University of Florida Top Questions

The top two things I would say to myself are max out on college credits, specifically with dual-enrollment, and work as much as you can. I took a lot of AP classes and passed them, but I could have maxed out my college credits if I had done dual-enrollment. I could handle my 6 AP classes in high school and my extracurriculars such as playing varsity soccer. Taking care of college credits in high school saves you money in college and puts you one step closer to graduating early in college which saves you time. In terms of working, I could have worked more in high school. College is expensive. Even though I was valedictorian of my high school and had a lot of extracurriculars under my belt, scholarships aren't easy to come by at the University of Florida. If I had gone to any other Florida school, I would have been set. I chose the University of Florida because of its prestige for engineering.

I would say that grades are not so important and that making friendships and being involved in extracurriculars is more rewarding. I would stress the importance of using time wisely.

If I could go back to being a high school senior, with the knowledge of what I know now about transitioning into college life, the one advise I would give to myself is to be fully aware of priorities(what truly matters) and focus on those things first. Ever since high school I was always a procrastinator; I did everthing last minute. And since it never failed me once, I brought that same attitude with me to college and that was the worst mistake ever. I failed to submit my paper on time by just one minute and that was it, I had to learn the hard way. I got a zero on my first paper and it was a huge detriment on my grade, I ended the class with a C, my worst nightmare. I knew there was no one to be blamed but myself, so ever since then I learned to organize my priorities such as assignments along with their due dates in a planner, and use that planner as my daily schedule guide to getting all my work done on time.

Due to having dropped out of high school in my junior year and getting my GED immediately afterwards, I missed the experience of a senior year. I avoided school and had no concept of the long-run. As a result, I almost failed out of high school, and had to learn basic information that I missed in my k-12 classes. Could I have gone back in time, I would teach myself proper note-taking, seeing as today I am well-known for my thorough and informative yet point-black note-taking skills, which could have done wonders for me with studying back then. I would also tell myself that k-12 is temporary and nothing like college or real life, and to just pull through and do my absolute best, because the information obtained in k-12 is indeed incredibly valuable. Finally, I would advise myself not to run away from my calling and not to doubt my own potential; I knew from the age of thirteen that I was destined to be a psychologist, but due to fear and doubt in my abilities, I avoided this path and compromised a focal point from which to advance college.

Dear Lina, Starting senior year seems very daunting now. On top of all of your classes, you're going to have to apply to college. I know you have dreams of going to an Ivy League school and making everyone proud. Listen to me though. The name of your college is not as important as the work you put into your classes. Chemistry will be just as challenging at any school in the country. Physics will cause you many sleepless nights regardless of your professor or your university. So stop worrying! You need to make the best choice for yourself. State schools have so much to offer, and I promise you that you will be happy no matter where you end up! Stay focused and keep up with your classes. Keep working hard at the lab and learn as much as you can before you have to move on. The most important thing to remember right now is that your future has so many possibilities. College is a whole new world where you can start fresh and gain new perspective on life. Sure, everything now seems to revlve around high school, but there is much more to life! Love, Lina

Make sure you talk to more people in your classes; make friends. You don’t need to be shy. Many of the other students are just like you, looking to meet new people. Take the time when you first move into the dorms to get to know your immediate neighbors and your RA. It will make the transition and your time there so much easier if you make friends with those living with you. That way if anything comes up you can call on them for help or to ask a favor, but make sure you do the same for them, too. Also, you should get involved in clubs and school activities so that you feel connected to the campus and meet more people. You never know, you might meet some really cool people that way. You might even meet people that could become lifetime friends, or even future colleagues. Don’t forget to talk to your professors and visit them during their office hours. They’re there to help, and if they teach classes in your major, then getting to know them will give you the chance to meet experienced people in your field.

The main thing I would advice myself is to do more research on the different types of opportunities the college or university has to offer. For example, I went to a community college and there are no bench research opportunities but they had a program that helped us understand what research was. The program also helped us understand how we can get involved in research once we transferred to a four-year university. Another thing I would advice myself is once I am in college to understand what opportunities there is for community college students to make a successful transition to a four-year university. I will just tell my high school self that college will be fine and that there are people that will help guide us in the right direction and that everything will turn out well.

Apply as early as possible to the schools you are interested in! After that, take the time to apply for ever single scholarship you are eligible for!

Would I have the ability to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior with the wealth of knowledge I have garnered, I would tell myself to simply relax. College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that older individuals always looks back to fondly, and that's because it simply is the best time of your life. School work and money can absolutely be stressful, but in the long run, you're only in college for a few short years, and time moves so quickly that you should have no choice but to enjoy it. To my high school self: enjoy college, because it's the only 4 years of it you'll have.

I would take my education more seriously and went straight to college right out of high school. College is just another learning experience that nobody will ever be able to take and there are better job opportunities with higher education.

If I could go back in time and gove myself a piece of advice, I would probably tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to get involved in a community service project during the summer.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that college is a lot of personal responsibility. You have to make a conscious decision to do well. Do not worry about the social aspect of school it will always be there, but focus on the goal that school will provide. The goal is a great education and at the end of the 4 years a Bachelor’s Degree for a profession that you will enjoy doing and making a wonderful living at it.

I know you’re nervous about this huge change that’s about to happen in your life. That’s normal. Just know that starting college is the single greatest experience of your life. You’re going to meet your best friends, and these friends will be there with you through the hardest times. You’re never going to be alone again. Don’t worry about forgetting about your high school friends or having them forget about you. You will keep in touch with the ones who are worth keeping in touch. Your floor mates are going to become your family; you should go out and meet them the first day rather than waiting a while. Pretty soon, you’re going to be planning trips with them, and you won’t even remember what it’s like to not have that kind of support. Your roommate won’t become your best friend like you want, but if you wait until second semester, your best friend will become your roommate. Just remember, you are about to experience the best times of your life so relax, take a breath, and enjoy.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself when I was high school senior, I would tell myself that on-campus living is not glamorous, but it is how I will make my greatest friends. I would tell myself that football games are the most incredible experiences, but they are time consuming. Saturdays strictly become game days. I would tell myself not to overwhelm myself with too many extra-curricular activities, but to find a few that I am really passionate about. I would tell myself to travel, because different programs offered reduced prices for it. I would tell myself to explore my new city and find the best, authentic diners and restaurants as possible. I would tell myself to sit in the front of my classes, in front of the professors. It makes it incredibly easy to pay attention and learn when you sit upfront. Most of all, I would tell myself that every decision is mine to make, but my success depends on whether or not I make the right decision.

I would tell myself not to be too worried. As a freshman, I was way too anxious about my classes. Instead of being upbeat and enjoying the newfound freedom I had, I wasted my time fretting about how difficult my classes would be. I would also advise my high school senior self to to begin to learn how to be more extroverted and look into joining clubs and organizations early in the year. Aside from schoolwork, working with others for a cause and expanding your social life is quite important. Not only does involvement look good on a resume, but it allows you too meet others who have similar interests. Through clubs and student organizations, one may also learn more about the fields they plan to study as well as benefit the community. It's also not just work, but being able to know people through clubs gives you an oppertunity to invite new friends over for a night on University Avenue, where all the fun happens.

Find your balance. The most crucial advice is to maintain a healthy balance throughout all aspects of your life. Learn how to balance and budget your money; and how to save for unexpected situations. Also, learn how to manage your time efficiently because you will need all of it. It is important to prioritize your academics first, and then everything else should follow. You are here to receive an education so take in as much as you can from your courses because that is what you are paying for. Make sure to get involved in one or two clubs on campus that you are truly passionate about and to get involved in your community. The time left over should go to enjoying a social life, but remember that there will always be another party, so do not lose sight of your priorities. It is also crucial to have a healthy diet, get a good amount of sleep, and exercise weekly. Also, take as many opportunities to travel and experience new things as possible. This will be the best time of your life and also the time when you truly find who you are, enjoy every minute of it.

It's your senior year of high school, have a little more fun. Once you graduate life will get much harder and you'll have more responsibilities. When your tied down with a job and children and stressed out, you will look back and wonder why you were so tied and stressed out when you were young and free.

I would still go to Kirkwood Community College to get my Associate of Arts but instead of going to Kirkwood for the Architectural Technology Diploma I should go directly to University of Nebraska-Lincoln for Zoo Animal Care. If I go straight to Nebraska I would get more scholarships and it would take less time to complete the degree. I would save myself a lot of time and money by going back but going to Kirkwood for the first two years was fun and well worth the education and experiences.

First thing I would tell myself is to get medical help for my attention deficit disorder prior to being a junior in college because it would have definitely helped me understand why it was so hard for me to focus in class. I would advocate myself to start saving up money for college as soon as possible because living away fromm home isn't cheap. That being said I should fight off the sense of senioritis and continue taking my classes seriously and even though it may be annoying to be stuck studying while everyone else takes it easy that last year, I should keep taking harder classes to constantly be challenging myself. Inturn it would have made for an easier transition to face the rigor of actual college work. I would warn myself that all the fun and adventure I will ever perience as a high school senior has fails in comparison with the cheer and excitement that comes with being part of a major university.

As a freshman in college I have realized that there were various ways to make my transition from high school to college much less stressful. I would tell myself to stop waiting till the last minute to make important decisions and that it is always better to do things earlier rather than later. I would tell myself to look out for deadlines such as housing, FAFSA, scholarships, and registration. The worst thing I could do my senior year would be to wait till the last minute to meet deadlines. I would tell myself to never make assumptions, but to always ask question for things I had doubts about or just did not know the answers to. I would tell my-self to keep myself updated and in contact with my college, and that it is much better to get advice from the school itself than from others. The key advice I would tell myself as a high school senior is to not wait till the last minute for major deadlines, and to base my choices on what is best for me, and not on what others think.

If I could tell myself one thing in high school it would have been to be more concerned about the connection I had to the campus rather than the prestige of the school.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that everything in life happens for a reason and that one learns more from failures than successes. Graduating from high school class president, valedictorian, and also with my Assoicates degree in Journalism, I was not sure where life would take me. Applying to the University of Florida, I went on to pursue a degree in medicine and plunged into the pre-medical field having no adequate science or math background compared to many of my pre-med colleagues. Having acquired A's my entire educational career, the transition to the world math and science was trying. In addition, my father serves in the U.S. Air Force and my family was stationed states away. Although the time was tumultuous, it is within my first year that I discovered myself and unleashed a new vigor of hardwork and determination to perserve and learn that life is full of challenges. I learned more through tribulation than I have ever before in my past filled with nonstop success. Life is what you make of it, plain and simple. Look forward, not backwards!

College is an amazing time of self discovery and becoming the man/woman you want to be. I strongly encourage you to take a well balanced approach to the type of activities that you do over these next 4 years. Join a fraternity, join a sports club team, volunteer every now and then, and start joing leadership organizations immediatly! Organize NOW what you want to accomplish by the end of your four years so you can properly plan how to achieve your goals. Don't get stressed out with school, just always stay on top of when your exams and papers are and you will be fine. BE SOCIAL! There are amazing people on campus to meet. Meet people at student organizations, bars, and just hanging out with friends. Be sure to do at least a few big road trips with your best friends and focus on making memories.

Research everythiing from books to school equipment and get involved in everything. Don't forget the reason you are at college: to learn! Embrace new things and have fun!

If I were to give my High School self advice, I would surely let her know she did a great job at what she did. I would tell her to get started cooking at home as much as possible to start her practice at the Culinary Arts. I would also tell her to stick with her first job for atleast a year, then get into the food industry as soon as possible to start her hands on experience. I would tell her to attend all food shows and Culinary opportunties that should could. The most important thing I would tell her is to open a savings account and start a budget, do NOT free spend, you will miss that money once its gone, and you never know when you'll need it or when an emergency will present itself. Lastly I would tell her not to stress the small things, and focus on what is good for her, and what her goals are.

You don't have the answers to everything, so take into account what those who have experienced this before have to say. Be ready. College is not a continuation of high school but rather a whole different ball game. Stay positive and stay focused. Make sure to put the Lord first in all of your endeavors and he will always bless you and guide you to do exactly what you need to do to make it through. Apply yourself in every way you think possible. Do not get discouraged, this is the beginning of your life. You are supposed to make mistakes and learn some things along the way. Follow your heart and live your dreams. And most importantly ask questions! You will never know the answer unless you ask.

It is important to complete your high school education and to obtain a college degree. Without accomplishing this will prevent you from earning a decent living for you and a family. You will also benefit from college life and all it has to offer. It will enhance your life in many ways such as-How to speak effectively, think critically, write effectively, use your time wisely, learn diversity and so on. I was a high school drop-out and was limited to jobs that had no growth potential for me because I did not have a proper education. I am a single parent of five children. I earned a minimal income as a result. At 47, I am learning the things that I should have learned many years ago. I recently received my GED and attend a community college in pursuit of an associates degree in Business Administration/Human Resource Management. I am unable to join clubs, study as I should, participate in extra activities, net-work with other students etc., because I have to work a full time job in order to pay for housing, car payment and other bills that come with life-Do not become me.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school, I would tell myself that it will be alright, and even exciting. I wish I would have known not to be so anxious and scared of the changes and the transitions. When I came to college, I was so nervous and confused that I didn't fully enjoy the opportunity. I was preoccuppied with my concerns and fears. I would advise myself to put those negative thoughts out of my mind and be more optimistic. Afterall, positivity is key, and hindsight is 20/20!

Appreciate the comforts of home while you have them and never take anything for granted. It is important to get involved and stay involved in high school and take advantage of the opportunities available there. Appreciate the supportive environment while you have it. Treasure every moment and don't wish away such a special year of your life!! Make sure you do your best in school and allow time for those special memories. This truly is a special time and it goes byu so fast!

This has to be a dream. I am looking at myself--well, myself minus one year. Past-Me looks up. She is biting her nails, a habit I gave up recently. “How old are you?” she asks. “I’m nineteen.” The dawn of realization is almost comical. “So you’re in college?” “Yes, I go to the University of Florida.” Her eyes cloud with disappointment. “I know, we didn’t reach our dream of leaving Florida. But I have some good news.” “I’m sure,” she snarks back. Was I always that snarky in high school? “Without UF’s English department, we would still be lost with no idea what we want to do in life. We could still be trying to be sociologists.” She doesn’t seem too impressed. “Right now I’m looking into internships with magazines. And I’ve also found a graduate publishing program in London. We have a lot more opportunities now.” Now she seems to budge. “We have plans? Actually future plans? What happened to throwing a dart at a dartboard and taking the career it lands on?” I shrug. “Things worked out. I am really happy where I am right now.”

Dear High School Senior Laura, I know your childhood was extremely rough. I know you were bullied to no end by some of the people you thought you could trust. Do not be afraid to let people into your life. Love and friendship are two of the greatest experiences in life. You may not have self esteem now but try to love yourself and it will come naturally. Don't listen to those who hurt you, these people are in fact jealous of you and know you will go far. I know you have let yourself believe that you are not smart from what others have said. Believe in yourself and you will be amazed at what you will accomplish in the next few years. There is nothing wrong with going to a Community College. I guarantee you will have some of the best experiences in your life by taking this path. Take every opportunity you can in school. I know you won't but never give up on your dreams. Remember with everything you do to relax, enjoy life, and be thankful for everything you have. I am proud of everything you have ever done. Love, Your older self

I would ssay to never give up even when times get rough.

The advise I would give myself would have to be to apply for scholarships earlier. The University of Florida is a great school,but it is very expensive, and somewhat hard to find a job.

I would tell myself that its either now or never. I really would not wait to get as old as I am today to really think about returning to College. As, a high school senior, I had many dream of becoming a Nursing. I have a passion for helping people. I think one thing in life should be for us to give back to others whehter it be helping, sharing what ever it is. So, as I look at life in a different way, I see now that I have the potential to become whatever I want to be in life. Thank You.

If given the opportunity to go back in time, there are two pieces of advice that I would give myself. The first piece of advice may not be the most original, but I believe its importance cannot be underestimated: do not be afraid to take risks. Taking risks can include stepping out of your comfort zone to do something you never thought possible. For me, that something was competing in business case competitions on campus, which eventually allowed me to travel to two international case competitions in Montreal and Maastricht in the Netherlands. Here, I had the privilege to meet motivated individuals like myself from all over the world who shared a passion for tackling the issues businesses face today. The second piece of advice is the following: find a mentor in your first year of college. I have recently been exposed to the benefits of mentorship, and looking back, I wish I would have taken the initiative to pursue a mentor earlier. Mentors are invaluable because they have been in your shoes before, and they have the knowledge to take you where you want to go. With someone on your side, college will never be a lonely place.

I would advise myself to attend a community college first before going to a 4-year institution. The community college atmosphere allows students to become the independent learners that they need to be, while at the same time continuing at least some monitoring of their progress. At the 4-year college level, students are instantly on their own and often find it difficult to maintain a strong learning attitude with so much stimuli around them that does not promote education. As a result, those students who have not developed the ability to become independent learners often find themselves returning home to attend a community college within the first year of university.

I would give myself more advice on how to choose the correct courses and exactly what to expect when entering college. Of course, through time, students learn and become more aquanted with the college lifestyle. However, it is always nice and very helpful to receive reliable information on how to do things before being stuck in a sticky situation. Allowing myself to feel confortable and confident with the decisions I make.

Put forth effort into your studies of health sciences while you still can in high school AND your own physical well-being! Cherish your buddies and peers! Both organic chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology were available in high school- it might have done yourself good to get some steady background on these two areas before taking the prerequisites for dental hygiene in college. I think physical education and other recreational sports such as cheerleading and soccer would have given you a fit body, mind, and confidence level to get you a healthy head start in college. When you get into college, there will be less time to socialize and spend time with loved ones. Put in effort to make the best of youth, stay carefree, and you'll have memories of good friends and family during the stressful situations college will bring forth. Remember- you're kind, you're loved, and you're smart. Best wishes!

Throughout my time in college, I've learned that the potential to succeed and learn is propelled by the presence of confidence. As a high school student, I often faced circumstances of timidness and uncertainty in myself. During many discussions in class or amongst friends, I would have relevant and intelligent opinions, but often found myself to be afraid in expressing them. When I came to college, I promised a change in lifestyle. Since then, I have led student government campaigns, funraised tens of thousands of dollars for numerous charities, and served on the executive council of the oldest fraternity in the world, Chi Phi. If I could speak to my former self, I would tell him, "Never be afraid in anything you say or do. Forget about what others think. At the end of the day, all one has is themself. The moment you learn to let go of everything, will you be able to achieve anything."

I would tell her that marrying at this early age is a mistake. I would push her to join the military, get her education, get into a career, and then set up housekeeping. Talk to "Momma" about how u feel; she will understand and she WILL support whatever helps u succeed in life and get closer to GOD!

If i could go back as a highschool senior, I would actually go my senior year. Yes, I graduated from my highschool, but I graduated a year early in my junior year, because I felt overwhelmed with the highschool experience, and I felt extremely alone.There are so many days that I wonder what if. What if i stayed my senior year would things have been different or would they have stayed the same? What if I really did miss out on the best time of my life with my senior prom, senior class trip, or even walking with my class to get my diploma. I think if I could go back I would tell myself not to give in so easy just because somethings scaring me away. I would tell myself to enjoy life and have fun every chance you get because you never know when it will all be gone. I would tell myself just because certain people don't like me or the things I do it doesn't matter that I should be my own person no matter what and follow my heart. I would tell myself to never give up on something i have dreamed.

As a senior in high school, emotions and excitment are high. I was ready to leave my small rural town and see all that the world had to offer. Yet, I wish I could go back and tell myself to slow down. To set priorities BEFORE I stepped into my first classroom, and to smile at every person I met. I would tell myself, that you are more then your GPA defines you, and in order to do extraordinary in classes you have to stay extremly organized and intent during lecture. I would tell myself that meeting other people is not as hard as it seems, but everybody else is just as nervous as me. You are not alone. Most importantly, I would tell myself that there are many people with different opinons, values, religion, upbringings then myself and in order to fully understand where people are coming from I have to realize and understand our differences in order to work well together and learn about other cultures. The best advice I could give myself, is to simply take one day at a time gratefully. Thanks for your time and consideration for this scholarship!

Hakuna matata; jana ni jana, juzi ni juzi.

Test Entry

I really worked alot in highschool to be were I am today. If there was one thing I would of done more is have gone on Study abroad trips to be more aware of different cultures.

If I could go back I would definitely approach the college application process with a little more organization. This is what ultimately helped me decide that I would like to study and achieve a degree in order to become a high school guidance counselor in order to help students prepare their college applications. I would love to become the someone I needed to help guide me through my applications and answer my questions about due dates, application costs, recommendation letters, and even searching for scholarships.

I would have told myself to actually study. That alone would have landed me in a different spot than where I am today even though the situation is not even that bad. I feel that if I studied like how I do now, there is no reason for not getting all A's and getting into MIT like I planned.

If I could go back in time to my high school senior year, I would tell myself to take more challenging classes that would set the foundation for my major. Instead of concentrating on a well rounded academic curriculum, I would have specialized in classes that would help me be more successful in college. I would tell myself to take more control of my life and not depend so much on my parents for things such as balancing my checkbook, living on a budget, making meal choices, etc.

Hang in there, you're almost done! Senioritis is inevitable, but have responsible fun! You'll wake up many mornings, and motivation will be hard to find. One important skill you need to learn now, is to just keep your goals and dreams in mind. Pretty soon, Acceptance letters will begin to arrive. One will be from the University of Florida, And you will jump and cry from joy, But don't worry, you will survive. Your life will significantlly change, Just a few months after you walk across that stage. The world will be yours to conquer, As you write a new life story page by page. Once you give your mother a kiss goodbye, There will be no one to steer your way. No one will force you up in the morning, So just like senior year, Your goals and dreams will get you through the day. Whenever an opportunity comes up, say "Yes!" and eliminate your fears. You will experience new things and see new places, that you only thought possible in your wildest dreams. Don't get behind on classwork, Sucess is your priority. At the same time have fun, And live life in its entirety.

If I could go back a year ago, I would tell myself that college is far different from the way Hollywood pictures it to be. Moving away from home will not be the smooth transition many highschool seniors expect it to be. You will be homesick at one point, it's inevitable, so try to spend as much time as you can with your family and friends back home while you still can . Also, learn how to manage your time early on in the semester becuase classes only get more difficult as the semester goes on and its easier to pass a class with a good grade if you score well on the first exams. While you may think that dorm life will be exciting becuase it is like an extended slumber party,that will not always be the case. There will be many boring days and nights spent in your room studying. Most importantly, break out of your shell and become involved on campus early. Find clubs that interest you and join them becuase you will meet truly great people who motivate and support you in becoming a more indpendent and confident person.