University of Nevada-Las Vegas Top Questions

If I could talk to the younger version of myself, I'd encourage myself to get invovled sooner and more often. College has so much to offer to a student, and I think the average person doesn't take advantage of that. I would tell myself to not treat it as a job or burden, but to see college as a fun experience that you'll never forget. College may be some of the best years of someone's life, so I believe you should get as much out of it as you can. I'd also tell myself to establish more relationships with my professors. These are some of the smartest people you will ever come across in your life, and I think you should take advantage of those relationship opportunities. I'd tell myself to keep a solid balance between school and social life, but also understand that your education is extremely important and to take it seriously. I'd encourage myself to not sleep through my years in college. This is the time of your life to be active and involved. You should be creating relationships, having fun, and building your future.

As a high school senior I made the best time I could of my last year. I made sure I was surrounded by friends and participated in all that I could. I was so wrapped up in my high school life that I didn't even begin to think about what college would be like. If I could tell my high school self anything it would be to make sure that I am preparing myself for this huge trasition. Don't cling onto your high school life when such a big change is coming. Do everything you can to be involved with UNLV activities before the semester even starts. Make sure that you have a healthy balance of hanging with your old friends and making new ones. I would tell myself that high school was such a small environment and it was easy to meet new people, college is huge and it isn't going to be a breeze keeping in touch. So make sure that you participate in your new adventuree as you did in your old, that way the trasition will be easier with the new friends you have made.

I would tell myself to enjoy your senior year as much as you can. Get involved with school, apply for many colleges and apply for scholarships. As a high school senior i thought i would have all the time in the world to think about college and apply for scholarships and that was not the case. I let time slip on by and in college thats one thing you learn that you can not do. I would also tell myself to take college prep classes because you arent really prepared in high school for how different the enviornment in a college can be.

I would tell myself to focus more in biology and other science classes. I would also suggest trying to do better in math in order to pass the necessary math courses and be able to position myself in upper division classes in college. I would also tell myself to enjoy life a little more.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school self to get in the habit of not procrastinating. I would also tell myself to start on the scholarships early and get as many done as possible. Procrastinating is something I would want to tell my past self not to do because doing work the last minute is really stupid and could hurt your gpa. I would tell myself that since I am paying for college I should get all the work done and to start early. I would tell my past self to start taking notes better. Taking good notes will help in college. Many classes requires to have notes and to have the book chapters read before class the next day. I would tell myself to get a skateboard or scooter so it will be easier to get to class on time. I would want myself to know that if I dont have a skateboard then I would have to watch out for them because it hurts when you get ran over by them.

Honestly, I feel as though my teachers, mother, and siblings prepared me very well for both the academic and social strains of college life. If there's one thing I would tell my younger highschool senior self it would be "its not as bad as you think." I was so stressed out my senior year of highschool. I would worry about having to pay for tuition, what major to choose, how scary college math classes looked, and all the complaints of my older friends saying that they had no social life. I was afraid of college. However, now i'm here and i've been going to school full time, while working to pay for tuition and keeping up a relationship with my highschool sweetheart, things don't seem so scary. I haven't had to choose between my academic and social life as younger me worried about. All that stress was unneeded, and if I could time travel in a tardis with the Doctor to meet my younger self, I think I would tell her how great we ended up.

I would pay much much more attention to my studies and work ten times harder. I wasn't motivated enough as a high school student.

Dear me, Life will not work out the way that you are planning and that's okay. You will suffer great losses, relish successes and discover bits of yourself along the way. Don't forget that education is the most important thing. People will tell you not to do it, but believe me, it will be all that you want to do. People close to you may not believe in you. You must believe in yourself enough for everyone! Don' t give up. You will struggle, that is to be expected, but just fight harder. Learn from your mistakes and your failures. That is what they are there for. Trust your instincts. Be patient and kind with yourself. You've got this! Don't let anyone ever tell you you can't do something just because they couldn't. Don't stress the small stuff... actually, don't stress at all! It just makes things worse! Take time to take care of your body. It is the vehicle that will get you to where you are going. You are a strong, intelligent and innovative individual. Make me proud! Love, Yourself.

Hey Steph! I heard you're getting ready to start as a freshman at UNLV! Let me tell you - it's going to be a big transition. College isn't like high school. Here's some tips to smooth the transition: Firstly, be organized. Get a full year calendar and before the semester starts, go over your syllabi and write down every single assignment (no matter how small). Always look ahead at least one week so you aren't suprised by what's coming! Next, go to see your professors during office hours and develop a personal relationship with them! I know you think you can do it all by yourself, you can't. They have so much knowledge and they want to help so take advantage of their free information! Lastly, don't forget to take time for yourself. I know you will be trying to achieve the best but don't lose sight of yourself in the process. Go out with your friends and take a breather every once in a while! Get ready girl - I know you'll do great!

That teacher who stayed on top of you about doing your homework, that assembly about finding out what you want to do, that career fair you dreaded, that lecture from the counselor about your grades, and that boy that broke your heart.. these were all important. I know you could not see this at the time but they all are playing a part in preparing you for college. So pay attention, learn what you can, take advantage of the help that is being offered now. The routine of going from class to class and having a tardy bell, or even having a bell at all. I know it all seems ridiculous but in college there are no bells, there are no manuals on what to do, there are no teachers that will stay on top of you. College is all about YOU. So I say again, please pay attention and stop taking these small things for granted. Figure out what you want to do now because college caters to no one. Prepare yourself and pay attention to the adults that are trying to help you better prepare now. I promise you that it will all make sense very soon.

What might have been? Please avoid asking the former question. How? There is no magical formula, but here are three simple guidelines: First, strive for progress daily. Time, a non-renewable resource, decreases with age. Capitalize on every moment. Second, eat healthy, exercise, and study your ass off every day. You only get what you give. Third, think before you act. Be ready to live with decisions and the ensuing consequences. What does the future entail? Success, happiness, and self-actualization are attainable in the future by hard work right now. Focus on school, do extra homework, study more, and prepare for class every day. Perfection is elusive, but reach for it anyway. Challenge yourself, and hold yourself accountable. The best feeling in college is knowing that you maximized your efforts. What else should you do right now? Teach yourself new things, be yourself, network, listen, volunteer, and stay organized. Create a to-do list of things that YOU want to accomplish or experience. Did you make the list? Go take action. The list will not complete itself. Do not sit around. Do not wait for things to happen. Oh, the places you'll go if you follow your dreams.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself the advice of most definietly paying attention in each and every class, striving to keep a 3.5 or higher GPA, save a lot more money while I worked in high school instead of spending it on items I wanted, and take scholarship opportunities more serious. In college it sucks to have to pay for school without any help and/or not much to lean on due to the lack of good grades and money. As a college student now, I know that having a higher GPA could have reflected on my financial need, by being eligible for more scholarships and opportunities in financial need. Saving money would have been extremely beneficial now, every dollar I spent then, could have been an extra dollar toward the struggle of financial need in college, now. If I would have taken that advice I think the financial need for college would be alot less stressful than it is now.

I would tell myself to take the time to pay more attention in my AP classes, becuase it would have helped me better with my study habits that I have now. I would tell myself to take the anatomy class instead of physics because it would of help me understand the anatomy class I am taking now and I probably would of gotten a better grade in the class. I would also tell myself to be serious about the classes you are about to take because it will be on your transcript forever and it costs a lot of money to have to retake a class.

If I had the chance to go back in time and talk to my high school self I would say to save as much money as I possibly can. No, you do not need to go out every weekend with friends/eat take out every night. You need to save more money to help pay off the student loans you will have. I would say to also remember to make school the priority and not your job. It takes much longer to finish your degree when you lose that focus and mentality, and in the end it will cost you more money. Finally I would tell my past self that even though it seems impossible, it really it is. That even though it seems like it won't be worth the trouble, you will eventually look back and realize it wasn't bad at all.

Dear "High School Amy", College is a whole new world. If theirs any advice or wisdom "College Freshman Amy" can give you it would simply be this, be open to trying new things. This transition in your life is meant to be fun and exciting. Eveyrthing won't go perfectly. They'll be times you'll make the wrong decision but NEVER hold back from an experience just because you're scared of failure.The only things I regret are the chances I didn't take. Everyone in college has the same fears and anxiety you have, so don't be afraid to make mistakes and emarass yourself. That's what life's all about. So go out there, come out of your comfort zone, try new things. You'll never know what could happen if you don't try. Trust me. Sincerely, "College Amy"

Do not let your boyfriend or girlfriend influence your decisions. I am one of those girls who followed my boyfriend to college; a military college. Although I intended on joining ROTC, I did not plan on attending an obsure military school thousands of miles away from my family. I spent an entire year being yelled at and endured deplorable living conditions. The relationship that I thought would make my life better, ended up complicating my life for years to come. As my luck would have it, that school went bankrupt, forcing students to relocate once again in order to finish their degrees. I also signed an eight year military contract despite the fact that I knew deep down it was not what I wanted. However, my hope was that my relationship would help fill the void that existed after my parents divorce, and absence of a support system. Eventually, my boyfriend jumped on the opportunity to leave the Army because of a minor heart issue, leaving me alone to finish my service obligation. I wish that I had the confidence to pursue my own path in life, and not fear being alone. Have no fear.

Don't let the depression get the best of you. It walks like some great spirit in your wake. I know the way is gnaws at your heals and causes cave-ins on the inside, but it is only a temporary burden. A demon sent to fail you, to overwhelm you with the trials and tribulations you will face ahead. Have courage, don't give up and the world will open to you like the vast arms of an ancient wood, where the brooks speak words of wisdom, and the trees are elders that tell stories of their time. You are worth more than you think, and have capeabilities beyond what you could ever imagine. Right now, you seem insignificant, a grain of sand against the solid shore of the bold world. However, you have it in you to grow beyond that. Focus on your soul, and your happiness, and you will surpass the dreary restrictions you once set for yourself. The human mind is an enigma, we are strange, and brilliant among organisms. With that mind you were given, remember, you can conceive of a brighter world. You can find your infinity. Have Faith, have stength, keep moving.

Know your major, don't go in undecided. Also determine whether its cheaper for a meal plan or not. Go for alot of scholarships even ones you think you can't go for, do it because you never know.

Try harder. I know you got all A's senior year and were involved in every club you could but try harder. Start filling out scholarships. All the tiny ones that you don't need to have FASFA done for because even though your parents said they were going to pay for school, they won't and you'll be struggling so much by the time everything you have saved has run out. Don't over look those 100 dollar scholarships, they add up and you'll wish you did them when your only a couple hundred short. Try getting involved in organizations, not only can they help with money, but they can also help your social networking and make these struggling times a little more bareable. Times are going to get bad, but just roll with it and dont panic.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships at I could. Even if you think you don’t qualify for it. It will be worth it in the end. That you should hold off on the loans if you can, because you will need to take more out in grad school. You should enjoy every aspect of college. You should also join a sorority and go to as many school events as possible. To try and make as many friends as you can, but to also keep focused on your schoolwork. You should get a tutor for biology and any other class that you felt you needed extra help in because failing a class can have a huge impact on your GPA. Last you to have fun and cherish these times, because before you know it these four years will fly by.

Cristian, college life is exceptionally different. You will be intimidated by course material, class size, and tuition expense. Nonetheless you must remain firm in your goal. Do not take the unchallenging way. Follow your goal to completion. The road to your desired degree is long and weary, but do not let that thought lead you to an academic limbo. Studying something that is not your passion is just going to waste your time, because you will turn back to study your passion and you will regret not staying on the path. Your course material will be difficult, you may not have as much support as you did in high school, but that only makes the reward more satisfying. Class size is a tremendous adjustment. The lectures are countinous and sometimes questions are left until the end. Recording lectures is highly recommended. The one to one relationship you have with you teacher n highschool is almost non existent. Finally, one of the most important college factors "tuition cost". Apply for all elgible schlarships, you might have to work partime and even take on loans. Dont let that stop you. Cristian, you will be successful.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior entering college would be to stay-the-course. Do not try to juggle work and school, but to devote all my attention and energy into my academic career. The minimum wage and time spent working is irrelevant in the big scheme of things. To get in the mindset that college is my “job”, but I will not be “paid” until I graduate. Moreover, to stay focus and connect with my peers on an academic and social level. To try and surround myself with people within my degree so that we motivate each other to strive further. Furthermore, to embrace the college experience to its fullest by being involved with activities on campus.

You're going to travel for a while, and it isn't going to be the best trip of your life, but it's a learning experience that you need. Don't fret about being "behind" your friends; this is no longer a group journey. Only two of your high school friendships will last, but hold on to your two best friends tight because they will be your rocks during difficult times. Get up and go to your classes despite the horrendous commute because you learn better in a classroom, and you know it. Your true joy and calling is in teaching; get into the BA program while your GPA is outstanding. In order to make friends, you have to smile! Keep your chin up and don't be afraid to say hello. Reach out to someone who doesn't understand something if you grasp the concept. Above all, be yourself, especially when you go Greek, which you should only do when Sigma Sigma Sigma comes to campus! When you have a big break between classes, you need to study or do work, but don't just sit around and wait for something to happen. It's up to you!

I would tell myself to actually do the math work that was required in my college math class, instead of allowing myself to feel as if I had enough credits and a high enough GPA. The reason for this, is because I ended up taking too many math classes that I did not need to necessarily take. I would also tell myself to have more fun. I should have attended more high school activities and enjoyed my high school career instead of waiting for it to be over. Although my school offers extra-curricular activities, I just never feel I have the time to attend any of them because I always have homework and studying to do. In high school, my workload was not as much but I did not take advantage of it.

If I could give adivce to any high school seniors, it would be to finish strong. Even though it's your last year of high school, you still want to leave knowing you did the your best instead of taking it easy and not performing as well as you could have. It's important to stay consistent, refrain from procrastinating, and to develop good study habits early on. Becoming a skilled planner and time manager will help you get ahead quick once you're in college! Don't put important things off; if you're not ahead, you're already behind!

If I could go back into time I would have a lot of advice for myself. The first thing I would tell myself is to take the most out of the high school experience. I would've liked to have more fun in of high school but also take harder classes so I could've been getting ready for the college life. Without doing that you'd probably go into college thinking it would be easy like I did. Also I would've told myself to study a lot. Studying is something you have to learn how to do, not everyone knows how to study. If I would've study more in high school, I would've learned how I personally retain information. There's many different ways to study and everyone learns in different ways.

There I go again, dosing off in Math. Dr. Gill was just going over the trigonometry homework I must have been thinking to myself. It was senior year and graduation was in a few weeks, what could I have been worried about? "Hey, wake up. You do know he is not just teaching for his health don't you? If you only knew all this work would be sitting in front of you again in a matter of months. You think you don't understand it now? Just wait until you're sitting in a class full of math geniuses and wonder why you can't pass a test. College is nowhere near what high school is like Erica. No one is going to be there holding your hand. The teachers aren’t going to slow down and the work isn't going to lighten up. The fact that the classes are longer is going to make it seem that much harder on you. You have to stay focus and study. Study. Study. I cannot stress that enough. However, you will get the hang of it and you will be excelling more than you could have imagined. I know."

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would keep it short and sweet. I would say that high school was fun but do not procrastinate and waste your time. You have your whole life in front of you and it is worth it to take the time to study and get good grades now because it will pay off in the end.

If I were to go back in time, I would tell my high school self to take your time finding a college. Visit every college you are interested in and find the one that you love. Whatever college you choose will be your new home, so you want to love it. I made the mistake of accepting the first college I got into because I received a fairly good scholarship, but I had never even visited the school before, so I went into a University knowing absolutely nothing about it. Therefore, I would give advice to prepare for college better by doing research about every college you are considering and find which one fits you the best. Also, I would tell my high school self to spend as much time with family as possible becuase you may be so excited for college, but once you get there you will miss your family. Lastly, work hard in high school because once you get to college the hard work will pay off. You will already know how to study correctly, take notes well, and write papers, so take high school seriously and listen to the advice elders offer you.

Don't let fear stop you and ask for help when you need it. Life is going to get tough and there will be many things that will get in the way of your dreams. You need to plow through and continue on that path. I didn't and I let fear and family stop me and I regret it. I went to college not knowing how hard it was going to be. I thought that it meant freedom and I forgot about the hardwork that was going to be needed to keep that freedom. I became an orphan early in my college career. I didn't have anyone to help me financially or emotionally. I was too stuborn to ask for help when family life blurred into my school life and I became overwhelmed and I quit school. As cliched as this may seem, please do not go down a harder path in life then you need to. College is a great time and place to find out who you are and how self reliant you can be. Keep on that path and make the changes you need to so you can survive but please do not give up.

This is something I think about often. My parents always stressed the importance of accademics but, being a know-it-all teenager, I did not believe them. Now looking back I wish I would have listened. If I would have put more effort into my school work and made better grades I would have many more opportunities than I have at the moment. I come from a low income family and they could not afford to send my anywhere else besides the local University. If I was more focused on my grades in high school I would have qualified for more scholarships and I would have been able to go to my dream college. Now that I am in college school is my top priority. I have cut back the ammount of hours I work a week and studying has become second nature. I have finally found passion in school. This is something I wish I could have found four years ago as a freshman in high school.

The advise that I would give myself is to do everything on time and dont be afraid to ask questions.

If I was a high school senior again making the transition into college I would tell myself to apply for hundreds more scholarships. I'm an out of state college which means my tuition is more. I'm on my own financially and live alone. I pay my own rent, bills, food, gas, tuition, books, and every other little thing. I worked through high school so I had money. During high school however, I didn't have these expenses that I have to pay for now. Now, as a poor college student trying to make it on my own, I wasn't prepared for all the new expenses I had for myself. I figured it out quickly to budget everything I buy. Living is expense. My books alone for classes are over $500 a semester so I have to save even more money than I did in high school. I had to make more adjustments from high school to college than just financially. College is hard, but it's also part of the growing up experience. I made good decisions and I would tell myself to be excited about this new journey I choose. It's going to be fun.

Regret. That is the one, reoccurring word that has resonated with me over the past two years. I look back and think of how foolish I was. Now I’m not trying to be harsh on you, but the fact of the matter is, you aren’t very intelligent, and hopefully, my future self will say the same thing about me. I’m hopeful that my future self will say the same thing about me because I place a great amount of value on regret. It’s important for me to think you are comparatively dim and have made some awful choices because that would mean I’m improving upon myself. As far as improvement, you really haven’t been working very hard to improve upon yourself. Pay some attention in class because you’re going to be wasting an awful lot of money if you don’t! Take all the opportunities you can even though you’d much rather play video games instead. You can’t give up what you want most for what you want now, so give it your all. If you take my advice everything will turn out better than it did the first time round.

If I could go back to the year 2005, when I was a high school senior, I would shake myself and shout “WAKE UP.” Every decision you make shapes tomorrow. The lackadaisical approach to school is not going to suffice in college. Cruising through your education and achieving the minimum passing score will no longer be sufficient. Success requires hard work. In terms of academic performance there is a lot of competition, so it is important to strive for excellence. The “I didn’t study when I was in high school” excuse will not work in college. You have to study, and that does not mean cramming the night before an exam. You need to take the time to prepare for class. When classes are over review your notes and reflect. Your academic record becomes even more important as an undergraduate student. Although you may not know what your career pursuits will be post-graduation, it is imperative to make superior grades. Maintaining the minimum grade point in college is not going to help you get accepted into graduate school; you have to go above and beyond. So “WAKE UP!”

As I peered through my watery eyes and stare shamefully at the pile of notecards, I asked myself, “Where did I go wrong?” It was a few days before graduation and my high school principal told me that I will not have to prepare a speech because another classmate is the new valedictorian. I wanted to restart senior year, studied harder, and ensure valedictorian status; however, graduating was already an accomplishment. Reflecting on this day as a sophomore in college, I wished that I could have spent my innocent days enjoying myself instead of living at the library. I learned that there is more to life than being number one. In college, I met people who can play uncommon instruments, have competed in sports nationally, and are YouTube famous because of their funny personality. Moreover, they were just as dedicated in school as I was, except I did not have anything to be passionate about. I finally learned that being valedictorian was not a trophy, it was a lifestyle where I’ll continuously do my best and take advantage of the ‘lemons’ that life throws at me. Nonetheless, if I could go back, I would tell myself, “Live a little.”

I would apply myself a great deal more in the classroom and talked with my guidance counselor about attending college

I was fortunate to go to a high school that I felt actually over-prepared me academically. However, if there was one piece of advice I could give myself, it would be to get more involved in extracurricular activities. During my college career, I had my own apartment, worked two jobs during a period when both my aunt, who was staying with me and my boyfriend lost their income at the same time. I truly believe in my current school's moto, "FInd a way or make one". I would have made time to get more involved and build stronger relationships.

I would tell myself to follow my own passions instead of doing what other people wanted me to do. I am an individual and what I am doing is for my future not for anyone elses so I need to choose my major based on what I like to do not what everyone tells me I should do because they will not be leading my life for me. I would remind myself that I need to play on my strengths not trying and do something that focuses on my weaknesses. To succeed in college you need to play on your strengths and go with what you are passionate about, because picking your major based on what others want will not help you succeed in school.

If I were to go back into time and talk to myself as a senior I would explain that it was a whole different ball game. The first tip I would give myself would be to not slack off and think things came as easy in college as they came in highschool. I would tell myself that studying everyday is essential and that cramming won't help me in the long run or during finals. I would tell myself to take the first year of college seriously and to start off on the right foot so it wouldn't bit me in the butt during my senior year of college. The most important advice I would give myself would be to learn how to prioritize, become more organized, time manage, and stop being a procrastinator. If I had another run at college knowing what I know now, I would be much better off!

Through this first semester of college I have struggled a bit adjusting to the expectations and finances. I transistioned from highschool procrastinator to college procrastinator. I wish I could go back and tell myself to submit that Fasfa application before the deadline and not 5 months later. I have realized after paying out of pocket for college, that I need these scholarships and financial aid. I would have guided myself to the counseler's office to pick up scholarship applications and fill them out in my spare time. I would also advise myself to stay ontop of my studies, because college is not as simple as highschool. Here I am on my own, and my education is completely in my control. I would have told myself to take charge and don't wait on others to give me money or tell me what to do. I would also have told myself to keep retaking my SATs. I did not realized how much they impacted my class choices. Going back I would have made myself sit down every weekend for two to five hours and study for these tests or apply for aid.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself that five classes in highschool is not equivalent to five classes in college. I would also tell myself to plan on studying a lot more, especially on the weekends. The reason I would tell myself these things is because I started my first semester of college with the same amount of classes I took in high school. Taking five classes my first semester was overloaded with course work and discovery. I wrote my first APA 12 page psychology paper that semester. It was also the first semester that I had a 4 hour class on a Friday. Finally, it was the first time I cried from being stressed over reading and writing. Even though it was a mind shock, I still managed to have a 4.0 that semester. My advice is not intended to scare my high school self, but rather to prepare myself for a new style and load of learning.

If I could go back in time and be a high school senior again, I am going think about what make could make me happy with my career...not about what could make me rich. Because anything about what you want, wherever you feel the most happiest, and loving what you do, is already a success.

I was a pretty smart student who had a lot of potential. I was in honor's classes and dropped them because I did not want to do the additional work. I assumed I would never go to college and was content with that. I would tell my high school self to seriously apply my abilities and focus on school. I would recommend being kinder to my teachers and making better decisions. I also would have told my younger, crazier, self that being a doctor was something we would want in the future and to start seriously paying attention in biology class! All of this is making me want to smack sense into my younger self. I think the younger me would have benefited from more support and encouragement. I would hope to at least be somewhat motivating to make better decisions and trusting my gut. That never happened. There you go younger me! Heed my warning. :)

In my senior year of high school, I was a procrastinator, quiet, non-active student. I was stress for everything that my school was giving me from the day first. Especially, almost all my friends that I have on my junior year of high school were moved out to another country that time. I was depress for not having close friends and decided to lock my self. I didn't even passed all my proficiency. Now, I graduate with Honor Advance Diploma from high school, I'm recently working part-time job, active in my church, The Potter's House Christian Fellowship Church, Las Vegas, Nevada, and I'm going to the best university in Las Vegas, University of Nevada- Las Vegas. Thus, my advice that I would give myself as a high school senior is "Never quit before you try". This advice will mean so much to me because before I would never want to try a thing. In the end, I like to try new things and have positive statement about myself that I deserve to be a successful.

Rochelle, let me tell you something about college, it is not as bad as it seems, with that said, do not take any time off between your senior year in high school and freshman year in college. I tricked myself into believing that college was going to be harder and more difficult than high school, but that is far from the truth. The path you will eventually take in college you will enjoy the learning curves of who you are and will become. College is only as hard as you trick yourself into believing it is. You can do it!

Your transition into college will honestly be the most stressful time of your life. College scholarships, while there are many, are hard to win. START NOW! Find as many scholarships that you qualify for and GO FOR IT! The longer you wait, the more stress you're going to add to your life. As for leaving high school and entering the real world, relax. That is going to be a HUGE change but just remember, you transitioned from elementary school to middle school, and then middle school to a new high school where you hardly knew anybody, just fine. You CAN and WILL make it in college; at least you'll always have friends there for support. When you feel lost, or scattered with classes and registration and everything else, just remember you're not the only one! There are hundreds of incoming freshmen that will be in the same boat as you. Try bonding with the new classmates and soon you'll be accustomed to this new environment. Always keep in mind that change is good. The education and the experiences you'll get will help you out in life and give you wonderful memories to look back on.

College has a great deal of ups and downs. There won't be one moment when you are confronted with becoming an adult. There'll be many people coming both directions asking if you are interested in joining their crowd, have an opinion about certain events, purchasing their product. There may be people that already do that, but since you're an adult now, they won't take no for an answer. Almost 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, probably more, will say they aren't ready for college. Even if they say they are, once their first semester is over, at least one will say "I wish I did that differently" or "Why can't this be easier?" You may start out alone, but take it as being independent for the first time. You'll have way more freedom. It is basically like your freshman year in high school. Sure, the ages range from 17 to 100 years old (theoretically saying), and you do not have anyone really helping you along your path to adulthood. Just remember, you are going to start your life, and you need to take advantage of all the opportunities in front of you.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would say is apply for scholarships! When I was a senior, I did not research enough scholarships because I thought it wouldn’t be a big problem to just obtain a loan and applying for scholarships was such a tedious process. Second, I would tell myself that I do not need to stress out over advanced placement classes. I was told by a college advisor that for my major, nursing, if I want to attend graduate school, admissions would prefer that I took all the college classes as opposed to being exempt since I passed the AP exams. Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy my last year in high school. College can be very stressful with difficult courses, expensive costs, and new found independence. High school was the last period in my life before I would be an independent adult. I should not have spent my last year worrying so much about every aspect of college and staying at home every single night studying and doing homework and never taking a break.

If I could go back, the one thing I would tell myself is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. And to not confuse being pragmatic with being agoraphobic. I'd tell high-school-senior me to apply to those awesome schools with challenging writing programs because going to class and earning a good grade isn't what makes a college education. Surely, it's a part of it, but college is about the experience, and you don't want to miss out on that, no matter how afraid you are.