University of Hawaii at Manoa Top Questions

The advice I would give myself would be to become organized. I feel that organization is key to a successful school year because it helps with knowing and learning how to plan when to do assignments, when to study for exams, and when to have time for yourself, family, and friends. Procrastination during college I feel is something we should all avoid because from experience I end up cramming and find myself not learning about anything. Organization prevents procrastination.

The advice that I would give myself is that to enjoy being a highschooler and to enjoy being young because with each step comes more responsibility than the last. There is so much freedom in college but there is also so much more responsibility and it leaves you in an interesting position to choose between partying it out or living in the library. It's good to learn the balance in high school so that you don't have to figure it out in college when every second counts. Don't be a hermit in high school because when you get to college if you spend all your time you won't get to enjoy the true experience of college but don't be a party animal also because they will affect your grades and hurt your future.

I would tell myself that although I do not feel completely ready to go away to college, things will work out and I will learn things and be exposed to things that will open my mind in so many new, exciting and sometimes intimidating ways. But in the end I will be a stronger, more aware, more inquisitive person. At the end of my undergrad years I will wonder how I could have ever gone through life not knowing what I know now about life, myself and the way the world works . I would tell myself that this isn't a completely new chapter, it is just a continuation of a story.

When I was in high school I was not sure what I wanted to go to school for. The only careers that I kept thinking about were ones that would give me a large income. The best and only advice that I would give myself, is go for what would make me happy. Don?t think about the money, because in the end its about wanting to pursue a career in that field. You want to want to go to work everyday, not dread your everyday. Always think about what your good at and what will make you happy and it will all work out in the end.

I would tell myself that you need to use your college counselor, because it is a great way to get helpful information, but you also have to do your own research, too. Ask older students about the classes they are taking and how they have set up there schedules. I would also tell them that the workload of high school doesn't compare to that of college; College has much more work and much more individualized projects and reading. Keeping things organized is very important. I now keep a folder with copies of transcripts and award letters. Also to get really involved with volenteering and interning in order to build up a resume so you can get a stable job after college. Make a list of your dreams and goals along with your ambitions and compelling reasons to succeed. Write down who you were, who you are and who you want to become. Put this list in a place where you will always be reminded of these things. This will help you never forget who you want become because college is a big place with many distractions, and those who succeed are those who stay on the course.

Stay in school and become what you really love.

Amanda, I am you from the future. I have grown so much since I was you and know so much more about life. College is everything that you imagined!! Student teaching is great and you really picked a fantastic career!! At first you will be a bit shocked at how minimal you will see your friends from high school, but don't worry, you will get used to it and learn to like the solitude. Make sure you break that horrible habit of procrastination now because it will kill you in college!! Stay tight with your friends that go away to mainland colleges because you will miss them a lot and it will be hard for all of you to stay as tight as you are now. And don't let boys distract you from the thing you want the most, which is to graduate with good grades and to get a job once you're out!! Take care and continue to do well in school. Your future self, Amanda

College is fun, but you have to work hard to get the degree you want. Don't slack off just because you don't have class every day. Treat every day like it's regular school & focus on what you need to get done. You are paying a lot of money to get a degree at a university, so you should get what you pay for. Don't settle for less than average grades; receiving high grades & actively participating in organizations will be very helpful in the future. Since most of your money is going towards paying for your education, spend the rest of your money wisely. As corny as it sounds, it's best to buy things that are on sale since you can have extra spending money. Choose your friends wisely & make decisions that are appropriate & won't endanger your life. College can also give you benefits, such as discounts, & access to various opportunities to expand your career, such as the Study Abroad Program. Don't be afraid to ask questions since there are many advisors who are willing to answer your questions & try to make your transition comfortable.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to go out and attend as many campus events as possible in order to make the transition from high school to college as amazing as possible. Being connected to your college is important because it creates a sense of belonging in an area that is completely out of the norm. Also, try to use study sessions, tutors, and department adivsors frequently in order to stay on track to graduation, and then to your future. Just make the best out of your new experiences because it will all be worthwhile as graduation will come faster than you know it!

High school prepares you for college academically, but you still have a lot of growing up to do. Do not be afraid to be yourself. Do not be ashamed of who you are. Do not have regrets. Rather than dwelling on the difficulties, think of the possibilities. College is the chance for you to establish who you are, while its important to make friends and have fun, don't forget who you are and keep your morals in your heart. Don't be pressured to fit in, because being different is what makes you, you. Embrace the creative possibilities in everything you hear, see, and experience. In those ordianry things you can find the most inspiration. College is a time to define yourself, don't let anyone do it for you. You can do it, don't be discouraged. Things may get difficult but they will always get better. Trust in yourself, and let yourself grow.

I would have told myself to work hard and try not to procrastinate. Procrastination plays a big role in college. Most students procrastinate and get side tracked of what they are doing and it affect there studies and grades. There is free time available, but the right time would be when all your work is done. This is the biggest challenge in college because there are times when i get lazy and tell myself that i will finish the work later. Sometimes i forget that i have homework and i forget to finish it and i get a bad grade for the assignment. Midterms are escpecially the worst time to procrastinate, but after a full year of college, i learned ways to prevent procrastination and to get things done before I do anything else. I would have prepared myself a little more if i was in high school and told myself to focus on your goals more than anything else.

I would tell myself not to worry about deciding what I want from my future. As long as I have determination, it won't matter what path I take. I have changed my mind so many times within the past few years, that it doesn't matter. As long as I get to know myself, and what I'm best at is the important thing. Then I will find a path thats most suitable.

I suggest that you thoroughly research the university (and possibly visit) first. In order for a new student to adjust and do better in school, there needs to be a supportive staff and academic faculty that can empathize with your situtation. Unless you are a commuter student and are from the area, I suggest finding a school that is much more diverse in that aspect.

Be very open minded. Looks can be deceiving and not always what you think.

Make sure the student is happy with the place they will be living. Don't make too drastic of a move from where you grew up. Do research on what you want to study and talk to college counslers early! Don't waste time and money on classes you don't need. Try to figure out a career path as early as possible so that even if it doesn't work out, there is time to switch majors. Be friendly as possible, now is the time to meet new and interesting people. New friends make the college experience fun and they very likely may become lifelong friends.

Choose a college with students and professors you would enjoy interacting with. Some colleges are more studious while others tend to be more relaxed. The people you go to college with definitely determines much of your experience there. The schools geographical setting also important from the weather to the types of activites and jobs available outside of campus life. Get involved with the school and community and take advantage of any advising, social, and extracurricular activities offered. Join clubs and make friends with people who have the same interests or career goals as you. College is a great place to meet people. Also look at class sizes, think about if you prefer large lecture classes or smaller class sizes. Look at the graduation requirements and professor profiles. Make sure the college has your intended major or will help you toward your future career goal. Look at the scholarships available at certain colleges as well.

I would tell them that they should research colleges that complement their personalities and accomodate their living arrangements because then thy would feel comfortable living there and be able to do their best. I would also tell them that they should go to any new student orientations and visit the campus to get a general feel of where they're going to be doing their studies as well as other things. I would tell them to make a schedule of what they are going to do for the semester so they could balance out their studies and personal life. They should find out the different opportunities such main attractions, malls, and other places that they may enjoy. Overall, I would tell parents and/or students that they should research all the colleges that they would like to attend so they know what to expect when they start living there. Furthermore, they should create a plan or schedule so they know what they're going to be doing for the time they're going to be there and be productive yet enjoyable.

First and foremost, understand what it is that you want in life. What do you want to accomplish? What type of lifestyle would you like to have in the future? Think about these things before making a stern decision on the college or university you choose to attend and what you plan to do with your time. Time is precious. What you choose to do for the next 4-7 years of your academic life will affect your professional life and so forth. Clearly define your objectives and interests. What kind of life do you want to have? Once you have defined what it is that you want to do with your life, take action. Browse through all the various college choices available that will allow you to get where you want to be. Don't be conservative. Dream big and do what ever it takes to get what you want. Be very particular in your choice. Consider the campus life, academic programs available, prospectives for post-college employment, etc. Once you have fully investigated the options, apply for the colleges you are interested in. Once in college, take advantage of every aspect of the experience; and enjoy the ride.

Though a student may look at dozens and dozens of colleges, I believe that the choice should ultimately come down to what the student feels is right in their heart. Campus visits are the most effective way of choosing a college. If the student can stand on the campus and say "Yes, I can imagine myself walking on this campus every day and graduating here after 4 years", then it is the right college. Many students choose a college they have never seen before and this usually results complicated transfers and applying to different colleges. It is also important to research other available options such as financial aid, extra-curricular activities and study abroad programs, but most importantly is choosing the college that feels right. A student should always bring their parents along to these campus visits so they too have the opportunity to feel like they will be attending college alongside you by seeing what you will see every day. After you find the right college, the next four years of your life will be years that you will never forget.

My advice is to have the student consider all possibilities despite the cost of tuition. Because ultimately it is the campus environment, and surrounding people that make every student's college experience either enjoyable or unenjoyable. Also, i would tell them to find a campus that specializes in their major. Because if you have enthusiastic professors, it makes going to class, and learning the material that much easier. And once you have decided on a schoool, make the most of it and participate in as many campus activities as possible. It opens the doors to new people, new experiences, and life long memories!

My advice is to have some sort of idea of what you want to accomplish during your years at a university and where you want to go with what you learn. If you are worried that your family cannot afford tuition at a school that your heart is set on, don't be afraid to take the leap and go for it. I have personally known many students, that from the time of the start of their freshman year, they got loans, scholarships, financial aid, etc., as well as worked one or more jobs in order to support their dream here in Hawaii. Research the professors at the universities you are contemplating attending, as well as any activies you may want to participate it. Make sure that you have options at your school so that you do not end up sitting in your dorm room, wishing you were somewhere else. College is not only about learning and gaining knowledge in a particular field; it is about finding your true identity, having fun and meeting people from all walks of life. College really does fly by, so don't waste your time wishing for something different; you only live once!

just to make sure that the student is going to be able to live and be comfortable with his or hers' surrounings with the campus. and to be ready to go to the next leve.

As a collegiate athlete, my college experience has been a little different compared to the average student. My advice for any student would be to make sure you find a school that can accomodate what you want to do and what courses you want to take. I originally went to Long Beach State and it turned out they didn't have anything close to what I wanted to study. When I was looking for other schools I made sure they had the classes I wanted to take and the resources I needed. After I found the educational path I wanted, I looked at the location, environment, and the overall bigger picture. For me, Hawaii was a no-brainer. I have family there, it has a great marine biology program, and Hawaii has a great culture. Sometimes when you are looking the perfect fit, you find a school and you just know it's the one for you.

When trying to find the right college to attend it's really important to first find one that is good for what you want to major in. Also you really need to visit the campuses and make sure you feel comfortable there. You'll know which one you like the best just from being there. Also, once your there don't limit your friends, try to meet everyone and engage in relationships with people from not only your dorm building but others, and even people from your classes. Meeting people from your classes will not only aid your social experience but your academic one too. It's good to know people who can help you out if you miss class, or just get lost in general. Parents need to let their kids have their freedom and don't be overbearing but let them know that you expect good grades and decision making. Sometimes just knowing your parents are still watching you and keeping tabs can be just the push you need to make you go to class!

choose the place you feel most comfortable going to

Do a research first and take everything into consideration like cost, convenience, and attitude of staff and students

To both parents and students.... No one will make the right choices about college, do your best to fit in, study hard, make new friends.... don't pick a college where all your friends are going. You need to expand in life, be bold, fly, spead your wings... and perhaps you will find yourself gliding through the sky without even knowing that you can.... College is all about making stupid mistakes and picking yourself back up... maybe making the same mistakes, however, live and learn... You only live once! ALOHA!

Research as much of the school prior to enrollment.

The adivce that I would give to a young student, is to start dreaming early. The younger you are to have a dream to solidify and work towards, the easier it will be to figure out the path to get there. Start in at least your junior year looking at colleges, and find out what school will benefit them most, and the fastest. What type of environment will they want to live in the next four years, and will that environment help you along your way of reaching their ultimate goal. Also, look beyond the campus. The city itself will be where they will learn just as important lessons. The last piece of advice that I would give is to dream big, and never let it go. The second that the dream is let go, that is when there is a chance it may not happen.

I would advise parents to let their child decide where they want to go to school; higher level education is what you make of it. Don't push for the name of the school, really look into what the school is about and find out what they can do for you in the long run.

To find the right college, I believe you should first try to figure out what interests you. For example, I am interested in the hospitality industry, and it just so happens I live in a state with a very good hospitality school. However, it is rare to live in a state with the school you want, so you may want to visit the schools that interest you the most. Find out what their program requirements are, the type of housing offered, what the surrounding neighborhood is like, and get an overall feel for the area you may be spending the next 4+ years of your life at. To make the most of a college experience, I would recomend trying to see the good in situations and the people you meet. Consider every person you meet an opportunity to make a friend as well as network. Try not to get distracted in your classes and to always try your hardest at your schoolwork. It may be tempting to go out and let loose all the time, but you're in college to learn, and that is what your focus should be. However, you should also be involved with campus activities.

Make sure you study at least 10-15 schools and try and go to some sites like rateyourprofessor.com to get the students input. Also, try and see if you get exact information about their programs - a course catalog is great - before you even apply. When you're there try and participate in clubs from the beginning - your courses are less demanding and you'll have that much more time to make lasting friends. Take advantage of every resource available to you at the campus - attend the job fairs, be sure to do an internship, apply for financial aid even if your parents were going to help, try your best to go on a foreign exchange program. Finally, be sure to take at least a couple courses (preferably one course every semester) that you're really intersted in and that's not really your major field of study.

I think the most important thing is that the students feels comfortable with the school environment and that there are clubs and activities that s/he can do to make them feel connected to the community. If the student does not feel like that, s/he might look at alternative ways to feel like they fit in for examply alcohol and drugs. It's also important to stress that college education is not ultimately about getting the degree. Too many students focus on getting the degree and they are completely lost when they have it. This limits the way they see themselves and what they think they can be. College education is also about self-exploration and finding out for the student who s/he wants to be. Without this exploration the student will be lost. For examply, if the courses s/he is taking in relation to the degree do not interest him/her, that says something. A good idea is to get together with an adviser to make sure you're on the right track. Make sure to get involved with the school in an unacademic sense also to make new friends. This creates a better learning environment.

Choosing the right college primarily depends on the student. Even if a college is not renowned for its academics, students have to reach beyond mediocrity in order to challenge his mind. Whether a student learns class material relates to the student's motivation to learn and to embrace challenges as a learning experience. Not only does college prepare one academically, but the social aspect of college prepares one for the world. Outside of college, the lack of proper social skills is a major problem. The world today holds social networking in high regard. In my opinion students need to realize a balance between academic challenges and social skills so that once a student graduates he will be well prepared to maturely handle every situation.

While money and job oportunity is important when looking for a major and college do not let that get in the way of your dreams because when you are working at a job you love to do it never feels like work. We each have our own strengths. Use them to achieve your goals in life, like the college you wish to attend! Also, never limit yourself. Allow room for growth, expansion, new ideas, and experiences...

For any person looking for a college experience. You need to find a school with a good academic advising program. These people will help you as much as you can through any confusion that you have in deciding what you want to do in life. We are all not perfect. Most students will not know what they want to major in when they first go to college. I have alot of friends who changed majors after a year or two in college. Join academic clubs and programs which will benefit you in the long run. Be open to meeting new people because in a college, ethnic backgrounds from around the world will be sitting right next to you. For the schools which you have choices to go. Stand in the middle of each one of those schools. Take a look around and go for the one which puts a sense of happiness and confidence in your heart. Then hit the books and get that dream job that you might not know about.

It's not the college you attend, it's what you youself learn - in the sense that it is ultimately your responsibility to learn, not your professors, advisors, etc. to teach you. You don't go to college expecting to learn everything you need to know to live the rest of your life. Learning is forever. But, remember that college grades are forever. You might not realize it now, but what appears on your transcript from here on out determines the rest of your life. Those reviewing your resume (for a job, graduate school, professional school, etc.) after you graduate will interpret each grade you earned as THE BEST you could do at the time. We will be judged over and over again in our lives by strangers who really hold our lives in their hands, but remember that luck is when good preparation meets opportunity. College is where we learn who we are, and don't be afraid if you don't know what you want, this is where we find out. Regardless if it takes you four years or eight years, when you finally discover what you are really passionate about, it's a success. Never give up.

After countless nights of searching for the 'right' school for me, financial situations outside of my power limited me to a single school: the local University. While I had MY college path decided for me, people around me flew far and wide to visit their potential campuses. All of them had one goal in mind, finding the 'right' campus. Lets fast-forward a year or so. I would say at least half of all of my friends are completely miserable at the colleges they went to. And not to sound like I know everything, but I think I've figured out why they were miserable, and I'm completely fine. Most of my friends went off to their respective campuses with the thought that the college was perfect for them. Raising the expectation so high that it was virtually unattainable. But lets be real here, people change, and that college that was so perfect for you, could end up being something you were not expecting at all. I believe that students should be open, flexible, and even adaptable to their college situation. My advice? Find out the basics, class size, cost, distance, and forget the rest, just be open.

Be sure that both the student and parent are satisfied with the choice.

i think the best advice would be for the student to choose which college they think will best fit them. It isnt about what the parents want for the student. Because otherwise its a waste of everyones time and money. some other advice would be to have fun and enjoy every part of the experience. Be open to meeting new people and experiencing different things.

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Picking a college is practically up to you. Does the school give you a good vibe? If not then maybe it isn't for you. You should pick them not only upon prestege but also by how the campus looks, and how the people there interact. Only going there to study, you may get out faster, but you'll miss out on many of the fun aspects of college. On that note, when at college, go and join a club of some sort. This is one way to maximize your college experience. If not a club, there should be an activity board somewhere on campus. Go find it and attend the many activities that your college offers. Another way would be to start a lot of study groups. Not only will these study groups benefit you academically, but once the class is over, there's a chance to make great friends who have struggled with you. However, if you don't want to do any of these options, at least socialize. Find it in yourself to get our of your shell and just talk to people. Most of them wont bite, I promise.

Parents and students alike should seek as much information as possible. Students should apply to colleges they like--if you can't make campus visits, contact the admissions department. They very often send out free information packets for prospective students. Trying to find a college that fits 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} is both impossible and stressful. Just choose one that you're really interested in, and that offers degrees in your preferred field, and once you get there, you'll find your place. Parents shouldn't push too hard because kids will only push back, and it could stifle their ability to think clearly and choose the right school for them. Remember, it's the students who are attending, not the parents. In the end, the student has to be comfortable. Look at everything from academics to leisure activites, from dormitories to dining facilities. Finances usually fall into place, as long as you remember to file your FAFSA. Don't let money hold you back--nothing pays back like an education. They always say to apply to at least one ideal, and one fallback, but go ahead and apply all across the board. Be yourself when applying, and "your" school will find you.

(Students) My advice would be always be who you are no matter what college you attend. Make the most out of all the experience you can get. College life is fabulous no matter where you are, as you can see, I am a very optimistic individual. You can always find happiness if you have peace in your heart, soul and mind. Going to a new school, a new place is always hard, no matter where you attend college. So finding the right college is a very hard choice, however, prepare yourself; so you don't surprise yourself with what you see and what you feel. (Parents) Your son/daugther will make the right choice, will make their own mistakes, nevertheless, will be smart enough to pick themselves back up and move forward. It may take awhile or it may not, however, let them go, but always have your arms open to let them back in. Always be supportive, loving, passionate, positive, and praise them for good. Aloha!

Some advice that i would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the experience is to choose a place where you can get the best education for your major. You may also want to choose a college that meets your personal expectations. Another bit of advice is to choose a school that has good professors who don't not only deliver the information but makes the material interesting, this may make your classes much more enjoyable and may help to motivate you to do well. Most importantly for the student is to choose a place where you will be happy because the hardest thing is to try to focus on school when you're miserable with where you are.

Start searching at around the ending of the student's junior year. Make sure that the college's environment fits well with the student's personality. But, at the same time, make sure the school has quality academic programs across the board.

My advice to find the right college is to not only apply to the "well-known" schools, but rather to find and research which school best fits you as a student and person. Try to narrow your college list down and be able to determine your number one school to set a goal. It is much easier to decided if you have less schools to choose from if you get into all of them, but make sure these schools are clearly the right choices for you. To make the most of a college experience you must go into college with an open-minded and positive attitute because college is definitely what you make of it. If you go out and experience what any college has to offer you, you will not be disspointed but if you decided to just keep to yourself and stay in your dorm room or something, then you will be miserable.

The best thing to do when choosing which college to attend would be to find out if you would feel comfortable spending 4 years or more there. You should take into consideration average class sizes, the cost of tuition, success rates, and overall reputation of the school. I decided to attend the college that I am in now because it is very well known in Hawaiii, our school is VERY diverse, which makes it unique, there are numerous classes that are offered, and by attending UH, it also gives students an opportunity to take classes at community colleges because they are all interconnected. As for making the most of the college experience, I can't tell you exactly how to do it, because it's all up the student. If you feel that you are comfortable where you are and enjoying every moment, then I believe that you are making the most of evreything.

i recomend that you follow your own path. Don't go to a school just because your parents went there or your friends are going. Make sure it is the right fit. remember you are going to meet alot of different people in your life don't pigion hole your self to early. do not go against you gut feeling. you will know what feels right. please try and strech your comfort zones in some things.{not partying} let your self be open to new ideas ans challanges. thats one of the best things about college they want you to think for yourself. and yes get to know your professors they love students who care about learning. I'm dislexic and my professors love that i think differently than most students. study hard, live life and have a wonderful learning experence. this is the chance of a lifetime don't waist it.

Whatever school you decide to go to, even if it is not your first, second, or thrid choice, make the best out of it. Parents, do not prevent your kids from persuing their dreams, students, do not let anything keep you from what you want for yourself. Do your best, study hard, and have fun.