University of Central Florida Top Questions

There is not one day that goes by that I do not wish I could go back in time and tell myself several things: I would tell myself to communicate with my parents better. Like a typical teenager, I thought I could make all decisions myself. I did not converse to my parents about my college options. I did not talk to them about our financial possibilities. Here I am, in a school my parents struggle to pay housing for. I feel terrible I have caused such distress and preoccupation in my parents' life. Luckily, I received 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} bright futures for my tuition. I would tell myself to belief in my abilities. To maintain the perseverance I always had. Senior year I lost my hope and my drive. I would pick myself up. I thought everything would be easy once I moved out of parents' home, this has certainly not been the case. Today, I am stressed about school work, I am stressed about what needs to be paid for. I am stressed. Despite of my regrets, I have learned. I have learned there is a world out there. It is not as simple as I thought it would be.

I would advise myself to get as involved as a possibly can with a university-affiliated organization, like the school band, starting freshman year. Part of what makes college so great is that it offers students a variety of unique opportunities that are not strictly academic -- diverse friendships that you make in class or out, extracurriculars that enhance your personality and social skills, and experiences that challenge your current beliefs, to name a few. If I could do college all over again, I would strive to overcome my shyness, meet new people, and participate in activities outside of my comfort zone. I would try to avoid falling into the routine of class-work-apartment; in other words, I would make the most out of the rich learning environment that college offers.

There are many temptations in the college, but just keep study. Your future success is depends on what will you do in the college. Involved with community service or internship, and create the network for future job. I saw the student who did not study and end up with low GPA, lost the scholarship, and quit the school. It is important to know what you want to be in the future. Success does not come in one day. Continual efforts are a prerequisite to success. Always have a faith in you!!

College is not easy. You have to be responsible for every move you make.

If i could advise myself two years ago i would have looked at my housing options first and tried to get roomates. I currently have no roomates and sometimes it can get lonely but i like to stay involved on campus and make new friends. I would also try to join a few more clubs and know more people so i can socialize more and not have to work as much.

I would have attended community college first instead of a university. Instead I did things a little backwards, I spent my first year at UCF my second year at community college and now Im going back to UCF.

Dear Croix, You look a little scared. You are starting a new chapter in your book, one titled "Opportunity", and trust me, it doesn't always come knocking. Sometimes YOU have to go knock on opportunity's door and get your foot in it. You can do this successfully by applying yourself to your education, and not what somebody else wants you to learn, but what you truly love. How else is college to hold your interest if you are not excited by what you study for four years? I'm not here to lecture you on how to avoid the Freshman 15 (just exercise and diet!), nor on how to find the best parties (your friends will do that for you), but to treat you to a little lesson in life. That lesson is simple: when opportunity arises, set a goal and persevere. Right now, that opportunity is for you to go to college, so set your study goal and persevere through classes. Opportunities come in chains, and once you've entered college, that link is removed, and you proceed to the next opportunity. As Milton Berle once said, "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Love, Croix.

Brittany, SAVE SAVE SAVE money and apply for jobs NOW! Do as much research as possible on your career choice so that your tuition money won't be spent on the wrong classes. You'll only end up wasting time and spending more money by obsessively changing your mind about your major. Look NOW for the best deal with housing and apply as soon as possible. PLEASE go to ratemyprofessors.com and find the best professors for your classes and then sign up for classes as early as possible before the best professors and times for classes are taken. Be smart and be safe. DO NOT trust every one, keep your guards up because YOU CAN be a victim of a crime. It CAN happen to you. Love you, be obedient to this message PLEASE! bye :)

I am very happy with the decision I have made by going to UCF. I would also encourage myself to not only take classes for my major, but things that interest me as well.

It's not as intimidating as it seems. If only you could see yourself now. The things your doing. The people you've met. It's strange how much can occur in so little time. Take your time and don't rush. Don't over load yourself with classess. That is a mistake. Trust me, I know! It's better to take your time and go slower, then rush and be there even longer. College life is way more diverse then highschool. More opprotunities, and there isnt a huge sense of urgency. Granted, you do have things you must complete in time. But it's not so crammed. College is there for you, not the other way around. Make the most of it.

Assess your study needs. If you feel more comfortable with a more intimate environment, choose schools that offer that. Even if a school ranks tops in the nation, it may not be a good match for your learning needs. Remember, in the end it won't matter if you graduated with a degree from somewhere if you cannot apply what you have learned in the real work force. Also broaden your application choices! Choose classes from all ranks and be sure to have many back ups. Aim for the best, prepare for the worst and choose according to your own wishes.

Make sure you follow your heart and stay involved in the things you love. It's going to be hard work, but if you can keep yourself focused and stay involved in music, which has always helped you, you'll do fine. Have fun! Don't let things get you down and if someone is hurting you or upsetting you, drop them and go be with people who make you feel good. Everything is worth it in the end, and youh ave friends willing to help you. Be careful of partiers and those who like to get drunk. They'll try to pull you in and that just won't help you at all. Also, look out for two-faced people. Unfortunately, they still exist in college and you're better off without them. Overall, just have fun and be yourself and you'll do great and make wonderful friends for life.

Hello former self! I am the you from the future. You have been leading quite the life in your senior year, and the time to move on to college is steadily approaching. Set aside your 3,500 word essay for Theory of Knowledge for a moment and hear what I have to say. Your academics are not going to be a problem, as you are more than prepared by the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. You are not going to be a party-goer either, because that is not in your nature, so that is not going to be an issue. However, you tend to procrastinate. A lot. I am here to tell you that you need to apply for financial aid AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This will save you grief and woe, I promise. Now, I must return to the future. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope to see positive changes in my world because of this.

Would I go back in time to when I was a high school senior and give myself advice? My college experience would be over half as much easier to adjust to if I could. I would first advise myself to take more advanced placement classes so that I could have had more credits going into college in order to get an earlier start on my major classes. Also, I would have told myself to apply for scholarships instead of just depending on my parent's income. At the time, my family was not going through much financial strife. However, ever since the economy turned for the worst , money has become the primary issue. Seeing my parents struggle through these difficult times has put a burning desire in my heart to help out with the finances and to give back for all the hard work and stress they put themselves through just to keep me in school full time. Winning this scholarship would help alleviate this problem since this money would go directly towards school. Lastly, I would advise myself to not stress over college because it is an experience within itself that not enough advice can prepare you for anyway.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would definately tell my self to become more independent. Moving away to college is very stressful. It is very difficult to move away from everything that is familiar. I would tell myself to not be so dependent on my family and friends. I think if I was more independent my transition to college would have been a lot smoother.

I would tell myself that I am now considered an adult and cannot depend on my parents for help. I have to make sure I get an adequate amount of sleep and have plenty of time to study and do homework and make it to my classes on time. And most importantly, don't procrastinate.

Dear Kristin, You're about to enter a new phase of your life: college. Do not be afraid. Walk onto campus with your head held high and your mind open to new ideas and ways of thinking about the world. Remain focused on your goals and everything will fall into place. Hold tight to your own personal values, and never give into what other people want from you. Remember who you are and be true to yourself. Know that with a little hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Keep your best friends and your family close; you can rely on them to keep you grounded. And remember, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Dream big and always reach for the stars.

When I was in high school I thought I knew it all, so I would have alot of advice to give me. I would start by telling me to pay more attention in class, not rush into getting a job or growing up too fast, not worry about popularity and what the other people were doing. I would tell me to pay attention to my teachers and take my classes seriously, sit in the front of the class and ask questions. Make sure I have mastered one thing before moving on to the next because alot of time the information builds on what you learned previously. I wouldnt get caught up in what other people are doing because they are not going to be in my life forever and dont be influencef by the actions of others. They are the ones to suffer the consequences. Be a leader and not a follower. I would also make sure to tell myself to be responsible and reliable and to treat school as I would treat a job, devoting as much time to studying as I would if I were working. I would tell myself to set goals and never give up.

Looking back, I'd recommend getting more involved beyond what I'm doing currently, especially in volunteering and social issues. A balanced lifestyle in education, vocation, social interactions, and community is essential to retain harmony, particularly in a never-sleeping college student.

I wish I had known how important it is to prioritize and remain focused on my studies. The preparations I could have made by making better grades and planning ahead for college would have helped make the course load much easier. Also making use of the guidance counselor would have saved me some un needed classes. I think another important thing is to research different career choices and the prospect for that each possible field of study. I think I would also advise that keeping a schedule for study time, activities, job and classes is important along with being organized and planning for term papers and projects. It is important to learn early that moderation is the key to a balanced life that is effective and productive. This means that choices need to be made that allow for educational, spiritual, emotional, and physical needs to be met. Make the most of the gifts you are given and even when you stumble be willing to have the courage to give it another try. Be the best you know how to be and always be open to improving. Knowledge is power.

Ms. Walker, it is to your advantage to explore career opportunities to decipher your specific interests and goals. Ms. Walker, take a realistic look at yourself and take some time to learn more about you. This will help you determine where you'd like to be in the next 5 or 10 years. Ms. Walker, I've counseled many students and I understand that we can sometimes live in the "here and now" without looking at savings, retirement, and our own specific needs and wants. But I challenge you to do that because you have just 1 life and many opportunities come your way and you'll have to make the decision that's best for you, not your friends, family, etc. Ms. Walker, this is not a conversation to bring fear but to shed light on some dim areas. You're a very intelligent, well-rounded student, and you have much to offer to society, any company, and the world at large. I admonish you to look beyond income. Instead maintain your integrity and think about what excites you, what you enjoy doing, and not to mention your skills, assets, and talents. Ms. Walker, search your heart and soul.

I would tell myself to study more and that not everything is the end of the world. I should try and keep family problems seperate even though it is hard and concentrate on school to be able to succeed in life. Talk to people in class and make friends. Once college is over you'll want to have life long friends. And lastly, do not spend financial aid all at once, learn to save money and use it wisely.

If I could go back to high school and give myself advice, I would tell myself to apply for scholarships early and often. Also, it is important not to give up when one loses one scholarship, there is always another one to apply for. In addition to scholarships. It helps to take the standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT to get a higher score for scholarships even if one has already been accepted into their university. Studying before the tests is crucial, and if one does poorly on one of the tests, then the other should be taken to see if it is easier on the student. It is important to take advanced placement tests and dual enrollment classes to gain an advantage and more credit hours on entering college. Taking those classes prepares you for what the professors expect from you in class. The transition itself isn't hard. It is just adjusting to the work load and study time

Never give up. Meet new people. Have fun but have a balanced life.

College is not like high school, you will need to study so take your exams seriously. Take advantage of study groups and join as many as you can. A lot of general education courses drop one exam out of 4 to help your grade, don't see this as an opportunity to slack off. Study!

Many students now in days would love an opportunity to go back in time to warn themselves of the great surprises college will bring them. If I could go back in time, one of the first things I would do is warm myself of the large opportunity to get involved in clubs and organizations. Many scholarships usually depend on involvement in clubs and organizations and I wish I would have been more involved in clubs in high school because it would have helped me greatly with receiving scholarships. Grade wise, I always kept good grades, but I would have warned myself about applying for scholarships while I was a senior due to the fact that there are a larger variety of scholarships for high school seniors in good academic standing. Lastly, as a college student I have learned that getting an education has an extensive money price and I wish I would have started earlier in applying for scholarships. I would have emphasized greatly to myself the importance of applying early for scholarships so that I would not be as I am now, stressing on how I will be able to pay for school!

Get involved!

Don't think that you can get away with the habits that suited you just fine in Highschool. Get organized and try to stay that way. Know what classes are needed for your degree and try to get them out of the way before you have fun, otherwise you're stuck with a brutal last semester. Try to be social, make friends, trust me you're going to need them

Always stay on track and not go off on a tangent.

I would for sure take AP classes, it saves you lots of time and money! Also apply for scholarships and do very well on SAT/ACT. Senior year is layed back but extremly important and is the last year as a kid before a big transition!

I would definitly make my self a much more studius student so that i could attened the University of Central Florida as a freshman instead of a junior.

Life was difficult for me in high school. I was coming from an abusive background and had many obstacles to overcome. After high school I joined the military. If I could go back and talk to that 17 year old girl now, I would tell her to stay on her path to excellence and not let money issues become a problem for her. I'd encourage her to be fiscally responsible, save, and build a good credit rating, assuring her that once you screw it up, it is difficult to get back. I would also encourage her to stay in school to take full advantage of the money the Army is offering her to go to school. Mostly, though, I would let her know that regardless of what she has endured in her past, she is a strong resilient woman, and that she needs to make a conscious choice to become a victor rather than a victim. So much of my youth was lost to depression and now that I have found my way out of it, I know that life holds nothing for me but the utmost possibility. Optimism is my new best friend.

Keep your head up and don't ever fall behind in getting what you want. There is a lot of competition out there and without staying focused you may lose what you are working towards. Keep going no matter how difficult the road ahead is, it is worth it. Remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Never let anyone tell you any differently.

Don't stress so much, it's ok to breathe once in a while. I remember being SO anxious when I applied to UCF, it was the only school I applied to because I loved it so much, so all of my hopes were pinned onto it. I was accepted fairly quickly, and found out within two weeks, but my stressing didn't end there. I then applied to the honors college on campus, stressed out some more, and finally was accepted there as well. I don't remember much about my transition to college life, only that I freaked out at every given option - homework, grades, finals, essays, projects, everything under the sun. I wish that I had taken more time to enjoy myself and the sorority I pledged into. I'm not saying that I should have gone crazy or anything, but it would have been nice to soak up some college experiences like meeting more people, going to more of the dorm outreach programs my RA concocted, or the freshman programs UCF had to offer instead of cooping up in my room studying all night for an exam I already knew I'd do perfectly fine on.

I would tell myself that college life is not as scarey as I thought it was going to be. I had too much anxiety going in, but was quickly relieved of that anxiety after my first few classes. If I had known back then that college life was actually going to be fun and educational, then I would have had nothing to worry about! Sure I have to try hard at my classes, but nothing in life is easy, and the best things in life you have to work hard at. This is certainly the best thing that has become apart of my life!

Keep education above all until a degree is obtained!!

If I could talk to my high school self, I would give the simplest of advice: follow your heart. That is exactly what I did, and I do not regret any decisions I made in regards to my college experience. When I visited UCF as a Junior, it felt like home. I knew that it was where I should be, regardless of other universities which would have accepted my application. I think students are often pressured too much by their families, peers, and teachers, to attend a university for reasons other than the fact that they will be happy there. In a nutshell, my advice would be the same for any high schooler: consider many options; nothing is out of reach. If you put your mind to it, you can overcome any obstacle. Nothing should stand in the way of the perfect college experience for you, and only you can determine what and where that experience will be.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell say to go to college straight out of high school. I would tell myself not to take a break because once you take a break, it will be even harder to go back to school. I would also stress to myself how important getting a higher education really is. If you want to be successful in life and proud of yourself, then go to college. If you want to have confidence and be educated, go to college. You can do this, I would say! I would tell myself to believe in myself and know that I can go to college and do good in college. All you have to do is apply yourself. I would tell myself not to allow anyone to stand in my way. College is the way to a better future, and if you attend and get a degree, you will feel great about yourself.

Be yourself.

The advice I would give to myself was not to wait so long to enroll in college. I put off college for a couple of years. I got out of high school and I got a job that paid well, but I was getting nowhere. I grew tired of not being able to move up the ladder into management because of the lack of a college degree. The decision was made with the realization that I was wasting away my talents on a job that completely lost all challenges and that was the light bulb. It was one of the best decisions I have made thus far. Knowing now, what I did not know back then, I can clearly see the importance of a college education. I look at my life now and I see a woman who has come a long way and thankfully, the future is looking bright.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself not to worry too much. Entering college, I was terrified that the classes were going to be impossible and the professors were going to be cold and unrelenting. I found the exact opposite. While some of my classes were challenging, they were also fun and interesting. My professors became role models and, in some cases, good friends. I am grateful that I did not let my fear stop me from forging ahead with my plans but I still wish that I had not been so concerned. I would further tell myself not to worry about how I was going to fit sixty credits in two years, everything would work out by itself. Last, I would explain how amazing college life is and how different it is from high school. While the high school setting emphasizes conformity and fitting in, I have found that being yourself is so much easier at the college level. I would certainly not discourage myself from taking the path that I chose because it has been one of the best choices I have made in my life and I would not trade it for the world.

I would suggest to myself to stay focused and don't sweat the small stuff too much. There's plenty of time for a social life after graduation!!!

As a high school senior I always thought that the university life was too big of a step for me, especially with all of the costs. With these preconcieved notions I decided to attend a local community college, and got my two year degree. This came with ease to me, however I found that school became less engaging and that I was missing out on the "college experience". After I recieved my two year degree I transferred to UCF, and I have found that the life here at UCF was what I was missing. The university is engaging, interesting, and a melting pot of people; something I never found at my local community college. I also found that transferring between the two school became a frustration, as when I decided to come to the university I found that it felt like starting over, in that some classes did not transfer over the same. Also with all of the available scholarships one should not be afraid to go to their university of choice. Therefore if I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would have told myself that the university is where I belonged.

Dont rush yourself. Start college when you are ready and are going to be able to be serious about it. Also, to really think about what you want to be someday. Lastly, to save every penny, apply for as many scholarships as possible, and do not take out too many loans.

If I went back in time and spoke to myself as a high school senior, the best advice to provide myself is to decide what field of study you might consider majoring and determine whether it will provide you financial stability down the road. During my junior year as an undergraduate student, I realize that the area of study I was majoring wasn't going to be beneficial for me, especially when searching for employment opportunities after graduation. As a result, I change my major from Humanities to English Language Arts Education. The second advice I would provide myself is never take a break from your academic college career. I made the mistake of taking breaks during the summer term--as a sophomore and a junior undergraduate student-- and this is why it has taken me six years to finally graduate from the University of Central Florida. The third advice I would give to myself is apply for different scholarships. Scholarships provide students with financial support when paying for classes, books for courses, and other necessities to survive the entire semester. Most students sign up for financial aid without realizing that they have to pay the loans after graduating.

Wow. What a question. There are so many things I would tell myself. First would be, ?don?t sweat the small stuff!? As a senior in college now, I have made it through with an almost perfect GPA, but have spent a great deal of my college career stressed out. It would be nice if I could tell myself that ?everything is going to be alright?. Another thing I would tell myself is that the guys in college are no different than the ones in high school. I went to college thinking I would automatically find a smart, charming, intellectual, funny guy that was unlike the immature ?boys? from high school. That never happened. I found out that college boys are just as immature, if not more, than high school seniors. Lastly, I would tell myself that the next four years of college are going to go by so fast, and to make sure I live every minute of it like it was my last.

To be honest in High School I was not much of an over achiever, infact I did as little as possible to get by. I did not understand the true value of an education. However, since then I have had the opportunity to experience what life is like without an education. Working part-time jobs is a real eye-opener and it showed me that I would not get anywhere in life without a solid education. I wish I could go back in time and show myself all the struggles and hardship I would have to go through because I did not take advantage of my resources when I should have. I never applied for Bright Futures and because of that I am now struggling to pay for college. Fortunately in Community College I cleaned up my act and actually applied myself. I did very well in my classes and now I want to see what other accomplishments I can achieve when I graduate with a Bachelors in Business. Any funding at all would help me pay for school. So I could work less and focus more on school.

Work hard, give it your best shot, and be the best that you can be and go for your dream, think big!!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would probably advise myself not to stress out as much about college. It is a lot of fun and with the right balance of play and work it is easy to feel accomplished. I would tell myself not to be so worried about making new friends and advise myself to enjoy every last second of my time here because already college is flying by.

I would tell myself to stop making procrastination a habit, and to get the work done now. Because that will not make the right GPA in college. Also to make of habit of eating healthy, because although college has free food all the time, doesn't make it the right types of food all the time. Pizza and fries are not ok to eat almost everyday. Finally, I would of told myself to not let all the small negative things in life build up on me to knock me down with a stressball in the end.