University of Idaho Top Questions

Take general courses that are required to graduate! In the beginning I started by taking courses I thought would be "fun" and it has taken me a long time to graduate. I have over 100 credits and still have a year left before graduation! I would tell the student to take it slowly at first as far as credits. There are myriad of adjustments to make beyond high school such as learning to live on your own and with roommates. There are bills to pay, parties to attend, friends to make and so many more lessons. Learning to balance all of these new experiences while also keeping up with your coursework takes the work of a true circus master! Personally, I would tell myself to keep going no matter what. I got pregnant after my second year of college and dropped out. I thought I wouldn't have been able to do it. I could have made it work. Instead I am now in my mid-thirties with three children working hard to earn my degree. Don't ever give up! Next spring I will finally graduate and become a high school history teacher. Never stop learning!

Dear high school self, I am writing to inform you about what is coming in the your future. It is not going to happen as you expect; going from high school graduation, to that summer job at camp, and to college at Rocky Mountain College. I am afraid to say you will be diagnosed with leukemia before you graduate high school. The cancer will get bad enough that you will have to put college on the back burner and move away from home for several months to receive treatment. Do not worry, you will get through the treatment and begin taking college classes online. Unfortunately the college you originally plan to attend will not have online classes. This means you will move your focus to the University of Idaho. After that year you will take classes from several local colleges and transfer the credits to U of I. It will not be easy. You will still have medical things happening and this will make you feel out of place, but it does get better. You may even attend Rocky Mountain College after all. Sincerely, future self

I would advise myself to stay in state and go to Eastern Washington University or Washington State University, because it would have been cheaper. I would advise myself to have gotten my FAFSA done right away and got more involved with national meit societies. I definitely would have taken the SAT again, and applied early for financial aid for the University of Alaska. I would not have played soccer, but ran track and field, because I had a sprinting talent. I would have done my best in wrestling, and I would have went to the doctor during the cross country season and healed properly, instead of trying to run on a broken ankle and losing my varsity spot. I would have never eaten school lunch, and perhaps became more involved with leadership classes. The last advice would be to enjoy the last year of childhood, because it will end and never come back.

My college experience is different from most, because not only did my father pass away my sophomore year, but my uncle and two grandparents also passed away all in the same year. Therefore, my advise would be to keep in touch with everyone, even though you have moved away. Academics and social life are both very important in college success, but you can not forget about other important aspacts of your life. College is where you grow and change into a mature adult; however, do not forget what you stand for and that life is not all about your future career. The transition from high school to college was an easy transition for me, because I had my father to talk to about everything. The transition after losing him was not so easy, but I have been doing better academically and all around as a whole now. I not only focus on my academics, but also my social life, spirtuality, hobbies, keep in touch with old friends and family, etc.. Overall not only have I grown an incredible amount academically, but also have grown in so many other ways that have formed the strong, driven woman that I am today.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school senior self anything, it would definitely be to study regularly for science classes. I would tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions during class, and to get a routine down as soon as possible once college started. I would tell myself that studying at home is a bad idea because of distractions, and instead I should study at the library. I would also tell myself to not be afraid of trying to make friends. Everyone is new. Everyone wants to find a good group of friends. Most people are very friendly and willing to give you a chance.

Cassie, relax. Don't burn yourself out by doing the most work you think you can possibly do. College is more than just work; it is learning to balance your life. Soon you will have to balance school and clubs with being a good wife and mother. The college world can be quite tough and you may want to quit so you’ll have more time with your family but when you reflect on their future you’ll want to be able to provide for them and give them stability. The classes you take are important but the experience you gain is what your future will rely on. In college you may be one of five hundred students. The small classrooms you thrived in won’t always be an option but you can build that atmosphere if you choose. It will take effort, but the relationships you make now can help you find your future career. Take my advice and smile more, learn to be a leader, and have confidence in yourself. Most importantly, find your passion and do it because it’s what you want to do not because it’s what you think is expected of you.

My advice to myself would be to make sure to have enough money to go to college. It is better to know that the fees are paid for that year. Have a back-up plan if you cannot attend the next semester and do not freak out if that happens. That will be one of the worries off the list, also you will be more focus on your classes. Slow down on growing up to fast, there is all the time in the world to enjoy life to its fullest. Get in habit of having first your assignments done then go off with your friends. If knowing you have a week to do an assignment, finish it early. That way you have more time for other big assignments or enjoy a time off school. Show up to study groups, even if you do not need to at times. But socializing is not bad, also you get a review of the material. Also get good night sleep, the next morning will be a breeze and it won’t be stressful. Remember to eat well too, having a healthy body and mind keeps you focus. One last thing, breathe.

Knowing what I know now and assuming I had the ability to visit with my high school senior self, I would tell her to not be afraid. I would tell her that leaving the only home she has known to go to school ten hours away in a town she had never been to would be scary, but only for a short time. I would tell her she would enjoy college more than any day in high school, that she would take classes that she really would have an interest in, that she would learn and experience more than she had ever imagined. I would tell her that it would be ok to talk, get to know, and make new friends with new people, that others would accept and love her like others couldn’t before. I would tell her to try new and frightening things, that she would learn to run a sheep farm while her manager had surgery and that she would even learn how to handle large birds of prey such as hawks, owls, and eagles by volunteering at a club for a separate college nearby. I would tell her she will finally love being me.

I would have told myself to join the Army right out of high school instead of waiting until I wasted thousands of dollars, countless hours, and eventually dropped out of college. The Army made me grow up, and instilled in me the values and tools that I am using now to succeed in college. In addition to that, the benefits were great, and I have made friends all over the world that I consider my family. Being 18 does not mean you know what to do with the rest of your life, nor does being a legal adult mean that you are mature enough to make those kinds of major decisions. The Army was a blessing because it helped me determine my course of study. Oh, yeah, and I would have told myself to dump the boyfriend; he would only break my heart!

I would go back and tell myself to be more prepared for classes. I did not think that classes would be much different, but you have to dedicate yourself and put in time after the class. I would go back and tell myself to be more responsible because the teachers do not care if you turn something in or not. I would have told myself to complete every assignment and when I get the chance to do extra credit that i need to take that opportunity. When a teacher gives you an opportunity to excel you need to take that opportunity. One more thing i would have told myself is that i need to be more involved with the university and more involved in clubs. I would have told myself to get out there and take every opportunity that is given to excel in life.

Hello, sayd I know for a fact that you have already applied for college in the summer and i know you feel nerous and unprepared, but heres a little information that i know will help get you by these next few years you are going to start at the very bottom of your classes but you will eventually raise your grades and feel more confident about yourself and your study habbits, try not to stay out so late mom gets worried everytime you call at 11 at night try to call her a bit earleir in the day if you can, when you go into your math class get a tutor we both know that math is our educational fault and we lose our understanding after a while dont be afraid to ask for help buddy its ok it dones't mean you're dumb it just means you're smart enough to get the right things done for yourself. oh and one more thing tell mathew that his car is gunna burn up if he doesnt sleep more and try to help him get back on track if you can, you know what to do keep it up.

The advice I would give myself would be that friends come and go through out your college life.

Focus much more heavely on school as opposed to social life. College is expensive and it is very hard to come up wit the money outright, so be sure to apply for scholarships early. Just bring the stuff you need and leave everything you don't need, or sell it. Don't work so hard and focus almost entirely on school because that's what is important, not working so hard and, in the end, haviing nothing to show for it. you need to wake up and see what's important. The stuff that made you happy and liked in high school is not what will help you to succeed in life.

The advice I would give myself would be to keep my grades up, there are a lot of distractions in college and low grades is not an exception. Also getting to know my professors and getting help when I need it. Its better to get help to get the help as soon as possilbe rather than waiting last minute. The last thing I would tell myself would be take advantage of the opportunities that are given to me.

If I could go back to speak with my high school senior self, I would tell myself to think about my decisions. While I think I know everything and I think I know what is best my mom does have a little more exerience. I should consider all of my options before I make a quick decision that is going to change my whole life. College life is a lot different than high school and I need to be prepared for the new challenges, but I should also be open minded. People from all over the world are going to be on campus and they were not raised with the same stndards and morals that my parents taught me.

If I could have the chance to go back in time to when I was a senior in high school, I guess my only advice would be; although there were times that I wanted to give up. It was fun to have so many obstacles in our way to make us grow as a person, and I never rerated in going, that’s the only advice I would give myself.

Don't be afriad to fail. You don't fail easily and you're stubborn. The 4 years you have at school will go too fast. You'll grow in ways you couldn't imagine and become even more amazing. Don't waste your opportunities. Enjoy the words of Seth Godin, "If you're going to waste time (and I hope you will) the least you can do is do it well." Please be thankful for the chances you get and the people who help you. You'll get hurt and disappointed but you'll be a better person for it. This may seem like random advice you already know but I trust you to make your choices. You know what is right in your heart. You need to be brave and strong to make the most out of your time in college. You'll thrive when challenged and inspired. Everything will be okay. Do what you do best and what only you can do.

I would tell myself that I need to stay focus in school. Do not party, allow yourself some fun but do not allow it to get out of control. Go to your professors for help. Do all your homework. Its not high school no more you cannot slack in classes its harder for you to catch up. Your professiors are not as nice as your high school teachers.

First of all, I would have finished high school instead of dropping out and getting my GED. This would have drastically reduced my debt and time in college.

If I were to be able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would've told myself to try harder and to not skip any classes. I would've told myself to challenge myself more and worked harder in my classes. Also, I would've documented my senior year a lot more.

Reflecting on my college experiences thus far as a senior at the University of Idaho, I am confident in stating that the years lying between a high school senior and a college senior have the potential to be the most impactful time in a person’s life. I would not be the person I am today without the priceless opportunities provided to me by my university and the unconditional support I have been given in different areas of my life, much of which I have received in unexpected ways. Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to always keep an open mind, to prioritize my values, and never to underestimate the wisdom and advice coming from those who can relate to our struggles. Most importantly, however, I would advise myself to embrace change as an inevitable part of life that offers endless opportunities for growth. Having said this, I am a strong advocate for encouraging high school students to attend a university because I would not have been able to obtain these values without the firsthand understanding of experiencing college and everything it has to offer.

If I had the opportunity to speak to my 12th grade self, it would change my life. Life has not been easy but without the experiences I've had, I would not be who I am nor have my daughter. Putting that aside, I would have a lot to say. Most importantly, I'd tell myself that life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself. Without a real drive to succeed and hard work, you don't turn out to be much. Additionally, relationships should be supportive of this and of life's positive progress. Don’t hold on to dead or toxic friendships and relationships. I would tell myself how important it is to stay in school no matter what, that education should be the highest priority. Taking care of yourself and your future solely relies on having a real career in motion. Life is full of choices, so don’t settle. Don’t let anyone talk you out of having standards. Finally the most important is to be very careful and knowledgeable in doing so, but take risks and do things that inspire and intimidate you, these are the things that will change your life.

Although I can't go back and warn myself about college or the "college life" the only thing I can do is learn from my mistakes and try harder next year, but if I could go back I would tell myself that the "college life" isn't as great as the movies make it seem. Yeah, living on your own is great, at first. The movies fail to mention that the educational endeavors get more challenging and your motivation if not kept at its peak will dwindle away. There are parties and those may seem fun, but in reality they are a wrong way on the road to graduation and success. It may not be high school, but there will always be people trying to bring high school to college with their drama, so don't let them get in your way you are greater than that! Show them who you can be, and don't try to impress those that try to bring you down with there negativity. Most importantly show those that believe in you by offering you money that their investment in your education wasn't ill spent and in the end go get 'em tiger!

If I could go back, I would tell myself many things, but the most important are the following: - Get active: There are so many clubs devoted to outdoor activity, and they're some of the best ways to get to know people. They may be expensive, but they're worth it. Whatever you choose, make sure you do it with new people. This is an open, friendly campus. Don't be afraid to meet new people. - Find a job: Yes, I know. It's hard to balance school, friends, and a job, but it'll be worth it, and it'll allow you to put yourself in a more stable situation for the future. It also builds up that resume, and that's important. It's a tough world out there, and it might take a while to find even the lowest of paying jobs, but the sooner you start, the sooner you will find something. It just gets harder the longer you wait. - Dont' procrastinate! You love your friends, and they're great, but school comes first. Remember that. As much fun as going out tonight sounds, you have work to do. Do it. One last thing: Good luck!

I know you're depressed right now and therefore aren't planning your future, but don't waste 8 years piddling your life away at community college. First, don't let your succubus of a "best friend" drag you down into her pit of "slackerdom". Remember when you were just a little girl and everyone would ask what you wanted to be when you grow up? You would answer: "a zoologist". Stick with that gut passion; because, after bouncing from pyrotechnics to painter to special effects makeup artist to chef, you're going to find yourself back at animal biology. Sure you became a fairly decent painter and had some fun in those 8 years; however, if you just knock out your 2 years at community college you can be done with school in 4 years. Still take painting, you just won't be as good; but it's not like you're going to sell your paintings anyways. Also, check out internship opportunities at Cosley Zoo and Willowbrook Wildlife. Those will help you confirm your love for wildlife conservation and nature as a whole. Game plan: community college, internships, university and BAM! get intership at African wildlife reserve.

You need to calm down and take time to do everything. I had the bad luck to try and do everything at once but that only caused me to be too tired for fun things. Therefore, you should have a good schedule for everything and yet, leave some room for fun because it's no fun to go to a college if I don't experience all aspects of it. The schedule is only a guideline for you to follow, not to control your life. College is about getting your education and forming strong bonds with your classmates so take time to slow down and smell the roses in other words. Don't be in a hurry to finish college because that's the last time you will actually get to be a kid in a way without having the burdens of being an adult in every way. Be happy and make wonderful memories along with your education because it will go farther than separate. It will help turning you into a happy full-grown adult. Have fun and learn everything you can learn at the same time.

If I could go back in time and give my high school self some advice, I would warn myself about a lot of the influences there are in college. Drugs and alcohol run rampant on so many campuses, and I was not prepared for that. I would tell myself to be aware that people I meet might be into those kinds of things, and to be careful who I choose to hang out with because I want to steer clear of that kind of stuff. Staying clean and focusing n my studies is very important to me, and things like drugs and alcohol are very distracting if a college student gets into them. Thankfully I have been able to stay away, but it wouldn't have been as much of a struggle if I could go back and warn myself about it.

The best advice I would give is to get involved on campus! By joining a club or volunteering, you will meet new people and make new friends. That will make the transition from high school to college much easier. A freshman usually has to leave the family he/she knows to go to college, and usually does not see many of his/her high school friends much once the school year starts. Getting involved is a great way to make new friends, but it can also help a great deal with networking. If you join a club related to your major or your career interests, you may have the opportunity to meet industry leaders and professionals who can help you when you are looking for an internship or job after college. Once I got involved with clubs, I was able to meet some industry leaders and important career professionals and now have a prospective internship. Getting more involved in my college has also helped me to meet important faculty members from whom I can easily get a great letter of recommendation when I need one. I cannot stress enough; involvement on campus makes college a blast!

College is not what you expected so great rid of those ideas of what you think will happen. The homesickness will go away after awhile and you'll forget about it. Don't groan about having to call your parents every week, your mom appreciates it and in the end you eventually realize you do it for yourself too. Bring more movies-you have more free time than you thought you would-or check out books from the library. Don't be afraid to be foreward and ask for help, swallow the pride you had in high school where you didn't need assistance and just get off your butt and do something about it. It is alright to cry about leaving home because you are now forced to grow up and face the future head on. Remember to be truthful about yourself and forgiving. Go out and talk to people, make as many friends as you can because in the end they will make you happy and always have your back. Keep laughing. Study more, it will only help you in the end and relieve a lot of stress. It will only get better. Have fun.

I would tell myself to start applying for all the scholarships that you can! college is expensive. Pay attention more in classes, esecially math and english. Learn how to write really good essays, you will need it. Start saving your money now. Take more AP classes, then you won't have to take them in college.

The first semester of college was challenging for me. I attended a very small high school and the teachers were always there for me, whenever I had needed to talk to them or needed assistance. At college, this is not the way it is, although U of I is smaller, the staff is not as available or helpful as my teachers and the other staff were in high school. I know I was extremely spoiled when attending a small high school, with the school staff being so accomodating and helpful. I think I needed to be more prepared for the emotional let down of not being a 4.0 student any longer and for classes to be harder. It was difficult to adjust to all the "online" support and how much I acutally had to use my computer to access teachers, do assignments, etc. I am not sure how to have been prepared for this. I do find that my second semester is much easier due to "knowing the ropes" and what to expect. So, I guess I have to say, be patient and college will get easier and make more sense as you gain more experience with it all!!

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships.

College. A breath of fresh air after the hell that was high school. One week before college started I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. My plan to live on campus, go to crazy parties, study until my brain popped, and fight the Freshman 15 went down the drain. My plan to be a normal student was gone. I lived at home, took medicine twice a week with horrible side effects, and felt sorry for myself. My world was upside down. It took me two or three months before I realized I cannot let being sick slow me down. The opportunities college presents are too precious to spend them sleeping off medication effects. College has taught me to, even when I want to cry and sleep, get up and go to that party, make new friends. Pretend like nothing is wrong, and eventually you feel like nothing is wrong. College has been valuable in teaching me about myself-teaching me my absolute limits and then to push them one step farther. I look forward to continuing my education and becoming a full time student when my medical bills are paid off. It will be a whole new exciting world.

I graduated in 1993, with an associates degree in Medical Assisting. Since then, I have had numerous jobs, that did not challenge me. I am now 36 years old and am registered to go back to college in January. I look forward to learning, as well as enjoying what I do when I eventually graduate with my masters degree. I am so excited to go back to school, and be someone that my children can be proud of.

Undescribable after deciding to straighten out my life and work on a career

What I have gotten out of my college experience so is that it is very important to always stay on task. If you stay on task then you will get more out off what you are learning. Being on tast helps me to know what is going on, and when it comes time to take a test or an exam I am able to be more confident in my work. It has been valuable for me to attend because I have plans to become a successful dental hygienest. I know that going to college and being a college student is the one way that I will be able to achieve and attain my goal.

College, for me, has been quite the learning experience. It has allowed me to discover more about myself and what I want out of life and has helped me to see the "big picture". I have had the opportunity to meet new people that come from all cultures and societies around the world. I have also had the chance to do a variety of community service projects which have allowed me to help make a difference in my community, my school, and myself. Though being so far away from the comfort of my home, love of my family and support of my friends has been incredible hard, I have learned to better take care of myself, making me more indepentent and allowing me to grow up more so than i could have if i had stayed at home. Overall, my college experience so far has been exciting, enriching and very valuable.

I am experiencing what it means to become independent. I am creating the person I know I can be. It is very valuable to attend college for many reasons. One reason is to become educated in a field that I am happy with and wish to persue high levels in. Another reason is build connections with people to network yourself into the world. Finally, attending college is valuable to defining yourself through tough work, fun, and living.

From my college experience I have learned more about life and myself than I think is possible. University of Idaho is worth attend for the shear fact that what you learn in class and out of class will be more useful to you in the next 10 years than if you were to have gone anywhere else. It has been vauable to attend because I'm able to hold my own in conversation ranging from economics to political science and I'm an art and psychology major.

I have learned a lot so far in my college experience. The classes are harder but it provides a greater challenge for me to suceed. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy thing but I want to continue. It is valuable to attend college for me because I need the education for what I want to do in life and I feel that when i have kids and start my own life and family that I can look back and say I did everything in my power to learn and have a wonderful job to support them. Without the college education there are not good paying jobs in the world, unless it is military.

I am currently not attending college, I will be starting in the fall of this year. I think that college opens up so many more oportunities for you as a person and as a family. I am a single mother and would like to be able to give my child every oportunity he can have. I believe in order to do this I need to better myself. College opens the door for so many things and I am hoping I can give that to my child.

Being out on your own isn't always easy. I've learned what I want to do in life and who I am. It wasn't until my sophmore year that I decided to go see a counselor due to my unsocialization skills and my depression. The experience I have had at the counseling center has changed my life. I couldn't have asked for better advice. By going to counseling I have really gained a sense of my life and how to be in control of it. This has been one of the highlights of my time here at college. I've gotten to take classes with superb professors. Everyone is different, but many of the professors I've had at this school really change the way you view things. This is what good teaching is about. Though I struggle with classes and keeping my GPA up, I never forget that there is always help right around the corner if I need it. My experience at the University of Idaho has been beneficial to my well being and invaluable in experience.

College has given me independence. This independence has challenged me. I am constantly confronted with choices and opportunities. I am also barraged with global issues, new ideologies, and challenges to my core beliefs. College has forced me to recognize that I do not really know who I am, what I believe, and why I believe it. In facing this realization I have embarked upon a journey of self discovery. I believe that this is the most valuable part of my college experience. I want to be someone who knows herself, stands by and lives by her beliefs, and can back up those beliefs with logic and sound judgment. I had a professor once tell me that college is about learning how to learn. I am not just building a knowledge or skill base on which to shape a career. I am becoming an individual who can function in the working world. An individual who is constantly learning, is not afraid to ask for help, and who can rely on herself to get through whatever life throws at her.

I never thought I was able to go back to school. I have a dream to obtain a degree. I am more determined to continue my education now more than ever. Because I am legally blind I am more persistent. I called the University of Idaho regarding any means of support services. The Disability Support Services (DSS) has helped me adjust to college. They provided me note takers, tutors, and personal counseling. I have needed these services to persevere. Being blind is difficult and frustrating. I have spent most of my life seeing. Then in 2002-2004 the loss of my vision had impacted me. I was one day driving then the next I wasn?t able to drive. The loss of my sight was a big adjustment in my life. This meant to me that I as a person had to work harder. Even though being blind is difficult, I have learned to work past it to continue my education. I instill that there is no limitation to accelerate in life and follow your dreams, regardless of challenges that life would throw at you. This scholarship will give me the means to achieve my dream: having a Bachelors degree.

I learned about hard work and about how to always continue learning.

My college experience has been vital to me in the sense that I have really grown as a person. Not only is my education incredibly important to my but I am thankful I have had the opportunity to attend college. Right out of high school many if not almost all of my friends didn't go to college and ended up having children at the age of 19. I am proud to say that I know that there is much more to life and many more experiences that can be and should be attained. College has helped me learn this and I have a feeling there is much more to be learned.

I have had the most intense college experience imaginable. This college has opened up doors that I never thought would ever open for me. I had a great internship last summer because of school. This internship gave me so many tools that will make me succesful in life. I am the president of two organizations, I have become a leader by attending college and being involved. To be involved there has to be something to get involved in. The university of Idaho has it all. By making me step out side of my comfort zone this university has made me into what I am becoming a responsible and important individual that values education.

My name is Paul V Barbaritano and I?m applying for this scholarship with this essay. Growing up as an inner city kid I didn?t take education very seriously and as a result I only attended school to the 7th grade. It has been so ever since that I felt the void of that missing education and so greatly regretted my actions as a youth. I?m a fairly intelligent person with a wealth of life experience but still lack the education. As I embarked on a spiritual journey as an adult, I began to realize that something was missing, something wasn?t quite right. I was able to pick up jobs here and there to sustain my needs. My family counted on me to be the best Dad, the best caregiver and the ?go to guy? when things were needed. I ?nickel and dimed? it, and that is no longer my desire. One of my favorite commercials is a Nike commercial where they say ?never let them see you sweat? I choose not live that way any longer. I am asking that you believe in me also.

College has changed me. It has turned me into a stonger version of what I knew I was, but has also shown me a side of myself I was previously unaware of. It has cemented the compassion, tolerance and openness with which I view the word, while allowing me to become a more independent and autonomous individual. I have been challenged socially- I quickly went from being well known and liked at my high school to completely unknown. Consequently, I had the chance to decide if what I had been was what I wanted to be, and was challenged to push myself in the art of making friends. I have been challenged politically-the University of Idaho has support groups for many political ideas, and not actively participating in something can be looked at as indifference. Therefore, I had to re-evaluate many of my ideas, and decide if they were actually what I believed. I have been challenged personally- never, until college, had I gone from hopeless to euphoric in a matter of minutes. This has pushed me toward a newfound love and support of myself and my dreams. College is changing me into what I want to be.

Always be prepared. No matter what situation you get yourself into, you need to be able to make things smoother. This will take away a great deal of confusion and stress from your college life. Keep all of your school work organized, bring required materials with you at all times, and write everything you possibly can down, focusing on due dates. Do not procrastinate. This is by far one of the worst things that you can do as a college student. Once you get an assignment, find the time right away to complete it, because you never know what can happen tomorrow.