University of Central Florida Top Questions

The advice I would give myself is to never lose sight of my goal, the reason why I am coming to college is to work towards a better future. Slacking does not create a better future. I would also tell myself to keep these two quotes in mind "It all depends on how bad you want it" (James Hurst) and "Pain is weakness leaving the body" (USMC).

College is nothing like High School, I am completely and solely responsible for my academics, social life, rent and bills. save money from high school jobs to use in college, phone bill, groceries, random road trips, organization fees etc get pretty steep if not consistently getting a paycheck. Security in a job is important, do not depend on work study to give you a job on campus, look for jobs before school starts and stay loyal so that sophomore year you can get your car. lastly be hopeful and stay excited. Leadership Opportunities are everywhere, be sure to not apply to everything, but to select things that really make you happy and will benefit your future career!

I would advise myself to not get too involved in friends and a social life. Although one is needed, too much partying can ruin a GPA and steer away from my real goal in life. My close friends in college should be professors. They are here to help me in difficult times and assist me in learning after class hours to make me understand the material. I would also tell myself to always do some type of school work EVERY day, even if it's reading or doing practice problems.

First of all, everything will be ok. It is both exciting and unsettling to start a new life at a university. The unknown always seems scary; university life will be unknown for a short while and then it will be hard to remember what was even scary to begin with. Secondly, get involved. There are plenty of friends to make, and endless amounts to learn. A university is unlike any other place you can find yourself. Join clubs, volunteer, play sports; explore yourself and explore different groups of people. This will help you to be open minded and understanding of all, and you will carry these attributes with you outside of your college experience. Finally and most importantly, do not lose yourself. It is inevitable that you will grow and change; this is what your college experience is for. At the same time, it is so easy to get carried away with new found freedom. Keep yourself grounded and hold on to what is most important to you. Never compromise your morals, or belief systems just to fit in with a crowd. Be Socratic in your way of thinking; question everything and decide for yourself what is best for you.

I would say that college is not like high school; in college there are more resposabilities and students are on their own. It is important to study heard and respect due dates, that are major tools to succeed every semester.

Going back in time as a high school senior is something I actually think about quite often. Wow! Here goes: "Why are you worrying about the little things like what friend said this, or what girl doesn't like me! These things are not in the big picture of college life. Worry about your grade point average, or worry about how many writing tips your English teacher is giving you. You want to continue to play soccer in college? Well get out there and search for schools that might accept your talents as the stupendous goalie you were your senior year! Don't wait. It takes time to send your top notch sports video and contact the coach of your perspective schools. Why didn't I help my parents search for scholarships? Having extra cash to help with expenses is really necessary. College costs are rising and my parents have to pay alot of money to send me to college. I don't really want to have loans to pay back when I graduate. Textbooks cost hundreds of dollars as well as tuition. I guess I should have gotten that last minute job to help with my spending cash."

Be true to who you are when applying for a college. People often get caught up in the competitive nature of applying for colleges and having to pick the best acadmeic school or the best party school. But keep it true to you. Don't worry about which school has the better honors program or which school has the better football team, unless those things are important to you, no one else. If you love sports pick a great sports school. If you're a big city kind of person go to a university that is in the heart of one. If big lecture classes sound intimidating to you then pick a school that offers smaller classes right along with their big lecture classes, or pick a smaller school with smaller classes all around. Don't give in to what others are telling you is right, college is all about becoming who you're meant to be so pick a place that is true to who you want to be.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to be more focused on my future. In high school, I was so concerned about my friends that I failed to think about my future. I would tell myself to think about what I wanted out of life and to build my high school years around that. Also, I would emphasize how important community involvement is. Helping a church, volunteering, and doing good deeds pays off. You never know who is watching you and who is willing to help. So, you must be kind, active, and helpful to everyone. Overall, I would tell myself to think through time and not in the moment!

Make friends and have fun! But, I did that ! As a senior in high school I think its of the utmost importance that students, be students and have a blast. Some of my best memories and friendships evolved due to my participation in sports, being a cheerleader, and being in the Criminal Justice Program. Due to the enjoyment that I've experienced in high school I am prepared and ready to face my future as a college student which will prepare me for life as an adult. Now, what I would advise myself to do is to find a happy medium between play and work. Though there is nothing wrong with having extracurricular activities, I must be equitable in the distribution of my time. Using my time wisely, I will take the opportunity to study early and not procrastinate as so many variables can evolve to hinder success on an assignment as I've learned in the past. If I attack assignments/study early then I eliminate the need to cram. In addition, studying early or doing assignments early doesn't limit the chances of being sidetracked by extranneous matter, but of failing to meet deadlines.

Dear Stephanie, Working hard will pay off before slacking does. You're going to need to focus because if you don't, you will lose your scholorship, like I did this past year. Losing something like that is stressful, and on top of not being able to find a job, it puts stress on your parents too. They live in Alaska now, you can't rely on them like you used to. It's time to grow up. Starting now; don't wait until after fall semester of sophmore year like I did. You're not the only one they are trying to take care of anymore. Think of your little sister; mom and dad need to take care of her too. You need to start taking care of yourself. Also, you need to break out of your shell. You're living with roommates now. Be social. You're going to meet Jessica and her boyfriend Sandy sophmore year; they are the greatest roommates and they're going to be there for you, so loosen up and get to know them quicker than I did this year. The sooner, the better. And lastly, have fun, but balance it with school.

Well first and foremost, I would tell myself to try harder on the SAT's. As a highschool student I always made pretty good grades but for some reason I didn't take my exams as serious as they should have been. I showed up to take the test and just couldn't wait to get out. Now, after paying out of pocket and having several student loans, I wish I would have tried harder. Scholarships would have been a great help with completing my education. I now am in my Junior year as a Education Major and stuggle to pay my bills let alone pay for school. I have two young children and if I could turn back time I would definitely tell myself to concentrate on school and worry less about my socail life. Now a days having an education is essential to having a good, well paying job. While in highschool I only saw the present and not what was in store for my future.

SELF... I know your going to run into difficulties financially to be able to go to college right when you graduate from high school. I want to tell you though, do not let this stop you. You are smart, and you will succeed in whatver you do. Although you will not get back to college until you are 50 years old, you will be ready mentally to accept this challenge. You will be focused and know your potential, and you will do well. I wish you could have gone when you were younger. It would have been easier life-wise not to worry about taking care of children and keeping a home and trying to maintain everything for everyone else if you could have gone to college when you got out of high school. All you have to worry about at this point in life is yourself and school. But, you have learned many life skills along the way and you know now, that you ...can overcome. College is a lot of hard work, and it takes a lot of dedication and persaverance. But, you have what it takes, you will succeed. Good luck self. I wish you the best.

I would say to the old me: Study hard! , Save money and make sure you apply for alot of scholarships college is not cheap at all.Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible so you can recieve the most aid as possible for each semester. DONT take summers off, push through the year so you can graduate on time. And most of all have fun, these are the times you will never forget.

I would tell myself to set attainable goals, be on time, and respect others. I believe in living by the golden rule and that we should treat others as we expect to be treated. School is an essential part of making a productive life for oneself. Education is the greatest gift anyone can give themselves.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior, I would do several things differently. As a senior I did graduate as a Bright Futures Scholar. As a freshman in college, I lost this scholarship due to not applying myself like I should have. I would have worked harder, studied harder, and applied myself more to my course work. I would worry less about my current job and focus more on my academic progress. I would study earlier instead of procrastinating. Learning how to prioritize my time has really helped me in my junior year as a college student.

If I could talk to myself as a highschool senior I would try to give words of advice on how to adjust to being in a new setting. I think one thing to consider is that everyone who's a freshman is starting new, so they will all be kind of overwhelmed. It is important to reach out to others and they will in turn reach out to you. Do not be afraid, everyone is in the same boat. I would also try to tell my younger self about a way to keep in touch with friends from home. By going to school out of state it was hard to feel those strong bonds with people right away and I wish I kept in better touch with people from my highschool.

Lori, This is you ten years from now. I am here with some great advice. Please take this seriously and listen to me. If you choose not to, you will be 28 years old, still trying to graduate college and still working full time. First, quit working right now. Use the money you have in the bank to make due! Second, stay home with Mom and Tom after you graduate High School. You have already been working full time on top of going to school for 3 years and you have the rest of your life to work, be an adult and move out. Use this time to go to school and get it accomplished. You know you want to be a Social Worker and that is not going to change. If you move out it will take you so much longer to finish college than you could even imagine. You wont be done until your thirty. At 28, you will be worried how you will survive financially, when it is time to complete your internship in order to graduate with your Bachelor's Degree. Put yourself first for a change! Give yourself a break and focus on school! Lori

I would have asked myself to take more college classes and take more math classes. I would also congratulate myself for reaching the place where I am. I would ask myself to keep going and avoid distractions to the maximum.

If I where to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to never consider giving up even when it seems a dead end was the only thing ahead. This semester particularly has been incredibly difficult for me, however the accomplishments I have made in the last few days of the semester have blown me away. The accomplishments alone have made the hard work and struggle worth it. Many times during this semester I have questioned if my major was right for me. Certain teachers were taking the joy out of what I loved, I was not satisfied with the work I was making, and for the first time since middle school I did not know if I would be able to keep a 4.0 GPA. Even with those things stacked against me, I was not only able to finish strong, but I had managed to make my name known on campus by winning the exposure and prestige of creating the identity and brand of a sixty to seventy-five million dollar building project. Giving up is never the answer and should never even be a thought.

A lot of people view going to college as a transition stage in which the student becomes more independent and leaves the nest back at home. Most times this is the first time that students are on their own without any parental supervision. There is a lot of freedom and most times it is taken advantage of. Living at home, my parents had many rules and were very strict. When I came to college I was over whelemed with all this freedom that I didn't know what to do with it. If I could go back in time and give myself a piece of advice, it would be to not take advantage of the freedom and maintain a well balanced life-style. I took advantage of the fact that I was finally on my own and allowed to do anything I wanted when I wanted and it negatively effected me. Going to class and keeping up with my studies went from a priority to activities I did when I felt like it. I spent most of my time socializing instead. I would make sure that my education was my priority because ultimately that is the reason I am here.

In high school, it may seem like where your heart is set is the only place for you. But you will flourish and grow where you are planted. Keep following the path that your life is taking and trust that it is the way that you were meant to go, even if you don't see that now. Wherever you are, don't focus on you, focus on the community and people around you. Strive to leave your university in a better position than it was before it met you.

Make sure to work exra hard at focusing on time management. This is a key attribute to succeeding at a university level. That doesn't mean you can't have fun, you just need to know your limit as to how much time you need for school work. Take advantage of every opportunity that would help advance your knowledge and skills in the area you have a passion for. It's also ok to befriend your teachers. They are there to help you and to straighten things out that seem confusing to you. One last thing, work on starting a budget for yourself. That will come in handy when you seem to be in a bind for school funding. There are so many scharlarships out there that are availiable and studying hard and keeping your grades up will help your chances for having all the funding you need for your education. All of these tips and strategies are valuable for life skills for the future.

I would tell myself to pick where I feel like I would best belong, not based on the name or leave of prestige the school carries.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior with my current knowledge would be to work more hours at work so I could save more money because money gets very tight especially when you don't qualify for Pell Grant even with a single parent of two and even though you support yourself. I would teach myself to form even better habits for studying. I do believe that GPA isn't everything and although I've have and I have carried a 4.0 throught all of college and high school I do still need better study habits. I would also tell myself to do even more community service and to join organizations.

Do not underestimate how overwhelming the transition between high school life and college life can be. Both socially and academically. It is difficult at first to forget or overlook the fact that you are taking on a more difficult, demanding courseload and have less time throughout the semester, the week, and in many cases the day to accomplish your tasks.

There is quite a bit of advice I would love to give myself. First of all, I would manage my finances a lot better. No more eating out or spending every paycheck on useless items. I don't believe that I own one item purchased the first year I was here. Second, I would dedicate more time to studying in my first couple of years. It took me a little while to keep my head in the books with the new found freedom and regretfully my GPA suffered a little. But over the course of my last few semesters I have returned it to where it needs to be and it is still rising. One really important thing I would tell myself is to keep more in contact with my family. I kind of cut ties with them, but not on purpose. I found out along the way that they are the only ones that I can truly trust and rely on whenever needed. Lastly, I would tell myself to relax and lighten up a bit. Everything will come in due time, just be patient and follow your heart, even if your heart changed your major several times.

I would tell myself to take as many advanced placement classes as possible, and make sure to pass the AP exams, eliminating some necessary credit hours in college. I would also tell myself not to worry so much about the transition. Sure, it is a buge change, but it is one that you will never forget, and if you allow yourself, you will make life long memories along the way.

You are about to be exposed to a new level of academia that requires focus and dedication. Reinforce good study habits daily. Learn and retain the material in your classes rather than cram at the last minute. If you feel lost in one of your subjects, then learn to ask for help. Teachers and teaching assistants are there to help you. However, not all the lessons learned in college are academic. You will be forced to become a self-dependent adult, so learn how to work a dishwasher and laundry machine. You will find that chores exist to make your life less cluttered. If balancing all this new information makes your head spin, then keep a daily planner. Write down all the things you need to accomplish and finish them one by one. College life is all about balancing your responsibilities with your free time but never take yourself too seriously. Remember, you are about to experience the best years of your life. Stay positive, have faith, and never stop trying your hardest.

The list of things that I would tell myself is very long, but here are a few. First, I would tell myself to develop better study habits. The next thing I would tell myself is to take more difficult classes in my senior year rather than take the easier way out. The third item of advice I would give myself would be to save money, because living away from home and paying for college is very expensive. One more word of advice I would give myself would be to do more community service because there is a large amount of scholarships and other kind of aid that can be obtained, but you need the community services hours to qualify for a good amount of the additional aid.

Make sure you study extra hard and don't fool around last minute doing your homework and studying. Keep up with your work.

I would probably have my self start better habits earlier. Even though I have a good study schedule, there is always room for improvement. Also, money is a huge problem in college even though i recieve loans and financial aid. If i knew both my parents were going to lose their jobs I would have saved up more of my money from my highschool job. Other than that I planned and adapted very well to college life without really any regrets. UCF is a very accommodating school that is full of resources to help me get used to college life.

Knowing what I know now, I would have taken my SATs sooner then I did and apply for UCF sooner then I did. I went to a community college first, which was fine, but my transition to UCF was a bit hard. I am now comfortable at UCF and even though I am almost graduating, I wish I had joined more clubs and organizations around the Education major.

Study and do your homework everyday. Do not fall behind! Stay away from people with no ambition in life. Don't drink too much. Stop smoking weed. Try out for the football team.

I would have emancipated myself from my parents at the age of 17. My parents did not help pay for any of my schooling and i wasn't to get financial aid beyond bright futures due to having to claim them on my FAFSA. I could have gotten a lot more help with school and maybe actually had more choices in where to go if I had known this.

Our current society places heavy emphasis on monetary income as a measure of success, as if success is purely defined by one's personal income. My parents, my peers, and even some of my teachers have taught me, sometimes implicitly, that making large sums of money will make you successful, and therefore to live a happy and fulfilling life. If there's one thing that I want to tell my past self is that my parents were wrong; society were wrong. I am not happy doing what I'm doing, no amount of money can change that. I am going to college years later to correct that mistake, a mistake that if I could go back in time to avoid, I would choose a degree program that I had a passion for since grade school.

Treat college as your full-time job. Find a way to balance school and fun. Be open to new people and let your heart touch everything you do in work and play. Keep family a priority in your life, especially since you are the first to go away to school. Share your new world with those who love you and keep up with their lives as well. Use your personal faith as a source of comfort and guidance when times are trying. Be able to laugh at yourself and always remain humble. Take advantage of new opportunities as they present themselves and do not be afraid of failure. Be greatful for every new day and find something positive in each new situation life presents to you!

Go to class and do the best you can!

First off I would tell myself to stop worrying about going to UCF because I did make the right choice when it came to choosing a college, because I LOVE it. Then I'd tell myself to really research the classes I needed to take in advance for my major, because when it came to my academic advisor, she was not a very big help. I'd tell myself to go out and do the events that are designated for freshmen, even if they do seem corny- because it's the only way to meet people. Lastly, I'd warn myself to start saving quarters, because I have gone without clean laundrey for FAR too long.

I would tell myself not to take some courses that I took. It would be wise for me to take life as it comes and not worry too much about the small things in school. I would also tell myself not to make life decisions too quickly and to be open to new ideas and careers.

I would tell myself to go to every class, study consistently, and keep my National Merit Scholarship. I would inform my past self which of conflicting information is accurate, and I would explain the current model for human memory creation in order to maximize learning while minimizing studying time. I would explain the details of the research paper I'm writing, so it would get published sooner, and I would emphasize the importance of undergraduate research. Most importantly, I would warn of the danger of allowing personal life, especially relationships, to interfere with school. Of course, high school me wouldn't listen to any of this and would probably run off and do exactly what happened, ensuring the integrity of the time-line.

Being on my own and having to guide myself through my own education was never an issue with the transition, but knowing what I know now, after having had to drop out of college for a year in order to save up for the remainder of my education, I would enforce the importance of keeping my scholarship for all four years. Being able to pay for my education so I can get my degree and enter the business world sooner would have given my life a head start further than where I am now. To that end, emphasizing how much I'll be using what I learn in college to further my career will have given me the motivation to keep on driving towards a successful four years instead of the six years I will be using up to get the same degree. That one important lesson would have been life-changing for me, but I am driven now and will succeed nevertheless.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would certainly tell myself to relax a little and enjoy the journey I am about to embark on. College is truly a life-changing experience that you will keep with you forever. Though it can be scary at times, it is an amazing time in your life where you will have the ability to completely re-invent yourself and learn whatever you would like to. The potential and possibilities of your life are endless, and it is up to you to decide what path you would like to follow. I would say that it's imperative to have fun in college and figure out who you are and what makes you happy. College is only four short years, and then on to the "real" world. Enjoy every moment you have and make sure to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. The learning never stops.

College is tough, but it's not as bad as the high school teachers make it out to be. It is an amazingly fun time, but you cannot lose sight of your studies. Make sure to meet new people, have a great time, get involved in campus activities, but make sure that you study hard because these grades will follow you for the rest of your life!

Don't automatically assume that the most populr college or university is the right one for you. Make sure you do your research, but not just theoretically. VISIT the campuses you are interested in. Be sure to explore the whole town to decide if it is somewhere that you would be happy living. You will be spending a lot of time on campus, but certainly not all of it. Consider who you know in that town and whether or not you feel there are people you share common ground with at that school. Finally, even if you are unsure of your major, choose a school with a variety of programs you are interested in.

Going back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior with the knowledge I have now about college, I would first say work hard and believe in yourself. Another advice I would have to tell my high school self would be that, in college there are lots of obstacles that you will have to face which ranges from personal, social, and also educational. When you hit those obstacles, sometimes they maybe difficult to overcome, but when you go through them you will end up as a stronger person. In college hard work pays off and depending your determination and to finish on top will greatly increase your chancing of having a successful college career. Independence and separation from your comfort zone is what you shall expect when going into the college life. Working hard and believing in yourself, will be the key to achieving what you want out of college. College life will be fun and you?ll meet different personality, but never lose your true self to mold into your surroundings.

I would tell myself, as well as my classmates to apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible. Paying for school can be tough and loans can sometimes be difficult to pay down. You never know what the job market will be like after you graduate, so be prepared for a back-up plan, such as a minor within your degree or any internship opportunity that may arise, as that can be you foot in the door for a job after graduation. The bottom line is to meet your goals and do not let anything stand in your way.

DO NOT PRPCRASTINATE!! That would be my number one advice! When you get behind in classes, it is very hard to catch up. Also get involved in clubs, sports, music. Anything that will get you socializing with people, make friends. Do not be scared. If you had a good study routine in high school, that will help you a lot. The SLS 1501 class will help you a lot with transitioning in to college. It informs you of all of the clubs and resources on campus. Most of all, have fun!

I learned that not being afraid to put yourself out there, meet new people, try new things and get involved is the best thing to do to adjusting to college life. Don't just go to club meetings once. You get more out of it by learning to manage your time. School always comes first, but you'll enjoy doing the work so much more if you join a team or club and actually stay involved with them. When you have hobbies and friends to enjoy, you enjoy the not-so-fun sides of school (like studying and going to class). Even simply spending time with your roommates, making friendships and bonds that will pull you through rough weeks of class and more is one of the most important parts of college living, so its important not to shut that out. Being busy is more rewarding than not, and it is the first step of learning how to deal when the real world hits.

Advice, that I would give to a high school senior is to take school seriously. Also, to take as much AP classes or dual enrollment classes.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life and the transition involved, I would tell myself to stop goofing off. I would tell myself that high school is a kid?s pony ride compared to the Kentucky Derby that is college. There are no breaks in college; you can?t call your mother for a note, and you can?t expect to do well, or even pass, without putting forth some serious and concentrated effort. The transition from high school into college is tough, and takes some adjusting ? and not only in study habits. You will need to truly learn the value of a dollar, and how to efficiently manage your time, especially if plan to study and earn an income simultaneously. You?ll need to learn how to become your own advocate. Most importantly, I would tell myself the following: ?You?ll need to learn to take personal responsibility for your future. You can?t claim the tests are too hard if you don?t study, and you can?t expect the teachers to pass you based on your personality.?