University of Connecticut Top Questions

Assuming I could travel into the past and converse with myself as a high school senior, there would be one point I would attempt to absolutely stress to myself. Although I was extremely busy as a high school senior from headlining my entire college application process, (post high school education in general)while working nearly full time in order to secure the financial means I would need to make any post high school education possible I would have to tell myself to stress the importance of applying for scholarships. Instead of working my behind off in order gather the neccesary funds for amenities such as books and housing or meal plans I would have been able to concentrate more so on the immediate problems I had at hand such as improving my GPA, or SAT scores. Applying for scholarships during my senior year of high school and even before would have drastically helped me out in my now struggling freshmen year. Financial stress has become nearly unbearable this second semester, not even having sufficient funds to buy books Ive found myself reading assignments at the bookstore just to get by when friends' books aren't available, scholarships would have helped.

Being an actor, I have often found it easy to pretend to be someone other than myself. This works great on stage, but in personal life it can have devastating effects. Instead of talking to myself as a high school senior, I would prefer to start even earlier, like age 7, where I first began "acting" as a way to avoid getting to know myself. Now, in my sophomore year at school, I am discovering the joys of letting myself simply "be", and see how it has improved my outlook, friendships and, yes, acting! I would also tell my former self to try 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} in all of my activities, first making sure that the activities I choose to partake in are of interest to me and beneficial to my career goals. Trying my best pushes my limits, and gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

Gradutating high school is a monumental milestone; it marks the beginning of the part of everyone's lives where the plan is not laid out for them, where they have to make all of the decisions themselves. This may sound terrifying or exciting. The trick is to completely embrace oneself. One's life is not a read-thru or a dress rehearsal -this is all there is. Although, that seems dire, high school students must resits the urge to become overwhelmed. They must mak an effort to be true to themselves. If they are honest with themselves about what they want out of life, they cannot fail at making the right decisions. Seniors should take the time to consider if their plans will really fulfill them or if they should go out on a limb and find new, grand adventures. The process can start with making a list of all the activities, morals, etc. that are undoubtedly important to them. Then, as one looks at colleges around the world and future careers, one must keep those priorities in mind. Distractions will pop up, but students must always come back to who they really are deep in their hearts.

I if i was given the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior i would first praise myself on all the hard work i completed. I would tell myself that i turned out fine even when i doubted myself. i would inform myself that i have to let go of some people in my life that are preventing me from obtaining my goals and dreams because of their negativity. i would tell myself to fill out more scholarships and save my money from my job. i would tell myself to be prepared to know what makes me happy and what i really want from life, because no one can make that decision for me. Also, because this will be my motivation when times get hard and situations aren't working in my favor. I would advice myself that its okay to seek help because that doesn't neccessarly make me a weak, dependent person. But a smart resourceful individual. Lastly, i would inform myself to rememeber why i want to go to Uconn, that all the hard times i was faced with will finally pay off, and that truely everything happens for a reason.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior the first thing I would tell myself is to keep an open mind in regards to majors and possible career choices. Colleges have such a big range of major to choose from and going in with a set major can be detrimental to someone if you can't achieve what you want. Secondly I would tell myself to apply early to colleges and for scholarships. The sooner you begin to look at colleges and scholarships the better picture you can have in the future as to where you will be going, what you will be doing, and what you will be paying. Lastly I would tell myself to really push my senior year. I would tell myself to consider taking an AP class or setting my expectations higher as far as my coursework is concerned. This would include breaking old habits like all-nighters or cramming. I would push myself to be a more rounded individual with focus on my academic work and service to the community allowing me to have greater opportunities in my future.

I was an alcoholic during high school, so I was not thinking about the future at all. Now at 52 , I find myself unemployed and unqualified to find a job even though I have been gainfully employed for over 30 years. Things are different now and an education is the only way to get ahead in this society. I should have told myself, way back when, that a personality with a little brain and will power is enough to get by, but not enough to have a good retirement. I don't have that many years left to make a nest egg to retire on, so I need the training/education in order to do that. If I knew then what I know now, I would use my self- talk to let myself in on the fact that life is long and should be fun after you grow up. Learn young, work hard, save as much as you can and enjoy an early retirement.

When I first came to UConn, I expected to work hard. I knew I would have to keep my GPA high in order to be accepted in to the school of education, and I was prepared to be in it for the long haul. However, after submitting my application for the school of education and completing three semesters here, I wish that I had taken the time to socialize and meet new people. I still believe that I am here at college to work-I am paying for this education and I intend to work hard and succeed. But my drive for perfection and a 4.0 GPA has denied me the opportunity to meet potential friends. I wish that I had realized that I didn't need to achieve the 4.0 GPA to be happy. I wish I took time to hang out with friends and join clubs that sounded interesting-because in those moments life long friendships are made. I want to look back on my college years, and be able to say that I got a fantastic education, but also had fun and made new friends.

Now that I have a semester of college behind me, there are definitely some things that I wish I knew before I started. The greatest change I experienced coming in to college was the departure from High School grading and that style of work. No longer would my grades heavily rely on attendance, participation, effort and homework?all of which I did in high school. Learning the material and studying for tests would be essential for success in an environment where there is no homework (at least not homework like in high school), attendance is optional and I would not know all of my teachers on a personal basis. If I was aware of these differences before I started, I would have spent more time studying and I would have taken advantage of professors' office hours to help reinforce and understand difficult material.

Having spent almost an entire year at college, I have found it to be quite a different experience than I expected. I expected to have a ton of friends, do spectacularly in my classes, and simply sail through very easily, as I did in high school. However, once I got here, that is not how it worked out. I chose UConn based more on financial capabilities than I did on how much I liked the school. They awarded me the most scholarship money, so to make things easier for myself and my family, it was the clear choice. If I could go back in time and tell myself something as a high school senior, I would advise to expand my options of schools. I applied mainly to schools everyone has heard of, and didn't do much research in terms of finding one maybe not so common. I would also siggest not soley base my decision on finances and consider taking out loans if there is another school that would suit me better. I have enjoyed my first year here, but not as much as I had hoped I would. I hope I can find better luck in the future!

Sometimes, I wish I could go back in time and warn myself about the obstacles that I faced in college. While I came to college with 25 credits, I still had weak studying habits as the classes on campus required a lot of independent studying. I wish my classes in high school required the same effort. Since, there is a lot of material on one exam, it?s important to study a week before the exam. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to improve my studying skills so I wouldn't have struggled with my fall semester classes. At the same time, being the first person in my family to go to college, I wasn?t aware of the importance of standardized tests like the SATs. Once I began applying for colleges, I realized how important SAT scores are in receiving scholarships. I wished that I had taken a few SAT classes so I would have been able to increase my score of 1790. While I can?t literally go back in time to change my past, I pass on my tips to my siblings so they can learn from my mistakes.

The advice I would give to my senior self is to imagine each assignment and/or exam as the grade that will make or break you. The worst feeling as a student is during finals week when you realize you need to earn a solid B on the final in order to pass your hardest course. Work hard throughout the entire semester so finals do not determine your GPA for the year. Also, realize that if you do work your hardest and still do not accomplish the goals you set for yourself, remember that the importance of that course is the size of your pinky nail in comparison to the big scheme of your life. You did the best you can do. All that is left is to push forward and continue to work to the best of your ability towards a major that is suitable for who you are and what you are interested in.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself advice on how to prepare for college and get the best experience out of it. I would tell myself, that it is very important to try many different things as a freshman. Its important to join clubs and try to meet as many people as you can. Most freshman will be in the same situation as you, and will be looking to make new friends as well. Go to as many sporting events, and cultural activities as you can, and don't think anything isn't worth experiencing. Along with the extracurricular activities, it is important to work hard in all of your classes, and important to know that every grade will effect you in the future. Try to sign up for many different classes and don't limit yourself to just one subject. It would have been great if I had spent more time exploring all the different subjects offered to me. Be open to new experiences and enjoy every minute of your college experience.

If i was to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that, first of all, college is NOTHING like high school. It requires much more time and effort. Maybe leaving everything until last minute and cramming before a test works in high school, but it doesn't in college. The worst mistake you can make is assuming you can put things off and there will be time to catch up later. More than likely, you will just get more and more behind until you will become overwhelmed and won't have enough time left. The best thing to do is just take everything as it comes. Do everything in your power to understand the material you're learning at that moment and stay on top of things. Just set aside a little time everyday to go over the material or to get extra help and it will really add up. Also, it might be awkward not knowing anyone in the beginning and trying to find someone talk to, but almost everyone feels the same way. Take this to your advantage and just introduce yourself and talk to random people around you!

With the knowledge that I've gained over the past semester about college life and living away from home for the first time, I would tell my high-school-senior self to try everything that the school has to offer. Getting involved on campus creates a close network of friends and a "family" away from home, while also connecting you to the pride of your school. With these people around you that share your interests, the transition to becoming an independent adult and accomplished student is smoother. Also, meeting new people with completely different life experiences from you can really teach you a lot about life and different ways of living and experiencing it. Being able to make my own choices about the way I wanted to complete my first semester turned out to be a very liberating and exciting experience, as I got to learn what I enjoyed doing, what my passions were, what didn't work for me, and what did work for me. Walking away from that semester, I felt like I was a much more capable and well-rounded person for putting myself out there and joining many different groups and meeting so many interesting people.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to focus more on me and who I want to become as an individual. During my senior year in high school, I was more focused on helping some of my less unfortunate friends advance in their studies and curriculum when in fact, I should have been worried about myself. I tend to care so much about others and that may have been a small hinderance in my academic performance. However, as a young college student, I would tell myself to balance out my leadership qualities and outspoken tendencies. I would stress the importance of independence and time-management as well as the significance of work ethic. The transition from high school to college life has allowed me to better my ability of reading others, decision making and understanding events- skills of which I wish everyone was blessed with. I would tell myself to take time out to evaluate my peers and the many environments I found myself in.

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to branch out more and participate more in the school?s functions. Currently I am a member of the Filippino American Student Association (FASA) at UConn, however I have not really done much. I constantly felt the need to study rather than have fun with other kids. When FASA would have meetings I would be home rather than with them. I still believe that school work is the most important part of college life, however I think that everyone should still have fun too. I would tell myself to take part in more fund raisers and to volunteer at the Asian Center. I would also tell myself to take an easier work load. When I first went to college I bogged myself down with a huge workload and didn?t think about my social life. This is similar to my last piece of advice, however I think this is important. College is supposed to be fun. Yes, school work needs to be done and kids need to study, however it is also the best time of a person?s life.

I would advise myself to be open-minded. I applied to college so sure of my major, my career choice. Whenever people told me that everyone changes their major, I'd think "that won't be me." But change I did, half way through my second semester. I am not even remotely interested in the career I had been so focused on since the 8th grade. I've also considered several double major options in social sciences (namely Geography and Anthropology) and even in Geoscience and Meteorology. I never would have dreamed I'd be interested in those, especially the latter. I would advise myself to experiment more with what I then considered "random" subjects, because freshman year was the best time to have done so. I would also advise myself to join in more activities earlier, and experience new things just for the fun of it. I'm still just starting out, and I'm branching out too.

The number one advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to learn how to study and to figure out what suits me the most. In college, study skills are the most important thing to have and one is best off learning how to study before it is too late. While classes in high school collect homework and administer quizzes, many college courses only grade an individual on their exams. Therefore, it is difficult to make up for poor exam grades that might be due to a lack in study skills. There are many ways to go about studying so it is important to figure out what suits an individual's needs. As a larger piece of advice, I would also tell myself to do a lot of research before school. This would include finding out resources on campus, and looking into managing one's own schedule or getting a job. There are many ways to prepare for college, however it often appears that people learn the most by attending college as opposed to receiving advice.

I would tell myself to not be so afraid to make new friends. People are so friendly here that you might just become best friends with your roommate (which is what happened!). You might think UConn is too big, but you will soon learn that it isn't that bad. I would tell myself to be a little bit more outgoing than the usual. Even though I am very shy, just try to be more outgoing and confident because it will make meeting new people 10 times easier. I also would say that even though you feel like you might be over you head in schoolwork, that you will pull through strong. Sometimes classes may stress you out, but you just have to take a break and refocus. Take advantage of the many free things UConn has to offer like free performances, games and t-shirts! You will learn to love UConn for all it is and the husky pride runs deep!

If I had the ability to go back in time and give myself some useful advice as a high school senior, I would assure myself that it was alright to leave home. As a senior in highschool, I was apprehensive about leaving my hometown for an assortment of reasons. My family was going through some very turbulent financial changes during that stage of my life and I often felt as if I needed to stay and help support them, both emotionally and financially. After working several part-time jobs during high school, I recognized the value of obtaining a college degree. If I wanted to succeed in life and pursue my dream of being a journalist, I needed to let go of the past and seize the day. Those three words, "seize the day." I would go back in time and reassure myself that it was o.k. to leave home and begin a new journey in life. You must look back upon your past and be confident in the decisions you made, but not dwell upon them, as it is my belief that a college education is the most powerful tool in achieving success.

Stop looking for more colleges ? you already applied to 7 universities! You know the criteria you want and all the universities you applied for have those characteristics, so why are you still applying to similar colleges? It?s not the campus that will make the most of your college years; it?s the students. Universities are good at assembling diverse people with unique personalities, quirks, or beliefs. Never have my friends or siblings from different colleges sighed about how the students there have uniformed character. There are so many unique individuals in every college, come out of your shell and be forthcoming to everyone. That guy who you had a great conversation with at the end of the semester might not have the same class as you again. Take initiative to build and preserve that friendship. Friendships take work to conserve and will decay once both party stop caring. Stop expecting others to be the one to ask for your number, they might be just as shy as you. Don?t lose the opportunity to continue a promising friendship and take charge. By doing that, any college you go to will be satisfying ? so stop applying for more colleges!

If I could go back and give myself some advice during my senior year of high school to better prepare for college, I would tell myself to learn for the education and not for the test grade. High school was very easy for me, and I rarely studied for my classes. I would simply remember what the teacher said, replicate it on the test or quiz, and then forget about it. I fell victim to the belief that I really learned the information, when all I did was remember it. College was no where near as easy as high school was. I can no longer just remember what the professor said. In college, I had to teach myself how to study, something I never did in high school. I now realize I need to learn for the education and not the grade; it would have been easier to start this approach to academia in high school and not college.

I would tell myself that college is not high school. When I was younger, my parents told me that middle school was not the same as high school. When I got straight A's, I told them that it was the same. When I went to college my parents told me that it was not the same as high school. I did not believe them thinking it was going to be the same as high school. This must have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life because college is not like high school one bit. I would tell myself that my parents are right, that college is no joke. You have to constantly study in order to do well. I figured that out my first semester. Another word of advice I would give myself is to join clubs and make a lot of friends. That is going to be my home for the next couple of years and I should get involved in as many things that I can. The most important thing is to maintain balance so that I can study and have fun and enjoy the college experience.

If I could go back in time to advise myself as a high school senior, I would instruct myself to think big. Advisors often try to take a more conservative approach to the college transition. They tell students to ease their way into college by taking small course loads, finding a few activities and getting to know the people living in their dorm. I argue that approach is completely wrong and misguided. I would urge myself to learn as much as I could about my field studies and scholarship, internship, and job opportunities immediately. In college, academic advisors do not tell you what classes to take or programs to get involved with, so the time to take the initiative and find out is senior year. I would tell myself to join groups that are active and diverse. I would challenge myself to meet people of multiple ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Mostly, I would dare myself to be different, to not be afraid of doing things outside the norms and of trying things most would never think to. College is more than just receiving a degree; it is about broadening ones horizon. I would aggressively urge myself to do so.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself a lot of advice. First I would prepare myself more for the transition into my freshman year. I would have met with my roommate before moving in with her so we would feel more comfortable with each other. I would have talked to other people I knew going to the same school as me more and help them with their transition as well. I would make sure I got more involved with campus activities and joined a sorority like I initially wanted to but I got too nervous. I would of built more confidence to do dorm activities with the other girls instead of being shy and staying on my computer in my room. So overall I would change my way of thinking throughout the first couple of weeks of my freshman year.

Some advice I would give myself about college life is to seriously consider the housing application, and not to room with my bestfriend. I didn't believe what everyone said about how rooming with your bestfriend could end horribly, but it did. I found that she was a very selfish person, who didn't know the meaning of the word "compromise." I'd also tell myself not to go to UCONN, not because it's a bad school but because I never get enough sleep there. People walk down the halls at all hours of the day, screaming and laughing, with no consideration for anyone but themselves. They also like to skateboard down the hall. I think the most important thing I'd tell myself is to find a club and join it, because being bored and lonely is something that can make the whole college experience very depressing.

The advice i would give to myself is to stay focused and get involved because doing these things in college had led me to a positive experience. I would also advise myself to explore other majors before actually declaring one. I have had to change my major a couple times because I thought i was interested in certain subjects before I actually new what that subject required. Make friends! Which I think is the most important piece of advice because not only can friends make your college experience fun and rewarding but friends can also be a big help with your academic struggles.

I must confess that there are two pieces of advice that I would give myself if I oculd go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior. In college, classes only last for a semester as opposed to an entire school year. Consequently, in the typical college course there are fewer tests than in the typical high school course, and tests therefore tend to carry more weight in a college course. Thus, in college it is imperative that one take all classes much more seriously than one would in high school. Had I realized this, I would have worked harder in college than I did initially. Furthermore, if I could go back in time, I would advise myself to enter college with a tolerant attitude so as to not become angry with my roommate for being much messier than I am. It is not healthy to be worried over trivial matters, especially things that are none of one's business, such as how one's roommate chooses to organize his personal space. Such anger only causes unnecessary stress. Moreover, having an enjoyable college life requires a positive relationship with one's roommate.

Keep up a positive attitude and take risks! You know what classes you like and don't like, but that shouldn't dictate your schedule. Taking new classes, joining clubs, and doing activities that you've never done before are great. Not only will you meet more than the people on your hall, but it's a great experience to have! It might totally change the direction you're going to take, or it could further reinforce that you are the right path. Don't be scared to make new friends who want to make the most of the school too! Sign up for these activities and clubs together. There is a lot of new opportunities available and who knows when they'll come around again so take advantage of all the great things around you. So sign up for the ancient Iraq history class, join the skydiving club, and go to the silent dance party in the quad!

I'd tell myself that everything's okay - that everything works out well to the good of those who believe and have faith in themselves, that no matter what happens, it's going to be okay. I'd tell myself that there would be difficult challenges to face, that moving halfway around the world doesn't eliminate problems you seem to run away from. I'd tell myself to reach out more to people around me, that I'm not the only person who's going through the same thing. I'd tell myself to reach out to ethnic programs, maybe apply for oncampus housing with other "international" students, maybe join an ethnic association. I'd tell myself to relax, that freshmen year is the time to screw up, but that doesnt mean it should be an excuse to allow yourself to screw up. I'd tell myself that I'm only human, and capable of making mistakes and that I shouldn't be too hard on myself. I'd also tell myself not to accept those stupid credit card offers in the mail, and that I should manage my time and money wisely.

It is easy to look back at my high school days and recognize the numerous mistakes I made. Knowing what I do now, I would advise myself to relax and enjoy high school as much as possible . After a year in college, I have realized how worried and stressed out I was in high school preparing for it. The months would drag on and I couldn't stop thinking about college. What if my roomate hates me? What if I don't like my professors? What if going to college is a mistake? I would tell myself that college is not as intimidating as I perceived it to be. I'd also say that making friends in college is fairly simple and the professors are genuinely good people. Everyone is as nervous about making new friends as you are. I would include that while college is a great experience and loads of fun, you should also focus on class and try not to get sidetracked. I would tell myself you only get from the class what you put in.

I would stay in school and get a degree.

One of the first things i would change about myself would be to take more Advanced Placement classes in high school and to try to do better on the AP exams. This way my work load for my freshmen year of college would be a lot lighter giving me a chance to get ahead and have more time to adjust to the workload in college. I would also work on time management and know how to use my time efficiently to complete all my work in a timely fashion. As i mentioned before i am very open-minded so adjusting to the new college lifestyle was not much of a problem for me. In addition to this i would also try to get more involved in college activities such as joining clubs, taking part in cultural events and community service acitivities. Doing these things would make my college experience more fun and academically successful.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself to become very involved on campus right from the outset. This allows you to learn about your school, make more friends, and get personal and professional connections for the future. I would also tell myself to use the resources available on campus for transitioning to college life and prioritize my studies ahead of everything else. Socializing is important and definitely plays a role in developing as a young adult, but it need not take a front seat in your to-do list because ultimately it is not what you are there for. Also, seeing as how my school is located in the middle of farm country, I would tell myself to learn about all the options available when it comes to recreational activities. It is very important to stay open-minded in a campus environment, because that way the opportunities that are available become virtually limitless. Last but not least, I would say to get out there, have fun, and learn all you can along the way.

Study more. Time management.

If I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior self, I would recommend keeping focus on what is important and the main reason for being at school.The most important advice I would give myself and any student transitioning into college life, is to GO TO CLASS! With the new found freedom that comes with college, there is no one but yourself to motivate you to get up for classes at eight or nine in the morning. Countless studies have shown that students who go to class are much more likely to get As in their classes. One major obstacle I ran into for making it to class in the morning was staying up late, so another piece of advice I would give myself is to go to sleep at a reasonable and realistic time so as to wake up for early classes. I know that sleeping in looks very attractive when you don't have your mom yelling at you to get to school, but that's going to make the difference between making your mom happy with good grades, or regretting your decisions. Find your motivation and stay focused on what's important.

Knowing what I know now, I would first advise myself to apply for more scholarships! The expenses for this school exceed the money that I have (or my family has) so applying for more scholarships in my senior year would have helped me a great deal. I would also advise myself to spread out my difficult classes in order to minimize stress. As an Animal Science major, I learn a lot of information in each class, and it is hard to remember everything. That being said, I would suggest to my senior self to look over class notes the same day I take them. Studying a little at a time instead of looking at everything just a few days before an exam may help my memory. Studying is very important and time management is key. I would also tell myself to take more than the minimum 12 credits per semester so that I dont have to take so many classes in my senior year. All of this advice would most definitely make my college experience much easier!

Thats simple go to a college that isn't to expensive but still offers a good education.

I would tell myself to research all of the programs available in my area of interest, and not be brainwashed by my advisor. I would do more of my own research of various programs in the school instead of accepting my advisor when he promises that the one I'm enrolled in is the "best" one. I would take my advisor with a grain of salt, I suppose.

I would tell myself to always say "yes." Of course there are stipulations to this rule but for every opportunitiy offered to me I would respond with "yes" without a question. Having an open mind is one lesson that only college can teach because you are submersed in a situation where you realize how many other people you have to compete with in order to get a job and how much you have to excel in order to be noticed. I would tell any high school senior that they need to be open to any opportunity that comes their way because there is so much to take away from every situation. Every job, internship, volulnteer opportunity, and social event has a positive outcome or a learning experience built into it. Therefore, I reject negativity and the word "no." You should always be able and willing to go the extra mile and take something out of an experience, whether it be a friend, a quote, or a new thought. Therefore, when somebody offers you an experience, always say yes!

I would have let myself enjoy college a little more. If I could I would do it all over again. But I would be more social, be more out there and really enjoy the experience because you only live once.

Don't do things just because they're expected of you. It's really ok to circumvent the traditional paths in order to first figure out what you really want; that way you'll always know what you're working so hard for. To have real friends and positive relationships with the people around you are so, so important, maybe especially while you're learning. Don't go anywhere where you're not happy or do anything that you're not totally happy about. Stand up for yourself and also make sure that other people know that they're accountable, make sure they know that you're grateful for what they do to help you and that they're able to hurt you when they make mistakes. Reach out if you can. Put yourself around people you can respect, people who act like what they say and do matter, and people who hold you accountable for your words and actions. Learning is best when you're learning what you're interested in, and when you're in an environment with people like this; because in the end, the real learning happens only when you have the motivation to teach yourself.

Honestly, my main advice would be to apply for scholarships in high school! I'm having a very tough time finding good resources, whereas in high school they basically fed it to you. You take for granted the fact that half the teachers know you well enough to write a recommendation, at minimum know your name. My transition was a bit different because I decided to take a year off in between to travel and work full time. Being independent and working as an office temp really gave me a taste of the adult world. In a sense it sent me into the future a couple of years and made me realize how low the ceiling could be if I don't apply myself and do well. (Great decision!) Talking to my senior self I would reassure myself that college is not like high school. The people are different as well as the relationship you have with them and that Uconn is far enough away. I would also suggest getting a job (I had time) and being WAY more careful with money. I may suggest moving in with Tara and throw in a lotto ticket for the hell of it.

I would tell myself not to worry so much about social life. IN the long run it is not important. Don't worry about not having a million friends and going to parties. That life is not for everyone. Don't feel like an outcast or a loser if you'd rather not drink or party like all your friends are doing. Learn time management! Do not put your work off until the last minute. It will catch up with you and become overwhelming. Do not be ashamed or embarassed to go to tutors for help. Ask questions. Find other students who would like to form study groups. Sometimes it is more helpful when one of your peers can explain something to you rather than a teacher or professor. Try to get involved in campus activities, clubs and sports. It is a fun and esay way to make friends. Overall, blanace is most important. You have to create a balance between school work, friends, fun and sleep

Some advice that I would give myself is to look at all of my opportunities before making decisions that may not be the best for my future. I would also tell my self to start searching for scholarships early, therefore you have a better chance of submitting them before the deadline. I would tell myself to stay on top of my college applications and really research schools before applying to them. I would want to research the particular programs that I am interested in to know if the school is really right for me. I would also research lower priced schools so that I would be in less debt when I graduate. I would go about looking for schools differently then I did at first. Instead of looking at schools with prestige, I would look at certain programs and prices because that is really what is most important to me, a good education.

Try and pick classes that you really enjoy, there is no point to sitting through a lecture and not paying attention the whole time, its a waste of time and money. Make sure that you go to class, it helps you absorb the information, even if most of the notes are online. If you have any kind of choice make sure you get a roomate that you will get along with, roomates make all of the difference in how happy you are your first year.

As an experienced second year college student, there's a lot of things I wish I could tell my high school self. I'd tell myself to get used to studying more than a few hours the night before a test, or all of that petty drama isn't worth my time, or that being seen with my mother in the grocery store isn't the fatally embarassing. But most importantly, I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to get ready to ADJUST. The number one thing I had trouble getting used to, (along with many other college freshmen), was suddenly finding myself being a completely new indivual. My family, my friends, my four-year routine, was all a safety net that was cut the instant I was left by my family in my dorm room. Every day I was filled with choices, silly things like, what and when to eat, and serious things like taking notes instead of doodling in class. That life changing adjustment, which came as a stressful shock during my first semester of college, would have been a lot more bearable if only I had known of the interesting road ahead.

Looking back on my life as a high school senior, after attending college for one and a half years, I would have plenty of words of wisdom to give myself in order to better prepare myself for the college experience. I would tell myself, first and foremost, to prepare myself for change. In the course of my 2 and a half semesters at the University of Connecticut, I have found that life is much different from what it was in high school. Alcohol and drug use is much more prevalent in college than it is in high school. Also, classes are more challenging, requiring several hours of studying every night. However, while things may change, I would also tell my high school self that there's no reason to be afraid. College has been a wonderful and exciting experience for me. The challenging and interesting classes, coupled with the competent and helpful teaching staff, makes college academics both enjoyable and educational. The social aspect of college, although somewhat different from my high school days, is fun and serves to stimulate my interpersonal skills. Plus most colleges provide plenty of alternatives to drinking so students can enjoy themselves above the influence.

To my somewhat naive but well intending 17 year old self: I know you're kind of scared and you don't want to move on. You're afraid of changes and pretty content to stay nice and high up in the pecking order at Stamford High School. You like having lots of friends, knowing all your teachers and easily navigating around the 6+ floors. Well stop dragging your heels already!! Nothing you do can change the fact that time passes by, and you're ready and more than capable of moving on to 'bigger and better things'. Get your act together! Do more research, apply to more scholarships (if you're gonna face the inevitable, might as well do it with more cash in your pocket!). Don't treat UConn like your only choice and death sentence. Don't be so caught up in the past, and for God's sake don't give so much to your boyfriend back at home by making that hour and a half commute every weekend. - Your future and only slightly wiser self, Jessica P.S. Don't be so nervous about college academics, we have a 3.9 GPA now!!!!

I would advise myself to not think that college will not be as easy as high school was. I need to do a lot of work to keep my grades up and always pay attention in class and not slack off. I would also advise myself to talk to other students to find out about my professors and see if they have heard anything good or bad about them. This advise would have made my transition easier, however, I did not find the transition that bad.