University of California-San Diego Top Questions

The advice I would give to myself back in the year 2012 as an high schooler would be not to slack off since college will heavily depend on your efforts and how you are tested differently as a college student. What would also be important to add in is to attend all the classes since the majority of professors in most colleges will not drop students that dont attend to their classes.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work harder take more AP classes, apply for more scholarships and take more classes at a community college; which then I could transfer the credits over to my college and get more credits and be ahead. I would tell myself to find a part time job, so I can use it pay for some of my college tuition.

I would go and tell myself to apply to all the colleges you can possibly can since I only applied to one. Also, talk to students who actually go that school, visit the actual school, actually do what 'college prep' always tells you to do. Also, to try even harder in finding financial aid and knowing when deadlines are.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stay focus on my studies. The material things will come and go and once I am older I will have the understanding to make wiser decisions. The main thing is to complete my studies and not take a semeter off because it turns in to years off. Work through the hard and challenging things head on and don't delay because it will be all worth it in the end. Don't rack up debit seek out scholarships not matter how small and graduate debit free. Have fun but be responsible there will plenty of fun days after school. College is just for four years you have the rest of your life to do and be who you want to be afterwards.

Don't be afraid to try hard. Hard work will pay off. Stay strong.

Make time for fun and social outings but do not let that intervene with your studies. Venture out of your comfort zone and you will meet many others that are willing to do the same. The people you meet in college are going to be from all walks of life and be open to how they do things. The people you meet here are the ones that will make a very big impact on your life because you do not have the comfort of home or even mom and dad, but you are with people pretty much 24/7 so choose wisely and make the most of the situation. Sometimes spontaneous and unplanned adventures are the best and are even more memorable than planned ones. Enjoy each moment you have here because it is only four years and after that the real world is at your door step, so take the time to stop and smell the flowers. Before you know it, your journey in college will be over and so do not waste. Take a class not in your major and something completely new. Tackle on an internship to see if what you realy want to do.

Granted I finished my high school education in a rehabilitation center I would tell myself that all the choices you make create your future. If you want something then do not be afraid to pursue it because if you do not you will have no one to blame but yourself. There is something beautiful about relentless determination and that is you will always reap benefits even if you do not obtain your intial goal. Life is filled with opportunity and hope and where you are now does not determine where you can go so dream without limits.

Take more time out to enjoy your senior year but remember to stay focused. When you start college, don't mess around your first year and waste your parents money. You came to college to achieve and academic goal that can hopefully lead to a successful career. Don't lose sight of this no matter what happens. You will make some wonderful friends, and you will also meet some individuals who will rub you the wrong way. Try not to judge people so immediately. Remember to keep a good balance between your studies and having fun. Also, call your mom more! She misses you.

Every freshman should know if they want to be an engineer or not. If you don't start taking engineering classes the moment you come in there is no way you can graduate in four years. Also, when applying its good to know the difference between all of the 6 different colleges.

The advice I would give to my former self is to be critical with how you intend to define your character to become the person you actually want to be. Coming out of high school you are suddenly unsupervised and independent, but also malleable and impressionable. You are subject to various different influences, and it’s your job as a maturing adult to decide how each of these influences goes on to shape your character. But it is also your job to put yourself in a position to be influenced in the first place. You need to take charge of your opportunities, take risks in your social and academic pursuits, and put yourself out there. Sometimes you will be placed in uncomfortable and embarrassing situations, and at other times your expectations may be let down by something you heavily anticipated, but at the end of the day you will know yourself a little bit better. Your failures and your successes are always going to be transient, but the fiber of your character is something that will be with you forever. Thus, the more you struggle to define who you are, the more satisfied you’ll be with who you become.