University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

I think there are so many things I would have to tell myself. I feel like it is easy to go back and feel like you missed out on a lot of things. When I was a high school senior, I was so concerned with my own life and where I was going to school, what I was doing the next day, and what my future goals were ; I did not think much outside myself. I would first and foremost tell myself that I need to help others in the community and do as much as possible to enrich the lives of others. There is more to life than the superficial things that seem so important at that moment in time. In college, I have been able to expand and realize the great importance and personal responsibility I have to help others and do what I can. I have become involved in what I am passionate about, which is education, and have come to see the impact one person can have. It may seem overwhelming, but the little things can make a huge and influential change in at least one person's life.

I would have to tell myself to take classes that pertain to my major right from the beginning. Having a gameplan of what you're going to accomplish in the first couple years is extremely important. Additionally, it is equally as important to be friendly and smile. When you're a freshman, everyone else in your classes are in the same boat you are. They are all just as nervous and insecure.

I would tell myself to meet as many people as possible, and become friends with them. I would tell myself that I should live in a residence hall to fully get the experience of living in a college dorm and the social activities that come with that. I feel that I perform well academically and that the only thing that could improve is that I spend a bit more time studying than I would like. I would tell myself to try new sports that were available and to join more clubs, and to immerse myself in the college community available at UCLA. I would let myself know that UCLA was a good choice and that I would like all aspects of it, including the classes, the food, the people, and the location of the school. I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to be more organized about meeting deadlines.

Take full advantage of everything UCLA has to offer. You have absolutely made the right decision in picking this school. This is the school of your dreams. Go to to every sporting event at least once. Take the classes available at the Wooden Center in everything from magic, to ballet, to squash to 80's disco. Join a sorority. Help the community. Go to performances at Royce Hall. Visit legendary Pauley Pavilion. It is all at your finger tips. Use it!

Dear High school senior Me, I'm glad that you got accepted into UCLA and that you will be transitioning into this great university soon. I advice you not to take this transition lightly, as it will take time and great work for you to adapt. A lot of work is required from you in order to do well here, and a lot of commitment and school spirit is needed in order for you to stay motivated. Your social life will change dramatically compared to what you have in high school, but do not party too much as it will interfere with your school work, I guarantee you that. Get involved into different kind of clubs and be open-minded about different opinions, because people here are very individualistic and hold on dearly to their own opinions. Discover yourself, have fun, because college is really the place where you define who you are and what you will become in the future.

Enjoy every moment of you senior year because those years will never come again.!

I never had the dorm experience, which I regret. I think you become much more active on campus and make many more friends when you live on campus. Therefore, I would encourage dorm living for at least the first year. Also, I wish I would have worked on developing better relationships with faculty and teachers. They can be a great benefit when needing references, but they need to know who you are. So, scheduling smaller classes when possible should be done. The small class size also is more motivating for a strong work ethic. When there is discussion and teacher/student acknowledgement, you desire to spend more time working on the homework material. The large classes require much more self discipline to succeed. I also started at a community college before transfering to UCLA and felt that was a great move. I was really upset about attending community college at first, but I think it is well worth it!

I would tell myself to relax and enjoy the moment, not to worry and to trust that everything would fall into place at the right time.

I normally sleep no more than six hours a night because of my desire to expertly meet my commitments. Throughout my life, I have worked as long and as I possibly can to effect beneficial changes in both school and society.I have lived such a life experience in my last high school year. Along with twelfth grade and turning up eighteen years old, I was going to become independent, "on my own feet" as some would say. Time has taught me how to take fast decisions. I gave up to my free time to replace it with hard working, interminable tiredness and meditations. But the most important thing is the positive lesson it taught me, that is, never give up fighting, no matter what happens because there is a hope for everything in life, and loosing it doesn?t bring you close to your goals. I realize that I am not a kid anymore and that my own destiny can be influenced by a simple decision. In conclusion, every life experience can teach you something and you don?t have to be afraid of experiencing because there is a whole life ahead waiting for you to live it.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college, I would definitely assure myself to not second-guess myself and to go with my instincts. One of the most difficult things for me during my freshman year of college was deciding if I should stay an art major or not, and in all honesty, I still find myself struggling with my decision sometimes. I think it is crucial to take a variety of classes to figure out what excites you and peaks your interest, and then worry about the technicality of declaring a major. Hopefully, a pattern will appear in the courses you enjoy and you can move forward from there. It is completely normal and human to question significant life decisions, but it?s also important to eventually be assertive. I believe that the college experience as a whole, in terms of classes, participation, internships, socializing, and research, plays an essential role in building this confidence in oneself and in the decisions they make. So, take a deep breath, stay organized, and take full advantage of every opportunity and resource that is available to you. And, of course, don?t forget to have fun!

Expose yourself to any subject field that you are curious about. This is much easier to accomplish while attending a community college; not only do you fulfill the GE requirements, but you may even find a new passion that you will have established an interenst in by the time you transfer.

I would tell myself to truly embrace the difficulty of college. Work harder than you think you should, study longer than you think you need to, don't be afraid to seek help, and truly understand your coursework. Don't be shy to expand your horizons and be careful in taking on too many responsibilities. You can't change the world right away so take it one step at a time. You can do it. Breathe. Work hard. Know your priorities. And rise to the challenge. NEVER EVER EVER give up.

To myself, I give this advice: Don't be afraid of failure or of what other people might think. There are so many things that you can be great at if you don't put yourself down before you start. In college, I started singing a lot, and came to love it. Ever since I was a freshman in high school, I always wanted to join choir and sing. It wasn't until I got to college that I built up enough courage to audition for vocal groups, and now I'm in the top choir at UCLA. Once I got to college, I started learning hip hop dance. I never realized how fun it was when I was in high school. Had started in high school, I can only imagine how much better I would be at hip hop right now. Don't wait to try learning new things, because later on, you'll only wish you had started learning those things sooner. At UCLA, there are so many opportunities to learn new things, and these opportunities are so much more enjoyable with experience under your belt. So start now. When you get to UCLA, you'll be amazing.

I know you're working hard right now trying to get into college and pass your AP classes, but remember, school may be a major aspect of your life as a student, but it doesn't determine who you are as a person. Everyone needs to have balance in their life, to only focus on school will quickly burn you out. Remember to join sports, socialize with some clubs, and just have some fun occasionally. On the other hand, don't get too crazy just becuase you're away from home; alochol and parties are fun, but don't get carried away.

DONT do it

You?ve worked hard over the last couple of years to make yourself a strong candidate to various universities. It?s important to enjoy the sense of accomplishment you feel from completing the process alone. Take the time to enjoy friends and family but keep up with your grades and school work to cover all bases and make you look appealing to scholarship committees. Don?t be scared to make the transition into college but don?t be arrogant at the same time. Take advantage of extra curricular activities that interest you and get involved. Don?t get too far behind in reading, especially in your first year so you know what to expect. Attend office hours and don?t be afraid to talk to your professors and TA?s about things that are not clear to you. Don?t question yourself and feel certain that you?re starting at a university you are well qualified to attend and were accepted to - but don?t forget it will be challenging and require hard work. Be yourself and stay in good company.

make the most out of it , try to be among the very best , every new academic experience is always useful for we never know enough , put your heart and soul in whatever you do and study , every success implies a lot of hard work , don t cheat with your instinct , don t hesitate , go for it , if you have a gift , don t ever waste it , and , don t regret anything , whatever your choice is , just assume your ideas and put them into practise /

Here's my advice. Study hard and make a lot of friends. Be frugal and wise in your spending. College and life expenses take their toll on you so don't hesitate to call mom and dad. Be open-minded, but still have your filters up. Read a lot and stay up with current events. Trust yourself to make the right decisions. When you feel alone remember your family will always be there for you. Remember your at school for a reason and that reason is your future, whatever it may be and you have the potential to do extremely well. You're education is a pathway to a good and happy life that contributes to the betterment of your country and society. Enjoy the quality of your education and never take it for granted. You have the ability to impact your community with the education you'll recieve so make sure to really give it your all because you don't want to have regrets. Learn to be a better college student and you'll learn to be a better citizen because of the tight knit community that a college provides. Good luck.

If I was to go back in time and look at myself as a high school senior I would utter only two words: Time management. In college, time management is everything an then some. There are so many opportunities and distractions when you go off on your own, you really need to be able to ground yourself and hit the grindstone. Going to a demanding school like UCLA where everyone is driven, if you get distracted or off track then it can be difficult. Depending on your schedule you might only have classes 3 or 4 days a week, but you need to still put in the work and effort every day. If you can keep tabs on how your spending your time and designate enough of it on a daily basis, you will do great. The key however is making sure you keep coming back to it every day. There is all this talk about cramming for midterms and studying for hours on end during finals week, but if you put in the work throughout the quarter you will do great. Keeping a hold on your limited time is the key to success!

I would say to relax and go with the flow of college and be even more willing to try new things. I would ask myself to dump my high school boyfriend going into college so I could be a free women and available to experience everything college has to offer. I would also tell myself to check into different majors and careers before picking a school and not picking the school so much for the name, but for the academics offered.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to make the most of all of my classes. Knowledge is essential to achieve success, and if one is able to gain adequate knowledge in every subject matter, success is not only attainable, but inevitable. Most seniors in high school focus more on applying to college and planning their future than they do on their classes. I did the same, and hence only worked hard for the classes I was interested in, Math and Physics. Now that I have taken college-level general education classes, such as Political Science and History, I realize that even though they are not crucial to my major, they play an essential role in shaping the way I think. I believe such classes enhance the students' ability to view the world and even themselves with different perspectives. This expansion of knowledge helps one approach concepts and problems in different ways, and hence gives the person an advantage when finding solutions to these problems. If high school students realize this and gain maximum knowledge, they would be able to make better decisions early in life.

If I would be allowed to go back in time and talk to my "high school self", I would tell myself to not stress out so much about the future and to not worry about my life's decisions. In high school, I would spend weeks worrying about my future until I rendered myself unable to sleep or eat. Now that I have selected a college to attend and I am almost finished with my first quarter at UCLA, I would tell my past self to realize that whether or not it is clear to you at this moment, everything always works out in the end somehow, and that life is random and wonderful and will surprise you. There is no set path to follow in life, and the very best you can do is to deal with the time that is given to you and follow your heart, because if you are motivated, passionate and willing to take every opportunity that comes your way, there is no other option for you but to succeed.

College is really about growing up, finding what makes me feel joy and fulfillment as you find a dream or work towards a dream. I wish I could've assured myself to not be afraid and to take risks. Healthy risks are a part of life and are what moves you forward in life. I should have known that I could have taken more advanced placement tests to have higher priority in class enrollment as well as helpful background knowledge in the classes I'm currently taking. I also would advise myself to truly understand what it means to be involved and to truly want to be involved. In college, volunteering gives you experience and knowledge for future fields you might go into as well as a sense of fulfillment that mere studying cannot provide. Truly knowing yourself, your interests, and your capability of handling different and challenging changes, situations, and environments will determine how successful and happy you are-not just getting good grades.

If I could go back, I would tell myself that stress gets you nowhere, and that whatever may happen you have to keep moving forward. If something goes wrong it can be fixed. If you have given your best effort in achieving your goals, then you should be proud of that, and a letter grade should not keep you from happiness. A grade is not a reflection of your intellect or worth, but rather a subjective entity that must be accepted and utilized so that a life lesson has been taught to you, if nothing else. College seems very scary, and it is rather intimidating, but many before you have succeeded in obtaining a college degree, and many will after you. You are every bit as capable as them, and I believe that you can do this. You need to have more confidence in yourself. As for moving away, the dorms are scary because you have to move away from home, but your still just as much a part of the family as before, and moving away will not change that. It's a part of growing up. And finally, know that epilepsy cannot stop you from achieving your goals.

I would encourage myself to go to college and to get my degree without looking at the difficulties. I am a walking proof that it is possible to get an education, to have a high GPA and to receive a scholarship even when you have children. I was able to rich my goals so far and I am hoping for the best in my scholastic years.

I would tell myself not to take my home for granted. I know that when I was in high school i was hell bent on getting out of my hometown. What I didn't realize was how different it would be without my family there. I come from a large family and not having them there makes me nervous sometimes and when i cannot see them for months at a time I get sad. So, I would remid myself of where I came from and to keep in touch with my family back home.

I would tell myself to realx, and roll with the punches. I would advise myself to read ALL of the material that I am given. Iwould also tell myself to network at all times, you never know what or who someone knows just by looking at them. Take your course load seriously, and ask for help when you need it.

Do not think college is like high school where you study hard and then do well on tests. Here, tests are purposely made hard in order to separate those who can think critically and those who show that they truly understand the material covered in class. Don't be afraid to ask for help from others who know more because you are not one of the smartest ones here anymore. Nonetheless, you do have more free time for yourself since classes don't span 7-8 hours per day. College is the ultimate setting to meet new people and build your social life. This social life can be either positive or negative in the way it affects your academics which is your top priority. The choices you make in your social life will determine this. Just be smart about it. Be very worried about your money because dorming on campus is very expensive, and you are compelled to dorm because of where you live and horrendous traffic. However, do not sacrifice your education for anything--even if it brings substantial financial obligations in the future because I know you can pull through and achieve your greatest goals.

Don't rush into things. Take everything slowly so that you don't regret acting too impulsively.

Dear Viktoriya, You are about to embark on the most amazing journey of your life! You have absolutely made the right decision in choosing UCLA as the place that you are about to spend the next four years at. Go ahead and do absolutely everything that you have time for while you are at the school of your dreams. Some of the things that I love doing are participating in the events that are put on by my sorority, going to the gym, attending athletic events, seeing the performing arts, going to the Sunset Reacreation pool, and volunteering in the myriad of clubs that are offered on campus. This place is so amazing. Words cannot do justice in professing my love for UCLA. Every aspect of it takes my breath away: the friends that I have made here, the beauty of the campus, the opportunities that I am going to have in graduating with a degree with such a high-powered name attached. Enjoy every day! With lots of love and GO BRUINS! Viktoriya

Get to know more about the overall atmosphere in a school besides its academic excellence

Please! Be yourself and don't let anyone interfere with what you want to do with your college life. You are the one who's going to take the responsabilities of the choices you make. Other people have no right to make you do things you don't want to. Enjoy the whole atmosphere and be cool about projects and reports! Professors are not going to kill you just because you turned in reports late. PLEASE RELAX! the world is not going to end, and you'll be fine.

The advice I would give to myself is to take advantage of all the resources you have such as counselors as well as teachers that are there to help you. If your counselor doesn't approach you, then take the initiative to speak to that one counselor because you never know , you might be the only student approaching them. If they see that a scholarship deadline is coming up and no one has applied for it then they will remember your name and encourage you to apply. Don't feel discouraged to apply for scholarships as well or colleges during your senior year. Even though you come from an underserved community, it will make you distinct from all others because you worked hard to get to where you are now. Another advice i would give myself is to take Academic Advancement courses in high school, such as AP classes, that challenge you. Not only will they prepare for the workload but they also help raise your confidence about the classes. Come into college with an open mind, don't give up so easily and work hard. At the same time be open to meet new people.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to strive to earn the best grades possible in all of my classes and to be more involved in school activities. Also, since it is difficult sometimes to find time to see friends from high school once one is in college, I would advise my past self to spend more time with friends in high school and make more memories during a great part of my life. I would have told myself to not fear the transition from high school to college and enjoy all of the new things college has to offer. The most important words to myself would be: do not be afraid to grow up!

When I first decided to go to UCLA, I was very excited as everyone told me college is the best four years of your life. I agree and my advice to you would be that even though college is fun and exciting you must remember if you don't maintain your grades, it will be over quicker than you think. You should work hard and get your stuff done earlier rather than procrastinating and you shouldn?t work yourself to death, but you shouldn?t slack off either. Take whatever classes you want to. If you want to study photography even though you are a Biology major. Do it. This is your chance to explore and soak up a little bit of everything. I suggest that you join clubs and do extracurricular activities as it is a great way to meet people. Also, try to get to know a few professors. Go to their office hours so they can get to know you personally. You should do your research and find out who the more prominent professors are and start to build a relationship with them as soon as possible. Most importantly, have fun!

Make the most of your high school classes. Don't get "senioritis" once you get into college. The more academic preparation you have going into college, the happier you'll be. Once school starts, don't be afraid to start joining clubs and signing up for things thinking you won't have time. Get involved as much as you can in everything in the beginning--you never know what you might find out you love. You don't want to look back at the end of those four years wishing you'd done more with your time than play video games. Many people say college is the best time of your life and it is very much your responsibility to make it that way.

As a senior in high school it is very difficult to know what to expect when making the change to a large university for the first time. In many cases, it is the first time students are away from home and their parents, and they might be a bit nervous about living on their own, making new friends, and balancing their academics to ensure their future success. After moving to Los Angeles and attending UCLA, I now know that making the transition is really easier than I ever thought it could be. The staff is extremely generous with their time, the professors are all exceptionally talented in their lectures, and the student body is so diverse that it would be very difficult not to find some place where I would have fit in. Financially, the student resource center is available at any time for a student to sit down with a financial aid advisor and plan out the financial future of their education. After entering college, my opinion of the experience now is undeniably positive, and it only seems to be growing in that direction.

Enjoy everything, take every opportunity, don't be shy, and go to office hours.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would essentially express to myself that I need to stop worrying about my future and just trust in the Lord to guide my path. I would advise that I should stop comparing myself to others, not be afraid to ask for help, and just reassure myself that it's okay to attend a community college. In addition, I would note that I will spend those two years after high school involved in the COC honors program, several schools clubs, and active in community service. I would also explain to my senior self that it will be at College of the Canyons that I will further discover and define my passions. I would disclose my decision to pursue psychology as a major and declare my hope to one day return to College of the Canyons as a proud professor. Then, I would summarize how much I would grow after high school graduation and encourage myself to stay true to my values and dreams. Oh, one last thing that I would reveal to myself is that I would end up transferring to UCLA!

I would tell myself to take a deep breathe. While it may seem like college is your stepping stool to taking on the world, it must be done in baby steps. Taking on more than you can handle will force you to step up to the plate, but do not take on more than you feel you can handle. Don't forgot, you are at college to get your degree; once you graduate, all doors will be open for you to get involved with whatever interests you.

Now that I reflect on the past few weeks, I feel that there is an awful lot of advice that I would give myself as a senior in high school. First of all, I would tell myself to be a little more humble, and not assume that, just because I got mostly 5's on all of my AP Exams, I would easily earn A's my first quarter at UCLA - that in fact, both of my chemistry and calculus midterms were extremely difficult even though I had already taken equivalent classes in high school. Second, I would suggest that my younger self come to college prepared to be around diverse people who had not been raised with the same values that my family taught me; I would tell myself that I would witness a lot of my peers drinking, doing drugs, and having loveless sex in the dorms and would feel extremely disillusioned by the second week of class. However, I would assure myself that, in the end, I would eventually make new friends who would help me steer clear of peer pressure and would become comfortable with my classes and professors by the middle of first quarter.

If I had that amazing opportunity, I would go back and give myself some sound financial advice. First of all, I would teach myself how to budget my income. Second, I would show myself how to wisely invest any extra money in both a savings account and stocks or bonds and could help in future income. Lastly, I would instruct "me" to stop complaining about all the hard work and enjoy the leisure of high school, because once in college, free time will be a luxury!

College is an opportunity for self-discovery--academically, socially, and intellectually. College provides an opportunity for you to explore your interests, your identity, your goals and ambitions. While some come to college with a solid concept of what they want to do in the future, others come uncertain, hoping to discover what they are passionate about. At both ends, however, college can transform you and help you determine the best paths to take. But college is not merely preparation for the future--education is a process of living in and of itself. So come to college with an openmind, a willingness to explore and make yourself vulnerable. You will be presented with many opportunities--in the classroom, in a social setting, or in the community--so take these opportunities to learn about yourself and find out what role you want to play in the world. Engage yourself in your surroundings, and take advantage of every moment as an opportunity. Don't limit yourself or place boundaries around yourself. Instead, make concious decisions that you think you'll feel good about. Make the most of every experience and be the person you want to be.

These are basic rules to live by but it's shockingly easy to detract from them: do all of your work accurately and on time! When the teacher assigns you that thick novel, just read it because even if you think you can look it up on the internet, it's absolutely going to be assigned again here in college so just save yourself the time and trouble of skirting around the book and just read it! In any subject, when you take the time to learn it properly here in high school, once you reach college you'll already have this vast bank of knowledge and you can save so much valuable time. Please immunize yourself to that rampant college virus known as PROCRASTINATION. Do it now young high schooler because once you get to be our age...the damage is done. Get involved in extra-curricular activities and working. You'll quickly master time mangaement earlier in life. It's pertinent to know how to prioritize your academics, social life, and work because the people that follow through with the items on their agenda are the ones that achieve success in all facets of life! Good luck Merica!

Here is the biggest secret: academics aren't everything. Yes, it is important to go to class, do your work, and get good grades, but that is not where you are going to make lasting memories. College is not just about getting a valuable education that should help get you a great job, it is also about being on your own and learning how you fit in. Once you get dropped off on moving day, mommy and daddy are gone and you are alone in all your glory. Don't worry, this will probably be the best thing that ever happened to you. Now you are in the driver seat able to make the most out of your life and out of your time at university. GET INVOLVED!! There are a plethora of opportunities for extracurricular activities in college.; join a sport, learn an insturment, get a job on campus, find a cause, learn about a new culture, support school athletic teams, go to rallies, become a tutor, etc. And if you are not sure what to choose, try them all! Getting involved at your school will make your years there more worthwhile and will help you make lasting friendships.

Having been one year in UCLA, the advice I always give to myself is never to give up, always work hard, and succeed in my classes.

Start exploring early! Join various organizations and don't be afraid to try new things. There are so many opportunities, so start early!

Be prepared for a fast-paced environment at UCLA. Some lectures will have 400 students, and it?ll be easy to feel intimidated and insignificant. But remember that 5000 freshmen experience UCLA for the first time every year. You should reach out to these classmates, who share your concerns. Actively seeking companionship in the first ten weeks of school will be beneficial, because the friendships you make in your first quarter will last throughout your undergraduate years. You should also live in an apartment instead of a dormitory. In particular, there?s a complex located on 500 Landfair that provides meals to residents. The rent is only $500 a month! You?ll save thousands of dollars, so don?t let this deal pass you by. You should also note that the Celtics will win an NBA championship in 2008, and the Lakers will win one in 2009. Also, the Cardinals will make it to the Superbowl in 2009, but they will end up losing to the Steelers. In addition, Obama will become our next president. Take advantage of this knowledge and make bets with your friends. Make some money and be prepared for a major recession in 2008 and 2009!

The most important piece of advice I can give is that the student needs to really like the campus environment. Today, everyone is too caught up in getting into a "brand-name" college without taking into consideration whether they would really be happy there or not. Things like dorm rooms, class sizes, variation of majors, and diversity are more important that the ranking of a college on a list. Parent pressure may also be a factor, but in the end, it is up to the student to decide where they want to go and what they want to do with their life. Many students don't know what they want to do when they first go to college, which is completely normal--this is why it is so important to visit different campuses and take all factors into consideration. College is supposed to be the best time of a person's life--but that is only if a student chooses a college because they are happy there, not because of a ranking of a list.

There is nothing more confusing and nerve racking than choosing which university to attend. There are so many factors for students and parents to consider: cost, campus environment, instructional programs and a school?s reputation, to name a few. How can one decide? Students and parents must first make a list of the various criteria that they feel are significant and rank them in order of importance. The final decision will come from how well a college fits the criteria. To reach this final decision, one must do their research. There is a wealth of information online, but it is just as important to visit various campuses and talk to students and alumni. Some information is easy to access, such as tuition and campus size; however details such as social aspects or environmentally friendly campuses requires one to delve deeper. Making the college experience enjoyable is about trying new things and being engaged. Getting involved and working hard in one?s passions will achieve a sense of fulfillment outside of obtaining a degree. In the end, the student?s personal drive will make them successful, for a university provides the foundation, but the individual decides what to build upon it.