The University of Texas at El Paso Top Questions

If I could redo my senior year of high school, I would definitely look into more scholarship opportunities and contests like this one. I would apply to the schools that I am interested in very early, like in September, because some schools give scholarships for early decision. I would complete all of the paperwork very early and have a clear plan of how I will repay any loans.

Don't get carried away with the college life. Sure, it might seem like you have all the freedom in the world because you get to pick what classes you want and at what time you want them but you should always remember that school, not partying or hanging out with friends, is your priority. I'm not saying not to go out, I mean, you have to have some time to wind down, but if you have stuff to do for school then you better get it done. You're gonna have more than enough time later on in life to just relax and hang out with friends. Also, there are going to be times when everything just seems like it's falling apart and everyone seems to be against you but don't you ever forget that you are unique in the world and capable of anything when you set your mind to it. That being said, prove them all wrong and always move forward.

If I could go back in time with the knowledge that I have I would have strived for valedictorian so I would have had the option of attending my dream school. I would have been more involved in clubs or activities so I would have had a better chance at recieving different scholarships or even just signing up for them. I would have gotten a job so I am not stressing out each semester to make sure I come up with the money for tuition and or books. I probably would have started my own savings fund for college if I new how stressful and expensive it would be. And the last thing I would have done differently would to have just had fun because you can never be a kid twice so why not enjoy it while your young!

I would have still gone into the Marine Corps, because I needed the structure to mature. The change that I would have made, would be to work harder to achieve my degree. I would have had better chances if I had done that before starting a family. The Tuition Assistance would have been easier than any financial aide from any school. If I had applied myself more, I would have been in a better position to stay in until retirement. I would also have put off starting a family while I was so young. My husband and children are great, but I sould have been more focused on planning for a future, instead of living in that present time. I don't know how well I would have listened to my future self, but I wish someone had tried!

If I could go back in time to my senior year I would definitely tell myself to look at more scholarship opportunities so that I wouldn't be limited to participate in various college actiivities (i.e. study abroad or out-of-state internships). Also, I would tell myself that although grades are important, it is even more important to create a network and gain experience because that is what will really define your job opportunities; I would definitely stress to myself to meet people on campus and create those relationships . I will say this though, the most important thing I would tell myself is learn to cook! It can be tough being away from home, being a full-time student and having a job, but eating right should not be an option. After my experience I understand that eating right is important to have enough energy to study, work and get involved. Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy college; it is important to think of the future, but sometimes in all that thinking we overlook great opportunities that can serve as building blocks for what we want to accomplish. I would stress taking a step back to enjoy!

I would tell myself to not take a couple of years off before starting college. I would recommend to not second guess what I want to do in life and go through a Major change half way in my educational career. During those two years I was making good money, sure it was a good experience but my high school self should be aware that good money vanishes quickly and you are left wandering from job to job. Education is important and should be his main focus right after high school. Scholarships and financial aid are very important in financing your college career. Please look into many and all scholarships, do not be afraid to write those essays. You will find yourself in a bind and will have to work very hard for something that you could have had an easier time with if you started college right after high school.

I would tell myself to obtain better study habits. Studying is extremely different from highschool to college. It takes more dedication and hard work because of the materials covered and the expectations of the professors. I would also tell myself to talk individually to my professors because they can be helpful in getting good grades when they see students take the initiative to talk to them. I would also talk to myself about applying for scholarships. I never applied for scholarships as a senior and it would have helped with my education expenses alot especially because my goal is to go to school at UTSA. Applying for scholarships takes time and effort but it pays off by reducing the amout you have to pay out of pocket for school.

If I could go back in time I'd advise myself to start planning for my future earlier. I didnt know that junior colleges have certain classes you must take to transfer to 4-year colleges. I would tell my senior year self to start thinking what classes I'm going to take right away. I would tell myself to look into what classes are needed to transfer so that I don't waste my first semester taking classes that aren't transferable. Additionally I would advise myself that college is entire new ball-game. If you don't go to class, teachers aren't going to call you're parents or get you in trouble, and it's up to you to make up what you miss. Lastly I would tell myself that it's easy to give up because you're given alot of independence, but if you stay motivated it will pay off in the long run.

"Self", I would say, "you should have been more involved in campus life while in high school! If you had done that, you would have had more direction in college. It took you about four years to find what you loved doing in college and that time could have been saved by figuring this out in high school. Also, you should have just leapt and gone out of town for college instead of staying in the town you grew up in! The transition is not nearly as scary as you thought, and it was this unnecessary fear that held you back. Don't let anyone or anything hold you back Self! And finally, you remember that time your government teacher assigned you the role of prosecuting attorney? And how much you loved it? You should have considered law earlier, it suits you!"

What I have gotten out of my college experience is I have learned a lot more in one class then i had learned in a whole year at community college. Also I had teachers who were well qualified to do there job and most were willing to help me learn more. I have enjoyed my teachers and the sporting and performing arts events. It is so important to attend university because I think it better prepares you for the real world then a community college. It also has more resources to help you on your homework then community college as well. Overall, the goods outweigh the bad, so I am for the most part happy with school.