University of Arizona Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would explain to myself that it is a difficult process applying for college and getting everything ready for your freshman year and I just need to take a deep breath and know that it will be worth it in the end. I would tell myself to enjoy ever single moment of my senior year and attend everything that you can when it comes to my senior year. Also, to spend more time with my family because you won't see them as much when you head to the University. But most importantly I would tell myself to enjoy my last year of being a kid and being young. This should be one of the best years of your life and just to enjoy every single moment.

I would tell myself to always love me and remember that this is the time to put yourself first. Your knowledge is all you will have after you graduate, so make it count. Find your balance ,fast, between your social life and academics. Those who are truly your friends will understand when you say you have to stay in to study and those who call you "lame" or tell you "fine, go back to your cave" aren't worth your time and friendship. You will be terribly homesick, but that is OK. Remember that moving around as a child has prepared you for this moment, also mom and dad are only a phone call away--make sure to call mom and dad! Remember that these next four years, although they may be tough they will fly by so make the most of it. Enjoy, embrace, and welcome every moment and opportunity that comes your way. It will always work out for the best, rain or shine. The point is grow up, be the woman you are meant to be, and never give up on yourself. Go to the greatest University and accomplish your life goals.

I know that you are currently focused on a specific degree for college, but before you decide to finalize these goals, perhaps take a step back. I would hate for you to pay money, time, and work into a four-year degree without a guaranteed job after graduation. Some degrees are only meant to transition students into another four-year master or doctorate program and some sensible decisions now can save you thousands of dollars. Sometimes students must take gap years for tests, personal issues, and having a job during this time may prevent you from going too far into debt . Ask yourself these questions before school begins: Does this degree lead to a financially stable job that has a positive job market after four years? Can you support yourself independently with this job? Can you pay off your loans with this salary? I am not saying that you should not still graduate with a degree in creative writing to become the next J. K. Rowling, but double majoring will make you more competitive for your future career as well as guarantee a job following years of college. The decision is ultimately yours alone, along with their consequences. Good luck.

I would recommend living in the dorms your first year of college, because your first two semesters are the most important for success in the future, and living on campus will get you used to the lifestyle and is an easy way to meet lots of people. Get involved in any way that you can, whether its a club, a job, sports, volunteering, the best way to feel like you belong at the University is to get involved in programs that fit your interests. Help is given to all that ask, so there really is no reason you should not seek help. If I could go back, I would have gone to tutoring way earlier in the semester and probably would've saved me failing a class or two. Meeting people in your classes or degree program is helpful for forming study groups, which in the science field, are a huge help!

For me, the transition between high school and college was exciting and a bit scary. I think the worst part was being away from my family; I was very homesick. It’s very hard when you live with the same people for eighteen years, and then all of a sudden, you don’t get to see those people every day. However, the best part was the freedom. I got to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and I could stay up as late as I wanted, there was no one to tell me what to do. It was pretty cool at first but I quickly learned responsibility. So if I could go back and give my younger self some advice, I would say: eat your vegetables, just because you can eat whatever you want whenever you want, doesn’t mean you should. Be outgoing; you can never have too many friends. I would tell myself that some things may be difficult but they will only make you stronger, and I promise that it will get better. And I would tell myself that I am strong, smart, beautiful, and I deserve the best, because sometimes that’s easy to forget.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior and high school I would tell myself to find out information earlier. I wish that before I had actually started college I was more aware about the different clubs and social activities that take place on campus that way i would be able to join them earlier and not be behind. Additionally, I would tell myself that it is vital to form study groups and good study habits so I can maintain all A's. Probably one of the most important pieces of advice I would give to myself is that college life is difficult, you have to stay focused on grades, but at the same time don't let a B on a test break you. College is going to be more difficult than highschool but it's important to maintain I good mental health and have fun and keep yourself healthy.

Going into college may seem scary but you should have no worries. Everyone is friendly and it will be easy to make friends. You will have a social life, even if you are meek and shy, these traits will not stop your classmates from talking to you and eventually creating a bond with you. Academically, you will succeed as long as you do your work, attend class and study. One thing you must do though is do a degree check with your academic advisor(s) before a new semester starts, just so you know for sure that you are on the right track. If you do not do so, you may end up staying an extra semester or two trying to complete all your credits. You should also go into your professor's office hours for help whenever possible. This is a great asset in college. And finally, just relax and have fun. Enjoy the experience of living away from home and being an adult.

Going back in time to my high school self in senior year would be the one thing I wish I could have done. If I had that opportunity I would have told myself to have done more research on college and how different it would be versus high school. Not to buy every book for every class just because the professor says you need it. The truth is many professors ask for books that aren't needed and some of them can be found at the library or be rented which saves you a whole lot of money. Lastly that college is a tough road and sometimes you second guess your decision because others tell you what you should be doing. When in reality its your future and you have to be happy with what career you decide. Don't let people make you second guess yourself because later on you will find out you made the right decision and you end up being happier than you have ever been that you listened to who you are rather than what others wanted you to be.

Dear High School Self,I want you to know that college will be tougher than you expected. Try not to waste time. There will be times when you want to go see a movie with your friends the night before your 8 am class. Don’t do it. You will regret the tired feeling you have the next morning as you try and drag your self out of bed. You need your sleep. Join activities and make new friends these people will help you and make you a better person. Don’t take failure lying down professors are there to help you go to as many office hours as you can. You will do fine. Good luck,Your Future self.

Be ambitious, inquisitive and self-motivated. Be passionate about your work and life and approach it all with a voracious appetite for knowledge and experience. At college you’re fortunate enough to learn amongst the brightest individuals in the country; you have endless opportunities at your disposition, you need only take the initiative to find them. In doing so remember learning isn’t exclusive to scholarly pursuits, without life experience education is meaningless. I met more people, tried more new things, and failed more times than I have in my entire life during one year of college. I loved it and can’t wait to do it again with like enthusiasm. We’ve all heard that mistakes are an important part of learning, but two mistakes you don’t want to make are (1) being lazy, and (2) being close minded. Opportunities appear in the most surprising places, but one place I would be surprised if they appeared would be on your couch in front of the TV. Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid of embarrassment or failure because it’s better to feel stupid for five minutes now than to remain ignorant for fifty years.