Utah Valley University Top Questions

Okay, I'd pull myself aside and after the initial shock of seeing myself, I'd tell myself: Don't give up. Don't give in. Get to it. College is a whole new ballgame and unlike highschool, where you have to go and you have to do all these things, here, it's all up to you. You have to be determined and ready to do what it takes. I dropped out of college, there was a lot of things on my plate, and that's the worst decision I've ever made. Get in college and go with it. See where it takes you. You don't have to understand WHY things are the way they are sometimes. Just do it because that's what is important. You need this education to become what and who you want to be. Don't let it slide. Yes it's hard. Yes teachers can be mean and sometimes VERY opinionated. Roll with it.

When the subject of school is brought up, so many different emotions run through my head. There is happy, sad, annoyed and stressed. I love school because I love the atmosphere of my school and the people that are in it. I am sad because I know I will be leaving shortly. I get annoyed because of all the drama that comes along with high school. I of course get stress because of the work that comes along with it. I will be graduating with my Associates degree so my high school experience is very different from everybody else's. If I could go back in time and talk to myself, the first thing I would say is, "relax." To many of us freak out about school. When we get to stressed we end up getting less done then if we were not stressed at all. Also the transition into collage is not as hard as you would think. Personally I think they way I did it was the easiest, because it was a slow transition. By doing collage in high school it also saved me time and money. Thank you for your time and reading my application. -Alexis Laws

As I think back to my college career so far, I find that I started off great keeping up my 4.0 and impressive attendance record, but am finishing off with less interest in my education. However this is most likely due to the fact that I am currently finishing up my general education classes. Therefore if I could talk to myself before the transition happened, I would encourage me in keeping up my best efforts regardless of the required classes dwindling my interest in school. I would also encourage myself to get more involved in campus activities so I felt like more of a part of my school. Lastly I would tell myself to save more money and apply to more scholarships. College education is expensive and I am beginning to struggle with getting the bills paid. Overall I am somewhat pleased with my experienve so far. Education is vital and I look forward to actually getting into my major next semester.

Hey! Karen! I know you hate school, and I don't blame you for that. High school is pretty lame. Most of the teachers treat you as if you need constant supervision, when what you really need in order to succeed is teachers who trust you. I know Mom and Dad are breathing down your neck, trying to force you to do homework. None of those things are pleasant, but it gets better, I promise. I know everyone says that, but it really is true! In a few years you?ll have some experience under your belt and you?ll know what you want to do with your life. Believe me, that makes a huge difference! Remember Morton and Duycinck? Think of the reasons you loved their classes. You can find professors like that in college, and you can choose them yourself! There?s an awesome website where you can see what other students think of professors at your school. It?s pretty accurate, and you can search for the personality types that YOU do well with. Even math isn?t so bad once you have purpose to your schooling. It gets better. Just trust me.

As a high school senior, I thought I knew more than I really did. I thought I was prepared for the real world, most of my preperation was watching the real world on television, little did I know that was nothing like the real world. As I prepared to go on to college, I was unsure about anything and even though I knew the person in charge of helping students and even work as an assistant for her, I personly never went to her for help. I never asked her for help or advice; I never asked anyone for help to be quite honest. I am not sure why, maybe it was a deep insecurty that I wasn't worthy of it.

You are getting ready to embark on the rest of your life, it's going to be difficult at times, but don't give up. Think about what you want to achieve in your life and then find out what you have to do to accomplish those goals. Don't let anyone else tell you it's not realistic, or you may not have what it takes to get through college and those tough classes. Study each day outside of your classes and don't try to cram it all in to the last week of the semester. Remember we learn line upon line; if we try to learn information all at once we most likely won't retain it. Get to know your classmates and form study groups with them, you can be a great support to each other. When you are feel scared and afraid of this new life and it's challenges, look around you; most likely you are not alone in the way you feel. Try not to get side-tracked from your goals, but if this happens do not quit. Our dreams and goals are always worth fighting for when they make us better.

Get involved in as many activities as you can and meet as many people as you can, but manage your time wisely so you get your studying done too! You won't do well in school if you aren't well balanced both educationally and socially. Find time to exercise and eat right too!

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have let myself know that boys come and go, as do friends and parties but that education is for life. I would have encouraged creativity and assertiveness. Creating anything of worth (i.e. something that helps you look at yourself and other people in a better light) shapes character and in that way we, ourselves are being created through our own efforts. In the same light, asserting our will positively gives way to opportunity for progression. Gandhi once said "Learn as if you were to live forever". I believe that it is possible to learn without being enrolled in school, however I have found it to be an invigorating and exciting thing to be able to share and hear ideas from teachers and peers. I have every intention of following the advice of that great leader previously quoted. If I were able to speak to a younger me, I would have shared this love of living and learning and hoped with all my strength that my enthusiasm might have persuaded a young girl to be actively involved in her own education.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say so much, especailly being that I moved halfway across the country my senior year. I would strongly advise myself to take any and all concurrent enrollment classes that I possibly could instead of taking an easy ride until graduation. By taking these classes it cuts back on college time, and it also will save quite a bit of money. I would also tell myself to be social, make more friends, have fun, truly enjoy life, and prepare myself for the "real world." I would highly advise myself to apply for every scholarship that I possibly could. Having college paid for would make such a difference. The biggest advice I would give myself is to be decisive, make up my mind on a college, set my dreams in place and go for them without holding back. I have one chance at life, and college is one of the biggest decisions, so I wished I would have gone into it much stronger. By going into it strong I could have truly been ready for anything that was coming my way.

I would just have to say when the going gets tough get going. You will never make anything of yourself if you don't try. Then again don't work too hard, because you will never enjoy what you are doing. Just continue to learn and grow and that is all that really matters.

I would hope to be able to go back to the beginning of my senior year. I'd sit myself down and say: "look Todd, you feel like your life is a complicated mess, and everyone is ahead of you in the progress towards a future. You've allowed the world to convince you that aside from your great talents, you're not good enough. These thoughts are absolutely false. They're a trick and it's trying to make you too afraid to try. That everything that is good is unattainable and everything that is bad is knocking on your door. You've been a victim of this trick, it's caused you to hide. Let me drowned out these thoughts by telling you this. There is a surplus of opportunity, education, expreiences, and money to do it all. Begin now by talking to your councelor about scholarship opportunities. Start taking dual enrollment classes. Set yourself up financially so that you can focus on school and do your best. If you will do the work neccessary and not doubt yourself then there's a lot of people out there that are willing to help you succeed in school.

If I could go back to my senior year, I would take college more seriously, I would try and get into a college sooner with scholarships. The college experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity and scheduling classes should be done with a predetermined major in mind. When classes are all registered and learning is available, take advantage of that great opportunity, because learning is the best thing to do when in college. Talk to the advisors to help keep on track, try to keep the goal in mind without skipping in and out of different classes, try not to change majors much and school will finish more quickly without non- credit classes on the transcipts. Be sure to go to class, have fun and take advantage of everything involved with college life.

As a high school senior I thought I ruled the world. I took care of my hard classes my previous years, and it was time to play. I transferred out of my hard classes such as College Prep English. I made my classes a breeze, and I only attended them enough to receive the good grade. I wasn?t there to learn, I was there to finish up what I had started. As I look back, I regret that mindset immensely. I wasted my time; I should have taken concurrent enrollment or stayed in my college prep classes. If I were to do this, I would be ahead in college. That way I would be able to graduate sooner. I was thinking for the moment, not my future. I didn?t realize I could actually start my college credits while I was still in high school. If I could go back in time I would tell my self just that. To get a jumpstart on my college credits, and not waste my time with useless classes.

I would tell my self to try harder. College to me is the biggest experience i think anyone can encounter in their life. It sets you up for so many great things. I have never heard someone say the wish the DIDNT go to college. I would tell my senior self to keep going and take the high road every where you go. Its the best way to get you where you really want. Everyone wants to succeed in life and be successful, but only a few of us really strive to be those people. I believe i am one of them. Being a strong woman, making something out of my self at only 18 is a big accomplishment. I only want to keep going up from here. Things only get better from getting through that senior year of high school. Its time to make my life wonderful!

The world demands youth to be prepared (physically, emotionally, financially, mentally, etc.) for the future at a tender young age. Even though as a high school senior, it is oftentimes difficult to see beyond the next day, it is crucial to develop perspective and to realize that life is a gift that should not be wasted. To fully succeed in univesity life it is important to know, as early as possible, who you truly are and what brings you personal fulfillment, so you can tailor your decision making around that knowledge and minimize lost time and poor decisions. Don't be afraid to chase dreams and be disciplined enough to be prepared to do it alone, if need be. Realize that each decision has a ramification, which can be good or not so good. Make decisions that will build a pathway to happiness and success.

If I could tell my High School self about college life, I would first of all tell him that socially, college is a lot like High School except everyone has less money and they don't have a curfew. As for the courses, I would tell myself to remember to do my homework and not procrastinate. College, I've found is much less stressful when you get your homework done as soon as possible instead of at the last minute. Finally, I would tell myself that, yes, college can be difficult, but it's nothing that I can't deal with and I should jump in and be excited.

Listen to and respect your teachers, parents, and those who have been there already. Don't stress out. Attend your classes. Ask for help, and directions. Social life is important, but don't let it get in the way of your education. Get your assignments done on time. Take time for school even if you only do a couple of classes at a time. A couple of credits a semester is better than none. Don't drop out of classes the first few weeks, stick it out, it pays. In short, do what is asked of you (and what you signed up for) and school won't be a problem.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. I remember stressing over the little details, but since then I've learned that it's not as bad as you think. It may be a challenge, but it's nothing that can't be handled. It may be different, but it's nothing that can't be learned. I realize now that despite what I may have thought, there is always more time. Granted you don't want to waste the time you DO have, and it is good to have at least some idea of what you want. But if things don't work like you plan, it's nothing to completely stress yourself out over. You have time, you have options, and things will work out as long as you stick to it. Just remember that changes happen, challenges come, and the unexpected is always around the corner. But overall, there's no real need to worry, because life is good.

I would tell myself to stay more organized, to take school much more seriously, and to not be so concerned about my social life and how it isn't so important to figure out where you fit in. There will always be a place where you will fit in.

Well, unfortunately I was never a high school senior- having never had that opportunity. However, could I return to myself at that age I might tell myself to really focus. Get things together now before they get in the way of your future. Study harder at the things you love. Start looking ahead at who you want to be, and where. Make time for the future now. Everything else will fall in line- but your future you have to make.

The way that my schooling is I am in college and a highschool senior at the same time, so I can't exactly tell my "real" self, my self in this time, what to know about college transitioning.

Being a senior in high school, you don't know what will be expected of you as you transition into a college or university. Some great advice I wished I could tell every high school student is to use your time wisely in high school. I know most kids just want to have fun in high school and that is important but you must realize that you are there to get an education and to become prepared to be a college student. What I felt helped prepare me in high school was taking appropriate classes such as concurrent enrollment courses. You get college credit before you even reach college. It helped prepare me for higher level classes rather than regular high school courses. It advances you so much! I was able to start my first year of college as a sophmore which honestly saved me thousands of dollars. The classes I took were very beneficial and helped me get a head start on my general education (required courses). High school is a time of growing and learning but make sure you don't just mess around, take important classes, it will help transition you for your college experience.

After high school follow your persuit to going to the comminity college, continue your persuit to go on a mission but after your mission apply to some colleges in Utah and stay with one major! try not to switch it around so much and finish a degree so that you can go to a graduate school and be done with school by the time you are 27. apply for all the scholarships you can right now so that you can have money for school. Don't waist your time with taking a break from school to go work. Use the summer time to make your money. (note to self) don't do the door to door sales selling security systems you wont make enough, If you do want to do it try selling pest control for the experience you will make more money doing that. Find every oportunity of service that you can and involve yourself into everything that you can. Make yourself known Jared and things will come to you!

I would have tried out more things that interested me as well as learned more about different job options in areas that I was drawn to. This would have helped me learn more about myself and potential careers. I now know that there are so many degrees and jobs and careers out there, and I've learned that I can be anything I want to be.

"Oh my gosh girl, go and get involved! School's not going to be worth it unless you go and get yourself involved with activities, clubs, and the people! You need to talk to people and flirt with boys and go on dates with people your age! Yes you're involed with colorguard and you have a job and homework, but you're going to be depressed and lonely if you don't get out of your comfort zone and do things!

School can be fun when you engage yourself and do the work. Also do the work on time so that you have time to relax and meet new people. College is fun once you know that you can do your work and then go and hang out with other people. Stressing too much will make it not enjoyable. Stress to the point that you get your work done, but after that don't freak out. Life should be fun so make your school work fun too. Switch things up like form a study group and don't just go to class and sit there and never talk. Involve yourself with the class and it will be a lot more enjoyable for you. Don't be afraid to talk to the professors about your concerns because they have gone through what you are going through now. My best advice is to be involved and have fun!

I would take college classes in high school to help me with the transition and to reduce the cost of college education. I would work hard to graduate before starting a family, because it is difficult to go back to school with a family.

If I could go back to being a high school senior i would have cared more for my grades and not put little effort into it because its my senior year. I would tell myself that keep your head high if you think that you can do it then you can just believe in yourself and dont be afraid to ask for help. Study groups are way helpful even if you feel like you know the subject matter you still will learn things that you may have forgotten. College is fun and know that you are paying for it not anyone else so do your best! If you can get envolved in the schools activites you will meet people who not only become friends but will be there to help you through school.

I would totally go back and give myself advice. One of the things that I would tell myself is to take more credits that count for college, this helps you progress in school at a quicker rate as well as helps save you some money. College is expensive these days and a decent education is needed in today's society. I would also tell myself to join more clubs and to be involved in more things within the school. Joining clubs would enhance a high school education because when your life is balanced with education and a social life then you are able to learn and enjoy more. I enjoy helping others so I would tell myself to take all of the service opportunities I could. Service not only helps others but it helps you to be more understanding of others in this world. There are many people that you are going to be working with, within your chosen career, that you don't get to choose. Serving others will open up your eyes and help you to like differences within people. I have learned to adapt to roommates while in college and that has helped me see differences.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior there are many things I would say to myself. I would say to study better, stay in school and get a bachelor's degree, watch what you eat better, and get plenty of exercise. First I would say to do my school work and study better. Working hard to get better grades would have helped me tremendously. Next I would tell myself not to take a break from school. My husband and I wanted a break from school. My husband and I never did go back until now, 19 years later. We have struggled financially and I owe it all to not getting bachelor's degrees. I would also tell myself to eat healthy. I started to pack the pounds on in college and never have lost them, only kept gaining them. Last I would say to get plenty of exercise. It helps to keep the extra pounds off. Dealing withschool is difficult but it would have been easier nineteen years ago then it is now with 4 kids at home to deal with while going to school.

I would tell myself that I should study harder in high school and take some other courses that would help prepare me for my college experience. I would try to convince my past self that I needed to aquire better study habits so that I could have a funner and more filling experience at the University of Utah Valley

Pay attention! High school may seem easy and inconsequential at times, but it is the spring board to the rest of your life. Especially in your junior and senior years be sure to participate in class discussions and ask teachers for feedback on your work if necessary. Also, do not pick a college based on where your friends are going (although that is not a complete bone-head decision) but rather choose a college based on what you want to focus your studies on and what you want to do with the rest of your life. You can make new friends. In addition, please do not opt out of college because of a boy or a "really good" job. Education is the most important thing in your life. It will be one of the only things that will provide you with a successful future. No matter what the future holds, an education will always be a great decision.

When I look at where I am at now and where I wanted to get to, I never thought I would end up at a school that just barely earned it's right as a university unlike the well known college I wanted to get to. As I was applying for different schools they ask how i participated and got involved in high school, that goes for scholarships as well. When i took the ACT I didn't study and I Was not able to get the best score I was capable of. If I could tell myself one thing when I was in high school it would be to get involved and do the best that I can do. You don't want to be limited to what you can and can't do in your future because you didn't do as good as you could have done in high school..

I would start out by telling myself just to just be myself because it doesn't matter how other people see you, life is about the choices you make and how you see yourself and what you can personally become. I would also tell myself to be more responsible with my money because college is expensive and debt can and should be avoided. I would tell myself to not look towards the end of each semester, but to enjoy each day and each experience as it comes. You don't want to look back and realize you didn't enjoy great experiences because you were just waiting for them to end. I would tell myself to grab each opportunity available and get every experience that I can. I would tell myself to network with others because you never know when you will need some extra help. I would tell myself to hold on to my best friends because they will be your family when you are away from home. I would tell myself to keep in close touch with my family because they will always be there to lift you up and support you when you need it the most.

Carl, Look at you life outside the box. Find those things that make you enjoy life and not just move through it. Take time to study the degrees offered at your school of choice and find the one that will truly make you happy and enjoy.

To take my classes more seriously, because then I wouldn't have had to repeat some of those core classes in college. Also, to take advantage of the extracurricular activities they offered during high school. It's a very good idea to learn and perform study habits and seek help from counselors. Stay focused on completing an assignment to the end, and use your best efforts to do well on that assignment.

get stuff done early!! get scholarship apps in faster then what you have been doing! that way you might actually get something worth going to school for!!

I would remind myself to "stay the course". One of my favorite movies is THE PATRIOT, in the movie when the main character's son dies, he is reminded to "stay the course". He takes up the flag that his son died for - the cause of the new American Republic. I began college and completed two years, then I lost the course. I have since found it again-- but I have lost so much time in my life without a college degree. I would tell myself (1) You are not alone - there are other students like you struggling to make it (2) don't worry about finances (3) always look for scholarship opportunities and apply for every scholarship possible (4) look for work opportunities on-campus, work-study. etc. (5) always remember your GOALS (6) stay close to your family, keep those ties strong, tell them your ups and downs, and they will sustain you (7) do your best, do not settle for less than what you can do (8) your teachers can serve as your mentors, look to them for guidance (9) this is a time of great discovery, don't be afraid (10) STAY THE COURSE.

Go to a local college or university. Do not take out student loans. No matter what school comes first.

Work harder!

If I could go back in high school I would definately to tell myself to pay more attention. I didn't get the best grades in high school and that has really hurt my college choices and scholarship options. I would say take the ACT! Also to not waste my time with friends that aren't there for me. I would tell myself to keep my family close, and to find a really smart girl to marry.

I would have worked harder to get my associated before i graduated so i could accomplish my goal of having a bachelors sooner.

I would have given myself the advice to start being more self reliant and dedicated, because no one is going to take you by the hand and walk you through college life, its you and you alone that will get the good grades and mold your own future.

Talk to financial aid first before spending loads of time applying for hit and miss scholarships online...

I went to a high school where the main focus was to send every student to college, so all of the teachers knew what advice to give, and exactly how to prepare us for not only the transition, but for the entirity of our college career. Because of this, there is not any piece of advice that I could give myself that hadn't already been given to me by my teachers, sometimes several times over.

If I could go back I would most likely advise myself to take english class more seriously, explore my college options more, and stick with my initial carrer choice. I would first tell myself to focus on my writing skills through english courses. I have found that good writing skills is an essential element to almost any career choice. I would most likely have chosen to take extra courses above and beyond the required amount. Second on the list, I would advise to explore all my college options. When I was decideing on a future school I had a limited list. I did not take into account what my future career would most likely be. I had great ACT scores and exceptional grades and could have attended really good school but I did not search information out and my path has been longer becasue of it. Last of all, I would have advised to go with my first instinct in career choice. I arrived to college as a pre-law major and found out what that it would take at least 7 years to complete all the schooling and I decided on something else and have since returned to Law.

I would tell myself that college is something to look forward to. I would want to help me understand that the more positive and excited I am about going to college the easier it will be to transition. I now have a greater appreciation for college and I have learned that it is no longer busy work that I am doing; it is real meaningful experience. I would love to help my past self understand that concept. If I had the knowledge that college institutions are tools at my disposal rather then a necessary step in life I would have found it easier to dig right in. If I could go back in time I would have let my self know that college will help direct me in a career path I love and get me excited about living my life.

Have a good idea of what area you which to study, and work more steadily in that area. Electives are fun, but don't get too distracted. Talk to your department scheduling advisor and find out which classes are essential, and which order to take them in. Get involved in extra-curricular activities. Make friends. Make time for an intership or two.

My high school was focused on one thing: prepare every student for college. This meant that all of our regular classes were as focused and rigorous as any standard college class. I recieved all sorts of wonderful advice about college life and how to transition and succeed. Because of this advice, and training, I do not have any advice for myself that my instructors didn't already give me.

I would tell myself that college is very different than what you think it is going to be. Do not be intimidated, stay focused on what you want to accomplish. You will take on more resonsibility and college requires more time than high school. Putting off homework untill the last minute makes getting things done harder than they should be. Scholarships are very helpful when it comes to paying for school. Do not be affriad to ask questions to better understand the information. Take time to slow down and take it all in.