University of Kansas Top Questions

Don't expect too much. College is different from high school in a lot of ways, but also similar in just as many. Be prepared for the homesickness, but try not to let it get the best of you. Know that classes require a lot more work outside of the classroom than in high school. You have to read, and you have to study. Don't put anything off, or you'll regret it. Do your best to acquaint yourself with your teachers; it will make it easier to ask for help, and you never know when you'll need letters of recommendation. Don't ever skip class unless you really are sick or have some other decent excuse. Most importantly, make time for fun... too much stress will affect every aspect of your life in a negative way.

If I could talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to take more community college classes so that I could test out of my general education classes as a freshmen in college. I would tell myself to be ready to be challenged because there isn't anyone to help you along they way like in high school. It's take self-motivation to do well in college and I would be sure to convey that message to myself. On a lighter note, I would be sure relay the message to enjoy home cooked meals!

As a freshman this year, it is a little early for a truely independent review of the transition from high school to college. At this point, I would say it was a fairly smooth step but the fact that I am involved in an organization that wants to help me succeed is positive. As a future KU student, i was fairly set on living in the dorm as it is a good option at KU. My parents encouraged me to keep my options open and I ended up pledging a fraternity on campus. I would say that openess is what really helped me to adapt quickly to a totally new situation. Whether it is a living situation, the less structure of classes, or just the indepence of not living with your parents, being willing to analyze the situation without a preconceived idea of what is right or wrong or good or bad can be the difference between a successful college experience or a failure.

I would tell myself to enjoy the little things. That's it. I know it sounds simple, but sometimes the simple things... the things we take for granted... are the things that are most important. I would tell myself to make the most of my time with my friends before heading off to different colleges. I would tell myself to make sure I appreciated everything my mother did for me. I hate doing laundry. I'd tell myself to make an effort to have a relationship with my sister before it's too late. I'd tell myself to talk more and be a more outgoing person overall. I know most of this should be common knowledge, but I put all this stuff in the back of my mind and never realized how important it all was. Oh, and I might even tell myself to put some money on the Steelers winning the Super Bowl in 2009.

Take as many college-level courses in high school as possible and as many courses during the summer as you can because it is impossible to get some of the classes you need at the University of Kansas. This especially pertains to science classes with labs. Since the labs are offered as a separate course, lots of students get into the lecture and not the lab necessitating that they take the entire course over again at another school to get the lab since other schools combine the lecture and the lab as one class. I would also say to plan to study a lot more than you did in high school.

Knowing what I know now about college life, there are a few pieces of advice I would give myself. First, I would try to drive home the importance of being involved in campus activities. In doing this, I would have been able to make more connections with my peers in a shorter amount of time. The second piece of advice I would give myself is to not worry about the perceptions my peers; they are all going through the same life changes. Finally, I would give myself the advice to relax and enjox the rollercoaster ride of university life. By following these little wisdoms, I would have saved time and energy in my learning experience about university life.

I would have told myself to go to Johnson County Community College initially, instead of wasting two years and a lot of money at a school where my credits didn't tranfer to JCCC.

My senior year of high school, I suffered from a panic attack and was hostpitalized overnight. My breakdown was a result of stress related to the college search. I wanted everything: the $50,000 school, the expensive study abroad program, the perfect grades, the highest scholarship. But, it was too much. I had lost sight of what is really important about college. Now that I have been through my first semester as a freshman, I would go back and tell my senior self to chill out. What makes college life so wonderful is that it's not about your teachers desires or want your parents are pushing you into. College is where you can find your passion and follow it. Follow it to the ends of the earth. I had been misguided by college price tags and famous names. But in the Honors Program at KU, I receive special attention and encouragement to be all that I want to be. To my senior self I would say, it's not about what college you attend, but about what you do at that college. And I believe, now, that I will do great things.

As a high school senior about to graduate if i could go back and give myself some advise on college life and making transitions I would have started making plans earlier on what I wanted to be in life and have a career goal planned out it makes it way easier to go into college knowing what you want to do and how you want to accomplish that goal. In high school I didn't have as many responsibilities as I did in college. I learned your parents are not going to be their to guide you, you have alot to do on your own it's the time when you start to grow up and learn to take care of yourself. Although in college I have alot of freedom and I am able to make my own choices theirs still that responsibility. So knowing what I know know aboout college life and how it can be this would be the advise I would give myself if Icould go back in time.

If I were to talk to myself at the beginning of my senior year of high school, then I would have said the age-old adage "enjoy the ride." Sometimes, enjoying "the ride" of high school does get lost in translation. High school was a very special time for me. I had truly grown up with many of my friends as I was a thirteen-year senior. Then, I would have told myself to make sure and take the time to apply for more scholarships. Everyone tells you to complete scholarship applications, but, in reality, it takes much more drive to legitimately sit yourself down and finish an application thoughtfully. Still, any money helps a college student and completing these applications is a good way to figure more out about yourself. Finally, I would encourage myself to live every day to the fullest. College is where one fully begins to mature and realizes how fast time can slip by. Again, enjoying every day is important in college because it is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable times in one's life.

Try hard at everything you do. There is no "unimportant" class.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would stress to myself how important scholarships are. I would tell myself to take the time to fill as many as I can out, no matter how much money it is for. I would also tell myself that college is not about cramming and stressing out before major finals. If you continue to study throughout the semester, then finals will just be another test and you won't have to worry about anything. I am known for over-stressing for tests even when I feel confident on the material. I would then tell myself that if I am having trouble with a class to not be afraid to ask for help from a professor or someone who understands the problem. It is not a sign of failure to ask for help. College is about learning how to live your own life and create your own future. With that comes mistakes along the way. It is how these mistakes are fixed and learned from that shows true success and maturity.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, with the knowledge I have now, I would give a lot of advice. First, I would tell myself to enjoy high school as much as possible because even though it is stressful, it is nothing like college. I would also tell myself to appreciate all my parents do because once you are on your own you see how hard they have worked for you all those years. Above all, I would tell myself to be open to all that college has to offer. I have learned so much from the teachers, but even more from the many other students I have met. If you let them, they will be your friend, mentor, confidante, exercise partner, lunch mate and so much more. I am continually fascinated by the many personalities I encounter and have learned so much from my fellow students. So above all advice, I would tell myself to meet all the people you can because it is like opening up a new book every time.

Living close to campus is best, making studying and the commute to class much more convinent. It is important to manage time wisely; even if the paper is due at the end of the semester, work on it throughout, not just the last week of the semester. Don't freak out or become over-stressed. Make sure to plan enough study time each day for upcoming assignments and tests. Attend every class possible. It really does help.

As a high school senior, I would advise myself to join college as soon as I graduate from high school. Delay in obtaining an undergraduate degree has left me way behind than my colleagues who went ahead and obtained their degrees right after their high schools. I would advise myself that in order for me to succeed in future, I must attain a degree within next four years or so.

My advice would again be to make sure that I balance all the beneficial aspects of a college experience. This includes doing well academically, getting involved in extracurricular sports and clubs, as well as meeting and making new friends while enjoying various social events that the campus and the city has to offer.

If I could go back to my senior year me, and talk to myself about the transition from school to school. I would say "Its ok to take the class with the interesting title, its ok to take that class that could sound hard but seems really cool." The classes that I take will mean the most when they are set out in a 4 year plan. This plan for my high school self would be an organized chart of give-and-take. If I were to take an extra fluff class here...then I replace it with a serious class maybe two semesters later. This chart shows me that although that I don't know exactly what I want to study or where exactly I am going, but it shows me that I AM going foward. It shows me where I have been and what it has taken me to get there. This is a building block effort. This plan is essential!! And for all the other, new adventures I will come across... : ) I will be fine, just stick to the plan.

The main piece of advice I would give myself would be to not expect the first semester of college to be the ideal life changing experience that it is often advocated as. Throughout high school (and life) I was led to believe that the first semester of college would be a life changing experience that would alter my character and create life-long friendships. I had this mindset coming into KU. However, I also decided that I was going to be successful and achieve a 4.0 gpa. I reached my goal but at the same time the absence of an "ideal" college experience caused me great distress. During my first semester yes I witnessed people making friends and simulating the ideal college experience (life long frienships, etc), but I also witnessed them failing in core classes that were neccessary for future success. In conclusion, I would tell myself (and other high school seniors) that college is about hard work, intellectual passion, and dedication. Sometimes social relations must be sacrificed (or at least delayed) so as to do well academically. This sacrifice will ultimately lead to good students to benefit their communities immensely in the future.

Your school work is going to be more challenging and the work load is going to be much greater than it was in highschool. Therefore, it is going to be much harder for you to balance your social life with your school studies. It's going to be difficult at times but I strongly encourage you to always put your school work first. Always do your homework, study twice as much as you think you need to for a test, and most importantly always go to class! You will hear this alot and it will be easy to skip classes not living at home anymore but trust me just getting to class will greatly affect the grade you recieve. As you progress further into college you will understand the effort it is going to take to succeed and the best thing you can do is stay motivated. Know that the grades you recieve in college will help you to get a good job and that means more money! Keep that in the back of your mind and when things get tough remind yourself of why you are doing it and how great life will be when you get that diploma!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would tell her to work as many hours as possible before starting her first semester at KU and to save that money for emergencies! I would remind her to have fun in moderation because the reason for going to college is to expereince new things while earning an education. I would encourage her to try new things that may have her feeling uncomfrotable or out of her element at first.... but in the end they will be the experiences that are the most memerable and most important. I would tell my highschool self to take advatage of the resources she has at hand such as working with professors and academic advisiors in order to decide the best path to take to fulfill personal goals. I would tell her to apply for scholarships early and get involved! I think i would really stress the importance of branching out and trying new things because in the end you will really find something interesting that you love doing. Then I would remind her that she is an smart and beautiful girl with unlimited possibilities, who can achieve anything.

When I was in high school, my goal was a crisp acceptance letter from an Ivy League school, symbolic to me of academic and social prowess. I felt if I were accepted to an illustrious university, something in its glowing reputation and traditional buildings would fulfill me? but what are those things but names and an organized set of rocks? If I could convey one thing to my previous self, I would tell her college is more about yourself than your environment. Choosing a college isn?t about bragging rights, but where you can attain the most personal growth. I would have taken comfort in the fact that such growth could have been achieved almost anywhere, because when college separates you from your known environment it acts as a catalyst for change. It doesn?t matter how old the library is if you can?t study in it, and the further you are from home, the further you are from a tried and true support system. I would say to myself, use college to learn about the world, to challenge your convictions, and to galvanize your ideals, for this is where you create resolve where there has always been potential.

Knowing what I now know about college life, I would give my senior self a few tips. One would be to definitely live on campus my freshman year. Living in a Scholarhsip Hall was the best way for me to transition into a new lifestyle. Having an instant family of 50 girls to show me around campus, give me advice, go to social events with, and create an academic atmosphere was just what I needed. Coming from a small town, I only knew a few people at KU , so it was awesome to have an instant set of friends. Another piece of advice I would to myself is to get involved in organizations immediately my freshman year. My first semester of college, I thought I would take it easy while making the transition from high school to college. However, living in a Scholarship Hall made that transition extremely easy and I wished I had gotten a little more involved in the hall and campus wide activities. As I was a straight A sudent in high school, I had no worries academically but knew I would have to step up my studying in order to succeed at the higher college level.

Pick where you want to go not based soley on the strength of the program but also the social life that surronds the campus.

As you continue to college, worry not about meeting guys and attending parties. College is not all about being social. Find the things you love to do and the activities and people that make you happy, then surround yourself with those things. If you do this you will not regret it. Also, don't worry so much about working...if you spend all of your time working yourself to death you will miss out on all the good things and you won't have time to spend on those that truly matter, like school and building lasting friendships. You have the rest of your life to work, hopefully in a job that is more than just serving food or running price checks. Take advantage of this time when you can focus on academics. Go to class everyday and read all the time. Make sure that you really care about what you are doing and put all of yourself into each project you work on. Listen to your teachers, talk to them, they are your friends. Read your textbooks, they are also your friends. Write papers with passion, complete assignments before they are due. Oh, and you really do need sleep.

If could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I honestly would not know if my brain could handle all the things I know now. However for starters, I would definitely tell myself the importance in being well prepared and getting ahead in classes as opposed to procrastinating. Due to the fact that classes in college are much more difficult, something as simple as reading twenty minutes a day after class over the material that was discussed in lecture made studying for tests so much easier. By doing this, your mind is already pre-exposed to the material as opposed to attempting to cram all the information in an overnight study session. If I had done this in high school, life would have been much easier and a 4.0 GPA would have seemed highly feasible. Furthermore tying into not procrastinating, another advice I would have provided myself would have been the importance in time management. One thing that I have realized is that although I am doing more activities in college, I actually have more free time because I manage my time so efficiently, something I wish I had known in high school.

I would tell myself to pay more attention to my school work and stop being a slacker. I would also tell myself that college life isn't easy and the economy wont always be good. I started college in 2006 right after high school to persue a degree i did not want so therefore i would tell myself, to make sure i know what it is i want in life. It's not easy going to college especially since i don't have the funds or the credit to get a loan. College is very expensive and it won't get any cheaper. I am a single mother and my baby is the reason i am back in school. For those young women out there that is not a mother, my advice to you is if you're not ready for motherhood don't get pregnant. It is not easy. Education is the key to success, i had to learn the hard way thar without a college degree there is no way i can get a decent job to support my son and i. I have to work twice as hard now than i had to before.

Don't slack off. Not allowing yourself to procrastinate now is going to go a long way in helping you succeed in college. It took me two years to understand fully how important it is to have solid, regular study habits. In high school, they often times let you slide by and rest on your lorels, but college is a different beast. Studying is key. Also, be willing to put yourself out there and meet people early on. Everyone is going to be experiencing the same amount of terror at the prospect of not having friends and having absolutely no idea where to go to move forward. Try different things early and often. Attend various social gatherings and initiate converstations with strangers. You may well find that that stranger that you just happened to be sitting next to could end up being your best friend by the end of your college career. A well-balanced social and academic life is key in surviving at a University.

I would definitely get back in the habit of studying more and managing my time. You have tons of free time in college and if you're not disciplined you can find yourself procrastinating alot. In high school, you're probably used to teachers giving you extended deadlines on assignments if you missed class. In college its hard to get some teachers to accept a legitament excuse to why you were absent. Professors take attendance very serious.

I would tell myself to expect the unexpected. Also to relax and take my time adjusting and to ask for help. The professors are there to help. I would encourage myself to use the resources at the campus. I would say to myself to learn my limits and to take a break when needed. I would encourage myself to take classes I am interested in and not only thosw for my major. I would say breathe and relax this school is a wonderful welcoming and safe exviroment. I would say makr the most of your experience by joining organizations early and to always walk with integrity.

College is a melting pot of decisions. If I would have been aware of their effect, my first semester of college would have had a much happier ending. I missed so many opportunities to study because of a simple lack of laziness or engaging in things that are "more worthwhile." My last two weeks of the first semester I spent entire days studying for final exams and finally "giving my all" for homework assignments and just trying to meet the goals I failed to pursue -- if only I had known that every minute counts.

Do not hold back. This is the train station of the rest of your life. Which ever train you board will make all the difference in the people you meet and the experiences you have. This is not the time to be timid there is a huge world out there for you to experience and you should not deny yourself that opportunity. There is nothing more tragic in this world than a wasted opportunity. So even if you do not know what you want in life take this chance to experience more than what you have and you will find what you are looking for.

Chill out. I worked myself super hard to get into an awesome college on the coast and then couldn't afford it. If I'd known I was just going to go to a state school (and that I already had basically a full ride because of the PSAT) I wouldn't have taken the ridiculous class and extra-curicular load that I did. I might've gone out with friends more often and gotten more sleep. Having a killer resume is good for the ivy leagues but isn't necessary for an undergrad program at a big state school...

If I was still a senior in High School, I would do a lot of things differently. I would have at the time taken college and my future a little more seriously. I went to a Community College my first year and I wasted a lot of time on classes that will not even go towards my major. I wish I would have known then the right classes to take so that I would not be so far behind. I also would have made a larger effort to apply for more scholarships. I made a lot of connections in High School with teachers and business people because I was very involved with a Leadership Studies Program, and I wish that I could have persude more into that. I am very pleased with my major and of course my University which is why im glad I am where I am today, but I wish I could have been more prepaired.

I would say "Applying for scholarships is the most important part of trying to get transitioned to college. If you just take the time to write and apply it could help in the long run and you won't have to stress too much about wherre the money from college is going to come from."

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself, be prepared to change for better or for worse within myself and within college. This is the moment in life where I will be able to find myself and who I want to become. College will be so extraordinary time in my life and make the best of it. I would say that I should be ready to grow up and mature into a young adult. To get ready to let go of the past and dependency, and take on the responsibility of a college student but also enjoy my time. Most of all, I would say, reflect over who I was as a high school senior and realize the person I was will develop into the person I want to be. No matter what I choose, or decisions I make throughout life, the people who mean the most will always be proud of who I am.

If I were a high school senior and knowing what I know now about college life, the advice I would give myself would be about social life more than academics. For academics, I would just plan out my classes best I could and not put too many difficult classes in one semester. As for social life, I would really take all opportunities your dorm provides to be social and meet people. I know I was shy and did not always attend functions, and now I wish I could go back and change that. You do not want to live with regrets. Take all opportunities to meet people and take chances and hang out with people you might not normally hang out with out. You might meet wonderful people and make life long friends. The most important piece of advice I would give to a high school senior is making sure you become involved at whatever college you go to and make it the best experience possible.

Do research on the schools you want to attend and make a plan on how you will be successful. Make sure you know what you want to study but be open to taking a variety of classes. Use your professors, they are one of your greatest assets on campus. Be involved when you can but don't be afraid to work hard and to challenge yourself.

Do an internship in college and learn to study early on!!

Apply to every college possible and apply for every scholarship you can. And no matter what anyone tells you, do what you want to do, not what they want you to do. It's your life and it's your education; if it's what you want, that's all that matters.

I would tell myself to put myself out there and get involved from day one. It is much easier to get involved in activities as a freshman when your classes are easier and everyone around you is transitioning than as an upperclassmen in all junior/senior level classes. I would also make sure that I knew how important attendance in classes really is, and that maintaining relationships with professors is key to getting reccomendation letters and internships. I also wish I had told myself to be more financially responsible. It is a good thing to have dreams (such as my dream to go to law school) but a lot of dreams are expensive! Another key thing I wish I had known coming into college was every feeling of doubt and insecurity I was having, others were having as well. The transition to being on your own is a difficult one, but everyone goes through it and I should have reached out to others in my lowest times.

I would tell myself to be more adventuresome. I would also not room with my best friend in the dorms, because he appears to not want any sort of friendship with me now, whatsoever. I would tell myself to not be afraid to try new things. I wish I would have been involved in some sort of athletic club or something since I was very active in sports with my high school. Now, that competitive edge is not being sufficed and I feel like something is missing. That, plus the stupid freshman 15 is finally in effect after a year of college under my belt or rather on top of it. I would also tell myself to be more outgoing and meet lots of people. Because when it comes down to getting a job, it really is who you know as well as knowing what you know. Do not show prejudice towards any person until you know them because they could turn out to be a quality friend that you will cherish for a lifetime.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that it is important to have confidence. When moving away from home to a new place and meeting a lot of new people, it may feel very overwhelming and scary, but having confidence in yourself helps make the transition easier. Putting out the effort to meet new people and make new friends is an important part of the social aspect of college, and to do so one must have confidence. Being yourself is impotant because college is a chance to form and strengthen your personal identity. I would tell myself to say hi to someone who sits next to you in class, rather than being too shy. I would tell myself to attend the student activities at the union rather than staying home to watch TV. Most importantly, I would tell myself to have confidence, because with confidence, one can make it through any difficult situation with flying colors.

You have to be willing to try everything, even the things you don't think you'll be interested in. Go to all the clubs that invite you to their opening meetings and go to all the events going on in the opening week of classes. There are tons of freshmen just as nervous as you waiting for someone to come up to them and start a conversation. Don't be shy about being weird or forward; it'll just attract the type of people who are your kind of weird.

Take your time, and enjoy what you have right now in the present. Life comes at you hard and fast, there's no need to rush that along. If you fret over the long term, you'll miss out on the wonderful things right in front of you, and there are a lot of wonderful things you'll be encountering as you transition to college. Life will happen whether you enjoy it or not. Plan ahead for the future enough that you're being responsible and setting yourself up for success, but remember to enjoy the moment and don't let things pass you by. You only transition to college one time in your life; soak it up and chalk every moment, even the not-so-happy ones up to experience.

Erin,...remember to stay focused and think of the bigger picture. Although you've always known that you would continue with higher learning, that going to college was a must in order to succeed in life in making yourself a better person both personally and with your professional aspirations, take your classes, classroom behavior and teachers more seriously. Stop trying to hurry along....focus more on your studies and homework and not as much on having fun and making time to hang out with your friends. Take time to be more organized, understand the lesson and not try to short-cut your way through just to make the grade. Never hesitate to ask questions of your teachers, parents or anyone trying to help you make school life less stressful and less complicated. Learn to be more organized, work on better people skills, and have a better handle and understanding of what field you want to pursue so as to concentrate on everything and anything that would broaden your experience, and spend more time and effort on extra credits that will jump start your university life.

Learn to study in your own way. College is truly about working for yourself and finding yourself.

I would advise myself to attend a college on the east coast. Though building a career in publishing is difficult without an Ivy League university on your resume, public schools on the east coast are more readily recognized by potential employers. I would not advise myself to attend an Ivy League university, however, because publishing careers pay so little, and it's not worth accruing that much debt.

I think if I could give myself advice it would be to make friends. To really get to know the girls I was living with and make friends. I would want to nag myself to death to get out there and get involved, even if it didn't sound like the most fun thing in the world. To get involved with religious and social clubs on campus sooner. Once I got into things on campus school was a lot more fun because I knew more people and had more things to do. I would want to spend time with people other than the ones I already knew when I came to school, and to give everyon in teh house a chance to be my friend. I would tell myself to worry much less, because college isn't as scary as it seems. It's really a lot like going to high school, except that it is much less dramatic and you live there. I would also tell myself what it was I ended up majoring in so I could cut down on a few of the extra classes I took trying to figure out what I was doing.

College is fun. However, no matter how independent you currently are, it is a big transition. Living on campus your Freshman year provides easy access to campus services, activities, and opportunities as well as provides a safe environment for meeting new people. Roommates, and proximity to campus makes getting up and attending class much easier. Going to class is important for keeping caught up, and it provides an opportunity to meet people with similar interests and goals. The key to success in college is to do (and understand) your assignments. If you are struggling, GET HELP! Form study groups early on, taking unanswered questions to your professor. Teachers want you to succeed. Also, take advantage of campus opportunities. The classroom is not the only place to learn, and college is a great time to get out to learn about you. Join campus clubs, intramural sports, or local volunteer groups. You might be surprised at what you find. Opportunities are endless, so explore, prioritize, and take action towards becoming the person you want to be.

I would tell myself to make straight A?s and to focus more on school and to also fill out all the scholarships I can because college is very expensive. I would also tell myself friends are not as important as important as I thought they were in high school because once you get in college and begin studying you don?t have time to be worrying about other. I would have also told myself to apply to Spelman College and follow my dream rather than attending the University of Kansas because it?s close to home. I know now that distance doesn?t matter because even though I am thirty minutes from home I come home once a month, at most.