The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Top Questions

Going to college isn't about partying every weekend and going out all the time to shop. Finacial is a huge responsible and now that we are in a recession, money doesn't grow on trees. Tuition and just going to college is expensive. We as students in high school don't think about that because we just tell ourselves, "well our parents are going to pay for it, so it doesn't matter". It's not like that at all. Partying is the last thing I want to do. All partying does is waste money for you to have fun for one night. There's soo many things to do on campus that doesn't include money or students geting wasted. Money is very important and once you get into college you will realize how much important it is. If you're responsible finacially, college will be hard for you. especially being a single parent at such a youg age, I only use my money if I really need to use it. So when you go to college, think about why you're going and how you can be responsible money wise.

I would advise myself to get started on scholarships since my junior year in high school because at the last minute it is all so overwhelming and there is no where to turn. Also to not be so scared to try and go somewhere new and get informed with all the help that can be given to go there.

I'm sure I would tell myself to start getting used to studying and using books. When I was in high school everything was really simple for me, I would understand the lectures by just taking some notes and paying attention to what the professor was teaching us, but now that I'm in college everything has changed. Now I have to read my books because some professors don't go that much into detail with what they are teaching or simply make us read the book and take tests online. I would also tell myself to start going to tutoring because I wasn't used to it, and since classes in college are harder than they were in high school, I have been attending tutoring for some classes up to 4 times a week! Now that a lot of things has changed, I really do wish that I could go back in time and warn myself about how college life was.

College at first may seem to be what you have on high school, nevertheless always be ready for new things which can turn to be harder, always be ready because they can come from nowhere, it will also depend on the professor but still, be ready and open minded becaues College is a life experience in every part of the world and it is not only on the academic side, but on meeting people, getting into programs, helping at school, anything... Be ready for the experience of your life!

As a graduate of South Texas College with an associate degree in Criminal Justice, I have learned that what I was told, as far as getting prepared for college, wasn't sufficiant during my last year in high school. Going back to my senior year, i was told the most important thing to focus on was getting my financial aid application filled out. Little did I know, I would need a whole lot more information than that. Beginning, my first semester at STC it was decided that I wanted to persue a degree in teaching. I therefore began taking the classes needed to persue that degree. At the end of that semester, I realized that wasn't my calling. Throughout the years at STC, I decided that my passion in life was to help people. I decided to persue a degree in criminal justice. Changing my major several times, wasn't exactly what I had planned beginning college. The advice I would give myself, if i could go back, is to have a set career goal in mind so that my time at a college or university is not wasted and I may begin my future as soon as possible.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would probably have taken more college classes in high school. I was very diligent and hardworking when it came to both my high school courses and my dual enrollment college classes but, I think I could have handled more. I probably would have been more focused on trying to find scholarships as well, because the cost of universities and books are only getting pricier each year. I would have maybe even tried to get out of high school faster so I could start college at a younger age; I believe I was prepared for the transition earlier than most. If I could go back I would also tell myself not to be scared about going to college because these past few years have been the most exciting and interesting times of my life.

Whatever you do don't take the time, classes, and money for granted. Your friends will always be your friends, if they're true to it. I had to retake about 10 classes and at the time I would say, "Well it's my money and I could do what i want with it, money's money" (This is when I had a job). Now a junior and in the second half of my fourth year i regret ever thinking that. I wasted a year on those retakes and I could have been one semester away from graduation. The only thing I didn't want to do was get loans and thats the one thing I did. The money that was made while working those past three years could have been saved to pay for grad school or even a new car...and instead I have loans, school, and books to pay for still. One positive thing that I see in myself today is that now more than ever I am focused on school and know what I have to do to finish.

If I could go back to my high school senior year; I would tell my younger self to do more community service and take as many college courses as I could. I would tell myself to try harder to raise my gpa so that i would qualify for more scholarships and grants. Also to be involved with more student organizations be more informed on what benefited me more to study since i've always wanted to be an International Business Major and minor in French, German, Russian and many more. This advise would've really helped me when I was a High School senior in high school.

I would first say to hit the gym as fast as i could and not be afraid of it for a couple of months. Also to not be a so worried and stressed. throughout my whole life, i had always been told to fear college because of all the studying and teachers strict tests. After my first semester it was not as scary and difficult as it hought it would be. Yes there is studying and being organized but as long as I put in the work and do not get lazy, i would be alright. i would just tell myself to step back and take it one day at a time and enjoy college. Also, sign up for scholarships as fast as i could so i dont get stuck like i did this year. The money will always catch up to you.

Given what i know now and what i did back then i would tell myself to have completed more scholarship applications for the college of my choice instead of "enjoying my senior year". Not that you shouldnt enjoy your senior year, but with college there is so much more to enjoy and even though i did not go to the college of my choice i found that this college which i never payed much attention to was probably the best choice i could've made. Must be fate, we all wind up where we were meant to go, in short i believe the best advice i could've given myself is to simply relax, apply for more general scholarships, so that wherever i would decide to go, financial status wouldn't be an issue.