University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Top Questions

I always dreamed of what college was going to be like, and my senior year I was so excited to finally go to college. I had a certain vision of what college was going to be like, and now that I am in college, my expectations were a bit off. Just like I thought, college would be different than high school, but it is in a different way than I thought. Of course college is about new found independence and hard work, but it is more than that. It is about finding what makes you happy and what you want your life to be like. Of course the education one receives at college is very important and crucial to obtaining a career, but the lessons one learns outside the classroom are also very important. If I could go back to senior year and give advice I would say: do not be afraid to try different things, it is okay to change your mind about things if what you are going is not making you happy. I would say that college is about finding the life you want to have.

Not every professor you have is going to match your learning style, so learn how to accomodate that. There will be some professors who can barely speak English, so don't give up or not take any given class just because the professor's teaching style is not particularly conducive to your learning style. You may have to deal with classes that are close to up to 300 people in size, but be aware that after about 50 people, size is kind of irrelevant and each person after that point matters less.

"Rob, don't room with your best friend," I tell myself. "Why do you look so shocked? Is there something on my face?" "Na. . . na. . .no" "Whew, good. I'm heading over to Catie's dorm when were done here!" "What are you doing here? Or, I mean, what, who are you?" "I'm you, Rob. And I'm here to stop you from making an incredible mistake. You can't room with Dan next year." "What are you talking about! He's my best friend. I don't know anybody else! I can't be alone and surrounded by strangers!" "Yes. Yes you can. And it's exactly what you need. I'm rooming with Dan right now and i feel empty, apart from the rest of the campus. If you room with Dan you'll both be left with just each other. I want you to go to the Unversity of Cincinnati and make an arsenal of friends. Living with Dan will not make you a friend. Right now it's causing you to lose numerous friends neither of us have other met!" "I'll. . .I'll think about it. I need to get back to track practice"

If I went back in time to when I was a high school senior, I would tell my self to not worry. College is a fun experience and there is no need to worry about not knowing anyone in your classes or being on your own. I think that being on your own helps you find out who you really are as a person. Oh, and don't worry about making cheerleading...because you made it! I probably would also tell myself to focus more on what I want to do later on in life rather than hurrying and deciding a major. It takes time to decide what you really want to do, so take time for yourself and have fun! Lastly, to remember to get a lot of sleep and not stay up too late! Make lots of ramen noodles and study alot more than you did in high school.

If I could go back to high school and talk to my self as a senior, I would say stay on top of everything. School is not tremendously difficult but it is easy to get behing on your course work. Also make a plethora of friends because a social life is key to make the college experience better because your friends are going through the same thing you are and it helps to talk about it, it eases the mind. To get to know your teachers and counselors because they can help you drastcally from course work to jobs and internships that one can obtain. Knowing teachers will enable you to get a lot of important documents early to apply for internships and co-ops early.

Knowing what I know now about college, there are several things that I would like to go back in time and give myself. These things are, "Try to eat a breakfast every day" and "If you need help with any subject, stay after school for extra help and practice". The first piece of advice is the most important advice that I couldhave given myself because eating healthy helps you to be more alert, and willing to pay attention in class, especially during long lectures. Actually, according to Children's Nutrition Resource Center (CNRC) at Baylor College of Medicine, "eating breakfast can improve your memory, grades, school attendance and punctuality" (scholastic.com pg. 1). I would also give my "past self" the peice of advice about getting help and extra practice because when you ignore a subject that you don't know, especially high school english and math, you are already setting yourself up for faliure in college because the type of work that you did in high school is similar to the work that you do in the beginning of your freshman year. This is important to know because the more you understand, the more you will succeed in college.

I have always been rather independent, yet what struck me the hardest about college life is how solitary it is. You go to class, live, and work with so many different people, that at first you just don't realize what seems to be missing. Coming from a smaller high school where I was constantly involved in many different activities, I was always busy, I always had somewhere to be and good friends to be with. It's easy, because everyone is going through the same process, on the same schedules. But in college, the people around you are all working towards different goals. Sure, they all want to get a degree, but their lives are going in completely different directions. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to connect with other people- to actively put yourself on the market. Networking is a crucial skill that you have to learn for a career, but it will serve you well in college too. Joining activities to find other students with common interests is an easy way to make friends, and will make the transition from high school so much smoother and your college experience that much more enjoyable.

If I could go back in time and talk to my "high school senior" self, I would definately say "Hey! Make sure you go to college right after you graduate high school!". haha Right after high school, I started working full-time and was motivated by my parents to just forgo a college education and work full-time. My parents didn't attend college and didn't know the importance of a good education. I have a teenage son of my own now and I DEFINATELY see the importance of a good education. So here I am, 41 years old, and going to be a college freshman. It is important for me to show my son that education is very important and it is very important for myself to earn an education. I am quite excited about finally fulfilling my dream of being a college graduate :)

Given what I know now, I would have looked harder into college and what it is all about. I really didn't care that much which college I went to or what major I was. I only cared about getting into medical school and chose a college program based on which one would give me a better chance of getting in. I should have explored my possiblities more like choosing the right major. Also, I wish I would have taken more AP classes coming into college because I could have received college credit and it would have better prepared me for the fast-paced college classroom. The last thing that I would tell myself would be not to try to force anything in college. I thought I was supposed to party alot in college but it hurt me academically. I should have let things come to me and not put myself in uncomfortable situations.

I went to a small, private high school. I had great relationships with my teachers, and I knew I could depend on them for any kind of help. Before starting college, I had no idea of the level of independence that would be involved. Professors handle sometimes as many as 400 students in one class, and the individual attention I had become accustomed to was not something I found at a large university. If I could talk to my "high school self" I would remind myself not to be afraid to ask for help from professors, to make myself known to them, and to learn to use all available resources (books, internet, etc.) to learn and grasp difficult concepts. I would inform myself that it is a "jump" from high school to college, but one that is possible and will make you a better time manager. I had to learn to introduce myself to professors, not be afraid to contact them, and to work my hardest to impress them with my work. In the end, I learned that I didn't have to rely on individual help everytime, and that I have the ability to be a more independent learner.