University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

If I could go back in time to tell my high-school self about what to expect in college, the advice I would give would range from study habits to clothing choices to what food to eat at the dining hall and which to stay away from. Starting with studying, the most important thing to remember that studying on your bed results in sleep, so use your desk at all times. Remember how much you and your family are paying for this school so always strive to do your best in class. To learn in class one must be comfortable, so what you wear to class should be comfortable over stylish. When emailing professors, use correct english-you are not texting a friend! While choosing food, try to mix the slices of pizza up with some salad and fruit. The gym and intramural sports are not only fun but help your body become healthier as well. When going out, always stay in a group and make smart decisions. Most importantly, make friends because these people will stay with you for the rest of your life.

The advice I would give myself if I were to go back in time, would be to understand that the college transition is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. As a senior in high school, you should understand that for you to be accepted into whatever college you go to, it's not the college that defines you, it's what you make of yourself and your education at that school. What you do in college is what is going to provide for your future, whether it be getting good grades, or joining certain fraternities, those decisions are going to affect your experience and somehow play out in your future; so make sure you think before making that deicsion. But one thing to keep in mind as well, is that everyone's going to be afraid of making mistakes, and you're going to make mistakes, but that shouldn't hinder you from making decisions either. Take advantage of the appropriate opportunites given to you and it'll open up many other doors that will build the future that you want.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself that it is okay to ask for help. Transitioning to college with professors who leave success or failure completely in your hands is exciting and scary; however, you need to be careful not to be too casual about your studies. If you have questions, the key is to go! You must go to your professors, go to an adivsor and go get help for yourself. No one is going to do it for you and if you are struggling, they will let you fail. As scary and negative as this sounds, it is a chance to truly prove yourself capable. No one expects you to be the smartest student in every classs, that is why there are tutors and learning centers available. Do not let your college experience become a constant struggle for survival simply because you are too afraid to get help.

The college life is very different in many aspects from high school. Socially, in high school you are with people you have known almost your whole life and it is very easy to make friends, while most college classes consist of teachers lecturing while students are frantically taking notes, making it difficult to interact with your classmates. It is very important that you are not shy and aren not afraid to approach other people. Meeting new people is one of the greatest aspects of college, but it can be hard if one is afraid to put themselves out there. Joining clubs and attending events can be the best way to meet friends that could be with you the rest of your life. As for academics, first and foremost it is extremely important that you go to class. No matter how tired or lazy you may be feeling, it is important that you suck it up and go to class and try to learn as much as you can while you are there. As for studying, procrastinating will not cut it. Putting in a little time each night is the secret to success, and trust me you will not regret it.

The most important thing to remember is don't be shy. Talk to everyone, because you never know who could turn out to be your best friend. Also, don't be afraid to take classes that seem hard or intimidating, because you could find a new interest or even a new major. Take a lower level German class, because the one you want to take is going to beat you up. And most importantly, don't be scared. You're going to have a blast!

Be outgoing and friendly to everyone around you, because you never know who might become a valuable friend. Immediately find groups that interest you to become involved in. Don't be afraid to devote a lot of time to studying, it's the reason you're at college. Speaking of studying, always start studying early. If you don't understand something, figure it out immediately; don't put off learning any material for any class. If you have to cram for a test, it's already too late. And let's definitly not find out about quizzes by walking into class and being told there's a quiz today. It's always better to be safe in academics. On the other hand, it's not better to be safe in social life! Don't just do the same old thing with the same old people each weekend. Socialize with different people and try new things. One thing that can mess up your social and academic life is playing too many video games. Once in a while is okay, but avoid forming habits that will hurt you in the long run. Overall, just relax, work hard, and play hard!

Don't worry about anything. As a high school student, college seems scary, like an impossible phase of life. But it is possible. I'm not saying that it won't be hard, because at times it is. But in college you will really find out who you are. It won't be like high school, where you run your life by what your parents tell you to do or teachers assign for you, and neither will you be just following your classmates to fit in. In college, you can, and will be your own person. Really spend time getting to know who you are and what you like, and do it! It isn't up to anybody else anymore. There won't be a strict set schedule as you did in high school, and away from home for the first time, you may not know what to do with all your newfound freedom. Explore it! But make sure to listen to yourself, to find out just what you like, what works for you. It won't be the same as the next person. Become an individual. Work hard in classes, be friendly and make a lot of relationships!

Kelli it is important that you take your senior year of high school seriously because you're future will depend on your abilities to focus and be responsible. You're a bright and intelligent woman with so much to offer the medical field, and with your dreams of becoming a doctor someday, it will happen as long as you take your education seriously. Be responsible, pay attention, and give it your all because with dedication, determination, and drive you can be anything you want in life, especially a doctor. I BELIEVE IN YOU!

Being the first child in my family to go to college, I definitely went into the University of Maryland in fall 2009 with no idea of what college life was like. I learned really quickly that living out of state was both one of the most exciting and scary things I would experience. If I could go back in time and give advice to my high school senior self, I would say a few things to ease the process along. One of the most important things I would mention is to be outgoing, and try new things. Also, I would encourage my former self to take advantage of all the help the University offers to those who are struggling in classes, it would definitely make the first semester easier. Finally, I would encourage myself to just have fun, and that sometimes you have to stop studying and take a break. With this advice, my freshman year would have been much easier, that's for sure.

If I could go back and give myself advice knowing what I know now about college, I would have given myself many pieces of advice. First, I would have encouraged myself to really develop my friendships with my high school friends my senior year and not be so concerned with making the transition into college. Next, I would have encouraged myself to take more AP classes and not attend concurrent enrollment at a local community college because I feel like that hindered many of my college applications. I would have told myself to not sweat the small stuff so much and live for the moment more. I feel as though I spent a lot of time as a senior being stressed about applying for college and not really taking in my last year of high school. Finally, I would have told myself that no matter schools I got into I would end up in the right place and enjoy college more than I could have ever dreamed.