University of California-San Diego Top Questions

I would tell myself to be open to try many different things and in meeting new people. Do not be quick to judge because people have much more depth to them and they only need to be given a chance. Most people here are fairly friendly so all you should do is be brave, make the first move, and introduce yourself. Do not be shy! Being shy and quiet never got anyone anywhere, therefore be loud and friendly so you can attract many different people. Making new friends is wonderful, but do not forget your old friends. Old friends are not like old toys that get thrown away as soon as you grow out of them. Try to understand that if you change, or want to change as soon as you get into college, that true friends will keep on being your friend because they understand you. If they do not understand you then maybe they are not your true friends. Treasure the friendships you make in college because the people you associate yourself with in college are probably the ones that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

If I were to go back to talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself that you are about to start a new chapter in your life. You're going to meet new friends and go to a new school out of state. Don't be nervous or scared about starting a new school because it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Also I would tell myself that school will be amazing and everything that I hoped it would be.

Do not procastinate. You are a really smart student but by putting everything to the very last minute, you are hurting yourself of succeeding.

The best advice I could give is to research what type of universities you're applying to. Don't just apply to the all the well-known schools because just cause they're well-known doesn't mean it's the best choice for you. Though, don't take the reputation of the schools you're applying to out of the equation either. If you are interested in the biological field, you should research schools with reputable biological programs. Also, since that university is known for it's biology program, you would find lots of other students with similar educational goals, which will help you start relationships with people. Another way to gain new friends is to live on-campus. Most people hang out with their roomates or suitemates so living off-campus your first few years makes it harder since you're out of the loop right off the bat. However, most universities have large commuter populations too so it won't be impossible to make friends, just more work.

Don't take it as seriously as you did. The beginning of college life is merely to get acquainted, make new friends, and begin a new chapter in life. Don't think that it's the beginning of the rest of your life. Rather, think of it as a new adventure. Go out, take the time to meet new people and make new friends. Don't have the mentality that you need to be so focused on school work that you can't go out. Instead, find that right balance between school work and your social life so that you can make friends for life and still handle your course work. The transition between high school and college is only made harder by a lack of new friends to soften the blow. Go out! Make those friends.

First and foremost, if I can go back to high school, I would take advantage of all the AP classes they offered. But as a senior, I would tell myself to work on time management. College life is busy especially if you have a job, and the old high school habits, such as procrastination, can get you in serious academic trouble. Also, I would tell myself to practice my note taking skills. In a big college, the professors constantly lecture and you don't want to write down everything they say because your notes will be more difficult to read later. Therefore, learn to summarize important facts in your head then write them down. And last but not least, don't be afraid to speak up if you have a question. In high school the average class size may be around 30; however, in college it is around 300, and that is one of the reasons why people are intimated and afraid to ask questions. Bu t if you practice speaking up in front of 30 people, sooner or later, 300 would be just as easy! With these tips, you'll be one successful student.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior and had known about college life beforehand, there are a few things I wish I could give myself advice on. First and foremost, I probably would have taken high school classes more seriously. Although Los Angeles doesn't have a good public school system, I found ways to get A's in classes without doing too much work. However, I do wish I challenged myself a bit more by taking harder classes a lot earlier. I do regret not working enough to pass my AP Calculus test. If I had passed then, I'd be very far in my studies in college considering my major is economics. Perhaps I could have been in the process of double majoring. Secondly, I wish the money I had saved up from jobs was spent more wisely. I could have helped my parents more now.

Hello James. It's your senior year and you could definitely use some advice in terms of transitioning to college. You are in the football team, volleyball team, wrestling team, key club, christian club, symphonic band, and the drumline. Your schedule is tightly packed. You are busy. This is a good thing. In college, classes are bigger and there are fewer of them. Amazing? Not really. I know you think its awesome right now, but you will have so much extra time in your hands that procrastination and boredom will become a daily habit. My number one advice to you is to get involved immediately. This will help you feel productive and even your grades will benefit. How do you get involved? There are tons of different options. You love sports. Play some imtramural football or volleyball. Go check out some clubs. You will probably like Intervaristy. Try some new things. You've always wanted to surf. Take lessons. In the end, college is really what you make out of it. Stay proactive and study hard. Oh and don't forget to call your mom once in a while, because you will get an earful. Your you, James Jun

I would advise you not to be in a rush to decide on a major or a school. It is best to take your time, and discover what you are most interested in and what you really want to learn about. Also, study habits in high school and curriculum are so much easier. At the university you need be more self directed and self motivated about your education. You should start to save up money now, as much as possible and not spend it on things you do not need, because then you will have to be working a lot during school and not have as much time to focus on school work. The ideal situation would be to work as little as possible while attending the university so that you will be able to take more classes at one time, and also have time to just be on campus more and really get the whole "college experience."

I would tell myself not to get too stressed and to prepare a get-well kit and immunity kits for myself.