University of Illinois at Chicago Top Questions

It has changed my life, and opened my eyes to many things that I had no knowledge of before. Not just academically, but socially as well. UIC was very diverse and it allowed me to gain friendships with people that I never would have been around in any other situation.

My college experience at University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) not only meant completion of a BSN with honors, it meant personal growth, new friends, exposure to excellent instructors, research and its possibilities, and advancement within my chosen profession. These attributes of my experience attending UIC are above price; the tools provided by the college have been invaluable in the successive years after graduation. Upon completing my degree, I continued to work as a staff nurse in acute rehabilitation, working with spinal cord injury, cerebral vascular incidents, and brain injury patients with a changed view of how nursing should be done. After 6 months I transferred wtihin the same organization into administration and case management for work related injury. Since then, I have worked at adminstrative level positions which required a BSN, including as a Director of Nursing for the past ten years. I now own and operate an adult daycare center made possible by the degree I hold. As an alumnus of UIC, the college and my experiences as a student there have continued to enrich my life with seminars, networking, and mentor-type support.

My College experience has expanded my mind and prepared me for the work environment. With my certification I was able to apply for job's with confidence. I am a Certified Dental Assistant and love my career. I have wanted to work in health care since I can remember and absolutely love helping people. College showed me all of the traits that employer's look for and how to show them I am more than qualified for the position. Without having the education of a college certification, I wouldnt have so many opportunities. I am thankful for my education and I have a postive outlook on my future because of it.

Ive learned how to stand out in a large crowd. I like for my professors to know who I am, so I always make the extra effort to get noticed by my professors. Going to UIC forced me to stop being shy and speak up in my class rooms. Doing that and taking part in my classes help my grade, when a professor knows who you are because you speak up in class they are more likely to help you if you need it. I also ask my professors things and take full advantage of their office hours. My professors all inspire me to work my hardest and not to give up even when things are uncertain. My Italian professors have been encouraging me to study abroad and that is what I am focusing on.

I love school and I have learned a lot of new things. Attending school will help open my horizons and give me many oppurtunities.

My college experience has taught me many valuable lessons. First of all it has taught me to better manage my time and improve my study skills. Before I attended college I would study very sporadically and only before exams. Being in college taught me to organize my time so that I can study a little every day and so that I do not procrastinate up until the last day. Another thing that college has taught me is to study on my own as well as with other students. Since UIC is a large university with large lecture halls it is very difficult to get help when needed since there is one professor for about 300 people. I quickly learned that in order tobe successful in my classes I would have to work with other students. That is exactly what I did, I would set up study groups and organize meetings with different tutors. Most importantly since UIC is such a diverse college it has taught me about different cultures and religions and has made me a better person because of that because now i have a broader knowledge.

Attending college has honestly gave me a taste of the real world. I have learned to do things by myself and on my own, which was something new to me. It made me really grow up quick . Also, the education I receive is great. I've been challenged in and out the class room which is what i like. Though I've only been in college a little over a year I've things and met people that i know will stick with me for a lifetime. Kristen Carr

I have learned alot. I have learned skills that i can utilize in the feild of jobs. I have learned life long skills that will help me where ever i go. School will better my education so i can get a welth paying job in the future.

The advice I would offer to myself as a senior in high school would be to go back and talk to myself in the ninth grade. By the time I was a senior, I realized that my friends and cohorts who were getting into the colleges they wanted, and receiving scholarships, were the ones that had structured their high school careers accordingly. My family did not encourage me to take preparatory tests, participate in extracurricular activities, or tour campuses. I had no early plan. Despite good grades I knew I could only go to college if I could afford to pay. I could not. I have not had any fortune regarding grants or scholarships since I have been in school. It feels as though part of the criteria for being deemed worthy of scholarships is that you must have received scholarships previously. I feel I am caught in a catch-22, and that I am alone in this. So far, I have funded college through loans, credit cards, and the liquidation of my house, my savings, and my penalty-free brokerage accounts. I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, but it won't be easy.

I would say to myself, "Growup and put aside your childish ways. College is not how you think it is!"

If I could go to the past and talk to myself, the first thing that I would say that the celebration of everyday is a challenge that I repeat full of hope. That even though I have planned my future, I battle with the unknown all the time. I would also say that I have to consider other possibilities even though they were not a part of the original plan. The family values and the experiences in high school are the things that have helped me become a fighter and not a spectator in the college and social life. I have to analyze and reflect before I make a final decision. This does not mean that, for example, studying in the United States was a mistake, that this decision should had been made immediately after I finished my high school studies and not after. I have to get more involved in extracurricular activities (even though classes do not leave a lot of free time). In college every encounter is an adventure, a compromise that can take us far in life.

If I had the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would probably tell myself to try to be a little more organize with my time. Also, to take more time on my homework and to develop good studying habits. I would tell myself to try to get as much knowledge and advice from my teachers, as well as talk to them about going to college. The most important thing I would tell myself would be to take time to apply for as many scholarships as possible so I won't have to work to pay for college and that way I can concentrate more on getting good grades.

I spent the first two years of my college career at a small school in the town I grew up in. While I met a lot of great friends there, I feel like I was too afraid to go explore the world outside of my hometown. When I decided to come to Chicago for school, I was nervous, but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I would tell myself to be more confident. College is intimidating for everyone, and you shouldn't go somewhere just because it seems like the safe decision. If something is different or strange, that doesn't mean it's impossible. Chicago has given me more opportunities than I could have ever imagined, and I feel like I have already grown and learned so much from the diverse cultures in the city. There's an exciting world out there, and I wish I would have started exploring it sooner than I did.

As a senior in high school, I was really active in community involvement. I raised over $3000 for AIDS by putting on school projects, along with targeting the youth and senior citizens in our community. As a senior I was really intrigued by the way a couple of students could even help the community in ways that my few classmates and I did. Taking this into account, I cam into a school with over twenty thousand more students and a big oppurtunity to turn what I did in my small-town, into a big change in the city of Chicago. In high school though, looking back at it, and seeing the things I had done, I would love to have told my self to not stop at just the youth and the senior citizens. There's a whole community that would love to get together. I would love to have involved the whole school in what I did because the youth are the future of this society.

Dear Sam, Congratulations, you are going to College! You may not realize it now, but college life is actually a big transition compared to high school. However, I have some advice that will make things a lot easier for you. 1) STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! You got by easily in high school with very little studying. However, college is different! You can't just study the night before the exam and expect to get an A. You need to be constantly reviewing material on a daily basis in order to ace exams. 2) You are only a Freshman once, so have fun! This is your time to make friends and really let yourself shine. Concentrate on your studies, but don't be so anal about them that you miss out on making friends and experiencing Freshman year. 3) Think about activities that you can do that will benefit you in your future career when applying for jobs. For example, you want to be a Nurse? Volunteer at the hospital, get involved with the Student Nurses's Association, etc. These experiences will go a long way when applying for Internships or jobs. 4) BE YOURSELF!

In order to fully understand the amount of wisdom I have received in school that I would pass on to my past self, I feel that a letter is the most satisfactory way. This is a letter from Jeff now, to Jeff six months ago. Dear Jeff, In a few short weeks, your entire life will change and whether or not that is for better or for worse is entirely up to you. Be outgoing, let the friends come to you. People who you don't want to associate with will keep their distance and only the truly unique friends that you want will respond. Be patient, great things really do happen all at once, but not without some waiting. No one ever won the race without proper training. Steve Prefontaine once said that "some people race to see who is the fasted, I run to see who has the most guts." Remember this as you make your way through your college experience. Some peoples priorities are strictly focused on the final product, ignoring the glorious journey along the way. Keep in mind that college is an experience, not a hinderance. Be who you are, and accept everyone else. Jeff

I would tell my old self to prepare to start going to tutoring. I know it's hard but don't give up on trying to juggle school and work.

As a college student now looking back at when I was a senior I have realized that I was really not prepared for anything to do with college. Some advice I would give to myself is to start planning for college as soon as possible, the sooner the better. Also to start applying for scholarships ASAP and to apply for as many as possible. Paying for college isn't easy and seeing myself as well as my parents struggle to pay off my school loans isn't something I wanted. So applying for scholarships is one the best ways to get money for college. Another tip I would give myself is to make sure the reason you?re going to college is something you?re passionate about. Never give up your dreams, and to work hard through high school because hard work always pays off at the end. My last piece of advice would be to always keep your head up, no matter how hard things get, or how much times you say you want to give up, DONT! Just keep your head up high, and stay positive through everything you do, good and bad.

Dear HS Senior Self, When you arrive to college, become a part of the community. Academia is important, don't get me wrong, but if you graduate college without a single new friend or experience, you have surely missed out. People enter college for two simple reasons: to socialize or to learn but what you really need is a perfect combination of both. Study your butt off, attend every class, pay attention, enjoy the city, enjoy your company, talk to someone new each and every day, manage your time, maximize your use of campus resources, join student organizations, go to parties, go to bars, maximize your essay writing for scholarships, attend a sports game, cheer for your school, laugh a lot (like, A LOT) and you know what? Go ahead and procrastinate just a little. It's not college until you've experienced a few all-nighters. Oh, and avoid beer: it's unclassy, lowers your inhibitions, and most importantly...it makes you fat. Study hard and stay awesome. Love, Future Self PS - Never ever leave a 10-page paper for the night before it's due.

If I could go back in time I would convince myself into takeing schooling alot more serious , to do so much better, and make myelf become more active in my own future college is tuff but you are smart enough to fully succeed at it ,and to see your future self in college is sheer proof you can become anything that you want just apply yourself you can do it

I would tell myself that college is truly a test of how well you want to reach your goal; this is simply because of the level of independence that you have. The ability to decide whether to go to class or not, the ability to leave with friends without having those "annnoying" parents to force you to stay and do homework/study, and the ability to make most of your own decisions that are so critical for the major. It is so easy to not show up to class, and to deviate away from the path of graduation. You are basically alone when it comes to making the right the decision, and it is basically an indicator of your devotion and desire to recieve that degree. Also, you need to have resistance when it comes to having friends who only want to go out and party, and who will only leave you way behind on your studies. You finally begin to learn what if feels like to become an adult, a person whose own decisions that can make or destroy the person's fate, and their willingness to keep working for they destiny they crave.

Michelle, it?s your last year in high school and you should take this opportunity to prepare for college. You are prepared academically, but you need to be prepared mentally. You'll be attending a competitive school with 25,000 other students. If you are not hired for the first position you apply for, do not give up hope and keep applying. From time to time, if you don?t receive the A you expected, do not give up, study harder for the next exam. College is full of challenges, and the most difficult one you have to face is rejection. You are a perfectionist, but it's important to learn how to persevere. You're optomistic when you face a challenge, but you need to stay an optomist whatever the outcome. To learn how to persevere, you should practice soccer and try out for the team, apply for jobs, apply for scholarships? etc. Also, take harder courses, and if you don?t receive straight A?s, at least you tried to challenge yourself. You cannot always be perfect so learn and progress, accept and persevere.

Dionicia, i know your excited to go to a big University but take into consideration the fanacial statues of yout family. You are currantly not recieveing finacial help from the goverment or any other outside source. Think about what is best for your family don't be selfish. Since you are undecided you are going to be taking prerequiste courses at you school this is something that can be done at your local community college aswell as a University. The difference between the two are that one the University can cost up to $25,000 a year and a local commuitty college could be less than half of that . I know you feel like this is the next big step that you have been waiting for your whole high school career but what is 2 more years of waiting when you can save so much money. Going to a community college does not mean you a lesser of a person or get lesser of an education it just means your being financially smart considering the economic statues that thye whole nation is in. Go to a community college for 2 years then tranfer to the university of your choice .

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would inform myself that making such a large transition is not always easy. There is a big difference between high school and college. College may seem easy at first, but as you further your education, it gets more difficult. I would also say that I should manage my time wisely and make smart decisions with money. In addition, I would tell myself to aim high and notjust settle for average grades because higher grades is what gets you to where you want to be in the future. Lastly, I would tell myselfthat focusing is the main key to success in college. Do not fall into peer pressure and other activities that would put you at risk for anything bad that will affect your future.

College is a different playing field. The comfort level I had became so use to is no longer there and I have to establish a new one in order to start of successfully. I would tell myself to continue what I have been doing as far as preparing for assignments and tests but I would tell myself to do a lot more advanced reading. Procrastination is the one thing that kills many students. I have seen it in high school and I almost fell to it during my 1st semester of college. The next thing I would tell myself is strop procrastinating because it will hurt you quicker than it does in high school. After that I would tell myself to take advantage of all the resources available especially here in UIC where there are resource literally right in front of you. The last thing I would tell myself is have fun. Be serious, focus on the job at hand, focus on the future, but have fun, be socially involved in the community, and don't stress out because if you are on top of everything there is no reason to stress out.

If i could go back too my senior year. I would have talked to myself, knowing what i do about college. I would tell myself to work harder in school by getting my work done on time. I would fill out scholorships for colleges an take advantage of everything the counselors gave me. I'd tell myself to take school more serious than i did an make it to class on time. Making the transition, i would tell myself not to give up on stuff so easily, like homework if i cant get it done i'd make sure to get help from the teacher. The advice i'd give myself is the same as going back an talking to myself ."I would tell myself to work harder in school by getting my work done on time." I'd also would have taken the ACT more than i did an i would aimed for a higher diploma so that way i would've had to work harder than i did an i would have to show up to school.

I would tell myself to not be afraid to take some time off from school to gain some real world experience. But, I would warn myself to keep education a top priority no matter what was going on. There is nothing wrong with taking time off to learn and mature. If anything college will only be easier because your focus will be more refined. Not only would I have real world experience but also the knowledge to apply theory learned to that experience.

As a high school student, people told me how college has no homework and attendance is never taken. For me, there was loads of daily homework and plenty of lectures that made sure your presence was necessary. I would tell my past-self that college is just like high school but you are responsible for your actions. If you don't attend class, you will fall behind. Although the professors post the lectures on the school's website, he/she will add information during the lecture that won't be on the provided slides. It is essential to attend all classes, study for all exam and quizzes, and turn in papers on time. There aren't many point offered during college therefore all points count. Missing one assignment could put your grade down the hole, it is extremely important to take college life seriously. Its your life, be smart about it.

Talk to other individual students that may have or are attending this college. Not only look at what the college is known for but also the location, diversity and campus life, etc. Be more observant to fine print on fees, financial aid etc. College life is an experience to enjoy and one that will always be remembered. Be more aware of study habits, counselor remarks, and teachers who are willing to help prepare you for college. Take what your parents have told you and always keep it with you. Sometimes what you think might be meaningless is some the best advice you will ever get.

If I could travel back in time to the end of my high school career to offer up some friendly advice to myself about college I would start off with a reminder,"take a deep breath". Though the transition period from high school to college may be three months, it feels like days to an upcoming freshmen college student. There are so many things to do, buy, sign, and pack that the overwhelming excitement to leave can cause one to overlook the decisions that should be considered before entering college life. I would tell myself there is no need to rush, to take a break and truly experience the options of what career path is just the right fit. Before going off to school make sure of what you truly have your heart set on to avoid wasting the time, money, and stress worrying you will regret the path you chose. If your going to spend $25,000 dollars a year on an education, wouldn`t you want to know your spending your money wisely?

The most basic and main advice that I would give is to persevere. In high school, the coursework is relatively easy and basic. However, in college, coursework may be little but the time that you should spend on each class is much more than you would expect. There is a lot of time to study and participate in extra-curricular activities but it all comes down to how wisely time is spent. Time-management plays an important role, not only in college, but also in life. Many times students want to hang out and have fun in college and make studying a lesser priority. DO NOT DO THIS. Social life is important but your academic life far outweighs your social life. Everything that you learn in college carries through to the next stage of life as an adult. Responsibility, critical thinking, logical reasoning, time-management, and etc, are all very important to learn. You need to get ready to make smart decisions that will have everlasting impacts on your life. It may be really hard to concentrate and focus throughout college but after persevering through it all, it will all be worth your time. Persevere and succeed!

I believe that as a college senior I was completely ready to make the transition to college life. College life offered me the independence that I was striving for and had been preparing for my entire senior year of highschool. If I could go back in time and talk to myself I would not go back to senior year, but to my freshman year of high school and the conversation would deter from college life to academic life. I would have told myself to make wiser academic decisions throughout my four years of high school. Today I am envious of those who were able to gain college credits their senior year of high school and if I would have known as a freshman to plan more directly for my academic future I could have completed almost all of my freshman year of college during my senior year of high school. This could have been an advantage that today I wish I had because of my heavy course load now and my double major disabling me from graduating in 4 years but instead 5. I accept that I will be in school for 5 years, but regret my past academic decisions.

I would tell myself to prepare mentally. There are many hardships and discouraging encounters that will stand in your way. A lot of hard waork and dedication overcomes all of these things. Keep focused and remeber to ask for help from others if you do not have the answers yourself.

Hillarie, wake up! Enjoy these years and live them to their full extent, but don't for one second forget what the real priorities are. Academics are everything and if you are not constantly putting in 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, then eventually those students that do put forth such effort will catch up with you and surpass. You are a bright person-don't lose your edge over the competition! Listen to those adults who walk around in 'lecture-mode', they are only sharing their wealth of knowledge with you because they care about you and they know first hand what it takes to lead happy and successful lives. Set goals for yourself. Things that come easy, will go easy and hard work and determination always give off the best awards. Keep your mind open to all possibilities and you will lead that adventurous and spontaneous life you seek, and your goals will always make sure you do this while staying on track.

I would tell myself to take in every learning opportunity given to me. It is amazing how much the little things taught in high school can effect your college experience. Paying attention in high school is like giving yourself a leg up in college. I know that social anxieties are present during high school, but you begin a whole new life in college. Now, I like to look at my high school days as merely a stepping stone to an amazing, stimulating, and invigorating new world. College is the chance to make a new you and fulfill all of your desires.

I would tell myself not to worry. That friends will come and go and that new people in your life may be able to give you a new persepective on things. I would also tell myself that some professors are just bad and you can't rely on the grade you get to determine the person you are. You are much more than a number and there are things in life that happen that you just can't change, but they shape the person you are. You are more than a grade point average. Be careful of distractions. They come in many different forms. Whether its facebook or boys or even crossword puzzles in the newspaper. Focus on what you love. Write about what you know. Keep your ambition and don't do it for someone else. Finish it for you because you deserve the credit. Find a good way to study and try to get some sleep. Good luck.

Well to start off, I would have first told myself to stay in High School and then go directly to college after that. College is a great experience and a life changing step. College not only gives you an education to get a better paying career, it also helps the transition from childhood to adulthood. It helps teach responsibility, organization, timeliness and of course, what you need to know to get the career you want. College life helps you prepare for the future not only in the way of a career, but in preparing for the interviews, and job seeking step. Many of the teachers have a lot of experience in what they are teaching and not only can they teach you what the school wants them to teach, but they can also enlighted you to the real world experiencein the specific field you are studying. It is defenitely a chance that no one should miss out on. I would have told myself that this is one of the most important steps in life and that I should not forget about college.

One of the things I need to learn is discipline myself to study my books for a long period of time; due to the fact that high school required less attention and study habits. Also, knowing what I know now, I would have applied for scholarships that can help me with the financial aspect of being a students. I hardly receive refunds from financial aid, which means that I have to personally buy the textbooks from my own pocket but for majority of the time not buing any at all. In addition, I would learn how to socialize more with people because through-out my high school period, I was a loner which makes it very hard fro me to associate and keep contact with people. Another advice will be to keep up with people because when opportunity comes, they will always remember you as along as you keep people inform about what you need help with.

The advice I would give myself would be to take college more seriously. I need to learn to teach myself to study better, and be prepared to do most of my learning on my own, even in science based courses. I would also advise my past self to make decisions more carefully, and think about the consequences more thoroughly before doing anything rash. I would also tell myself that eith time management skills, I would be able to have a social life, participate in activities, and also succeed academically. I would advise myself to HAVE FUN, but be RESPONSIBLE.

Never give up, no matter what. Even if you choose to procrasinate, you musn't give up. Success is achieved through sheer willpower and the amount of struggles through life, so never give up.

In college you will see people stressing, and competing to do well in pretty difficult classes. However, success is not dependent on competing or getting stressed. Instead the key to doing well in college is personal discipline. In college there is a lot of free time and a lot of opportunities to have fun and enjoy. However, it isn?t like high school where teachers will spoon-feed you. It is in your best interest to make your education your number one priority. You must stay on top of all deadlines, and exams on your own. Your success is completely dependent on your personal choices, it is completely upto you if you want to even attend class. It is crucial that your make the right choices because it is these choices which will ensure or falter your success. After a couple of stressful months, you may get the feeling you want to give up. Think far and ahead, there is surely a light at the end of the tunnel, and there will be a reward for your hard work; a career and the opportunity for you to enter the world with an excellent education and make a difference in society.

I would tell myself to ace the ACT test, because college is extremely expensive, and having a better act score would help in generating a better chance at more financial aid and scholarships! Apply to as much scholarships as possible to help pay for school. T o dont get discouraged about the costs so much, allthough it might frighten you of the debt you will be, remember that if you play your cards right, you will be alright and have plenty of opportunities ahead of you, so keep a strong head about things and plow through to success. Also make sure you finish strong in high school, alot will happen between now and then, so good job!

I know you're having fun in high school. You're enjoying all the clubs and sports at school, but you need to focus more on academics. Take an AP class, study an extra hour every other day, and really buckle down better. During senior year especially, you need to keep yourself busy. No "senior-tis" excuses because once you get to college, things will be really different. University classes teach a whole year's material in a single semester. Unlike high school, it's not just fun anymore. Every day, every lesson is crucial. During elementary school, your goal was to get into a good high school. In high school, you want to get into a good college. In college, you're working towards your future. The rest of your life in ahead of you and college is your path to the future. Every path will have its bumps, but get more serious now so that your path is smoother for college and beyond.

If I could return to my senior year of high school, I would advice myself to make a bigger bang. I would've pushed myself further with the sports that I competed in and I would have strenthened all the friendships that I made throughout my years in high school. As far as college goes, I would advice myself not to pick the university that I would be attending based on financial aid. I would try to become a much more calm person, and not stress over pointless things, and focus on managing my time better. I had a great senior; I took AP classes, ran varsity cross country and track and field, was the editor for my schools' newspaper and spent plenty of time with my friends. I wish I would have taken more photos to help remeber all the wonderful moments I experienced. I would want to tell my teachers more often how important they were to me and how they impacted my life. I would probably want to apply for more part-time jobs because school is expensive and every little bit that I could have made would have helped a lot.

When I first came into college, I was sure that I would become a Pharmacist and take pharmacy courses. I even tried joining a pre-pharmacy club. I went to a couple of meetings and I didn't feel like this was my kind of job. If i could go back and give advice to myself in high school, i would tell myself to reconsider becoming a pharmacist. Why do I really want to become a pharmacist? I could never really answer it and I would have to think of a good reason. I want to tell myself that I can be whatever I want to be, but don't let that reason be because of the money. Let your reason be because you want to be it and it will be a career you will enjoy and be proud of. Don't always try to please your parents, do it for yourself, its your life. Through my experience in college i now want to be a physical therapist because i enjoy anatomy and working with the body. I want to understand more about how it works and what makes it so interesting.

HIgh school is about preparing you so that you will be able to make it through college. It is also helping you to discover some of your interests so that when you enter college you have some idea where to start your future plans. No, you don't have to know wht you want to do for the rest of your life yet, but you will have your high school experience to help you guide yourself in college. You have to make the most of it, take yourself seriously while remembering to have fun too. Fun is also important, it will leave you with some amazing memories to look back on one day and with friends that might stay by you for the rest of your life. Everyone will have a different college experience, but its up to you on how well your experience will be depending on the mindset you enter college with.

I would tell my high school self to take school seriously. Every class that you take will pave for something in the future. GPA makes a difference in what you do and what you will do with your life. People who say that "C's get degrees" are being naive. They do get degrees but they do not get jobs or internships. Also I would say to participate in extra ciricular activities as they will help with meeting new people and networking.

I would tell myself to be strong, and to be hopeful. I would make it clear to myself that negativity never works out, and that studying pays off. I would say to live life and let loose, meet people and disregard differences because ultimately its being different that makes us all alike. Knowing what I know now, I would insure myself that failing a test doesn't mean my world is going to come crashing in on me. After experiencing my first year away at college, if I could go back in time, I would tell myself to be prepared for the biggest change ever, and to be ready for things I never knew could be thrown in my direction, and honestly, I might even tell myself not to live on campus because it wasn't worth it. The circumstances I had to tolerate, and the sometimes agonizing conditions just didn?t pay off, and my roommate amplified the situation making it even more terrible. At least I can say it built character, so all in all, I would tell myself to suck it up, and to make the best of it.

I did everything I could in high school to prepare for college because my mother is a teacher and she put goals, motivations, and opportunities in place for me to be successful. I would probably have wanted to get a job earlier and save more money for the technological advances I wanted to get before anyone else. However, in general, I worked very hard in high school, and had great role models (I have three grown sisters who are already through college), so I knew what was at stake.

DO NOT TAKE OUT LOANS!!!!! The student loans are the worst thing I did. I owe over $130,000 now and I'm so afraid that I won't find a job that will help me pay them all off. I am also currently the Mother of 4 and would advise myself in the past to not have any children until I finished school PERIOD! This way I would have been better prepared financially for them and give them a better life overall. Also, I would have recommended taking AP classes to shorten my time in college.