University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

Attending the University of Pittsburgh has brought me so much more than I could have imagined when first coming here freshmen year. Already as a sophomore, my life has taken a completely new direction from my experiences here, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned so much about myself and about the world around me. I have been exposed to problems in the world that I was not previously aware of and I have been motivated to make it my life's work to do what I can to help. My freshmen year I got involved with a campus volunteer organization called FORGE (Facillitating Opportunities for Refugees Gaining Empowerment) and through my ESL tutoring of local refugees I have decided to spend time abroad and eventually become an ESL teacher. Pittsburgh is a fascinating place. It is a city, but one in which seems so much more livable and accessible than other large metropolises. There are so many gems surrounding oakland, and each neighborhood has something unique to offer. It is definitely a college city and the abundance of students makes it a fun environment extremely conducive to growth academically and socially.

I attended college back in 1994, I never finished, die to not enough funds. I want to go back to college to get a Bachelors degree in Grafic Arts here in IdahoFalls Idaho. This is the first time that I have worked towards a Bachelors degree. I am very excited to start attending. I look forward to making this a career.

I think I probably learned more (and matured more) living in a city on my own and going to college than I ever did at home in high school. It taught me how to deal with people and think ahead and plan. Practical, every day experiences are the most important for a young adult to recieve. I don't just mean a well rounded education, that's important too, but I mean things that you have to know about life in order to make one for yourself. There's nothing like learning in a city when you grew up in the suburbs of a town. I feel, wherever I end up in a career, that I at least have what it takes to thrive in whatever environment I am placed.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about this question and wishing somebody had warned me about the things I now know. I was the first in my immediate family to attend college and I am also the oldest. I would, first of all, tell myself to closely look at the requirements of each degree. Some degrees, such as psychology and political science, allow for a lot more freedom in choosing classes, whereas other degrees, such as medical and engineering, have a specific track that you must follow (and these tracks are not easy, and not to be taken lightly). I would also warn myself about study skills that need to be developed early, and I would make it a point to mention that classes go by much quicker than in high school. This means you do not have time to mess around in the beginning. Often, the first tests are the easiest, so you have to study for them so you do not blow it right away. It is much harder to make up missed points later than to allow yourself some room to mess up at the end of the semester when things get much harder.

You can never prepare yourself too much for the level of work at the college level. The most important thing is to prioritize your work, set a schedule for completion of items. Learning to set goals, sticking to a schedule, and developing study habits will make the transition from high school to college work much easier.

Work hard, Plan and get ready to face the world. Also research schools and your chosen career path! Always try and connect the dots.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have changed just about everything. Originally, I decided that I wanted to stay around home and commute to a local university because I was a bit skeptical about being out on my own since I am an only child. Pitt is a wonderful school, but my true dreams and aspirations are in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University. I would absolutely love to study the political science of the American government and become a part of it one day. I never realized how much of a struggle it would be for my parents to put me through college either, so another thing I would have done was apply for as much financial help as I could. I am not a minority, nor am I classified as "poor" in todays society, however, if I had the chance to help my parents with my financial situation I would. I would have changed all of my plans for college, right down to the university in which I attended.

The best advice I could've given myself at 18 is to take a deep breath and to expect changes. When you're in high school, you don't always realize that not everyone is the same as you. The minute that you move into cramped quarters with someone you've just met, you realize very quickly that there are a lot of people in this world and that they all have different habits, values and upbringings, even if on paper they seem very comparable to yourself. It's easy to get frustrated and upset when dealing with people who are different than you, especially when you're living in the same small space, but take a deep breath, and learn to find the humor in the situation. There really is a silver lining in every situation, and if you can manage to find it, especially when dealing with friends and roomates, you'll get much more out of your college experience. It's much more fun to be able to look back at all the laughing you did and all the fun you had than to see a bunch of stupid fights--you only get to do this once!

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior, I would tell myself to take it one day at a time. As a high school senior, I had a lot more on my plate than just the transition into college. My mother was dying of pancreatic cancer. I wanted so desperately to make time stop, because I felt completely out of control. I know this is a feeling that everyone experiences, but I experienced it on a more intense level. I would tell myself to take things one day at a time. I would also tell myself to follow my gut instincts - stick with what I am passionate about. I would reassure myself that I was worth the time and energy I spent trying to figure out my future. Perhaps most importantly, I would stress to myself that I cannot stop time. Thus, I should make the most of the time I did have then. I would tell myself to take advantage of my last months in high school, my last months with my mother, and all the time I had to prepare for college.

I would tell myself to take more chances. I am the type of person that doesn't like to step outside of my own shell and take risks. I would tell myself to put myself out there and challenge myself more. Take the hard classes that really make you think, join the clubs that you would never see yourself doing before. These are the types of things that you will remember when all is said and done, not the boring safe choices you make. I would also tell myself to stop memorizing material for tests because you don't remember what you learned down the line. And what's the point of a college education if you can't even remember what you learned? But, I think most of all, I would tell myself not to forget that my whole future lies ahead of me. Every single day is the next day of your future, and there is always room to grow and change where you are going. Never take this opportunity to become everything you want for granted.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to enjoy my time with my friends. All of my closest friends went to different schools all over the state and some out of state. I now do not talk to them nearly as much as I'd like to and I wish I would have spent more time with them when I had the chance. Of course in college you make new friends, but they never know you like hometown friends do. I also get to see them when I am home for breaks and during the summer, but with work and vacations, that can be difficult too. So while you are still close to them physically and through your friendship, enjoy it! Once college starts, everything changes.

Definitely try new things. When the activities fair comes around, sign up for everything you think you want to try because you can make alot of friends by participation in clubs. Don't wait until the last minute to study! Take advantage of community service opportunities.

As a high school junior, I was very ambitious with regard to which University I hoped to attend. I didn't realize that students need not only ambition and good grades, but also proof of social skills, commonly referred to as extracurriculars. I hadn't participated in any clubs for more than two years, and didn't think it was so important. If I could go back in time I would tell myself to lower my expectations and to pick a couple of extracurriculars and stick with them no matter what. I would tell myself that it's more important to find what I'm really interested in rather than to get into a particular prestigious university. Our society places so much pressure on college students to attend an ivy league or similarly esteemed college that when they are rejected and must accept a different institution, students feel a loss of self-worth. I have learned during these two years in my university not to feel guilty about my choice to study here, and to focus on finding a path that feels right no matter where I am.

As I stroll through the courtyard, a mysterious stranger appears. This strange being lifts her head and I am startled to see my own face before me. But how could this be? Suddenly, this other me speaks. "Hello. I am you, from the future." How much this startled me, I cannot even begin to describe. How could I be from the future? "Listen, Ashley, I don't have much time. I know this must seem weird to you, but I must give you some advice. You may think you have got it made senior year, but you don't. You need to apply for colleges, and apply early! Applying early could mean a larger scholarship. Also, start on scholarships now. You have some great teachers that can write great letters of recommendations, so utilize them. The more money you can get now, the less loans you will have to pay back. Believe me, we have enough loans. Oh, no, the wormhole is closing. Listen, just do what I say, and you won't be nearly as stressed." I pondered this statement as my other self faded away. Should I follow this advice? Let's find out!

I would tell myself to apply to more colleges; especially those with grants and scholarships.

We all wish that we could rewind time and "go back and tell ourselves what we know now." As a college freshman, if I had the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would specifically tell me to apply for as many scholarships as possible no matter how long the essays requirements are. I've always heard about how expensive college is but now that I am experiencing it firsthand I truly understand. As I was applying for scholarships in high school I would skim through the requirements and if it had an extremely long essay or difficult topic to write about I wouldn't apply for that scholarship. I now realize that I shouldn't have been lazy because the couple of hours that it would have taken me to write the essays would have helped me save so much money.

As an incoming freshman, I wasn't sure what to expect or how to deal with living in the dorms, studying for exams, or prioritizing my schedule. When it comes to meeting new people, keep in mind that all of the other freshmen are in the same boat as you. They are nervous and want to make friends just as badly as you do. Open up, socialize, and show them who you are. First impressions are lasting. In your classes, don?t be intimidated by your professor or even by the size of your classes. There are many opportunities available to you if you need assistance whether it?s during office hours, tutoring, or review sessions. Managing your time will be the most difficult task. You?re going to be faced with decisions like whether to go to the party at Sigma Alpha Epsilon or study for your biology quiz and go shopping at the waterfront or attend the chemistry review session. There is always a small cost to making the right decision and it?s often hard to find middle ground. Remind yourself that you are here to learn and make the best of every opportunity you?re given.

I wish I would have looked at schools in other states. At the University of Pittsburgh it seems that a lot of the scholarships go to out of state students, and in highschool I was at the top of my class, with a high probability of getting a good scholarship - just not at Pitt because I'm an in-state student. I only applied to a few schools and all of them were in Pennsylvania, I regret this choice now because of all the loans I have already taken out and thinking about how many I will have to take out in the future makes me sick. Other than that, the University of Pittsburgh is a great school for me and I love this city and the people in it, it just may have not been the best choice financially - and I wish I would have known more about that as a senior in highschool.

Do not worry. There is no need to stress. Yes, college life is a big step; you are on your own, and it is time to embrace more responsibility, but there is no need to worry about succeeding. You will succeed and managing your life is part of the process. You need to work hard, always be ready to step up to a challenge, and be prepared to be on top of things. It might be overwhelming at first, but take one day at a time. Make to-do lists in order to get your priorities straight, even if you have to make a list daily. Stay organized because every little bit of organization helps you to succeed in your classes more and more. Study as often as possible instead of cramming everything together. Most importantly, get help. If you are struggling in a class, stop being stubborn and go get help. Whether it is tutoring, or study groups with friends, get help and learn off your peers. Teaching and helping one another assist in your understanding. Of course, have fun too! Get involved. Cheer on the sports' teams. Have fun with your new, exciting, once in a lifetime experience.

I think that the best advice that I could give knowing what i know now and what I have been through would be to tell myself not to be overly optimistic and to think myself the exception to all of the college stereotypes of transitioning. I had three hell roommates and within the first month of school also broke up with my boyfriend. I wish that I could go back and give myself the sage advice to choose a roommate instead of opting for a random assignment. And I would also advize to reconsider having a highschool boyfriend carry over into college. I wish I could go back to rethink some of the naive assumptions I made about how everything simply works out as long as you believe it will work because sometimes no matter how much you try to control or manipulate a situation, you are unable to determine the outcome.

I explicitly remember being so excited to leave my hometown and experience something new before leaving for the University of Pittsburgh. A new city, new friends, a whole new environment. Teachers and peers always told us that college was an exciting experience and we needed to be prepared for what was to come. If I were able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have stressed the idea that college truly was an entirely different lifestyle. I would have chosen to take more challenging courses in high school and embarked upon more diverse opportunities. The transition from high school to college was difficult for me and mostly all of my friends, as expected. I do not think anyone is truly ready for this experience and one really just has to see for his or herself. I would definitely tell my high school self to work harder and learn more about the college course load and educational topics that I would be exposed to.

If I was able to go back three years to my senior year of high school, I would surely give myself a few wise words of advice. For a start, I would emphasize the importance of reaching out into the community. I did not realize how important and vital community service was until my sophomore year of college, so I wish I would have known to start one year earlier. At this time, I give back to my community on a weekly basis, so hopefully I can make up for that lost time! In addition, I would tell myself to remember to enjoy my time spent at school. During my freshmen year, I tended to spend excessive amounts of time studying and forgot what it was like to have fun, so I would remind myself to relax every once in a while. Lastly, I eventually learned that although my transition to college was fairly smooth, my parents found themselves lonely without me. Knowing this, I would have told myself to visit my mother and father more! Overall, I find much happiness in the college experience, and I greatly appreciate consideration for this scholarship to benefit my future.

I would advise my high school senior self to figure out what my learning style is before I leave for college. Not knowing my learning style before I came to college has really hindered my ability to be the student I know I can be. This uncertainty has left me feeling confused in some classes and being very unsure as to how I should take notes or study in order to remember the most information. My high school self would do well to talk to teachers to figure out and get help on develping an effective learning style..

College is for YOU. Remember that when you go, you must make sure that you are studying what makes you happy. The minute you do something that you dont have your heart into, you will not do it right. So my advice is to do YOU and no one else.

If I could address myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would mention is my younger self's need for help. Making the transition from high school to college was not difficult for me, but learning to deal with the psychological trauma left over from my childhood nearly ended my life. If I had the time and ability, I would advise my younger self to seek the help of the counseling center much sooner- learning to deal with the pain and rage left over from being abused would have made my college experience much more pleasant. After that, I would remind myself that even though high school was a difficult time for me, I no longer had to hinder myself on the expectations from that time period. At college I am free to be myself and need not fear anything other than failing my courses. In addition, I would also tell myself that it is perfectly fine to pursue a career field that does not make a great deal of money- what matters more is my peace of mind and sense of self.

Entering my second semester of college, I really wish I could go back to my senior year knowing what I know now. First of all, everything changes after graduation. I thought nothing would change with my family and friends, but I was completely wrong. No one disappears from your life ? things are just really different and everyone must make adjustments. Going to college is a huge transition that affects every part of your life. I wish I had known to make the most of every moment I had with my friends and family before college. Secondly, I wish I had been more prepared for how much work college really is. I didn?t have to try to do well in high school. In college you must quickly learn to balance the overwhelming amount of work with the newfound freedom of deciding how to spend your time ? especially when your friends are always available and asking you to join them. Most of all, I wish I had begun saving my money sooner. Looking back I wasted a lot of money on things I didn?t need ? money that could really come in handy now as I try to pay for school.

I would tell myself not to try and rush things. That having a set plan of what classes to take and when, them HAVING to be in that order was not true. I would tell myself to work harder at having a balance at work, school, and play, so as not to burn myself out. I would also say, that it's always smarter to wait to go to the first couple of classes before buying your books, to never sell them back to the bookstore, and that you can buy dorm/house products cheaply on craigslist and at the local grocery store. And any unused food can be sold to people on your floor for a small profit. Also, boys are a dime a dozen and to not get caught up in relationship drama or friend drama that would take away from the college experience. I would say seriously look at studying abroad and available scholarships and to remember that I have 2 sisters who've gone through this before me. Use them for advice and not feel like I have to do everything on my own.

College is more important than any schooling you have recieved thus far. It will require more out of you and in order to succeed your going to have to commit yourself as much as possible. This may include having to stay up all night to get a firm grasp on information that may seem trivial and also occasionally having to stay in when everyone else is going out to study. And if you put in enough effort everything will start to make sense sooner and in the future it will take less time. Whatever you do make sure that you don't fall behind in a subject, because it may cause you to fall behind in other subjects in the process of catching up. One of the most important things is to make sure that you are happy. Don't let the work of your classes get you too stressed out. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and make friends in school. Without those things you will make school much more stressful than it needs to be. So just remember, work hard in school and stay happy and college will be the best time of your life.

Dear Senior Me, Stop STRESSING OUT! Youre going to give yourself hypertension with all the worrying you do about college! I know its only a few months away, but I can assure you, everything WILL be alright. Here's a few things to remember: Don't let your guard down. you did wonderfully in high school but college is a different world. You cant coast by and get awesome grades. It's time to crack down and focus. Don't be afraid to ask for help either. Professors can be intimidating but they are there to help if you apply yourself. Don't wait until the last minute. Material covered on exams and projects is much more in depth, so you have to put in more time to earn the grades you want. MAKE FRIENDS! This can be the best experience of your life, and afterall, we all need someone to compliment our craziness. It's practically a year long slumber party, and after all the exams, you'll need the down time, so don't forget to enjoy yourself! Success in all aspects of life needs balance. Be yourself and strive for your dreams! Love, Your older self

I made one mistake after high school and that was staying in my hometown and attending the local university. If i could go back and talk to myself as a senior i would only have one piece of advice. I would tell myself "follow your gut instinct and don't let anyone influence your decisions. Yes, this town is your comfort zone but you're a strong independent person and its time to move onto a bigger pond." If i would have known what i know now, i wouldn't have waited a year and half to finally attend the university of my dreams. The best decision i ever made was switching universities, i just wish i would have done it sooner.

Congratulations, you made it into college! Applying was hard, but there is still so much to do. When packing, pack a little less. While there is room and you will make everything fit somehow, you really do not need as much "stuff" as you think you do. Pack what clothes you like, not what you think will make you fit in with everyone else. Now is the perfect time to branch out and talk to people that maybe you would not have approached in high school. Join clubs that give you something to look forward to when you are swamped with work. Time management is the most important skill you learned in high school. When you use it effectively you can cut stress in half. Form a schedule that really works for you. If you need to go to bed early- do it without worrying what other people will think. Don't think about what a "normal" college student does, you can decide that. Sometimes, you will learn very important things outside of the classroom so take advantage of that. Explore everything around you, talk to people and listen to their perspective, do the best work possible, and find opportunities.

If I could give my high school self advice about how to transition to college life it would be this: be adventurous, outgoing and try things that you haven't done before. As we get older and gain responsibilities we loose many chances to do something different. However, college is the perfect opportunity to gain new experiences. It is the juncture between adolescence and adulthood and as such is the last time in which we can define ourselves. So long as we only live once we should make the most of our opportunity. It is better to regret something you have done than something you have not done.

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would definitely tell myself to be strong and to be patient. Academically, I was well equipped for college. I had no worries and no concerns about the academic challenges about college. However, college has been much more than my classes. Nearly every aspect of my life changed dramatically in positive and in negative ways. In the end, I have learned that college is profound, not because of the classes you take, but because of everything else that you learn outside of your classrooms. College is a place where ones character is truly created. The rest of my life, in a holistic sense, will be positively impacted by the things that I have learned about my major, about myself, about others, and about the world. Knowing what I now know about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself to not fear failure. Be wise and mindful, but try things to gain experiences; everything does not have to have a purpose. Live outside of your comfort zone. Ask for help. Appreciate your family and your friends. And when you feel like giving up, remember where you've come from.

As I have not yet been able to make my college transition, I would advise my old self not to 'count my chickens before they're hatched.' As a senior, I was correct in thinking that I was qualified enough to get into a good school of my choice, but incorrect in my assumptions of how to pay for the phenomenally high and rising costs of a college education. I was deluded in thinking that if I got into a school, the school would help financially, ensuring that I would be able to enroll. If I could, I would go back and tell myself to be more proactive and realistic in my goals, as I have been this past year.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself to apply for more scholarships, because all the money I saved up is not near enough for college expenses. I would remind myself of the shaky economy, and how financial hardships may possibly become greater than expected. I would also reassure myself that the transition from a small town high school to a large university really is not that bad, and that I would do quite well in the process. One thing I would tell myself to improve on is my study habits, because although I may have exceptional time managment skills, a bit more studying could help a big deal in the long run. In the end, I would tell myself to keep up with the work, do the readings, apply for more scholarships, and I will do quite well in the college atmosphere, because the transition is much easier than one would think.

As if I'm talking to myself: First and foremost, have patience, things will appear overwhelming such as the size of the classes. Remember that the professors and TA's are here to assist and help you. They want you to learn and get that A. Spend a significant amount of time on your studies and your work. Getting caught up in socail activities or spending too much time working on other things will only make the college experience that much harder. Having your priorities in order is key to success, when you prioritize the wrong things you will have a very difficult time succeeding. With that said, also don't put too much pressure on yourself, new challenges will continue to come up and the best thing to do is keep your head on straight and take everything in stride. Do your best in every class even if it seems pointless because things will pay off. Don't only keep an open mind but an inquiring mind as well, that searches for the proper understanding to different ideas and concepts. Having patience, focus, determination, and the correct mindset will set you up for a rewarding college experience. Goodluck!

Hello seventeen year old me! I want to offer you some advice for the future of your college career: Study harder, study more often, and use other students to study! These classes will be way more intense than anything you are use to. They happen in 18 weeks versus the 195 days you were use to. Having a part time job will be taxing. You will need to budget your time very well. Be sure to make friends; make a lot of friends. They will be your allies in the years to come. They will become your family, your support group, your moral compass and finally... your competition. Don't fear the competition, you will be stronger for it. And finally, don't buy your text books at the book store. They're much cheaper online. Good luck to you/me! Megan

- Always, ALWAYS, attend class, make sure you study the material, and pay more attention to campus social events and services. This will take you far. - Despite what it might seem like now, Pharmacy is not what you were meant to study. Switch to Geology as soon as you enter, because that will save a lot of money, time, credits, and frustration. Disregard what people say about this decision ("Will you find a job with this?" and such) and research viable career paths. They say this because they don't know much about the degree, so if you inform them of Geology's opportunities, they'll come around and offer support. - If you think that you're not going to do well in a class, drop it immediately and take something else. - Don't screw around and wait until the last possible minute for completing projects. This is bad and will lead to lots of stress. - Accept more opportunities that enrich your degree and resume. It will be beneficial in the end.

Take it from me, going through life without a college degree is very hard, every job that you apply for, requires some kind of college education. And trying to go to college later in life, it doesn't hurt, but why put yourself through that when you can get it done now, and get a good job with your degree, and not struggle, and have your degree to support you and when you have a family, your family. While everything is fresh in your mind, just do it. Your young enough to go for 2 or 3 majors. You can have a good life, and enjoy what you do. Don't procreate, that is one of our biggest down fall, we will let life go right by. I'm 46 and thinking about going back now that my youngest is about to enter her first year, and my husband whose 47 is going online to college, and he likes it sometimes. My advice is, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste", don't throw yours away.

Go to a school that you can afford and don't dick around as much. Your GPA matters; you want to go to grad school.

College is referred to by some as the time of your life. I like to think of it as a fresh start. I wish I would have understood the multitude of opportunities available. Although I became involved early, I wish I would have done more. Each year I pushed myself to become more involved. It?s not that I had more free time in my early years of college, but I just better allocated my time. Grades aren?t as important as they may seem and I wish I would have known that from the start. I spend a great amount of time on school work, but I spend just as much time (if not more) on extracurricular activities. I now understand that your experience and what you learn as a whole is more important and beneficial then what you learn from books. Now my schedule is constructed by things that I enjoy doing and things that teach me what I need to know.

You need to balance your time extremely well between meeting new friends, school work, and other activities. You need to realize that of course it's important to have fun, but also your future is at stake if you do not do well with your academics.

If I could go back to high school and give myself advice in order to prepare myself for my college career, I would tell myself to relax, study, and prepare myself for the long journey to medical school.

I would tell myself not to go to college until I was ready, until I wanted to learn, and once I was there to stick it out. As a transfer student and someone who had been out of college for several years until I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, I discovered that I was not emotionally or financially stable enough to complete college directly out of high school. A friend of mine gave me a piece of advice in my freshman year, just before I had to leave school due to financial reasons. She told me that I shouldn't go to college until I found my hunger for knowledge, until I really wanted to learn. Going to school because you feel that you have to is a good way to end up hating it, and never enjoying yourself or your education.

I would tell myself to start applying to colleges as soon as i could, but more importantly start looking for financial aid. Everything does not just fall into place once you leave high school and that is what impacted my life the most. I would also tell myself to really picture staying at a school for four or more years before deciding to go there. The school i was planning on going to was in the middle of nowhere and had a very small student body. I love being around lots of people and I also love the city. I would tell myself to prepare for a whole new life and a lot of great people and experiences.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice for the future, I would encourage myself to learn to manage my time well. Too often I find myself being distracted by things completely unrelated to school as I am doing my homework, and these constant self-inflicted distractions make everything take more time than is needed. Consequently, I miss out on important things (like sleep) because I spend too much time doing a simple task that could be wrapped up quickly if it were not for the constant distractions. I believe that a good work ethic, and specifically using time well, is something that can only be learned through practice, so if I were able to I would go back and discipline myself to finish all my necessary work before indulging in fun activities or relaxing with friends. Time management is a critical lesson to learn, and one that I am still learning, but the sooner good habits are formed the sooner any committed student will begin to succeed.

I would advise myself to look into more outside scholarships. Don't give up looking for scholarships. They are out there, just hard to find. Don't be afraid of making friends. Get involved in groups right away. Take time to get to know people. Don't be afraid to try something new. Stick to your morals and ideas. Go after what you want.

Senior year is a blow-off. You've worked hard for the past three years, put the time in, already sent your transcripts to colleges. So go ahead, sit back and relax. Enjoy those 4 art classes you scheduled, and if you feel so inclined to skip first period and go out to breakfast on a weekly basis, you've earned it, right? Wrong. It may seem glorious now to feel like you're in the "home stretch," but if you plan on being successful in college, you're nowhere near the finish line. It may seem like a drag to be taking AP calculus when all of your friends are passing on the math classes altogether, but you'll be glad you did when your calculus professor in college is covering the amount of material it took you a year to learn in high school in one month. College is tough, and the best way to prepare for it is to jam-pack your schedule senior year with classes that will sufficiently prepare you. Time management is key in college, so senior year, when you're involved in extracurriculars galore, is a perfect time to test the waters.

Make sure that you do work during the week and in between classes to free up your weekend so you don't feel left out or pressured in classes.

Work hard in high school to set yourself up to do well in college. College isn't a cakewalk, you're going to spend a lot of time in the books but you'll be a better person for it. Have fun and don't regret a thing. This is the best time of your life hands down.