University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself a lot of things, but I'm not quite certain my past self would listen. Firstly, I would tell her that she shouldn't worry too much about the prestige of the college, and that she should concentrate more on a school that had a good program in the sciences. Also, I would tell her that moving away to a college dorm would be distance enough from her parents, and that 500 miles away from her hometown was more than necessary to create that distance. I would warn her that the separation from her friends and family would more difficult than she would anticipate, perhaps one of the most difficult experiences she's ever had. Finally, I would tell her that she would make it wherever she decided to go, as long as it was a good university and that she studied hard. I still believe though, that I, as a high school senior, would still be dead-set on Berkeley. That girl was very determined on heading there.

The college experience in my opinion nutures the growth of a person from a child to a young adult. When I was in high school, I went through my senior year by doing the bare minimum and sliding through the cracks and holes. The saying, "Old habits are hard to break," remained true as I tried to complete my first semester of college the same way. I found the holes and the cracks, but they me led to nowhere. By the time I knew I had to climb out, I was too late. In the end, the road to my goals only became longer as the time that I wasted shortcutting only led me back to the beginning. If I had opportunity to go back in time and give my high school senior self some advice, I would show him myself and how much I harder I have made life for myself because of an arrogant belief: a belief that I could find a shortcut through every path in life. This not only gravely impacted my grades and scholarships, but also nearly ended the so many goals that I had wanted to accomplish in life and in college.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a senior, I think the most important piece of information I would pass along is that college is definitely not high school anymore! Even though you were at the top of your class, remember that everyone at Berkeley was at the top of their class. You will be with some of the best and the brightest while in college, remember to take advantage of that! Make sure you utilize professor office hours early on your freshman year. Don't wait until the midterm to realize that you need help. The professors are there to help and it's a good idea to get to know them early on. They may be the very person who will recommend you to a graduate student to work on their team. Lastly, make sure you take the effort to join a club. This is a great way to get to know people and to pace yourself with the work load. College rocks!

Dear Self, First of all, you are brilliant. You have the ability to do anything and everything you put your mind to. This is the most important thing to remember as you set off on your journey as a college student. You will come up against obstacles, but push through them. They are nothing a strong, capable person as yourself can't handle. As you complete your senior year of high school, savor the friendships you make, but when you go to college, open your mind to new people. But not only will you encounter new people, but new ideas, new experiences, and a new (and much bigger) world. It is a world full of all the best things in life - enjoy them to their fullest extent. But, as always, it is important to stay focused on your future, and the real reason you are in college: to learn, grow, expand, and to gain the tools you need to live life the way you want it. You will do amazingly. Remain confident in yourself and your abilities. Love, Your Future Self

I would tell myself to visit the college more than once before starting, so you can sense the environment and witness events. I would also tell myself to become familiar with the location and its surroundings, so you can easily navigate through the campus and city when the time comes. I think it would help to research the college's history in order to understand the traditions and methods. It would also help to look into the different organizations and programs the school has to offer, so you can think about what types of activities you want to join. College is an amazing experience, and no one can really be completely prepared for it. The best way to make the transition as smooth as possible is to find out what you can about the college and to not be afraid to make mistakes and learn new things. Everyone's transition to college will be different, but that is what makes college so unique and memborable.

I would tell myself that the most important aspect of choosing a college is being true to yourself. I allowed my parents to influence my decision more than I ought to have. Luckily, I ended up on a campus that has positively impacted my life and future. However, there should have been other factors that went into my decision other than prestige. Choosing a unversity is not like drawing a name out of a hat. Although researching the financial aid and rankings is a factor to deciding, nothing is more important than the intangibles that can't be described on the school's website: such as the level of challenge and uncertainty involved in completing a thesis on a topic whose complexities keep you up at night, the difference between a Safeway orange and the organic, student-grown oranges sold every Tuesday, the sound of the drums being played by the tree-sitters protesting the environmentally devastating construction of a sports facility, and the joy of reading an assigned science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick under a tree while the brazen campus squirrels attempt to steal the Nilla wafers sitting next to you.

From where I sit at my dorm room desk, there is still a lot I have to learn about college. However, I do know more now than I did as bleary eyed, nail biting, frantic, high school senior. First of all I would tell myself to calm down, and instead of thinking about the best school I could possibly weasel my way into, think of what kind of school I would really like to attend, the kind of place I could picture myself in. Then I would tell myself that although the idea of college is daunting, once you get there you will be surprised to find that you can actually do it. Yes, it is hard work, yes you will have to adjust, but you can do it as long as you stay motivated. The best way to do that is to figure out what you are interested in and to study what you love. Finally I would tell myself "It is 2 a.m. and you have been sitting staring at your computer screen for 5 hours. Get up, go to bed, dream of good things. Everything is going to be okay."

If I had the opportunity to give my high school senior self advice, the only words I would offer would be to never doubt yourself and keep doing what you're doing. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. I don't regret anything I've done or hold bitter feelings to what has happened to me. Without the heartbreaks, the disappointments and the failures I wouldn't be the strong person I am today. I think it's the hard times that define you. It is my own work ethic and my own merit that got me to where I am today. So I wouldn't offer any advice that my senior self didn't already believe, because she and I both know that anything is possible with a passionate soul and a determined mind.

I took a long time after I graduated from High School to find my footing again in a college. First I attempted to go to school in San Francisco but dropped out after I came to the realization that I didn't want to spend my life as a visual artist. Afterwards I drifted until I found a new interest in computers and multimedia design. I finally earned my Associates after twelve years of being out of school. I think part of the delay was due to a changing world, from an industrial age work mentality that assumed one profession for life and molding one's identity to that one profession, towards a paradigm that now includes many professions and therefore necessitates a greater flexibility and a more sophisticated way of viewing ones place in the world. What one thing should I become, was a crucial question I struggled with in my younger years and it caused me great difficulty after my primary self identifying vocation no longer beckoned me. So I would say to my high school self to foster several interests and to remember that I am not my work, I am much more than that.

The future is not predictable; you cannot determine which school is the best fit, however in times of recession, go with your second-best choice that offers you a full-ride scholarship. You may learn to love being the top dog at the school. Berkeley is challenging in it's academic rigor alone, and attempting to juggle a job, a leadership position in a club, and your next midterm will be very demanding. Also, keep in mind that the reasons for choosing a school (top triathlon club in the nation) may change when you arrive (especially if you can't ride your bike because it's raining 24/7). Also, prestige of a school isn't everything- choose the full-ride over the ego.