The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

High school and college are completely differnt and you need to know that time management is key to your success and well as having fun and experiencing all that college has to offer you. Also do not get caught up in a relationship with someone who is going to make you focus on them and not school because you will never accomplish what you want if you do that. Have fun adn live life to the fullest, but learn every day you wake up.

I would've pushed my chemistry, biology and physics teachers to prepare us for college science courses. I don't think I got the proper training for my science courses in high school even though I made high A's.

Collegiate metamorphosis (n.): a time of growth, change, and evolution of thoughts, motives, and ideals. School has always been a haven of development, turning sprightly five-year-olds into responsible kindergarteners, fifteen-year-olds into less-awkward, versisons of themselves. But college, wow... This is the true time for growth. Now instead of learning behaviors or fitting into our bodies, this change is more than surface-level, it is truly a collegiate metamorphosis. The person who goes in comes out a wholly changed individual, different in purpose and mind. While what occurs in the classroom is the crux of the collegiate experience, what happens beyond much more directly defines the change that happens on the inside. Know this: you will be challenged and tempted, tested and pushed, but what results is someone who is bountifully more confident, sure of himself. Be excited: what lies ahead will truly turn you from a dependent passenger into the driver of your own future. There is so much promise for a next stage; every action prepares you for what lies ahead. Everyone says that college is the best time of your life, and it is. Get ready for the next stage of being.

You're going to be faced with a choice. Take out loans and live on campus, or stay debt-free and live at home. Go for the debt. Your grades and social life are going to suffer by living thirty minutes away. And, while we're on regrets, make the most of your last year in high school, because, believe it or not, next year you're going to miss it. Although, you're going to really enjoy the next part of your life. But I can't tell you why, spoilers! Another important thing: get a job over summer (maybe in retail, it'll help, trust me), and spend a bit, but save most of it. Another bit. It's boring and cliche, but you better listen. College is not like high school. No one holds your hand, and you're not going to get good grades if you don't take initiative. Do your homework, go to office hours, and get to know your professors and fellow students. There's plenty of people willing to help you, and if you don't take advantage of that, you'll end up with a 2.83 GPA (oh dear, spoilers!).

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would not have much to say to myself. This may sound arrogant, but the reason is because I attended the Mathematics and Science Academy (MSA) at the University of Texas at Brownsville. It is a program where high school students take college courses for both high school and college credit. I graduated with an Associate's Degree along with a high school diploma. I had to cross counties to attend MSA. To do this, I had to live away from home for the first time. Though the time constraints were demanding, my youth gave me the strength to carry through and apply for a job at school. I was a mathematics Teacher’s Assistant at the university. I helped professors grade papers and tutored college students. This position helped pay for rent, school supplies, and enabled me to build up savings for college. I am currently studying and pursuing a Bachelors of Sciences in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin.

Taylor, I know that life is confusing and situations get rough but please focus on school. I know it seems like there are more important things but honestly for yourself and your future there is nothing more important. You need to apply yourself, start looking in to colleges and scholarships. Start studying for your act and your sat. Quit putting other people's needs and wants before your own because in the end those people won't be by yourside 3 years from now. Listen to your mom more, she may nag at you but I promise her intentions are good and her advice is truth. I can tell you that if I had followed the advice that I am giving you now I would probably be almost finished with or finished with a bachelors degree. Instead I am just now starting to work towards my associates while also working full time. The juggle of everything is definitely not easy but I know that more than anything it is worth it. I am worth it and so are you! Don't let anyone tell you anything different! So don't be afraid to dream big and achieve your goals.

Choose your college carefully. Don't just go to a college because it is close to home or because your friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend is going. Attending a college that meets your individual needs and interests can lead to a lifechanging four years, that leaves you well prepared to enter the professional world. Connections and friends that you meet in college will help you throughout the rest of your life. Once you choose a college and start attending, be involved. Get involved in every organization that sparks an interest. Don't just sit in the back and take everything in, be a leader. Run for officers in the organizations your passionate about and make a differance. College is the time for you to make your mark and build your reputation before you enter the vastly competative working population.

It’s ridiculous to say that I hardly remember what it’s like to be a high school senior, but that’s true. Today I’m a sophomore, nearly halfway through my second year in college, at a completely different place in my life. I can hardly remember what being a senior felt like. Being away from home and venturing out on your own has a way of forcing you to grow up, and I can barely reconcile that person I was then with the person I am today. To my senior self, I would suggest perseverance and hope! Making the transition into college is truly difficult, one of the most difficult times of my life. There’s the homesickness, the struggle to make new friends from strangers; not to mention rigorous college courses, and they all hit you at once. However difficult, it was profoundly rewarding! Being away has made me realize how much I love my family, and made me grateful. Being responsible for myself and living on my own has given me confidence. I have found friends here from all over the world! So, hang in there, senior, it will be so worth it in the end.

I would tell myself to budget my money better and apply for even more scholarships. Because I am in dire need of them now and I don't have parents that will help me like my other friends here at UT. I am relying completely on financial aid from the government, scholarships, and loans. The loans, however, are something I would rather stay away from.

Dear high -school Shereen, First of all, the preconceptions you made about college through rumors, television shows, movies, and books were absolutely correct. Students really do party all night and take advantage of the lack of parental supervision. In other words, pick a university with a small student population set in a suburban area for your comfort and convenience; the noise level and "party-zones" should relatively be low. Second of all, in order to make friends you have to put in the effort. You can't just sit in class and expect to be best friends with the kid sitting next to you. You need to join clubs, organizations, sports, (something!) so you can immerse yourself in the student population and interact with all sorts of people. As the old saying goes, "for every 100 people you meet, one friend is made." Last, but not least, leaving home will be a challenge. You need to mentally prepare yourself for the "tear" in your "safety-net" and understand that you will be on your own -whether you're ready or not. I hope my advice can be considered helpful, if not comforting. Sincerely, College-experienced Shereen