The University of Alabama Top Questions

If I could go back in time to see myself in high school, I would definitely tell myself to calm down. I was so anxious about the transition into college, that it interfered with my enjoyment of high school at times. College has been such a mix of emotions and such a learning experience, that worrying about it would have never helped. There was no way for me to prepare for this experience of college, or prepare to grow up in the ways that I have. I would definitely tell myself not to worry about the future of college. I would tell myself that I would be put into positions that would make me uncomfortable, that I would have to work harder than I ever have, that I would feel alone at times, but that I have a wonderful family and strength that will help me survive, and even enjoy, the college experience.

High school students often have trouble making decisions with their lives. I am currently in my second year attending the University of Alabama and have come to realize that college is nothing like eighteen year old kids graduating high school think it will be. Much advice can be offered to these kids graduating high school, as I know I myself had no idea what to expect upon arrival at the University of Alabama. The main thing I would attempt to portray to myself if I could go back and offer advice would be time management. The University of Alabama offers so many tools to succeed and so many students do not use these tools because of poor time management skills. These extended resources include free tutoring, libraries open 24 hours a day, dedicated academic advisors, professors devoted to their students' success, multiple peer study groups, etc. I would go back and warn myself about how important it is to balance your studies with your social life and how important it is to place an emphasis on academics before anything else. Kids coming out of high school need some guidance to learn to balance their new freedom with their school obligations.

I would definitely teach myself how to study better and make better decisions on time management and the friends which you surround yourself. All three are areas which I knew nothing about in high school and I recommend thinking and discovering these issues I had in high school to better my education.

If I go could back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have much advice to give. First, I would remind myself that where ever I choose to go to college is where I will be living for at least the next four years so I would be sure to choose wisely. I would also tell myself to find out all the classes I will be required to take prior to graduation and develop organizational skills to plan out all four years. Besides academic advice, I would tell myself to meet as many people as possible in college, join clubs and get involved with anything that interests you. Studying is important, but being actively involved and supported causes is also just as important and looks good on resumes. Lastly, I would advise myself to have fun but be careful as well. Be aware of pictures and postings on websites such as Facebook; think before you act.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely have some important advice to give myself. First, I would tell myself to take as many Advanced Placement courses as possible in order to make the transition to college courses easier as well as give me more opportunities to earn college credit before stepping on a college campus. I would also tell myself to maintain true to myself when going through the first few weeks of college. When going to a new college in a new state, it was extremely easy to forget everything that has made me who I am before leaving for school in a dire attempt to "fit in". However, once getting over that initial hump, I realized how crucial it is to stay true to myself and become friends with people who are friends to me because of who I am, not who I am pretending to be.

I have a couple of regrets that i would like to clear up if i could go back in time. First off, i would tell myself that despite what everyone says about there being so many scholarships , it is actually hard to get them. Since i had no volunteer experience, it limited me to only a few scholarships that i could apply for. I regret not being able to volunteer, but instead i had a part time job that took most of my time. On a side note, i wish i could have told myself to practice driving so that i would have a car and be able to work near my college to help pay for my education. Second, i would tell myself to be more active and try to make friends in some way so that i would have known more people at the beginning of college. It was lonely and boring in the beginning; now i'm slowly making some friends. I've noticed that shy people don't move forward in life and have fun as much as out going people. Of course, i still wouldn't drink or smoke because that's who i am.

First off, I do not believe I would want to go back in time and change anything because I am content with the way things have turned out so far. However, if I had to go back and change some things, I would probably start with telling myself to not be so stressed about college because there is nothing I could do to change it so I should just embrace what college is going to be like. Next, I would try to become more involved in school clubs and organizations to help better myself in areas like public service and public speaking that could be of use to me in the future. Lastly, I would explain to myself that I need to have fun while I am in high school because it can only be experienced once and after all it is a major step in the walk of life. Those seem like a lot of changes that could have been made but honestly I am glad that I do not have the opportunity to change anything, becasue like I said I believe everything has turned out just like it is supposed to and nothing needs changing.

No matter how much you prepare for college, no matter how many testimonies you hear, the transition into college from high school will be like nothing you would ever expect. The best advice to give a graduating senior in high school would be to think about the way that your high school was run, the teachers that forced you to do your work, the coaches that punished you if you were late, and just forget about it--because in college, you are truly on your own (only with hundreds or thousands of other freshman in your same position). You must get yourself to class, keep up with work, definately keep the partying to a minimum, and above all else stay focused. Aside from time management, another issue that many freshman face is financial balancing. Most students have an allowance of some sort. My suggestion is to save your money! Do not go out to eat every night or waste your money other ways. Make use of your meal plan or free things around campus that are mostly offered to freshman. Most significantly, college is the first time away from parents, so prove to them that this investment is worth it.

There is a huge difference between high school and college. Yes college is a lot more flexible than high school. You do not have to go to all of your classes, there is no dress code, and you can pick what time, day, and professors you prefer for your classes. These are things that we hear about growing up, the obvious, but there are somethings that you do not hear a lot about and thats responsibility and being independent. They sort of both go hand in hand. Once you have graduated from high school and enjoyed your summer break, it was time for the real world. In the real world, you start becoming more independent. You will not have mommy and daddy there to wake you up in the morning, remind you to do your homework, and tell you when and where you can go. That's when responsibility kicks in. You have to make your own decisions and think things through before you make them. Another part of being responsible is prioritizing. College may be more flexible, but not when it comes to homework. The work is a lot harder and time consuming. Take time out to study.

As a high school senior, I was incredibly stressed out about making friends and still making good grades in college. I was so used to the comfortable social scene that four years of classes with the same people had all but forced us into that I was anxious about suddenly having over 28,000 peers. The huge, impersonal lecture halls haunted my dreams for months. I wish I hadn't let myself get so stressed about something so silly. In my first semester I got involved in marching band and my church on campus, both of which led me to great friends. And that lecture hall? I only had one class in a room that even resembled the dungeon of my nightmares. Three of my four classes that semester had less than forty people in them, and had professors who reminded me of my high school teachers. If I could go back, I would've just told myself to take a breath. It will all be okay, and you will learn how to go about your new social circle. I would've told myself to just let it happen, because there was no point in stressing about it.