The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

Dear Haley, I know you are worried about leaving home and leaving your family behind , but dry those eyes because YOU WILL BE FINE. People have told you that you need to be prepared; that college will be so much harder than highschool. But trust me, It isn't as bad as you think. You're are stronger than you think, you are smarter than you think, and you have all the support you could need. College will be a little scary but don't let that fear stop you from experiencing things. You will do things and see things you never have before, but you need to embrace every moment of it. Don't take anything for granted. I know you have heard all that before but that is because it is wonderful advice. Keep your head on your shoulders. Remember who you are and what your going to school for. Thats it. Just be who you are, do what your supposed to do and never lose sight of your dreams. I love you . - Your future self.

If I could go back and tell myself, or any other high school senior, good advice, I would say a few things. Number one: Manage your finances well from the beginning. Make sure to budget and work during the summers if you're not taking summer school. It's less debt that you'll have to pay off when you get a job. Number two: Take your grades seriously, it's harder to build up a GPA than to tear one down. Number three: You don't have to join a fraternity/sorority to make friends. There are hundreds of organizations on campus that are filled with wonderful people. Don't let anyone talk you into going Greek unless you absolutely want to. Number Four: Always lock your door at night, even if you live in a dorm. If you don't, drunk people will walk in and try to get in bed with you for some reason or another! Last but not least: Have fun! College is a life changing experience, cherish the time you have there with your friends.

When you begin college, you are entering an entirely different world. The competition is steeper, the teachers are tougher, and you are free to do whatever you please. It's easy to sleep in and miss a class or two unnoticed, but its jut as easy to fail a class because of this. The decisions are now up to you. College is difficult, but it's also one of the most amazing experiences of a lifetime. The opportunities are endless. If you're interested in an organization, join it and make lifelong friends. If you need help with something, ask for it and figure out a different way to approach your problem. Not everything is going to be easy, but if you surround yourself with friends and build strong relationships, it is always going to be fun. Whether you're up until five a.m. cramming for your fifth final in two days or looking for something to do on a saturday night, the friends you make in college will be there. However, balancing your social and school life is key. Time management can make you or break you, and procrastination is not a good friend to make in college.

I would tell myself that there is no one true secret to success in college. Everybody has a different way of adapting to the freedoms of college life, and for myself, I learned later than I would have liked, that I thrive on habits. My secret to success has been a structured, recurring week. I know when all my classes are, so I plan a repetitive work schedule around it, and set aside time for homework and eating. After that, any free time thats left I can do whatever I want with. This ensures that I get all of my work and obligations done without succumbing to the freedoms that college life allows. If I had just known that coming into college, I think I would have been alot more comfortable getting through my first semester.

Don't stress so much about the school work. The university you will attend is a terrific school with lots of tough classes but you can do it. As long as you attend your classes, pay attention, and study hard your classes will go smoothly. The toughest part about the transition is making quality friendships. Many college freshman drink and party every weekend. There are ways to have fun without doing this. Join multiple organizations that interest you so you are able to meet numerous people who are sober and who will remember your name the next day. Many freshman in college go crazy because they are no longer living under their parents' roof and can make their own decisions on what to do and when they will come home. Have fun, but also make memories you will remember. As long as you make a few good friends, you will be set. So try out all the different organizations and sports that sound like fun. Join a couple of scholastic groups and some other interesting sports you've never tried before like rowing, ultimate frisbee, or rugby. You will make loads of friends and have a fun time meeting them.

Stay calm. Four years of college, maybe five, will be no more than high school seemed four years ago. No matter how daunting it seems to be transplanted where everything is new and alien, where faces are unfamiliar and sights have yet to be seen, time has a strange way of making new things second nature and others inextricably forgotten in the muddle of the past. Time will pass, that I will guarantee, and your life will change. Realize this, let go, and the months ahead will ease by. The iron knot in your stomach will loosen. The tension in your shoulders will fade, and the bitter memory of the many things you could have done, the things you should have done, will be washed away. Go to college with what you know; soon life will be set right.

Talking to my high school self, I would simply be able to say," College is the best experience of your life. Even though you are not the typical student to attend such a big university that is this costly, you can do it. Find out the resources that you need to achieve your goals. The road is hard, and it will not be easy to have everything that you desire from the start, but you are able to appreciate the simple things that you have already. With respect to classes, make sure you are prepared to teach yourself how to study properly and that you are able to learn from the beginning again. Most importantly, you can do this! Don't let the small fears that come get in your way of getting an education. Take each day one at a time, and enjoy the college experience. It will be a great balance between school, work, and play. However, your smile will be brighter knowing that your education is attainable, even when all of the odds are against you.

Dear Jess, I am going to be completely honest with you- next year ain?t going to be easy. Prepare for your new life now by spending as much time with your friends as possible. Savor every minute that you can as a senior, because it isn?t coming back. Next year life as you know it will be gone. But do not be afraid. The University of Texas has so much to offer you. Get connected with the campus because it will be your new home for the next four or five years. Yes high school will be the past, but life is just beginning. When you need it, ask Grandma to bake and mail you some cookies, it really will make everything better. Keep hope because everyone feels as insecure about all the changes as you do. Everyone starts new in college. Seek out your own opportunities, and find the things and people that make you happy. Work hard and keep motivated. Don?t be discouraged when classes get scary, which they will- academics are very different here then at little o? Hutto High. And lastly, when you feel utterly unprepared for a class, DON?T TAKE IT.

Though I have so far only experienced one semester of college, I still feel as if there is so much more I could have done, if only I knew as a high school senior. If I could go back in time, I would encourage myself to become more proactive. I would say, you should go out there and make your own experiences instead of waiting for them to come. If I say I?m going to do something, go do it and don?t change your mind the last second because you are tired. And when it comes to opportunities that float my way ?just say yes? as a stranger once told me in one of my first semester classes. When someone asks you to do something, like assist a costume designer for a show, don?t say ?I?ll think about it? because then you never know the experience you will gain and the connections you will make. Being out there will get you places and if you ?just say yes,? then you will make the most of your college career. P.S. Don't do homework or pass time on the bed! It will only make you sleepy.

If I had the chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior the first advice I would give to myself is go out of my comfort zone and meet new people. College is an opportunity to express yourself; it is a chance to recreate yourself and grow up. Try out different extracurricular activities. Take risks and be confident (but also humble). Do not let small failures get to you?accept and conquer them. This next stage of life is also a time of great temptations and test of faith. Guard your heart and stay close to those who truly care about you. Be patient and take time in finding these people because they are the ones who will support, encourage and be there for you through life. College can be challenging at times but know that it is these challenges that push you to become a stronger person for the future.