University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

If I went back in time, the first thing I would tell my high-school self is to manage my time well. In college, there is a lot more reading, and although there is less homework, it is worth more in the long run. Time management is essential to a student who wants to do well and not cram everything for the last minute. Another piece of advice that I would give my high-school self is to treat every exam as the most important one of the semester. In some classes, there are only two exams for the whole semester and one bad score can really hurt the overall grade in the class. While in high school, there were exams every few weeks and they were worth less, in college, the exams are much more important and are worth a lot more. My final piece of advice would be to not lose track of your goals. College is a great experience with a lot of opportunities and social events, but it is important to balance school work with social events to make sure that you stay on the right path to your goals.

First of all, money is not everything. There are plenty of opportunities for financial aid and scholarships out there that you probably don't even know exist! Look for them. After you have done this, pick the school that is best for you and your major. Do not go to a school simply because your parents went there, or because you have friends that go there. You will make new friends; your education needs to be your priority. My advice is to visit every school that you have in mind, and make sure you talk to the head of the department you are interested in. Trust me, they will be happy to talk to you and help you in any way possible. Find out everything possible about your perspective schools. Search the websites, ask questions and talk to alumni and faculty of the schools. Most importantly- do not settle because you are afraid of change. It will be fun! You are making a decision that will affect all of your future decisions and outcomes, so do not, under any circumstances, cheat yourself. Choose a school that will allow you to grow into the person that you want to be.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I don't know how much I would alter. Perhaps I would advise to change some little things. For instance, senior year should be a time when you continue to challenge yourself in areas that may seem daunting. To challenge yourself in such a way offers great rewards; some often unkown in their magnitude until afterwards. Ultimately, I was afraid to explore all options which culminated in me taking a gap year to volunteer abroad. Come time to apply to college I was left in the dark. It's easy to become afraid during such an uncertain time in life, but the opportunities that await are without end. Out of highschool there are no "roots"; no responsibilities to anyone or anything which hold you back. Take an attitude of ruthless optomism and see how far you can go. That's what I'd say to myself.

Buy a BlackBerry, planner, scheduler, something to keep track of date, facts and meetings. In college knowing how to effectively manage your time becomes a real art form. I would tell myself start committing to good time management practices, it will help tremendously in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in my future studies. I would let myself know that developing good time managing skills is a journey and don?t be discourage if I encounter a few set backs. I would stress to myself that being able to prioritize and execute task in college will not only my college easier but more successful Designate break times and set a long turn plan

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would make myself buckle down even more than I already had. When I was a senior in high school, I took a bunch of AP classes. Unfortunately, I did not do as well as I wanted to on my AP exams. Out of the five AP tests that I took at the end of my senior year, I only received college credit for one of them. If I had studied more and not procrastinated as much as I did, I probably could have received higher scores which would have given me enough credit to reach sophomore standing. Although my GPA was outstanding, my AP scores were not. If I had the chance to go back, I would say, "Hey, Good-Lookin'. Study, study, study! Don't waste any more time chit-chatting on the phone!"

I was Mrs. Know It All in my senior year! Nobody could tell me what to do. Now that I am college experienced I would do two things differently in my senior year of high school. I would learn good study habits and apply to all the scholarships I was eligible for. I never studied for any type of exam. I was attentive, never took notes and aced my exams. If I could go back with the knowledge I have know I would try to adapt to studying and find different methods. When I started college I failed two classes and took six weeks to adapt to studying. Therefore, I could have prepared in high school and never failed. I also would have applied to scholarships. College charges you for everything; it does not only consist of tuition and books. It also comes with a $75 parking fee, $45 windshield sticker, $20 bus pass, library and club fees etc. They have outrageous fees for abnormal things. If I would have received scholarships, then I would not be devastated by the fees I was charged with in college. Save yourself from becoming broke and failing take my college experiences with you.

If I could go back in time to my senior-year self I would tell myself that although you will have a lot of freedom in college do not forget why you are there and that you should not give up on your dreams. Work hard always and forever because the work never ends. I would tell myself to volunteer for more programs and be involved even if it is too late to write it down on my college applications. I would also tell myself not to be afraid to go and find myself because that is what college is all about, plus it would not hurt to find a job to make a little extra money. I wish to tell myself that as long as I work hard and get involved I will be successful no matter what obstacles come my way.

College is not high school and that is the first thing I would tell myself. Prioritizing your time wisely is important because there is a bigger social life in college and it needs to be managed well with academics. Develop good study habits at the beginning of the year rather than when it is too late. Be involved more in the classroom, ask questions, and be more outspoken. Not getting your questions answered or your thoughts processed will only hurt you in the long wrong when it comes to homework and exams. Visit your professor?s office hours. Building a relationship with your professor is important in maintaining a good grade and will help with letters of recommendation, so do not be afraid to interact with the professors. Also be active and social to create friends and networks that will stay with you long into the future. Most importantly take control of the things going on in your life. Making mistakes is natural, but learning from them is what matters the most. This is your time to shine and no one else?s. Make the best of it and you will succeed.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college, I would tell myself to be more open to change. College is full of opportunities to meet people and to do frankly ?awesome? things. I would advise myself to keep my dorm door open, to eat with new people in the dining hall, and to find groups of friends in class. I would tell myself that college is a completely different world from high school, full of freedom and the ability to make life-changing decisions. I would tell myself not to be hesitant about making friends, and I would tell myself to relax academically. College is a great time to discover one?s true self, and that can often be done by balancing school work with a social life and not abusing one or the other. I would tell myself that diversity is one of the best things a human can experience. I would tell myself that grades aren?t everything they are made out to be in high school; rather, they are a means to get to the ultimate goal?graduation. Finally, I would tell myself these five simple words: Enjoy every minute of it.

If I were to go back two years and talk to myself as a high school senior the first tip that I would tell myself pertaining to college life would be let chaos be your guide. Going into college I had a set of core friends from high school with me. The entire first semester seemed to be a continuation of all we did during high school. It was not until the second semester that I began to branch out and some amazing doors opened because I changed the way I did things and wake up every day not knowing where it could take me. The other tip I would relay to myself would be to not get overwhelmed. In high school I was in a group at the top of my class. Now I was surrounded by others who were just as bright as me. At first this somewhat intimidated me, causing me to question my intellect. As I progressed I came to realize that I was just as bright as anyone around me and all that I needed to do was trust in my own ability and give my best effort at whatever it was I did.

If I were to talk to myself from only a year ago, I think I would be able to give myself some good advice for the first year of college to come. Lately I have been feeling a small amount of regret that I didn?t participate in more sports during high school. I played baseball throughout but that was it. I would tell my former self to go ahead and play basketball and possibly football as well. I feel as though it would have been a good experience to play these sports because I would have been used to becoming friends with brand new people, even though I would have known some of my high school teammates. A Second piece of advice I would give would be start reading more. During my first semester at college, I had a lot of large reading assignments that could have been made much easier from simply having spent more time reading before hand. I am not a terrible reader, however I feel like a little more practice would have made my first semester much more likeable, because I would have spent less time reading and rereading a handful of selections.

If I went back to my senior self, I would inform of my life academically, socially, and the transition. Academically, I would tell myself not to take for granted those words of my teachers warning me of college and the extreme work load. All the work is there only to better me. I would tell myself to remain calm and do not stress because there is always help readily available. For my social life, I would tell myself to stay who I was, am, and always will be, John Lim, and not to change my attitude or act any different. My life is definitely changed due to college, yet I will say stay faithful to my beliefs, do the best to my abilities, and be proud; just because it is college does not mean that I have to become someone else. For the transition, I would tell myself the truth ??warts and all? (Cromwell) that it is going to be tough but once adjusted, all shall be well. I will leave on a final note that college is definitely challenging but simultaneously, worth every single time and effort put into it, after all, it is the beginning of my future.

I probably would not have roomed with three other guys from my high school. The U of I is so big and full of new people and experiences, and I think that already having a strong group of friends, while supportive, also can limit one's exposure to things they didn't think they enjoyed. Variety is the spice of life, and the core of man's existence comes from new experience. So if you are planning to live with a good friend, I would suggest you think twice. You can always try and get your dorm room located in the same residence hall as your friends, and that way some of your new roommates might be added to your group!

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to be me, and stay true to who I am and my beliefs. You shouldn't have to change for anybody or a certain group of friends because if you do, maybe those aren't the friends for you. I would also share the importance of using every available resource around me, whether it be for financial purposes or just networking for the future. That is what these people are here for, to help put me in a better position so use them!. And the most important thing I would tell myself is to GET OUT OF YOUR SHELL! Get out of your comfort zone, be uncomfortable, life isn't always about being comfortable. You have to get yourself out there so that people can know who you are, learn to network. You may across an employee of your dream job, you have to know how to sell yourself.

I know a plethora of facts about college now than I did when I was a senior. I realize now that I was very unprepared for college. If I could go back in time and give myself some advice there are a few key college concepts I would try to make myself realize. First, I would tell myself that college classes cover material at a much faster rate than college. I need to be ready to learn every day I walk into a classroom and review the material after I walk out. Second, I would tell myself to keep a positive attitude and think proactively no matter what happens. Going from high school to college is a massive transition and I would meet many challenges along the way, but staying positive would help me make the change and adjust better. I will not be able to control every situation, but I can control how I handle those situations. Finally, I would tell myself to keep in mind the goal I have of having a good job in the future. No matter how much I love or hate college, I am utimately there for one reason: build a better future.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are two things I would advise myself knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition. The first thing is knowing that I'll receive a refund from the university for whatever scholarship/financial aid money is not used at the beginning of each semester. A few days before the first semester of my freshman year, I checked my bank account balance and saw more digits than I had ever seen in my account. I was surprised and thought someone was playing a trick on me. I thought there had to have been some kind of mistake. That wasn't the case as I would soon figure out. Also, go to as many events on campus and meet as many people as I possibly can. Step outside of my comfort zone. Yes, academics are important. That's the main reason why people go to college - to further their education. However, lets be real. People also attend college to make new friends and discover more things they had no knowledge of before. College comes once. Make the most of it!

Don?t bring so much stuff! This would be the first, and most important, piece of information I would give if I could talk to myself as a high school senior. The size of my dorm room was something I drastically overestimated. Even the closet, which I thought would be 3 feet wide at the least, turn out to be just the opposite: significantly less. I would tell my high school self that my room at home is not going to go anywhere and that it will not hurt to leave some things in it. When living in a 10 by 12 foot room with another person, the tiniest bit of open space makes such a difference. The second most important piece of advice I would not be able to stress enough is to get involved. Joining clubs and participating in events is so important when trying to make friends. People generally will not approach you. Make an effort to get involved and talk to peers. If I could stress these two pieces of advice to myself as a high school senior, I believe my first semester of college would have been a more clutter-free and enjoyable experience.

I went into the University of Illinois as a Biochemistry major but will graduate majoring in Integrative Biology (IB). My roommates followed the typical pre-professional path, but I was more interested in learning about our environment. While my roommates see these last four years as a blur, I vividly recollect IB labs where we dissected octopuses and caught Bluegills at local streams using just our bare hands at first before we moved on to using nets . Instead of having a mundane academic experience, I followed my interests to have four memorable college years. College is independence. It is during these short years that we focus on our interests to turn those interests into a career. Several new opportunities are presented to us and it is our responsibility to broaden our mindset through the opportunities; use college as a tool to explore these opportunities to not only characterize who you are, but also, define the type of vocation you covet to concentrate on for the reminder of your life. Pursue your passion and your dreams will be fulfilled. These memories obtained from this fulfillment are worth more than any career decision made solely on the basis of achieving materialistic values.

I would tell myself to better focus on time management skills my last year of high school. It was something that I did not have to deal much with because in high school I felt like I had all the time in the world. Then, my first year of college, time flew by. There were so many late nights and frantic moments. I feel like I could have better prepared for the transition if I had practiced time management more.

Going back in time would be extremely beneficial. If I could warn myself of the high cost of college in addition to the bills for books and other expenses I would have. I would have told myself that babysitting every day in the summer from morning till afternoon would not be enough. I wish I could have told myself to take on a night job as well, like waitressing at a restaurant every single day untill late. Planning out the summer a lot better to fill up my spare time in order to save more money would have been better. Also, working five times a week throughout my junior and senior year proved to only last me enough for books for my freshman year in college where each semester of books costs about $500. Explaining to myself that stressing out about money would become a great issue in the future would have made me laugh in high school, but atleast I would have warned myself ahead of time. I cannot wait for my intense schedule of working this summer to make as much mone as I can to put toward all of my loans.

Going to a junior college first will give you the time to figure out what you want to study without costing you a fortune. After you know what kind of education you would like to pursue, then do some research to find what schools offer this type of degree. Know that what you get out of your education is what you put into it. However, faculty can really help direct your education in certain ways. It is important to look at the faculty to see if they share some of your interests. This can be done by looking at what they have published and where they have been educated and this information should available on a given institution's website.. While faculty can help direct your individual education, the college experience is something that cannot be shaped by faculty. It is important to assess your desire for a certain lifestyle. Imagine where you want to be five years from now, who you want to be, where you want to be and what you want to be doing. Once you have a vision in mind, you should make the effort to find a college campus that will nourish your individual development.

College is not going to be like high school. No one is watching you to make sure you turn in your homework, and the professor could care less if you actually show up. No one?s going to get you out of bed in the morning and no one?s going to double-check if you have enough money to make it through the week. In short, you are going to have to grow up and stop expecting others to look after you. The workload will not be like high school. In high school if you sat through class every day, you were pretty much ready for the test. Not so in college. Here you will have to slog through books at home, take copious notes, and then hope you covered what your professor puts on the test. At the end of the day you are responsible for your grades, and the amount of effort you put in will equal the reward you get. Study early and often, and you won?t have to stress in the days before the test. And I don?t need to mention that cramming doesn?t lead to lasting knowledge.

As a time traveler I would tell my teenage self that the most important thing to do is keep my focus on my goal of becomming the first College Graduate in my family. I would warn myself of distractions in my social life and even economically. When things become harder to afford I should simply work harder to maintain and not quit at the first sign of a struggle. Even if I have to attend school part- time instead of full time I should continue to work towards my educational goals. I would warn myself against spending too much money on gadgets that may be able to help but are truly not needed like a new laptop over an older model that would serve the same purpose. Lastly, I would say to myself earnestly " Jonetta, I know you want this degree badly. I know it means the world to you. But at the end of the day it is not the institution or the degree that makes you great. You do!" I

With what I know now about the difficult transformation from high school senior to first-year college student, I wish I had the chance to go back and tell myself one thing: make an active effort to build strong social connections during college. In my college career, I have found much success in my academic pursuits. But I am just beginning to see that social endeavors hold great importance as well. Through social interactions and discourse, one gains new perspectives, experiences new cultures, and explores new ideas. This is the basis for personal growth and creates a deeper understanding of the world around oneself. By building social connections, a person also creates a network of friendship and love that can last a lifetime. Finally, social acts work to build strong interpersonal skills such as efficient communication and the ability to effectively resolve conflicts. While these abilities are important in one's personal life, they are vital for success in a professional career path as well. With such a broad range of benefits, I have come to understand that social connections are of utmost importance. If given the opportunity, I would go back and explain this to myself.

Antionette college is about learning new things in life from another perspective. In order to prepare for college you need to focus, balance, and be committed. The motto for you in your senior year is: "There is no s_ccess without the 'U'". So you have to strive and thrive for the best. I think you should start reading and more to grow your writing skills and comprehension. Take your another year of Spanish before you get into college because it will advance your level in college. When you get in college you wouldn't have to take another languge so that's is an advantage to your education. You will be able to focus on other things to explore in college. Remember to keep your eyes on the future and not past. Education is the key to your success in the real world. Wisdom is better than any knowledge that been installed in you. So make wise and useful choices as you finish this last year in high school. You don't have to be afraid of college, it's what you was born to do.

The one thing I would tell myself is that college is not just a huge party. It can be if you want it to be, but that will get you nowhere in life. In order to be successful in college, you must remember that it is all up to you. You decide how well you want to do, how much you want to get involved, how much you want to take out of possibly the best 4 years of your life. Do not just sit back and let it happen to you because then you will lose sight of the big picture. Join a club, take interesting classes, do that extra work. The only thing that will happen to you by doing more than just getting by is that you will discover how complex you are as an individual.

Annie Jao, do not doubt your own abilities; you have what it takes to succeed. As much as you complained about how stressful senior year is going, that hard work and effort you are putting in now will only pay off by making the transition to college that much smoother. Your good work ethnics and dedication will get you the grades you are looking for as you are willing to push that extra mile some people may not be willing to take. Believe in yourself, your potential and personality will help you succeed as a business student, both in the classroom and in presentations. However, do not be afraid of putting yourself out there as the great person you really are. You will regret not meeting more people due to just being complacent with all your high school friends at the school with you. Socializing with both people in the same classes as you and people who live on your floor will make you a happier and more balanced person. You will not feel like your first semester is just a repeat of high school but instead a new chapter of your life story.

I can honestly say that I would love to go back in time because I've had the greatest difficulties adjusting to college life. My first semester didn't go accordingly to my expectations. The first advice I would give myself would be to have better study habits. In high school I never studied and still did well which is not the case in college. I never learned how to study and therefore I'm having lots of trouble. The second advice would be to practice note taking, college courses are just lectures and then taking exams from the lectures. If I would have practiced taking notes in high school, I would know how to take better notes in college. The third advice and a very important one would be time management and keeping a schedule. Senior year was full of procrastination, doing things last minute, something that does not work in college. Getting distracted and not staying on task just doesn't work. It just leads to endless nights of working and no sleep. I 've tried keeping a schedule but since I'm not accustomed to this, things always come up and I give up on the schedule.

Stepping into college life is a whole new transition from the high school world. In college your pretty much on your own stepping into the "real world." I look at college life as a "freestyle of life" basically meaning; free to say, do, and overall being highly accountable of everything; from your actions/behavior, attitude, goals, carreer and future. Since college is considered the "real world" things like drinking and partying are two of the main things students do for fun, so it could be very distracting, if you let it! When I first arrived at the Univeristy of Illinois in Urbana Champaign I knew from the start It was time for me to be mentally and physically prepared for every new obstacle coming my way and most importantly; had to make it happen academacally! With this said, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior the best advice I would give myself is; 1. Be ready to make smart, "grown up" descions. 2. Know what your there for, so Study, Study, Study! 3. Have fun ,but not too much! its very important to balance play time from "work time!"

Make sure you try to find out what your interests are for your future even if you're not sure about what you want to be. When choosing the right school, make sure the school you choose will have a variety of programs that you could see yourself to pursue. Talk to counselors, friends, and parents to figure out what you could be interested in so that could help narrow your choices on the right school. Have at least 2 schools that may seem to be your "out of the league" schools and at least 2 safety schools that for sure will accept you. Then apply to 2 or 3 schools which you just see yourself attending. Once you have decided on your interests and school, consider the tuition of that school. Consider how much of that money will be coming out of your own pocket and really try to find out more about the school's financial aid. Don't get lazy about this! Seek out scholarships websites or from a school counselor and apply to as many as you can. Consider the location of the school as well. Think about the distance of commute to and from home.

I would most definitely have not been so close-minded about broadening my horizons. Having the opportunity to attend more diverse schools with higher academic standards was not important to me in high school. However, attending U of I, I am experiencing all of that and more for the first time in my life. I would definitely have been more socially aware and more into networking with others outside of my school. Networking is KEY, especially after attending U of I for a few short months.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to relax. I was waitlisted at the University of Illinois and spent the last half of my senior year feeling stressed about whether or not I was going to get in. I made plans to attend another Universtiy and just felt unsure and nervous about my decision. I wish I had been less stressed and aware that no matter where I went to college, the transition would be something I would be completely capable of handling. Being a senior in high school is a time of life where so much has been achieved and I think it's important to realize that and appreciate the meaning of the milestone that is reaching the end of high school. My sophomore in college self would tell the 18 year old me to enjoy the last year of high school with the knowledge that college will be just as rewarding and worthwhile.

Even though studying was not an important thing to make the great grades in high school, it is another story at college. The best way to learn good note taking and study habits is by practice. Studying in high school requires looking at a study guide prepared by the teacher the class before the exam. Studying in college requires reading the material, understanding the material, taking notes on the lectures and from books, creating a study guide, and repeating these steps over and over again, starting a few weeks before the exam. In high school if you make a few mistakes on an exam, you will be able to counteract those mistakes with other coursework or extra credit work. In college, you have one shot. Many classes are graded upon 3 things: weekly quizzes (10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}), a midterm exam (40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}), and a final exam (50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}). If you make a mistake on one of the two tests, there is little chance to improve that grade. The key to making high grades is preparation and understanding the material for the course. The key to success in the future is learning the best way to study and retain material now. Good luck!

Don't worry so much about fitting in and learning how to become adapted to your campus Nneka. Instead, take your time to let yourself naturally experience different things and perspectives. Try new things and don't limit yourself to how far you can go in life. Take advantage of each academic resource when you get to your university and DO NOT be afraid to ask questions. Intelligent people ask questions, especially those who want to succeed. You are a high school senior and it's time to take full advantage of all of your accomplishments so far. Your life is in your hands, all you have to do is grasp it and make the best of it. Don't be afraid to be wrong and make mistakes. If you fall short, NEVER give up. Giving up is always the easiest thing to do. But a true succesor holds on. Before you know it, college will be over. So make every moment count. Stay away from all the parties that seem to draw you away from your academics as well. Good luck Nneka and have fun! Be the difference .......

Senior year is a time when many college-bound students decide to kick back and sail smoothly through their final year of high school because they have already been accepted to a school of their choice and therefore think there is no point in trying senior year. This mindset is so common it has come to be known as ?senioritis?. I was one of these students last year. As a freshman this year I quickly learned that college is not all about getting the grades and maintaining a high GPA. There are many opportunities and much knowledge to gain. Within a week of starting college I realized that the next four years of my life are going to be those of gaining knowledge from the vast resources and exploring new things with all the other curious minds. Senior year of high school is the beginning of this journey. Enjoying every part of the academic experience is as important senior year as it is in college. The thirst for knowledge should increase as time brings you closer to a vast sea of knowledge. Staying attentive and pushing further senior year will prepare one for the great opportunities that wait in college.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to practice better study habits because studying is the key to passing courses at this institution. I would also tell myself to practice better time management skills. In high school, I had room to choose parties and social events over my work, all the time, because my high school courses weren't all that strenuous. But, in college, it would be wise to complete your work first. Along with that, I would tell myself not to settle for whats put before me. Do independent research for everything; academics, fiancial support, events, etc. Lastly, I would tell myselft to prepare for the most amazing and educational experience of your life.

I would tell myself not too worry if I can handle the academic work load. I have challenged myself and will continue to. College will primarily be preparing me for life on my own and meeting the people I want to know the rest of my life. There are all types of people on campus. With a population of 40,000 I can find people with similiar aspirations and life goals. Also to take full advantage of academic and career advice. College will not just bring the knowledge of the working world to you. The career services of the college and the professional student organizations can really help to present a simulation of what you will need to succeed. Interacting with the people you aspire to be like is the best way to learn how to get there. But it is extremely important to diversify the people you bring into your social life. You will not have more personalities and talented people to interact with than in college at a large university. Learn to surround yourself with people that have different talents and things to bring to the table. College will open doors to new opportunities and learning experiences.

There is so much to look forward to, and yet so much to be appreciated in the moment. Do not forsake the gift each day has to offer, by applying yourself fully to your responsibilities, as well as to your friends, family and passions. Always be open, humble, and teachable. Work hard, and enjoy the time to relax that you earn. Apply yourself to something new, commit yourself to causes and people who need it. You are more important and can help many more lives by simply being friendly and caring, and do not need to wait until your education is over; in fact you will learn just as much if not more when interacting with others outside the classroom. Be respectful of those who came before you, and considerate to those who come after you. Make the work you do about the faces who brought you there and the faces who can benefit from it, not just about the salary or benefits for yourself. College is what you make of it, and it is entirely possible to find joy in it all as long as you work hard, and share yourself with others.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would first calm myself down about the selection process. I would tell myself that as long as you pick schools based on your likes and dislikes (big school vs. small school, public vs. private, city vs. college town), you will most likely love where you go to school. Another thing I would tell myself is to avoid falling into the freshman stereotype! It is never too early to get involved on campus. I would remind myself about the importance of gaining leadership experience in college as soon as possible by joining clubs and organizations, especially those related to my prospective majors. Finally, I would tell myself to not be afraid to approach professors and teaching assistants. It is important to have relationships with them for recommendation letters down the road.

Hey, self. Here's a little secret about college you wouldn't expect: It's easier than you think. I know you're afraid because other people have told you how they've struggled with it, but trust me, you were born to go to college. Surprisingly you'll adjust just fine to everything, so I only have two words of advice for you. First, don't be afraid because there's really nothing to be afraid of. And secondly, just be yourself when you get there. You think you already knew the second one but seriously, don't ever feel pressured to be someone your not. You'll find in college that everyone is unique, there's no conformity anymore, so don't bother to conform.

College is the next transitory step in becoming the adult you will be, and this will occur must faster than you could ever expect. Being on your own in college demands that you take responsibility for all aspects of life - academic, extra-curricular, and even home life. What is wonderful about this newfound respobsibility, though, is the passion and excitement that come with it when you find something that clicks. Whether it's attending an engaging class, talking with a professor, finding a club , volunteering, or just bonding with close friends, you learn who you are as a young adult by the interests you find in college. The freedom can be both exhilarating and overwhelming at first, however once you found steady ground in your major and friends who share your ideals and interests, college is like a practice run at being an adult before you step into your career. So make sure to take every opportunity, read the fliers posted around school, listen to what the professors have to share, and explore the campus: because every step offers an opporunity to find out more about what you truly want to become in the future.

Let?s face it. College is not the end all be all for being ready for the real world. No matter what you are planning to do, classes aren?t going to teach you all you need to know to be a competent and capable professional. There are no Networking 101 or Collaboration 200 classes. Yet you need these skills. To get them, you need to get out of your comfort zone to find the people and experiences that will teach you things you will never forget. But how? Get involved off campus and volunteer. Make friends with people in your classes you normally weren?t friends with in high school. You?ll find you have more in common than you think. Your academic advisor could be a mentor for life. Join a few clubs. On the surface, they just look like fun. Yet you?ll come out a better leader - I promise. Professors have insights about career choices from their own struggles. In short, be more than a student. Be an intramural champion. Be a volunteer. Be a brother or sister ? Greek or otherwise. Be a leader. Be you ? but give college a chance to make you even better.

If I could go back in time, after attending college and talk to myself as a high school senior, the one thing I would say is that college is just like high school. The only thing is that people are older and slightly more mature. When I left high school I thought the whole popularity thing , the best dressed, and the guys and girls that everyone wanted to date would be history. I sure was wrong. In college sure enough everyone is focused on obtaining their degree and really focusing on making decisions that will affect their life in the future. However, there are still petty fights between girls who want to date the most popular guy and guys who want to talk to the most attractive girl. There is still the whole thing of popularity especially with the greek life and athletes. Everyone wants to hang with them and be good friends with them because of their popularity. In sum, I would tell myself to continue to stay focused and organized how I was in high school and don't let these minor conflicts stand in my way of my success.

College is not high school. There's an opportunity for you to make plenty of friends but focus on your schoolwork. You don't want to find yourself on academic probation when there are plenty of on campus resources that want to help stuents out but you don't want to take advantage of them. Always use your instructors office hours because no one knows the course material better than the one who teaches the class. I would advise myself to also organize small study groups or just get a tutor because with the knowledge of others it helps with your understanding of the course material. College can be a very enjoyful and stressful stage of a young adults life so if your enjoying your college experience too much then theres a possibility that you are are not doing all you need to do to pass your courses and if times are too stressful just remember that college is not just tons of work but there are places around the campus that are designed to help releive stress so don't take college to seriously or too light but just focus on getting a career out of your college plans.

I would tell myself to have patience. College is an entity that can seem painfully slow going one day and frighteningly fast-paced the next. The most successful people coming out of college are those who found a happy medium between the fast times and the slow times. Therefore, I would tell myself to be patient and to live within the moment. In other words, during the good, bad, fast, and/or slow times during school, I would simply tell myself to weather the storm that is college life accordingly. I would also stress the terms flexibility and balance when applied on academic and social terms. Keeping a well balanced group of classes as well as a diverse group of friends keeps the mind from becoming dull and stagnant. Finally, I would stress the absolute importance of listening to your heart a well as your brain during my college experience. I have seen people change for the better as well as for the worse because of peer pressure, classroom competition, and various other challenges on campus. To avoid these obstacles, one's mind must be in tune with one's own personal values and morals. Commonality does not mean reality.

Study the course catalog of the school that your interested in to make sure you know what kind of courses you need and don?t need.

Making friends always came easy, but college threw a curve ball at me. Within the first week of school I met plenty of people and made friends quickly; however, never have I had to spend 24 hours with the same people on a day to day basis. I was completely out of my element. Looking back on my days in high school, the key to my successful friendships was that I had free space when I wanted to be by myself. Now, I have been immersed in a world of no individual down time; there are always people around me. If I could go back in time to my high school self, I would advise myself to become more accustomed to having people around me. I would also suggest to myself to try and hang out with people more instead of always excluding myself when people were getting together. If I could have made that simple change, the transition of college dorm life would have been much smoother for me and I would have more stable friendships in my life.

I would tell myself to really get focused and get involved. But I would also tell myself to relax, it's going to be great. I should have gotten more involved with campus wide activities my freshman year because this school is so huge it's easy to just disappear. I was more focused on my dorm activities (which were great) but for my future I needed to join some academic clubs and volunteer more. There are so many opportunities that we get in these four years and they go flying by fast and thick. Just be as involved as possible, take your life by the reigns and don't be afraid to fill up your days. Be friendly, talk to people, take chances. It's hard for shy people in the first few weeks because you have to just walk up to strangers in the cafeteria and ask to sit down. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid!

Be prepared for anything and everything. Life in college can be so unexpected at times and absolutely dull at others. Stay focused and take time to really figure out the person who you want to see yourself turn into. Surround yourself only with positive things so you never doubt yourself at any moment. This transition is one of the biggest and life, so it must be taken seriously, but don't disregard fun altogether. Homework and grades are a huge part, but almost equally important are the kind of connections you'll make and experiences you'll gain. Good luck!

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say do not worry about your grades! Now I am not saying that grades are not important. As a student, I have always tried to do my best in academics so it was not as if I was going to slack off in college. However, straight A?s are not the end all be all. Your grades are not the only indicator of what you learned in college. If you have done all that you can and you get a B, then that is perfectly fine. In extremely difficult classes, you may not get an A but you will learn so much. I would also advise stepping out of your comfort zone. There are so many opportunities available in college if you are willing to take advantage of them. Be outgoing, try new things, and never doubt yourself. There will be some times when you wonder if you?re following the right path. Take a step back and remember why you wanted this dream in the first place. Realize that you control your future and believe in yourself.