University of Arizona Top Questions

Do not slack off during your senior year. Take the highest level of classes you can take, and make good grades. Also, go straight to a four-year institution from high school to avoid missing out on the experience of the college life. If you go to a community college for two years, it keeps you from growing up and experiencing things that everyone should experience at some point. Community colleges are just like high school. However, if you do go to a community college, get to know your professors. Talk to them like they are real people, and they will tell you some interesting things. They really are there to help you become your best self, so take advantage of all of their knowledge.

STUDY AND THEN HAVE FUN

Don't major in something you think is going to make you the most money because in the end, it's not going to make you happy. Do what you love and find significance in the classes you take and the groups you are apart of. Focus on a couple things instead of trying to do everything because that is what is going to make you stand out. Be still every so often so you can realize how truly great your life is and don't take anything too seriously. Just be happy and do your best and you will go far.

First of all I believe my high school did not prepare me for college and for that reason I have a lot of advice I wish someone would have given me as a senior. The most important thing I would have told myself is to study every day and practice each assignment more than once. I would also give myself the advice of always trying hard and not giving up because as a college student your work will not always receive a perfect score. The most important advice I would have given myself would have been to not be lazy and to turn in every work that has been assigned even if it is only worth one point. Being in college has been a great struggle since I have learned every aspect of college life on my own but I know that with my desire to become a nurse in labor and delivery it will push me to not give up and make my dream a reality of receiving my bachelor’s degree as a first generation college student.

If I could travel back in time to speak to myself as a high school senior regarding college, I would have a great deal to say. Most importantly, I would stress the importance of graduating. My point of departure would be to explain that roughly eighty percent of Americans have some education beyond a high school diploma. However, only about twenty percent of Americans have a Bachelors Degree. Simply by graduating, one delineates themselves from the masses. I would argue that college graduates almost always have more financially successful lives than non-college graduates. I would also argue that while money can not buy ones happiness, it can often facilitate the pursuit of happiness. One point of emphasis would be that this college can be seen as the path of least resistance to a “better life”. While there are a myriad of ways in which one might wish to be contented, graduating college might be the one thing that can bring this contention to fruition. Lastly, I would tell my past self that college transcripts are the most important testament of personal character and they can often define ones life.

Honestly, the high school I attended prepared me so well for the academic side of college that I have no problem balancing school, work, and a social life. However, if I knew in high school what I know now, I would have started selling my handmade crafts earlier in order to raise money for college, gotten a bank account earlier in high school, and really pushed my parents to teach me to drive as soon as I turne 16.

Set your morals and keep your integrity. Throughout the first months of college you will be challenged to change yourself; changing to fit into the social norm of society. Don’t give in. Although it may be more difficult, it is your personal and moral worth that will keep you sane. Never shortchange your standards. When it comes to relationships and goals you cannot settle. Do not quit and take the easy way out simply because you refuse to challenge yourself to be different. Exploit other’s apathetic attitude towards college. Take advantage of this opportunity you have and seize every day. Find what you love and go after it. Once you find what you love, follow it.When you are faced with obstacles, you must confront them. There is no "slip it under the rug” here. You must take responsibility and be the bigger man. Here in college you cannot escape hardship, stress, or barriers. They are all part of college, and are here for you to grow, not to shy away from them and walk the other way. It’s a journey in itself, but never lose sight of your goals. And always remember where you’re from.

I would tell myself to really focus on applying for financial aid and scholarships. No one really told me to do that and coming to college and seeing all the expenses that I have, I wish I had more money to pay for everything. Money isn't everything in life but it sure does make things stressful sometimes when you don't have it. I would also tell myself to not worry so much about the transition. It wasn't as stressful as I thought it was going to be and I wish I could have saved myself some of the anxiety that I had in high school about the transition to college.

The transition from my mediocre high school to a highly accredited university was very difficult for me. That being the case, if I were able to go back in time and give myself some useful advice I would stress the fact that attending class, taking thorough notes, and completing all the assigned readings are very important for achieving success in each class. I seemed to get by without much studying in high school and yet I was still able to achieve a 3.9 GPA. Being used to a system such as this, I enrolled as a full time student at the University of Arizona being very confident in the fact that I could easily obtain my bachelors degree in engineering. After the three semesters I have completed thus far, I have progressively improved. If only I had known then what I know now, I would have saved myself a lot of stressful moments.

Looking back on the past, there are so many things that I would tell my high school self. The first advice I would give is to participate in more extracurricular activities. While I loved Drama Club, it took up the majority of my time. If I had not joined Drama Club, I could have joined more clubs which would have looked better on my college applications. I would also have told myself to focus more. I slacked off in my senior year and I ended up with a 3.6 GPA, which was not enough for me to get the scholarships that I needed for school. I ended up without the money that I needed to go to college. If I had focused on college, I would have gotten a higher GPA and hopefully would be starting my senior year, rather than my sophomore.