University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not go in with the cliche idea that I need to recreate myself, but with the idea that I will grow up. Having to live an apartment my freshman year instead of a dorm was such a good exprience for me, it made me grow up and I wish I could go back and tell myself not to be afraid of it. I would tell myself to never hold myself back, become as involved as I can, as that creates independence. I would remind myself to dream big, things I never thought possible are. Submit applications, talk to new people, try new things. Sometimes feigning confidence actually harbors it. These 4 years are about that, about creating a lifetime and a future, and less about holding on to the past. It's all a balancing act, and one that forces you to mature beyond what you'd believe. I'd tell myself to hold on for the ride, but enjoy it, it's bumpy but rewarding.

My advice to myself would be to focus on school to the best of my ability. Grades are vital! Scholarships will make college life A LOT less stressful. College is great but finances can prohibit you from being able to do alot of things. Having good grades and getting scholarships will help you tremendously and make you feel great about yourself. Hard work pays off!

I would have told myself to have tried a little harder during my high school years and have not slacked off.

RELAX! Your senior year should have been more enjoyable. We both knew you wouldn't get into Harvard or Princeton, so you should have let down your guard a little bit. The college applications were final, so why did you stress out so much about them? You knew that wherever you would go, you would do great things in your life. Your parents supported your decision to go anywhere you wanted, so why did you restrict yourself?You can do whatever you want because only YOU are in control of your life and education. Keep working hard because we both know that one day it will pay off. Don't let some admission letter or grade ruin your life. Keep calm and graduate.

Making the transition from high school into college can be rough. There will be times when you get frustrated, overwhelmed, lost, or just stressed for no reason but persist and you will get through it! Make sure you make friends with at least one person from each of your college classes and it will help to sooth your frustrations with the class. Sometimes just having someone that understands where your coming from helps you work out your frustrations. Be sure not to overload yourself with classes the first semester. College classes are extremely different. Nobody will be hounding homework from you or calling home when you are not in class. It’s all your responsibility now so be sure you give yourself enough time to go to class, get your homework done, and have some relaxation time. The most important piece of advice I can give you is to have fun. This is a time for discovering where you want to go in life, trying new things, and making new connections. Relax and enjoy it and the transition into college life will be something you look back on fondly for years.

To: Jenn (senior at Wheaton High School) From: Jenn (junior at UMD) When you transition from a small high school into a small to medium size community college, remember that it is okay to lose friends along the way. Saving money and getting a two year degree at a community college is a whole lot better than attending a 4 yr. college/university and not earning a degree at all. Making new friends is a bonus. You don't have to be pressured into applying to universities that your friends want you to apply to. Your future is in your hands and only you can direct yourself into the right path. The world is a scary place but always remember that you're not alone. You are a strong and independent individual. Make sure to always ask questions when you are unsure of anything and participate in all of your classes. Visit your professors during their office hours to speak with them about where you stand in their classes. Furthermore, always be prepared for pop quizzes! Always organize and plan ahead! Reading and studying is your key to passing every single exam. Keep your chin up & never ever give up.

First and foremost I would tell myself not to take life seriously! Explore the world and yourself as safely and as much as possible. Embrace and learn from your mistakes, BAD decisions, and ignorance, because the first couple of years living on your own are a steep learning curve. Do not expect to know what you want out of life. Do not be offended when no one will take you seriously, you are barely a young adult. It is not the end of the world if your heart is broken, and it will most likely happen again, so don't let it get you down for too long. Have fun, smile, and laugh. Stay up late and get up early. Be compassionate to others, it is not cool to say mean things and hurt people. Be active. Be daring. Do things that scare you. Be honest. Be grateful for your parents! Apply for scholarships, because you do not want to get out of school with debt. Lastly and most importantly, love yourself! Life is too short to care what others think.

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. There is so much I could tell my high school senior self so I could do just a tiny bit better in college. Work harder in that class, join that club, look for that internship; the advice I could give myself is endless and if I followed that advice there would be no doubt I would have a much more fulfilling college life. At the same time though, trying new things and learning through mistakes is how a person grows. After all, college is said to be the time that one really learns about themselves. I think what it really boils down to is taking everything in stride, don't get hung up on that one bad grade and don't get too conceited about that one good grade. Always remember that there will be more classes, but at the same time don't use that as an excuse to completely dismiss a class as unimportant. Moderation and balance is essential to suceeding in classes, and in college life in general. Join that club you've always wanted to, go to that party, but most of all remember you're here to learn.

The next four years are essential to laying a solid foundation for your future career, so take them seriously. If at first you are not exactly sure what you want to focus on academically, it is ok. You can take the first year to explore your options. However, I highly recommend figuring out an academic focus going into your sophomore year. This way you can start taking part in internships, activities, research opportunities, etc. that will help boost your resume. In addition, utilize the academic and nonacademic resources your campus offers including the career center, as well as signing up for extracurricular clubs and activities. These will also help you stand out from the crowd by boosting your resume and graduate school applications. Finally, my last piece of advice is to start making connections to add to your professional network. You will be extremely thankful for these connections post graduation.

i will adive me that i should go to college right away and no waste any time do well in my last year and high school and apply for scholarships