University of Kentucky Top Questions

If I were to meet myself in high school I would tell myself to never let a day in college go unwasted. There have been so many days where I get in a routine and just follow the routine till the day is over. I would tell myself to not get into routines, and to do something productive everyday and that way I will truly make the most of my college experience. Also I would tell myself not to be afraid to try new things and to get out of my comfort zone. This is because I let myself get comfortorable first then I tried new things, but instead of wasting all that time I wish I had gotten out and tried something new right away.

I would tell myself to study harder in high school so that you are prepared for what college has to bring to you. Know your strengths and know you weaknesses and work to become stronger at everything you do when it comes to school work. I would tell myself that I should apply myself better so that when I am deciding on which college I want to attend, I would pick the right one first instead of transferring like I did. I would tell myself to make sure that I am ready for what a bigger school has to offer me when dealing with classes, sports, friends, and a social life.

Going back to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college is not high school, and to start taking notes and taking classes seriously. I would tell myself that college is tough and the classes I'll have to take will involve hard work and studying more than what high school classes took. Also, I would tell myself to begin making talking to people inside my major the summer before my freshman year so that I will know people before college starts. Coming into college, I was the only student from my high school that chose University of Kentucky, which means I didn't really know anyone at my college. Lastly, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships. As a senior, I didn't apply for any scholarships at UK because I didn't look for any general scholarships that they provided.

I would like to push myself to go to GSP as a high-schooler. I graduated high school with a 4.0 and had the chance to go to GSP, but didnt pursue it due to medical issues. I wish I would have pushed through them and gone anyways, because it would certainly have benefited me in my search for scholarships. Additionally, I would like to get myself to do more volunteer and really get out there to show more leadership as I have now that I am in college. I was afraid to take the dive back then, but have discovered that it's totally worth it to take a risk and get involved.

I would give my high school self two pieces of advice. First, apply for every scholarship you can. There is thousands of unclaimed scholarship money just sitting out there, so don't become complacent with just a few scholarships. Seize every opportunity. And second, don't stress too much. College is a huge time for personal growth and there's not always room for everything or everyone on the journey. Everything will turn out okay; just stay focused and enjoy the adventure.

If I could go back now, I would tell myself to give more thought into what I want to do the rest of my life. I began college unsure of what I wanted to do, and with financial contraints, was forced to decide on a major without giving much thought to the consequences. I am now striving to become a Nurse Practitioner through a Masters program. Not only is this difficult, but paying for grad school could have been somewhat avoided if I would have chosen Nursing as my undergraduate major. High school seniors are not told of the importance in choosing a major wisely for their undergraduate education. Some seniors, like myself, could be unaware of the necessity of graduate school upon graduating from college. If I would have know what I wanted to do as a career, I could have majored in Nursing, gotten a job as a nurse, then had my employer pay for my Masters. Instead, I am sitting on a pile of debt from my undergraduate education and in search of money to fund my graduate school - all so I can have my dream career. I wish "high school me" knew what I know now.

Prepare yourself. You’re about to have one of the best years of your life thus far. Stop caring what people think of how you dress or what you do with your free time. It doesn’t matter if you can’t let go of your ripped jeans or are interested in playing chess. There are all kinds of different people around here, and at the end of the day you are going to be able to find people who have the same skeletons in their closet that you do. Find people who make you feel more like yourself than you ever have before. You’ll need them later on down the road. Refuse to waste your time on people who try to mold you into something else or make you unhappy. Use this time to find out who you are. You are going to be shocked at all the things you realize about yourself when you gain this newfound independence. Good luck, champ.

Pay close attention to what I am about to tell you, because this information is going to effect the rest of your life. First, do your research on why the college you want to attend is the right one for you, because you do not want to be stuck somewhere you hate for an extended period of time. After you decide on a college that seems to match your personality and lifestyle, make sure that it is affordable. If you cannot pay tuition, no amount of frugality can save you from crippling debt. Now that we have established that cost is a big issue because tuition rates are on the rise, do not be lazy about scholarships. I know you, I am you, and i know that you are not going to fill out enough scholarship applications because guess what? I did not get any. So if you want to reach your goals and succeed, you cannot skip these important steps. Remember what Dad said about skipping steps, and the people who take short cuts? They fail, don't they? You have such a bright future and excellent aspirations. Don't waste your potential, get up and keep dreaming big!

To a younger, less experienced, but still good looking Andrew, Greetings, and congratulations on making it this far in life! Soon, you will be embarking on the next grand stage of life. Be not afraid! Although your current logic and precedent comes from only a few older friends, relatives, and the love of your life, I assure you your experience will be much smoother and painless. Enjoy the new independence, make new friends, make a few mistakes of course, but most importantly, do what you have always done. The faculty, and the difficult courses you have undertaken this far, have done well to prepare you for your first year of college. Like with any hardship, change, or other momentous occasion of life, you are your own greatest tool. Your ambition will burn you ahead where others falter, your intelligence and prudency will keep you safe from harm, and your ingenuity will see to it that every situation has as bright of an ending as possible and; at the very least, that you'll go down swingning attempting to change yourself, and the world for better. Here's to you kid. Good luck! -Andrew J. McLeod

Don't be afraid to question anything, and ask your questions out loud. Be vocal and head-strong. Take in everything you hear and process it before accepting it or rejecting it. Ask for help. Give help. Tell the world who you are and ask the world who she is. No one has every answer, and everyone has some wrong answers. Have an inclusive social circle of trustworthy people of all types and backgrounds. Allow everyone the benefit of the doubt, especially yourself, but if you have to run from a person, or a group, or an idea, don't hesitate. Run until you find what is right. Trust yourself, even with your faults. Trust that you will grow, and that life will be made right.