University of California-Davis Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of California-Davis know before they start?

Maricela

College isn't anything to be worried about. You're gunna do just fine. Remember that first day in AP Spanish class where you wanted to just give up, but you didn't! That's just what college is like. You're gunna meet a TON of new people and experience some pretty random things but never ever give up. If the professor isn't the best, then get a study group together! You know how to be a leader so don't forget to join clubs and sports. You'll love it. Trust me :)

Dakota

If I were to go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would discuss three main things with myself. These three things I have learned from my own experiences. When beginning college, be prepared to face the fact that not everyone will be kind to you and not everyone thinks the same way. Different opinions, beliefs, and values may make finding friends challenging but also an adventure. You should also be prepared to make your own decisions. Parents are good to have to fall back on; but, sometimes, what you need more is to do it yourself. You'll never learn if you don't try on your own. If you still need someone, ask a friend, supervisor, advisor, or counsellor. I'm sure that, if you just ask, they can find the time to help you. Finally, always remember to never give up. The classes will get harder, and it may become difficult to pay your bills; but that doesn't mean it's all over. Try and try again. You are gaining valuable skills that will aid you throughout the rest of your life.

Kenneth

If I could have the oppurtunity to travel back in time to talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself one simple thing. I would stress the importance of continuing my education immediately. It would've be better to stay in school right after high school graduation, rather than "taking a break." If I could have the oppurtunity to stress this to any and every high school senior I would. As I once heard from a very wise person, "An education is the one thing that nobody can ever take away from you."

Jula

I have two pieces of valuable advice for my high school senior self. The first one is don't compare yourself to others. When I entered college, I would compare my looks, talents, major and interests to those of my fellow classmates. As a result, I frequently felt inadequate and questioned my abilities. I always felt as though everyone else had their lives together and I obviously did not. I wish I had celebrated my uniqueness, especially being a comparative literature major in the sea of pre-meds. Secondly, I would advice my seventeen year old to take risks and be open to life - to kiss that boy, take that drama class or apply for that internship. College is a time to fully immerse oneself in a newfound sense of freedom. It is a time to take on new responsibilities, but also a time to fully take advantage of each and every life experience. If I had seen that back then, I would have been more adventurous. I would have said yes more. I would have taken chances on life. Now that I am thirty-one, I appreciate these qualities, especially since I love who I've become.

Amber

While I have thorougly enjoyed my college experience thus far, life is never lived without a small modicum of regret. One thing that I would advise myself to do as a high school senior is to seek out ways in which to get involved even prior to attending college. One thing I found abundantly difficult in the first year of college was finding venues in which to pursue a network with people my own age with similar goals and interests. As I graduated from high school and began attending UC Davis and most people with whom I was close with moved away to pursue their own academic and collegiate endeavors, my life very quickly went from being extremely socially busy to somewhat uneventful in that arena of my life as I was thrust into the world of college academia. I believe that, had I pursued possible networking opportunities prior to attending college, my first year at UC Davis would have been easier. Learning to balance the time spent between social and academic endeavors is still sometimes difficult, but I am very grateful for the people I have met and the networks that I have been involved in.

Ana

Knowing what I know now, I wish that I could give my high school self this advice: “Take a deep breath and calm down. You’re a stressed-out perfectionist, and this has a huge impact on your life and the people you care about. It’s okay to have enough stress to encourage you to do well in school, but in the end, you also need to remember what your academic life is really for. Work hard in school, but do not base your self-worth on the grades you earn. Ten years from now that B- in math will not mean anything to your career. Know what’s important, and focus more on being successful and happy, not successful and overworked.”

Clayton

If I were to give my High School self one piece of advice, it would be to not be overconfident going into college. I received the full IB diploma from my high school, and took all honors classes. When I got to college, the first few exams were very easy for me because of my background, so I got overconfident and lazy. I started skipping classes and sleeping in more and more, and my GPA suffered because of it (it's recovering now thankfully, but it's still a bit lower than I'd like). In addition, I would tell myself to go out and explore more! I didn't make a large number of friends freshman year because I was still adjusting to life alone for the first time, and I wish I had made more of an effort to get to know a larger number of people earlier.

Logan

"Do I look familiar to you? Well I should even if I don't. I see your about to graduate. That 3.65 weighted g.p.a will sure come in handy. But let me tell you, I know you...we both had and have a lot of expectations for college so don't waste it. We only get one shot at this thing, so live it to the fullest. Don't do everything by yourself. It's just unhealthy and not a lot of fun. We need people in life to fill the voids that are not there. If we just come home everyday and do everything we need to do for school, we really aren't living it man. I hope you heed my words so everytime you look back at the past its not just one big regret. The biggest thing she could say is no. What's the worse that could happen? At least try, because knowing is always better than disillusionment. How would you know if you are just guessing? Maybe that wasn't the case at all. Give it your best, success will come eventually. Stick with it. Don't give up."

Daisy

Dedicate yourself to learning. If you thrive to learn now, college will be a breeze. Learn how to study and take the most from it. It pays off in the end.

Desiree

If I went back in time, I would advice myself to take college seriously. As a senior, I felt as though college would be nothing more than the "13th grade". However, college is nothing like high school. In college, you are more independent and expected to be self motivated to do well in school. Also, I would advice to take advantage of the resources available on campus, such as tutoring, office hours, and study groups. Although it may seem as though the professors are scary, they are there for nothing more than to help you succeed in school. Another suggestion I would give myself is to become involved in on-campus clubs and activities. Besides getting involved, clubs allow the opportunity to build your resume, network, explore life, and make new friends. In college, there are hundreds of clubs and activities get involved with; try multiple so you can find out your interests and broaden your perspective on life. My final advice would be to enjoy college and try not to stress so much. College is the perfect opportunity to experiment in life and try new things. Take advantage of it!