University of Dallas Top Questions

I would tell myself to talk to more people and put myself out there more. I have social anxiety disorder, so practicing in an environment I was more comfortable with would have better prepared me for this.

Hey, Mary you're almost there! One more year, and you'll be in college! You will love the university, but I have a few words of advice for you. First, don't procrastinate: Seriously, it is not worth it. Save the TV shows and novels for later; they will wait for you. Second, talk to people more. You don't have to be so shy; there are lots of great people if only you will reach out to them. Third, organize your time. Being a commuter means that you have less time for homework and a social life: it's worth it, but you'll need to manage your time better. A daily planner is enormously helpful. Fourth, take careful notes. Don't be afraid to write too much. Trust me, it's much better to cover your notebook with writing than to be studying for a test and wonder what your teacher actually said. Follow these tips and life will be much easier for you. And Mary- you will have a wonderful time!

Dear Brett, Although you do not feel that way now, I can tell you from the future that you have come a long way in your educational journey. It has not been an easy road for you, but you have grown so much. Your choices in universities to attend and educational programs could not have been better. Each built a foundational block that translated into significant professional acumen. Stay the course. While you are creating your future, there are some things to take into consideration. The first and foremost is to keep up your grades so that you can qualify for scholarships throughout your college experience. Seek out scholarship opportunities each and every semester so that you can minimize your student loan use. I did not do that, and am buried in student loan debt at this point, so that would be a total do-over. One final piece of advice that I would like to impart on you is to get a tutor before even going into a statistics course. That was not your strongest subject. Oh, and before I forget, drop the course when the professor walks in with a bow tie on. That was a brutal one.

The few things I would tell myself are that college life, as with anything, is exactally what you make it and that nothing worth doing is ever easy. Always take a challenging course schedule, the easy classes will take you nowhere (unless they are required). Never waste a moment, time becomes you most precious resource and is not to be expended lightly. When it comes papers or projects, don't wait till the last minute to start them. It's not a question of being able to finish them, but rather by completing them in advance, the stress associated with them is greatly reduced. And finally, the most important thing to know about college life, is learning when to work, when to relax, and to always have fun while doing anything.

I would advise myself as a high school senior to not stress so much. Since I am the oldest of five, I was nervous about leaving home and my family. I was worried that the University of Dallas would be too challenging since its classes are all considered honors classes. I was wrong to worry. I get to see my family on many occasions, and the girls in my hall are like sisters to me now. I love the rigor of college education, and I have come to realize that I was ready for college. I enjoy the academic atmosphere provided by the students and as an art major and busincess minor, have met many new friends in all fields of study. University of Dallas' proximity to Dallas allows me to enjoy the city's many opportunities and benefits. I would also tell my high school self that I can continue to participate in the many activities I loved in high school while in college. I lifeguard at the campus pool, sing in the student choir, and participate in numerous on campus activites.

Oh dear Narinee! You are about to embark upon the time of your life! Get ready to study hard, stay up late, lose weight (try not to lose too much, ok?), and find out you are an utter beast when it comes to chemistry and mathematics. You are also going to learn to LOVE to write, much more than you ever anticipated. You will make friends, lose friends, cry, laugh, panic, and exalt in the sheer intensity of learning as much as possible in a few short years. Just remember: take your vitamins, get a flu shot, skip the espresso late in the evening, and go to the dances---even when you have too much homework that weekend. Oh, and learn to take a chance---every now and then. Live every week of every semester as if it is a gift....because it is.

I love my college. Everyone says that, but I mean it with all my heart. I've really come into my own while I've been there, learning how to fend for myself both in my dorm and in my classroom. Going to college has finally allowed me to become the type of person I've always wanted to be, and even when I'm cramming for tests and stressing over whether my grades are good enough to keep my scholarship, I'll find myself smiling because I realize that this experience has made me become someone who I can be proud of.

I entered college expecting challenges, changes, and utterly prepared to discover almost anything! In less than a year, I've realized my abilities and my limitations, and what really makes me happy. As a biology and mathematics major, I didn't expect that I'd be so intrigued by a philosophy class, or challenged by reading poetry from centuries past. Somehow, my scope and my vision for learning have expanded exponentially. I've met people who were home-schooled, from faraway countries, and American farms---college has kindled a flame within me. I've become illuminated!

Continuing my education with a philosophy degree in mind, I realized going in that unlike most other majors, it was not for the sake of high demand or job security. I may not be as financially secure as I would like or hope when I finish my education but my education thus far as contributed to what I like to call a kind of “well-roundedness” as a human being studying the liberal arts. That is, my education has touched on the sciences as well as histories, literature, languages, but philosophy might be the most important because it provides a viewpoint for going back and examining it all to see how, and possibly why, it has influenced me the way it has, and hopefully I am a much more and better well-rounded human being than when I first started. I was the first in my entire family to graduate with an Associates a few years ago and soon I hope to be the first that graduates with not only a Bachelor’s but also with a Teacher’s Certification in high school English as well.

From my college experience so far, I have gained hope and courage to face the future. I am seeing my future as something that is bright instead of being scared by uncertainty. It's valuable to attend college because I will be open to increase my knowledge and change the way I experience the world when I grow older. Not only will it provide me an education, but it will also provide me roads and opportunities to choose from that I would not have known otherwise.