University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

I would have gone to college after I graduated for high school. I had on clue on what profession I wanted to go into. I would have taken general studies. I would have to talk to a career counselor to get some ideas of which profession would have interesting to me.

I would listen more and talk a lot less, specifically to what my mom said! She had and still has a lot of great things to say but when I was younger I just blew them off and did whatever I wanted to do. I guess that comes with the territory of growing up but listening has become the most important part of my job now. I am a teacher now and im working on my Master's in psychology it has helped me to really focus on listening more and talking less. Helping more and asking for less. It has made me happier in the process too.

I would encourage teenage Shayla to go straight to a community college and further her education. I would also tell her to choose exactly what she wants to be in life. I wouldnt suggest that she tries to attend and online college and take a loan out for it or would I suggest that she attempts to get a technical certificate from a privately owned school. I would tell her not to try and be a nurse if she knows that nursing is not in her heart. I would also insist that she is trurly sure that she is ready for college and that she is focused enough to make excellent grades. I would also tell her to speak to someone who has been to college and received their degree. I would tell her that with time management being mother wont interfere with going to college at all. I would inform her that going to college is a lenghty process and that its worth it. I just hope that its not to late to try again and become what I want to be.

If I could go back in time, I would not be able to give myself advice because the best way I have learned is receiving advice from elders and learning from my mistakes. I constantly learn from my surroundings everyday and I know for a fact that it is also a constant challenge to be able to follow through an advice when a bad habit sticks with you. For me, procrastination was and still is a major issue and I take it step by step to get rid of this horrid habit. I must say, there has been major improvement from high school to college with my procrastination but I still find it challenging to fully overcome it but I will one day for sure. In life, take it step by step and do not take more than you can handle is definitely one of the best advice I received and learned over time.

If I could give advice to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to stress out about the future. Throughout my senior year I stressed out a lot. From SAT scores, to college applications, to AP exams, to grades and finally to what school I would go to, stress was my constant companion. While all of these things were important and had an impact on my future endeavors, they didn’t require my constant worrying. In the end, my stress and worry could not impact what would happen and should have been kept to a minimum, if at all. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to take my AP classes more seriously and score higher on the exams. My AP classes truly helped prepare me for college work, but while I was in high school I didn’t take the classes very seriously. If I had in fact, worked harder in the classes I would have scored higher on the exam and entered college with at least a semester’s worth of credits. This would have made my transition to Maryland easier and would have helped me learn studying and time management skills.

I would not have given myself any additional advice.

The time will soon come when you must let go of your friends and accept that you will rarely see them again. Understand this: some friends stay and some don't. But what you cannot do is lock them up in a cage of expectations. There are plenty of fascinating people at college; you simply haven’t met them yet. In terms of the alcohol scene, it's not enough that you simply shun alcohol completely. When you enter college, I guarantee you will witness that scene and even be surprised to find some people drinking who you never thought would, including your closest friends. Start critiquing your own views of alcohol so that you can develop more intelligent decisions now. Otherwise, you'll be in for a surprise. When it comes to deciding your major, please take note that a perfect major does not exist, not even if you've taken a hundred "What's your Major" quizzes. Of course you should give your major some very serious thought, but don't just go expecting that there's a major out there that will suddenly make college a breeze. ALL majors require some level of commitment on your part.

To have a chance to go back in time to give myself advice. I would tell the high school me that I know you want to have fun, but don't change your class schedule. Keep the A.P. government class it's going to help you a lot in college. Also retake your S.A.T's, and take your A.C.T's it can help you to get into an out of state college. You can do it, its going to be a bit hard but trust me it will all pay off. Just keep focused in your classes. Make sure to sign up for all the University. Any college you get into Mom and Dad will be happy as long as its a University. If you do as I recommend the college life would be a greater experience then I'm already having. Also to help money wise make sure you apply for any scholarships. You can do all of this and still have fun your senior year. I know you can do it; the truth is you need too. If not your life wont be as fun as you expected it to be.

STUDY and read your text books

If I think that I would tell myself to take school more seriously. I think that prior to attending college students on average do the bare minimum in order to pass through school. If I had taken my schooling more seriously, I think that I could be more successful in school. I also believe I could have received more scholarships and attended a school I preferred more. I would also tell myself to become more acquainted with study habits. In college studying for tests, quizzes, and exams are not an option. Because of the amount of information that is being given, not to study is never an option. In college, I found myself having to learn how to study. I would recommend that I learn how to study the simple things in grade school before having more complex material in college.

I would have financially planned out my four years of education better. The stress of not being able to pay for each semester without a struggle is something I really wish I would have planned for better. I also would have told myself to research more on which schools specialized in medical degrees because Maryland may not have been my best option for that career path.

To myself: Get a job sooner! And work harder for the grades, regardless of the professors desire to teach and spread knowledge.

This question is appropriate in this time because I have been thinking heavily about my past and my future. I find that there are many “What if…” and “If only…” thoughts regarding my formative years. I am 22 years old, and even though I wish I did some things differently in high school, I love where I am at in life and I love excelling. As cliché as it may sound, I constantly wish that I could have known then what I know now about being more disciplined. Truthfully, as a high school student and a freshman at a 2-year college, I was apathetic about my grades. It was not until I moved from California to Maryland that I began to mature and truly crave success. Therefore, I worked for it and stunned myself with a newfound desire to succeed. If I could talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would say, “Strive to be your best in everything you do. Not THE best, but YOUR best. Stop worrying about boys, friends, and make-up. Those things are like the sprinkles on a cake, but first you have to work hard to make the cake itself.”

If I had the opportunity to talk to my high school self, the first thing I would do would be to tell her to calm down. That despite graduating late and despite having no idea what is going on: everything will be okay. After that, I would give her practical advice. I would tell her that the student adviser is your friend. She will tell you what scholarships to apply for! Secondly, I would tell her that at points the transition to college life might seem really hard and there are times where you'll be thrust out of your comfort zone. However, sometimes being outside your comfort zone is a good thing – you will learn about life and be forced to act extroverted. Because of this, you will make new, fun friends all the while learning things about yourself. Finally, I would remind her that this is college: not high school. I would make sure that she is acutely aware that the effort she needs to put forth needs to a be a bit more than that given on high school work. Finally, I would bid her farewell and wish her luck. I know she can do it!

College is like playing a video game with new controls and rules. Students have to adjust to the both in order to enjoy it. College requires certain experiences that need to be developed in high school. If I had a chance to talk to my high school senior self, I would use the time to push myself harder in academics and find ways to meet new people. I would tell myself to try harder to pass the AP Exams, to take the SAT one more time, and to apply for more scholarships. I would have relaxed more my first semester in college. I would tell myself to develop better study habits because I was at a great lost when I entered college. If I had developed more disciplined study habits back then, I would have done a lot better. Finally, I would tell myself to participate in more programs such as Freshman Connection to meet more people to avoid boredom. It is with regret that I did not learn to socialize with a variety of people rather than a select few. There are many things that I cannot erase, but I can use my experiences to better my future.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to not give up on fulfilling my dream of becoming a Forensic Serologist. I would tell myself that even though sometimes it will be harsh and make me want to quit, don't, because it will get better the more I keep continuing my education. I know that having a lot of homework is the worse than homework in high school but you will learn a lot more. You will learn more about yourself and how getting a higher education is worth all that homework and staying up until 2 o'clock in the morning. You will retain new information, have the greatest time taking science classes, and making new friends. You’ll understand more about living on your own and being prepared for it when the right time comes. Getting this education will help you in the long run. No more working temporary jobs, complaining about being unemployed, and no more struggle with money. You will make it with that Bachelor’s Degree and work under the best science lab in the United States. Amanda Morris this is what you want, go for it.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would blurt out is "Give it a minute!" Any extra moment you give to the decision-making process in college is bound to save you tons of regret. I am only going into my second semester of college, and I already reflect on so many things I should have done differently - and would have if only I had stopped for another second to weigh the consequences. Spending an extra $5 every few days at Starbucks could hinder your ability to rent next semester's textbooks. Partying with strangers could land you anywhere from jail to the hospital (maybe both). Choosing to spend the last weekend of school with your boyfriend instead of studying for your exams could be the difference between an A and a B. Look at what you are doing now and think about what you want to see yourself doing in situations. Establish your value system in your head and keep it central when making decisions. I wish I would have thought more about the choices I was making, but atleast now I know. You? Start thinking now!

During high school, there were many thoughts swimming in my head as to what institution of higher education would be most suitable to my aspirations meanwhile considering my financial and practical concerns. I was also considering travel time and how far I would be away from my home. Coming from a Latino family, these were all legitimate concerns given that I knew my parents and siblings would be directly affected by the decision I reached. Looking back however, I would tell myself not place so much emphasis on cost or what was most convenience, but instead pay attention to what my 'gut-instinct' was once walking on the campus. I would also tell myself to definitely choose a medium-sized school, one that does not exceed a 10,000-12,000 undergraduate capacity, given how impersonal an environment a large university creates. Rarely have I had the opportunity to interact or make friends in my large lecture classrooms thus far at UMD. This undoubtedly is stifling to learning given that when you feel unable to relate to peers, this makes learning that much more difficult as you are less inclined to communicate with others in an open and comfortable manner.

Throughout high school, I found myself worrying about what career I would end up in. I felt as if everyone but me knew exactly what they wanted to do, so I threw myself into doing all sorts of career assessments to try to figure out my dream career. What I didn't realize, however, is that there's a lot of flexibility when it comes to careers. If I could give advice to the high school version of myself, I'd tell myself not to stress too much over deciding on a career, because one way or another, things will work out. Even now, two years into college I'm not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure what specific career I want to go into, but the important thing is to work toward something I can attain and will enjoy. With this in mind, I'm pursuing a major in a field I'm interested in (Public Relations, to be exact), and will continue doing my best in whatever challenges come my way.

To My high school self:After experiencing college, I want to give you some advice. First, take AP exams seriously. You'll never know the benefits of earning college credit prior to starting college. Even if someone tries to tell you, you won't believe him/her. But trust me, having these credits means you can opt out of many core and introductory classes that teach the same material you already learned in your AP class! With these credits, you'll be able to choose more courses that truly interest you, whether they are for your major requirements, or your mere curiosity. Second, don't be so shy! I wish that I'd been less reserved and more willing to meet new people. Because my high school friends attend the same college, I neglected to create new ones. After realizing that interacting with different people would help me become a well-rounded and knowledgeable student, I opened myself up. It was definitely worthwhile to do so; I met great people and made lifelong friendships.These are only two of the many recommendations I'd like to give you, but I hope they prove to be beneficial!Sincerely,Your college self

College life is a balance: although high school academics seem easy, college academics are completely different. There are many distractions, especially for living on campus, and it is important to get schoolwork out of the way well before any social activities. You'll make plenty of friends, so get ready to be exposed to lots of different backgrounds. Accept others and be aware of differring viewpoints and opinions. Party hard, but study harder, because the next four years will define the rest of your life.

What i'd say to my 9th grade self: make my backpack lighter- don't care about parties- avoid clingy people- study sometimes, it doesn't even take that long- begin writing sooner- establish good sleep- should have been friends with Kun sooner, among others-don't argue ideals, seeing as i rarely managed to convince anyone- why did i take orchestra for 4 years..?- no need to stress about class council fundraising, it'll be sufficient- should have committed to honesty sooner and more intensely- download free beats instead of making terrible garageband ones- my posture was less than ideal- should have built the boat sooner- don't go to senior week.

I would encourage myself to go to a four-year college first. Instead, I went to a two-year college and I feel I sort of lost my way. It would be helpful to tell myself that it is okay to go into a bigger school not knowing what path I would like to take, that I should take general education classes first and see what they have to offer. I would also tell myself to get involved with clubs sooner, because the more people you know, the more help I will get.

If I could go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself numerous things. I attended Boiling Springs High School and graduated the year of 2008 and I still beat myself over my mistakes as a senior. I was a part time worker at Hardees at the time and was working tons of hours to save up for a car. In doing so, I could not focus as much on my school work. As soon as school let out each day, one of my closes friend would take me to work. I did not get off until about 11:00 pm or 12:00 am. Knowing what I know now, I would have took advantage of high school and made sure my GPA stayed above a 3.0. By the time graduation rolled around my GPA dropped to a 2.9. I was very dissappointed because I was no longer able to receive the life scholarship. I wanted to attend a 4-year school but I changed my mind. I thought about having to apply for loans. I would tell myself to put school as my first priority and to stay focus.

I would tell myself to decied which majors I wanted to take earlier so I could make a better four year plan.

change my major focus would be the most important thing i would change

LEARN TIME MANAGEMENT. That skill alone will make college so much easier. Also, be patient finding your niche. It will come, you just have to be brave about looking for it. Seek out club fairs and such on campus, you'll find it soon enough and then you will have the absolute time of your life.

If I knew what I know now I would first tell myself not to rush, take your time. As a senior in high school, I was ready to get out and just start college. I never believed my teachers when they would say, "You don't wanna rush it, believe me it's much easier here." Now, I know what they mean. College take a lot of work, effort, and time. I am not saying that it's not worth because it is an experience I would never want to take back. I have learned so much in one year and looking forward to years to come. I would also tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible because paying for college is no joke. Every penny comes. Lastly, I would like to tell myself to join clubs and network more because they make applications to anything look that much better.

Remember what you love to do for fun. Don't just go home after classes in the beginning. Look around and ask questions about clubs. Don't wait for the First Look Fair to join. Don't obsess too much over getting into the business school. Relax and take your time. It will fall into place. Also, fight Dad for that Studio Art degree. You know that's what you really want in college, double major if you have to. Also, don't be afraid to explore subjects that you haven't yet learned. There is so much out there, take it in! But don't overwhelm yourself either. Remember you do have to focus on at least one degree.

Take those AP tutorial and take the test because Its worth the time. Dont forget to apply for scholarships asn do you fasfa on time. Take more notes because you'll need them. Try your best to be organize and turn things on time. College is great but you need to be motivated and have a lot of self disipline.

The advice I would give myself is to enjoy every moment because college years go by very fast. I would tell myself to be open to everything and take the chance to grow as an individual. The most important factor of attending a college is to take the opportunity of what is offered. There are thousands of clubs and other extracurricular activites to get involved in. Also to stay true to oneself and remember what the focus is. To focus on academics and to take everything you can from the unverisity you are attending.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to not go to college but rather join the Air Force and pursue my dream of becoming a fighter pilot. College is for most people, but it is not for me. Everyone has a dream about their future and often that dream involves going to college to study and practice their passion. That was not my dream, yet I went to college anyway. I was told by my peers and family that college was the right path for me; they were wrong. This mistake gave me the worst year of my life. Throughout college I worked hard and achieved a high GPA, yet I was overcome with feelings of depression and lack of purpose. No matter how many clubs or activities I tried, I never seemed to fit in. In the end I realized that I did not belong there and suffered until the school year was over. Today I like to believe that had I followed my dream of being a fighter pilot I would be happier and that is why I would tell my past self to avoid college and follow my own path.

Dear Charlotte, you are about to become a college student. Mark my words, you absolutely will be poor. You will have spent most of your graduation money by the beginning of school, and be left with nothing to your name but $13. Do not panic. Technically, this is doing quite well for the way you will be living for the rest of the school year. You will get a biweekly allowance of $40, most of which, you will spend the first Saturday you get it. So relax. You will eventually get a job, so stop feeling sorry for yourself. It worked out in the end. Also, try not to spend so much time roleplaying on the computer. Yes it is fun, but there has been a significant decrease in your short term memory over the course of the year, caused by your insistence on being online. Several times, you have jumped out of bed, remembering something crucial, and you will become stressed out, and you will call Mother screaming and whining, overall, seeing a decrease in your participation grade. In short, get off the computer and get used to living on peanuts. Yours, Charlotte.

Make your schoolwork your number one priority. Even though you may have done well in high school, college is a whole new ballgame. You need to develop a different set of study habits in order to succeed. If there is something that you do not understand, make sure to ask for help as soon as you can before you fall even further behind. The area you decide to major in should be something that you want to do, not what someone else wants you to do. You are setting yourself up for disappointment if you force yourself into a certain field you do not enjoy and expect it to eventually get better. If your heart is not in it, move on to something different. You know yourself the best and you should listen to your gut instinct. Do not be afraid to try new things; find something that interests you. Take advantage of all the resources and opportunities when you have them. In the end, what matters is not what your GPA is or how many awards you have won, but what you have accomplished as a person and how you can contribute your talents and passion to the world.

Remember that you are investing in yourself. Your investment could pay dividends for a lifetime.

Freshman year is over and the summer has arrived. As I am laying in my bed, getting ready to take a nap, all of a sudden my mind spins and I end up back in my senior year in high school. I remember walking the halls and being so busy being the SGA Vice President and trying to get prom together. I see myself walking into my classes and talking to the counselors about school and scholarships, but when I get home all I do is homework. As I follow my senior path again, I realize that I should have studied and taken more AP and college classes. I was not as serious about the test so, I failed the class without college credit. I could have come to college with at least 9 credits on my transcript, but now I have to take summer classes to catch up. I also wish I would've applied for scholarships. I got so much money freshman year, but sophomore year, I got absolutely nothing. I can't do my senior year over, but I can definitely help the younger students to be on track, so they will not walk in my footsteps.

I would take college classes at a local community college and as much AP classes as I can to get ahead.

I would advise myself to improve my time management. I feel that college life is about learning how to budget all of the newfound free time that you have, compared to what you were accustomed to in high school. Knowing what I know now, I would advise my high school self to read a book or time management and prioritization before getting to college. I think it would help ease the jump between education lifestyles, and make for an easier transition. I would also suggest that I start keeping a daily planner to log my time and write down my homework assignments in. Too often, I relied on my tired memory and lost points on assignments because I had simply forgotten about them. If I had used a daily planner to schedule out my day and budget my study time, I think that I would have had a much less stressful transition to the independent ways of college life.

I would have worked harder as a HS senior. I did not really take my senior year seriously because I knew I got into the college I wanted to go to and I was so excited about prom and graduation and all the other senior activities that I did not give much attention to my school work. By working harder, It would have prepared me for trasitioning into College because I would have a had a more serious attitude compared to my lazy attitude this past freshman year at College Park. Balance, is also something I would advice myself about. I learned ( the hard way) that you have to learn to balance everything in College. You cannot have more of something, and less of another thing. If your prorities are not balanced then it will mess everything up. This past year I learned you have 3 choices, having a social life, sleeping or studying and you can only have 2 out of the 3. I would also advice myself to participate in extracurricular activities or clubs in college. And the most important advice is always work hard! Take college seriously because, its your life, its your career and your education.

Take every course serious, not to procrastinate and to focuss on school and put working aside.

I would tell myself to not screw around in high school and to actually prepare for college. The transition to college would have been much easier if I started making study habits in ninth grade rather than twelfth grade.

Go to college right after high school even if you don't want to. You will have a better career sooner if you go to college right after high school, instead of waiting or taking time off school to work. At college you don't only get to meet new people and make more career connections, but you also learn life lessons and get better educated for the business world and the politics that come with working for big companies.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to stay home. I moved out right after I graduated even though I did not have to. I would tell myself to save every penny that you could. College is a lot easier when you don’t have to work full time and when you don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck. Saving money would also help with the decline in the economy we are experiencing. I would also tell myself how good it feels to earn A’s and that when given the opportunity to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honor society to jump at it and be proud of it. Most of all I would them me to work and study hard but to remember to have a little fun and spend time with your sister before she leaves for war. Most importantly, love yourself.

Don't be so afraid of everyone. There are thousands upon thousands of students attending the university. So, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Don't feel out of place because you aren't the only one who isn't sure about what career they want to pursue after college. Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do, and not everyone sticks to the same major that they chose when they first enter. If you want to change your major, don't feel ashamed. It is important that you study what you want to study, not what you think is best for you to study because it is what you started with. Be honest with yourself about what you want. Enjoy your freshman and sophomore years; go to different events and try several extracurricular activities. Manage your time better so that you can plan fun outings in order to decrease stress and take breaks from your work.

Stop caring what everyone around you thinks. No one in college cares if you wear your pajamas to the dining hall. Believe in yourself and do not be afraid to participate in class discussions. Let go of the details that you worry about all the time and focus on the big picture. Soon the details will seem insignificant because you do not have time to worry about them anymore. Go to the gym as much as possible; you will feel better about yourself and it's located so close to your dorm. Be open and outgoing; it's the only way to make friends at such a huge school. Brace yourself for criticism about your writing. It will help you later. Just remember, above all things, to have fun and enjoy the ride.

I didn't do my bachelor degree at U of Maryland, instead I went to do summer internship over there. That is a great place to study! Quite environment and sunshine. There is a little bar near the school where you can chill out after long hours of schoolwork. Since I am international student, I encourage all of you guys to go abroad, either by getting a school, doing exchange, or summer working. It is really fun to learn diverse people and cultures. Get a lot of friends from around the world. Explore yourself, explore the world!

American University is way too expensive so choose University of Maryland instead! College is expensive and you need to always be on the lookout for scholarships and jobs. You will have those days that you feel like you don't know anyone or have any friends here but they will pass. There are some great people and experiences that are just waiting to be found and you will be truly happy with your decision! Always keep your head up and keep trying your best!

I would advise myself to really focus on the financials of college and regard other elements of choosing college as secondary. College is expensive and in my experience, often times high school counselors do not really portray how difficult it can be to obtain the necessary funds if you are not from a very wealthy family. Even if you think you have great grades and rank the top of your class you may find yourself transferring from one school to the next and working yourself to the bone to make ends meet if you do not have the necessary money to attend the school of your choosing. If I could do it all over, I would focus on applying to instate schools only by the priority deadlines so I would be considered for the maximum amount of scholarships and financial aid so that I could have spent more time enjoying college and less time trying to pay for it.

Enjoy what you have now as much as you can no matter how much you wish to be living in the future because you will never be what you are now, a high school senior. Be thankful for the people and things you are surrounded by right now. Don't be waiting for time to pass. Whether you like it or not, time is passing. Whatever you are waiting for will eventually come so stop waiting and live. Do not think, "I'll relax after I finish my college applications are done," "I will be happy when the colleges reply to my applications," "I cannot wait until graduation!" , and "I want to be in college now!" Don't delay feeling happy or enjoying life. Enjoy every passing moment. You have not experienced college but soon will, so embrace your youthful mentality and innocence by experiencing moments through them. Be able to appreciate the thoughts that form in your mind with the experiences you had so far because you will never be able to think in the exact same manner as you gain more life experience.

If I could go back to when I was a senior in high school, I would have to advise my past self that college is a completely different sphere of education and social culture. Considering that I do go to the Univeristy of Maryland, I would urge my past self to understand the importance of office hours and meeting professors, because ultimately if one has an amiable relationship with their professor it is easier to require recommendation letters for scholarships or possible internships. Also, having a good relationship with a proffessor, allows a student to gain important advice. Furthermore, if I could speak with my past self I would stress the importance of organization. Organization is a key element in succeeding in college; with a vast amount of syllabi given out, it is important to note the dates of tests and homework assignments. Finally, if I could, I would tell myself to have fun. College is short and although grades are important it is also key to join atleast one club. Joining a club or an organization not only helps on a resume but also allows a big campus to shrink. The more people you know the cozier the environment.