University of California-Irvine Top Questions

Join and attend as many campus club events as you can during the first few weeks of school. You can find which clubs interest you and more importantly, build relationships with your new friends. There's no harm done if you don't like a particular club or group, but attending these events as early as possible would be the best way to meet new people, as everyone is in the same boat. Don't worry too much about school and academics. For the majority of first year, the classes are introductory and easy. Just make sure at the very least to attend class each day. You can always cram for an exam a few days before the actual test, but you'll have a much better starting point if you have your notes that you personally wrote (not from a friend) from class/discussion. Otherwise, if you can get past the chickenscratch your friend wrote and passed off as notes, you'll be asking yourself the importance of an ambiguously highlighted excerpt. Lastly, have fun. College is a truly unique experience. Whether it's your top choice or a local community college, it is what you make of it.

To go back, I would inform myself the importance of community college, it helps to take you basics first and to save money. Why pay $16,000 a semester for english, math and history, when you can pay $3,000 grand and have them transfer over. I would tell myself at the senior level that community college has a huge impact for my decision to stay with my architecture studies. I would tell myself to save a savings account because cost of materials to build models do run up a bill. I will tell myself to enjoy my freedom because once architecture studio hours come to play, life as we know it is over! But to continue in on education is extremly important.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to focus on independent learning and studying. They biggest difficulty transitioning has been getting used to the teaching style. The bulk of learning is done at home and on my own for midterms and finals. I would definitely tell my former self to practice teaching and going over concepts before my high school teachers began new lessons. I would also tell myself to keep up the time management! It is so very crucial to be able to manage time well in college. Professors are not constantly reminding students of due dates, assignments, and producing study guides. Finding time to map out and manage all of these things will make transitioning a lot easier! Finally, I would tell myself to be open to new opportunities. The opportunities to get involved are countless in college. I would tell my former self to join more clubs and be less shy to prepare myself for a campus with thirty thousand students. The best advice I can give is, work hard and make time to find and develop yourself!

By now you're probably living the life and blowing off studying for your tests because, hey you're a senior, you own this school. You know what? Stop that. First off you do not "own" the school. And secondly study for your tests, you're just going to have a hard time getting back into the groove of things when you go back to school in the fall. Now to advice, you should know that it's ok to feel stressed about where you're going to college but slow down a little bit. Don't accept going to that four year college just becasue you didn't do your research in the beginning of the year, it's ok to go to the community college, you'll be able to research all the schools you want, and do it right this time, you still get a solid education AND your parents will love you more because of the loads of money you're saving them. Let's get serious now college can be a scary place, but you just need to be yourself and you'll do wonderfully. Don't sweat the small stuff either. Now go study!

If I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior-self, I would say "You'll do better than you thought you'd do at this whole college thing." However, I would continue in saying, "Don't take a 4.0 GPA for granted, especially considering you were diagnosed with a 'learning disability' a couple of years ago. Accept the Lord's Grace and His Truth with humbleness, so that you can help others through this life. Whenever possible, so long as God sees it according to His Plan for you, strive to place smiles on people's faces and hearts. Also, think, really think about why you want an education: how will you use the knowledge you receive for the betterment of Humanity, and therefore you yourself? Lastly, enjoy each day given to you, and strive for faithful obedience in Christ the Redeemer." And then I'd say, "Don't worry. We'll do just fine."

Work harder as a high school student so that you can get into UCSD. Get involved in the community and use your resources that are available to you! Be yourself and work hard, forget about making other people happy.

I would of told my self "I am an artist with the motivation to grab hold of my dream to be able to build a career in art; an artist who is constantly striving, an artist who makes a difference in our society, and an artist who will teach other artists to achieve their dreams. My goal is to become a professional artist, who in the end will be able to say, "I did it!" even when walls were put up around me. To accomplish this goal I know I must obtain an education that will provide the training, tools, and connections while I am transforming into the artist I am meant to be. I don’t want to settle for anything less then what my dreams deserve. Ringling College of Art and Design is the school that provides the specific criteria that I need to become a successful professional artist and im going to go there. I am determined to do everything I can to be a success. I have been told by many that I cannot do this on my own. However, i have that power, not them. I can do this. I am going to do this"

I would tell myself to make a study plan, to stop procrastinating, to not forget the reasons why I try. I would emphasize on how tough the transition from high school to college is. I would teach my naïve self about what it truly means to be independent. I would drill into my younger self’s head that I need to always work towards my goals and to not lose my path when obstacles are thrown my way. I would tell myself that college is something that I really need to be serious about. That college is where my future begins, where the door of opportunities will open. That every choice I make will have an impact and depends on me, myself, and I to decide which one is for the best.

Dear Hanna, You did it! You are a Bachelor of Arts in Drama! Huzzah! Just in case you ever go back in time and get to redo the whole thing here is some wisdom to take back with you: Go to every audition. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are a freshman. That means that everything really is FRESH. Love yourself more. You are beautiful, talented, capable and valid. Let unrequited love go. Really. You will be lighter and freer. Eat less ice cream. Work out more. Apply to more scholarships. You are good enough to win some. Write more. There is a great writer within you. Be open to more than one kind of future. Just say "hi". Shyness can be misinterpreted as disinterest and rudeness. Avoid living in a triple dorm room. Join a field hockey team. Avoid that super insane cardio workout. Your knees will thank you. Keep studying Spanish. And above all else: Stay positive, be yourself and make some wonderful friends. Love, Hanna

Everything gets better after high school, but at the same time, more challenging. Take the time to talk to your teachers about college and hear what kinds of experience they went through so you can get an idea about what college is going to be like. Apply for many scholarships as much as you can since you have nothing to lose, and ask your teachers for help if anything since they have been helping students with college-related topics. I would recommend visiting college campuses to get a good exposure of the environment there and apply to colleges that you're comfortable with. I know it is hard choosing a major, but keep exploring; you will never know where you might end up! Always turn in applications as early as possible in general; you might get lucky. Find something that makes you happy and do what you can for this community; you are human, and you have it better than others, so take advantage with what you have. Don't worry, you are not alone, there are people to help you, you just have to reach out to them.