University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

Janice- start saving all those paychecks from work as soon as you start working. Your stress levels in all senses drop when you have a little money saved up. Get off the computer and read some books- do all those assignments that you know are easy but are too lazy to do. The better you do in school, the more your parents will back off and the more money you can get in aid. Apply to scholarships- it'll help your parents. You are capable and who cares if you're not the best in class? Don't be discouraged because no one cares what you did in high school. Start good habits NOW!

Explore. Meet new people. Have fun. Study a lot. Stay organized. Fall in love. Break-up. Make-up. Be yourself. Make life long friends. Laugh at your self. Make yourself memorable. Go against the crowd. Join the riot crowd. Ask for an extension. Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy the weekends. Soak in the sun. The first word I chose was explore. I say explore because throughout college I really had no idea what I wanted to do and it wasn’t until I left that I figured it out. Enjoy every minute, but walk away knowing where you are heading.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to go for my dreams and not let anything hold me back. I would tell myself to keep an open mind and spend more time listening--both to others as well as too my own inner voice. I would set goals for myself and stick with them instead of going with what others think I should or shouldn't do. I would tell my high school senior self to take better care of myself both physically and emotionally. Finally, I would tell myself to cherish the people closest to me (you never know how much time you have to spend with the people you love).

Knowing what I know about college, I would tell myself to relax. As a high school senior, you are going through one of the most stressful, yet crucial, times of your life. The pressure to balance doing well in school, maintaining copious amounts of extracurriculars and applying to college is almost unbearable. Now that the chaos of senior year and college admissions are over, it’s easier to see the bigger picture. Everything works out for the best in the end and once you’re situated with new friends and surroundings, all of the high school drama and competition is completely insignificant. In direct regards to academics, I would tell myself to organize my time more efficiently. Self-motivation is fundamental to do well, as there is no one to remind you to study. An assignment might not even be mentioned if it’s already written on the syllabus and when the due date rolls around if it's not done, there is no forgiveness. Make-ups and extra credit assignments are rare too, so missing one assignment could mean death to your final grade. College has been the most enriching experience of my life and I love every minute.

Dear Senior Self, College is going to be a liberating experience for you. Embrace it. You are more ready than you give yourself credit for to move away from home and start making all of your own decisions. Leaving your sisters and your high school friends will be hard, but the time you spend with them during breaks will be more than enough to keep you close. As much as you want to be with her now, do not get yourself into a relationship before going away to school. A long distance relationship will take a toll on your mental health and you will miss out on getting to know some amazing people that you will meet at school. Study hard. You may not have had to work at getting good grades in high school, but college is a lot more serious. Read the textbooks, take good notes, and go to class! Remember that you are paying for your education now, so do not waste your money by sleeping during lectures and procrastinating when you should be doing homework. The most important thing I can tell you is to not lose sight of who you are. Sincerely, Future You

Upon finding myself at a university I do not like, I often reflect on my time in high school and who I was. An eager overachiever, I would like to tell my younger self to do more, to find a hook. I need to find something that really makes me stand out in a sea of applicants that would prove I can do well in a competitive school environment.

I came from a very poor family. No one told my sister and I even what the SAT's were, or how to get into college. We struggled very hard to figure out how college worked and how to use it to our best advantage. If I could go back, I would tell myself to research scholarships, and understand how to properly sit down, study, focus, and make time for myself at the same time. I would also want to teach myself how to manage fiancial aid and work in a way that would have made my first year definitely more easy. My biggest regret was not having known the most basic things, such as how to fit in with people from a higher economic bracket, and what different academic terms meant (such as "registrar") It was all so confusing my first year!

Dear Sarah, You are a teenager attending David Prouty High School, and I am your future self. High School is a fun time in your life but remember that there is so much more happiness and adventure to come in your life. The friends you have made in high school will not remain your friends forever, so keep the ones who mean the most to you. It is important you keep an open mind about your classes and stay focused so you can get into the college of your dreams! By the time you are a senior you are going to hate every wall, classroom, and locker at David Prouty, but time will fly, and before you know it you will be moving into your college dorm. Cherish your time as a high school senior because you only graduate once. Make it memorable. When the time comes to attend college just be yourself. I promise you are going to meet great people there. Don’t stress about your roommate, she is awesome. Most importantly don’t stress about your classes because you are going to do great! I can only hope you follow my advice and have faith in yourself.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior I would tell myself to make decisions for myslef. Originally I believe I listened to my parents too much and forced myself to make a decision about a school that I wasn't sure if I would like. Turns out I didnt. It was too small, not a lot to do there and far away from home. Having transferred to UMass from a smaller school of about 5,000 students I love it here so much more. The other students don't go home on the weekends, you have the freedom to be yourself here and aren't constantly being watched over like a hawk. If I could go back and tell myself something it would be to go with your gut. If you feel like one school will be better suited for you, go for it. There is no sense in going to a school that you won't love and enjoy yourself. You will only find yourself wishing you had gone elsewhere. You must know the final decision has to be yours, you are the one who will be taking the step to a new college.

i would tell myself that continueing my education is the right step to make although its not funnor is it easy but is worth it in order to live a decient life and be in a sucessful career before starting a family so that i can provide for them and give them the best life possiable.