The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Top Questions

Younger self, Please go to class! I know it is easy to sleep in when you?re teachers say you don?t have an attendance policy, but this will lead to your demise. Participation points are worth 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and your notes really help. Also, when you don?t know what to do, ask questions - and if you don?t know who to ask, look online first to see if you can find a department head or your advisor. One day these people will be very valuable to you, and will help you develop a roadmap for your academic endeavors. If your need assistance making friends, try to talk to one person from each of your classes and get their numbers too in case you do miss class (for an emergency) so you can copy their notes. If you want more than four friends, try a club that looks interesting, maybe the foreign language you?re taking has one (Hint: Italian will be your favorite in the future). Take advantage of the services provided on campus and participate in athletic events, you?ll create lots of memories to look back on and laugh at for years to come. Your inner monologue

Freshman year of high school. Now it really counts. These grades from freshman year through your senior year are what is going to get you into any college you desire. If you start strong, you will finish strong. If you start roughly, then pulling grades up is a whole lot of more work. Get to know the people who will be necessary into the progression into your future. Get involve in many different activities so you will be able to express yourself on several different levels. High school might be a lot of work and a little intimidating, but you can handle it. Stay positive about any and all situation and bumps in the road that might come your way.

I've thought about this before, what I wish I had known when I left the security of high school and entered my freshman yeah at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. One thing really comes to mind, it's not as easy as the teachers keep saying. The high school I went to convinced my classmates and I that college would be a piece of cake compared to CSAS (my high school) so going in I wasn't ready for the challenge. I'd tell myself that studying really does make a difference and I'd tell myself that making connections in class really does help and to never underestimate your professors, getting to know them does wonders. Also, the last thing I'd tell myself would be to never underestimate yourself, believing in yourself and believing that you can do whatever you set your mind to can and will help you succeed.

Looking back to high school, there isn't too much I would have done differently. I earned good grades, was successful both in and out of school, and made the most of my time there. However, now that I'm in college, I have found that I could have and should have put more time into seeking financial aid. It really is difficult to put yourself in the mindset of a college student while in high school, and my failures in searching for the neccesary funds, especially through third-party scholarships, have begun to make me doubt my financial stability into the future. Already as a freshman I am beginning to feel the pressure of constant fees and expenses, not to mention anything unexpected. I just recently realized to the full extent just how limited I am when, during my previous semester, right before finals, I broke my leg and spent three days in the hospital, resulting in somewhere around 15,000 dollars in medical bills. Luckily, my family has insurance and I was able to scrape by, but even still, I was out of work for two months. Extra financial aid could really have set me at ease.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not get caught up in trying so hard to have a social life. A social life is not the most important thing while in college. The time you allow yourself to get distracted with parties and other random activities is the time that could have been used to study. I would tell myself that the freedom is easy to get used to and to work on time management. Most importantly I would tell myself to not lower my standards just because my friends aren't raising theirs. You learn who true friends are when they try to convince you to study or play.

As an Orientation Leader, I go back to this question day and night of what I would do differently in order to be more successful as a freshman. The best advice, among many, would be I need to be open and be able to adapt quickly. The reason that I say to be open was for the fact that I only thought college was about the parties and the education. I forgot to open myself to new opportunities and explore different organizations in order to network and learn my strengths. I did not start doing this until the end of my freshman year and it is extremely important to do something beside go to your classes. Also, I wish I knew that studying for my high school exams was not going to make the cut for my college exams. I should have adapted quicker in order to make better grades for my first exams and understand that the material would be harder. Overall, the transition at my university was very easy due to the leadership of the Orientation Leaders and my Resident Assistant. The staff helps you as much as possible and wants the students to succeed.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to relax. I was so worried about college, thinking that I might have a hard time making new friends or that I wouldn't like my roomate, but I now know that everyone else feels that exact same way. I would tell myself to join one club and stay involved in it, because I feel that I spread myself too thin, trying to do too many things at once. It doesn't matter how many clubs you are in, it matters what you do in those clubs. I would also adivse myself to study hard even for classes that I thought would be easy because tests can often surprise you. Finally, I would make sure to say that getting to know your teachers is very important, because each one grades differently and at the end of the semesester your teacher might bump your grade one point to a B- if he knows you've been working hard, but if you never come to class, you're stuck with that C+.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in highschool I would highlight to myself that organization and depending on yourself are the two biggest things to deal with. It is all up to you to get your classes, books, and work all organized. If there is anything needed to be done you have to take care of it. Also moving to a different enviorment has a big effect on you. Your not used to the people and the way of life. The last thing I would emphasize is that be prepared to study more than you ever have. College classes are different than high school and you need to be aware that you may have to change your study habits.

Dear High School Alex, You are in for the greatest adventure of your life! As you begin your journey don't lose sight of what you set out to do. As an architecture major you will learn more than you ever thought possible and spend more time in studio than you ever imagined. But in all your hard working, don't forget to have fun! You will meet some incredible people and make life long friends. Some friends will surprise you and some will only be around for a short period of time but everyone you come across will in some way help you along your journey. They will make your experience memorable and will get you through the difficult times. And yes, at times architecture, school, and life will be extremely challenging and get the best of you. You will question everything you set out to do but all of that is temporary, you will get past it with more drive and determination than you thought possible. Stay true to yourself through it all and you will succeed beyond all expectaions. Sincerely, College Alex P.S. You will be a master of the stick-shift and parallel parking!

I would give myself the advice to take the hardest classes that I could because those really help when you get to college to prepare you for the class work and subjects.