University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

The best piece of advice I would give myself is having an open-mind. I came from a high school surrounded with peers that were judgmental. At times, it prevented me from being myself. Coming to college, I have brought with me beliefs and ideals that I kept from high school, which I thought would help me gain friends and find the right ones. But after my first year of college at UC Berkeley, I have learned so much that I can say I have become a different person. Liberal. Tolerant. Willing to adapt. College taught me how to study hard, but still have fun. The meaning of friendship has shifted to something totally meaningful. It taught me how to be open about my sexual ortientation. Being a political activist. Being eco-friendly. Being a party-goer. Being open-minded alllows you to be willing to change, and to be willing to learn who you truly are. Thinking of college as a place for partying, having fun, committing to multiple extracurricular activities, and taking classes that interest you will truly change your perspective on life. It will let you realize what your priorities are, and learn from your mistakes.

If I could advise myself when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself to become more involved in high school student organizations. While in high school, I was involved to a small extent in some student organizations: I was a member of a debating club called the Junior Statesmen of America since the end of my sophomore year, and I became a member of Key Club in the middle of my senior year. However, when I came to Berkeley, I joined five student groups and I became a Co-Representative for my residence hall in the UC Berkeley Residence Hall Assembly. Because I had little experience in student groups from high school, I feel that my transition to Berkeley was suboptimal: it was difficult for me to balance my academic goals with my extracurricular life. Therefore, my advice to myself as a senior in high school would be to prepare for Berkeley by joining and becoming involved in more high school student groups. Specifically, I feel like my experience as an RHA Co-Representative was lacking because I had no experience in student government, so I would advise myself to join student government and Model UN.

Knowing what I know now, If i could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to spend more time rehabilitating my leg. I had surgery on my right leg as a result of me having had cancer-osteosarcoma (bone cancer) to be exact. There are a lot of hills and stairs at my college. My leg gets me tired easily when i'm going from class to class or a campus event. I also would tell myself to go to a little more social, instead of just staying in the room all the time.

Do not allow your previous experiences to define who you will become. College and high school are completely different playing fields and because of that, you must come into college with a refreshed view and an open mind. That said, prepare yourself, as a senior, to experience new things by starting now. The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone cannot be described in two hundred words. It cannot be described in a lifetime to advice - even from one's future self. Consistenly remind yourself that academics and the thirst for education is most important but also know that education and intellectual enlightenment can be acheived outside of the classroom. Learn from your new experiences. And be ready to learn more after.

It might be cliche, but I will say that college isn't going to be what you are expecting. Who else can you believe if not yourself? So trust me when I say this, you have to try hard and put yourself out there in college. Be part of more things, clubs, groups, whatever. You will have the time, you just have to manage time better. Less repetitiveness, more new things. If you want to achieve your goals in college, you are going to have to do this. It won't be easy, and you will have to change. Don't procrastinate and do your work. Secondly, cherish your friends you have now. You may think a new start in college may chip away at old friendships and bring upon new ones, but no, it will bring new ones, but you should keep your ties with the old ones. You may feel rigid at the moment, but being away for so long from your family and old friends, you will come to miss them and come to appreciate the moments you spend with them during your vacations. So, build upon your current friendships and make new ones in college.

For so much of my senior year, I worried. I worried that everyone at my college would be smarter than me; that everyone would be harder-working, more attractive, more motivated. I worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the academic pace, that I'd gain a freshman 50, that I'd make no friends. In fact, I was so worried, that when I first started Cal, I stuck to my room and books and working out. It wasn't until a couple of months later when I realized that I hadn't made friends. Because Berkeley is a big school, I had to take the intiative. I had to go to club meetings and commit to events and to socialize with people. I wish I could tell my year-younger self to not worry so much. I got into my top college, classes were easily manageable, and I didn't even gain a freshman 15. I just wish I had made the commitment to make more friends and get out of my shell. I'm going to make a bigger effort this semester, but it would have easier to have done it before.

Being in college, I have came to realize that the four years of atteding an university is truly a priviledge that will broaden my horizons. I would urge myself to be appreciative of the precious college years , to be courageous to take the road less traveled, to be open to diversity and be humble to learn. To never be afraid to take a challenging class or get to know a stranger. To always expose myself to different cultures and ideas. College is a place where I will encouter many failures, be that as it may, in the mist of every failure there will be wisdom and growth. My GPA can barely reflect my accomplishments in college -so do not dwell in the misery of that first C but look at the A+ I got in learning to live on my own. I may not always be the most popular one, but be genuine and respectful to everyone and I will be awarded with a few life-long friends. Lastly, I would enourage myself to cultivate in knowledge and truth so that I may never become angry or fearful of what is unknown and also, to never settle for anything less.

I know you are running over in your head what college will be like. But trust me when I say that it is like nothing you've dreamt before. It's better. There will be endless parties, for one. And oh! the football games! You will not want to miss those. I will restrain from spoiling it all. But the professors - the way they speak, the way they teach - makes your curious, makes you not want to stop listening, makes you re-think the world you thought you knew. But everything has its price and college's is that you cannot drink all of it in at once. You must remember what means most to you. Your time and thus life is in your hands. Use it well - live each moment with no regrets through the art of balance. Pinpoint what's important, do it, and then go play. And believe me when I say that college is never short on play. Learn like you've never learned before. For college will nurture your mind to realize your dreams. So remember, discipline yourself to prioritize, then balance out by soaking college in. After all, you have four years to enjoy.

Do not take everything so seriously. College does require a lot of work, but you need to make sure to maintain a balance between school and fun.

I would tell myself to take more math classes at community college (since I'm not a very strong math student.) I would also tell myself to stop worrying so much and just take each challenge as it comes. College isn't scary. I would tell myself that I can handle anything Berkeley throws at me; it isn't going to set you up to fail! Study hard and concentrate on school while having fun!