University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

I think there are so many things I would have to tell myself. I feel like it is easy to go back and feel like you missed out on a lot of things. When I was a high school senior, I was so concerned with my own life and where I was going to school, what I was doing the next day, and what my future goals were ; I did not think much outside myself. I would first and foremost tell myself that I need to help others in the community and do as much as possible to enrich the lives of others. There is more to life than the superficial things that seem so important at that moment in time. In college, I have been able to expand and realize the great importance and personal responsibility I have to help others and do what I can. I have become involved in what I am passionate about, which is education, and have come to see the impact one person can have. It may seem overwhelming, but the little things can make a huge and influential change in at least one person's life.

I would have to tell myself to take classes that pertain to my major right from the beginning. Having a gameplan of what you're going to accomplish in the first couple years is extremely important. Additionally, it is equally as important to be friendly and smile. When you're a freshman, everyone else in your classes are in the same boat you are. They are all just as nervous and insecure.

I would tell myself to meet as many people as possible, and become friends with them. I would tell myself that I should live in a residence hall to fully get the experience of living in a college dorm and the social activities that come with that. I feel that I perform well academically and that the only thing that could improve is that I spend a bit more time studying than I would like. I would tell myself to try new sports that were available and to join more clubs, and to immerse myself in the college community available at UCLA. I would let myself know that UCLA was a good choice and that I would like all aspects of it, including the classes, the food, the people, and the location of the school. I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to be more organized about meeting deadlines.

Take full advantage of everything UCLA has to offer. You have absolutely made the right decision in picking this school. This is the school of your dreams. Go to to every sporting event at least once. Take the classes available at the Wooden Center in everything from magic, to ballet, to squash to 80's disco. Join a sorority. Help the community. Go to performances at Royce Hall. Visit legendary Pauley Pavilion. It is all at your finger tips. Use it!

Dear High school senior Me, I'm glad that you got accepted into UCLA and that you will be transitioning into this great university soon. I advice you not to take this transition lightly, as it will take time and great work for you to adapt. A lot of work is required from you in order to do well here, and a lot of commitment and school spirit is needed in order for you to stay motivated. Your social life will change dramatically compared to what you have in high school, but do not party too much as it will interfere with your school work, I guarantee you that. Get involved into different kind of clubs and be open-minded about different opinions, because people here are very individualistic and hold on dearly to their own opinions. Discover yourself, have fun, because college is really the place where you define who you are and what you will become in the future.

Enjoy every moment of you senior year because those years will never come again.!

I never had the dorm experience, which I regret. I think you become much more active on campus and make many more friends when you live on campus. Therefore, I would encourage dorm living for at least the first year. Also, I wish I would have worked on developing better relationships with faculty and teachers. They can be a great benefit when needing references, but they need to know who you are. So, scheduling smaller classes when possible should be done. The small class size also is more motivating for a strong work ethic. When there is discussion and teacher/student acknowledgement, you desire to spend more time working on the homework material. The large classes require much more self discipline to succeed. I also started at a community college before transfering to UCLA and felt that was a great move. I was really upset about attending community college at first, but I think it is well worth it!

I would tell myself to relax and enjoy the moment, not to worry and to trust that everything would fall into place at the right time.

I normally sleep no more than six hours a night because of my desire to expertly meet my commitments. Throughout my life, I have worked as long and as I possibly can to effect beneficial changes in both school and society.I have lived such a life experience in my last high school year. Along with twelfth grade and turning up eighteen years old, I was going to become independent, "on my own feet" as some would say. Time has taught me how to take fast decisions. I gave up to my free time to replace it with hard working, interminable tiredness and meditations. But the most important thing is the positive lesson it taught me, that is, never give up fighting, no matter what happens because there is a hope for everything in life, and loosing it doesn?t bring you close to your goals. I realize that I am not a kid anymore and that my own destiny can be influenced by a simple decision. In conclusion, every life experience can teach you something and you don?t have to be afraid of experiencing because there is a whole life ahead waiting for you to live it.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college, I would definitely assure myself to not second-guess myself and to go with my instincts. One of the most difficult things for me during my freshman year of college was deciding if I should stay an art major or not, and in all honesty, I still find myself struggling with my decision sometimes. I think it is crucial to take a variety of classes to figure out what excites you and peaks your interest, and then worry about the technicality of declaring a major. Hopefully, a pattern will appear in the courses you enjoy and you can move forward from there. It is completely normal and human to question significant life decisions, but it?s also important to eventually be assertive. I believe that the college experience as a whole, in terms of classes, participation, internships, socializing, and research, plays an essential role in building this confidence in oneself and in the decisions they make. So, take a deep breath, stay organized, and take full advantage of every opportunity and resource that is available to you. And, of course, don?t forget to have fun!