University of Delaware Top Questions

Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to work as hard as possible in everything I did, from a little homework assignment to big projects. Doing this would have put less strain on me when I got to college, as I could have gotten a scholarship if my grades had been higher. Also, I would have told myself to seriously consider my chosen major and if it was the right one for me because I haven't been happy in my major. Any advice I would want to give myself would be to correct the mistakes I've made to make my first semester of college easier.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as high school senior I would definitely give myself the advice of time management. College is all about time management because everything you do is all up to you there are no teachers or parents holding your hand telling you what to do or when to do it. My first semester at the University of Delaware as a freshman was extremely stressful for me because I would do all of my studying a week before an exam or complete homework assignments the night before they were due. I found myself loosing sleep and also not eating as healthy because I couldn?t seem to mange my time. This semester taught me that college is extremely tough but I have the ability to accomplish my dream. Making a planner or a schedule is very helpful when attending college so you know exactly what you need to accomplish each day. Also studying an hour every night for each class can also be helpful instead of cramming a few days before an exam. Professors also suggest studying the material as soon as you learn it helps you retain the information much better.

So you made it through high-school, had a great summer and now its time to have some fun away from the family! That is the first thought that a majority of freshmen coming in have. Freedom from Mom and Dad, having the freedom to do all they want for the first time. ?Discovering yourself,? as they say is a piece of the college puzzle, one that cannot become the keystone, holding everything else together. It is very easy to get distracted by the flashing lights and booming sounds of the extracurricular bench, the Frats on the row, or that Art History major?s room with smoke coming out of it from down the hall. The keystone should be what brought you this far, your intelligence, and hard work. There will be an innumerable (English 101) amount of distractions that will come your way, some that you should partake, most you should avoid. Never forget your purpose at the university, to graduate and get that great job you always wanted. Participate in school activities, become president of club, but always remember your true goal during your time at this school.

As a high school senior, I had a lot of fear about the unknown. I was not sure which college to attend and I was afraid of making the wrong decision. There was also the guilt of knowing that there would be a lot of stress put on my family regarding financial arrangements to attend college. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself that you have to let yourself have more confidence in your ability to make these life changing choices. While there will always be those nerves about doing something new in life, you cannot let fear stop you. College is the time to learn and explore your world. If you fear life, you will never be able to grow. I know that I did everything I could by working to hard to help with any finances. I would tell myself that I did the best I could. Any mistakes that I have lived through has only made me stronger. Believe in yourself because you made the right decision.

My first piece of advice would be to relax! Life definitely changes in college, but not as dramatically as I know I imagined when I was a high school senior. College life greatly depends on the kind of person you are before you enter. Yet, numerous opportunities are made available to grow and gain a variety of new interests. As a college student, you are able to make your own decisions about things which may have seemed insignificant at home, but become extremely important when you are independent. You must remember to do the laundry, figure out where and with whom to eat, what is the best time to study and where, as well as choosing in what you would like to devote your time and energy. Creating schedules is extremely useful not only for classes, but in coordinating what to do in your spare time. The wide range of people you get to meet and befriend makes college life absolutely wonderful and overwhelming, but once you find a good niche you will discover a second home that offers a similar security and comfort as the home you left.

I thought I was a pretty organized person in high school but then when I got to college I realized that I may not have the skills I thought I had. I would tell my high school self to pay attention to how things are done at home so when I got to college I would be more prepared for all the many different things I would need to be responsible for in my college life. I would also tell me not to spend so much on frivolous things because college is much more expensive than I thought, particularly when I am responsible for my own personal expenses. I would tell my senior self to make sure and deal with the bad roommate problem from the very beginning of the year because letting things go never solves the problem and it just tends to go on and on so by the end of the year, you have wasted all that time dealing with annoying people. I would tell myself that my college choice ended up the best choice even though it wasn't my first choice. I could have worried a lot less if I knew that bit of advice.

I would tell my high school senior self that college really is not as terrible and as challenging as you would think. I would tell myself not to worry so much about the small details in life and to just enjoy the teenage years while you can. College is actually much better suited to my personailty, so I would tell my younger self that it's going to be a blast and to have fun with the whole experience!

I would tell you, younger me, to not hesitate in signing up for the marching band. That has been the one constant in your life since middle school, don't even think about letting it go! You're going to school 3000 miles away from home, you need the support system of friends who you can count on no matter what, and you know that the marching band will provide just that. You will have the best time of your life in the UD Marching Band, and it will not only make it easier being so far away from your friends and family from home, but will also bring out the best in you, and help reveal who you want to be. Also: buy your books online. The bookstore's a rip-off.

I feel I applied to a good variety of colleges and universities. However, when I first decided to attend the University of Delaware, I don't think I really considered the financial aspect of my decision. One or two other schools I had gotten into had offered me a decent financial aid package, but neither of those schools were as appealing to me as UD was. Now, almost two full years into my collegiate career, and already thousands of dollars indebt, I worry about my future; will I be able to find a secure job in order to pay off my loans? Academically and socially, I certainly do not regret my decision of attending UD. Financial speaking however, I wish I would have weighed out my options better. I think it is crucial for students to realize the amount of debt they are getting themselves into when attending an undergraduate university. I hope by the time I graduate in 2012 that the economy will be more stimulated and I am able to find myself a decent job. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have picked school which offered me more financial aid.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take the time to learn how to study. I was always in honors and advanced placement classes and the information came easily to me, I never really had to study. Once I started my classes in college I learned that these classes were a lot harder and moved at a much faster pace. I had to teach myself how to study because in high school I really did not need to study so I never really bothered to learn how to do it. Although I have successfully taught myself what I need to do to learn the information and be prepared for whatever my professors throw at me on tests, quizzes, and assignments, my first semester would have ben much less stressful if I had taken the time to learn how to study before I got to campus.