University of California-San Diego Top Questions

The most important thing to do first is visit the campus where you would like to attend and talk to the counselors and students there. If you can’t envision yourself there then you should consider another school. Secondly, apply for FAFSA and research scholarships. Make it a point to apply for scholarships as if it were your part time job. When you get into your desired school make sure you take it slow at first and utilize your resources. Get to know you professors and make appointments with them so that they get to know you. Involve yourself in extracurricular activities so that you can meet other students and get the feel of the college culture. Lastly, enjoy your time in college because it will go by faster than you think.

Take an easy. It's not expected to have a 4.0 in college. It's not expected you'll ace every midterm and final. Breathe. Enjoy the little things that come with college. If you find yourself hiding in your dorm room, force yourself to sit and study in the lounge. Don't falter in your decisions or beliefs. Don't waste your time crying every night over the boy who couldn't do a long-distance relationship. Put yourself out there and join those clubs that scare you. College is when you discover who you really are so don't waste these valuable four years being scared. You'll make the mistake of holding back your freshman year, so make sure you really get out there and explore. You'll constantly battle yourself debating if you're smart enough for graduate school, and you are. Remember that your dreams got you into UCSD and will take you farther than you can fathom in your life. Get rejected? Try again, because life truly takes you on a rollercoaster of challenges. Most importantly: stay strong.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry because life gets better. My senior year was difficult for personal reasons—every night I went to sleep feeling used. Applying for colleges made me think about how colleges would determine my self-worth based off numbers and job titles I held. It was a dark cycle. I didn’t end up getting into my dream college with my only option, UCSD, which isn’t commonly recognized for business at all. I came here, 500 miles away from home, seemingly alone. What I didn’t know is that I would join two amazing groups that have redefined family—Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed professional business fraternity, and The Beat, my talented a cappella group. I would tell my little self to believe because you’re smart, capable, and ambitious and people will perceive that if you realize it. I would have to give one more piece of advice: even though you want to be independent, it’s okay to tell your blood family you love them every so often. You’ll miss them.

I would tell my self to do. Go to UCSD becuase it will give you a great education, and your classmates will help keep you focused. There will be some distractions, but the pace of the quater system will remind you that mistakes will be punished quickly. Also I would tell myself I should have been more confident when applying to colleges and should have applied to equally hard or harder schools. Lastly I would tell my self, I should apply to more scholarships, and continue to work my butt off at track.

Be prepared to feel unhappy sometimes. I know you think the first year of college will be some transformative experience wherein you'll meet like-minded people and feel creatively and intellectually satisfied, but most of it is white noise. You'll be surrounded by people who dismiss your interests, and a lot of your classes will feel stifling and meek. Not everyone has a good college experience, and that's okay. Allow yourself to feel these things. Do not try to find happiness in interests you don't share and do not try to escape yourself by acting like another person. At the same time, don't dwell on whatever you think makes you "different" or "unique," because you'll just end up lonely with no sense of self. Try not to take yourself seriously and allow yourself to become a part of things. Pursue what you love honestly and without pretense, with clarity and light.

First and foremost, academically, I would advise myself to relax a little and to study consistently throughout the year, even if it's only for an hour a day, rather than wait until the last minute and cram. I would also tell myself not to just accept when I got answers wrong on tests and homework, but rather to look at them and try to understand why I got them wrong and see where and what I misunderstood. I would tell myself to talk to teachers more and not be afraid to ask questions because learning to interact with adults is a very valuable asset when you reach college and the workplace. One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to myself is to get involved in extracurriculars, whether it be in school or volunteering outside of school, because this is one of the best ways to explore interests while making friends. This is also very important because it is a good reminder that school isn't everything because life in college, and especially after college, is much more than spending time in a classroom and cramming so you can get a good GPA.

Knowing everything I know now, I would tell myself to definitely look for a job junior year because college life is expensive. I mean, sure there are scholarships and grants but I wouldn't want to rely solely on them because I don't know if I would even win one! To make life easier freshmen year, I would tell myself to take more AP classes. AP credit is what got me out of G.E.s and yet I probably have the lowest number of standing credits amongst everyone going to UCSD. Never give up on academics. Don't say, "Oh, it's only a B. I would have to miss only seven on the final to keep my A and I don't feel like doing it." Wrong. Try to get that A because it can make all the difference. Always get letter of recommendations. I regret it so much because most scholarships require letter of recommendations and I didn't think any teacher would write one for me. And one last thing: don't be afraid to speak out. Let your voice be heard because your opinion matters.

High School Senior Mariah,You may be feeling elated since high school is over. Yes, there were challenges and obstacles, but you made it through. Why? You did it because you love what you were doing. You did it because you have faith. You did it because you are diligent. College is a GIANT transition. Do not forget the word ADAPT. Adapting to your new environment is pivotal to your success. Be punctual! Join organizations and internships to gain valuable experiences.Stay on top of your coursework. Missing class or assignments could add up and be detrimental to your grade. Talk to your peers. Visit your professors during office hours because they are your greatest resource. Make sure they get to know your name. Who knows, you may get an internship or starting building your network with their help. Step out of your comfort zone because it will be worth it. Do not be afraid to ask for help.Do not be afraid to fail. And if you do fail, you will learn from that experience. Make sure to keep your loved ones updated and give them a call. They too are adapting to this new journey with you.

Surprisingly, the best is yet to come. Life isn't over, it's just begun. You're anxious and feel out of place because you fail to realize that there is no secret formula to success, that there is no single piece of criteria that will guarantee it.The truth is...you have countless opportunities in front of you. Stop worrying, this transition to college life will transform you into an improved version of yourself. At least I can guarantee you this. This fresh start will be exactly what you have hoped for since the bittersweet remains of High School. Pursuing goals and completing tasks have always been your life's primary drive, but that will soon change. Let me give you a head start in your future discoveries. Entrust in the future for you cannot control it, overcome this past desire and your anxiety will diminish. Everything will be alright. Everything will be fine, brilliant. The transition, college life, all your worries are over exaggerated. Stop underestimating yourself and know your true value. Sure, you may miss a deadline or two here and there, but never stop believing in yourself. Now, get back to work!

As you transition into college, there is one thing I can tell you: self-doubt will be the end of your dreams. We will make mistakes and lay in the shadow of those who have achieved perfection on their first try. Many of these individuals worked tirelessly in a competitive high school to get an edge in college where they already learned the value of hard work; now it will be your turn to work as hard. Worse yet, there are many individuals who will cheat to get the grade. You must continue to work even when you feel like your efforts are being undermined because your education is only in part determined by grades. Work hard for the sake of learning even when the grade you receive is not indicative of the work you put in. Taking tests is a skill which can be improved, but if you fail to grow intellectually, you will lose out on far more than good grades. Always keep in mind that your success will not be based on how many times you fail but how well you can respond to and grow from adversity.

The moment you set foot on campus, you will be engulfed by diverse opportunities. Within that first week freshman year, there will be hundreds of fliers handed to you promoting organizations ranging from the Gardening Club to the top business fraternity on campus. College is a capsule in time where you have four years to discover what you want to pursue. It is the perfect time to develop your “brand.” Do you want to be that person who is somehow at every party or do you want to be the stud who is president of multiple organizations on campus? (Note: I hope you choose the latter; you can’t get a degree in ‘Partying’.) Know that it is never too early to start figuring out your life. Don’t be afraid of figuring out the things you dislike before you finally figure out what you do like. Get involved with organizations with goals that speak to your values and passion. This will also help you meet people with like minded interests in larger, worldly issues. The social events and parties will always be there, so lose the, “fear of missing out” and start creating your brand from day one.

I would tell myself to enjoy my family and friends before I moved away for college and to have more fun, instead of sitting at home all day. I would say to be more adventurous and to not be afraid of trying new things. I would also tell myself to take more spoons and forks because you never know when you're going to need them.

Senior year in high school is a time to look back at what one has gone through to get to where they are now. Having been there, I would advice myself to seriously cherish all the moments left with my friends going to dances and malls and sleepovers and beaches. Allow yourself to enjoy the freedom of not having to worry about grades as much anymore and take advantage of the memories you'll make with your friends. Once college begins, you will make new friends and at times, it will be hard to keep in touch with your old best friends. Learn from your friends and be a blessing in their lives as well. Don't be too stressed about finishing senior year with straight A's but relax and take the semester as it comes. Remember that you've already finished the hard part. Now it's time for you to enjoy the next couple months for yourself and look back at what kind of a person you are. Discover your identity.

There are many things I would tell myself as a high school senior, but I would first congratulate myself for what I accomplished. I would tell myself that I need to work harder, attempt to do harder classes and think long range about how it is going to benefit myself in the future. I'd say that college is a whole new world, full of endless possibilities but, it's also much harder and time management is the biggest factor in college life. Don't stress about every assignment, each one is a building block and you learn something new with every class you take. Take classes that interest you outside your major, try something you'd never do in high school. Making the transistion is going to be one of the hardest processes educationally you'll ever have, but you'll have to learn to balance school, sports, and extra activities. It's going to be rough, but it's what you have worked for in these past four years of your education so don't give up even when you think high school is hard. You can accomplish anything in your sights.

Get involved in a lot of activities right away!! It is a great way to make friends and establish contacts for the future.

I didn’t know it at the time but going to community college is the best choice I ever made because it saved me a lot of money. Another piece of advice is to take time in college, but to keep in mind that time is money. The longer I am in school, the longer I am building debt and not making money in the workforce (because I would be in an internship). The second bit of advice would be to find a degree that I excel in and is practical. For instance, if I want to be a film director, I can get a degree in Business and minor in Film Production. If I don’t excel in Business, I should consider it a warning that my ceiling in that field may be limited. I emphasize practicality because I can have a good paying job that will support my other passion. Lastly, I would tell myself to physically visit the campuses that I wish to attend and get a feel for the campus life. Find a college that takes pride in itself and one that will help me become a valuable asset in the profession of my choice.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself be happy and find some personal conviction. College life is uncertain and unstructured, and knowing oneself is crucial to moving forward. I would tell my high school self to throw myself head on at college academics. I would push that surly and oblivious high school self into thinking for herself and actively searching for career options. I would tell myself to go through Sorority Rush and join one during freshman year so that I could get my curiosity out of the way and done with. I would tell myself to fight for my Psychology major and pursue research opportunities to excel in a field I had a passion for since age 16— instead of meekly obeying my father’s directive to be a pre-medical student in pursuit of a dream that was not my own. I would reassure my high school self that high achievement and success can be gained through a variety of ways. Lastly, I would tell myself to find a good exercise routine because life is much better when your body is healthy!

Dear Impatient,I bet you're bored at home. The house is messy. Your brothers are in the next room playing videogames, being noisy. Your sister is on the phone with that bad-news boy from school. Of everything on TV, Dad chose to watch golf.You’re doing a quick count of the days until you leave for college, wishing that you could make them go faster. You don’t know it now, but you will miss this. College will make you realize that your brothers' obnoxious laughter sounds like music, you secretly love when your sister bothers you for help with boys, and you would watch golf for hours if it meant you could hang out with Dad again. When you get ready to leave, pack more than just clothes. Pack up your memories. Store them in a safe place in your mind and don’t leave anything out. Save them for nights like these, when you’re sitting in your dorm writing a letter to yourself, looking out the window at the ocean view you always wanted, and wishing you could change it back to the view of your crazy family in a messy house.Sincerely, Wiser

Dear Makaela, UCSD will not be what you expect, but you will look back and not regret attending. Friends aren't as easy to make, it will take you a long time. You will be lost in the sea of people for what will seem like forever, just keep trying. You will eventually find your niche. Get involved in the things that are closest to your heart, and try not to work too much. You will be happiest working on campus. Live with other UCSD students to strengthen your bond with the community. Live as close to campus as possible. Commuting is not easy. The academics will be challenging, but nothing you can't handle. Study, go to class, ask questions. You will be ok. Don't be discouraged that dating other UCSD students is difficult. Everyone there, including yourself has the top priority of getting a good education, not finding a significant other. Study abroad as much as you can, you WILL love it! Keep in touch with the few friends you make, they will be great resources later. Don't count on getting a stellar job right away, your life will make unexpected but mostly positive turns. Enjoy!

Senior Hannah, I know that this is an exciting time in your life, as well as scary. Moving away from your amazing family, and leaving your friends behind is difficult, but you are finally reaping all the benefits of your hard work in high school. Enjoy it! A transition is never easy, but it is even harder when you don't put yourself out there. Try new things. Friendships will come, test scores will fluctuate, and trials will pass, but you are going to change and make your own rules. Take the photo album. Bring your favorite blanket. Growing up does not mean leaving home. You have so much love and support, so do with it what you're meant to! This adventure will transform you and your life for the better. Also, it will always be okay to call your mom to say I love you. Good luck

The advice I would give to myself back in the year 2012 as an high schooler would be not to slack off since college will heavily depend on your efforts and how you are tested differently as a college student. What would also be important to add in is to attend all the classes since the majority of professors in most colleges will not drop students that dont attend to their classes.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work harder take more AP classes, apply for more scholarships and take more classes at a community college; which then I could transfer the credits over to my college and get more credits and be ahead. I would tell myself to find a part time job, so I can use it pay for some of my college tuition.

I would go and tell myself to apply to all the colleges you can possibly can since I only applied to one. Also, talk to students who actually go that school, visit the actual school, actually do what 'college prep' always tells you to do. Also, to try even harder in finding financial aid and knowing when deadlines are.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stay focus on my studies. The material things will come and go and once I am older I will have the understanding to make wiser decisions. The main thing is to complete my studies and not take a semeter off because it turns in to years off. Work through the hard and challenging things head on and don't delay because it will be all worth it in the end. Don't rack up debit seek out scholarships not matter how small and graduate debit free. Have fun but be responsible there will plenty of fun days after school. College is just for four years you have the rest of your life to do and be who you want to be afterwards.

Don't be afraid to try hard. Hard work will pay off. Stay strong.

Make time for fun and social outings but do not let that intervene with your studies. Venture out of your comfort zone and you will meet many others that are willing to do the same. The people you meet in college are going to be from all walks of life and be open to how they do things. The people you meet here are the ones that will make a very big impact on your life because you do not have the comfort of home or even mom and dad, but you are with people pretty much 24/7 so choose wisely and make the most of the situation. Sometimes spontaneous and unplanned adventures are the best and are even more memorable than planned ones. Enjoy each moment you have here because it is only four years and after that the real world is at your door step, so take the time to stop and smell the flowers. Before you know it, your journey in college will be over and so do not waste. Take a class not in your major and something completely new. Tackle on an internship to see if what you realy want to do.

Granted I finished my high school education in a rehabilitation center I would tell myself that all the choices you make create your future. If you want something then do not be afraid to pursue it because if you do not you will have no one to blame but yourself. There is something beautiful about relentless determination and that is you will always reap benefits even if you do not obtain your intial goal. Life is filled with opportunity and hope and where you are now does not determine where you can go so dream without limits.

Take more time out to enjoy your senior year but remember to stay focused. When you start college, don't mess around your first year and waste your parents money. You came to college to achieve and academic goal that can hopefully lead to a successful career. Don't lose sight of this no matter what happens. You will make some wonderful friends, and you will also meet some individuals who will rub you the wrong way. Try not to judge people so immediately. Remember to keep a good balance between your studies and having fun. Also, call your mom more! She misses you.

Every freshman should know if they want to be an engineer or not. If you don't start taking engineering classes the moment you come in there is no way you can graduate in four years. Also, when applying its good to know the difference between all of the 6 different colleges.

The advice I would give to my former self is to be critical with how you intend to define your character to become the person you actually want to be. Coming out of high school you are suddenly unsupervised and independent, but also malleable and impressionable. You are subject to various different influences, and it’s your job as a maturing adult to decide how each of these influences goes on to shape your character. But it is also your job to put yourself in a position to be influenced in the first place. You need to take charge of your opportunities, take risks in your social and academic pursuits, and put yourself out there. Sometimes you will be placed in uncomfortable and embarrassing situations, and at other times your expectations may be let down by something you heavily anticipated, but at the end of the day you will know yourself a little bit better. Your failures and your successes are always going to be transient, but the fiber of your character is something that will be with you forever. Thus, the more you struggle to define who you are, the more satisfied you’ll be with who you become.

I would tell myself that it is important to balance my social and academic lives. It is important to start out on the right foot in college. It is easier to start out with good grades and keep them, rather than starting with lower grades and working to increase your GPA. While making friends your first year is important, it will come easier than you expect. You should not try hard to fit in because there will always be people who like you for you. It helps to befriend people that have similar study habit as you so that you can hang out and study at the same time. If you work hard your first two years, you won't have to work that much harder your second two years to make it up. Also, if you get involved in school clubs and societies early, it will help you in the long run to help decide your future career.

Pay attention to your housing situation in regards to where your classes are. I know some people who can barely hoof it between classes across the campus. There's a handy map feature in http://act.ucsd.edu/maps/ A long/skateboard or bike is a good solution to the problem, however. If you know where everything is and how to get there, you can optimize your schedule better.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

You have to be open and outgoing and somewhat sure that you'll fit in to the "social scene" at the school. Otherwise, you're just going to drop out or transfer. Most of the people I know who did that did so because they didn't like the school environment. One way to avoid that is to be open and fun. You need to put yourself out there especially if you're going to a school where you don't know many people. The most important is getting to know your suitemates. If you don't feel close to at least some of them, you won't feel at home and you'll feel discouraged.

Please visit college campuses before you decide to attend

If I could go back in time as a high school senior, I would manage my time better when doing my homework, participate in more high school clubs, and attend more social gatherings. In high school, I tended to procrastinate on my assignments and ended up staying late, eventually repeating the process every day. Although I did well academically in high school, I tended to sacrifice my sleep and eventually put my health on the line, which hurt me in the long run. Now that I am in college, I have learned to better manage my time, and I find myself getting more rest. In addition, I would have participated in more high school clubs and attended more social gatherings, because I would have met more people and better enjoyed high school. Now that I am more exposed to social gatherings and clubs in college, I find myself better enjoying my college experience .

Make the time to discover not just what you're good at, but what makes you feel good to be a part of. Make the effort to meet and engage people of similar interests, even if they seem to be at cross purposes to yours. Never underestimate the importance of true friends. Be wary of anyone claiming to be a 'true friend'. The goal itself is not half as important as the means by which you attain it. Exercise regularly, in ways that you'll find rewarding over the long term. Pick your habits carefully; they will not leave you half as easily as you'll want to leave them. If she (or he) really loves you as much as you think they do, they'll stick it out with you to the end, and they'll be dissapointed if you don't.

Make sure you try to secure all of your past relationships with friends, because once you get into college, it'll be so much harder to keep in close touch with them. Value every memory with every important person in your life, because the year will pass by quick and memories will start to become a bit hazy. Push yourself both academically and creatively as soon as school starts, don't get too sucked into socializing because as the year goes on, you'll eventually meet the great, creative group of people that you are comfortable and belong with. Take risks, as long as it doesn't have too great of a negative impact on your health, because you don't want to live the rest of the year, or maybe the rest of your life, in regret of what you could have done. Guard your heart, because there will be wars. Opportunities will rise, seize them.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself that it is alright to have high, and sometimes almost impossible-sounding, dreams. I would not have dissuaded myself from applying to a lot of schools in which I had realistically little or no chance of entering. Even though I had been denied by many schools, having my dreams shot down is better than never having any dreams at all. In addition, I would also tell myself to apply to as many scholarships and financial aids as possible so that I would not encounter problems funding my education later on. I had degraded the importance of money, and didn’t apply to the smaller scholarships because I didn’t think the reward was worth it, but now I know that every little bit helps. I would advise myself from being haughty so that I may be saved from the many problems, worries, and bad consequences that had happened as a result of it. I wish that I had not been afraid to make any outrageous decisions and to have more confidence in myself to do whatever it was that I wanted so that there would be no regrets.

Know what you want to do and be very orginized about how you do it. If you don't know what you want, find something you enjoy and take the classes that will get you there so that it won't feel like a waist of time and money in the end if you change your degree. Be smart about studying! Don't put it off if you don't have to because trust me, it'll hurt in the end when you realize it's on your next major exam. Don't take semesters off if you can help it because when you come back it's hard to get back into the habit of studying and testing. Just try to have fun and enjoy yourself. You'll find it alot easier to get through the semester if you look at things positvely and have fun! Once you realize your not at school to hold yourself back and take away your fun, but to give you a chance at a great future and a happy life while having fun, it just turns into a matter of keeping your eyes on the prize!

Hey, I know you think you're going off to a prestigious school and your mind is set on declaring a biology or chemistry major so you can take the MCATS in 4 years. Let me tell you, GE's are GE's no matter where you complete them. Slow it down, think about your options, and consider going to a two-year community college near home so that you can save money and the headache of competing against GPA-driven people just like yourself. Once you get the straight A's, you'll be a great candidate for UCs, not mention, have a better GPA so that you can get to your goal. Also, be wary of who you befriend. Just because girls claim they are Christian and Holy, that doesn't necessarily make them the best roommates. Most of all, just breathe. School can be overwhelming and it could be a giant mind-game. Once you get on the right track and get that first A, you'll be driven to get more. Don't forget to take chances and open up. Oh, and take fun classes!

I didn't know much about college when I applied because I started my college-prep school later than everyone else did. It was mandatory to take certain classes in high school and it was also mandatory that we applied to 4 University of California campuses and 5 California State schools. Because I didn't know what to base my choices on, I made a lot of decisions on the accounts of what other people suggested. My advice is that it is okay to go into college undeclared because at 18, you don't always know what you want to do with your life and college is a place for learning different things and finding out what you're passionate about. I was told to major in psychology, a field I knew absolutely nothing about. Though it is interesting, I found out in college that I'm more passionate about art history and international studies. I suggest that during the first year, take the necessary general requirements but also leave room for classes of interests.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely stress the importance of getting involved in more extracurricular activities aside from research and volunteering at hospitals. I would tell myself to go outside of my comfort zone and to particpate in clubs to find new hobbies and new friends. However, the greatest thing I would stress would be to engage in an activity that would be extremely rewarding. I recently had the pleasure to become a counsler for Camp Kesem (a camp the students of UCSD setup and raise money for children whose parents have been affected by cancer). It has been one of the most gratifying and amazingly fun experiences I have ever had. The only regret I have would be that I can only do it for one more year before I graduate. In this regard, I would tell myself to find more clubs or organizations that help the community because this kind of particpiation is mutally beneficial to both an individual and the community. Affecting lives for the better is truly an amazing and satisfying experience. Truly, these are the important aspects I would tell myelf.

One of my biggest concerns with going off to college was getting far away from where I lived and trying to go somewhere that everyone knew about. If I could go back, I would tell myself that a lot of the criteria I had for a school really does not matter that much. Financially speaking, going to an out of state school costs tremendously more than an in-state tuition. Realistically, I would tell myself that no matter where I decided to go, I would get a very good education if I put in the time and effort into my studies and applied what I knew to the real world. It would save me a lot of time and effort trying to convince myself otherwise. Basically, I would say that staying in the state would be a better choice because I would have less financial issues to worry about. In the end, a college experience will be what ever you make it to be and as easy or difficult as you push yourself. So dream big, but don't forget to be realistic, because in the end, you will benefit more. :)

If I could travel back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell her that college is one of the greatest times in your life, but it is also one of the greatest growth times in your life. College students get wrapped up in the social aspect of college, and I'm not just talking about parties. Some students believe that it is important to live on campus to get the full "college experience". But, as I learned, that is simply not true. You can get the full college experience by hanging out with friends and still focusing on academics. Colleges offer so many opportunities that you don't need to live on campus to get them. But above all, I would say that the best advice is to find an even balance between academics and friends/social life. You don't need to drink to make your social life fun, you just need a good group of friends. But it is important to find that balance because that's what makes college useful (academically) and memorable. That's what helps you become the person you were meant to be.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take a couple more classes during Running Start so that I could have gotten more credits while my high school was paying for it. I would also tell myself to try and get more hours at work to save more money for college. While I saved up quite a bit of money, it certainly would have made things easier if I had saved up even more money. I would tell myself to take another year of American Sign Lanuage so that I would know enough to actually communicate with the deaf community. Lastly, I would suggest that I do more volunteer work while I had the time to do it, because now that I am working full time, it's difficult to do very much volunteer work, and I feel guilty that I can't help others more.