University of Arizona Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to be so nervous for college! It has been a great experience and I should never have benn worried about it. I would also tell myself to apply for more scholarships. I did not apply for enough, and so I struggled a bit financially this year. But above all, I would tell myself that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

Every one wishes they had an opportunity to go back in time at one point or another. If I figured out the complexity time travel I would make sure my senior self listened up and followed a few rules to make my freshman year better than all four years of high school combined. Rule number one is get involved. The best way this can be achieved is by joining clubs or other activities. My senior self had a few pals but I never fully realized that once college started those friends would all be gone. Joining a club with people that shared my interests would definitely have benefited me. The scholarship and networking opportunities are always a plus as well. Rule number two is, if it is free than take it. Usually on campus there is free food to attract hungry students and taking advantage of those meals could have saved my wallet from becoming empty. Also free seminars for resume building and interview techniques are a great learning experience. Lastly rule number three. Do not be afraid to make friends! I have current friends now that I never expected to be this close with. It is worth the risk.

David, go tell your family how much you love them. Embrace them with an open heart because August 19, 2011 (departure) will be the hardest day of your life. You will regret every unspoken word and every untouched feeling. Look at your girlfriend in the eyes, and tell her you love her. You will not get to see the people you love for long periods of time, so in that time you will need to be ready to take on a new world. You will be facing many obstacles, David. Be ready for them, be prepared to spend your friday nights with your text books, and not with your loved ones. Be prepared to attend mass without your family by your side. Be prepared to be poor. Be prepared to cry your eyes out when you realize you don't have money to go home and celebrate your little sisters birthday. Be prepared to receive a million phone calls from your mother. Be prepared to find happiness in places you never considered. Be prepared to meet the most intelligent individuals the US has to offer. Be prepared to compete with thousands of others just like you. Be prepared David.

If I had the opportunity to go back and talk to my senior self about college life, I would have much to talk about. First, I would say apply to more scholarships and try to get a full ride because student loans will leave you broke. Second, start working right away to save up and be able to afford some sort of insurance because if you don’t then you wont have health insurance for college. Third, hit the books now and lose the habit of procrastination because it won’t help anyone if you procrastinate during your last year of high school. And last but not least, open up and don’t be afraid to talk to new people and take some chances on internships and volunteering. That is what I would tell my High school senior self ahead of time to prepare myself for such a huge shift in my social surrounding.

As much as you say you will not miss home, it will happen. You will get homesick. Seeing Dad on the occassional weekend will be a treat, and nothing will satisfy your craving for his cooking until you get it. The small dorm bed will make you appreciate the queen sized one at home, and the moment you see your dog you will break down and cry, since she is the one thing that you cannot get a dose of at school. You can talk to you friends and family, there will be care packages with food in them, but you cannot get your dog. You cannot talk to her on the phone, or have her shipped to your dorm. Homesickness will happen, and your dog will be the thing you miss most.

Prepare for a completely new lifestly. Enter the college scene with an open mind and prepare to work. You will meet new people, discover new lifestyles, and meet people from every social class. Enjoy your time in college, but remember to think twice before every decision that you make, because you will be living with that decision for the rest of your life. Never forget your family and how much they have done for you. They should be number one in every aspect of your life. Do not drift away from your religion in school, because you are not on a religious vacation. Take each step in stride and make the best of your life in college.

I would tell myself to work as hard as I can because college is amazing and you learn so many new things and meet so many interesting people. Work hard because all of your hard work will pay off in College.

Go build your credit. I know the recession is already present, but you won't believe how much this economic climate is going to affect you. The fact that you don't have any credit could halt your dreams of getting an education. Try your hardest to manage that job, because you're going to have a lot worse jobs than that one. You're gonna go through a lot, Bryan, but I know you'll manage. One day, things are gonna seem really dark, but just remember that you need to struggle to survive. You want that education, that dream never died. So don't waste your time enjoying the summer, go out and save up some money, because you're going to feel the backlash of the housing crisis in a few years. Mom and Dad are going to suffer, and all you're going to be able to do is watch. So help them while you're still there, and tell mom you love her more often. You're really gonna miss her when you're going off into the world alone. It'll get lonely, but you'll still have the faith to carry on. Peace.

You should be proud, continue your path to success. I know you love reading, but expand your views and read some academic articles. Find an author and read some of his/her work. Keep practicing in the subject areas you like the most. They will be of great importance in the future. Look for art contests you will do great. Squeeze into your extracurricular activities a part time job. Keep a copy of the recommendation letters. Thank you for your hard work. Create more memories with your high school friends. Never forget that you have potential, use it.

As an undergraduate graduate, I have lived the four years of the college experience. If I could go back in time and give advice to myself as a senior in high school, it would be - learn how to study. All throughout my high school life I did not study, I would do my homework, but that would usually be it. I never had to study, so I never learned how, it hit me hard. I did the homework and readings, but when that first test came around, I realized I did not know how to study. I did the best I could, I redid the homework and readings, but that was not enough. I received a D on that first college test. I told myself, I knew college was not going to be breeze; I walked into college with my eyes open, unlike most freshman, but my first D in my life, things had to change. I asked for more help, did extra problems and eventually, in my junior year of college, I finally learned how to study. If I had know how to study, that first day of college my GPA could have been a little higher.