The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

Attend your dream college even thought they just took the program your wanted to go into away. You will end up changing your major at the college you decided to attend instead to something your dream college has. You will struggle at your new college and deeply regret not going to your dream school.

Go to college about a year after you graduate, learn about your passions and then narrow them down to the one that you are truly interested in. When you enter college don't be afraid of the challenging courses, take them earlier because they will make you a better student for having done so. Get involved in clubs and earn your spot in an honor society, join community service projects because you will make a difference, no matter how small. Great grades are important, so learn how to study. You should always go into every course with a childlike sense of discovery, never begin with preconceived ideas of what you are walking into, that will ruin the experience, and you never know what might grab your attention until you have immersed yourself in the subject. If you follow my advice you should have a great college experience.

There is only one piece of advice that I feel I would need to give my younger self. Do not worry so much, everything will be fine. It was one of the most daunting experiences of my life the summer before, and the first few days of college, but only because I worried it would not go well. Fortunately I was very wrong about that. I would like to take back all the time that I wasted worrying and just enjoy where I was. I would tell myself that you WILL make friends, you WILL do great in all your classes, and you WILL have a great time. Seriously, just do not worry, because everything will be fine.

Dear Elise Nzubechukwu Anih, I am sure you’re terrified with the application process, SATs, ACTs. As the first in the family to go to college it can be overwhelming but it’s for the best. I am glad you learned everything by yourself, even got an interview with Princeton. I am so proud of you but you should have followed your big dreams further. Secondly, you have to get over being shy or lose opportunities because you didn't ask. You are not invincible in a class of 30 students don’t be surprised if your PSY 301 class is about 300 students. You seem very confident in the major that you have in mind- Biology. I must tell you that Biology in college is different from that of High school. I believe in what you can do. You will have challenges but do not shake in your confidence, just remember to take deep breaths those nights when you are cramming. Don’t worry about trying to figure out who you are, you have plenty of time in college to understand yourself. College will be four years of fun, stress, lack of sleep, and self-discovery.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get ready to study harder than I had ever had to study before. I would also tell myself that I should enjoy my time in college and take some time to date, but not get serious with anyone too soon. I would tell myself to focus more on my studies and less on my social life so that my GPA would not have suffered so much. I would also tell myself to trust my gut feelings about things. So many times I second guessed myself, and I should have just gone with what I felt was right the first time. I would have enjoyed college so much more if I had just stuck with what I knew was best for me.

Let the little things go. Don't let the people around you and their negativity bring you down even a notch. Keep the people around who will better you as a person. In the end, all that will matter will be your determination, hard work, and dedication to your craft. You won't always be able to make everyone around you happy, and that's okay, because that's not your job. Your job is to work hard and achieve what you want to achieve, put your heart and soul into it. Make friends! Don't be afraid to go out there and talk to people you don't know. Join as many clubs and activities that you can fit onto your plate, those will help you with resumes, scholarships, and job references. All in all, have fun, be careful, and stay focused on your goal. Don't get me wrong, it will be overwhelming, but you've gotten through plenty of years of schooling, the rest should be a piece of cake with the right attitude.

Dear Sarah, upon graduating from High School, do not be afraid of what is to come. Appreciate everything about your college experience, and do not let outside pressures take the joy out of the learning process. Learning is most important. Dedicate yourself to studying a little bit every day. Do not procrastinate, because it will make your life entirely too stressful. Also, be gracious, be yourself, and the friendships will follow. Just remember, college will seem daunting at first, but this feeling will shortly be replaced with comfort. You will begin to ease into the process, and all of your hangups regarding this new lifestyle will fall away. Oh yeah, and did I mention study? Do not assume that those books will read themselves. Also, take copious notes, and do not be afraid to ask for help from professors.

“Hook ‘em Horns”. This famous saying never gets old for generations of longhorns including myself, who feel tremendous pride for our undergraduate experience at the University of Texas at Austin. Now, I’m not a native Texan, and when I decided to attend this institution, my choice stemmed from desires to explore the unknown and challenge myself to experience new things. My story begins as a first-generation Latina child of immigrant parents who grew up in a small town in the Northeast. My parents fled their country in a time of economic, political and social collapse, and fought barriers to provide the best opportunities for their family. However, our upbringing as children of immigrants highlighted our differences by income, race, and the way we valued life and other people. We grew up feeling out of place. But college is a completely different ball game. You will find a niche with other students who come from all walks of life, who share your interests and passions. These students will inspire you to become a better person and contribute to a greater cause beyond yourself. This is your time to define your identity and your future. Make the most of it!

College is nothing like high school. You won't be able to just slack off and expect those A's to fall into your lap like before. You will be competing alongside the best of the best from across the country and if you want to succeed you will have to stand up to the challenge. That said, these are going to be the best years of your life! Now more than ever you need to break out of that shell of yours and open up to meeting new people and having new experiences. College is part education and part networking. If you build up a solid network of friends and professionals you will a step ahead when you graduate and start searching for your career. Good luck!

If I could go back and give myself advice as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take as many concurrent enrollment classes as possible. Not only are the concurrent classes cheaper, but it makes the transition into college life much easier because you know more about the work load that is expected in college. I would also tell myself to not procrastinate or wait to do things until the last minute. Life is so much easier and stress free when I allow a lot of time to accomplish things, not to mention, the work I do is much better and thought out better as well. The transition to college life is much different than high school life. Although there can be much required work in high school, the work required in college is much greater, as it should be. It is a time in our lives where we should be thinking about our career that we will have forever, so it is something that we should take seriously, so I would also tell myself to work hard, and not take things lightly. It may be more work, but it will be worth it in the end.