. Lastly, I would tell myself just relax and have fun. College for many is the greatest years of their life. Make sure to take it all in and embrace the moment. Not everyone is lucky enough to attend a major University.

Melissa

I would go back and tell myself that my future education is more important then "testing" out my knew found 18 year old freedom and that this freedom would drive me/you into a negative and dangerous situation. I would also tell myself and explain that a "school break" is not needed and this break would come once I graduate with a Bachelor's and Master's degree. Staying in school, working on my/your degree in family studies would eventually lead me to finding what I truly want to do, be a victim's advocate and counselor. The transition between High School and College/University may be difficult to get use to because no one will "force" you to do your assignments or make you study but the most difficult transition is getting back into school. This was extremely difficult trying to get back into the pattern of having assignments, research papers, and homework. I would tell myself, as a high school senior, to keep moving forward and get a degree and do not let your "new found 18 year old freedom" take over.

Estevan

Enjoy being able to eat whatever you want at your parents' expenses. Seriously. It's a huge change having to count pennies when it comes to something you (most of the time) take for granted; eating. I've always liked going out to eat a lot, so I would tell my high school senior self to savor every meal, as in the not-too-distant future he will be forced to dine on unsatisfying cheap macaroni and ravioli. I can, without a doubt, say that I took for granted how much money it really costs to feed myself. I wish my parents could still buy every meal for me, but it's time for me to grow up now. So high school senior self, enjoy your meal! I know my college freshman self sure isn't.

Kimberly

I would tell myself to not be afraid of dropping or swapping classes. If the class doesn't seem interesting at the start just choose another one. It's not worth wasting your time in a class you hate.

Kristina

If I could have a conversation with my senior self, I would tell myself to keep up the hard work in school but not to be such a perfectionist and have some fun too. I would reassure myself that I will be well prepared for college and that it is nothing to be afraid of. I would tell myself to keep in touch with all my friends in college, even if they are elsewhere.Most imortantly though, I would tell myself to enjoy senior year and not try to rush throguh it because it will be over before I know it. I will have great memories but, in college, friends will be in other states and I will have to get out of my comfort zone in order to really enjoy the new experiences I will have. I would tell myself to cherish every single moment of senior year and not take a single thing for granted; every laugh, every conversation, every hug because I will miss it once it is all over.

McKinley

I would tell myself to focus on school, and that the obstacles that I'm feeling I can't overcome, I can and will. During high school I suffered the death of a loved one and I also moved from Kansas to Arizona halfway through the school year, it took so much growth for me to get back to being the optimistic person that I am today. I remember feeling like it was the end of the world, I only knew a few people, none of which I relied on to help me with the situation I was faced with. Sometimes I don't give myself enough credit for all that I've made it through, coming to college made me even more independent than I was before. In high school I had no idea the person I would become in two short years. Although I've been through some experiences I wish I never had to bare, I made it. I would remind myself in high school that the opportunities from then on are endless, that I can overcome and achieve anything I set my mind to.

Tessa

As a senior you should have already taken the SAT's and started applying to college. You should be filling out scholarships and grants everyday till your fingers hurt. You should be planning a trip to take a tour so you can see the campus and get comfortable with how things work. Once you get accepted, apply for housing and look for a roomate. Other than that, you should know this is going to be hard. This is going to the hardest thing you've ever done. You will have your highs and lows. You will doubt yourself almost everyday. You'll miss home and the simple way of life in a small town where everyone knows everyone. You will eat alot of Ramen noodles and bagels. You will lose a lot of sleep and make a lot of new friends. You will learn that every hardship is worth it because this is your dream and this is where you belong. You will learn so much in so little time. Just like in high school though, time will fly by. Always remember to enjoy the little things, live for today, and always be thankful you made it here.

Genevieve

Genevieve, you're making this huge transition from a school no larger than a couple hundred students to a university with nearly 40,000 students, and you know what? You're going to be okay. The best thing you can do for yourself is to pursue others. Everyone here is so nice but they aren't going to chase you down to be their friend because they're already busy having fun with their friends. Get out of your head, get your nose out of your books and go spend time with other people. The people here are so interesting; every individual on this campus is unique in terms of their daily lived experiences, their backgrounds and their stories and they want to share their experiences with others! Being lonely is up to you; if you make the time to be genuinely interested in others' lives, people will respond and be interested in you too! Things pan out in the end -- you have a best friend by junior year and have made some other good friends along the way, so don't worry. Just go have fun!

Jennifer

If I were given the opportunity to give my high school self advice, I would have told myself how important grades were. In high school, I cared more about my social life and earning enough money in my job so that my family could live comfortably. Although this seemed important at the time, I feel it is more important for me to have earned better grades to have a higher GPA to ear good scholarships to pay for college. In result of me not doing well in high school, I did not earn the top scholarships and could not pay for a quality education my first year out of high school. I ended up going to Pima Community College and have regretted the decision since. Although attending a Community College is right for some people, I strive to achieve more than a Community College could allow me to because I want a better life for my future children than I had when I was a child. Therefore, I would have told my high school self to get my act together, buckle down and to get good grades because it would be worth it in the future; to my future self.

Lauren

Growing up in a small town, it was definitely a shock to suddenly be surrounded by 40,000 students, over two times the size of my entire town. I would tell my high school self to get involved in a club/volunteer program as soon as possible. It is easy to let the semester slip by, forgetting to join all of the extracurricular activities you were planning on joining. I would also tell my younger self to start preparing financially before I graduated. Simple things such as creating a realistic budget and putting money away each month while in high school would have made doing those things in college much easier.

ANTHONY

The advice I would give to my high school self would be to take things more serious. I procrastinated a lot after I graduated and had to take the hard road to completing my college degree. Many of my old classmates are already graduated and have started their careers as I am still struggling to get my degree. I would tell myself that the transition into college is a lot easier fresh out of high school while you still have the habits of a student. Once you take a break from high school and work, its hard to get back into the swing of things with school because you have grown accustomed to not having homework or obligations besides work. I would make sure I told my high school self to stop chasing girls and devoting most of my time to wrestling and to take my grades more serious because in the long run, that is what's going to dictate my future.

Jamie

Take college seriously, don't just pick a school that's close to home because you are not sure what to do. Research different colleges and universities and make an informed decision. Job shadow in fields that you're interested in, and see what it's like before you make a decision.

Olivia

For me, a large part of low self-esteem as a high-schooler was because I was surrounded by this image of beauty. I, at 104 pounds, was not thin enough, or I didn't have a sexual personality. I have constantly been made to feel as if irrevocable parts of my humanity will never be good enough. There are times, for some their whole lives, when people feel as if who they are is not okay. I would tell myself that soon enough, the rumors and nasty remarks people made to me in high school wouldn't matter to mep soon enough. I would tell myself I was destined for greatness. I'd say that we all feel alone, and bad, and different sometimes, and it is okay. I'd tell myself that the kindness in my heart will bring me great joy one day.

Stephanie

One of the most important things that I would advise my high school self to do when commencing college would be to take a pause and extinguish the high school mentality that you can procrastinate your way to success. College is an entirely different ball game and in order to succeed over the long haul, it is necessary to budget your time on what matters and also dedicate time to yourself. I would tell myself that it is not a race and it is best to not overload my schedule and excel than to graduate early and not enjoy the experience. This is a unique question for me to answer because I am currently starting my second degree and I'm using my experiences to make this time, even better. I also would tell myself to let go and experiment different aspects of college. I would have joined more clubs and taken courses simply because they interested me. College is such a unique part of life and no owner's manual can really grasp the essence of it, but more than anything I would say pause and take it all in because you can't hit replay.

David

If I could go back in time and give my past-self advice I think the first thing I would say would be to not give up. I've had a long and arduous journey to get where I am today, but I could have achieved much more in a shorter time span had I known there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. I would also stress the importance of staying of ahead of school work instead of just keeping up with the assignments. I've learned that it's fair easier to maintain a lead than try to come from behind. On a similar note I would tell my past-self about the significance of reading ahead and coming to class prepared to discuss the topic being taught. I think the most important thing I would tell myself would be to enjoy the process instead of focusing solely on the end result. I've met some incredible friends and professors along my path, but before I opened up and started having more fun I missed a lot of opportunities to expand my network of friends and acquaintances.

Elizabeth

If I knew what I know now and had the opportunity to talk to myself during my senior year in high school I would tell myself: Not to waist money; that I was taking to much of my medication and that it was adversely affecting my grades; that you can't take everything for granted, even your homelife; and to attend clubs and socialize more: I was originally an extrovert, socializing will improve my grades and brain growth.

Jessica

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior; I would tell myself to fill out more scholarships and to actually take the ACT instead of always freaking out about it. In addition, I would tell myself to spend more time with Stephanie (my friend) because in the future she will be in the hospital struggling to get through her bone marrow transplant; she had to get the bone marrow transplant because her Aplastic anemia got worse. Also, I would tell myself to start putting all my activities I have to do on a calendar, so i would be more organized. Those are some of the things I would tell myself if I could go back in time as a senior in high school.

Olivia

When I was a high school senior, I encouraged myself to make independent decisions. This was extremely important in making the transition from high school to college, and is one thing I wouldn't change about the way I prepared myself for my college education. Since being at college, I have found that independence is key. From making our own educational choices such as picking classes and how we chose to spend our study time, to the social aspect of making friends and being apart from family members, incoming college freshman should prepare themselves in making independent decisions and living with the consequences if any. This will help new college students become accustomed to the next four years of their life preparing for their own future.

Maria

Tick, tock, tick, the clock shyly dances around in my sleepy mind. Waking up for high school was a necessity, but let’s all be honest about college, it is your own decision as to what you decide to do with your holy morning minutes. Knowing what I know now, I would chuckle before facing my naïve and cocky senior self. I thought the world was under my feet when my high school graduation rolled around a sharp corner. College was a wake up call, in fact wake up call is an understatement, it was a tornado. College broke down my walls of sensibility and confidence, because it forced me across the country, into a privileged all-American jungle. The best advice I would give, to be quite honest, scream into my ignorant high school face would be to never ever give up and speak up. George Washington once said, “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter,” and I now understand my voice attributes to the strongest power. College is the real world full of individuals; it takes the power of voice to stand out.

Leticia

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Ciera

College. You’ve spent 13 years preparing for COLLEGE. You’ve written sample resumes, taken sample tests, written sample papers to prepare for COLLEGE. This endless barrage of teachers telling you that COLLEGE is everything, mom telling you that without COLLEGE you'll have nothing, relatives that you see once a year telling asking about your COLLEGE plans? All of this pressure making you think that it’s not worth the trouble? Well, I have a secret. It’s going to be fine. The fact is, you’ll be married and have a daughter by the time you’re in COLLEGE. You’ll spend the next four years slowly realizing 1.) that your life is no longer your own and 2.) you can either accept your “lot” in life or realize that you owe it to not just your family to life the life you’ve dreamed, but you owe it to yourself. An “education” is not a fancy term for wasted money, it’s an open door, it’s a seized opportunity. People are not created to tread exactly the same path, but everyone deserves a shot at happiness. This whole COLLEGE thing? It’s going to be wonderful.

Markie

If I could speak to myself at eighteen, My advice would be to consider all my choices. Don't hinder your decisions based on a man, your lack of ambition, or your eagerness to break free. Go to school when you need to, and don't always assume that your intelligence will get you through. Papers may count highly, but attending class and hard work adds up as well. Venture out and immerse yourself in the enviornment of a new area. Visit more of out of state institutions. Consider all of the options of your major before you choose one. Don't plan your life to appease others. I would tell myself to consider where I wanted to be in ten years. Except that you will lose people, but you will gain new, interesting people.

Audresha

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself that procrastination only results in failure, and all the decisions that you make will eventually have a consequence. Things are not handed to you, you have to want better for yourself, and in order to get where you want to go in life it is very vital to take upon any opprotunity that passes your way. Life begins to get more complicated, and you will finally realize that the only person that is responsible for your decisions is you. There is always going to be an obstacle, it may be financially or academically, but it is important to learn from those situations, to allow yourself to make better choices for the future. Enjoy yourself and have fun, but always remember that your education is now the number one priority in your life, and do not ever let anyone or anything come between that. Always surround yourself around positive people that understand what you are going through. Most importantly, remember your morals, and stay true to who you are!

Zachary

College is a learning experience. It is the time in your life when you are given both the most amount of freedom and the most responsibilities. It’s about maturing and trying to find that balance between your social life and school. Sometimes you will be faced with hard decisions that force you to male grown-up decisions. Such as going out to a party this Saturday night or staying home to study for the chemistry exam that will make or break your final grade. At the end of the day earning a degree and maintaining a high gpa are your top priorities; however, you will waver here and there along the way. My advice oto my high school self would be to go I with an open mind. Make friends, have fun, do your school work first so you have time for yourself, believe in your abilities and enjoy the greatest time of your life.

Matthew

My largest piece of advice would be to focus on college majority of the time and prepare myself for what I'm about to encounter. Senior year was nothing but a breeze, but I lost the motivation to study and work hard once I entered college since I was able to form the habit of paying no attention in class and still receiving good grades. I would have gotten on myself for slacking and to also help my parents out financially. I did not apply to one single scholarship program last year when I graduated high school because I expected my parents to pay for school like they said they always would have. I failed to even consider how expensive out of state schooling even costs let alone factored in my parents salary. I have two younger brothers as well, and became selfish expecting that everything would just be taken care for me. I would have told my self to do anything and everything to even get a few scholarships because, right now, anything would help. Looking back I have seen the mistakes I made and realize that minor changes to my approach would have made a drastic difference.

Lucas

“Lucas, I know you can be somewhat lazy sometimes, but for the love of all that is holy be more organized with your school work! It’s time for you to wake up and smell the textbook scented flowers. No more, ‘This stuff is easy why should I have to study this material? I know a majority of it’. You’re going to have to balance lacrosse practices/games, a job, and schoolwork. That means you are going to be swamped with piles of work and no energy to wade through it all. I know you think you can handle it on your own and that everything will be fine because it will be just like high school, only bigger. Well, sorry kid, but you’re wrong. Teachers aren’t as understanding and it is way more difficult. So here’s what you have to do. First, go get a planner, and here’s the important part: USE IT! Second, there’s free tutoring. That’s right free, and bonus they know what they’re doing. And lastly, don’t day dream about that girl that is sitting across the room in your weather and climate class. Pay attention!”

allyson

If i were to talk to my senior self, I would advise myself to not worry so much and just enjoy high school. In my 4 years I worked extremely hard to get good grades in all my advanced classes, and it did help me prepare for college, but I do not feel like I would have done any worse if I hadn't taken those advanced classes. High school is a students last chance to have fun before it really counts, and they should take advantage of that. I would recommend playing sports, taking different elective classes, making tons of friends, not worrying about friends that cause drama, and simply enjoying whatever it is you're doing. There's plenty of time to hit the books and be serious in college, so why be serious in high school? There's definitely still fun to be had in college, but college also comes with a lot of priorities that need to be straightened out before one can go play. So enjoy yourself why you can and don't stress about the little things.

Miranda

If I could go back in time and give myself advise, I would tell myself, "Make sure you don't overload in any one semester. Balance your schedule so that you are not taking a lot of heavy courses at one time. Take care of yourself and get your rest. Don't let yourself stay up too late studying because you won't remember anything if you are asleep in class. Write every assignment down. Don't trust yourself to remember because there will always be that one assignment that you forget about until the day that it is due. Let yourself breath. Don't be all schoolwork all the time, because it will only stress you out and confuse other people. Stay focused on your ultimate goal. Don't let yourself get bogged down with the papers and the notes and the quizzes and exams. Keep telling yourself that it will all be worth it when you are working at your dream job one day."

Caylie

I would tell myself that no matter what everything will be okay. I would tell myself to not be afraid to ask or questions or ask my classmates for help. Going from a small town to a large city is a big transition. I would tell myself to live in a dorm and meet as many friends as I could and to be involved in everything that I could. College life is way different than you think it will be and what you see in movies. You are the only one who can make it the best experience. Yes school is important but having a social life is also important. If you are in your apartment doing nothing while you dont have class you will not have a good time and hate it there. Go out and make friends, have fun, but make sure to not get carried away and keep your grades up. At the end of the year you will look back and be excited for your next year to come. Enjoy it while you can.

Jennifer

As a high school senior about to enter college, the advice I would give you is to stay focused. Some freshmans go into college thinking its a time to have fun all day and night. You can have your fun, but be smart about it because you are also there for your studies. Go to class as much as you can because there may be days were you can miss something important. Try your hardest in ever assignment given to you and if you don't get it, don't be afraid to go to the professor for help. If you just follow the work you will succeed. When it comes to having fun, make sure to be safe and travel in groups at night no matter where you go. If you want to meet different people, join a club because you meet an abundant amount of people by joining just one club. Don't stress out, these are the best four years to come and as long as you try, stay strong, focus and have fun, you will excceed!

Leon

It is something that probably most of us have wondered or wish we could do. To go back in time and tell ourselves which decisions to make that will benefit our future. If I could go back and give my high school senior self some advice it would be simply to enjoy college. Do not work as many hours, live on campus, and travel. I should have lived the college experience first and spent less time on working. I remember going from class to class and seeing large groups of people gathering and having a great time or walking by the dorms thinking what it would be like to live on campus. This is what the university experience should be for every student and not working 35 hours a week and still taking full loads. Yes, I know I missed out on a lot and cannot really go back in time to give myself some advice but I can use what I learned and give my children this advice. I am already excited for them when I see that at only 9 and 6 years old, they are excited about college.

Alexci

I would tell myself that I need to apply for college now, instead of waiting another year to apply. I would tell myself to start applying for scholarships as well and that to start seriously considering student loans. I would also tell myself to work extremely hard this year because it's the most important of your whole high school experience and to just have fun, because this year will never happen again and this is the last chance you have to be with your friends. Pay attention in all your classes, especially economics because you're really going to need to know that stuff later. Most importantly, don't let all of this drama get to you because it's absolutely not going to be worth it later on in your life.

Dominique

I would warn myself to be prepared for the workload and to learn how to study. As a high school student, I hardly studied and I graduated with a 3.98 GPA. I was expecting college to be harder, but not difficult. Along with learning how to properly study, I would tell myself to stay on a strict sleeping schedule. Being in college, I'm always tired, so having a sleeping scheduale would help me. Lastly, I would advise myself to apply for tons of scholarships, because college takes up all your funds and you can't do anything else after that. If I had applied for every single scholarship I could find, then I might have gotten some. All that extra money would help me a great deal in my journey to be a neurosurgeon.

Taylore

Do not worry too much! Always balance school and fun! It's so important to start off with a solid academic foundation and strice to do well. Go to study groups, office hours, and lectures! They'll help so much and it shows the professors that you care. Try to make a friend in every class because it helps you strive for better. Have fun! Start your work early that wy you can spend time on it and enjoy your time here! You only get four years and they're so different from high school. You're expected to grow and mature more than ever before and welcome that change. you got this!

Benjamin

I did not attend high school past the tenth grade, but obtained my GED at 18 years old. I had good reasons to be disenfranshised by my school, but in hindsight I would have went on a search for another school that I felt was more scholarship-based. I would then have put forth the same effort that I did in college, and catapulted myself to a degree at a very young age. Either way, I suspect at the end of my life it will wind up being adjudicated about the same. As it is, I learned valuable life lessons BEFORE I finished school. If I had stayed in high school, I would have graduated BEFORE I learned those lessons. The main difference, I think, would be in the measure of financial success I would have been able to create at an earlier age. It is ironic, because the very school I was so disaffected by is now an excellent school. Go figure!

Jennifer

Michael

Live in the dorms. Figure out degree requirements Get involved and branch out Start building your resume and planning for your future Study abroad Stay healthy, get enough sleep, exercise regularly Remember who you are and don't let college change you too much Get good grades Work over summer or do some sort of internship Pick a major you enjoy but can get a job with Get Gen Eds out of the way first check ratemyprofessors.com for teacher reviews Find an older brother or friend that can give you the real talk Live every day to the fullest and work to have the experience you want Make it the college you want it to be Don't just chill with your high school friends

Robin

It has only been a year since I graduated, but I have gained invaluable experience in this small timeframe. At the end of my senior year in high school, I thought I was prepared for college life. After all, I had always succeeded in school. In hindsight, I was arrogant. I arrived at the university, cocky and assured that I would be able to get by with the same amount of effort that propelled me through high school. Little did I know that I was in for a rude awakening. From day one, I was overwhelmed. I had thought I was fairly intelligent; the classes utterly blew my mind. I discovered it was actually a necessity to....study. Study? I barely knew the meaning of the word. And sleep? It quickly became a thing of the past as I was soon spending night after night chipping away at my homework load. And I had not even contemplated the loneliness I would feel, living in a new city wih my family a good couple hundred miles away. If I could visit my high school self, I'd tell her: "You don't have a clue what you're getting yourself into."

Travis

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be many things I would tell myself to ease my transition into college. The very first thing I would say to myself is be open to everyone’s personality and don’t judge someone by the way they look because in college, students come from all over the world. College is all about making connections and building relationships with people you would normally never meet, while obtaining an education that applies to your interest. I would tell myself to get involved in all the organizations and clubs available because the more you apply yourself through college, the better chance you have at succeeding. I would end the conversation by stressing the importance of trying your best in every class and truly giving 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} effort in everything you do. Not everyone gets the opportunity that you are about to embark on, take nothing for granted because an education is priceless.

Brooklin

I would tell myself to think about who I am and where I fit in the world. I would tell myself to choose a school and a location that I feel at home in, and a place where I can independently grow. And I would tell myself not to take my home for granted. I would want to know as a high school senior that being on my own is scarey and difficult, but that I am able of doing great things and that whatever I want I can achieve if I don't give up. Mostly, I would want to know that college life isn't everything, it passes quickly, and that successfully living in "the real world" is a goal worth reaching.

Drake

Reflecting back on what I now know; I would tell myself to take the first year of college appropriately. I made the mistake of taking too many units that were intensive, major focused courses my first year. I would tell my high school self to learn from my mistake and take relaxed general education courses in order to enjoy the freshman college experience of living away from your parents for the first time, going to football games, and making new and exciting friends. The first year of college is so important in establishing a foundation in which you can grow and learn as a new person. That foundation is quintessential in the nuturing of your academic career at this institution of higher eduaction. When you are a college freshman you should try and do things, outside of your usual comfort zone, that you normally would not try. College is an exciting new world that offers people the oppurtunity to become who they truly are. I would tell myself not to set limits on what I could or could not do. I would encourage myself to be everything I dreamed of and more. College is a gateway to the American Dream.

Francine

I would tell myself to stop procrastinating. Getting things done at the last minute doesn't result in a good grade in college. It takes time, dedication, and commitment to school in order to do well. If I were to start developing better study and homework ethics in my senior year, it wouldn't be so hard to use those same ethics in college. Paying attention to the material presented in class and actually retaining the info is also important. College often refers to things you already know but more in depth. I would also tell myself to enjoy that senior year more because when college comes the fun is over. Getting involved in the community is also a big plus. Resumes almost always call for some type of volunteer work. This is also a great way to meet professional people who can later be used as references for letters of recomendation. All of these things would have made the transition a little easier. High school and college are completely different, and I feel like students are not always prepared for whats ahead because we don't know what to expect.

Toree

I want to encourage you to take a step back and evaluate the way you let yourself be treated. You'll realize that you deserve so much more. Dig deep inside yourself and find the confidence you know is in there--you're even more beautiful when you're confident in your steps. Have faith in the words you write and stand firmly by the words you say, because your words represent you, and you have the potential to be a heard voice in the world. Don't wait anymore--waiting only prolongs the inevitable and doesn't allow you to grow. Go to the people you love and go to the opportunities you know are meant for you. Do not wait for a pen to appear in your hand, for you are not a magician and the ink is already in your fingertips. Remember that anxiety doesn't have to keep you out of the game. Challenge it, for it can be beaten. Even when your palms sweat and your heartbeat quickens. Greet the cute guy. Tell those people how they hurt you. Raise your hand and break past the barrier holding you back. Raise your hand and speak.

Brian

If i could go back in time and talk to my high school self i would tell him to make sure he takes as many Honors courses as possible to avoid as many general education courses as he possibly can. I would also tell him to make sure that he keeps up with all of his readings, homeworks and does the optional work to make sure he stays ahead in class. University courses are much harder than high school and the level of self-advocacy is on a completely new level. I would also advise that he talks to his professors and advisors as much as possible to make sure that he's doing everything he can to maximize his success and not waste time taking unneeded courses or doing poorly in them. It's important to have a plan when going into college and those people are educated and trained to make the transition as easy as possible. Using all the resources a large school like the U of A has can be very useful and beneficial to his success and exerience in college.

Jeffrey

Prepare yourself to do a lot of work outside of the classroom. My high school experience did not prepare me for the extra work I am now required to do. Many times in high school you may be able to skate by without opening the book, but that is rarely an option now. Professors expect you to do all the assigned readings. Also, learn to schedule your time. Professors often will not remind you about upcoming due dates. If it is in the syllabus you receive at the beginning of the semester, you are responsible to do it. One last thing. Take your freshman year seriously. Even though you will most likely be taking only entry-level general education classes, they can have just as much of an effect on your GPA as the hardest classes your senior year. Remember, work hard and have fun!

LAURA

Wow. If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I will tell her not to think about guys and to focus on what's really important; to focus on her schooling and her education. I will tell her that she is smart, intellegent, and a bright young lady. I would ask her what is it that she really wants in life. Then, I'll tell her," You can be anything you want to be in the world. You can be a doctor, a teacher, a lawer, a nurse anything you put your mind and soul to." I would tell her that a high school diploma is not enough and that alot of good jobs require a higher education, a degree. I would explain to her that a college degree is very important because she will learn alot of amazing and incredible new things that will help opens up her mind and help her think outside the box. I will let her know that a college degress will open alot of doors full with opportunities and a brighter future. Believe that you can. Si Se Puede!!!!!! Yes you can!!!!!!!

Margaret

Dear high school senior, ME! First off you need to focus. Stop that mind mentality of just getting by in class. When you get to college you won't be able to do that. You will need to focus on your school work and really try. Its better to get those study and work habits down early. Secondly you need to research and ask questions. Don't wait until the last minute to do your college research. Go see your advisor and see what he says to do to be better prepared for college. It would be tragic if you wait until you enter college and are still confused. Lastly CALM DOWN! Stop stressing out about the transition between high school and college. College is not as intimidating as your teachers make it out to be. As long as you are prepared and ready college will be a great learning and growing experience! Sincerely, College student, you!