University of California-San Diego Top Questions

The most important thing to do first is visit the campus where you would like to attend and talk to the counselors and students there. If you can’t envision yourself there then you should consider another school. Secondly, apply for FAFSA and research scholarships. Make it a point to apply for scholarships as if it were your part time job. When you get into your desired school make sure you take it slow at first and utilize your resources. Get to know you professors and make appointments with them so that they get to know you. Involve yourself in extracurricular activities so that you can meet other students and get the feel of the college culture. Lastly, enjoy your time in college because it will go by faster than you think.

Take an easy. It's not expected to have a 4.0 in college. It's not expected you'll ace every midterm and final. Breathe. Enjoy the little things that come with college. If you find yourself hiding in your dorm room, force yourself to sit and study in the lounge. Don't falter in your decisions or beliefs. Don't waste your time crying every night over the boy who couldn't do a long-distance relationship. Put yourself out there and join those clubs that scare you. College is when you discover who you really are so don't waste these valuable four years being scared. You'll make the mistake of holding back your freshman year, so make sure you really get out there and explore. You'll constantly battle yourself debating if you're smart enough for graduate school, and you are. Remember that your dreams got you into UCSD and will take you farther than you can fathom in your life. Get rejected? Try again, because life truly takes you on a rollercoaster of challenges. Most importantly: stay strong.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry because life gets better. My senior year was difficult for personal reasons—every night I went to sleep feeling used. Applying for colleges made me think about how colleges would determine my self-worth based off numbers and job titles I held. It was a dark cycle. I didn’t end up getting into my dream college with my only option, UCSD, which isn’t commonly recognized for business at all. I came here, 500 miles away from home, seemingly alone. What I didn’t know is that I would join two amazing groups that have redefined family—Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed professional business fraternity, and The Beat, my talented a cappella group. I would tell my little self to believe because you’re smart, capable, and ambitious and people will perceive that if you realize it. I would have to give one more piece of advice: even though you want to be independent, it’s okay to tell your blood family you love them every so often. You’ll miss them.

I would tell my self to do. Go to UCSD becuase it will give you a great education, and your classmates will help keep you focused. There will be some distractions, but the pace of the quater system will remind you that mistakes will be punished quickly. Also I would tell myself I should have been more confident when applying to colleges and should have applied to equally hard or harder schools. Lastly I would tell my self, I should apply to more scholarships, and continue to work my butt off at track.

Be prepared to feel unhappy sometimes. I know you think the first year of college will be some transformative experience wherein you'll meet like-minded people and feel creatively and intellectually satisfied, but most of it is white noise. You'll be surrounded by people who dismiss your interests, and a lot of your classes will feel stifling and meek. Not everyone has a good college experience, and that's okay. Allow yourself to feel these things. Do not try to find happiness in interests you don't share and do not try to escape yourself by acting like another person. At the same time, don't dwell on whatever you think makes you "different" or "unique," because you'll just end up lonely with no sense of self. Try not to take yourself seriously and allow yourself to become a part of things. Pursue what you love honestly and without pretense, with clarity and light.

First and foremost, academically, I would advise myself to relax a little and to study consistently throughout the year, even if it's only for an hour a day, rather than wait until the last minute and cram. I would also tell myself not to just accept when I got answers wrong on tests and homework, but rather to look at them and try to understand why I got them wrong and see where and what I misunderstood. I would tell myself to talk to teachers more and not be afraid to ask questions because learning to interact with adults is a very valuable asset when you reach college and the workplace. One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to myself is to get involved in extracurriculars, whether it be in school or volunteering outside of school, because this is one of the best ways to explore interests while making friends. This is also very important because it is a good reminder that school isn't everything because life in college, and especially after college, is much more than spending time in a classroom and cramming so you can get a good GPA.

Knowing everything I know now, I would tell myself to definitely look for a job junior year because college life is expensive. I mean, sure there are scholarships and grants but I wouldn't want to rely solely on them because I don't know if I would even win one! To make life easier freshmen year, I would tell myself to take more AP classes. AP credit is what got me out of G.E.s and yet I probably have the lowest number of standing credits amongst everyone going to UCSD. Never give up on academics. Don't say, "Oh, it's only a B. I would have to miss only seven on the final to keep my A and I don't feel like doing it." Wrong. Try to get that A because it can make all the difference. Always get letter of recommendations. I regret it so much because most scholarships require letter of recommendations and I didn't think any teacher would write one for me. And one last thing: don't be afraid to speak out. Let your voice be heard because your opinion matters.

High School Senior Mariah,You may be feeling elated since high school is over. Yes, there were challenges and obstacles, but you made it through. Why? You did it because you love what you were doing. You did it because you have faith. You did it because you are diligent. College is a GIANT transition. Do not forget the word ADAPT. Adapting to your new environment is pivotal to your success. Be punctual! Join organizations and internships to gain valuable experiences.Stay on top of your coursework. Missing class or assignments could add up and be detrimental to your grade. Talk to your peers. Visit your professors during office hours because they are your greatest resource. Make sure they get to know your name. Who knows, you may get an internship or starting building your network with their help. Step out of your comfort zone because it will be worth it. Do not be afraid to ask for help.Do not be afraid to fail. And if you do fail, you will learn from that experience. Make sure to keep your loved ones updated and give them a call. They too are adapting to this new journey with you.

Surprisingly, the best is yet to come. Life isn't over, it's just begun. You're anxious and feel out of place because you fail to realize that there is no secret formula to success, that there is no single piece of criteria that will guarantee it.The truth is...you have countless opportunities in front of you. Stop worrying, this transition to college life will transform you into an improved version of yourself. At least I can guarantee you this. This fresh start will be exactly what you have hoped for since the bittersweet remains of High School. Pursuing goals and completing tasks have always been your life's primary drive, but that will soon change. Let me give you a head start in your future discoveries. Entrust in the future for you cannot control it, overcome this past desire and your anxiety will diminish. Everything will be alright. Everything will be fine, brilliant. The transition, college life, all your worries are over exaggerated. Stop underestimating yourself and know your true value. Sure, you may miss a deadline or two here and there, but never stop believing in yourself. Now, get back to work!

As you transition into college, there is one thing I can tell you: self-doubt will be the end of your dreams. We will make mistakes and lay in the shadow of those who have achieved perfection on their first try. Many of these individuals worked tirelessly in a competitive high school to get an edge in college where they already learned the value of hard work; now it will be your turn to work as hard. Worse yet, there are many individuals who will cheat to get the grade. You must continue to work even when you feel like your efforts are being undermined because your education is only in part determined by grades. Work hard for the sake of learning even when the grade you receive is not indicative of the work you put in. Taking tests is a skill which can be improved, but if you fail to grow intellectually, you will lose out on far more than good grades. Always keep in mind that your success will not be based on how many times you fail but how well you can respond to and grow from adversity.