University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

The most important advice I would give myself is to learn time management. Throughout my life, I have always been able to do well and succeed in my classes based solely on intelligence, not work ethic. Unfortunately, that is not enough in college. My first semester was exceedingly difficult because college classes are about learning concepts and retaining information, not simple memorization and lazy success. Also, being Pre-Dental, I have the added pressure of doing well to get in Dental school. I would have told myself to develop these skills as soon as possible. I would have explained to myself how important it is to study every night, and retain the difficult concepts as I would have to do in college. This may seem like a common response to the question, but it really is one of the most important things I have had to learn in the past year and a half. Since learning it, I have been very successful in class, very involved on campus, and an overall happier, more positive person.

I would tell myself to really go out there on Quad Day and find something to join!! Yes, the start of first semester is crazy with all the new classes and to try your find your way around campus and make friends but after about 2 months, things calm down and that is when being a part of something will fill your week up a little more and meeting people with your same hobbies or passions makes the transition throughout the semester even better! I know that I heard this advice a lot before starting but I would really want myself to listen because getting out there not only helps you meet people but also looks great when trying to find internships and other things that will further one's future career.

College life is very different from High School. While it is very different, it is important for you to embrace such change and be very open to whatever might come your way, whether it be joining a new club you have never known exists or interacting with people much different from you. These people who you seem to have nothing in common might very well become your best friends. You will also have to take on a harder coursework as well as adapt to a lifestyle where you make most of the decisions. That means you will have to decide whether to study or to go out. When going out, you will have to make choices what environment of people you will want to surround yourself with. While you make this choice, just keep in mind that college is supposed to be one of the best times in your life. Would you want to recollect college as the time of having great fiends and succeeding in school or having to deal with severe responsibilities of your poor actions? My advice to you is make choices you will not regret and make sure college is the best time of your life.

This question seems to be really important to me because I am the first generation to go to college so I did not have much advice given to me when I was a high school senior. If I had this chance to go back in time I would absolutely tell myself to apply to College of Business than applying for General Studies. Just because I miss this chance I have to go through a much harder and longer process to get into the College of Business. There might even be a chance of myself not being able to get in which I am really afraid of because I do not know what other majors should I go for. I really want to have a good future to support my family and to thank them for everything they have provided me to get into college. I am not that bright so it takes me harder time than most students but my parents believe in me and I am using this encouragement to pass my college life each day. I would also tell my self to get a job because during my high school years I had a lot of free time.

Do your best and study hard. Do not give up. It is an accomplishible goal!!!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to start taking classes at the community college right away, as a senior in high school to get jump started on my general education requirements. I would also tell myself that jobs will come and go, as will boyfriends and even friends, but going to school and getting an education will last forever. Knowing what I know now, I would convince myself to learn as much as I could while still young and in less debt. The older I get, the harder it is to take a break from a full-time job and full-time responsibilities to complete my education. An education that should have taken me four to five years to obtain, has taken over ten. While I will obtain my educational goal eventually, it would have been nice to know that if I applied myself and stuck to it as a teenager my goal would have been obtained already. I do not regret any of my choices in life, and I am thankful that I can still obtain an education, at any age.

I would tell myself that it is extremely important to make friends within the first week. Go up to people at lunch and dinner and introduce yourself. It's the beginning of a new school year and a great chance to meet some new, wonderful people. Get involved right away! It's so much easier to join a group in the beginning of the year than trying to get accepted after everyone's already made their own little groups. Also, be open to new groups of people. I come from a town where diversity isn't extremely wide. Therefore, I would tell myself to be ready to meet people from all over the country that decided to come to the same school as did. Finally, I would tell myself not to procrastinate and actually read every word. In high school, I got very good grades but didn't really need to study. I would tell myself to learn to study well and get my homework done early because you should always make time to have fun and relax. College is stressful but you need to unwind from time to time.

You are embarking on a journey in which you are the sole determiner of whether the outcome is success. As a first generation student, you should be proud of yourself. With that being said, now is not the time to get comfortable. The demands of College are vastly different than those of High School. You'll learn new things at a faster pace, study longer and you may not understand everything immediately but all things will fall into place within time. Take your time. Explore. It's normal for you to find new possibilities for you to declare as a major.Try not to let your friends, associates, or advisers discourage you from or force you into a major. The choice is yours. You'll be the most fulfilled when your passion and your profession come together. Besides academics, the social aspect is a huge part of college. You'll become acquainted with people from different backgrounds so remain openminded so that you can further your experience. Don't hang with your friends from High School only, branch out. Be sure to surround yourself by positive people because negativity will hinder you in reaching the goals you set for yourself.

If ever I were given the opportunity to go back in time and give myself advice about college, I would have so much to say! First, I would tell myself to begin looking for scholarships and grants before I even started my senior year. It is never too early to get started, and you can never have enough money to fund your education. I would also encourage myself to always do my best, in all my classes, and in all that I do. Reassuring myself that it is not easy being in school with no funding, and would definitely tell myself that in the future, I would have to take a whole year off from school because of the things that I did not do while in high school. Also, I would express how much fun school is and how important it is to remain in school, without any breaks. When you take a break, your life takes a complete 360 degree turn. I went from loving school, having my own apartment, to having to move back home and having to find a job just to get back in school.

If I could go back in time to tell myself about what to do to prepare for college, I would tell myself that even though I am attending a high school with strong academics, that the challenges of college work, even as a freshman, far surpass most high school work, and to be prepared to do much more reading on a daily basis. Along with this, I would tell myself to learn to manage my time, since every minute of your day needs to be used to the fullest if you want to be able to study and be involved in activities in college. Lastly, I would tell myself to be prepared to solve my own problems, because in college, nobody is going to offer help to you unless it is asked for.