University of Maryland-Baltimore County Top Questions

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would have worried less about the pushing myself too hard. I always told my self ,"next semester will be easier", "college has to better than this". The truth is you are always learning and you hardly have time to breath, but it's all worth it. I would have taken more demanding classes and taken advantage of the time I had and the resources available to me. The years we spend in school whether it be college or before then, are some of the most imortant times of our life. The are the times in which we grow and learn who we really are. We should enjoy them while taking them seriously.

Research every school. Think about exactly what you want to be and visit the campus to determine if you like it. Meet with an advisor at the school and talk to them about your goals and dreams. Ask about clubs and sports. Talk to a financial aid advisor to determine what you need to be prepared for.

If I could confront myself as a high school senior with the knowledge and experience that I have now as a sophomore in college, I am certain our conversation would not be an amiable one. Highschool was never exceedingly challenging, I had copious amounts of free time, and my main focus was on running for the track team. I would tell myself that life as I know it is going to change drastically, and soon. I would stress that it is time to finally grow up. Foremost, I would explain that education is no longer free. My parents are doing me an enormous favor by paying for college. It would be extremely disrespectful to waste their money by not putting forth 100 percent effort. Time management will now be crucial with college, work, and a division one track team to balance. Since I am a walk-on for the team, track can no longer come first. School and work are the priorities. I must study in the majority of my free time because it will be exams with the most weight, not all the little assignments. I would welcome myself to the world of independence and positive decision-making.

I have never had the kind of life that an average child would possibly have, but my life as a high school senior was quiet challenging because I lost both of my parents during my senior year . If I could go back in time to advise myself, then I would advise myself to be strong and hopeful, to refuse peer pressure and thus be determined. If I could go back in time to advise myself I would equally advise myself to be more responsible for my actions, because in college you have to take responsibility for the things that you do. In my high school senior year, I was a leader of about three clubs but did not show a good example for my followers, thus I would have advised myself to be more enthusiastic and could have presented myself as a good leader. You, Chisom Ebinama be hopeful, be determined, be more responsible, neglect peer pressure, be strong and whatever you do remember that Education is a key that can unlock somany barriers.

If I could go back and do it over, I would tell myself that the most important part of selecting a college is the quality of the instructors over EVERYTHING else, and that those professors can be found in-state at a reasonable cost. I would also let myself know that if I really wasn't sure what I wanted to study, getting my associates in general studies at a community college and then transferring to a four year college/univesity would be one of the smartest and most economical decisions I could make. By doing so, I would have given myself the opportunity to really figure out what I wanted to do without wasting time, and still be able to get the same prestigious degree as the rest of my peers at a fraction of the cost.

If I were to go back and tell myself that college was this stressful, I would have made a few changes in highschool. I made a lot of different new friends, that I now dont talk to anymore. As a freshman I was always worried about going to college, and I gave myself two choices. One was to become a cheerleader, become more independent, and become a member of several different clubs, (along with having an outstanding gpa) or be apart of a program for high academic students and dedicate my life to just simply school. It may seem important now to have friends, and be popular, but in the end choosing school and dedicating your life to it can help out in the end. I would tell myself to take that amazing opportunity and be apart of that higher academic program, and become a leader of a club. In doing this, it would help me control stress from school along with guiding others into my path.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have much advice to give. One word of advice would be that do not take college lightly and study harder than you have ever before. Also to join many organizations as possible because it will help you connect with the college and you will be introduced to many different people who can help you when you need it. Another word of advice would be to take advantage of all the opportunities that counselors and mentor?s offer you and become close with all your professors by attending their office hours. By doing so you will make a strong relationship with your professors and be able to ask them for recommendations.

Work hard now to get a strong foundation in all your core subjects. Practice your mathematics skills, read voraciously for that will help you in every subject as well as in your practical life. You will reap what you sow. Every small decision or mistake has far reaching consequences which will impact you and your family as well as your future. True, sometimes you cannot change circumstances but you do not want to end up with regrets. Life can be hard but it can also be forgiving. However, never procrastinate. Carpe diem.

"I wish I knew what I know now/ when I was younger": That lyric surely applies to the beginning of my college experience. The one thing I've realized I can do without now that I couldn't in high school is friends. As a high school student, I spent most of my time talking to friends, whether it be whispering in the back of the classroom while the teacher was explaining the lesson, talking on the phone after school, or hanging out on the weekends. I'm sure there were times when my school work didn't get done until the last minute because I was too busy having fun. As a college student, I put all of my effort into my work, for the sake of my future. When other college students may be out with their friends or at parties, I'm at the library studying or in my room working on homework. I do have friends in my dorm, and I've stayed close to many of my friends from high school, but I'm able to prioritize my time. My work is coming first, and I have the grades (and pride) to show for it.

I would tell myself to be prepared for having to rely on myself more than I ever had to before. In my first year I went to school at UMass Amherst... far from my home in Maryland... because I was eager for that independence and experience and did not think anything of it. That first year was extremely hard for me and depression struck me hard. There were no parents there to monitor whether I was going to classes or not. I had to rely on myself, which was hard to do in the state I was in... emotionally and literally. When all your brain wants you to do is sleep and escape reality, itwould come in handy to have someone like a guardian who can come in your room and make sure you are up. When one is living on campus, though, especially far from anyone who has any responsibility for you, one has to grow up fast - or sink. I sank that first year, grades-wise and health-wise . Then I transferred, I brightened and handled my depression better , and learned self-discipline. I would have told myself to be prepared to act as my own parent.