The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Top Questions

Dear high school self, Please try not to stress out so much about college. High school prepared you well, so you will do fine. Also, do not forget to stop and make friends. Life is not enjoyable with out others to share it with. You will miss your parents in college, now matter how much you hate living with them now. Make sure to call them every once and awhile to check up on how things are going. Finally, don't forget to live life to the fullest and make every moment count of your college career. Love, your college self.

As a non-traditional student, I would go back and tell myself, to attend college as soon as you finish high school. Do not take any breaks. Finish while you are young and free from bills, etc. Attending in your 30s is very hard. You feel out of place and you don't fit in. Universities are setup for young adults, not a nontraditional, which is why attending college after high school graduation should be a top priority. There is nothing more important. Make good grades because it affects your financial aid, your gpa and it slows down your chances of graduating in time. Your grades depend on your work ethic. Do well. Take any opportunity you can in college because it prepares you for a bright future. Network and get involved in campus activities that interest you. Learn something new. Don't complain, the hassle for the tassle is worth it. Whatever you do, do not give up. You can do it.

The first thing I would tell myself about transiting to college would be, "don't schedule early morning classes because you won't want to go". Which is completely true, I don't like to get up at six o'clock in the morning to go to a seven am or eight am class. Not many people want to, and I wouldn't go to class. The second thng I would tell myself, when you finally get to college. Don't play around, get your work done, make sure your grades are up, and then worry about getting a job. With good grades comes money, but without good grades you won't have any money. So focus on school before anything else.

If I could go back to my high school self, I would notify self that in order to succeed in life, you must be present in the moment. I once read a quote that said, "90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of life is showing up." Metaphoricallym, I would relay this message to my younger self by inofmring him to take more advantages of his opportunities and reach out for scholarships. However, my present-day self is at a better place because I was able to find this scholarship application through Scholly, an app that was successfully pitched and invested for on Shark Tank. Back to my younger self though, I want him to know that it's okay to not worry so much because your future and destiny has a way of working itself out. Having ben heavily involved in the classroom my senior year of high school, I would have loved to have been more involved in organizations and making a difference in at least one persons life. To this day, I think the greatest gift is making a positive impact on someones life and I would have loved to have started that at a younger age.

If I could go back in time and give my highschool senior self any advice about college, it would be only a few things. "First, enroll in smaller classes. The college of business and other math and science classes are huge and I don't want you to become a "face in the crowd." You are an exceptional young woman with a lot to offer this world and attending smaller classes to nurture your intellect is best for you. You will be able to speak with your instructors with no problem and class assignments will not get lost as easily as it would in a big pile. Also, if you are thinking about gettting your MBA, you should start studying for you GMAT or GRE exams around your junior year of college. UTC does not prepare its undergrad students for those exams. The classes offered are expensive and offered by other organizations. Third, continue utilizing those great study habits you have. You are hitting the ground running by leaving your highschool as Valedictorian, do not lose that momentum. Most importantly, stay focused with your studies, never abandon your dreams, and continue to take care of your family."

This is the best that your world has to offer, embrace it. Don't be so afraid of the culture, take the difficult classes and ask more questions. This is your gift to you, education is very important and no one can do it for you. Your mom and dad may not understand but you do. Rmemeber that you are paying for this and like other things you devote your money to, you are allowed to question what you are taught and if you feel it is not what it should be then do your reserach and prove your point. This is what you make of it and not what it makes of you.

Dear High School Self, First and foremost, don’t be afraid. You may not know it yet, but you will enjoy college life way more than your high school years. From the very first day that you step onto that college campus you will see the difference. You will excel since that first day. You will be able to see how much better it is to be treated as a grown-up who is allowed to make decisions. People will not bully you. Instead they will be friendly and understanding. The professors will also be there to help you as well. Along with that, they will be able to open a new world of wisdom and knowledge that no high school teacher ever showed you. So be brave in high school, because after those last few moments and past your graduation, you will see how life can only keep getting better. Sincerely, Your Future Self.

I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible, you're going to need the money. Then I would tell myself to avoid eating out more than once a week and to save as much money as possible. Then I would probably go on a bit of a rant towards my younger self, saying things like, "If you can rent a textbook instead of buying it, do it. Go greek, it's awesome. Don't let yourself procrastinate over school work. Study first, then party if you want to. Don't get those two mixed up. Use the library, it will help you more than you may think. Don't live too far away from campus, you're going to hate that drive everyday and sometimes twice a day. Don't let the gas gauge get anywhere near empty because it's really hard to find someone with a gas can two hours from home. Don't drink and drive, it never has and never will be worth it. Don't get embarrased over anything, just be yourself. And most importantly, have fun with everything you do because you only get to experience college once."

There are two main things I would give myself advise on if I could talk to my highschool self. The first thing would be to take dual enrollment courses before I graduate. I opted out of taking them and didn't realize how beneficial they would have been. If I would have taken them I could have seen what a college course was like and be more prepared. It would have also given me more credit hours. Since the time you get to register for classes depends on your credit hours this would have helped me not to miss out on some of the classes I wanted that were filled before I could sign up. I had to take some classes during a later semester which put me behind on my graduation plan. Another piece of advise I would give myself is to make a study plan and stick to it. I would often push off studying to hang out with friends, and then later I would end up without time to study. My grades could have been much better if I would have stayed focused and committed.

Always read ahead for your classes in order to stay on top of things. Even though college may seem more lax than highschool, especially freshman year, keep in mind that the grades you make in college determine either your graduate school or career. You're building your life with your grades for four years, so make sure to keep them up. Also, get involved in the school and community in order to begin making a name for yourself. That way, when you're out in the "real world," you have plenty of references and experience to make yourself a viable choice for an open job position. Even with all these committments and stressors, still make time for fun and relaxation as well. If one thing is bound to drive you crazy in college, it's over-loading yourself with time committments and not having the time to unwind now and then.