University of Arizona Top Questions

If I could go back to when I was a high school senior, one of the many words of advice that I would give myself is to stay on top of all assignments and materials covered prior to test time once the school semester starts. What I realized from my experience from last year in college is that it is important to study the material covered in class and seek help if a certain topic is unclear. It is best to do this from the get-go because the mistake that some students make, including myself, is to assume that you will recover easily after a poor first test score or poor assignment grades early in the semester. In reality, it takes ample effort to recover after this, so I would advise myself to study the material immediately after it is taught. Another word of advice I would give myself is to take advantage of my professors' office hours as much as possible. Meeting up with them personally to cover class material often helps me understand the material more, and another way to succeed in class is to participate in voluntary discussion questions the professor might ask.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to really focus on doing well on the standerized tests (ACT, SAT, etc.) as those are often the biggest difference makers in getting into a school and really help you to get the most amount of money from the school. As far as classes go, I would tell myself as I did at the time that taking AP classes is the best way to get ahead and to be prepared for the course load of college. I credit those kinds of classes in high school with making me feel very prepared for my classes in college. The course load is not really harder, it is just what makes up the grade in college that makes it harder. Tests are weighted more into your grade and homework is worth a lot less. There are not as many "freebee" points in college. As far as college life outside the classroom goes, I would tell myself not to worry, it is not as scary as you think. Getting inovled in some kind of orginization (club, greek life, etc.) makes the transition that much smoother and enjoyable.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be minor adjustments I would take into consideration. First, I would advise myself to appreciate advanced classes, such as an advanced writing class, as they truly prepare for a college-level assignment. The hard work I put in my senior year in High School definitely paid off in College. The second advise would be to do your absolute best in the SAT and ACT tests, which can facilitate the acceptance to many colleges. I also regret not applying to numerous different colleges which lead me to many closed doors. The third advice is to save money, and to spend it wisely. If it were not for my savings throughout High School, I would have been forced to work in college, which does not facilitate the transition, as you have another task on your plate at first.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, i would tell myself to take life more seriously, to enjoy the moments that count and to keep fighting for my dreams and aspirations. I would tell myself about the struggles of moving cities and leaving my family behind, but I would also tell myself about all the new places I would discover, and all the new friends I would make. I would tell myself about my major, how hard it is to transition into something new, but to keep going, because in the end it will all work out. I would remind myself of the little girl in elementary school who always wanted to be an architect, and encourage her to listen to her dreams, that I am one step closer to achieving everything I ever wanted and to not give up on those goals. At the end day the only thing that matters is your happiness and I would remind myself that everything else can wait, because what really matters is how you feel about yourself, and your future.

If I could travel back in time and give my high school self some good advice for the future, this is what I would say. First I would tell him that fitting in a crowd is much easier when you get to college. People are much more open and friendly once they get to college. Second I would tell him to enjoy your life whenever possible and do not take life so seriously. Time flies by and if you spend it worrying or being angry, then you will miss out on the true joys life has to offer. Lastly I would tell myself that staying focused on your school work is very important, now and in the future because it does not last forever and what you learn during this short time will stick with you for a long time. Life is fragile so surround yourself with loving and caring people that are ambitious and happy as you are. Oh and when Ricky asked you to go with him to the party at Jeff’s house on New Years’ Eve 2009….tell him you have other plans, you will thank me later!

I would tell myself to take all general education classes besides math, because the transition is hard enough without throwing yourself into more work than needed. I would also tell high school me to try harder on the placement tests because they matter, but focus less on getting people to like you because that will happen naturally. I would advise wearing good walking shoes and not my usual heels because college is a lot of walking(mainly from getting lost). Lastly I would advise living at home the first year because it's so easy to get caught up in all the "typical" college stuff like partying, but freshman year is important and by living at home you have to do homework and focus more than you would living on campus.

Dear High School self, Do not be afraid, do not be afraid of rejections, everyone ends up where there suppose to be. Everything happens for a reason! Be excited for the new adventure that awaits, and never take your parents financial sacrifices for granted. When you get to college everyone is on the same playing field, and everyone will want to make friends and try new things. College will be hard, but if you continue to try and work hard you will do amazing things! The transition will be scary at first, but you will get used to it. You will realize how structured your life was in High School and begin to enjoy the freedoms of adulthood. Enjoy your final days of High School, and get excited for the future, college is truly amazing.

Alex, adjusting to college will be difficult. I know you've been shy most of your life and that will make it hard unless you try to grow. You have great hopes and fantasies about the possibilities but don’t let your imagination replace modest actions. Don't live at the dorm Coronado, it is a party dorm and you will feel out of place. Check out the others and find one with studious people, some of them will know how to have fun too. Yes class is important and you can't just skip them and expect to do well. Also maybe therapy would be good for you, it is difficult meeting new people and some perspective would do you good. You’re not going to become popular all at once but by starting with baby steps, making friends and learning to express yourself comfortably you will bring progress. You will worry about making changes and meeting people but just ask yourself what the worst that could happen would be. Then think what good could come of it and you’ll find that if you take the risk it will probably be inbetween. Only do take some risks.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time to my early-self in high school, I would tell myself to try and enjoy your last year as much as possible, but at the same time and more importantly, work harder in your school work and avoid slacking off. College definitely caught me by surprise, because I wasn't prepared for it nor I even knew what I wanted to become. The amount of work we put in is nothing compared to high school. There is a lot more work then you can possibly think of, and some of the classes that you take are not as easy as you think. It would be wise for you to make time and focus on actually knowing what you want out of life before marching right in. I did not expect how difficult and different it was going to be from our previous school years. So just trust me on this, if you put the time and effort in you school work now, rather then later, you will get accustomed to it and be better off in the long run for when college comes. College will seem like an easy breeze.

Math and English are the most important things you can learn. A large vocabulary and an developed essay writing ability will allow you to better apply for jobs and scholarships and lend credence to your scientific ideas in your term papers. Mathematical analysis is a tool that is useful even if you never take a science class. If you're entering college without a firm grasp of calculus you're already behind! Believe me, the foreign exchange students with whom will compete for graduate school slots will have had a superior high school math education. Learn to teach yourself and how to maximize study time to accomplish goals. Look for practical experience opportunities early, such as research and internships. This type of experience will be more valuable than any fraternity or club. Expect to go to graduate school and take every course seriously. Consider using community college as a springboard to success. You can complete electives early on and improve your chances of acceptance to a better university. Look for mentors in you program of study as well. A good reference from your first year of college might get you the research job you need to succeed.