University of Northern Colorado Top Questions

Knowing what I know now, I would give myself a great deal of advice. First off, I would tell myself that every single scholarship need to be filled and turned, because scholarships are the best way to fund your schooling. I would also advise myself to take more higher level classes instead of taking the easy way out my senior year. When it comes College life I would advise myself to introduce myself to everyone in order to create new friendships, which would make the transition from high school to college easier on a social level. On the academic side I would advise that I maintain a good work ethic, because it would be needed when going to college.

Keep an open mind. Growing up I was was protected by my parents; I was only allowed to watch age appropriate movies, listen to good music, and they encouraged me to spend more time with my friends from church than my friends from school. In Highschool I went to a public school and I was able to break through my childhood barrier. When I got in to college I was able to break through that barrier even more, I met a lot of very different people and continued to learn about the world outside my childhood. Even though I felt I was prepared for it there were still things that schocked me; many of my friends had very difficult childhoods, and one of my good friends actually turned out to be lesbian. One girl I knew had grown up even more sheltered than me, and she didn't want to break through her comfortable barrier. She ended up going back home after one year, scarred because she wouldn't let go of her barrier. Even though I still had a hard time accepting things, I was able to forget differences and accept everyone for who they were.

If had the chance to go back in time and have a conversation with my high school senior self, knowing what I do know I would tell myself to buck up, deal with and just get the process over with. I would tell myself not to sit around and wait two years to start school. The process does not get any easier, infact it's harder if anything...the longer you wait. I know that it's nerve racking, time consuming, and not fun at most times but it's something that needs to be done. You need to further you education. I would advise me to pay more attention in school, and to put more effort into the things I did so I wouldn't ruin my chance at attending a good school. I would let myself know that life after high school sucks, andnot going to college...doe not help it suck less one bit.

First off I really wish this was possible because I made many mistakes through high school that I wish I could change. There is tons of advice that I would give myself, but to start off I would say learn how to study, study, study. I would say this becuse studying is what college is all about. The next advice I would give myself is checking your email, partly because it is as important as doing your homework mostly because instructors send emails all the time that are very important. Finally, being a special education student through out high school, I would tell myself to become friends with the professors of my classes mostly because they will be able to help you even when you are out of there class, acting as mentors to students.

I would tell myself that I need to stay focused. My freshman year that was the biggest problem that I had. Do not let peer pressure influence the way that you live your life. Do not stay up late and always be prepared for class. I could have done so much better than I did my freshman year if I had been prepared for every class session and was able to engage in classroom discussion in order to better understand the material. Another big piece of advice would be go to class. I was a very good high school student and have done very well in college thus far but it takes so much more effort to get a good grade when you skip class, even if it is only once a semester. My last piece of advice would be use your resources! You are paying for everything that is given to you on campus so take advantage of it all: eat at the dining hall, use tutoring services, go to the library to study, etc.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are many words of advice I would give. One bit of advice that I would tell myself is that one of the most important things to do first off is work on making good friends. Good friends make for great study partners and support for school. Another thing I would tell myself is that the easiest thing to do is to try and finish all of your school work during the week if possible and not procrastinate. There are many times where you are tempted to go out during the week and many of the things you need done get pushed back to the last minute. It is so much easier to get school work done first and then save the fun things for the weekend. This makes for better grades and a greater sense of accomplishment. One of the most important things I would advise is to save money. It is tempting to spend money on whatever you want at the time, but it is so important to save money for those times when it becomes a neccesity rather than a want.

I would start off by telling myself not to worry about fitting in anywhere because in whatever you do, there will be people there that have the same interests and talents you do. Another important thing is to not be a stranger and if you want to meet someone, then go and introduce yourself to them because if you become close to them, your friendship will last a lifetime. Now down to the nitty gritty part, I would explain to them how much more effort you have to put into the classes and how much more studying is required of you. Telling them to start off early in the senior year and get into good study habits and making yourself do something that you don?t want to because it will definitely pay off in the long run. Other than that, I would tell myself to have fun while you can because I?ve talked to too many people saying they wish they were still in their college years with the freedom that it entailed.

High school is a difficult experience for everyone at some point. If I had the opportunity to return to tell my previous self anything it would be this. I would tell myself to just be yourself all of these people who seem like they are the most important thing in the world right now will be a mere memory in a few months. That boy that you cried over so many nights will never be worth your time, and to keep on your school work. Love yourself and have total confidence in your choices. Enjoy what you have while you have it but don?t get so worked up about the small things. That college is some of the best times of your life and the friends you meet you will have for a lifetime. You will be doing what you love making your own path in life with nothing ahead of you but opportunity. There is not a better feeling then when you realize you are now a self sufficient young woman who has made your family proud! Keep your chin up because high school was great but look forward to your future and all the potential you

If I could go back in time and talk to myself, I would warn myself about planning out a time schedule. I would tell myself to understand that there is a time to talk with friends, and a time to do homework. You need to know that college is not all about fun. You need to set out a schedule to do all the things you want to, but putting homework and studying first. In high school you really don't understand the concept of setting out a timed schedule of when to do things. In college, you are on your own, so you have to learn that there is a time for fun and a time to study.

When I was in high school, I ended up with a 3.82 cumulative GPA. In other words, high school seemed pretty easy for me. After graduation, I assumed that college wouldn't be any harder than high school was. It turned out that I was incredibly wrong. My first encounter with an educational challenge was in my computer programming class. I just didn't understand any of the information that was being taught by the professor. But I knew that I wanted to do as well as possible in college, so I did everything I could to try and bring my grade up. I joined two different study groups, met with my professor after class and during office hours, and pulled all-nighters the night before the exam. All of this hard work ended up paying off. I got a B in the class at the end of the semester. After going through this ordeal, I would go back in time and tell myself that college is in fact more difficult than high school. I would tell myself to go in expecting a challenge, and to come out knowing more about life than you could ever imagine.

The advice I would give myself is to do better in my AP classes and on the AP tests so that I could get even more ahead in college than I am now. I am very focused on my major now and I wish I were as far ahead as I could have been. I would also tell myself to be more open to the possibility of making new friends and study buddies. I would tell myself to be more involved with campus activities so that I don't get bored.

If I could give myself one bit of advice during my senior year of high school I would have told myself not to worry. As a high school student I was worried about whether or not I would be successful in college, partially due to the fact that I didn?t do as well in high school as I would have liked; I only earned a 2.2 unweighted GPA. I wasn?t an especially motivated student, I didn?t do my homework, and I refused to cheat off of my peers. This left me with little hope of receiving large scholarships to go to a state university, and made me nervous about how well I would do in a college setting. The only reason I passed my high school classes was due to the fact that I truly love to learn, and I would pass my exams with ease. In college the teachers do not assign loads of busy work and tests are usually the main source for grading, thus I currently have a 4.0 GPA. I would tell myself not to worry because college is truly a setting where you are rewarded for gaining knowledge.

I would tell myself to not take friends and family for granted. My senior year was my busiest and most stressful year of high school, so I never took time for myself, family, or friends. Now that I'm in college and am in a completely different place, I wish I could go back and take time to enjoy my senior year more than I did. I graduated high school on a military base in Turkey, and now that I'm going to college in Colorado, everything is a complete turnaround. Making friends who stay true to themselves and me has been difficult this year, so I would go back and make time for old friends. Being a freshman in college, I don't have a car or a job yet, but back in Turkey, I had a job within walking distance from my house. I would tell myself to take every advantage I possibly could to work and make money (all tax- free... doesn't get any better than that!). Senior year of high school is supposed to be one of the best years anyone should have. I would go back and try to make it the best.

Be yourself and go out and meet new people. Try new things and join clubs! It will be a great experience that you do not want to miss out on. Dont be afraid to be who you are, people will accept you and you will make life long friends.

Oh, you young and na?ve boy, schoolwork is surely important. Granted, any life exists after high school, a better one is not elusive. I still suggest to you, Tommy, to take a few years off. Solidify your thoughts, beliefs, and desires. You will give endless time in a restaurant when you graduate, and the restaurant will give back. You will go through hard times that will force you out of Minnesota. However, understand this; Colorado will bring many incredible and better things. You will work on a cattle ranch in the mountains, do this, gain a deeper work ethic, just do not lose sight on what can be. If you apply yourself now, you will better yourself later. You are intelligent and could easily be doing better. Unfortunately, quality higher learning institutions only care about numbers. Study more, apply yourself, and expand outside of academia?s standard mediums. You will succeed wherever you end up; just know you could succeed in a setting saved for the top echelons of America?s elite. I know you will be fine if you continue unchanged, but if you bite the bit now, you will win a longer, more profitable, and exciting race.

If I could go back in time and meet my former self I would tell myself to continue to do good in school, never give up on any assignment

Dear Kieva, I know that right now you are loving high school. The teachers are great, school work really isn't that challanging and you probably only have to study for 15 minutes if that. But college is a totally different world compaired to high school. You've been hearing it all your life that college is hard, that there is so much to learn and that the teachers are harsh, but you never really get the full effect until you're there. When you see it for yourself you realize you're either going to sink or you're going to swim. At first you may freak out thinking that you're unprepaired and you can't do this, but dont worry, everyone feels that way in the beginning. Sure it's a lot more difficult than high school is and you're going to have to push yourself. But the reward of acomplishment is well worth it. It's just all about balance! Love, your future self

I would sit myself down, for i would know it would be a shock to see myself three years later, and explain that college life is about discovery. Discovery of oneself, discovery of a path in life, discovery of the world you live in, and discovery of other people and things yet to be discovered is what college life is about. College is the place where you begin to paint the canvas of who you are; whether is be with rough hard sharp imposto strokes, or with soft blending lines of monet, you begin to realize that college is discovery. Without the college experience i would not be the fully flushed individual i am now and not to fight the transition into the individual you decide to become. For it is not our DNA or where we came from that makes us an individual, it is the choices and decisions we make.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would probably mostly advise myself about campus involvement. The academic situation is similar to that of my high school and the transition was fairly smooth. It is the social adjustment that takes time. I would tell myself that I will need to get out and get involved. I would describe the different campus events that will help me meet new people and to help others more within my community. I would tell myself to find activities and groups that interest me and find a way to become involved. Along these lines I would tell myself to find a balance between the social and academic arenas of college life. While a social life is important I am attending college for academics. Therefore, I must put my coursework first and foremost. I must allow time for reading and homework while still making time to have fun and hang out with my friends, or to meet new people. I suppose that the best advice I have to give is to get involved and yet maintain a balance between academics and my social life.

If I was able to talk to myself as a senior in high school, knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to relax. I was so stressed out about the transition into college from high school but I really had nothing to stress about. College has been easier than I expected, if I knew that as a senior in high school I would have gotten more sleep at night and relaxed a lot.

If i could talk to my high school senior-self, I would better prepare myself for the financial difficulties of college as well as the additional pressure of attending college as a minor at the age of 17. The financial burden of college life was always pretty clear but if I could have told myself as a high school senior to save more of my paychecks expecting more of the additional expenses, the financial burden would have been lessened. Also attending college as a teen of 17, there came a lot more stress of what I could or could not do. Taking out loans, getting better housing, rules and laws of a minor, and the restrictions still in place by my parents made it harder to transisiton into the college life. Talkng to myself as a high school senior, I would have prepared myself to accept that it was something that I could not change but had to accept and adapt to. I think with a few words of advice in these two areas coming a little sooner to my attention, adapting to this new life might have been a little easier.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that extra education is important but not a requirement. My high school expected everyone to apply and be accepted into at least one college. I figured that college was required and that it couldn't just be a community college but that it had to be a "normal" big college. I felt then that if I didn't attend a large college or even go to college at all that I would basically be a "failure." Man was I wrong. Although it is more difficult, people can not go to college and still be successful in life. I wish I had known that and would have been willing to accept that fact before I moved up to Greeley and found out that I hated college life. After 1 week I finally realized that college wasn't necessarily required of me and that I wouldn't be a failure if I decided to go to a community college and still live at home with my parents. I now love UNC Denver and am glad I realized it sooner than later.

I would tell myself, take more advantage of the college classes that were offered in high school, because coming into college with some credits put me ahead half a semester.

I would tell myself to gain all the knowldege and support that i could in high school. All the things we learn in high school are just another step of practice for the next studies for success. I should never settle with uncomfort or anything less then my full potential. And no matter what happens, im never alone in my situation because many other people are going through the same thing. Its how you look at your situation and how you react to it that makes us different.

Do not worry, you will not be stuck in a room studying alone and waiting for Christmas to come. There are other amazing people with whom you will become fast friends (And since most of the native Coloradoans go home on the weekend like weak babies, most of your new friends will be other out-of-staters like yourself). Do not worry about the work load either because you will sail through the transition with ease. In fact, college is going to provide the perfect outlet for your intellectual pursuits, and you will realize how slow and insipid your high school curriculum really was. The one downside will be living in the dorms for a year (sharing bathrooms and walls and privacy), but next year you will move to a house close to campus with good neighbors. Good Luck- You'll love college!

Don't put off college....it is much harder later in life! You have alot of years to be a working adult, enjoy being a young adult without major obligations now!

If you are planning to go to a college go somewhere that is interesting and somewhere you enjoy being. This is going to be one of the greatest times of your life and for it to be the greatest you need to enjoy your surroundings and not stress out about homework. Get involved and see where that world is going to take you. Advice that I have wold be to check your teachers out and get advice from other students about who they suggest taking and take classes that will help with your major to get you done faster. Another thing I would say is make time for yourself and make time to get involved, go see a basketball game, get involved in Student Senate, make new friends, and do not go home evey weekend because it is different and fun living away from your parents. Also use your resources because they are there for a reason and that is there job to help you. The main thing is tohave fun and make the best out of things, if you are having a hard day just take a step back ad relax because you are doing fine.

Something that I would tell my self if I was a high school senior again, would be to be ready to spend more money than you think you are going to. The best advice that I have is, SAVE MONEY! Money doesn't grow on trees, and some people work hard for their money, and they want to spend it on certain things. As I am about to finish college, I still struggle with money and as it seems that tuition is going up in price, all I can do now is SAVE MONEY!

I would tell myself a great deal about the college experience. First of all, I would tell myself that I need to have more confidence in my abilities in the classroom and on the softball field because I can hold my own in those areas. Also, I would tell myself the importance of family. One does not know the importance of loved ones until you can not see them whenever you want. I would tell myself to give my parents hugs everyday and to tell them how much they mean to me. Sometimes the greatest gifts are the smallest ones. Also, I woul d prepare myself for the hardwork ahead because college was a shock to me because high school came very easily to me. Overall, I would want myself to go after all my dreams and not let other people decide my fate because once you see your dreams come true it is the best feeling in the world. College is hard work, but I wa determined to make it. Most of all, I would tell myself not to worry so much and to enjoy the years because the moments i am experiencing are some of the best times.

I would give myself the advice that I should have made my freshman year about having more fun, instead of burrying my head in my studies and books. I would have advised myself that the college life is just like high school, for me personally, and I shouldn't have psyched myself out so much. Especially being a senior, I would have allowed myself to be more opened to meeting new people, especially in the dorms. I would definitely make sure that my senior self knew that there were tough times to come, but the transition was definitely worthwhile. And, I would definitely, now, give myself more time to just let go and have fun with the college experience, and get more involved with sports and activities.

I would advise myself to get as involved as humanly possible. College is a once in a lifetime experience and you truely will never have the opportunitues you have in college, so the best advice I can give is to get involved. Work in the community, work on campus, run for student body, join a club, play a sport, go on trips, join the church body and learn, above all learn.

I would tell myself to not be so worried. Yes, college is hard work, but you can handle it. Take it one assignment, one class, one day at a time, and do not get ahead of yourself. Also, speak up in class. Making friends will come easier than you think, so make conversation with the people around you. Most importantly, do not forget to breathe and have some fun between all the studying you will do. Continue to work hard and it will all work out like you hope.

My most helpful advice for picking the right college is to find the college that has been highly rated in the area you want to major in. It's important to have teachers who like what they're teaching and will do their best job. Some other advice is to study hard, but have fun. Make sure you set aside as much time as you need to fully study the subjects you are assigned, but also leave time for fun. You don't want college to be a nightmare when all you do is study and worry about your grades. Having fun is a big part of life and college is a great time to meet new people and try new activities. Another thing is to look into future programs like internships and job opportunities. Do your best to get a jump start on the other students by finding the better internships before them. A good internship is a big help for getting a good job once you graduate. But most of all, like I already said, HAVE FUN!

I would definitely visit the college and make sure you ask questions to find out everything you need to know about the college so you can make the best decision possible.

Will you be able to find a good community at the college you choose? That will be the most vital aspect to your happiness in college! If possible, visit the campus when there is NOT a preview day. You want to see the campus on a typical day. We are in search of the truth! Do go on a campus tour. Does the campus feel right to you? Research ahead of time and contact program directors of activities you might like to participate in while in college. Check out the sports teams, band, student government, honors program, cultural houses, and religious groups! Whatever is important to you. After all, this maybe where you spend the next four years of your life and you just might want to enjoy it! Do not forget to contact professors and sit in on their classes. Are they happy to accommodate you? See how helpful students are when you ask for directions around campus. Finally spend the night in a residence hall and eat in the dinning hall. Throughout your entire visit, ask any question you can think to ask. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance! Best of Luck!

Find the college that you know in your heart is the one for you. Do not let anything or anyone else try to convince you or persuade you to go there. Make the college that you go to, the college of your dreams and do not settle for anything less.

College isn't about knowing what you want to do. College is about discovering what you want to do and pursuing it. So much of college is learning how to live on your own and figuring out what you enjoy, aside from studying. Before i left for college, my parents pushed me toward what was cheap, my teachers pushed me toward what was academically challenging, and society pushed me toward what would earn me the most money. But I have found what has been the biggest reward is pursuing what I enojoy and what I know I will desire to spend the rest of my life doing for an earning. My advice to students looking to make the most of their college experience to try everything. Take the four years of your college career to find what you like to do. Don't forget to keep up with your studies, but have some fun while finishing them. College is exciting! Keep it fun! But most importantly, make sure you love what you're doing. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

Money is not everything. Just because going to school in town and living at home saves a lot of money, does NOT mean that is the perfect school. Look in state because tuition is very similar for in-state schools and apply for scholarships. Additionally, it is probably better if people did not room with their high school friends freshman year. I have seen good friendships destroyed by people living in tight quarters for too long; compromise is how successful roomates are made. If there is a problem, mention it immediately and solve it, don't let it go unsaid and then become a bigger, unsolvable problem. Get to know the R.A. They really are there to help. Also, get involved on campus. It helps new friendships form between people with similar intrests. Most of all, have fun. Yes, college is for studying and getting a degree, but it is also a great time to explore new interests.

Any college degree is a step forward, so going to college is a good idea in the first place. As far as finding the right one, look into location first. Even schools with poor credentials can be just as good if not better than a more expensive school. Location is important because the student is not only attending school, but is moving to the city where the school is located. The student must like where they live to be happy with the University.

The decision of finding the right college for you is a tough one. The best advice I can give is to find out what matters most to you - academics, location, financial aid availability, varsity sports, etc - and then do your research! After you get accepted and start your college experience then make the most of it. You can only experience this lifestyle once so focus on balancing academics (never slack!), work, and social life to create the kind of life you want to have during these years.

I think the most important thing to look for in a university is the size of the school. A bigger university is going to have more opportunities for academic achievement and creating new social and professional relationships, but at the expense of losing out on smaller class sizes and a chance to get to know your professors so they can write good letters of recommendation when he time comes to apply to graduate school. A small school has a more personal feel to it, where everybody knows everybody but funding is limited and there are not as many opportunities to take a variety of classes and meet many people. A mid sized university makes for a best of both worlds experience in regards to academic and social opportunities, while still allowing scholarly students opportunity to get to know professors better than at a big university. So ask yourself or your child what they want from their experience, most every school is going to have a good mix of people to get to know and be friends with, but the opportunities that are available will have positives and negatives based on the size of the school.

First and foremost parents and studenst must have ongoing and effective commumication between them and the counselor of the school(high school). It will make the process less stressful. Parents must encourage the child and help them with the process. Second, when the child goes to college, parents should keep in contact with their child to make sure they are doing well and having a good experience. During the process, students must go to the schools of their choice and tour them and ask questions regarding finances, classes, social life, and more. Second, I encourage all students to get involved as much as they can. Whether in Greek Life, clubs, or sports. There are many benefits for getting involved. Third, go to class and learn to study. Last, do not give into peer pressure that may surround a student. Overall, effective communication and involvement among the school of your choice will make the experience much better.

I think you just need to find the school that best meets your needs. I am a student who cannot be in a room with 500 students, so my school is perfect for me. And me being young, it is weird, but I don't like to party so I chose a school that is mostly older students who have a specific goal in mind. To make the most of you college experience you need to be sure your school is able to attend to all your needs!

When many students graduate from highschool they are so ready to get away from their families and be on their own that they choose schools far away. It is very difficult to adjust from seeing your family every day to just seeing them on main school holidays. Also, do not choose a school because it is where your best friend is going to go. The decision as to which school you decide to attend should reflect what you would like to go to school for. There will be new people to meet at all schools and in turn many new friends to be made. When many freshmen get to their new school they are so excited to be away from home that they do not focus on learning or classes, but more on the fun going on around them. Focus on school; have fun, but do it in moderation.

I would tell any inquring individual that price is not more important than education. Never let the cost of tuition influence your decision on what institution you choose. Partying can be fun for some students but those are the students that will not graduate. Study and set up a time management schedule for yourself so that you can really get the full experience. A lot of freshman make the mistake of spending too much time socially and not enough academically-- this is a mistake-- a big mistake. Get a solid group of reliable friends that you can lean on and that can lean on you. Use this to your advantage. Your friends will help you stay on track both in your social life and college career. Remember that you are in college for the learning-- you are paying for the learning-- the partying should be an afterthought.

Don't think that you have to go to Harvard or Yale to get a good education. Sometimes the best learning happens in an enviroment with like-minded individuals. I found that this univeristy was like me, and that is why I became successful from it.

I would tell people that they should look into the school themselves, visit, talk to professors and to students. Don't just listen to the steriotypes of the school- ex. cow town. These negative steriotypes do not really show what the school is like.

In high school, look at which classes you excell and enjoy. If they are small, make sure the school is smaller. If you like sporting events with a lot of people, make sure the school is school spirit. Just spend sometime realizing what you really enjoy about your school, or dont and find something that fits. Transferring is not fun nor is it easy so make sure you're going somewhere you'll truely enjoy and not just live through.

When visiting a campus it should be an instant feeling weather it would be a good fit or not.

Advice for parents would be to support your child in every way possible. If money is a problem don't make it one and research about loans, scholarships, and grants that your child could possibly recieve and apply for. Always let them know you'll be there for them and make sure that they are enjoying college but also focusing on school. Don't be the parent that never lets your child grow up, let them go and figure out whats out there and let them discover themselves. Advice for students on finding the right college is to follow your heart, during your college years you'll find out many things about yourself, as a child you may want to be a nurse but realize that a job in the business field will be your future. Find a college that is right for you. Make a list of interests. Look for things you want out of a college whether it be joining a frat or sorority or joining the schools sports teams. Whatever college you pick go in there and be positive and be open, learn to network and it will be the best years of your life.