University of Maine Top Questions

My experience as a major in the department of food science and human nutrition has been a great experience. As a senior currently attending the University of Maine I have gained and learned many skills pertaining to this field. And it has only further expanded my interest in many areas! I became very intrigued with the field of nursing. I learned of the many career opportunities and specialties available, including pediatrics which I am interested in. The nursing shortage had also come to my attention. Nursing career opportunities are greater and more varied than ever before, and the demand for qualified nurses has increased dramatically. An increasing number of aging baby boomers need medical care, but a third of the aging nursing workforce is preparing to retire and there are not enough nurses to replace them. I feel this would be a very rewarding career. As a student about to receive a Bachelor?s degree I feel I am qualified to do the program as I am a serious and dedicated student. I love to work with and help people in regards to improving overall health and wellbeing.

So far, as I have only been in college for a semester and a bit, I have been able to look around and find activities I would be interesting in helping with and joining. I came into college looking at my freshman year as trying new things and seeing what I enjoy. Because of this, I will be more directed next year in choosing my extracurriculars, I have applied to be a Resident Assistant, and I have chosen a completely different major than I came into college with. With the opportunities I have and will continue to explore, I am sure I will go where I want to after undergraduate studies. I wish to work for the government and get a high-end job in or around either Washington, D.C. or New York City. The University of Maine, I am sure, will point me in the right direction.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school, knowing what I know now about college life I would change one thing. I always felt pressured to chose a major and have the rest of my life planed out before I even started college. I chose a major in psychology and told myself that I really wanted it. After my first year of college I found myself very bored with my choice and needed to do some soul searching. When signing up for classes for my sophomore fall semester, I added a mix of classes, medical, business and liberal. This was the smartest thing I have ever done for myself. I was so intrigued by my anatomy and biology classes, I knew that I had to change my major to the medical field. I am now a nursing major and loving every moment of it. Taking a mix of classes helped me find what I was really interested in. Choosing a major, just to have one isn?t a good idea. It?s important for high school students to know that life can?t always be planned out! Take your time, and find what you love.

In high school, I would have told myself to focus more on my studies instead of friends. I believe I would of been more prepared for the reading and workload my freshman year of college if I would of had this advice. I am independent; therefore, the transition into college was not incredibly difficult compared to others' experiences.

After experiencing a full semester of college, I would love to be able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself that the transition to college is just as hard as everyone says it will be. However, it is probably one of the most fun, exciting, and one of the best learning experiences I will ever have. There are the seemingly obvious things I would tell myself, such as not to skip as many chemistry classes, study harder for exams, and try to get more sleep. Then there are the things that I never would have thought of. Such as socialize the most in the first few weeks, because that is when the best bonds are made. I would also like to tell myself to get a job as soon as school starts. Deciding to settle in and wait until the second semester for a job will leave you broke. After giving myself this advice I would also say that college is the time to find yourself and make friends and have the time of your life.

Bring more warm clothes. It's colder than you think. And keep yourself on pace with school. Missing a few social events won't kill you. Even though you are capable of getting above average grades only partially trying, you won't be happy with yourself for not doing your best and you know it because that's how you've always been. In addition, ask lots and lots of questions. Don't be afraid to piss off professors with your amount of questions, especially when it comes to your thesis.

I would tell myself to apply to a different major than my first choice. My current major is going to help me a lot more in my future careers and I enjoy the material I am learning. I would also tell myself to brace for a hard Calculus teacher and get ready to study a lot more than I previously did in high school.

Senior year is possibly the greatest time in your life. You're excited, you are in your last year of high school, which everyone thinks is the best thing in the world. Then you wake up the day after graduation and think, man, what did i get myself into? When i was preparing for school i was a bag of mixed emotions. I was so excited to be done with high school, i was nervous about going off 8 hours away living on my own, and i was stressed about how i would handle all the situations college would throw at me. I was worrying about the littlest things, like what would happen if i wanted to drop a class? How do they treat outsiders who aren't from Maine? If i could tell myself one thing, it would be rather simple. To relax. I would tell myself everything works out, and that i can handle anything anyone throws at me. I would tell myself the experiance is completely worth it and to take everything in stride. I would remind myself that im a New Yorker, i'm tough, no one is going to stop me.

If I were to go back in time to give myself advice, all I would say to myself is always try your hardest. I would not want to give away any other information. I am happy with where I am in school right now, and I couldn't be happier. My highschool self made the right choice as to where to come to school, although one can never hear enough that they need to always give it their all in school. This schooling is my future, this is helping me complete my lifetime dream. Nothing is more important that always doing your best. So, i would only give myself words of encouragement, but not warnings or previews. College is something you need to take as it comes. There is no warning because everyone's experience is different.

I would tell myself how to better prepare for the academic challenges that I would face. I would take more advanced classes in high school and overall take all of my classes more seriously. I would also tell myself to look more closely at what the social life at the school is like and to consider how what I am looking for in a social life matches what is common at that school.

The advice that I would give myself is to start studying more and reading the books in High School. I would also tell myself not to slack off in my Advanced Placement courses because they help a lot in the long run. There's plenty of classes you can skip or even not take as many as 15 credits a semester. Don't study too much or else you'll get a migraine. Get used to the cold because it's freezing in Maine! Be a social butterfly, it'll get you a lot of friends and a lot of help. Don't spend too much money on the silly things that you need, because at the end you won't know where all of that money went, and you will freak out. I promise. Go out and have fun. make your college experience what you want it to be, not what others want it to be.

My last two years of high school were filled with drama of every kind. I once thought I would be a veterinarian, but that dream went out the window. I felt lost and I was stressed because I felt I had no life dream anymore. If I could go back I would tell myself (and others in my position) that it'll all work out. College is a time to explore your passions, learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Its a time to change and embrace that. At first you will be an odd mix of excited and scared, and you'll probably feel sick. But soon enough it'll all work out better than you could have imagined! You'll meet new people that'll change your life and you'll reconnect with old friends that you thought were gone forever, but have faith and live with love & passion as your goals for life!

Going back in time, I would have taken more math classes, especially precalculus or calculus. I would also have taken some college courses since I find that students with more college credits entering High School have a better choice of their college classes (really!). I also would have not listened to some advisors and have taken more AP Classes and not worried about my workload. You have to take the courses anyway in college and with taking AP classes in high school, you have the whole year to finish the course and take the AP exam. It's also really important to get involved in community and leadership activities since it really helps in the future for planning and managing a group or team as well as planning projects. Accept more leadership positions in clubs and extracurricular activities. The last thing I would have done is taken a time management class, a speed reading course and don't forget to learn how to type well (you'll be writing a lot of essays and completing a lot of online exams)! Good luck. Allie

I would simply tell myself that the transition and making friends isn't as frightening as I had thought, and that the nervousness wears off as soon as you step inside and see everyone welcoming you into the school. I would also tell myself to keep a roll of good toilet paper handy at all times., because college toilet paper sucks.

I would tell my self to get more self motivated. In college there is no parent there to get you up for classes everyday or to make you meals and such. Being more self motivated early gets you prepared for life on your own especially if you are hundreds of miles away from home. This also applies to doing homework, because is high school procrastination was easy, but in college it must be avoided.

I would tell myself to relax. The biggest thing is to not stress yourself out so much, there are many ways to get help you just have to do it! I would tell myself to prepare for the real world, there are many choices out there, some good some bad, but remember we all make mistakes the best you can hope for is to learn from them. College is quite different from high school, but it can also be similar in a lot of ways, it forces you to take on more responsibility so be prepared, but don't be scared! It's not as scary as it seems, and it truly is a lot of fun, but you have to learn to balance the fun with the studying. Be aware that there still is peer pressure and don't fall for it, be the best that you can be, and try your best! You're parents will still love you, and you'll more than likely come out with some great rewards!

Don't worry about what other people think, take more time to explore the options within the major you think you want to go into, as well as the other major choices offered at this university. Going to college is a major step in a person?s life and that step is not always easy. What should be easy is remembering that you have family to ask questions of, and important people in your life who care about you, no matter what career you decide to pursue. Most importantly, remember to have fun and make some new friends, just because you're going off to college doesn't mean you are going to lose your old friends. Oh, and don?t procrastinate about joining tractor club, you?ll get more out of it if you do it sooner.

College is not at all like high school. There's cliques, classwork, all the normal stuff but living on campus is a totally different experience. It is like living with a bunch of your friends, so there is always something to do. Which is great, but it also means there is a lot more peer pressure. So remember to be your own person and do what is best for you. Join clubs that sound interesting whether or not they are related to your major. They are the best way to get to know people and a good way to define yourself, plus they look pretty snazzy on any application. Remember to try new things and that college is all about figuring out who you are. It is a fresh start, so make the most of it and enjoy those four (or five) years.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself what is coming. As a senior I thought the first year of college would be a blast and be simple but I was wrong. I would tell myself, prepare yourself for whats coming, study harder, get rid of the distractions, and focus on the studying. Don't get caught up in hanging out with friends, and the freedom that you now have. Keep you head and focus. College is not like high school, so work harder and in the end it will be worth it.

The transition to college is different than transitioning from middle school to high school because you?re paying but most importantly you?re on your own. To have a good college life you have analyze more than academic prestige of a school, but the location and people who attend. As a freshman I have learned that school needs to be fun, it can?t be taken too seriously because then you?re only stressing out and you?re alone, mom cannot hold your hand. My advice to myself would be after looking over finances and academic prestige, look at the populous and the location because they will determine how happy you are socially. The social aspect is just as important as academic purpose because the social environment determines your emotional state of mind. If you?re not happy, your grades are affected. However that doesn?t mean to pick the wildest city in America, it means in order to survive college there has to be a balance between academic work and social networking.

I would tell myself as a high school senior to be myself, and to not be afraid to explore whatever field of study it was that I was interested in. I would tell myself to go onto campus and into all of my classes with an open mind, because every class offers something unique.

Don't choose a school because of the apperance, research about it before making any decisions.

I would tell myself to go wherever i wanted to, don't worry about the money. I would say to go somewhere where i will be happy, regardless.

I would have told myself to prepare for the amount of reading college brings on. In high school, I should have read everything the teachers assigned instead of only doing what I had to. The point of college is to go above and beyond what you learn in class in order to succeed. In order to do so, you must read everything and study ahead of time. I would tell myself to study weeks in advance and read over notes in order to do well on exams in college. I think with this advice I would of been more prepared for the college experience.

I would tell my self that you don't have to go far from home to go to a good college, most of my friends that went away for college transferred back to be closer to home. I would tell my self to try to know what I want study before I apply because transfering majors is hard to do, and you become more dedicated to your major if you know what you want before. To live on campus, even though it cost more, it gives you the chance to meet more people, and be more involved on campus, snd home isn't far so you always go back home if you need a break from all the stuff going on. I would tell my self to do as much as I can on campus that wont interfere with my academics because just school work, and nothing else to do makes the school year feel so much longer, and you miss out on so much. And the most important thing I would tell my self is to relax college isn't as scary as I thought, it is actually more that I thought it could be.

Do not drop out of highschool. It is imperitive to finish highschool at all cost. In order to be successfull in college AND in life education must be on the top of the list. Academic study lasts a lifetime and should be practiced throught ones life. Never stop learning. It is our thurst for learning that keeps our personal value and our value as a nation better than any country in the world.

I would go back and suggest that I go from High School directly in to the University. Get a degree, go work and then have a family.

I graduated high school from a boarding school and had been living away from home and in a dorm for quite some time, but the move to college was still a huge transition. I would tell myself to remember that I am making the leap from a school of 250 students to a school with thousands of students and that I would be pleasantly surprised by the new people I would meet. Understand that everyone goes to college being the new kid and everyone is put into the same position of having to make new friends and find a place for themselves in their own college routine. Realize that participating in the social part of school doesn't just mean go to as many parties as possible, but to get involved with clubs, groups or sports at school. College has something for everyone and meeting new people through activities that you love proves to be the most rewarding thing you can do. It's never too late to get involved, but try to jump the gun early and get connected with college life on a different level than just partying. Don't worry you'll love college and do great!

I would tell myself to give myself a chance to adjust to college and just relax. It is not the end of the world if I do not that well the first semester and tell myself to just be true to who I am and what I want to accomplish in my life.

Because of the current economic situation, finding the right college can be a simple bike ride away. Many parents/students do not realize that spending thousands of dollars a year for school is not always necessary. Find a school that has good rA

When picking a college, do not just look for one with a name that you like. Just because you like the name doesnt mean you will like the school!

I would honestly say, if you have had a college in your mind even from the start, dont just settle with it. You may think you love it, and that it is perfect for your major. Look around and find the college that is perfect for you, not just your major. A lot of schools offer majors they might no be known for, but they are just as good. Also do not go to a school because that is where your friends are going. You will make friends, it is inevitable at college. That first week everyone is looking for new friends and you will find them. Make sure you are able to manage your time well and amke sure you focus on your studies, but don't forget about the ever important social life. Schedule time for studies and play. It will be helpful, and the first semester is tough, but dont let up in the second semester. You might think oh i passed first semester, this one will be easy, every semester is tough. College is a lot of fun and work, but if you can manage it well it can be the best years of you life.

Make sure that you visit the college you apply to and check it out before you decide on going there. Many students make this mistake when deciding which college to go to. You don't have to go to college in your home state either, just because all of your friends are. I went to a college out of state and i have many many more friends than I would have had at the University in my home state. don't be afraid to talk to anyone or ask for help, because everyone else is willing to find new friends and many need help too! The dormitories may not be nice or big, but they do provide an easy way to make friends. college is not all about drinking, even though some think that it is, I spent the majority of my time studying so that I didn't have to cram before finals and it really paid off. Take college seriously and pick the one that best suits you, because in the end you're paying to go to it and it takes a lot more work than high school.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If its location, look around your area at many different schools. Ask your elders or older friends of your for their school experiences & also choose a school because you want to go there, not because most of your friends are attending the saem place. You WILL meet friends.

I think some of the most important advice I can give to prospective college students is not to overanalyze the process. When you visit a college campus think about just that campus, don't try to compare it to others you have visited. Just focus on how you feel at that particular college. Can you see yourself walking to class? Going to visit friends in their dorms? Getting together and eating dinner? Take in the whole atmosphere and how it makes you feel. The choice may not be crystal clear, but remember whatever choice you do make, IS the right one. Don't overthink it. To make the best of your college experience, I think being open to change, and outgoing is key. Reach out to people, become close with the people in your dorm, because they could be the friends you have for the rest of your life. Do things you might not normally do, college is a chance to sort of reinvent yourself, become the best person you can. Take all the opportunities you can, you get a college experience once. Maybe the most important thing, though, is just to have fun...but don't forget your homework!

Go for what intersts your child or yourself the most. Dont choose a major for the money or anything else. You will find it hard and make sure you can devote the time to studying and you arent going to college just to party, thats not what it is about or you will waste a bunch of money and have nothing to show for it. And your first choice school may not be the best so keep your mind open for all the schools that you apply to.

Finding the right college for a student is hard to do. The best technique is to visit colleges and try to get a feel for what the school is all about. It is important to visit while class is in session, because otherwise you will just be walking around a bunch of empty buildings. The student needs to interact with the student body to understand the university. Another important thing to do is try to think about what the student?s daily routine will be if they were to attend the university. Most students spend their time thinking about applying and getting accepted to good schools. However, once the acceptance letters start coming in you need to make a life changing decision. The most important thing to do is choose a school you will be comfortable at and able to succeed at.

Don't pick a school based on what team you want to play for; pick a school based on how comfortable you feel on campus.

Look at the culture of the students and the area of the school, and an important criteria is "could I meet my spouse here?"

I found the right college by doing online research, visiting campuses, and working closely with my guidance counselor. To make the most of your college education you must get involved around campus.

Going to college was one of the biggest transitions of my life. I had previously thought that getting my driver's license was the most exciting yet frightening experience I'd ever have. However, college was one hundred times more exciting and a thousand times more frightening. First, students move into a dorm where they are forced to share a fifteen foot box with a complete stranger. This is the hardest aspect to adjust to. I'd suggest, from experience, rooming with a friend for the first semester- solely so you can adjust to the environment first. Then you'll have your feet under you before you have to face a brand-new, strange, and sometimes even scary roomate. Next, get to know your campus. I can't count how many times I got lost the first week of school. Trying to find the right building on a large, spread-out campus is harder than finding a needle in a haystack; And of course, you don't want to be the loser that's always showing up late for class looking like they've just run a 10K. Do these two things, and your transition will be a smoother one.

The goal of going to college is at hand, but it is equally important to know why college is for you. Ask three questions. What am I going to do in college? How am I going to pay for college? Why do I want to go to college?

The advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to make sure to visit the colleges interested in. There is so much more that you can learn about the college/campus if you actually see it through your eyes. To find the right college, it isn't just about how prestigious the college is, it is about how much you will enjoy it. The truth is, you will be there for at least 2 years so why not pick a college that you know you will love. The best way to make the most out of your college experience is to meet as many friends as you can because some of them will become your best pals throughout your life. Another good idea is to seek out all the activities offered in the school because you will certainly find somthing that will interest you. My most important advice to you is to do whatever suits you, make sure to not do something just because everyone else is doing it; you will be an adult at college and you have to start making choices for yourself.

Make sure that you take school seriously. If you don't then you're wasting your time and money. Pick a school that you feel will best prepare you for the future.

The one advice I would give a student in picking the right college is to find a college that feels right. Choose the college that feels right because the more comfortable you are with the academics and social life the higher chance of you succeeding. Although other factors will affect your decisions like finances, remember that it is about the quality of your whole experience in college and not just the cost and perceived greatness of teaching. Teaching is always only as effective as the student's desire to learn. A happy and well rounded student has the greatest desire to learn, so choose the school that you will have the best well rounded experience.

Don't worry about cost. I know it is a hard thing to do but the amount your education costs shouldn't discourage you from making the right choice. My family does not have the funding available to help pay for college and I have to make it pretty much on my own. It has taken some hard work but I don't regret it or the experience. By choosing the right school for my needs I have literally crafted the experience of a lifetime. The professors I've had, the classes I have taken and the opportunities I've had are well worth the loans and part-time jobs it takes to make ends meet. On top of all that I have made some truly great friends and found a lot of hope, compassion, and faith in humanity as a whole, and that is much more important in the long run than any debts I'll have to pay back once I'm working in the field I love.

Take time before you go to college to try and figure out what major interests you, it is very diffiicult to do but very beneficial.

The best advice I could give to students really is that no school is perfect or what it seems at first. Go look at as many schools as you can and don't rule anything out. Make sure you know what schools offer scholarships and financial aid for different things, but don't let cost make the decision for you. once you have a list narrowed and have applied visit your top schools more than once, and go just on your own and not part of a tour if you can at all. This will let you see what the school is like on a normal average day. Try to pick a school that is affordable, but also make sure that you feel at home there because for the next four years that basically is your home. For parents: let your kids make their own choices. Don't try to force them to go where you went or to your dream school. Let them be their own individuals. Give them advice and let them know how much you will be able to contribute, but ultimately let them make the choice.

Do more research on the specific program you are thinking about entering rather than the university as a whole.

Visit the college you want to attend. You can tell a lot about a place by how it looks to you. Don't listen too much to people giving you tours. They usually have a spiel to get out. Make friends with the people in your dorm. Be willing to try new things. Be yourself. It's a perfect time to be the person you've always wanted to be and the people you make friends with while being yourself will be people you will actually want to be around.