University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself when I am a senior high school I would tell myself that this moment is the beginning of my future. That college is a place where I will overachieve in order to reach my career goal of going to medical school. I would tell myself to stay open-minded and learn from others, to get involved in community campus life as much as I can. I would give myself some positive encouragements knowing that the road is going to be hard but possible to get through. I would say that it is okay to have fun as long as it does not compromise academic performances, that college education is a gift so I should take my education seriously and practice it with passion. I would tell myself that I am very fortunate to be able to attend such a great university. Finally, knowing the tremendous cost of my education as I am not a California resident I would strongly encourage myself to apply for all possible scholarships and make sure to be on top of the paperwork with the financial aid office.

In high school I was on track to be where I am today. One thing I would make sure to warn myself about is how the failing economy would affect tuition and enrolment. I would warn myself to save as much as I could so I wouldn't be as reliant on loans as I have been thus far. I would tell myself to work hard so that I could concentrarte more completely on my studies. Working part-time too much during my time at UCLA has affected my G.P.A. negativly because of my heavy course load while obtaining two B.A.s. This would be the hardest transition, moving far from home and being financially independent without ever having been so before. I would tell myself that I could succeed with hardwork and by remaining focused and studious.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself about college know what i know now, I would tell myself that what matters most is taht you pick a career that you can be happy with. Study hard and do the best you can with all the resources that are available because when you get older it only gets harder. College is a wonderful experience and is one of the funnest times in a person's life but it also makes a big difference when you set your mind to getting good grades and learning all you can instead of wasting that knowledge. You can go as far as you could imagine but you have to apply yourself and disipline yourself. There is always going to be a time in your life when you can rest but while you are young you should study and work hard to be abe to get into a good college where the opportunites are endless. You can be anything you want to in life, but it is much easier to figure that out while you are young.

pay closly attention to your surrounding. Make sure you know what you are studying for. Make sure you know what classes your taking.

"Be open to opportunities, and go headstrong into things that spark your interest. As you venture into the real world, you have to fight for what you want. Don't be afraid of change, because it is inevitable. Savor the spontaneity in life. Listen to mom, because everything she taught you will help in the process of difficult transition and growing up. Be kind to your twin sister, because she won't always be around anymore. Sometimes you might feel alone, but you can always depend on the values you were taught, your friends who experience the same struggles, and the comfort of home. Remember the beauty of Guam, the ocean, and its people. You'll discover people who will discourage you, so appreciate those who are there for you now, and keep reminding them that they are valuable to you. Stop being a worry wart, and don't let your busyness get in the way of spending quality time with friends and family. You'll wish you had more time with them. Banish doubts. Never stop believing in your abilities, because they will take you to places you would have never imagined. "

Eileen! WAKE UP! You're not always going to be the smartest and top of the class! You need to prepare yourself as much as you can. Believe me, it's not fun, but those teachers and counselors at Anaheim High School did NOT do their job! Eat, Breath and dream Calculus! If Mr. Logan is not teaching you, learn on your own! As it stands, UCLA will be 50 times harder for you than for your fellow Bruins! If you can't handle math your first two years, just DROP it and follow your true passion: FRENCH! Study Abroad early in your undergraduate career and for whole year instead of waiting until your last year to try to gain that experience in France! Apply for as many scholarships as you can, preferably renewable ones! Most importantly, seek help from counselors early on, don't feel intimitated by your race and economic background, you deserve to be at UCLA just as much as your neighboor! Also, got to your professors' office hours, they want to see you there! Last, but certainly not least: get involved in clubs and organizations early or you will feel like you missed out!

I would tell myself to take more risks socially my first semester. I would encourage myself to venture out and get involved in social activities instead of concentrating solely on academics. I would also tell myself not to get mad at myself for not getting the perfect grade. I would remind myself that college is a lot different than high school and it is not as easy to get an A than it was in high school classes. In addition, I would encourage myself to put aside time for myself. I would tell myself to remember that college is stressful and UCLA especially is very competitive, but that everyone deserves to have a little time to themselves to maintain their sanity.

All of my experiences and struggles that I have gone through have made me grow as a person. In many ways I do wish I could go back to being a high school student and know the things I know now. When I applied to colleges, like most first-generation students, I didn?t know what I was getting myself into. I didn?t know what to look for in schools. When I chose to go to UCLA, I had never visited the school or knew what made it different to other schools. The only thing I knew is that it was one the prestigious school where I was accepted. With what I know now, I wish I could have saved more money so that I would be financially stable, I wish I could have had ideas about what I wanted to major in. I also wish I could have taken the opportunity to go to the freshmen summer program to know how to get around college, have support, and know the school better at an earlier stage.

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, it would be to express myself more. I was a always a shy kid, mainly because I had grown up in two different languages and cultures, in Germany and America, and felt that I did not completely belong to one or the other. Expression through music and writing has greatly helped me overcome these feelings since then. To write an authentic song or piece of literature, to hear those striking bells of inspiration and record their sound onto a piece of paper and move people in all directions with that resonance is, for me, the greatest feeling in the world. Whether it is music, writing, or a combination of the two into songwriting, I know I can always look to these mediums not for wealth in the pocket, but for wealth in words, music and mind. These outlets show the beauty that comes from chaos, the art that is scraped from the bottom of life?s cup; the core of human beings and being human brought into creative light. With a little financial help, I can help share this with the world. Money should not limit learning.

As a high school senior one is filled with the excitement of finishing a chapter of life and moving on to the next. However, this excitement is also accompanied by stress and fear. You are worried about passing the AP exams to receive college credit and getting the best grades you can. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to get rid of that fear and stress. While in college I have come to realize that what you did in high school does not matter anymore. Those AP exams that drove me crazy did not matter as much as I thought they did. Also, during senior year one is infected by a disease known as Senioritis (a disease which cause a student to be lazy and procrastinate in school). I would tell myself to get rid of this disease and to begin to create study habits. I have come to realize in college that it is study habits that affect how you do in class. It is the creation of good study habits that will allow for a smooth transition into college.