University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

I know senior year is fun and you want to soak up all the glories of being the big man on campus but I would advise you to think more about next year. This decision might well be the greatest decision you make in the next four years of your life. To choose the right school ask yourself not only about the qualifications of the university but what you like to do for fun. While learning might be the focus of your next four years you need to balance this hard work so you don’t go absolutely crazy. After you decide what you like to do pick a place where you can pursue these activities. For example if you like to surf look at Southern California, for snowboarding look at Colorado. Finally, once you have narrowed down your selection try to stay a few nights in the dorms of the university this will allow you to see what that college is really like and not what your college tour guide tells you. You know yourself better than anyone else so make sure you pick the place that YOU want to go!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now as a college student this is what I would say. First, do not make friends with negative influences; these will only cause you to become distant from your overall goal of getting your degree. Second, every semester of college push yourself a little bit more; this will be needed if you plan on not only getting your degree, but getting a full education. Lastly, try an become persistent, determined, and punctual with all of your professors and their classes; this will win you their respect.

I would advise myself to make goals for the first year of college so I have something to hold myself accountable for.

i would give to my self positive advices about what is best for me and making the best decisions for my future.i would learn the different programs where i can get help from and give the best of me to succeed.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to keep my head up because only you can make a differance in your life. keep studying hard and take those get ready college courses that my school offered. I would pay more attention in class being very scrupulous, and turning in all of my homework assignments. Tell myself that i can make in life being positive about myself not letting anyone tell me different. I would help those who need my help and concentrate more on my future and not others around me because they will not be the ones who will help me to get where I need to be. I would go to school and tell myself everyday that i can make a differance in myself no matter how people down me.

Dear me, enjoy every moment spent with Cindy because she is growing up. You will not be able to see her off to school or make her breakfast anymore. It will make you sad when you hear about her first day of middle school through the phone, but know that she is tough, just like you. In college, you will not have many friends and will walk to class alone and even eat alone, but it is ok because true friendships form through patience. In college, you will be exposed to bad or suprising things and different types of people, but do not be afraid and walk with confidence and wisdom. You will cry yourself to sleep often, but be tough and do not let the little things upset you. Know that dad will not be there to wash your clothes and to tell you to shower and mom will not be there to make you food at 1 in the morning, but it is ok because now is your chance to prove how strong you are. And remember, bad days are normal and as dad says, it's not how you start the race, but how you finish it.

“Be happy.” If I could travel back in time, I would tell my high school senior self this. Happiness is such an important factor in surviving the transition to college. There will be times when you miss your family and friends back home. However, do not grieve over this and find your place in college, and make that home. Stay happy and do the things that will continue to make you happy. With happiness, you can achieve so much, if not anything. Your dorm is where you will be sharing it with others and being happy with your roommate(s) will make your space a place of comfort. Your classes will be challenging, but being happy will allow you to be focused on the good things and do well. Being happy will give you this aura that others around you will want to immerse theirselves into. Being happy is a state of mind. If you want to be happy, be happy. Do not let other factors stop you from being so. Overall, being happy will make every second feel wonderful and make your journey through college a experience to remember.

I would tell myself to be more confident in myself. The one thing that no one told me before I left for college was that the first few weeks are going to be extremely difficult. I had always heard how college is the best time of your life, so I became self-conscious when I felt lonely and insecure when I was finally living on my own. However, I have now found the most amazing friends and support system from many different groups of people. I would tell myself as a high school senior to work through the tough times because everything gets better.

Be yourself in college and not the person you think everyone around you wants you to be. This is an opportunity to discover yourself so be unafraid to try new things. Don't decide who you want to have as your friends, let the friends come to you as a result of doing what you enjoy. Don't box yourself in a corner, and if you accidentally do, break out of it. You are going to meet some phenomenal people. Cherish them but don't place too much conern on how they will react to your decisions. If you are a generally dencent, generous, thoughtful person you will find like-minded people whose company you enjoy. Those are your friends. Stick to them. There are going to be a lot of opportunities and I suggest you take every one of them that interests you. Never lose your enthusiasm. You'll get funny looks for beign overly excited about some simple things, ignore those looks or laugh back at them. Your happiness is what's important. If you are unhappy, change something. And do your work. Preferably ahead of time.

As a high school student I was driven, but not driven enough. Although I played varsity sports, was class president, and took AP classes, I did still did not aim high enough. As my graduation nears I am now beginning to understand the multitude of opportunities I did not take advantage of as a senior or during my transition to college. As a current junior at UCLA, I would tell myself to aim higher, experience more, and take advantage of more opportunities. I should have taken advantage of the knowledge my teachers had to offer and discuss with them questions I had at the time, I should have joined clubs that I was too nervous to join and I most importantly I should have tried things that were outside of my comfort zone. College is absolutely the time and place to try new things, be a new person, and leap outside the box. I look back and although I was an extremely active student I participated in groups within my comfort zone. Thankfully now I am able to change that. I am trying new things and aiming higher than I have ever aimed before.