University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

Last year in April, I received a letter in the mail informing me that I had not been accepted into the university I wanted to attend the next fall. I was crushed and devastated, and had to settle for a school I wasn't as interested in. I spent all of my summer worrying that I wasn't going to enjoy my time there. But now, already into my second semester at this school, I can proudly say that love being a student here. I wish I had known that everything happens for a reason and it all works out.

High school does not prepare you for college, at all.

I wish I had known that the weed out classes were very difficult and not to take them until I was more used to college life.

To explore everything and not be afraid to try new things. It is important to find something you are interested in and take advantage of all the amazing and free resources campuses have. Yes, you are a freshmen, and yes everyone knows, but embrace it and live it up! Really all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors are just jealous you are a freshmen because they wish they were just beginning college. This is the best opportunity of your life and you need to milk it for all its worth. Don't be afraid of anything and definitely be prepared to embarrass yourself once in a while.

College is nothing like high school. Don't get behind, at all, because it's extremely hard to get back on track and come out with a good grade. And if you've overloaded yourself with classes and credit hours- and can't handle it- DROP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TALK TO YOUR ADVISORS. Everyone is different and some people can handle more credits and harder classes than others- just don't get in over your head. Success is vital.

I wish I would have known not to worry so much. In high school, I was used to receiving perfect grades on my assignments while here I would struggle to do so. I used to get frustrated when this happened but now I use it as a learning tool. In addition, I wish I had known to take better notes because unlike in high school, one does not normally get a study guide but instead one most look over their notes to decide what to study

You can't be everyone's parent. Sometimes your friends from high school will change, and you won't want to be friends with them. Sometimes they won't want to be friends with you. It isn't possible for you to worry about your friend's struggles and your own. You'll just tire yourself out. People have to make their own mistakes. Remember that no matter how hard it is to watch someone you care for fall apart, if they don't want help the best you can do for them is take care of yourself.

I wish I had known how to say no, I just don't have time to do that. I wish I had known more about my major. I wish I had known more about careers in environmental fields.

I wish I had known more about specific colleges and majors at my school. I started out in Chemistry, but then switched to Nuclear Engineering. In high school, the classes are all very general and not like the choices of majors in college. It would have been useful in deciding what I wanted to study if I had a glimpse of what it would be like beforehand.

I wish I had known I to better organize myself before I came to this school. It is sometimes challenging to balance everything in my schedule. Doing homework, getting involved on campus, and having a social life surround many college students lives. However, I wish I would have known how to organized my time in a productive manner. Overtime I have learned that by simply making a schedule I can manage my daily tasks more productively.