University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

I came to UCLA with naive aspirations of enjoying all kinds of different experiences, but my experience here at UCLA has really pushed me towards excellence. With pursuing my education, my aspirations have changed and have become more focused. UCLA and the many connections I have made here have given me more than I have ever fathomed to experience through internships, hands on work in communities that need the most help, and through opportunities that professors and alumni offer for students to experience. Not only has the education I have acquired here at UCLA secured a future for me, but the experience of a fast-paced, competitive, unforgiving atmosphere afforded me the experience to become not just an asset to what ever company I may work for in the future but to fill a more innovative and skillfull leadership role.

When I entered high school, I believed colleges were merely a stepping stone on the way to a nice job. As I progressed through school, however, I realized there is more to college than academic excellence. I chose UCLA as my undergraduate college because it resonated with my personality: a stable balance between academics and recreation. While I have only been in college for a few months, I feel as though UCLA has become my second home. My friends often say we adapt to our college until we can longer see ourselves going anywhere else. For me, I could see myself as a student at UCLA the moment I stepped foot on campus. In just my first year, this college has presented me with an array of opportunities: making new friends while keeping in touch with old ones, joining student organizations that further my interest in medicine, and exploring the diverse communities around me. But these experiences are only the beginning. In the next three years, I will ultimately learn and encounter so much more. I believe that this is the true value of college: the experiences it presents you with and the lessons you learn outside the classroom.

Hey Angela, are you listening? Dad?s right: still got blinders on your head. I?m proud you?re studious, but don?t be so intense! I know the last two years haven?t cultured this idea, but remarkably the world isn?t ?shelter-stringent.? Soon, you?ll finally have a home to return to on the weekends and holidays. Yes, you?re going to dorm, but this is different commune living; these are people your age, no night staff will tell you it?s too late to study, and you won?t sit in a closet afterhours to peacefully finish your AP homework or scholarship applications. Also, I applaud your diligence with this year?s scholarships! With the UC tuition hikes, every bit counts. One more scholarship means more time invested in studies and mentoring, in inspiring a new group of sixth-graders to build their foundations. When you go fulltime into that profession, I doubt you?ll find better gratification. Angela, stay focused, but don?t forget there?s a world beyond those blinders and it?s not so terrifying once you can get out into it.

As a high school senior, I would say I was completely driven to attend the best college, no matter the distance or cost. Looking back on my old self, I would say that persepctive is inherently erroneous. The truth is, what college you go to has little bearing on where you will end up in life. Attending college is an achievement in itself, and once again, the age-old ideal of working hard to help yourself pulls through. College is just another phase in life, and as such, it simply amounts to what you invest in it. One may encounter all the distasteful aspects like surly professors, horrible hangovers, and back-stabbing peers, but in the end, like life in general, one can choose to charge through all the problems and only focus on those that can be resolved. In short, my advice would be to enjoy myself, to work hard at things that merit my attention, and everything will logically fall into place. In theory, everything happens for a reason, and what little exception that pops up can be defeated by a little sweat and struggle.

Being at UCLA for almost two quarters now has given me an incredible experience that has allowed me to grow so much. Knowing what I know now, if I had the opportunity to travel back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are a couple tokens of advice that I would give to myself. First and foremost, I would tell myself to make a concerted effort to introduce myself to EVERYONE living on my floor. I have met many people who live in my community and have become good friends with quite a few of them, but I have not met every single one, which is something that I regret. I am sure I will meet them all eventually at some point or another, but getting to know the people you live with early on is very important in my eyes. The other important piece of advice I would tell myself would be to budget my time better. If I knew from the very beginning how to organize an effective study schedule, then my first quarter would have run much smoother and would not have been quite as stressful.

Life transitions are always difficult, but college is a wonderful experience. Be overly friendly with everyone you meet, since any stranger on the campus might very well become your new best friend. Remember that everyone around you is feeling just as nervous and out-of-place as you are, which is part of the reason that you will all bond so well! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Professors honestly always want you to come to their office hours, even if you don't have a specific question to ask. And remember to sign up for the classes that look the most interesting, rather than the ones you feel obligated to take. These are the classes that will ignite your passions for learning and inspire you to bring your newfound knowledge to the outside world. Get involved with as many extra-curriculars as you can sanely handle, and participate! By becoming as involved as possible, you will ensure that you encounter both people and activities that you love.

If I were able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely inform myself about the complexity of college life. It has nothing to do with the fact that I'm not living with my parents and a home, but with fellow students and in a community, but it has to do with the fact that in order to benefit the most from college is to have a plan. I want to go into the medical field, but I had no idea what the requirements for medical school were nor majors. I was confused how to join organizations and what general education classes were. If I had known, which would be what I would tell myself as a high school senior, is to prepare for college near the end of senior year or the summer after graduation. Know what majors are best suited for me and how I can maximize the benefits from college in order to relieve stress. Before college, I would have loved to research several interesting majors and minors and plan a schedule of possible classes I would take each quarter. If I had done that, I would have greatly facilitated myself now.

If I could go back to high school, I would choose to take classes at a community college to better prepare myself for UCLA. The high school I attended didn?t offer many AP classes, so I was denied the opportunities to receive a higher education. It would have been more intelligent to broaden my horizons and not expect these opportunities to be handed to me. I could have gone to a community college and begin classes, so I could be at the same level, if not higher, as the other students attending this prodigious university. The advice I would give myself would be enjoy the time I have with my friends and sporting events because once you enter college, it is gone and things change. I would tell myself to laugh everyday and not to worry about working every weekend because soon in the future, my weekends will be consisting of constant studying. The main thing I would tell myself would be, do not be afraid of which school because I will get into because I will have opportunities no matter what university I are accepted into, so enjoy being a kid and live life to the fullest.

First and foremost , I would give myself a pep talk, I would tell myself that I did a really great job and that my diligence and hard work would pay off. I would assure myself that even though college can seem intimidating at first, everything will fall into place as soon as you get into the rythym of things. I would encourage myself to stay focused , set clear goals and then fight like hell to achive them. College is definitely not High School, and as such, different ways of approaching each unique situation will need to be implemented in order to suceed. It's not hard, it is just of matter of putting in the time and effort; ask questions and use every bit of information to your advantage. The most important advice I could give is that even though a huge sense of relief in graduating is felt, don't procrastinate. Though a much deserved break is in order, time is ticking and before you know it, opportunities have been missed. I would tell myself to breathe, enjoy the sastifation in knowing you're done with High School then refocus; chart out goals, stick to them and thrive.

The world is both more and less overwhelming than you think. It's more overwhelming because what you've begun to suspect is true: no one here is certain and everyone is very often afraid. It's less overwhelming because there is a place for you in all the confusion. It's scary, but there are things you can do. They're not as grand as you'd like--I remember well the shy romance of your soul!--but they're more satisfying because they're hard earned. You're going to find out that you can't know everything and the things you choose to study will be more precious to you. You're going to learn more and more what it is to love and how hurt always comes with loving. Realize that everything exacts its price, so you should choose to do the things that you believe are worth paying for out of yourself. Find the things you can put your heart into, and go after them. Never forget why they meant so much to you. Don't let uncertainty make you forget. It's okay to fail, as long as you remember why to try again.