University of California-San Diego Top Questions

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to prepare myself for the long and rewarding journey ahead. I am proud to have gone to a community college first, each experience has been a stepping stone towards the real world. From getting my first job to my first 6:30 am class. I would never have known college life had its unique hardships but it has defiantly improved my character and taught me to cooperate well with others and that homework should come first. If I could go back I would tell myself to not procrastinate because that habit will carry over into college and bite me. I would say prepare yourself for hyper organization and planning for which the likes of my younger self has never seen. To better prepare myself for the big change in my life I would say learn balance with social life, work, and studies. Putting my priorities in order, Im not getting education for free anymore. Also discovering resources at the school are lifesavers, often times high schoolers will never know all the resources they really have. And never giving up on anything will take you so far in life.

Looking back, I feel that my high school life was both easier and harder. It was easier in terms of academics, but also harder in terms of social life. Relationships in high school were complicated and easily damaged. I was often stressed in high school over the friendship dynamics between me and other people. It was difficult because everyone felt like a close friend, and even when they did something cruel, you couldn't say anything without offending them. In college, relationships are hard to begin, but once begun, they're pretty resilient. It becomes much easier to distinguish between the people who care about you and those who don't; in the end, when you need help, they're the ones who are willing to help when no one else is. It was only after I came to college that I realized this fact, and this is the knowledge that has helped shape me as a person now. If I were able to go talk to my high school senior self, these realizations are what I would share with myself.

The best advice I could give to my former self about college life is to take advantage of the extracurricular opportunities that a large school like UCSD has to offer. By becoming more involved in clubs and organizations you can gain more insight into the field of work that you are interested in. Additionally, I wish I would have started an internship or professional position immediately upon entering college because it can help you straighten out which career path you might want to take. It also helps you network in the field you are interested in. For example, during my senior year in college I worked as an intern at an environmental non-profit and was offered a full-time job upon graduation. I have now worked for the same company for almost two years and am starting to realize that the work my non-profit is involved in is not really what I am interesting in pursuing for a career. Had I started interning in the beginning of my college education, I may have realized earlier on what career I would like to pursue.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would tell myself to truly make the best of the 4 years in college because it truly goes by fast. To help make the transition from high school to college, I would make recommendations such as: spend your first semester/ quarter focusing on your studies; check out a lot of potential clubs/ student orgs, but only get involved with a selective few that you are passionate about; and don't be afraid to seek help, be it from other students or from professors. The most important thing for a college student to learn is how to utilize their available resources. Knowing what I know now about college life I would advise myself to continue volunteer work to give back to your community, take more classes outside my major because it is important to become a well-rounded person, extend your study abroad experience to one whole year- a semester is not nearly enough, and lastly, save up money for medical school!

Erika, you should really think about majoring in Economics. It's a versatile degree, and very practical, and it will help you understand what's going on in the world around you better. Second, be open to other people. You've lived in one place your entire life. Make sure that you actively seek out people who are different from you and can offer you a different perspective on life. Join at least two student clubs and try to take an active role in each. Never study on a Friday night. Part of school is learning that takes place outside of the classroom. Don't loose sight of that. Get off of campus once in a while, become part of the community you live in.

One should always take advantage of the programs that the university offers such as Summer Bridge or other transition programs that are offered to freshman. These programs usually last for a month or so and it helps students slowly adapt to the campus environment by allowing them to start making friends and connections at the school. One should also apply to FAFSA, grants, and scholarships as soon as possible. One many not always be sucessful with scholarships but it never hurts to try and receiving one is better than receiving none. Also, before applying to any colleges, one should definately research about the various campuses and even visit these campuses to make sure that you feel comfortable about the surroundings. While applying to various universities, many also starts to panick about having to set a definite path for oneself; but ,this should be the least of the worries and allow oneself to explore their options while in college and decide later on what they believe is right for themselves.

First of all, take the other English AP test. Even though you don't like your english teacher, and you think he's a prick, he's right about this. You'll hate taking English 1B later on. You're making the right choice by not applying to anywhere and going to Foothill, so relax already! Listen to audiobooks, it will make the commute shorter. Also, you can take much more than fifteen units per quarter. You'll be bored then and stressed later on. Try to edge in a political science course, because I still haven't taken one yet. DO NOT TAKE ACCOUNTING 1B. Just don't. There's a theatre conservatory program, but try out next year and for god's sake don't wait until August to do so. Trust me on this. Start applying for scholarships right now. No, really. Apply to ten a year and you'll breathe so much easier by the time you're me. Try out for plays your first year! Not at Foothill, but closer to home. And start researching colleges earlier. Check out 'Peterson’s guide for Performing Arts Majors.' Good book. I hear Boston University is really nice.

Hey you – you with the stars in your eyes – relax! You have nothing to be afraid of. College is not the terrifyingly alien thing we all are made to believe it is. You will find your place. You will succeed. All you have to do is continue to be the person that you are. Work your butt off, show up to every single class, and get involved. That's the recipe for collegiate achievement. High school does end. Really, it does! When you graduate it is completely possible to move one and rise above. You didn’t have many friends. Life has been hard, full of suffering and pain. But the good is overwhelming. Pay attention to it. It’s all around you. Keep your heart and your mind open. Your life is really just beginning. Keep loving and trusting – you have nowhere to go but up.

My college experience has given me an education, lifelong friends, real world research experience, and the tools to succeed in the next stages of my life. UCSD's cognitive science/neuroscience department has given me what is ultimately the end goal of college: an opportunity to learn from leaders in the field, study in a supportive, yet competitive environment, and access to resources that allowed me to educate myself in addition to what I was learning in class. My college experience also gave me lifelong friendships with my Fraternity brothers, who I know will be a huge part of my life and will always be my family. I was also lucky enough to conduct research in aneuroscience laboratory under a leading cognitive neuroscience professor. I learned the skills and techniques necessary to conducting successful research and was given the opportunity to lead my own study. I also was confronted with challenges throughout my college experience. I learned how to overcome these challenges, some as simple as time management, and others as complicated as interpersonal interactions. Holistically, I took away experiences I will never forget and skills and tools I will always use. My college experience was challenging, enlightening, and exhilirating.

I have gained a sense of independence and pride in what I do. As a dance major at a science based school, there is not much support or funding for the arts, because of this I have learned to defend and explain as best I can my art and my choice to be a dancer. In UCSD's dance program you have to take the initiave to be involved, you have to set up your own auditions and own rehearsals times and there is often no one there to tell you how to do it. I have become more of an individual and more independent because of it. I feel that is has emotionally prepared for the real world, to take initiative and if I want soemthing done I will be the only one who can do. I now know what I want out of my life and how to get there.

College. For years, my main goal was to “go to college” these words although vague made up my entire mindset because I was always aware of the benefits of “going to college” such as a decent job, and better opportunities in general. Throughout those years, I never stopped to think about what college would actually be like. On September 12th, 2010 I reached my long-awaited goal. I was finally in college. Once here, I did not know what to expect. I was bombarded with activities, tons of reading, new people, and new living conditions. I attended many college workshops that taught students to sit in the front and to avoid the dreaded 8am classes, but they did not teach about the intense time management. I have only completed one quarter at SCU, but I have learned more about myself as a student than I have in my entire life. It is here in college, that one is able to spend sleepless nights doing homework or chatting with friends and still manage to find time to have a social life, and maintain adequate grades. College is new experiences, both positive and negative, necessary to becoming a successful member of society.

I have developed a different style of learning since I have been attending college. I also have a greater understanding of other people's lives, traditions and cultures. I have become more self-reliant since attending college. My experience at this college has helped me learn to direct my own study and not rely as much on teachers to spell out what I am supposed to do. College is a completely different atmosphere from high school. You are responsible for your own work and there are limited reminders to turn in work. Attending college has helped me learn more about myself. It has taught me more than just information in classes I am attending; it has taught me about the world around me. My college experience is fun but it is about more than that. It is about all of us working together and encouraging one another. Whether clapping at my classmates' speeches in Speech class or studing together in Zoology lab, the sense of both teamwork and individual effort is rewarding.

I Learned to be indepndant and that cultures outside of your residence city are different and it is important to leard of these cultures to be succesfull and respect others in the world

I find that my college experience was all about receiving an undergraduate college degree and nothing else. It was valuable because I received my bachelor's degree.

During my college experience I got valuable reserach exposure in addition to valuable leadership and responsibility skills. I learned cell culture techniques and then transfected the cells with several construct mutations of the BCR-ABL gene. I then conducted a series of conditions with varying mutations and drug combinations, which were analyzed later by UV fluorescent spectroscopy. By disrupting this interaction via nuclear localization signal mutations in various constructs, it is likely that the presence of this gene in the nucleus will induce cell apoptosis and destroy the cancerous cells in combination with proper drug treatment. I also served as Sentinel in my fraternity, which looks after all risk-management issues and is an executive board position that leads the fraternity for nearly two years. My brothers voted me to this position because I constantly am taking care of others and ensuring safe and sober rides home for all people at all events. I took it upon myself to establish drug and alcohol educational lectures for our new members stressing the risks of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol and showing unbiased research. I focused on peer and social pressures are common in college so that students could make self-educated decisions.

Entering college was both a frightening and exciting event. There were no parents to tell me when to study, eat, or go to sleep. Everything was by my own decision. The control over my life is for the most part my own. However, the control came with the weight of responsibility. Any unwanted consequences would have been because of me alone. Though it might seem that relying on others' support is much easier than doing things alone, that support won't always be there. It is important to be able to rely on yourself. Attending college has given me the chance to develop my own independence.

Since attending college, I have developed a better sense of my own identity and where I fit in the scheme of life, not just my own life, but that of others. Being sort of an awkward, misfit in high school, coming to college I was given the opportunity like so many other youth like myself to break free from the constrictions and rigidity of my pre-college life and to explore my talents and abilities inside and out of academia and to discover what I have to offer the world within an enclave (i.e. college) that facilitates such exploration and discovery that is so essential for human vitality. College has been an invaluable experience.

It is obvious to everyone that people go to college to educate themselves. However, college is more than learning about differentials or memorizing the functional groups in a molecules. The greatest thing about the college experience is learning to be an individual. I think that everything before college was in preparation of discovering who you want to be. Elementary, Junior High, and High school were meant to give a general understanding of the world. In college, you actually find out who you want to be. There are so many majors and organizations in college, and one of them is bound to catch your interest. There is something out there that actually makes you want to learn calculus and organic chemistry, to overcome subjects that you once thought were too hard to understand. College is simply there to assist you in finding out what that driving force is.

I have been able to experience many things because I attend college. I've been able to balance social and academic life. I thing that it is valuable to attend college because many bright students come together and are able to influence each other in a way that opens one's mind to new and exciting views and perspectives. College also gives a person a chance to try new things and find out what one is passionate about. There is also a great many resources and opportunities available in college that one cannot experience anywhere else. The people you meet in college can also impact you for life in a positive way. Overall, attending college has opened new doors for me that I would not have been able to experience otherwise.

Attending college has helped me further understand the real world, college prepares you for life showing you that deadlines are set for a reason and should be met accordingly. Colege also gives you opportunities to meet new and interesting people from all walks of life people who may help you further or enter into your chosen career or that could just be good friends in life. You will have professors who will teach you what you need to learn if you are willing to learn, its up to the student to take full advantage of what the professors provide you with whether it be just information or skills it is to help further you in the direction you are going towards your career so it is up to us to take full advantage and apply ourselves to succeeding in college.

My college experience had been intermitant in the past. Twenty years ago, at half my current age, I was the same as most youthful adults. Full of opportunity, aspiring to be all that I can be, confused, refreshed and socially inclined are the first descriptive terms that comes to mind. School program structure seemed long and endless yet fruitful. My instructors were informative and patient. I felt my intellect expanding experiencing sharing thoughts and ideas with peers personally and educationally, cultivated my appreciation of diversity of people and culture and change. Now that I have doubled in age, I find that as an adult revisiting the college arena to complete the degree that I've started is completely different yet has similarities. Technology, which changed the face of education, contributes to online options that has decreased the length of time for me to obtain my degree. Degree program structural changes enables me to continue work and obtain a higher level of education in a shorter time span. I still am learning especially from those half my age and I'm able to share experience with them. I'm appreciative of the opportunity and the new experiences college have to offer.

The college I attended was a school filled with motivated and enspiring artists. I was able to explore a creative environment full of opportunities. I enjoyed being able to focuss specifically on my interest and loved being surrounded by other students who were interested in the same thing as I. My teachers were successful artists and I felt that being in their classes was conducive to my personal growth in a way that opened me up to new interests. This was an incredable experience for me, to see that there are so many great and interesting things to learn about. I found that working with prefessional dancers and teachers was an incredible experience. Again, to be surrounded by other students who love the same thing as meI was very motivating. I grew as a dancer not only from the instructors but also from my fellow classmates. I've realized that my happiest moments are when I'm able to express myself through things that I love and feel passionate about. Being in an environment where I am taught by experienced teachers and surrounded by stdents who enjoy the same passions as me is what I value about attending school.

I have learned the value of my education in which it is not a material thing that can never be taken away from me. I realized that I am very priviledged to attend college when there are many others can only ask for a stable living environment. College has instilled core values that I try my best to uphold: humilty, compassion, and charity. I hope to use the priviledges I have been blessed with in a socially meaningful way.

During my college experience I have had to learn somethings the harder way. Time is key in being successful in college. In high school I was able to get by doing what was expected of me in the classroom and not really putting in much effort outside of school. In college however it takes more participation at home, because in the class setting we are not getting all sources of information need to pass. It's so easy to become overwhelmed when trying to cram in work all at one time, and in college I have learned how to use my time and what the priorties of my time are. It is valuable to attend college because if someone like myself is wanting to be in a coroporate business of some kind, the college setting and what goes on in the classroom is similar to the work settings we will be involved in. College prepares us for the work force.

Out of my college experience, I have learned to be more independent and responsible for my actions. I have learned a lot about not only myself but also a diverse culture. Every college offers something different to an individual. I think being at UCSD has helped me grow and just let go of the surroundings that I was comfortable with. I have gained so much as a person and as a student by interacting with students from different backgrounds and professors. College is valuable to me because it does more than educate you with whatever your major is; it also prepares you for the real world and that has to offer. It is not just about schooling, but about community and future goals. It offers a sense of pride and loyalty, that I feel will never leave me. Also, aesthetically speaking, the campus is beautiful. It really takes into account the nature aspect and has made me appreciate nature in a way that I have not really taken the time to notice before. I would not trade my college experience for anything.

UCSD was a great experience not only because of the quality of education, but because it brought me out of a sheltered life. Before I attended this amazing university, I did not know anything about other cultures nor things relating to politics and real life. Before UCSD I only knew of a world where teens get pregnant and only your parents beliefs are correct. Professors at UCSD taught me critical thinking and analytical skills that allowed me to think for myself and make my own decisions. I was able to stray away from my sheltered life and see the world for how it really is. That is one of the best ways for a person to be prepared for the real world. One is not ready to deal with the real world if they do not know what it is like. While I enjoyed my classes and all the people I met while attending, it was a valuable experience because it gave me an education while simultaneously turning me into an adult. I am now open to new things and can more easily adapt to change because I know that I will ultimately learn and benefit from it.

Eye-opening. A breath of fresh air. A never ending ladder into heaven. Yes, college; there are no words that can even begin to express my gratitude for my year at school. My college experience will forever shape and mold me. I have been taught and seen things that I thought were only in a dream. I learned German and went to Germany, I was involved in the LGBT, I've seen so many foreign movies, that I should be able to say speak 10 different languages. College has taught me to utilize every opportunity that comes my way, it has taught me that life is bigger and better and I just have to seek it. Its value is immeasurable, yet it weighs heavy on my soul. It has opened up my world so wide, that the sides holding it are cracking. I've learned so much and I am forever thankful that I attended. I took a year off only because I have to. I want to continue this over-whelming feeling that it has given me; therefore I left only to raise more money for myself. I am no longer afraid to do; now I am just grabbing.

I have not started classes yet. I moved in this past weekend and the welcome week activities have been so much fun. This school has opened its arms to me. I have met so many new people from all over the world and expect that when classes begin it will only get better. My education at UCSD is going to bring me one step closer to my life long dream of becoming a Dolphin Trainer at Sea World!

My first year of college has taught me more about ethics and hard work and commitment than I thought I would ever need to know. The college experience has truly brought out the best in me and produced the goals that I know will become my future. Not only has attending this institution brought to me an education worth what I'm paying for it, it will further me with my aspirations. I have been able to start up petitions to hopefully bring in a Special Olympics swim team to La Jolla, and with the help of how involved people are at this school I could not have done it without them. Furthering this dream, I know that I definitely want to study neuroscience and work with Autistic people. Without UCSD, I probably would not have been positive or I would have been second guessing my life choices versus my actually knowing what I am going to do. I also compete for the swim team and swimming everyday, mostly twice a day, with people who are just as dedicated to their lives as I am really lifts a person to a higher point of confidence to go through life.

From what I have seen, you gain a lot of experience meeting new people and taking all these rigourous classes. It's valuable to attend because you can meet your life long friends and obtain a valuable education that can shape the future that is ahead of you.

Currently I am still enrolled. I should finish in December of 2010. From my college experience, I've learned that throughout life we never stop learning. Even when we're not in college. I've found that college is just the stepping stone to your desired field of study and to start a new beginning. Working with various kinds of personalities helps to be able to adapt to any type of situation or work experience. But overall, I would also recommend to others that the college experience is most advantageous in being successful in life.

I have realized that life is not always easy. Things do not always go the way I want it to and when things get rough, my parents are not always there to protect me. I have also found that if I do not speak up for myself no one is going to. If I see something needs to get done, I need to do it on because no one is going to. I was introduced to a more diverse environment and have to deal with people who are polar opposites of me. I have learned that there are people so much smarter and skilled than me; that I am not the best anymore. College is an unique experience to be able to interact with a diverse group of people. It allowed me to better understand others, but even more, it helped me better see what I need to do for the future. College has opened my eyes to new things and made my future even clearer. I would like for everyone to experience college and for them to know that college is not only about drinking and partying, but that it is a stepping stone to better your future.

College is too precious to waste with a bad decision. Clear priorities and a schedule save time; flexibility and focus on achieving daily, measurable goals deter future stress. Pick your teachers? brains, especially the admirable ones. What makes them tick? Learn from their experiences; seek their counsel; take advantage of available resources. Good grades require time, effort, organization, and daily review. However don?t simply study for the grades--you?ll be miserable. Take classes you enjoy, especially those that make you think, speak, read, and write. They make studying fun and are the best tools to help you solve problems. However, good grades and a good job are not everything. Take time to learn your constitution and heritage and to develop your life?s purpose so you can live a meaningful life. Seeking classes and experiences to know who other people are, how they think, and what they want will keep you from being self-absorbed and self-centered. Just remember?while you receive, give back also, and you?ll be given back much more. Lastly don?t forget your loved ones, exercises, sleep, nutritious food, and a good bath. They keep you happy and healthy to finish strong.

College is the next stage of your life, the time when you truly enter the adult world and stand on your own two feet. It really should be the exhilarating, eye-opening experience you expect it to be, although every moment will not be perfect or a step forward. During those hard, homesick times, do not shut yourself away from the advice of friends and family, because that is when you need them the most. Always do your best, but do not be too hard on yourself when you do make mistakes. Let them be learning experiences, and do not forget that others are in the same situation too. Be willing to take some risks, because you will never know who you will meet or what you will learn when you try something new.

If given the oppurtunity to talk to myself as a high school senior, given the knowledge I have acquired over my college experience, I would tell myself to expect surprises. The summer before college started, I had many expectations of college would be: meeting new people, taking a variety of classes , and above all enjoying my independence. College life met some of my expectations, while at the same time surprising me in many aspects. Being independent takes some getting used to; nobody is peering over shoulder telling you to stop playing and to start studying; everything is up to the individual, and this is one of the most satisfying parts of college. It was as if I was entering a new world, but this time without the constant presence of supportive parents. Nevertheless, this new world was waiting to be explored. The oppurtunities are endlesss--joining clubs, playing sports, taking mind-stimulating seminars, finding interesting internships, meeting people who share similar passions, and much more --and the college experience is simply what one decides to make of these oppurtunities. In the end, being open to try new things, and often times getting surprised, is the recipe for the optimal experience.

If I could go back in time and advise myself about the future I would tell myself to stay on the path that I laid out because that got me to where I am today. I didn?t figure out until I was several years into my higher education at the undergraduate college from which I would eventually graduate that things are much less overwhelming if you break it down into smaller bits and approach it one step at a time. Knowing this would have been helpful to expediting my journey to grad school because for a long time I put it off because it was just so daunting to think about as a whole entity. Now that I know this, I can succeed at any task which is set before me. The setbacks have made the success all the sweeter. If I had warned myself so that I could skip over those times I would have short-changed myself the depth of my accomplishments. So, if I could tell myself anything, it would be break it down and enjoy the ride. Its not always pretty but its beautiful.

Asa hih school senior, we all live in a mental state where we think we are at the top and nothing can get better. This attitude usually leads to what I like to call senioritis. Senioritis is when, as a senior, we get too lazy to complete assignments or even go to class. Something that is crucial to one's success in college. Community involvement definately plays a big role in the life of someone going to college because you have interaction with so many different kinds of people everyday that you need to know how to get along with them. For this, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself that I'm going to have to come in contact with people that I won't necessarily like so I might as well try to deal with it now before I go away to school. I would also have told myself that no matter what to make sure the bonds you share with your friends are stong because you will need them when you are far away from home and in a new place where you don't really know anyone.

Never pass up a free meal! Study your ass off, its going to be super hard! (but do-able!) Don't be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid question is a question not asked. Study groups. A good way to start one is to pass around a sign up sheet and email them later. Go to office hours! A sure fire way to make an impact on your teacher and TA. Friend that super-nerd in the front row. Chances are they could use a friend and in return would be happy to help you out! Use RateMyProfessor.com when picking classes. Have a good way to relieve stress (sport, gym, reading, music) Get on a first name basis with your academic counselor. Party or Ace that test? Be ready to make some social sacrifices. Don't be afraid to get a tutor. Don't freak out if your first grades are lower than they were in high school; it takes time to adjust. Manage your study time. Plan a study break ( facebook, TV show). Find friends/classmates on your same path. they are going to be making similar choices and will be a good addition to your life.

I would tell myself: don't bring so much stuff to college (it's not going to fit in your little cubicle of a dorm room), enjoy your family while you can (you are going to miss them when you get homesick), it is better NOT to have a boyfriend in college (too much uneeded stress), don't forget your comfy slippers, bring plenty of snacks (for those all-nighters), don't procrastinate!, develop better study habits (you will need to become a sponge of knowledge) , have as much fun as you can before school gets going (because afterwards you will have almost no time), think twice about spending money on things you don't really need (besides food; this is what keeps you going), get a summer job (you"ll regret it later when you need to call your parents for money), GO TO THE BEACH!! (La Jolla is beautiful!), get prepared for a lot of walking up huge hills, try to hang out with your friends as much as possible (your most likely not going to see them as much once you're in college), lastly get prepared for the ride of your LIFE!!

People assume college is hard but they have no idea how hard it actually is. The things you learn in high school do apply to the things you learn in college. Moving away from home won't be easy but it's part of growing up and wanting a better life for yourself and your family. You're on your own so don't waste your money, make your education worth the money you pay.

Never be afraid to try new things. The experiences you make whether good or bad will help you grow as a person. Have self-confidence and be open to try many things, whether it be majors,activities,clubs,etc. There will be times that will bring you down and you might believe that you have failed but never believe that failure is the end. Learn from your mistakes and breathe in a new day. The world does not end, it begins.

I would tell myself that in life there will be many obstacles. Some of these obstacles will seem like they will never pass. No matter how hard something is though, you have to remember that you are not alone in the world and that your family and friends love and support you. Everything that happens may not always seem good and helpful in the moment, but in the end your life will be better because of them. It is those exact things that are so difficult that they may even make you cry; that you need to take a deep breath and use all your courage to keep moving forward because in the end you will have grown as a person. Learning is a lifelong process and in the end it will not matter where you went to school, but what you were able to get out of it and apply to your everyday life. College is not just about your degree, it is about the type of person you want to become. As long as you keep your head up and your heart open you will learn how to live and become the best you possible.

Dear Senior Highschol Angelina, Unlike of what you dream college would be, it is completely different. It is not some scary place where you are isolated and alone. In college, there are many chances to make friends and you should make the effort to keep in touch with your friends now. Additionally, work harder in your courses. Believe it or not, they do matter in college, especially calculus. Also, try to research more into computer classes so that you know what you are getting into. Pass those AP and IB tests with flying colors! It will get you ahead! Moreover, apply more for scholarships and grants. There are plenty out there and college is not easy to pay. You don't want to be drowned in debts and loans while you are in college. Enjoy being with your family, because when you are in college, you see them less because of the distance. There is nothing to worry about when you are in college though, the seperation is an essential part of independence. Brace yourself for college. You thought your highschool campus was big, college is about ten times bigger!

Kirstie, remember when you were thinking about how you wanted get away from your family and be as far away from them as you can possibly be? Well you weren't wrong but you weren't right either. You're going to love college because of all the faces you're going to meet and all the chemistry and anthropology classes you get to take. However, you're going to feel home-sick after you've realized that momma's home-cooking is no longer down the hall, you don't get a tub for bubblebaths anymore, and classes actually require real work. You're going to come home for the breaks and realize how much you've missed out on and you're going to be bitter about it all. You'll be so surprised at how life just keeps going on at home while you're a plane ride away. You see yourself growing up as a senior, thinking that life can't get any better than this. Life gets better and then it gets worse, you'll love it though. Do not choose a school close to home if you want to grow up and experienc more.

If I were to return to high school and give myself advice on how to be better prepared to make the transition to college I would definitely give myself lots of advice. I would tell myself to focus on my strengths and not worry on my weaknesses. For example, personally as a went through my high school years I was more concentrated in quantity instead of quality. I went on to take multiple Advanced Placement courses. Some of the times it was hard to keep up with all the work and study for the final exams given at the end of the course. It would have been better to focus on what I was capable of doing and to have success in those classes. I would also tell myself to have more patience in life. I wanted to grow up too fast, but we shall know that there is time to do everything in life. There is no need to rush your life. Lastly, I would tell myself to have faith in my abilities to success. Having confidence is one of the most important components of success. This is all necessay advice that would be halpful in movong to college.

Walking down the mundane hallways of high school, I couldn?t wait to leave and go to college where there were new faces, classes, and lifestyle. I was done, checked out. Colleges accept you starting January and then we all make our decisions, get excited, talk with friends about how you?ll never lose touch, buy a sweatshirt for your school and ?Bam!? you're no longer a high school student, but billboard of what school you chose, what future you picked. When I made my decision, I bought the sweatshirt. I still went to classes, attended my club meetings, but went through it in a daze. For the last six months I was there, I missed out on the life of high school that I had once enjoyed. It seemed pointless to go to the game or spirit activities. ?Why go? What?s the point?? The point is, high school happens only once. You become who you are, and at times think it?s the worst place in the world. You?ll reflect on it with other students in college and talk about your memories. Looking back, I would have been more involved in high school until the end.

Do not slack in your short years of high school. Focus and take the necessary classes in order to succeed. Try to open your horizon and try out new things to see what you are good at. Do not depend on others to carry your work, but study hard and acheive that 4.0 that you deserve. Do not cut yourself short because of laziness or procrastination, because its your persistence that will get you to the future that you want.

The biggest advice that I would have given myself was to have gone to a four-year university instead of a community college. My community college, unfortunately has a very high retention rate and a low transfer rate. I never knew the meaning of these terms until I experienced it. I thought I would successfully finish within the projected two years but like many, I failed to do so, even with my impressive 4.6 accumulative GPA. I would have told myself to work harder and to not let others influence what sort of activities I do. If I need time to study, I shouldn?t feel bad for declining an invitation to go out. I should have been more proactive in my choices which may have led me closer to my goal of becoming a doctor. However, in lieu of everything, I do not regret anything I have done, it has made me a better decision-maker, wiser, and appreciative of what I have accomplished and what I will continue to accomplish in life.

I would emphasize the importance of financial aid. When I was a high school senior, I believed that the environment of the college would completely alter my life socially and academically. This was not the case. Because I am still the same person, my life in college resembles closely my life in high school. I would advise high school students to consider financial aid more strongly in picking a college; attending a slightly less prestigious university and paying significantly less may be a viable option. I believe that the college experience has less to do with the surroundings than with an individual's personality. In addition, I recommend that students fully delve into the housing situation. Living in a triple is not a joke. There is always the possibility of clashing with roommates, and spending even the night with two others in a cramped space may result in sleep deprivation and lower grades. Students should seriously consider if they need time alone, or if they can handle the stress that results with in such a living situation. It may not be possible to study in one's room. In conclusion, focus on yourself, not on the college.

Let's face it. You need 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to keep up that 4.0 and your sanity - you're not the kind of person who can handle dorm life. Get a quiet apartment off campus and save yourself the stress that could cause you to shoot up 15 pounds by October. And once you're set, get out and explore like I know you want to, but don't let your carousing take precedence over your career path. The Regents aren't going to hand you a full-ride scholarship for your life after college, so take some business classes in addition to all your foreign languages - because even if you become fluent in Japanese and move to Japan to get a job, you're not going to have a thing on those natives who already speak the language if you don't have other practical skills. You don't want to let the real world hit you in the face four years from now - this is your chance to make a smooth landing. Don't forget to be street smart while you're making those grades!