University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

"Don't procrastinate!" "Don't party every night!" "Go to class!" These are some of the phrases high school seniors hear upon entering college. While many of them should be done, I would have different advice for myself after graduating high school. Even though most teenagers think they are ready for the challenges and independence college brings, they are unaware of the adjustment college life brings. I would let my younger, more naive self know that there are too many events going on in college to simply do them all; in fact, one shouldn't get involved in any campus activities at first. I would also encourage myself to live out the high school experience! Too many people are overwhelmed by college because they didn't do enough activities or have enough fun in high school. If I were to have gone to more parties and joined more clubs in high school, I think the college transition would have been easier.

First and foremost, nothing can give or take away your happiness: happiness is your birthright. Remember this, and you will always be true to yourself in the choices you make. You may want to rely on what you knew about life before college, but college is about learning things you don't know, and relearning the things you thought you knew. You were a big fish in a small pond in high school, and that will all change when you get to Los Angeles. Don't be too hard on yourself, and don't get discouraged. Regognize that the challenges are there because you are being prepared to live a life with a higher purpose, and it's time to break out of your old comfort zone and spread your wings. Your whole sense of who you are and what you're here to do will change: embrace the dissolution of the old because it is the first step in the formation of the new. Choose friends that promote excellence, elegance and grace in you. Choose habits that make every day better than the day before. Remember that opinions get in the way of observations. Live to learn every day.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would warn my high school self about the level of competition I was about to face. Here at UCLA the academic levels are extremely high and even higher as a Computer Science major. I felt like I was able to coast through high school and get an A in every class. My study habits were not very good and I figured that college would be the same. If I was able to go back I would tell my high school self that I need to get used to putting in several hours a day preparing for classes and develop study habits that would prepare me for UCLA. It is definitely not easy here but I worked through my struggles freshman year and have survived to this point. Of course hind sight is always 20/20 and I wish I could have known half of what I know now about the transition to a major University. In the end however, I have become the person that I am because of the challenges that I have faced and I am a better person for it.

I would tell myself to rely on these three words when approaching a college mentality. The three words are focus, responsiblility, and goals. As a college student, you are for the most part independent. You are responsible for yourself. Take care of yourself and be responsible for your own work, and actions. Focus goes hand in hand with being responsible. Focus on your work. Remember that you are a student first. You must have the right mind-set and focus to complete your work and succeed. Lastly, to make this a complete triangle, set goals for yourself. If you set goals for yourself , then it should make it easier to focus and be responsible because you are constantly working to attain your goals. In doing this, however, be realistic and don't beat yourself up if you do not complete your goals. If you do not complete your goals, then you know you must work harder to attain them the next time around. This is what I would tell myself as a high school senior because in high school I lacked these three components. High school was much easier. I did not realize what being a college student fully entailed.

As a senior in high school I knew going to college would be a big change, but I was not aware of how challenging it would be. In the first few months at UCLA, my romanticized vision of college was replaced by the reality of its difficulties. I always viewed college as "the next step in life", but failed to understand it as a total upheaval of everything I grew accustomed to in my eighteen years of existence. The nightly dinners with my family, the peace and quiet of my bedroom, and the proximity of my close friends disappeared overnight. I was suddenly alone in the giant metropolis of Los Angeles. If I could send a message to myself as a high school senior, I would explain that the college transition may turn out to be one of the most turbulent experiences of my life so far. However, I would remind myself that over time I will learn to make the most of my new circumstances. After all, it's the difficult periods in life that make us stronger individuals. It's important for all high school seniors to understand this and to not be discouraged.

As a high school senior, I was a more introverted individual than I was an extrovert. If I could go back in time, I would stress the importance of getting involved at the collegiate level. As a current member of Colleges Against Cancer, the American Red Cross Club, Invisible Children, and the American Medical Students Association, I appreciate the value in being a part of so many dedicated and influential organizations. I would warn my high school senior self against intimidation, and encourage myself to realize the value in being involved and to confront my insecurity and introversion early. My personality has changed drastically from the inhibitions that governed me in high school, but if it were possible for me to go back in time, I would willfully accelerate this process to allow myself the least delayed and most rewarding freshman year of college.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to cherish my home- my family, my friends, and my state. I never thought that I would miss Texas when I left, but leaving the Lone Star State was incredibly difficult. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that, while college life in California is fantastic, my life in Texas was fabulous as well. I would tell myself to arrive on the first day of school with an open mind and open heart, ready to accept anything and anyone that came my way. Additionally, I would advise my high-school-senior self to get involved in as many activities as I wanted to- a 15 unit schedule proved to not demand all of my time, as I initially thought. Above all, I would say to prepare for the most awesome and unbelievable journey of your life thus far.

Go with your heart. apply to the school you always wanted to go to. Dont listen to anyones advice but your own. everyone has alterier motives, even your parents and well meaning other people. go to the school you want. even if everyone tellsyou that another school is "better" because its your decision, your life, and you are the one that has to spend four or more years there. if i had done what i had wanted, i wouldnt have transferred twice and i would have already graduated by now.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to work hard, stay focused, and reach high. I wish I would have come into college knowing this advice. Dedication and discipline is the difference between a goal and an accomplishment.

The most important advice I could give myself if I could go back in time would be to never forget who I am: a first-generation college student driven to make a difference. Since college is a place where countless perspectives meet, it can be easy to get lost when it comes to identifying yourself. For example, I have learned that coming from a different ethnic and socio-economic background, it may be challenging to fit in with new friends unless we approach each other with open minds. Meeting new people is a very valuable experience because it is then that one can begin to understand more about ourselves. After a year and a half of being enrolled as a full-time student while working a part-time job, I would advise myself that although it is a challenge to achieve a high G.P.A. and be involved with extracurricular activities while working, it is just another opportunity to prove that I can overcome more obstacles than I did during high school. Finally, I would tell myself to always study what I am passionate about and learn that material well so that one day I could enlighten future minds.