University of Iowa Top Questions

I honestly wouldn't have any new advice for myself. My brother is two years older than me and gave me a lot of tips on how to transition to the college life. I went into college with a positive attitude and a great work ethic. I was outgoing and made friends instantly. I brought my floor together by having everyone go to dinner every night and get to know each other. It was awesome! I made so many friends right off the bat which made everything else easier. I knew I had to focus and study, but I was ready for that. I pulled off a 3.65 GPA my first semester and made the honors program and the Dean's list. I couldn't have been happier with myself. The only thing I would tell myself is a warning. I would say, " Prepare yourself, because you're going to miss your family and your dog a lot."

I couldn?t just write myself a time-bending letter and hope the words were potent. I would have to warm up my TARDIS and go back, find my high school self reading a Stephen King novel alone, and use the face-to-face meeting to express how important this is. I would tell myself to stop being afraid. Not to stop being cautious; caution is a habit that?s kept me out of a lot of trouble, but fear has kept me from being happy. Being social would still be intimidating, but had I taken heart and been open and outgoing, I would have done better for it. As it turns out, fearing the judgments of others doesn?t save me the pain of interaction. Convincing my young self of this would be hard, but dissolving some of the anxiety would have made me happier and more successful in the long run. The past semester has taught me that fear of rejection or awkwardness is a hurdle, not a wall. It can be overcome if I make the effort. This ingrained anxiety will not be easy to change, but it helps to know college is different.

This time last year I had just enetered my last semester of high school. I was very nervous about moving to a new city, making new friends, and taking difficult classes. I had so much to do in very little time. I worked on finishing with good grades, planning my graduation, and completing scholarships.That last semester was the best time of my life, even with all the stress and things to be done. Now, having made the transition into college and completed my first semester, I would tell myelf not to worry. Everything works out and things will not be as difficult as they seem. Also, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to start early. College is expensive, but every little bit helps. Finally, I would tell myself to enjoy the time left in high school because as much as we all say we can't wait to leave town, they really are the best years of our lives. All your friends are going to different colleges but you will see them. College is so much different, but in a good way. It's a new journey that you should be excitedto experience.

If I were to go back to myself as a high school senior I would have a few words of advice for myself. First of all, I would tell myself to relax. Last year as I was about to graduate high school, I was scared to death that I would not be able to get the grades I wanted to in college. I have learned however, that as long as a student can successfully manage their time and act responsibly, college is not that different from high school. Secondly, I would tell myself to have fun. I was so worried about getting good grades first semester that all I did was study. If I could go back, I would have more fun and socialize more. I have realized that college is a time to find yourself, have fun, and meet people who could become lifelong friends. Relaxing and having fun while still being a studious student would be the advice I would give to my high school senior self. My high school self was high-strung and a perfectionist. However, my first semester of college has taught me that not everything can be perfect; it?s the effort that matters.

Dear Self, Congratulations on being a high school senior! I know you're scared about this next year, but things will be alright. Give yourself a month, you'll make the best friends, you'll discover yourself, build your confidence, and find out what you really want from life. Classes will be hard, you need to learn to study, how to sit down for a few hours and focus. You also need to learn how to handle money, that really will be the big issue. Mom and Dad don't have everything, especially with all the medical costs for Jon. Get a job, work hard. Its tough, but character building. Plus, you really meet some great people in the campus jobs. The only other thing I can say, is that when you change majors, make sure you get a really good advisor, because the right advisor can make or break your college experience. Sincerely, You, two years from now

I actually find myself asking this "What if...?" more and more frequently. Likely because the closer I get to graduation, the more I start to think of my post-college success in terms of everything I did and didn't do or acheive during my time spent here. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I'd give myself 3 pieces of advice. First: Don't get so caught up in what you think you're SUPPOSED to do, that you miss out on the chance to realize what it is that truly makes you happy. Second: Your college years are a critical time for building valuable, lasting relationships. No matter how busy you may THINK you are, always seek opportunities to meet new faces, make new friends, and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. Third: College, along with everything else in your life, is only as good as you're willing to make it. So have confidence, stay positive and always make the most of every moment. ...Then, I would return to the present and remind myself that it's never too late to start making the most of every moment.

College life is a rush and passes by so quickly it almost feels like I forgot something. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to fasten my seat belt and get ready for this place that gives me a taste of what life is like. It will be hard once you leap into it but as I start to get a feel of things, it won't be so bad. Be persistant, have my chin up and don't run away from the responsibilities that I have on my shoulders. Not to worry, there are some things that you will find enjoyable, like being in new places, meeting different people, and learning what is going to be important to you. Don't be intimidated because you are not alone even if you feel like you are. There are a lot of people who are in your exact position. So just stay focused on your goal and everything will be okay.

Now, as I have gone through two and a half years of college, I believe the best transition advice I could give to myself would be "Stay focused, work hard and play later". College has changed my life and has made me into an outgoing leader of my own. However, my priorities have become out of order due to loosing focus on whats important: My academics. The number one thing I wish I knew right when I got to college was to keep up with classes and study for them everyday. Maybe then it wouldnt have been such a struggle for me now to get back to where I was at my academic best two and a half years ago. I did not know how to study and I believe the number one skill lacking once coming into college is knowing how to study effectively. The coursework is hard, however, if you keep up with it everyday then it will be a piece of cake. Then, once your "homework" is done, you can go play and have the fun as the young, free adult that you are. Thus, school comes first and it will be worth it.

After my first year at a big University, I did not do as well as I would have liked to have done. I had to learn how to study and be independent and responsible for my actions and getting through my work. If I could go back to myself as a senior in high school, I would definitely tell myself to find my study habits now. I would tell myself to rely more on me to get things done as far as school work goes. I defintely need to learn how to motivate myself and learn how to manage time so that I have time to enjoy myself as well as study to get the grades I need.

I read a study lately that found being lonely is just as unhealthy as smoking. If someone had explained to me, last year, the difference between loneliness and being alone, I might have been a more prepared to move across the country. Moving from the West Coast to the Midwest seemed exciting. I had lived in the same house for eighteen years and was ready for a huge change--to trade in mountains for cornfields, to start completely from new. Having grown up with the same people for my entire life, in a relatively small town, I wasn?t even slightly prepared to move to a school of 25,000. A fresh start became less appealing as soon as I realized I had never had to recreate my social life. I had always depended on my old friends to introduce me to new people. The first few months of college were lonely, though because I was surrounded by my class- and dorm-mates, I was far from alone. Gradually I made friends, but I wish I had known, at the beginning of the year, how difficult it would be to transition?and how much it can hurt to be lonely.