University of California-Riverside Top Questions

The University of California Riverside has provided me with a new outlook on life in which I am truly grateful. I have matured greatly as a result of being a college student and I feel driven to make a difference in a dark world that is in need of light. The school motto "Let there be light" is truly evident in my life now because I am more determined than ever to strive for a good life and inspire others to do the same. In addition, I have learned that the riches in life are only achieved through hard work and discipline and that life is truly what you make of it. Going to this school made me realize that whatever it is I want in the end may only be achieved by not giving up. I have realized that failure is not an option and I have become a better worker both inside and outside the classroom because of this notion. In conclusion, I feel that my inability to give up is my strongest quality that I gained from the school that will take me far through the course of my life.

Being around people that are different from the people I grew up with and learning and adjusting to that.

I feel I have learned so much about myself as a person as well as academically when I moved out to attend college. Students sometimes only go to school for education, but college made me have an all-around experience where I tried new challenges for the first time. Being born of immigrant parents, it made me realize how important it is to be one of the first to attend university in my family. I have discovered how life has many obstacles, but you can never let anyone or anything stop you from achieving what you have envisioned for yourself. I think you yourself is the only one who can hold you back. I have learned to think for yourself and how mistakes are only room for growth and the motivation to be better. I have formed several wonderful relationships I hope to keep even when I leave college for the real world. This rewarding experience is only what you put into it. It has been a valuable facet of my life since I have become apart of wonderful organizations that focus on helping others always. This college experience has prepared me for the wondrous, unpredictable adventures soon to come!

The beauty of going to college is all about the whole exprience of a college lifestyle. I made many friends during my past 3 years of college life, and these are the friends that may remain a lifetime. Friends are treasures, so do knowledge that are learned in classrooms. These are the knowledge that not only would help me in my career success, they also assist me to become a better person who is beneficial to the whole society. The most important thing I have learned through my college experience is perseverance. I had a gpa as low as 2.1 by the end of my freshman year, and right now I have a gpa of 3.4. I use to be someone who gave up easily, but college has taught me in order to be successful I have to keep trying. Moreover, just trying is not good enough because it will not get you anymore unless you have the confidence and the determination to obtain what you really want. I also learned how to get use to a new environment. I think it is essential for people to have the ability to adjust themselves to the enviroment.

As a student at UCR, I've really come to accept myself in terms of sexuality. As a gay man, I've always been comfortable with myself, but not with the gay community as a whole. At UCR, the LGBT community is proud of what it does to support queer and questioning students. They've helped me overcome my averseness to the queer community. Thank you, UCR.

It pays to stick it through and finish college! I am a returning student who has been around the world and back. I've done real estate, bartended, had a rock band, wiated tables in celebritry gourmet restaurants, moved to Louisiana to do volunteer relief work after hurricane Katrina passed through the Gulf Coast, and spent the last three years as a project manager and house parent to some 70 kids and staff at a children's home in Thailand. Through it all I've learned that money itself is a poor motivation to live your life for. Looking back, had I been more patient to start living in the real world and finished college, I would now have more opportunities to pursue my passion for leadership and for making a positive change in our country. Degrees open doors. Even more than that though, I now see how college has prepared me in communicating and thinking better than had I not attended. When I was young, I was looking for the quick fix to my problems; to get what I wanted as fast as I could. At 35 I truly understand the benefit and blessing of a well-rounded education!

College has been extemely educational in a variety of social, financial, and goal-oriented ways. Perhaps the most important thing I've learned from college is my limits and how to fail magnificently yet get right back up to finish an education I kept putting off too long.

i have gotten a great eduacation from UCR. I feel my high school did a minimal job of preparig me for high school, but UCR is getting me ready for the real world, the life after college.

At UCR, I have gained a valuable understanding of what it means to be educated. For example, the Medical Scholars Program, has given me opportunities that are unique to this campus. I have shadowed doctors in clinics, set up presentations, host banquets, and attend specialized study sessions for my hardest courses. My time at UCR has strengthened my desire to become a doctor, but more importantly encouraged me to become involved and look for ways to better my community. Working in the Riverside Community Hospital with Clinical Care Extenders, traveling to Nicaragua with Global Medical Training, mentoring students, and touring community clinics with Community Health Systems, has opened my eyes to the medical attention our communities need. I realize now that an education is more than getting good grades, it is about becoming aware and involved in the community. I believe that UCR?s diverse population and passionate students have brought my attention to community and worldwide issues. UCR is an amazing campus, with amazing people, who show me everyday what it means to be part of this generation. A new generation that has hope for change, and are not afraid to take action and make it happen ourselves.

i have not yet gained any college experience but i am looking forward to gaining a wonderful college experience i the future.

I have learned to be more responsible as a student and as a young adult. I have seen it valuable to attend because it will help later on in life to get a good career and to make things possible for my family in the future.

I have gotten so much out of my college experience. I live in the dorms so i have met all kinds of peole from different walks of life. From these peole i have learned to be more open and more personable. I have also learned to study hard. If i want a good grade it requires time to be put into my studies. I have towork hard for what i want and i will benefit in the end with good grades and a sense of accomplishment. I have also learned to be independent and balance my funds. I have to be carefull on what i spend my money and how i save my money becuase i never know what i might need to spend it on in the future. Ultimately i have benefited the most in finding myself.

Attending college has really taught me balance in work versus play, dependence versus independence, and mental and physical aspects. Once in college, academically speaking, no one holds your hand anymore, though assistance is never far away should you need it. For me, this helped me learn how to budget my time and that the occasional mistake will happen. I also learned the importance of a well-placed phone call to home. My family can't be there to tell me whether something is a good or bad idea all the time, but college has reinforced that there are people I can turn to should something become too much for me to handle on my own. College has taught me that I need to make decisions, but sometimes, it's okay to ask for help. Lastly, I've learned the importance of taking care of myself. I can make my own choices in the dining hall, but no one's standing over me and telling me to eat my peas. Eating right and handling the stress are important, and I've found that in all of these things, I have to take the initiative and make sure that everything stays balanced.

If only we were actually able to go back in time and advise ourselves. I know I would sit myself down and have a serious talk. I'd start with saying that college isn't really what everyone says it will be. Movies depict college as a crazy and different place it. I would definitely advise myself to become more self-reliant and dependent. I'd say this isn't anything like high school where you continue to have that close circle of friends. College is so much diverse and better in many ways. Anybody can take any class they'd like to that they'd never imagined existed. In college, a student has to be able to decide what they are going to do and when they are going to do it. It's as if leaving Mom's voice behind and creating one of your own. Nobody is going to be reminding others of deadlines or events. People here look out for themselves mostly, so it's hard to depend on others. So, here is where you have to be dependent for your own benefit. Also, I'd remind myself that everything will be just fine and amazing.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would instruct myself to start studying harder in high school in order to gain better study skills in college. Unfortunately, my GPA is only a 3.0, and I feel that a major reason for this is because of my lack of good note taking during lectures, discussions and labs. I may also tell myself not to stress out during midterms and finals because it's not worth it. Because I already have test anxiety, it's even more difficult to focus when studying for my midterms and finals.

The advice that I would give myself if I were a high school senior is that college is very important and should be taken seriously from the first lecture all the way to the end of the quarter. I wish that I knew how important it is to balance out your time and fit studying, fun time and homework in a busy schedule. I always waited until the last minute to study for the exams and that really hurt my GPA. Another thing that I wish I had known is that there is a time and a place for eveyrthing; things need not be rushed. Much of my time was dedicated to hanging out with my friends and studying was always the last item on my list. I now understand that I am in school and school is what I should focus on. There will always be a time to have fun, but if I am in school then I should act like I am in school. College is too precious and I wish that I had worked a lot harder than I did my first year. Lastly, I should take "the road not taken" for better success.

Be brave. Making the leap from high school to college may seem scary -- it kind of is -- but if you do not take chances now you will regret it later. You are smart, so don't worry too much about the academics. Make new friends. Take new classes. If you do not like the path on which you are headed, do something about it! This isn't elementary school anymore; don't defer to that ever-knowing and all-powerful Miss Such-and-such. Be responsible to yourself first. In retrospect sometimes your choices will seem badly thought-out, but it is better to regret doing something colossal and vibrant than to regret doing nothing at all. Be proactive. Care for your mental, physical, and academic health. Balance these, or things will not turn out well. And lastly, be kind. Be kind to the less fortunate (volunteer), be kind to the earth (recycle), be kind to your peers (help a classmate), be kind to your elders (respect your professors), and most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Dear Past-Violet,As of now, you--I-- well, we're half way second quarter at the University. You don't have a license or car as you hoped, and the recession only gets worse?you don?t have a job either. You'll find college life isn't all partying nor it?s been a refreshing scholarly atmosphere of conversations in coffee shops.You may well be wondering why you?re even in college. What are you doing with life, and when is it going to become interesting? And how?re you to accomplish anything with all the failures you seem to attract. Well, keep your laughter intact, and do not EVER give up your dreams. Lastly, you must learn that failure is as great as succeeding! So, take a step back, and breath in every worry and doubt you?ve had. Just have hope in the fact that even in the lull of every novel, where the demise of the main character is so seemingly tangible, the heroine (that's you here) always finds a great escape, and like all great heroines, you will too. To the future that lies ahead,Violet Del Toro, the current version

If I knew what I know now and could travel back in time, I think I would say to bring a desk lamp and prepare to study a lot. Studying is actually fun, and there are so many wild things to learn!

If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a heap of advice about college life. The first thing that I would tell myself is to relax. Although being tense and nervous is apart of the experience, it does nothing but make you anxiously stress. The next piece of advice is to live on-campus and join organizations. The transition can be difficult if you don?t find people to talk to about it. Being active on-campus gives freshmen the opportunity to actually experience the transition with other people. An important tip is to be aware of your meal plan. The worst thing that can happen is discovering that you?ve used the entirety of your meals months before school ends. You will be very sad and very hungry. The final and most important advice that I would give is to be prepared to miss your old life. I constantly wished that I could be back home with my mother. But after a while, you get used to the independence and you discover who you really are. So, head to college with your mind open and your head held high!

The most important advice I could give is to apply to as many schools and scholarships as possible. If I had applied to more schools, I would have recieved more acceptance letters and financial aid packets. An increased number of scholarships would eased the financial burden on my parents. I also would have told myself to take advantage of the college experience from day one but to not forget about the relationships I forged in high school.

I would tell myself to FILL OUT SCHOLARSHIPS! It definitely makes a huge difference. The amount of financial aid can make or break one's college decision. Now that I'm in college, I see how much it's really costing me and my family. In my senior year, I was completely in the dark when it came to financial aid and how much it would cost to attend college. Now i'm regretting the fact that I didn't fill out enough scholarships to help out my mom. I would also make sure that I had very good time management skills. College is all about time management. I spend less time in class in college, however, each class requires more time outside of class to do extra readings and essays. Also, there's no time to mess around on a quater system. Its ten short weeks and I would've told myself to prepare for that even more. I would also tell myself that I'm responsible for each and every action I make. College is about responisibility and maturing into a person who can handle the real world and it's pressures.

As a senior in high school, I thought college was going to be very difficult and that students depended on their own rather than asking for any sort of help; although i was wrong. It was time for my first quarter of school and I had rushed the course registration process. I was very nervous becuase I had never used a course catalog while refering to a list of mandatory classes that I needed to take. As the quarter passed by I didn't put much effort to review any course materials becuase I thought, since the class is too hard why try? At the end of the quarter I had regreted what I said while looking at my grades. The funny thing is that after I had taken my course i reliezed that college courses are not difficult after all, and If I had put time aside to study I would have done much better. If I could go back in time I would have taken my courses sersiously and attended all the tutoring sessions. I would have also told myself that there is always time for fun as long as I review my class notes daily.

I honestly think thay throughout high school/senior year I did pretty well. Making the transistion was not too bad t all. The one thing I probably would have told myself is to not go home so much on the weekends/weekdays and stay on campus and get invovled. Going home keeps you from making new friends and getting the whole college experience. Also it takes away from your study time and convient resources you may need. Other then that I think I have done retty well so far with the transitions!

If I could go back and tell myself anything it would be "you're life is not over, it has just started. So get up, brush it off and don't waste any time because the life you are really after is closer than you think." When I was a senior in high school I was on the basketball team, I had been for all four years. It was my life, so much so that I was referred to as a 'gym rat' because I was always inside the gym practicing or working out. But then I tore my ACL. I was completely lost, basketball was the identity that I built my world around and I thought I would play in college, I was devastated and soon became depressed and went through a major personality/existential meltdown. It greatly affected my thoughts about college and what to do when I got there. Little did I know that college would lead me to what I was truly passionate about; social politics, social progress, art, and how our world functions and is connected. It was an awaking that has transformed my life, thoughts, and view of the world for the greater.

I would tell the high school senior in me to do what I did and work a terrible job for two years then go to school. Compared to a terrible job school is awesome and the information is more interesting after a little real life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to be so nervous! I would tell myself that I AM smart enough to go to college, to have faith in my skills as a student. I would tell myself not to waste my first two years attempting to fit in both a full time education as well as continue my professional figure skating training. I would tell myself that they won't keep giving that much financial aid, so you won't have the money to keep doing both and the disappointment will dishearten hopes for a figure skating career. Start the haitus from the beginning and focus on your studies because there are only four years of college and a lifetime to continue other paths. I would tell myself that no one can do or have anything all at once so take the time to hone what can be honed. I would tell myself to remember that professors are people too and mostly want to simply help you succeed, not put you down. Oh, and take that trip to Europe! GO ABROAD IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY!

I would tell myself to take more advantage of the different opportunities available at college. Classes are demanding, requiring ample study and preparation. However, there is also plenty of time to enjoy extracurricular activites, such as clubs, volunteering, exercising, and internships. Research the different clubs and try a few out by attending the first few meetings to see which ones seem interesting. Clubs are a great way of interacting with other students and making connections that could last a lifetime. Make the most of your time at college because you will not have the opportunity to go back. Leave college without any regrets and with a feeling that you really did accomplish all that you wanted. College is time for you to enjoy yourself and define yourself. Do not take anything for granted. Make time for friends.

You're making the right decision, Heaven. Don't worry about money. There are always opportunities to pay for applications and books and tuition, even if you don't have the money right now. You will find it and you will earn it eventually. Don't worry about the distance from Home. You are going to get Homesick, but your Family is always going to be there. Don't worry that you don't know anybody else that goes to UCR. This is an adventure, remember? This is your chance to learn who you are as a person and who you are in respect to others. Don't be shy. Take the intiative. Be yourself, not the person you admire and not the person you are expected to become. Be respectful and kind, but be yourself. Don't worry, Heaven; you're making the right decision.

If I could go back and tell myself as a senior in high school knowing what I know now, I would have a lot to say. I'd remind myself that school is why I'm there, but I also need to reach out to find new friends and become even more immersed in my school and the people there. I'd tell myself to bring a lot of walking shoes, start managing my money now, and to get reading for more intellectual conversation. I'd tell myself to be less shy, and nervous but to go for it and make the best of my college years.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior i would tell myself to work harder and get better grades. i would tell myself to try to get more credits for school through tests. however, i would also tell myself not to stress out so much on being a senior and to have more fun. another thing that i would tell myself is to keep my options open and to not worry so much about what i am going to do after school is over.

If I was able to give myself advice knowing about college like and making the transition; I would tell myself never to settle for a school, and to be sure I am in love with the people, enviroment, city, and teachers. My choice was to go to UC Riverside, assuming it was a good school and I would be okay with wherever I choose to go; however, little did I know I would be unhappy with the city, dorm life, and school life. I woke up each morning without any enthusiasm of what I would do after my classes; in fact I would spend my weekends doing nothing but homework, and hardly went out. I also made the choice to be in the honor dorms, which were truly secluded, and a wrong decision on my behalf. If I had this advice to never settle for a college I would have been better off after high school. I transfered to a community college after my first quarter and have plans to go to hawaii for fall semester 2010. I believe seniors would should be deeply in love with their school before they decide to make a big commitment and never settle.

If I were to go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to look for scholarships before the college academic year began. Applying for scholarships can be very discouraging especially if application after application is denied. But even if one was to spend a whole day filling out applications and writing essays in effort of winning a scholarship and they wind up winning just one, it would be well worth the effort to receive any amount of financial aid. I wish I would have known that then because I definitely would have filled out as many applications for scholarships as possible in order to be able to pay for tutition, books, and other supplies needed to receive a college education. I also would have told myself to get comfortable speaking in front of my peers because public speaking, communication and participation is a major aspect of college education in all areas of study. It requires confidence, clarity, and the willingness to be critiqued by professors as well as peers.

Being a Peer College Counselor in High School, speaking to students about their futures was a part of my everyday schedule. It was my job to prepare them for not only the college application process, but also how to adjust to the college life. As a College Sophomore, I now know that all of my advice was nowhere near inclusive to how this experience would be. First piece of advice: Break out of that shell now. College is all about making connections, whether it is your future bestfriend or your favorite professor. Communication is the key to success so as shy as I may be, I need to continuously work on being more outgoing. The most important lesson I would have loved to know as a High School Senior-things won?t always go as planned. College is a wake-up call that everything doesn?t go your way. Papers are due the night before midterms, and for that reason grades won?t always be what I?m used to. Work on my time management now, get used to scheduling everything out. Most importantly, stay focused-visualize the life you want to lead after graduation, partying will always be there.

While attending the University of California Riverside, I finally understood the importance of a sound education. As a person, it is essential to always be ?learning.? Learning will open doors and develop your frame of reference to successfully execute life?s obstacles. Through learning, you will acquire a sound education; the skill that will allow you to be competitive in our advanced world. Most importantly, stay focused; be able overcome the socio-economic barrier that sets you back because the taste of success will only be that much more meaningful. The best advice you could?ve given me as a financially struggling high school student that was the truth: obtaining a sound education makes you a marketable human and greatly increases your potential in obtaining your goals; the time you invest now in your education will pay dividends in the future. California?s k-12 education is a weeding out system. Although you?ve been placed in a disadvantaged situation that at times makes learning an unbearable burden, it?s important that you strive to the best of your ability so that one day you can contribute to the ?gradual evolution of human institutions? that President Kennedy once spoke of.

Fist of all I would go back to freshman year, and tell myself not to procrasinate. In college one must get every assignment done as spoon as possble and with effort. Also in high school homework assignments actually count towards ones grades. There's no such thing as turning in an assignment that's done last minute because then it will relfect on ones final grade. The work in college can feel overwelming, so I would tell myself to do all the work and read everysingle page that's assigned ,because every single word of information counts in college. Also, that attending every lecture is the brightest idea because professors are there to help and there's our money anyway, so why waste it. One last thing, in college classes tend to be huge at times. I would advice myself to be comfortable with Teaching assistants, because office hours are successful in ones education.

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself that although nothing can truly prepare me for what I am about to experience in college, start getting involved in school activies from day one. Use every resource avaliable and volunteer for the campus and the community every chance given, because this will truly change the outlook on life and change me for the better; it will help me expand my mind and grow, not only as an artist but as a person as well. I would tell myself to not be shy and scared of voicing my opinion during class. It will not only help me understand the material better, but it will intellectually challenge me and give me an idea of what I truly feel towards certain subjects. Lastly, I would tell myself that going to school was the best move I have made, because it has engaged my mind and made me a much more confident person, who now knows will become something wonderful later in life.

I would tell myself to reach for the stars. It has been a tough since high school. I lacked the knowledge, confidence and courage to apply to a university. If I could go back I would give myself directions to transfer to a UC. Looking back at that young and shy girl I remember she needed a friend to tell her she can do it and that she is deserving of a higher education. Someone she could trust and give her the instruction of how to put her past behind her and look to the future by applying for college. I would tell myself not to worry about what people think or be ashamed of who you are or where you come from. Use the good parts of your past to your benefit and forget the bad for it will cloud your judgment. Be free. Use your talents. Dance. I use to think that college was an intangible dream but now I know that filling out that application was the easiest best thing I have done for myself. I will learn from my mistakes and take advantage of this opportunity and aim for that star of becoming a doctor.

If I could go back in time as a senior there are a few things that I would want to advise myself to do which would have made the transition to college easier. For one, I would advise myself is to take more AP or college level courses. This would mean I would need to take less classes in college and save me some time. I know realized that not doing so has placed a burden on me. Although I did take a few, I felt as if I could have taken more. Second, I would advise myself to become more independent. While in highschool, I was so used to having all my friends around between classes and for homework and at other times, yet I know have realized college isn't this way. In college, every one works for themselves and doesnt really have time for these type of things. Of course there is a social life but every one is out there on their own. If I would have made this change during highschool, the beginning of college would not have been nearly as bumpy. With these things set, my transition to college would've been easier.

AP classes and extracurricular activities are what seem to get you into Harvard these days, but it all lies in confidence. Anyways,back to the question, If I time- traveled to the past I would go to the precise time when i got my first rejection letter. Knowing how I was in highschool, I would tell myself to RELAX. There is so much pressure these days to get into college. I worked hard to keep my GPA as high as i possibly could since I lacked in extracurricular activities. However, my college self would explain how college isn't about where you go to but the experience you get from it. Although cliche, it's true. One professor made a difference in the way i view college and would have been great advice in highschool. He entered college from the side door. His experience started at a community college, then moved on to University and Graduate School. Now he is a professor at UCR, and one of the best I might add. To us, College is all about experience.

I would first tell myself to be open to the new life and experiances that you will encounter and to allow yourself to take things as they come. But to be careful of the people you meet, everyone is not what they seem. I would also tell myself that no matter what to stay focused on school so that my dream of becoming a teacher could come true. Lastly I would say that college is a new and great adventure that you should enjoy and take one step at a time.

Dear Jen, I know that you are planning on using your life's savings to pay for this first year of college. It might seem like a lot of money to use in one year, but don't spend it on useless things you don't need. Also, the meal plan will give you dining dollars to use around school. Again, it might seem like you have a lot of dining dollars, but remember-- they have to last you ALL YEAR! Don't feel pressured to use them all up and buy things like a million bottles of water and juice. It's going to be hard living in the dorms, especially when you are used to having your own room and space. However, the only thing you can do now is hope for a roommate who won't be rude and obnoxious. And if you dislike your roommate, who cares? Spend more time outside, exploring the campus and what it has to offer! There are so many things to do at the recreation center as well as on campus. BE OPTIMISTIC. If you have trouble making friends, go through panhellenic recruitment. Make the best out of your situation, always!

The advice I would give myself is that college isn't as terrifying as you thought. The transition is a little stressful, but worth it. There are so many different types people that you will meet and become friends with. The classes are challenging and not what you ever expected. You will be proud of your decision to continue your education and earn your BA.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself aas a high school senior, I'd say a lot more than just advice for making thet transition from high school to college life. Even more pressing would be the issue of how I acquired such time traversing skills. In any case, if I did meet myself in the past, and we were on the topic of college life, I'd tell my past-self that college is, more than anything, a paradox. It is liberating, and in a sense incarcerating. You have more freedom than you've ever had in your life, you can do just about anything you want, whenever you want. But, as the famous Spiderman quote goes, "With great power comes great responsibility." To make the most of your college life, you have to learn to balance everything. A little fun here, a little work there. ...Okay, a lot of work. But in the end, the good grade is totally worth it, because every semester or quarter that passes, you know you're one step closer to graduation, and that feeling is pretty amazing.

I would have started to take classes in a community college to get ahead. I would have researched more on different colleges in and out of state, as well as majors.

College is an exciting experience that allows for people to explore different opportunites. Before entering college, I was very narrow minded and knew what I wanted to be, or in this case, what my parents wanted me to be. College has allowed to take a larger look of what is around me and the possibilities that lay before my feet. If I was allowed to go back in time and be able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to follow my dreams and to not be worried about the financial aspects of a certain career I may enjoy.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to relax and take high school easy. I gave up most of my free time to get good grades that I almost forgot that I had a life. Knowing how college is right now, it is pretty tough and it makes me want to give up most of the times. By saying this, I should have had enjoyed high school as much as I can because college is very different. It can be very tiring at times. It is better to give 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my time and energy in high school and have 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} more in college than to give 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} in high school and not have anything left for college.

College is a huge leap from high school. I would tell myself to take things slow and be very social. Also while I still have a chance I would tell myself to take as many AP classes as possible. College is very expensive, and the more classes you can get out of the way while in high school the better. Make a good decision on where you want to go, because it might possibly be your home for the next four, six or eight years. Most importantly though I would tell myself to have a good time, because college is supposed to be the best time of anyones life, so why not live it to the fullest?

If I was given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is nothing like high school and that in order to succeed, I would need to change my outlook of college. First, college students have so much more time on their hands, but many students waste that time by doing nothing or going out and partying. I would say that 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the college education takes place in classrooms, but the other 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} consists of what you choose to do with your free time and how you apply yourself. I would tell myself to not only work as hard as possible to get the grade I want, but also to get out there in the world and meet new people and experience new opportunities. In life, its not always about what you know, but who you know. I would definitely encourage myself to join organizations I am interested in and work with volunteer groups to give back to the community. All in all, I would tell my younger self to make the most of these few years and to work hard.

If I could go back in time (an interesting question for a Physics major) and speak with myself as a high school senior, I would be encouraging but I wouldn't deter myself from the path I had selected. After high school, I attended a junior college for one year, then transferred to a trade school for fashion design. I luckily found myself working in not one, but two jobs in the industry. I worked at one of those jobs for four years, and that is an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. In fact, I would say working and supporting myself in that time gave me a better work ethic. Now I find myself in a better position than most other students in my classes. I am far more serious about my studies, and I'm not using college as an excuse to party. I decided to return to school in 2008. I took classes at Santa Monica College in the evening after my full-time job, and was accepted to UCR for fall of 2009. If I could tell my past self one thing, it would be to stick to my guns and never give up.