University of Florida Top Questions

During the time I was a high school senior, I was enrolled into a college preperation program. During that time, I was guided through the college application process, met a lot of different people, and was exposed to many different views. I visited different colleges and was able to stay overnight at a few of them. The people I talked to both in and out of college was also very helpful. They informed me of things that I could expect when going to college. Some of the stories apply to me now and some don't. I feel like I did well in making the transition. I was always independent and being on a campus made me even more so. However, the one thing I would have changed was to tell myself to learn how to drive. It is very hard to get around if your campus isn't in a city. Growing up in a city, I was use to public transportation and didn't have to know how to drive. But I had more free time back then. I want to learn now but classes get in the way. So that would be one thing I would say.

Time travel is a bizarre phenomenon that would bring so much positive change or disturbance to our world. Regardless, we have not yet harvested that ability but if we could I would go back to myself in my senior year of high school and see a naive and anxious girl—ready to step off into the world of adulthood and a life “on her own.” After experiencing that transition I made that fateful summer in 2008, I would have done things differently. I would tell my younger self to step beyond the boundaries of what I knew and used as a crutch. I failed to meet new people and try new things. I stayed in my dorm room too often and complained to my Resident Assistant at my noisy neighbors next door. Maybe had I stepped outside and knocked on their door to joined, I would have had a more fulfilling transition rather than feeling so alone and homesick. Ultimately, I would tell myself to let fear go and just dive in and change my perspective on life for the better through the experiences and interaction with people unlike myself. That would set the stage for a rewarding college experience.

The advice I would give myself would be to just relax and enjoy the the college experience. It is ok to feel uncomfortable and step out of your comfort zone. It is ok to take risks and go for things that you believe in. You can never get back the experiences you can have in college, they are fun and amazing and prepare you for the future. You will learn and know everything you need to know to be successful by the time you graduate. You will have made life long friends and had the time of your life. So...just relax, be responsible and enjoy the ride

Dear High School Me, Congratulations on becoming a Gator! This is an incredibly exciting time & one of the biggest transitions you will encounter. Here's some advice to help you make the most of your experience. First, don't listen to everyone and live in the "nicer" dorm. Although convenient, it's unbearably unsocial and your roommate will never talk to you. It's best to live in one of the smaller, more social dorms on campus and meet as many people as possible! Next, remember that you're no longer in high school with just a few thousand students. A majority of your teachers will not know you or care if you fail; you have to be your own best advocate for your success. Because of this, you will actually have to study!! Don’t think you can slide by with doing so little and still get As like you have been. Lastly, you will have a lot of money left over from you financial aid, DO NOT SQUANDER IT! You will most likely have thousands left over that you can use for something worthwhile (which does not include clothes and shoes), so save it for a rainy day.

It seems like just yesterday I was walking across the stage in my high school's football field to receive my diploma. I remember all the excitement that ran through my veins as I looked forward to moving to Gainesville, to learning how to live on my own, and to continuing on the path to my future career. Yet, that day occurred 2 years ago. Even though I am grateful for all of the learning experiences (both inside and outside of the classroom) that I have had so far, I would love to give my high school senior self three pieces of advice that I feel would have made the transition into college a much easier one for me. Firstly, I'd say do not lose sight of your goals - remain an active learner who maintains a high GPA so that keeping options such as attending Law School open is easier. Secondly, avoid getting lazy at any cost by getting involved on campus and in the community as soon as possible. Lastly, look into internships and other opportunities that will help you decide which profession is truly right for you. This advice would have made my transition much smoother.

Knowing how difficult the transition between high school and college is, there are three things that I would suggest to myself as a high schooler to encourage a better transition. The first would be to make my first semester's course-load easier than I did; having too much work combined with too many extra-cirriculars was a disastrous move that impeded my academic success. I would also suggest to myself that I should have developed better sleeping habits so that I could spend more time studying during the day time. The last thing I would suggest is to use the resources that the school provides; UF offers free tutoring and other services that will ultimately help students academically. If I could have warned myself about these three dangers of college, I believe I would currently be a lot happier about the outcome of my first year.

Hind sight is always 20/20, a saying that most adults are familar with. If I had the oppertunity to go back in time and give myself advice i'm not sure I would. See we are the sum of our experiances and memories that we gather throughout our life. At 33 years old and still working toward a BS, one would definatly be tempted to make changes. However altering the path I took would effect not just my life but all the other people's lives I have impacted throught the years. I can honestly say that I am happy with who I am as a person and wouldn't want to change.

Going back in time and giving myself advice would be a dream come true. There are so many things I thought I knew then that were false impressions of what graduating and college would be. Im an older college student now because I have struggled so much with life. I am in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor program and am very happy. I would have told high school me to take school seriously. College isn't a time to party. School is important and needs to be taken seriously if you want to succeed in the real world. College is there to prepare you to become an adult and be able to be successful with a job. I also would tell myself that life isn't easy and is full of challenges, but the way you handle yourself in those situations will make you stronger and a better person. Don't ever give up on yourself. You are the only one who can believe in you and you can make a difference in the world if you put your mind to it. Pick up the pieces and dont ever give up. College is important and so are you.

College is about finding your own personality and limitations. The most important thing to remember is that every one else is nervous. Living on campus is the best way to ensure your college experience will be a good one. Your roommate(s) and floormates are an automatic basis of friends. You just have to remember that everyone is out of their comfort zones, and that will make it a lot easier to approach other people. In college, you want to be able to do every possible activity and not want to be constrained by finances. I would advise that the student work during their senior summer and save as much as humanly possible. Books and tuition are killer, so apply for scholarships as well. You can never send out too many applications or write too many essays to try and get college paid for. I am going to be a sophmore in college and I am trying to graduate college debt free. To date, I have not accrued any student loans, and I am trying to keep it that way. The bottom line is to remember that college is a growing experience, and just be flexible.

Stay focused on your education, but do not stress out too much if everything seems too overwhelming. A social life is important, but do not forget that your main job is school and moderation is key. This is your first taste of complete freedom with no parents or family telling what you do, so this is the time to learn responsibilty for your actions. Every action has a reaction, so if you decide not to go to class or not study for your test the next day there will be no way to admonish you. There will be consequences to your actions that you will need to take responsibilty for. That being said, do not hold back or be scared for fear that you will make mistakes. You will and you will learn from them. Growth is about having as many experiences as you can and learning from the bad ones. So enjoy yourself, because these next four years will be what you make of them. Meet new people, try new things, put your all into your work, and remember to really ENJOY your college experience and all of its ups and downs.

Carefree and relieved that all of my hard work is finally over. That is how I felt at the end of my senior year of high school. I thought that after my graduation, life would be easy. I worked hard throughout school, and I was ready to reap the benefits. However, I overestimated the amount of benefits I would receive. Now that I have completed my first year, I would tell my high school senior self that it will not be as easy as I thought. I would advise myself to take all of my classes just as seriously as I did in high school. While my grades did not slip severely in college, I slacked off more than I should have at the beginning. On a completely different note, I would also tell myself to learn how to cook. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Ramen noodles can only last a college kid so long. Food at Thanksgiving and Christmas break reminded me of the joys of having variety in my diet. Taking class seriously and learning how to cook are the two most important things that I wish I would have known back then.

I would tell myself not to worry and stress. As a high school senior, I was worried about fitting in, making friends, and the work load. I would tell myself college is just another step and that I could do it. I would also assure myself that everything was going to work out and to stop worrying so much.

If I were to have time with myself as a senior in high school, the main thing that I'd emphasize before entering college would be the development of good habits. Specifically, the habits of self-control and time management are extremely important. At UF, there is always an opportunity to engage in some kind of social, athletic, or other kind of activity. This can be great but can also be very distracting and in some cases harmful. Every activity offers some kind of promise for happiness, but the ability to control yourself and give up that immediate happiness for a more long-term one, like that of self-fulfillment based on excellent academic performance, etc. is very important. Along the same thread of thought, the 24 hours we receive everyday can disappear very quickly if not managed properly. Eating, sleeping, class time, and work (in some cases) take up the majority of the day, so the remaining few hours becomes increasingly precious. The ability to harness that time and use it in the most effective way like for studying, nurturing important relationships, etc. is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to develop before entering college life.

I would defnitely take my AP exams more seriously.

I came into college knowing that it would be hard, but also thinking that it would be a piece of cake. I've been so use to excelling in school at when a serious challenge arised, I couldn't conquer it. If I was given the chance to go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell my self three things. First, I would explain how college is really going to be. I think hearing the challenges from myself will get me to actually listen because I've been there already. Second, I would remind myself that failure is inevitable and that I have to power to rise up again. I would not however tell myself what to do to excel because that could alter time. I realize that to get where I am today, I needed to fail. They're called life lessons, something everyone needs including me. Third, I would ephasize the importance to enjoy life, encourage myself to try new things. Sometimes forget that change is not necessarily bad because I don't want to change myself. Just because life changes, does not mean that my values have to.

If I could talk to my high school senior self I would tell him, first and foremost, “do not slack off on scholarships! The economy only gets worse and while you may have a sufficient amount now, they will take away from it each year. Not out of spite, but out of an inability to afford it! Believe me when I say that the last thing you want is to have money restrictions and worries during, what should be, the greatest years of your life” The second thing that I would tell myself is that, “college is not like high school, it does not wait for you or anyone else! It is moving at its own steady pace and if you are not moving then cannot imagine just how much you will be missing out on. So please, Jodell. Don’t wait as long as I did to be yourself, to think about yourself. In college it is all up to you to take care of things. There are many people who can help but you have to seek them out, which means that above all you have to know what it is that you need, and what you want.”

Coming from a magnet school and being in the top 5 of my high school class, I really thought I was on top of this new college thing, but I was completely wrong. Living on your own with no parents to supervise you, the freedom of choice to do whatever you please (as long as it is law-abiding), and having the choice of becoming whatever you want to be is really exciting, yet a very shocking life change for students entering college. In college, I've learned to make the best with what I have and to always keep pushing forward to be all that I can be. If I had the chance to go back and talk to high school me, I would tell myself to not be oblivious to a helping hand and always be attentive to whatever college opportunities there are. Go to college tours, harass your counselors about scholarships, and get involved. Yes a high GPA is well achieved, but books are not everything. Being interactive within and without school helps you learn real life lessons and become a well rounded person for college and yourself.

"Do not go to school for liberal arts" I went to a community college right out of highschool for liberal arts. After two years, I had gained very little and had still not decided what I wanted to go to school for. At that point, I had to start working. When I lost my job due to a layoff I went back to school, but this time I went for something I knew I would like to do, Graphic Design. Now, I know I am gaining a lot out of my classes specifically because I want to be there. I am very interested in the subject matter, and I am always trying to be better at it. The best advice I could give myself would be to ignore everyone and actually do something you want to do with your education. I know now that when I find work in my field it will be work I am actually engaged in, and I think that is the best thing anyone can hope for in a profession.

The advice I would give myself would be to not be afraid to try new things. College offers you the opportunity to find yourself and to find something that you truly love to do. If you prevent yourself from keeping an open mind you will miss these chances to find what college has to offer you. I truly loved my first year at the University of Florida because I always kept an open mind. I always was willing to try new things and explored what the campus had in store for me. For example, I took a public speaking course this past semester. When I signed up for the class, I was worried about speaking in front of people. Instead of dreading the challenge of public speaking, I embraced it. I put my heart and sould into it and got something great out of the course. I feel that I am better prepared for future job interviews because of the tools that the class offered me. If I had not given the class a chance and kept an open mind, I would not have been able to enjoy the benefits that the class has given to me.

For my high school senior self- I know that you think that you are not smart enough to go and there is not enough money to pay for college... but that is very far from the case. As I have finally come to realize, we are workaholics. That goes for both work AND for school. It is possible to do both and succeed. You just have to stay focused so you can make something of ourselves. That head of ours is a good one, and don't ever doubt that. There will be times where you will want to give up. Don't make that mistake, as it it will cost you almost two years of untransferrable credits. Pursue your artistic goals and never settle for being mediocre. Don't be afraid of going off to a particular school because it was "too far". Go! Embrace the journey that is life! Follow your dreams, hang in there, and it will very much be worth it in the end.

The advice I would give to myself if I could go back and talk to myself is to apply for more scholarships, get prepared for huge changes, and be alot less lazy.

I would tell myself to embrace the potential of each new day and the changes that college brings. No matter how big the problems and obstacles may appear at first there's always a way to make it through. If there's one thing I've learned from my experience in college it would be this, don't panic and be who you are. College is a great place to form friendships that can last for a lifetime; to make friends that are more than willing to accept your personality and all the quirks that go with it. That's the beauty of a University system, it unites so many people from all kinds of different backgrounds and places that otherwise never would of come into contact with one another. Most importantly I would tell my younger self to enjoy it because even though it may seem as if time is moving slower than molasses during those afternoon lectures it will be over in a flash, but the memories that you make will be what truly lasts.

If I could go back in time, I would give myself three words of advice: "Don't be afraid." In my time at the University of Florida, I have come to realize that, going into college, you have no idea what will be best for you, what you will love and what you will hate, who you will treasure forever and who will be brief in your life. The most important thing that I have come to realize about college is that you can never fear the future: if you love what you are doing, you will love what comes afterwards. Fear stops people everyday from joining interesting clubs or taking difficult classes, or from changing their major once, twice, or even 12 times (like one of my closest friends). I would be sure to tell myself to be as self-aware and adventurous as possible, trying everything and meeting everyone just for the chance in order of finding something or someone you will treasure for the rest of your life.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would advise myself to volunteer time or intern at an organization or company while still in college. First, contributing some of your time toward work will minimize the temptations of on-campus lifestyle. I believe that managing a work schedule and academic studies would have made many of us better students, because we would not have the time to attend the fraternity parties, collegiate sporting events and other on-campus activities. Secondly, your contribution of labor could lead to financial assistance towards your college expenses. Some organizations and companies offer scholarships to student that work for them. Also, if a company considers you an asset, they could offer you a paid internship or employment. Not only will you obtain valuable work experience, you would have extra money to pay for tuition, books, food and other personal expenses. I believe college life experience can be great. You just have to manage the coursework, parties and sporting events. Working as a volunteer or intern will help you utilize your time more efficiently, so you can focus more on your education.

The number one piece of advice for my past self would be to not only get involved, but get involved as much as possible. At 18 most people (myself definitely included) have no clue what they want to do for a career. The best way to figure out the answer to that intimidating question is to get hands on experience. A "valuable" degree is important, but it won't do any good if you aren't loving what you do. For instance, many of my classmates studied all day every day, determined to get into a professional program like medicine or pharmacy. Many of these people got in only to find they had written their own career-life death sentence. It is vital to get hands on experience, even if it is just volunteering. No textbook will provide the intimate view of what a career is actually like. In addition, I would advise any incoming student to relax. Have fun! These are some of the best years of your life. No one ever lost out on a job because they made a few C's in college. College is a special time, so enjoy the ride.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not stress over social issues and to keep my focus on my goals. I would tell myself to apply for every scholarship available because after the joy of getting into your dream school bubbles down, reality sets in and you learn that without financial aid, attending college will be impossible. What I have learned through my transition is that fitting in with the right crowd or aspiring to be some popular fictional character has no place in college. Unlike high school, no one knows each other, and everyone has a chance to start new. If I could understand that as a high school senior, my insecurities and negative views of myself would transform into confidence and self-understanding. Transitioning from high school to college has taught me to set the standards for my personal growth high, and to rise to the occasion. If I could, I would go back and tell every college senior that they are not alone in their insecurities, and that their passions are contagious when they have a hunger to pursue them regardless of what others may think.

If I could go back in time, I would definitely tell myself to spend more time thinking about my major and what career I would want with that degree. I didn't put enough consideration into my major when I went to college straight out of high school, so I was undeclared. When it came time for me to pick a major, I had no idea what to pick and I dropped out of school. If I had put serious thought into my future, I would have had more career options for myself and more opportunities to improve my life. I have realized that my options are severely limited without a college education, and I have put a lot of thought into my future this past year. I finally have a major picked out, and a career plan for myself. Now that I have everything figured out, nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dreams!

Since being a senior in high school, I have learned countless lessons and have embraced them as they have led me to the place I am today. During senior year there are an overwhelming amount of activites going on and with college as a life changing decision, I can definitely say to be patient, keep up the hard effort, and be flexible. By this I mean to be patient and calm overall when it comes to the application stage, understanding that the place you are meant to be will always be in your favor no matter any other circumstances. At the same time, keeping up the hard work leads to continuing success in high school as you're about to complete it. Last, being flexible refers to adjusting to college as numerous changes take place on a day to day basis. From living with a random roommate, taking difficult courses, and being away from home, you are suddenly thrown into a portion of the real world. Within 4 years you will be a well educated adult who has learned the basics of life, one who has grown because of college and its useful assistance for everyday matters.

If I could give my high school self advice about college life and making the transition into college, I would tell myself to be more open and less hesitant. I would tell myself to not let a fear of making a mistake prevent me from taking a chance, or doing something I might enjoy. This is something that my major has forced me to realize. My major is architecture which requires you to take a chance and let go of any inhibitions. It has made me realize that it is not only about the final answer, but about the process of how you get there. It has made me let go of my desire to always do something right, and to embrace my mistakes and learn from them. These lessons translate beyond the classroom to everyday life. When you are in high school it is about getting good grades to get into college, but when you are in college it more about the process, exploring and embracing new ideas and experiences. I would tell my high school self not to be afraid and to just enjoy college life.

Be prepared, college only gets harder and harder. Make friends in every class because you are going to need them as study buddies and even as stress relievers. This is not high school. Studying the night before does not equal success and not taking notes will only lead you down the wrong path. Do not skip class. It will put you way more behind than you think and a 'sick note' does not allow you to make up any missed assignments. Set yourself a bedtime, not at 2AM but around 8pm or 9pm. Being well rested will put you in a better mood, make you think clearer, and it is better for your health. Give yourself a break. Go out with friends, have fun and enjoy the college life, but do not make it a habit and go out every night. School is your priority, failing a class ruins your grade point average and you will have to PAY to retake the class. Just past it the first time!

Given the opportunity to go back in time, I would reassure my 17-year-old self that the college experience is nothing to fear; it is truly an opportunity to recreate yourself, study what you are interested in, and learn independence. I would remind myself to try and see the "bigger picture" of what a university represents - it is not only a means to an end (simply securing a job), but its also a method of exploring your interests, branching out, and taking the courses you are drawn to, even if you aren't sure how they will ever be useful. Sometimes the humanities/culture classes mold you into a more well-rounded, captivating person, and in a nation of job-networking and "who-you-know," that skill can be just as vital to securing a career. At the same time, don't focus on the future of a "job" so much - you've only got 4 years here. Enjoy the moment - these years will fly by!

Expect and accept change. Feeling lonely is OK and a part of the process. Look for activities to build confidence. Take time to know yourself and your priorities. Do not forget to take care of your mental and physical health. Easier said than done, of course. Majority of high students have been trained for college. Naturally, it is what every successful and intelligent person pursues. If I could visit myself as a high school senior, I would ask myself, "Do I know myself well enough to pursue higher education at this time in my life?" I have needed time to discover what subjects I excel at, where my passion lies, and which issues I wish to devote my life to tackling. Some high school students might already have a fiery passion and direct life plan and feel be ready for college immediately after high school, but I might have not been totally ready. That is perfectly fine. If I could go back, I would quiet the influences of my family and society and travel to unique, new place to face the unknown and along the way, think about my priorities, appreciate my blessings, and truly discover myself.

The advice that I will give myself as a college student is to take the AP classes and exactly learn in that class, so I won't have to rest time taking the class again. I would also tell myself that college is hard no matter what classes you take or when you take them. You will always have to study and read the book. Always read the books you have for your classes. Its really hard to trasition from a highschool student to college student becuase the atmosphere is different. I will tell myself to stick to an orgazation that I signed up with no matter how hard it takes oir how busy your schedule is don't every give up. Most students come into college thinking you are goin to be partying all night when the truth is you study more then you go out. Most importantly do good on all of your assignments given in college, becuase not all teachers give you extra credit or extra assignments to boost up your grade. You would have to give your all 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}.

Be prepared for the best four years of your life. But only if you come into college open-minded. From what I have learned in the last two years is that if you're to afraid to try new things, you will end sitting in your room all day and doing nothing but watching tv. The only way to make the most out of your college life is to go out and try things you would never have thought of trying in a million years. Go out and try to join the choir no matter how bad your voice may be, you never know what could happen. Go to socials, meetings, events, parties (but be responsible), and have fun, socializing. Remember, these four years will never come back. Make all the mistakes you want to make, but only if you are willing to learn from them. Open your mind and eyes to everything, because there will be things that you will experience in college that you won't experience anywhere else, and the only way to get the most out of those experiences is to open your mind and make new memories. And remember, say "hi" to anyone and everyone.

I would tell myself to spend time exploring life and majors, and not to worry about trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life at that age because it will most definately change, many times. I woudl also tell myself to embrace my differences and not to see poverty as a roadblock to education. We all deserve to better ourselves through education and I had just as much right to be there as everyone else.

Knowing what i know now as a college student there are a lot of things that i wish i would have known when i was a high school student. The first thing i would tell myself if i could go back in time would be to listen to my elders and put more effort into my class work and worry less about my extra curricular activities. School comes firts. I would tell myself to take advantage of my princton review classes and pay more attention so that i could have done better on my SAT's. I would also like to tell myself to keep my head up and not get down after losing a game or not geting the grade that i want because you learn more from failure than you do from winning. As far as the transition goes i would just tell myself to prepare better for dorm style living and living with other people. Be more open minded when learning about other people, religion, and culture in general. I think that would sum up everything i would want to tell myself. If i recieve this scholarship i would be very thankful. Thank You, Corey Samot

First of all, I would tell myself that having internships and a high GPA are important. I would also tell myself to focus on helping the community around me and to be more aware of what is going on in the world. High school students barely focus on how important everything around us is. I would also tell myself that decisions in life are very important. Making a rushed decision is the worst thing that you can do to help yourself succeed. I would make sure to state how important it is to think about the school that I want to attend and to focus on the communications I have with my teachers. In this life, communication and relationships (acquaintances) are what get you to the top. Second, it is very important to care about your family and to help them through their struggles. You may have problems, but other people around you might need your support as well. In life you need to live, love, and study. I would also tell myself that great studying habits are important. Finally, the most important advice that I would give myself is to have an agenda and plan ahead.

take a deep breath and have faith. find one thing that you are good at and become in expert at it. make your own path.

My best advice, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, would be to pursue my college education and obtain my degree while I am still young and fresh out of school. When I returned to college in the fall of 2009, I had been out of school for over fifteen years and needed to refresh some skills like math and science. That time that I spent in courses that would have been more familiar to me then would have been better utilized in more advanced courses and I would have finished school much sooner. Although I had not continued my education right out of high school because I needed to be and was a full-time employee, I would advise myself to work hard through it and take classes as I was able to, even if it meant only taking one or two classes per semester. While I believe that returning to school as a more mature adult has also been beneficial, if I would have completed college in my late teen years or early twenties, it would have been better for my future now.

I would tell myself to be prepared for a huge change in my environment, my social life, my academic studies, and most importantly my self. The atmosphere and community is different and more active than what you are used to. You have much more convienence and options. You will meet so many new people, some just like you, but mostly people with completely different backgrounds. Take the time to get to know these people, they will help to contribute to your academic and personal growth. Be prepared to study and work hard in your classes. You will have to attend class and really pay attention. Be open to new ideas, oppurtunites, and change. Be sure to have fun and stay positive. Take time to breathe and appeciate where you are at. These will be some of the most difficult and great times that you have been through.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would tell myself not to worry. The transition to college life and living on your own is not as terrifying as you think. College classes are enormous and intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of things you'll realize they aren't that much different than high school. In fact, you'll enjoy them more because classes are only two or three days a week and don’t give busywork. You'll adore the freedom to pick your own classes, when you take them, and your teacher. Contrary to what you anticipate, living away from home is not going to be lonely. Your roommates will be there whenever you want to socialize and you won’t miss mom asking where you’re going and when you’ll be home. Remember that if you ever get homesick, your family is just a call away or you can always drive home on the weekend. It won’t be long before you understand how much better college is than high school. People aren’t lying when they say college is the best four years of your life.

Pack half of what you think you need. Don't room with a friend you already know. Be open to new people. Don't forget shower shoes. Make sure you get enough sleep. Keep a calendar of events, even if you're not entirely sure that you are going. Go to club meetings just to see what they're all about. Don't stay in the dorm all day. Develop a way to introduce yourself in 30 seconds or less, and make yourself memorable. Walk around campus and see what events are going on. Don't think that you know everything and know exactly what you want to do with your life, because you don't. Apply for clubs or jobs even if you don't think you'll get in. All things in moderation: don't focus too much on one activity and therefore shut the doors closed on anything else. Know about your student government. Find that one teacher who can become your mentor. Don't be afraid to ask questions at any time. Find out about local hangout spots. And most importantly, always keep an open mind about anything that you are doing.

Listen to your parents. They may seem like they're not supporting but thats because they don't want you to experience what they have. Take those collge level classes, It may be tough but in the end its worth it. Dont spend your money on useless paraphernalia. Apply for scholarships early dont be concerned about if you have enough to pay just apply apply apply. You get to pocket the extra money and you dont have to burden your parents with paying for college.

During high school I attained my Associate of Arts Degree. As a result of already having attained an AA, I had already acquired credit for the majority of my general education classes which provides a lot of flexibility in my class scheduling. During my senior year of high school, I was unaware of the wide array of minors and majors to select from. Having been exposed to the many different educational paths that others have chosen, I would recommend to myself to research multiple minors of interest to me. I am currently working on two minors in addition to my degree but I would have preferred to begin doing so during my freshman year so that I could acquire one or two additional minors. Also, I am planning on attending law school so I would have chosen a degree or minors that were more complementary to a pre-law educational path.

After experiencing my first semester of college in fall of 2010 I have one major piece of advice to give myself as a high school senior. That piece of information that I would give my young self would be to apply to more four year universities. Now that I have already gone through one semester at a community college I have realized that all I want to do is go to school out of town. I want to be able to experience some freedom by going away from school. This would be the greatest piece of advice that I would give my self.

Don't let up, and don't relax. The game is not over yet and there is still work to be done. Keep working hard and giving it your best effort and good things will come. Hard work is optional, but success is mandatory.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to make sure that I save up every penny possible to help pay for college. I would tell myself to get more involved in my school and community. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be to talk to more people and go out of my comfort zone. Chances are, that at college you arent going to know most of the people. If you talk to people you don't know now in high school, it is going to be a lot easier to talk to everyone in college later. The biggest piece of advice that I would give myself as a high school senior though, is to not wish my high school life away and to enjoy high school while it lasts.

The difference between the grading system in high school and college is so great that it is important to be prepared as soon as possible. In high school, grades were comprised of homework, quizzes, class participation, and tests. Now, in college, grades are equivalent to exams. Without hesitation, I can say I had not opened a textbook to study in high school. This lack of study skills has made it difficult to transition into college, where one bump in the road could ruin everything. I experienced this very obstacle my first semester at the University of Florida. I had taken Calculus 3 my senior year of high school and needed to retake it for my major. I assumed I knew everything already, so I took advantage of not having mandatory attendance. I skipped a third of the classes before my first test and received only two thirds of the points on the exam. It was tough to understand how I could possibly get through such an experience, but I changed my habits and studied like it was the beginning again. If I could, I would begin to learn how to study my senior year instead of having regrets in college.

I can honestly say I couldn't have had a better college experience thus far had I attended any other school. UF has enhanced all aspects of my life. First, I came here for an education and attending the number one school for Health Science in the nation I couldnt have recieved a better education else where. Also since we are connected to Shands Medical Center there are plenty of oppurtunities for me to get hands on experience in the field. Second, my faith is a huge part of my life. The multiple campus ministry organizations have helped me grow in my faith more than I would have expected from a public university. I am a member of a christian sorority and involved in the largest student run organization on campus, Campus Crusade for Christ. Third, I was really worried about how moving away from home would affect my health. UF has a state of the art gym free to students and plenty of options for healthy eating. It is very easy for me to stay healthy with the help of the many programs UF offers. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my time at UF.

Growing up I never thought I would be smart enough to attend the University of Florida. Going into my senior year, I was set on a university in another town that I knew I would get into without a doubt, but I knew I needed to challenge myself and apply to my dream university without worrying about if I would get in or not. Dreams come true since im attending my dream university. My expericence here has molded and shaped me into the person I hoped I would be. I am actively involved on campus being the President of the College of Journalism and Communications, I am involved in a sorority and have made many lasting network connections with wonderful individuals. My experince here is coming to an end, but Im thoroughly conviced that my time spent at this amazing university has only help me with my future career goals. I know upon graduation that my time was well spent at UF. I made lifetime friends, had a wonderful experince, got an excellent education without breaking the bank and I learned about who I am and what I want ot achieve in my life. Im truly blessed to attend UF.