University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Top Questions

If I could go back in time to tell my high school senior self anything about college, I would tell myself to study more and to look and apply for more scholarships. I lacked motivation to do that my senior year and instead enjoyed my last remaining moments at home with my friends. However, this year as a college freshman I am pushing myself to apply for more scholarships. I also studied a lot as a senior but I could have studied more and I could have taken more AP or IB tests which would have given me more credits coming into college. Even though I can see in hindsight things that would have made my life easier now, I know that there is no way I regret any of my decisions and I'm still thrilled about being in college and working towards my degree.

In high school, I was extremely aware of who I was and where I was going. Going to college was a total shockwave that I was unprepaired for. The atmosphere and homesickness was an extremely sensitive situation. I had to return home and enroll in online classes. If I could go back and tell myself one thing it would be, "Your freshman year of college will be one of the most difficult and trying experiences of your life. But you will be a better and stronger person for it. If you need a break, do not think you have failed. Others may talk about your "failure", but only you and your family know the truth. And that is all that matters."

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself during my senior year, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible and to follow up on any issues regarding financial aid paperwork. I had quite a lot of problems with the financial aid office regarding my fafsa; the office accidentally lost some important documents that I had mailed them, and because of that my much needed grants and loans were delayed for months. This delay could have forced me to drop out of my freshmen year at college and give up my dreams of being a Meteorologist, but luckily my recently widowed father was able to help with the costs by making severe cuts in his budget and selling his car. I would advise myself to constantly call the financial aid office with any questions or concerns, and to research grants and loans more thoroughly.

Going back to high school, knowing what I know now as a college student, I would give myself different tips on succeeding and avoiding certain things. First, tell myself to get involved on campus, but not over involved! It?s a good thing to try different organizations and volunteering with these groups would be an awesome experience. Second, studying. You will have to study in order to maintain the goal GPA that you would like. Meeting people in your classes, and forming study groups are also good ideas, you learn and understand things in a different perspective. Third, Exercise as much as you eat. You do not want to gain the freshman 15! Don't party too much, for every party you go to do 3 positive things to replace it such as volunteering, going to an organization meetingds and homework. College is a great experience and it?s said to be the best years of your life. As long as you do your work, study and communicate with your professors often you will do good. Being social is also a good thing, making new friends and experiencing different ethnicities, cultures and traditions. Stay prepared you will do great!

I would tell myself that college is NOTHING like I thought it would be. It is nothing like the movies make it out to be. School plays a much bigger part than having fun than I would have expected.

As a high school senior, I was focused on just getting finished with school. Sure I was enrolled in all AP classes and didn't take electives, to make sure I was prepared for college, but I lost my ability to have fun and enjoy my high school career. If I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself to "Enjoy the time you have here. College is a lot different than high school, but you are prepared for it. So stop stressing out about every little detail and learn to live a little because you only have one chance, so don't blow it. College is the time to buckle down and pursue your dreams. So relax, you are good enough and you will do just fine, if you stop stressing out."

I would encourage myself and remind myself "do not procrastinate. Work on homework in a timely manner, but make time to have fun. Innocence is ok, you do not have to experience everything to be a complete person. This will be one of the best times in your life; take time to do the ridiculous. Excercise will help your mind to focus. Other people are working on the same things, help them and ask for help when you need it. Appearances can mean everything and nothing. No matter how people appear, there will always be something about them that surprizes you; take time to see it. Remember, family is one of the greatest support, and this is when you find out how strong you are."

Going back to talk to myself as a High School senior, the first piece of advice i would've given myself is to find financial assistance through all of the online scholarips available. There are many ways of getting funds for your education yet there are so many students that need it but are unaware. No matter how hard a class maybe always remain focused. Tutors are always available when needed, so if you need help find it and get it. The level of work will become accelerated but seek help out and talk with your professors. Many of them are willing to help and make sure you understand the material. Enjoy your life in college and meet people. Introduce yourself and get aquainted. People respond well to that in college and you can make new friends easily. Last but certainly not least put God first and all will fall into place. Your path through college will be a lot smoother with him infront leading the way.

As a high school senior you think that you are king of the world and that you know that when you get to college you are going to just know everything your teachers say before they say it. But that is definately not the truth. Take your time and actually learn what your teachers are saying, dont just memorize dates and names and expect to remember all of the information three months down the road. And dont stress about finding new friends, that happens naturally, if you make the right choices and be who you really are, you wont have any trouble with finding friends. In these first two semesters i have learned that you dont know what exactly what you want to do when you get here, so dont be afraid to explore diferent majors to find your place in the world. Last thoughts... Dorms are amazing and college is one of the greatest times in your life. Enjoy!

I would tell myself that above all things, above fraternity life and parties and all the fun things that college has to offer, grades are by far most important. I would've told myself about my aspirations of Medical School, and how starting college off on a good semester is a much better idea. All in all though, college is an experience that no matter hiw much advice you get from anyone, including a hypothetical future self, you have to take it day by day, and learn it through jumping in head first. I would'nt have wanted my first semester in college, although things could've gone differently and could've been better, any other way than it was.

?Do not be afraid to let go,? I would tell myself. ?You must learn that you cannot keep things together when the others involved surrender the will to continue. Relinquishing the feeling of obligation that you carry with regard to those persons and their harmful decisions will never be seen by any party as disgraceful. I know you are stubborn and ending your involvement in anything you have personally invested in is not customary for you; however, it will be healthier for you if you liberate yourself entirely from people who give up and walk away. Emancipating yourself from these individuals will also save you the distraction of your resentment towards them. Holding onto the past, its relationships and preconceived notions about newcomers, with such blind devotion will make it impossible for you to form true new relationships that are vital to a successful college experience. Your friends back home will not change their opinion of you when you make new friends and form new bonds. Your family will not hold anything against you if you distance yourself from their drama and forge your own way with the values they have instilled in you.?

Hey you hotshot high school senior! You think you are pretty cool, huh? Guess what, you aren?t. Prepare yourself for next year, kiddo. You?re going to need it. Don?t fret, you will love college and all it has to offer. The freedom, the responsibility, most importantly the all you can eat Chik-fil-A in the caf. The most important piece of advice I can give you about college is to just jump in with both feet. Don?t take any of this for granted. Get involved! Be someone! Join some clubs, be on committees! Rush for a sorority, I know you think that the sorority life is not for you; but, it is going to be one of the best experiences of your life. Don?t give yourself the ?maybe next semester, after I get adjusted? excuse. You can do it all, school, work, sisterhood, and as many campus activities as you can squeeze in your busy schedule. With all of this comes another tidbit of advice, stay organized. If you stay organized, life doesn?t seem to overwhelmand finals seem just a tad bit easier, and college is all about finals isn?t it?

If I could go back in time and give myself adivce about college I don't think I would. It is a once in a lifetime experience and you can't prepare yourself, you have to experience it yourself. Many people told me what to expect in college and what to prepare yourself for. However, it is completely different for everyone. As a college freshman it's about you making the right decision for yourself. You learn as you go. As a freshman in college you learn responsibilty, you learn how to push yourself and study and you learn how to balance your school and social life. One thing I wish I would have done my senior year of high school was apply for more scholarships and map out my schedule for the next 4-5 years to guarantee that I would graduate on time. Overall, college is and amazing experience and I do not regret any of the decisions I have made.

The day has arrived, the plans have been made. The cap has been tossed, the dues have been paid. The future, they say, is a glorious thing. Why, then, do we fear the change it will bring? I 'm asking you, now, to trust in my song. Though miles from home, you'll find you belong. The halls will be strange, the faces brand new, But miles of mem'ries are waiting for you. Some say you can change, re-write who you are, Abandon your past, and hide every scar. But I say beware when molding your smile; Love wrought by facades will sting and beguile. And don't let your work decide when you cry; The stresses will pass and days will go by. Take pause when you can to breathe in your life; Good laughter with friends still helps cure the strife. So pack up your hopes, your expectations Your future awaits without limitations. Be true to yourself, and say what you mean, And don't be afraid to chase what you dream.

Going to college is both exciting and frightening...before you get a feel for it. Once at college, there are no more lunches packed by mom, no more bedtimes, and no more random twenty dollar bills from dad "just because." Yes, college is a brand new chapter in our ever-changing lives. If I could go back, I would tell myself to open up more and not be so afraid of what others think. Also, I would spend more time studying and less time socializing. Just because I did not have math everyday does not mean that I should have procrastinated before each assignment was due. Most importantly, I would remember to call home more than once a week. Parents have a hard time letting go. If you think about it, they were the ones who raised you the last eighteen years, and now all of sudden you are leaving them. I would definitely be more sensitive to my parents as they struggled to trust that I would be okay on my own. They love me so much, and I should have done a better job of loving them back, and taking the time to let them know I care.

I would take even more AP classes, especially science classes, to prepare me for the college courses I have elected to take. I would also take more spanish to prepare me for the language classes at the university. I would listen to my mother and father about applying for scholarships rather than hanging out with my friends all the time. I would also have taken more classes at college during high school, and volunteered more of my time for charitable work.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I would first tell myself to get into better study habits as well as getting into a good sleeping schedule since most of my first semester was filled with just staying up late and studying for classes. I would also tell myself not to stress so much over college as making friends will be very easy because the school is filled with so many different people. My main advice though would be to start taking responsibility for myself more during my senior year because when I transition to college there so many freedoms and responsibilities that it can be a little overwhelming at first.

One of the most important things that I have learned in college is proper time management. I would tell myself as a High School Senior to practice using time wisely and that there is no such thing as a waste of time. Studying in small blocks of time is significantly easier than studying in one large chunk of time such as four hours. Be diverse and join a multitude of clubs. For instance, there is student government (UOSA), Black Student Association, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, and countless others. I have learned quite a bit by stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people. My only regret is that I was not outgoing sooner. It is very important to not stereotype people. I have made friends with people that I would not have been friends with in high school. I could have missed lifelong friends because of closed-mindedness.

I was always motivated to go to college. I knew where I wanted to go and had it all planned. However, I should've been more motivated in applying for more scholarships, loans & financial aide. Also, I would let myself know that you have to become more dedicated to school work than just a few hours night, college homework is a little more difficult than high school.. Otherwise, I'd say relax, have fun & enjoy the time you get at college!

With the knowledge I have acquired during my college experience, there are numerous lessons I would lhave liked to share with myself during my senior year of high school. Perhaps the most important piece of advice would be to soak in every ounce of material that is presented to me, regardless of how petty or unimportant it may seem to be. College is all about a hierarchy of knowledge; you take a lower level class in hopes of acquiring the fundamental concepts needed for the upper level courses. I feel that my younger, slimmer self failed to seize this chance to expand on prior knowledge. History, for example, would have been much easier and interesting for me in college had I taken the time to fully analyze the basics in high school. I instead opted to zone out during early teachings of the First Constitional Convention and the Boston Tea Party, thus making it more difficult for me to properly understand and respect the early beginnings of America. If given the chance, my younger self would be given a crash course in how to use the fundamentals to advance toward even the most complex of problems.

If I had to give myself advice it would be to take more college preperation classes and try to get a head start on some basic general education courses. I would also say to try and get help with my learning disability early to make an easier transition from high school to college.

If I could go back and tell myself what I know now about being in college, I would tell myself not to go into debt for housing supplies. By debt, I am talking about the dreaded credit card. I thought that I wouldn't be able to have enough money to pay for the things I needed (sheets, towels, school supplies, etc.) for moving into housing. But if I could go back I would've bought them gradually, like I'm doing now.

As a high school senior, I was in advanced placement classes, two choir classes, and volleyball in and out of school. I was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Needless to say, I was busy. I was forced to be extremely organized and manage my time perfectly, or I wouldn't get everything completed. This also left me little time for friends and relaxation, leaving me constantly stressed and pressured. If I could travel back in time to talk to myself, I definitely would tell younger me to relax, meet people, and make as many friends as possible. I spent the first six weeks of the semester stressing and trying to be the perfect college student that I forgot I was also there to have a little bit of fun. Some of the friendships I acquired from one semester helped me make A's in my classes and fit is definitely easier to study with a buddy. These new friends also helped me relax when I needed to get my mind off of the school work. Friends can truly go a long way and make college easier!

I would tell myself to start strong in all your classes. I made the mistake of not studying enough the first half of my semester and therefor I had to work very hard the second semester. I would let myself know that by doing so, I would still be able to have a social life. Managing my time is the key to success.

If I could go back and talk to myself during my senior year the one thing I would have stressed on myself would have been to not cling so closely to one friend. Throughout my four years in high school, and my senior year especially, I attached myself to one person who I thought was the only one who could be my best friend. When it was time to go our seperate ways it made things really difficult. If I could change things I would have embraced the many other great friends I had around me instead of setting my focus on just one, because you just can't do that in college. A big part of college is making new connections, and I wish I would have realized that sooner.

I knew college was going to be expensive but I do not think I ever realized how expensive. In high school I looked for and applied for a few scholarships. I did not look hard enough though. My money for school is starting to run out, I began looking for more scholarships. The problem is though I am having a hard time finding scholarships for collage freshman. It seems that there are a lot of scholarships for high school seniors and every collage age but freshman. If I were to go back into time I would tell myself of my upcoming financial problems and tell him about all of the scholarships I have found that are available only to high school seniors. I would also tell myself about the specific class that I had problems with my first semester in collage that way he would be able to study for it and be prepared before he got there. Being able to go back in time could really help me prepare myself for collage now that I have been through my first semester and have advice to give myself.

Hey Ayssia, how are you doing? I've come to let you know one major secret about college and that is do not stress! College is super fun and exciting and there are new adventures everyday but the key to success is not to stress. I can not stress that enough,knocks on wood. There are three things other than not stressing, that will help you have a successful as well as enjoyable first semester of college. These include taking everything one day at a time, organization, and getting that demon called procrastination off your back. I know its hard but you can do it trust me I know. I know your probably worried about living away from home for the first time. Well let me tell you its easier than you think. With no parents nagging you to do your homework or to clean your room you will most likely feel like your on a super getaway. Let me tell you; however, dont overdo it. These same joys can be your downfall. So one last thing before I go Don't worry, be happy!

I would tell myself to focus on school and finish my high school career strong. Focus on earning a high grade point average, so you can get more scholarship money. Work on study habits and get everything in order early to guarantee academic success. I would make sure once I got to the University of Oklahoma I would focus on school, and let making friends and socializing come in its own time.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. I didn't know many people that were going to my college from highschool and I worried about that, but I made amazing friends quickly after I arrived. I would tell myself to be ok with going potluck for a roommate because it was going to work perfectly and we would turn out to be best friends. I would tell myself to just relax, make the most of my life, enjoy everything that comes at me, not to worry about the little things, and most of all, that everything happens for a reason. College is meant to be a fun time where you mature into a responsible adult, preparing to enter the workforce, and its good to be involved in many things there. I was so nervous going into it that I almost made myself sick; but I really had nothing to worry about. I wouldn't change my college experiences for anything. It's been so amazing so far, and I can't wait to see what comes next. I wish I could go back and tell my highschool self that it would turn out that way.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to focus. Senior year is often a time of fun and getting ready to venture to a new world. If i knew the changes that i would be making i would have been better prepared. I would tell my highschool self to develop better study habits. I would let myself know that everything does not ride on a few missed points; it is okay to relax sometimes. College is serious, but not enjoying life leads to unhappiness. I would also tell myself to spend more time with my parents and siblings. With the rush of college, parents usually feel left behind. I would involve my mom in searching for schools and let her be a bigger part in my "growing up" process. I respect and love my parents and making them feel as comfortable as possible with my leaving would make me the happiest. I believe that I made many 'right' choices senior year and there is little i would change. The biggest thing i would tell myself is to get pumped up for college; it is such a fun experience!!

Hey! I am you from the future here to give you some advice about college. Seriously. Just be quiet and listen. Okay, the first thing you need to know is that what everybody has been saying is accurate--you do need to study and read a whole lot more. Also, when choosing your roommate(s), try to choose someone who likes to wash dishes because if you don't, the dishes tend to stack up in the sink and get smelly. If you can, try to get out of living in the dorms; they are cramped, expensive, and you have to share a bathroom with three other guys. Buy a nice laptop that you can afford. This will come in handy when researching for and writing papers, which are activities you will be doing quite often. When selecting a major, make sure do some research first, such as reading course descriptions, talking to other students or alumni, and discovering what scholarships/grants are available for that major. Since you want to study medicine, start volunteering now. Through volunteering, you will discover others' perspectives that will enrich your own and help to develop your character. Keep learning Spanish. Eat more vegetables.

I would tell myself that I need to learn to manage my time with school and friends so that I do not slack off in study sessions.

If I went back and talked to myself as a high school senior, I would have advice for myself about classes. The required classes for all majors are not good at the University of Oklahoma. These classes included history, art forms, and political science. I would suggest to myself to take them at a community college before entering OU. The classes would be smaller at a community college and I would have learned more! Also, if I took the classes at a community college, I would have saved myself money. I entered college with my best friends from high school. I would tell myself it is great to keep those friends but also find more friends too. The first semester I stuck with my high school friends and I didnt venture out to meet other people compatable with me. Since first semester, I have made many friends, but it was harder to find them after the first semester.

Senior year is definitely not the time to slack off. I made the mistake by slacking off and not putting much thought into my studies. Sure, friends are important and seem to be all your senior year revolves around, but truth is that they aren't going to be there to help you with your studies once in college. I wish I would have focused more on studying and made it a habit to have a certain amout of time to study so I would be more prepared. If you have the chance definitely take concurrent or AP classes. These will help you get ahead, just make sure you are focused when taking these. These classes are the base for higher level classes so make sure you understand and grasp the information. Overall I just wish I would have focused on school more and preparing for the classes in college.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would inform myself that it is important to start really studying now. I never had to study in high school because there just was not much need. My classes were fairly simple and I rarely had homework. This mindset, however, did not prepare me for college. I had to teach myself how to intently and intensely study and do homework for the first two years of college. It took a while to really grasp it. I feel as though if I had practiced this skill in high school, my first few semesters of college may have been less stressful. I would also let myself in on the secret of budgeting and saving money. In high school I had no idea how much money college was going to cost me and how I ultimately was going to be in charge of handling all of those finances, both school related and personal. I wish I had known how to save then because now I am tight for money and it can be very stressful. College is more expensive than you think.

As a high school senior I remember being extremely excited to open a new chapter in life. I remember being anxious about essentially taking the first steps to starting my career, but I was most excited about leaving home to start a new more independent life. Now that I have completed over two years in college, I know that my priorities we a little off back then. If I could go back in time to give myself some advice about college, the first thing I would stress is ?school first, social life second.? Many freshman come in thinking it will be easy to juggle their new social life and class work, but it is a lot more complex than people think. College work and high school work are on two different ends of the learning spectrum. If I could go back in time I would tell myself to be prepared mentally and physically for the work load that was to come, and never underestimate my classes. Last but not least, I would tell myself to go in to my freshman year with a higher level of confidence. If you work hard and believe you will attain success; you will.

There is so much to say about the transition. If I can go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would discipline him in a heartbeat about preparing for college. A transition is expected going into college, but a very vague one. The distractions, transition and procrastination will throw many freshman off track. The number of distractions in college is uncountable. Having the freedom to go to sleep, have fun and do whatever is too care free. My first advice is to discipline yourself from all the interruptions that is pulling you away from getting that A. My second advice is knowing how to handle the transition. In high school, you attend the same classes and turn in homework for those classes on a day to day basis. In college, the classes are spread apart throughout the week, thus giving you time in between to do your homework. But the problem is, you don't finish due to the activties and distractions involve. My third and most important advice is to never procrastinate! That means, submit your FAFSA asap because it is a first come first serve deal and apply for scholarships right now.

I would tell myself to quit being lazy and put some more effort into my school work and sports. Now that I know which classes I needed to have, I would have made sure that I tried to take the hardest classes I could take to prepare myself for college. If I would have done better in high school, I would've been able to got straight to the college I wanted to attend without having to transfer courses from another institution. Also, if I would've had better grades, I wouldn't need to worry about applying for this scholarship, because I probably would have received better/more financial aid.

Why, hello, me-from-the-past! How's senior year coming? Let me tell you something. You're going to look at several colleges that you've kind of had your eye on for a while, and you're going to be pretty interested in each of them, until you move on to the next newer, shinier one. Here's a hint. Check out colleges that you never thought you'd go to. Talk to people with similar interests who attend there. Visit. And not just the tour-de-campus with the paid tour guide. Spend the weekend with your buddy in the dorm. Try the food! Because, you see, I was you, and I never in a million years thought that I'd go to the school where I am now, and yet, here I am, and I love it. So step outside that little box you built around yourself and check out something different. Oh, and also, apply for more scholarships! I know they're boring, but me-from-the-future's going to go broke trying to fix our mistakes. Ok, I gotta go. See ya later! Or, rather, you'll see me later. In the mirror.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior after going through my first year of college I would say that college is a lot harder than people tell you it is but, it's not impossible. The most important thing is to use time wisely. I'd tell myself to be more out spoken in class and to ask more questions. Teachers really do want to help in any way possible. Lastly, I would say keep being yourself.

I would have taken the ACTs more so that I could have gotten a better score to enter the college with a little more scholarship money. Learn about more scholarships and get them finished on time or earlier so that I could get an early disembursement in the future. Study more for AP tests so that I don't have to take classes over and over again. Understand more about GPA and grades so that I could have concentrated better in the future. Don't procrastinate or be lazy.

I would tell myself that college is nothing like high school. You have to focus more on your academics then you did in high school. Course content and the way instructors will grade you is much harder. It would be best to choose a major, and stick with it. I would use your freshman year to figure out what you are interested in, and then declare a major. College also makes you change your lifestyles. You may be staying up late studying for exams while eating a late night snack in the student union. You have to be able to set your priorities straight. You must decide if succedding in school is more important than work. Fillout all the scholarship applications that you can, then you will not have to work to pay for college and you can focus on your academics. Your parents do not have the money to send you to college, so you need to work hard on saving money in high school and getting all of the scholarships available. You are a smart person, but remember that college is a new experience and will prove to be challenging in it's own ways. Achieve your goals.

Take time to relax. Of course you must study and make great grades but you can't kill yourself over studying and bad grades. There is always time to get help and study more. You need to study like crazy and figure out how to study: take study courses. You WILL have to study in college, it wasn't easy like in high school. Don't eat twizzlers and keep going to the gym- it's your stress reliever. Be yourself, have fun, make friends, don't be shy. There are many pressures in college, don't give in. Keep your faith and know that God is always with you. :)

Choose your college carefully. The decision should be based on your career goals not strictly on the college, so think carefully about what you want to do before choosing a school.

All I would tell myself is to take more initiative to fill out as many college scholarship applications as possible. Financial aid is not a significant source to rely on. Also work harder on grades. National Merit Scholars at my school get their education paid for...this would make financing school so much easier!

To try harder in school my freshman year, and not get caught up in being free.

Trust your instincts, and trust yourself to make the right decision. I had a scholarship offer to go to a smaller school. No scholarship offer from OU. But I knew OU would be the better choice for me. So I took out loans to go to OU. It was the right choice for me. Maybe I would have been better off financially by going to the smaller school. But I knew I wanted to go to a large university to take advantage of all it has to offer. So trust your instincts to make the decision in the first place, and then continue to trust your instincts that first year. You will have a lot of changes and a lot of decisions to make. You will usually make the right decision. And the best thing about college is that if you didn't make the right decision the first time, you can try another path. Trust yourself and you will enjoy yourself.

I would tell myself to appreciate family time and home-cooking more, because college food and being on your own is completely different than always being with family or friends, and always having food ready for you or available whenever you want it. I would tell myself to take high school more seriously and to study more, because although I made a 4.3 GPA in high school, I hardly ever studied, therefore I had to learn studying skills when I came to college, and had I already been practicing this, it would have been easier to adjust and manage my studies during my first year of college. I would tell myself to ask my counselors in high school how to apply for scholarships, grants, and loans so that I would know how to do these things if I needed to as I do now.

Research the school throughly. Be prepared to struggle, but never lose faith in what you're doing. Enjoy it because it's not going to last.

Be more prepared.