University of Florida Top Questions

During the time I was a high school senior, I was enrolled into a college preperation program. During that time, I was guided through the college application process, met a lot of different people, and was exposed to many different views. I visited different colleges and was able to stay overnight at a few of them. The people I talked to both in and out of college was also very helpful. They informed me of things that I could expect when going to college. Some of the stories apply to me now and some don't. I feel like I did well in making the transition. I was always independent and being on a campus made me even more so. However, the one thing I would have changed was to tell myself to learn how to drive. It is very hard to get around if your campus isn't in a city. Growing up in a city, I was use to public transportation and didn't have to know how to drive. But I had more free time back then. I want to learn now but classes get in the way. So that would be one thing I would say.

Time travel is a bizarre phenomenon that would bring so much positive change or disturbance to our world. Regardless, we have not yet harvested that ability but if we could I would go back to myself in my senior year of high school and see a naive and anxious girl—ready to step off into the world of adulthood and a life “on her own.” After experiencing that transition I made that fateful summer in 2008, I would have done things differently. I would tell my younger self to step beyond the boundaries of what I knew and used as a crutch. I failed to meet new people and try new things. I stayed in my dorm room too often and complained to my Resident Assistant at my noisy neighbors next door. Maybe had I stepped outside and knocked on their door to joined, I would have had a more fulfilling transition rather than feeling so alone and homesick. Ultimately, I would tell myself to let fear go and just dive in and change my perspective on life for the better through the experiences and interaction with people unlike myself. That would set the stage for a rewarding college experience.

The advice I would give myself would be to just relax and enjoy the the college experience. It is ok to feel uncomfortable and step out of your comfort zone. It is ok to take risks and go for things that you believe in. You can never get back the experiences you can have in college, they are fun and amazing and prepare you for the future. You will learn and know everything you need to know to be successful by the time you graduate. You will have made life long friends and had the time of your life. So...just relax, be responsible and enjoy the ride

Dear High School Me, Congratulations on becoming a Gator! This is an incredibly exciting time & one of the biggest transitions you will encounter. Here's some advice to help you make the most of your experience. First, don't listen to everyone and live in the "nicer" dorm. Although convenient, it's unbearably unsocial and your roommate will never talk to you. It's best to live in one of the smaller, more social dorms on campus and meet as many people as possible! Next, remember that you're no longer in high school with just a few thousand students. A majority of your teachers will not know you or care if you fail; you have to be your own best advocate for your success. Because of this, you will actually have to study!! Don’t think you can slide by with doing so little and still get As like you have been. Lastly, you will have a lot of money left over from you financial aid, DO NOT SQUANDER IT! You will most likely have thousands left over that you can use for something worthwhile (which does not include clothes and shoes), so save it for a rainy day.

It seems like just yesterday I was walking across the stage in my high school's football field to receive my diploma. I remember all the excitement that ran through my veins as I looked forward to moving to Gainesville, to learning how to live on my own, and to continuing on the path to my future career. Yet, that day occurred 2 years ago. Even though I am grateful for all of the learning experiences (both inside and outside of the classroom) that I have had so far, I would love to give my high school senior self three pieces of advice that I feel would have made the transition into college a much easier one for me. Firstly, I'd say do not lose sight of your goals - remain an active learner who maintains a high GPA so that keeping options such as attending Law School open is easier. Secondly, avoid getting lazy at any cost by getting involved on campus and in the community as soon as possible. Lastly, look into internships and other opportunities that will help you decide which profession is truly right for you. This advice would have made my transition much smoother.

Knowing how difficult the transition between high school and college is, there are three things that I would suggest to myself as a high schooler to encourage a better transition. The first would be to make my first semester's course-load easier than I did; having too much work combined with too many extra-cirriculars was a disastrous move that impeded my academic success. I would also suggest to myself that I should have developed better sleeping habits so that I could spend more time studying during the day time. The last thing I would suggest is to use the resources that the school provides; UF offers free tutoring and other services that will ultimately help students academically. If I could have warned myself about these three dangers of college, I believe I would currently be a lot happier about the outcome of my first year.

Hind sight is always 20/20, a saying that most adults are familar with. If I had the oppertunity to go back in time and give myself advice i'm not sure I would. See we are the sum of our experiances and memories that we gather throughout our life. At 33 years old and still working toward a BS, one would definatly be tempted to make changes. However altering the path I took would effect not just my life but all the other people's lives I have impacted throught the years. I can honestly say that I am happy with who I am as a person and wouldn't want to change.

Going back in time and giving myself advice would be a dream come true. There are so many things I thought I knew then that were false impressions of what graduating and college would be. Im an older college student now because I have struggled so much with life. I am in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor program and am very happy. I would have told high school me to take school seriously. College isn't a time to party. School is important and needs to be taken seriously if you want to succeed in the real world. College is there to prepare you to become an adult and be able to be successful with a job. I also would tell myself that life isn't easy and is full of challenges, but the way you handle yourself in those situations will make you stronger and a better person. Don't ever give up on yourself. You are the only one who can believe in you and you can make a difference in the world if you put your mind to it. Pick up the pieces and dont ever give up. College is important and so are you.

College is about finding your own personality and limitations. The most important thing to remember is that every one else is nervous. Living on campus is the best way to ensure your college experience will be a good one. Your roommate(s) and floormates are an automatic basis of friends. You just have to remember that everyone is out of their comfort zones, and that will make it a lot easier to approach other people. In college, you want to be able to do every possible activity and not want to be constrained by finances. I would advise that the student work during their senior summer and save as much as humanly possible. Books and tuition are killer, so apply for scholarships as well. You can never send out too many applications or write too many essays to try and get college paid for. I am going to be a sophmore in college and I am trying to graduate college debt free. To date, I have not accrued any student loans, and I am trying to keep it that way. The bottom line is to remember that college is a growing experience, and just be flexible.

Stay focused on your education, but do not stress out too much if everything seems too overwhelming. A social life is important, but do not forget that your main job is school and moderation is key. This is your first taste of complete freedom with no parents or family telling what you do, so this is the time to learn responsibilty for your actions. Every action has a reaction, so if you decide not to go to class or not study for your test the next day there will be no way to admonish you. There will be consequences to your actions that you will need to take responsibilty for. That being said, do not hold back or be scared for fear that you will make mistakes. You will and you will learn from them. Growth is about having as many experiences as you can and learning from the bad ones. So enjoy yourself, because these next four years will be what you make of them. Meet new people, try new things, put your all into your work, and remember to really ENJOY your college experience and all of its ups and downs.