University of Arizona Top Questions

College is never an easy transition from high school. But its not like when you switch schools when your younger and scared of meeting new people. This transition is better than those ones. People are actually very friendly and make you feel welcomed even the professors try to make it seem easier then the ones you had in high school. College is actually really fun and you learn so much about the profession your studying to accomplish that it makes it even better. The only thing that has to be really clear to you is that college is a very big responsibility and that even though its fun and people are really nice to you. You have to do all your homework and projects to pass the classes because they don't pass themselves. You actually have to work very hard to keep your grades up. Also don't procastinate with your assignments because it can get a habit and that will not turn out ok in the long run when you have so much homework to do. But to all of this don't worry because in the long run this will all be worth while when you graduate.

If I could go back as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself would be to not enter college treating it as high school. As a high school senior, I was able to walk through my advanced and honors' courses with little or no effort. I could pass all of my tests, including final exams, without studying or even showing up to class. I made the mistake of thinking I could do the same with college, and had a very nasty surprise on all of my first tests. Afterwards, it became very clear that I could no longer skate through classes like I did in high school, and that effort was required to get the high grades I wanted. College is not high school, but it took a few bad test scores to come to that conclusion. If I could go back and speak to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give myself would be to study, study, study, and to not wait until the last minute before a test to do so.

Community College is very different from the traditional University. Don't go into one expecting an atmosphere like the other. That being said, both can offer valuable educational experiences and friendships that will last a life time. Both schools offer unique opportunities that cannot be obtained in other establishments. Even if your college expereince is not one hundred percent how you pictured it to be, you will have gained more by going down this route than most students who simply just jump right into a University. Just keep on working hard and meeting people!

First thing I would tell myself is not to ever procastinate on anything, most importantly homework. Also, keep up on the material that we learn in class every day because unlike high school; tests are not always multiple choice where you could guess and do well on the test. The material builds on itself so if previous material is not well understood, it is very hard to study for the tests. Organization and time-management are also one of the key skills to gain in college. They are tied up with procastination. In high school, homework is usually due the day after it is given and teachers really take care of students in terms of telling them in advance when the tests will be and how to study for them. In college, a week usually is given for the homework and it is hard to remember all the homeworks and quizzes when you are taking four to five classes. So it is very crucial to be organized and do everything in advance as there is no one to keep you updated on the work.

Don't worry! It's not as bad or as imposing as you might think. You will find people along the way who will help you and guide you in the right direction. Don’t let up! Keep working hard, even though your friends want to take you out and party and have fun. Have fun, but don’t let it get in the way of studying for the grades you need for your career. Don’t forget about finals! All that hard work can come to naught in the last week of school if you aren’t working hard down to the wire. Don’t over-do it! Work hard during the week, but take it easy on the weekends or whenever you have the time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Take advantage of the professor’s office hours; they’re usually more than happy to see AND help you. Don’t cheat! It’s so easy to chat about a test or quiz to a friend after you took it, but it’s still wrong! You not only help them illicitly, you hurt yourself and others by giving them a “leg up” on the task.

First and foremost, I would explain to myself that the BIO181 class the advisor told you to take? Run, run for your very life as it depends on not taking that specific class. Kicking myself in the leg for not starting to work hard sooner would be a good first step. "Don't wait for Diana to make you, take the initiative now and life will be better", I would say to myself over and over again. I would explain what classes were easy, but yet enthralled me so as to avoid the ones I would struggle in and never learn from. I would do this in an attempt to increase my college experience from one of uncertainty and hard work. To guide myself in the direction most beneficial for my education, and avoid the pitfalls that caused much stress and near humiliation of my academic career. To be able to know the truth, and react in heinsight...What would I not do to prevent disaster? Now thats a real question.

going back in time i would tell my self to focous on my education more than my personal problems. That i know things may seem hard might now and you just want to gie up with it all dont beause you will only hurt your self in the future. Also just because you join college and you are not talking a college credit class your first year in college what ever you do dont slack off!

apply to more than one college and multiple scholarhips. If i would have known that then i may be going to college on a full ride or at least some amount of money.

If I could go back in time to when I was a senior I would probably tell myself to relax about the college admission process. The truth is it does not matter where you go to school, it matters more what you do while you are there, and where you want to go afterwards. In addition, I would tell myself to try things I normally wouldn't, because in those moments of trial is when you learn the most about yourself. Saving money, and budgeting are other pieces of advice I would give myself, because as I have unfortunately discovered, college expenses cannot simply be pre-written on paper. Besides tuition there are extra cost brought on by extracurricular acticvities, supplies, life events, food and even the unexpected. Yet, most importantly is time management, which is crucial to keep in mind for college life.

There were two things that I did not understand upon entering college that might have proved detrimental if I was not corrected immediately. First of all, every resource must be utilized when given the opportunity, unlike in high school. When a high school student walks into their first college class, normally a general education course with at least 150 students, it is jarring to know that you are just a part of an immense crowd of other students from a teacher’s perspective. On the first day students receive a syllabus containing all of the course material and something that might not have been present in high school called office hours, and sometimes preceptor hours. The utilization of this personal time with the teacher is key in order to both become prominent in the class to the teacher and maintain a sound grade point average. If free time is somehow present, use it to create questions for the teacher and go into his or her office and create a good relationship with them. Secondly, the use of a calendar to organize all lectures, office hours and labs is crucial to staying on top of a college course schedule. Plan ahead!