University of California-Irvine Top Questions

When I was still in high school, my friend (a junior at CSULB) told me that as long as you study, do your readings, do your homework, and show up in your classes, then you should be fine in college. He told me that in high school, his GPA was below a 2.0, but when he studied in college, his GPA rose over that. I assumed that I would retain my studious personality and do all my readings and be the best I could be since high school; however, during my time in college so far, I barely did my readings, committed as much effort into my seldom homework, and I did not study as much. I may have passed all my classes with a 2.5 GPA, but I lacked what my high school self had, which was the willingness to try and be studious. So, my advice to my high school self as a senior would be to not give up your study habits, seek help from your future TAs and professors, and maintain a balance between studying and socializing. Just don't have too much fun, save most of your time for studying.

I would tell myself not to take a semester off keep going through. Making sure your classes are close together so you don’t lose motivation trough out the day and end up skipping your last class. Don’t take on too many credits every class needs so many hours of study and homework time, it is easy to over load yourself. Make sure every assignment makes it in your calendar, and place alerts on your phone to remind you that progress should be made on important assignments. This will help you avoid cramming and not turning in A+ work. The transition from high school to college is daunting but adding pregnancy and child birth makes it ten times worse. I would tell myself to take my time and think every decision through in and out of school, every action has a consequence. Starting college, becoming a mother and working, is not an impossible task just one that will place school on the back burner. The road will be long and hard but will time and lots of help it can be completed. Staying positive and knowing that all the late nights and long hours will be worth it.

It is all right to fight for your dreams, 17-year-old Nicole. You struggle to fit a mold that has been prematurely casted. Doctor, docto, doctor. A single but potent word that has been drilled into your head. It speaks of filial piety, deference, and Ivy Leagues. Do not be timid. This is your life. It does not belong to your mother, your father, or your aunts and uncles. This is a journey meant for one. Pursue what you desire, and you will develop a thirst to learn. Molecules, organic compounds, and enzymes do not capture your interest and imagination. No ? you seek to grasp the complexities of the human mind. You will attempt to conform at first: You will sit in lecture, eyes glazed, mind wandering. You will not learn. Follow the path that you wish to take, and you will be happy. It may be a path that does not guarantee a high salary, but you will learn, and that is what I wish to focus on. The purpose of life is to grow and to learn, after all. Take the path that is less traveled, 17-year-old Nicole. You will not regret.

College life, a stepping stone to a whole new world of adulthood. As a high school senior, I regret not researching campus programs and opportunites. Although many enter college with the intent of "discovering themselves," I ended up settling for what I could afford and not what was best for myself. I wish I knew how affordable it was to utilize grants, scholarships, and work-study to pay for colleges that could have provided a new life above and beyond my wildest dreams. But regardless of the decisions I have made, I wish I knew as a high school senior that the campus I chose did not define my future. Each colleges has its own set of opportunities and the students are given the freedom to take advantage of them or not. I waited until my third year to get involved and I regret it, I wish I knew then that college is what you make of it regardless of where you go. So have an open mind, make new friends, and enjoy yourself. College is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, but its your responsibility to take that initiative.

If i was given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making transitions, the best advice I could give myself would be, to not take advanatge of what teachers have to offer, what they teach, and of making great use of the time to do more academic work. I would tell myself to focus more on classes and get as many extra classes to help me prepare for college. I woudl also not take for granted what teachers teach us actually take my time to learn the material because it shows back up in college. I would not try to just rush through highschool and graudate, because then I would not be prepared for the wokr load that is to come. I would advice myself to challenge myself with mangaing my time and my workload, and ofcourse, not proscrastinating. I would also make sure that I know that i want to do and not waste so much of my college time trying to figure it out, because it can affect your time left here in college.

I would tell myself to not be afraid. I remember how concerned I was with acting "right" and dressing "right" and doing all the "right" things. Now, having been in college for 3 full years, I would tell myself that I would find better friends and be happier if I just let my personality be my own and didn't concern myself with what others thought of me. I also remember being afraid of joining new clubs or activities. I wish I had jumped in with anything that ever interested me so that I could have been making the most of my time at college learning things I will never get the change to again. For example, now that I am loving the sailing class I signed up for, I wish I had started sooner and could go even further with developing my sailing abilities. Overall, I think approaching college fearlessly and exploring all your interests is the only way to make the most of an incredibly special time in your life and I wish I could have started off with this mentality so I could've done even more.

Kristen, I know that you are in an adolesant state right now, but you must know how important education is going to be for your future. You will end up graduating from a police academy which is great but you need more to satisfy your craving for education as you get older. You will have a mortgage, two beatiful boys that adore you and a dog named Jelly. Your sons father will be deported and you will have to be strong and do everything for yourself. Bills, homemaking, emotional support for your children, working full time and school. You should take the time while you have no responsibility to take on the responsibility of school. You are intellegent and level headed and can do this 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} It takes a load off of you after being laid off after 6 years of dedication, having back up education. Your radiology dream will come true! Hard work and dedication! Make sure you study because its very difficult to do so with a 1 year old slamming on the laptop you are using to study. Waiting 13 years is tough to transition into a full time college education so take this seriously and succeed!

If I had the ability to go back in time as a high school student, I'd tell myself to save my money and spend it wisely. I recently realized how high the costs of education is. If I saved all the money I spent for prom, I would have had much more than I do now, and I'd be less worried about making ends meet during the school year. I'd also tell myself in the beginning of the year to try my absolute hardest and be grateful for the free books we have access to unlike in college where I have to pay over 200 dollars for my chemistry book.

Look, I know that you didn't think much of the 3-6 essays you were required to write weekly for your AP courses -- trust me, though, that practice was al worth it. Classes at UC Irvine are much faster paced than you think; those AP courses were just getting you ready. If I could give you some advice, past-me, I would say to take those essays more seriously than you did. Practice writing advanced essays in short amounts of time is hard to come by now that you're out of school, and it is a skill you need. The only other advice I can offer you is just to relax. Aside from transitioning from a semstre to a quarter system, the transition to UC Irvine was actually quite smooth. Things do work out.

Ashley, right now you feel a strong sense of purpose at your high school; you feel that you are well-rounded and that you have the knowledge to lead people. Do not lose this. College is a different ball park, but the same rules will still apply. You still posses everything you need to succeed in college; not just with academics, but with your work and your social life as well. Just remember that if you put in just a little more effort into everything you do, it really does make a huge difference in your life and in other's lives. No work you do will ever go unnoticed; even when you think people don’t appreciate what you do. Practice how you perform, because this too will be noticed. As well, your perspective on the world will change. Embrace change. Things will never be as worse as they seem. When you are down remember you have a purpose, and you still have the knowledge to lead people. Overtime, you gain the strength to lead them, and yourself.