University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not second guess my decisions and to trust that I can do anything I set my mind to. I began my college life at a small private college and ended up transferring to a very large public one. That decision was very hard for me to make but I knew it was the right one. Had I just given myself a little more credit as a high school senior, I most likely would have started out at the same large university initially rather than going through the difficulty of transferring halfway through. As a high school senior, I was afraid that such a large institution would not be right for me and that I essentially "couldn't do it". However, looking back, I realize that I have been able to achieve much by transferring and I wish I would have had that faith in myself all along. So, I wish I could go back in time and tell me high school self to believe in myself and my dreams no matter what. Everything is possible and I can achieve anything.

Knowing what I know now I would cultivate better study habits and use my time wisely. College life can be much more intense than high school. There is a large advantage to having good study habits and an ability to use the available time wisely. At college there are so many more opportunities for extra curricular activites that if you don't already have good study habits and time management skills you will fall behind. I would definitely tell myself as a high school senior to focus on study habits and time management skills.

As a high school senior, I viewed college as a scary place. I was nervous to make the transition and completely change the way I was use to living. Now, being a freshman in college, I no longer view college as such a scary place. I would tell myself that things will be alright. I do not have to make all my career decisions my first year and I will meet new friends and have a lot of fun. The way I live will not change for the worse and I actually become closer to my family. I learn a lot about myself and will become stronger as a person. I would also tell myself that every day in college is another chance to start over. I now realize that I am the only person in control of my future and if I want to succeed, it is solely up to me. Lastly, college is not a scary place, but a great opportunity to explore what I can and will achieve.

If I could go back in tme I would tell myself to based my college choice on where I want to go to school not on where others want me to go. Because no matter where you go you can make the school meet your needs as a student and can find a place for yourself within the community of the school. College is the time to not only study and prepare yourself for your future career but it's also a great place to meet people from different backgrounds. In college you don't have to worry as much about what people think of you because there are all sorts of people and you can always find some that will be like you. Make sure to get involved in the campus you will feel more like a part of the school and DO NOT close your self up in your dorm . College can be a new start where you can be who ever you want your past doesn't have to be your future at college. If your going to college with friends from highschool be sure to spread your wings and meet new people.

I would tell myself to look more in depth at the programs that the colleges I'm looking at offer. I wish I also would've applied for more scholarships. They are not easy to get but they are well worth it if you are awarded any. I also would consider the distance of how far the campus is away from my home town. My current campus is a couple hours away and I now realize that I would love to be closer to my family. College is all about finding your own and I am definitely going to join more clubs and participate in more activities next semester. Participation in school activites helps meet friends and gain leadership opportunities. I would also tell myself that I need to learn how to study for tests because high school is a lot easier than college and I wish I could have prepared myself in a better way for my tests.

I would give myself a lot of advice. First of all, I warn myself of the challenges up ahead. I would explain that it will be a tough transition at times and that I will feel homesick sometimes. With that I would tell myself these feelings are natural and not to allow these things to ruin all the things I am able to learn and experience. The next piece of advice I would give myself is that rather than study too little, study too much and be overprepared. This advice was given to me by my mother and has been very helpful, therefore, I would remind myself of this useful tactic. Lastly, I would tell myself to meet as many people as possible. The further you get into school the harder it will be. By making many good friends early you create a support group for yourself. Along with this advice comes the advice to choose your friends wisely. Avoid people who will hinder your schoolwork because your first and most important priority is school. In conclusion, I would tell myself as long as you keep your priorities straight, meet new people, and lastly enjoy the experience.

I would have told myself not to go to college right away. The life experience I've aquired has made the learning process easier now in college. I am more focused and truly care about what I am studying. From what I've seen many young, fresh out of high school students, have a know it all attitude and cannot apply what they are learning to the real world only to themselves. Although I would like to say I was different during my first time in college, something tells me I wasn't. Sometimes the school of life is more important to learn first.

If I were blessed with the opportunity to take my current knowledge of college life and explain it all to myself a year ago, I would tell myself how to live on my own. I would tell myself to get into the habit of making lists of things that need to be done since no one else will be there to remind you to do them. Along with that, I would tell myself that just because a deadline seems far away does not mean that you have the entirety of that time to do that assignment. Now you must factor in time to: do laundry, buy grocieries, do other class assignments, make surprise counsellor visits, apply for scholarships, call home, keep in touch with friends, make new friends, make a run to the bookstore when you realize you are low on art supplies, vacuum your room, talk to your CA about noise level, take a nap so you do not fall asleep in Astronomy, rearrange furniture so your roommate's guest will be comfortable, and more. I never thought of these non-academic aspects in my college search, and I wish I did.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to finish strong in the area of academics in my senior year. I made the mistake of not fully making the most of my senior year to obtain the best grades I can earn. I was caught in what most call "the senior slide." At the middle of my senior year, I started to slip in work ethic and my grades started to show. I became unaware of what my teachers were lecturing in psychology and physics because I had little interest in these areas. I did not push myself to the fullest potential to actually learn the vocabulary in psychology and understand how motion works in physics. My work ethic in my senior year made my first semester of college difficult because I had to put in extra work to get good grades. Now, I realized how important senior year of high school is because it is an indicator of success in college. I wish I can go back and fix my mistakes to make an easier transition into college with good habits to bring into my studies.

The most important thing that I can think of to tell myself when I was in high school is to spend more time on scholarships and pay attention to detail. College and college life is very expensive. I missed scholarship opportunities in high school because I didn't pay enough attention to the finer details of the application processes. I should have started working on them much earlier and payed better attention to all the scholarship opportunities offered at all the schools I applied to. Originally, I did not take the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as seriously as the other colleges I applied to because it was not my first choice of schools. I focused on the school-funded scholarships offered at the schools I gave priority to more than independant scholarships, scholarships offered through my high school, and those offered at the U of MN. Advice I would give my high school self includes taking more innitiative on scholarship and college applications as well as treating all colleges that I applied to with equal interest and seriousness.

Like most other high school seniors, I feel I went into college blindly. I was unaware of the extent of the social scene, but also of the beauty of independence. Knowing high-school-self would have eagerly listened to transformed college-self, I can give high schoolers some advice. Firstly, high school seniors need to learn a sense of peace about their future. Attending college will open up countless opportunities for them, so don't sweat it. Let me tell you, the futue is big and scary, but everything will turn out. Secondly, DO NOT feel you need to pick your lifetime career within your first month at college. Everyone will experience anxiety about committing to a real job, but most people average 16 careers in their lifetimes in this day and age. Lastly, there WILL be times when you feel challenged, scared and out of your comfort zone, but you will learn more about yourself when you experience a test of character. Every moment may not be a grand piece of black forest cake, but perhaps smaller bites of cake, with the occassional whopping corner piece laden with frosting, which will be the overall unexpected opportunities college will bring.

Although I love the school that I'm attending now, I wish I would have done more college visits, and applied to a variety of schools. I only applied to two schools, one community college and the University of Minnesota and I didnt really give myself a variety of choices that I saw a lot of my friends having. I'm in the situation where I sometimes ask myself, what if? What if I have visited more colleges? What if I had applied to colleges all across the country? Questions like this come to me from time to time and I wonder what other types of college experiences I could have had, especially a college experience away from home which I currently am not persuing. Don't get me wrong I do like living at home, and I love the college that I am currently enrolled in, but I still sometimes wonder how my college experience could be different. There are so many different types of colleges out there and I didn't really give myself the chance to explore those colleges. So all in all I wish I would have considered all of my options a little bit more.

I would remind myself that while what my parents think might be important, my life is my own. I turned down a full tution scholarship to WashU in St. Louis, a more respected school than my chosen college, because I followed my heart to a place where I thought I would be happy. However, the pressure of trying to live up to expectations started to get to me and I ended up suffering from depression. In your first months of college, listening to yourself and taking care of yourself physically as well as mentally is the most important thing you can do for yourself. It took me three months to admit that I was unhappy, to see a very helpful school psychologist, and to pick myself up and talk about my problems, and then ultimately change my major to something that I wanted to do, not something I thought my parents wanted me to do. Use the resources your school offers to discuss majors, classes, study habits, and mental health. My first semester was spent taking classes I mostly didn't like, and so I damaged my GPA as well as my mental health. Avoid that when it's possible.

The transition to college is a much harder one than I expected. Going from a set schedule everyday, to having one that you have made yourself is pretty awesome. However with this type of freedom common in all aspects of college comes a lot more responsibility. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have warned myself about all the different things you are responsible for in college. I wish I would have known that once I began college I would have been considered an independent person and would no longer have my family to come home to for emotional and financial support. Now with much more responsibilities, I wish I would have prepared better. Thats why the advice I would give myself is to not depend so much on my family to support me financially as well as emotionally, to practice good time management, to get into good study habits and to take on more responibility for my actions. Everything you do reflects the kind of person you are and it would have been extremely helpful if I could better prepare for the amount of responsibility I have taken on.

Being a college student isn't as easy as it looks. College is where you take your first real leap on your own, into the "real world" as our parents would say. This transition is comparable to the crest of a rollercoaster. You have to be prepared mentally and physically to make it to the top and ready for the exhilaration and loops ahead. In high school, one can prepare themselves by applying for scholarships, taking challenging classes that may yield college credit, and learning about themselves. The truth is college is expensive and there are many scholarships available to high school seniors. Fill everyone out that applies to you. Receiving advanced placement credit saves you money, time, and puts you ahead of students your age. Challenging courses in high school prepare you to be successful in college! College also entails details that are not taught in school. You have to understand how you learn, how you interact with others, what you enjoy doing, and what kind of environment you need to be in! Many students leave college because they don't understand themselves, which is the safety-belt you need to ensure a enjoyable ride on the rollercoaster!

Senior year was one of the most stressful times of my life. College applications, searching for scholarships, and studying for AP tests filled my time from September until May 31. I knew with each passing day that graduation day was looming, but I didn?t allow myself to enjoy the few precious memories with my peers and best friends. My hard work led me to the University of Minnesota, an institution I have come to love as my second home. What my high school self should have realized however was to work hard and remain dedicated, but to take pleasure in the short remaining time with family and friends. Stressing over minute details did not lead me to my future but it did consume my senior year. As the pressure took over I wasted key moments with the ones I love, a regret I will always have. The past cannot be changed and I do not lament the struggles that led me to my present state, but I will never take for granted those around me as each moment should be appreciated in full.

Keep a long-term mindset. Think about everything you want to accomplish throughout your college career and start planning it out right away. One of the mistakes I made was to keep a short-term focus with regard to the courses I chose, and I ended up having to readjust my study abroad plans because of course requirements. I wish I would have saved some of my liberal education requirements for my study abroad semester rather than getting them all done my first year or two. It was much harder to find study abroad programs that satisfied my major requirements. Although people like your academic advisers are there to guide you, you can't always rely on them to know what is best for you. Take control of your path.

First I would hug myself and say, "You are so much stronger than you know." Then, I would sit myself down, take my hand, and begin to pour out everything I possibly could. "You are going to miss your cats. It's strange and silly, but so true. Perhaps it is the way they are always there--ready and loving--and forgiving." I would laugh a little and explain, "You are going to discover the importance of a real, good night of sleep. I might try to encourage you to "experience" college by pulling an all-nighter, but honestly, it never works, and you end up with really crappy essays." Looking into my own eyes, I would finish, "But the best thing I can tell you, the string of words which you should carry close to your heart all semester are, 'You are loved.' Plain and simple. It is so beautiful to remember this. Transitioning to college life is one of the hardest things in the world, especially when you were finally so comfortable with life at home, but if you remember where you came from, there is nowhere you cannot go."

You tap at the eggshell and it gently gives way to a crack, then a hole, then an exciting display: an array of communities and unfathomed opportunities; welcome to your pending collegiate soiree. Your wings will spread voluntarily, freedom blazing in your bones, and suddenly you are plunging into your future unknown. Within you, you will find a desire to be extraordinary, and to conquer your fears and set out on your own. Your never ending adventure of learning begins now, as you flit from branch to branch, making new discoveries at each bough. Consider life?s many directions, and choose more than one, because your many experiences will benefit you in the long run. And with complete sincerity I will now confide that the challenges will be great and will not subside; but not as great as the person they will make you become, if you trust the guidance of your mentors, peers and loved ones. One last thing you can never forget: don?t let a second go by that you might regret, because when days seem like minutes and minutes like seconds, the time is now, and the person in charge has your silhouette.

If I could tell myself a year ago what college would be like, I would tell myself that it will be hard. It will be hard to make friends at such a big school, when odds are you might not see your acquaintances ever again. It will be hard to adjust to schoolwork and studying much more than you did in high school. However, it will be a greatly rewarding, amazing experience. You will make great friends, even if it is hard. You will get good grades, even though it's hard. You will become involved in many activities that you enjoy. You will be intelectually stimulated, and you will be presented with all of the resources that you need to make a difference in the world. So, in short, I would say do not be discouraged by the first few weeks, and do not give up because you will eventually find your niche and love where you are.

I would start off by telling myself to work hard at school. Before selecting the right college to go to, I wish I would have known what kind of environment is right for me. I would of reminded myself how learning in a smaller environment is best and being in the city in large classes just is not the right place for me. Moving away from home is something that everyone should experience, it's good way to find out a little bit about who you are as a person. I would want to give advice to myself stating "Do not take my family for granted. The days are too short to sweat the small stuff. Live every day with a smile and appreciate where you came from. Take a chance, you can always come home." I could not forget to say to myself how proud I should be as an individual. I have made good choices in my life and I have learned to focus on what is important. I would like to remind myself that taking chances is apart of living and experiencing. "Grab life by the horns and run with it, but don't forget to smile!".

Bob Marley summed it up with his song, "Everything's Gonna be Alright." Knowing what I know now, that is what I would tell myself as a high school senior. Somehow, things turn out exactly the way that they should. During Welcome Week as an incoming freshman, I was unsure of myself and what I was doing at such a big university. I had convinced myself that I was not going to find any friends. I had no idea how I was going to be able to find my classes on the first day, and I had doubts that I would do well in college classes. I also worried about being able to pay for everything and about living in such a big city. As it turns out, every little thing did turn out alright. I met my two closest friends that first week, and with only a little trouble, managed to find my way around. I love going to school with thousands of other students and got a work study job to help pay for school. After the first year I had a 3.9 GPA. I always tell myself now that everything does, in fact, turn out alright.

I would advise myself to stop looking around at what everyone else was doing and focus on what I wanted and was interested in. That love is the most important thing and that its alright to do that. Its not a matter of getting loved back but just the act of loving is so healthy for you. Its not silly or weak, its very healthy. I would encourage myself to love who I was and value that as a personal possesion. To pursue your dreams and hopes with courage and faith. That sometimes the acheivement of your hopes and dreams is not as important as your heart as you pursue your dreams. The healthy maintenance of hope and love will bear good fruit in all circumstances whether high or low in the social strata. Also I would extensively council myself not to set my hopes on relationships on men, but to focus on my relationship with God. It is a relationship that will bear much strength and health to yourself and the world around you. Trust God!

"Now that you're a senior, you have some exciting life choices ahead of you. Although your college choice is not the most important aspect, choose wisely. Choose a college that will challenge you not only academically, but socially, morally, and psychologically. Choose somewhere that will allow you to be yourself, but also offer places and situations where you can explore new ways of thinkings. Choose somewhere that will allow you to be flexible in what classes you take, so that you can reman open minded as to what careers and interests you may have in the future. Academically, many colleges are similar in academic rigor, so your choice will become, not so much which college can I get my best degree from and is well known, but in your success will be based on your ability and the college's ability to help you in becoming a intelligent, strong, social, thoughtful individual. Choose a college that will challenge you to become a strong assest to yourself, society, your friends and your family. "

If I could travel back in time to speak to myself when I was a senior in high school, the main thing I would say is, "Calm down." I remember that all throughout my senior year, as well as my junior year, I was terrified of what was to come as I became a college student. Now I could tell myself that college is very enjoyable and envigorating. Also, that the transition is much smoother than I expect and that once I settle in, it will be an incedibl feeling. I will say that once you are in college, you will truly begin to feel that you are coming into your own and that there is so much freedom to enjoy. My main point is: Sit back and enjoy the ride.

I would encourage myself to open up, ask questions. I was very shy and it was really hard adjusting.

Succeeding in school is simple, maybe that's why I ignored it for so long. If you don't miss a class and you do all the work, then everything else falls into place. There is no need for cram sessions or all-nighters. Trust me, just do the work.

The first thing I would tell myself is to stop worrying because everything I'd been hearing from others was true, the best days are still to come. Yes, it will be different at first, and yes, it will be hard sometimes. But college has presented opportunities to me that I didn't even know existed. My mind grows exponentially every day. I would tell myself to work hard, but to be encouraged because college will allow you to work, learn, and discover in new ways that make it seem as though you are doing none of the above. You are just living. Most importantly I would be sure to tell myself to take advantage of the diversity around me and to learn from it, rarely if ever again in life will you be surrouned by so many different ideas and cultures at once. It is an exciting time and you only get to do it once, so don't be afraid take your ideas and run with them.

It's important to know that no one is going to hold your hand, you're going to have to go out to get the help you need. It's going to be a lot more work than you're used to, get ready to read a lot. But just know that you're going to be okay, it's lots of fun too because you have so much freedom. Just keep up on things, study as you go, don't try to cram at the last minute like you do now. Don't be shy! try to make friends, make the first move because as a freshman, everyone wants to make friends so you may as well do someone a favor and approach them first. Make sure you leave some time for yourself though. Have fun!

Follow you dreams no matter what the cost. School is going to cost a ot, but in the long run you will be happy with your choices and your future career. Stay close with your family and listen to their advice. Take the time to travel or move to different cities to learn more about yourself and your family dynamic. You will learn and grown more from moving to a new city than you will from classrooms and work experience. Take classes that interest you, not just classes that sound easy.

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself is really try to work hard and find out what you like to do. If you can find out what you like in life it should be pretty easy to find an area where you will enjoy working. I guess the second part of this advice is to try and stay true to yourself; don't end up trying to do something or impress someone because you feel like you have to. Just be yourself and have a good time. Lastly, I would say don't eat out too much and still exercise/go to the gym so you stay healthy and don't gain a lot of weight.

You know nothing until you experience life on your own. Be open to new experiences and meeting new people--it will pay off in the future.

"Tara, transitioning to college is not as scary of a process as you believe it to be. Transitioning will make you step a bit out of your comfort zone as you are in a new place with new people and without your father, but you do not need to panic about heading off to college. As for the money issue, it will all work out. You will find scholarships and grants and loans to help you pay for college, so stop freaking out about money. It will be fine. You will have slightly less free spending money while in college, but that's okay as a lot of activities around campus are free or next to free. Have fun in college! You will enjoy it!"

I would say to pay more attention in class and take as many nots as possible it would help when it is time for the test. And i would also say have a planner so you can track what is coming up next.

Learn how to study! It is an essential skill in college, especially if you want to get good grades. Stop procrastinating some how. I know it is convenient and easy, but it is hindering your future. No need to rush through college, it will come soon enough. Time actually does go by pretty fast. Don't be afraid to get out there and do things! Make mistakes it is part of being human. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or help from others. Get things done early. Being in an apartment is really nice, I am glad that I met my current roommate. However, it would have been better and much easier to meet people if I had applied to the dorms right after I had gotten my acceptance letter. Be who you are meant to be, not who people want or think you should be.

College is amazing, you learn so much, not just academically but you also learn about yourself. It is so important to visit a college to make sure you are comfortable there. If you do not like the college when you visit, I doubt you will like it if you attend college there. Make sure you see the whole campus and the city in which it is located. It is never too early to start. It is better to start early and see as many colleges as you want to apply too. Application fees can be high, so narrow it down by doing research. Use the money you saved on application fees to visit the campuses. Once you are a college student, make time to study. Time management is very important and talk to as many people as nessecary to learn how to manage your time. This will lead to success

Really keep an open mind for your future and be excited! A new chapter in your life is just beginning and I promise it will be fun, entertaining, there will be new oportunitites and you have the ability to create it all. High school was fun, but college will be amazing. You'll meet your friends for life, you'll learn tons of things that you're going to use in the future, and you will discover yourself. Try new things and be yourself. It's going to be great!

Focus!

Earn and save money, go to the school of your first instinct,.

WORK HARD and DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!!!! Plan out everything you plan to do so you will have time for EVERYTHING. Do not be afraid to Ask for help if you need it; make MANY friends.

College: a hearty blend of rigorous academia, social activity and new involvement. Your mission, Jessica, is to balance these. Easier said than done, I know, but to spare you some trouble I have two words: time management. Set goals, set an agenda with specific times, subjects and places for studies and activities. I got to college so keen on meeting people and getting involved that I inadvertently compromised some study time. Figure out what study habits work most effectively for you right away and stick to them. However, you want to enjoy your new surroundings, so be eager meet various people whether in your hallway or in student organizations (I joined 4 my first year!), keeping in mind that you can learn something from anyone and someone can something from you, too - what do you want that to be? You worked hard to get into Carlson, Jessica, and if you continue seizing leadership opportunities you'll eventually be a Community Advisor like me. But I don't want to give away too much, after all college is where you face challenges, excitement and carve your own path to discovery. Just be true to you, and I'll help you out.

If i could go back i would have told myself to take a year off inbetween highschool and college to explore the world, job options and opportunities that may expand my knowledge of what i REALLY wanted to do. Instead i followed the 'american way' and went straight to university. ALthough i had a great time and was extremely involved, i ended up with a BS in Sociology that does nothing and a lot of loans. Three years after graduating i have explored all corners of the globe, learned a lot about myself and what i want to do, and will now return to obtain a masters in public health. if i could have waited after highschool and learned a bit more about who i wanted to be i would not be stuck with the school debt and 'wasted time' from my undergrad. thanks!!

Be ready for a change. Make sure you have good communication with your parents and friends from hom that you're comfortable with. Be ready to put yourself out there and meet tons of new people. Be social, but also realize that you deserve good, positive people in your life and if someone is not in adherence with your morals or goals, find others that are.

The difference between college and high school is that there is a lot of independent studying of the material. If you don't develop good study habits early on, you'll won't succeed to the extent that you did in high school. Make as many connections as you can early on and don't get caught up in being lazy.

Be true to yourself.

Take nutritition classes early so you could have majored in it and if you think high school is stressful you will be ten times more stressed in college. Enjoy.

People should pick colleges that fit their needs and wants. Put in the effort to research schools that you are interested in, and if you know your major then make sure that those schools have that major. Make sure that you make an effort to explore campus and the surrounding area, and to meet new people. College is all about experiencing new things, but you don't want to go through it by yourself. Remember that you aren't the only new person to campus. Try new things and be yourself, but don't lose track of where you've come from either.

If I could send myself a message in fall of 2007, I would tell myself to relax about high school and enjoy the year. College is a constant bustle and I should have taken the time to relax and enjoy being with my family.

Do not worry too much. Yes, there is a lot you do not know, but there will be people to show you how to do the things you need to, and you will learn how to do the things you want to do yourself. Take extra time and look around to discover many of the resources available to you. Give in to the curiousity of all the different people. Remember that you will have a lot in common with a lot of people you can meet. You should not waste your time with anyone who seems dishonest or mean, time mangement will become much more important, there will always be more to do, but never more time to do it. Think about priorities. School work needs to be done, but you need to have fun as well, both on the weekends and in the little things throughout the day. Remember, all work and no play makes you dull. When making decisions, think critically about the positive and negative consequences, think about the possibility of you regretting the decision the next day, next month, or 10 years from now. Do not be overwhelmed. Above all, don't worry.. be happy.

I would give myself the advice of trying more new things in highschool that could further not only my learning abilities but social abilities too. In college, if you aren't outgoing its hard to meet new people. I would also tell myself that working hard senior year will pay off when I go to college. When I was a senior I thought it would be fine to slack off but it would have been helpful to get in the routine of working hard and giving it my all, so that when I go to college it will not be a drastic change!