University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

Study and work hard. Read and write more.

1. Most classes do not take attendance. This means that you do not need to call in sick or get a doctor's note when you miss class. This does not mean, however, that you should stay at home and browse the internet in your pajamas. Go to class! 2. College is a time to meet new people, learn new things, and grow as a person. Have fun, but not too much. 3. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Even though you don't have homework, you should still do work at home. Grab a textbook, your lecture notes, and a study buddy! 4. It's not called studying if you occasionally look at your notes while you browse Facebook. Get rid of all distractions and learn to efficiently study. 5. Pay off your loans ASAP! Yes, those clothes are nice and that phone is awesome. But you know what else is awesome? Graduating with little to no debt! 6. Learn how to cook. Otherwise, all you will be eating is sandwiches and bowls and bowls of cereal. 7. Make friends, even if they are in another grade level. Older students may have textbooks you can borrow. Younger students may have meal swipes.

Don't put it off. Enroll in college ASAP. Education means everything.

In highschool, I could not wait to be in a different environment. I yearned to be in a different place, with different people and in different surroundings. If I were able to talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to appreciate familiarity and the extent to which everyone wishes for your success. In a large college, to get help you must seek it. Help can be found but it is never handed to you like it was in highschool. As a senior, I thought college would not be a transition but a step. I believed when I arrived to college, my mind on my major would be set. I have learned college is the time to try new courses to see what subjects interest me. I still make mistakes in college and I learn from each mistake. Each mistake must be solved by yourself and if you do not fix the problem then the problem will not be fixed. If I could talk to my senior self, I would tell myself to continue to look forward to college but realize a lot of responsibility comes with leaving the safety of home and your hometown.

Time slips out of your fingers as rapidly as wheat grains you cup in your hands. If you don't start preparing and planning months in advance of all your deadlines and tests you will barely scrape the surface of what you want to achieve. Being a procrastinator will leave you depressed from lack of success. Therefore, start using a checklist for every day and make a set of goals to be accomplished no matter how small they may be. If you find yourself getting lazy and saving those items on your checklist for later, you will never be done with them the way you want to be. Relax, once you develop good work habits and shirk off the sluggishness you will feel better about yourself and future prospects.

I would tell my past self how happy I am of our accomplishments and reassure her that the hard work she’s done in school is well worth it; it leads to a 4.0 in college. I’d explain that our health issue is manageable. The pain from our condition will never go away, but it’ll not interfere with attending school, so don't give up because of fear. Secondly I’d explain about financial aid and how it will help, since it’s her main reason for thinking she can’t go to college. I would advise her to start at a community college. I’d explain that life will have many ups and downs, but in the end she’ll be a better person for it all. I’d tell her to try and look on the bright side of all things and follow her heart. My parting words to her would be to not put off going to college. The biggest let down she’ll ever face (if she puts off going to college) is realizing that she could have been done with half of her college career and working in her field by now.

Spend more time talking and understanding your friends. You have been with them for four or even seven years! Good friends are hard to come by so stay by them. Also work harder on those college applications but don't stress yourself to death. I hope that you cherish every moment and try to get to know everyone a little better.

Be courageous. Don’t be intimidated by your senior class president, your taekwondo competitor who won last year’s nationals, or your own doubts of failure. Motivation inspires hard work and along the process you create a passion that becomes contagious. The type to push you past your limits, show everyone how special you are, and prove to yourself that with focused determination you can reach the stars. Remember to smile and let your inner personality shine, but it’s okay if you’re not happy every hour of every day. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings. You don’t want to be perceived as being fake; simultaneously, if you’re mad, don’t hold it in. In the long run, the problem will only grow bigger. Keeping working hard to reach your dreams, because you will only go higher in life.

Sweet girl, if you do not get into your dream university go to the local community college and transfer in as a junior. If a class you need is closed merely crash the course. Do not get up from your seat on the first day of class. This may seem intimidating and a bit scary but do not give up that seat! Wait until everyone has left the room and plead your case privately to the professor. Also, once you are in your classes take the time to get to know your professors. This could benefit you if you’re bordering an A or B grade. Allow your professors to truly know you. If you have difficulty with a subject organize study groups and associate with students who are excelling. Join organizations that can help you reach your goals. Take honors courses and apply for the honors programs, these open many doors. Also read everything about the requirements for your major. Ask lots of questions of the different individuals in the counseling, admissions and transfer centers. Be overly prepared rather than under prepared. Study hard because a C can wreck your GPA and keep you from obtaining certain scholarships.

Study very very hard.