University of Minnesota-Duluth Top Questions

Going back to senior year I would tell myself that the passion for storytelling does not fit well with the journalism courses I'm about to take (which would have been realized had our school not dropped its only film class the year before). I would tell me that the girls I'm about to dorm with are intelligent, funny, and down to earth; that I will grow close to them beyond imagined, but to be careful- they are juniors and go out often because they went to their classes and have their work done. I would remind myself to put school in front of partying- there will be another party tomorrow night and this time Dad, Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Charlie won't be there to make sure my work is getting done. Finally, I'd tell me to talk to my suitemate Stephanie. She is majoring in Cinema and Cultural Studies so instead of never attending my classes make the switch now. Hopefully by doing this I am able to set right the path that's been right in front of me the whole time.

I know that as a high school senior I thought college would be this huge change. In some ways it is and someways it isn't. I would tell myself not to be so afraid of being a freshman and feeling like an outsider. That awkward feeling passes within weeks of arrival. I would also tell myself to be ready to meet new people. Classes will be larger and more hands on but I can do it if I just apply myself and work hard. Another thing I would want to tell myself is that the first few weeks are going to be hard. Being away from home and your family will be tough but it will soon pass and you're discover more independence. The most important thing that I wish I had known would be to put myself out there more. It's okay to be the one to start a conversation and make a new friend. And if it doesn't work out that's okay too. About to go into my junior year I just realized that I wished I had made more relationships, and doing so in the first few months would have been easy.

I would have told my high school self to research the colleges and majors out there more and not to just settle. I come from a town that it seems if you don't get out of it right after high school, you're stuck here forever. I've known this is not where I want to be for the rest of my life, yet I chose to stay here thinking I could transfer later. Three years later and thousands of dollars later in student loans, I'm transfering schools and pursuing the major I wanted to right our of high school. If only I wouldn't have just settled I would be graduating on time and wouldn't have wasted all the money I have. It seems in today's world, you almost have to know what you want to do right when you get into college so you can get right on track. It's so crazy expensive that you can't really afford to take three years to figure out what you want to do like I did. I'm happy I'm transfering but I wish I would have made the right decision to start with.

If I could go back in time knowing what I know about college life, I would tell myself two things: apply to as many as scholarships as I can and create new study habit that will help me in the future. College could be stressful sometimes. When I first arrived in college, I thought I could pass all my classes by doing bare minimum. After the second month, the home works and exams started to be more intense and hard. After that, I tried to be more organized and start a new study habits to ease the stress but it was too late. The fact that the final exams were accumulative made the situation even worse. Now I started a new study habit and I decided to start keep track of everything, which will make everything easier. Money has been a problem in our family since I came to the United States in 2009. My Mother, as a single Mom, has been working hard to fulfill our necessity. Recently, she has been out of work, which affected everybody in the family. I had some school fees that I could not pay and some school supplies that I could not buy.

learn good study habits, you have to put a lot more work into lectures than you think. Make friends early, they really help you stay sane when you are overwhelmed with school work. Pick academically focused friends because they make really good study buddies. Budget money so that when you come down to your last semester you don't have to think about putting it off because you can't afford it.

Make friends right away that will help hold you accountable for your school work. Go to a counselor when you are feeling upset or you can't figure something out about what you are going through. That is what they are there for! Overall just have fun and grow closer to God. Get involved in things and meet a variety of different people!

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would first calm myself down. Anxiety gets the best of you when you are entering a phase of your life that you know nothing about and are preparing to meet new people. The University system creates such an effective and available system to help new students become accustomed to the campus and create a community. There is no reason to worry. I would also tell myself to not slack on applying for scholarships. Loans can be so easy to apply for and collect when you can't see the money in front of you, but once you receive the total amount of money you owe, you wish you would have spent more time applying for scholarships than out with friends. Last, I would encourage myself to join clubs, religious groups, and any other social activity that allows myself to meet new people. You need a community when you are away from home and experiencing something so new and out of your element.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as high school senior regarding what I know about college now. I would tell myself to stay focus in high and get the best grades to compete with other students who are getting in the same career field as me. Also, I would tell myself that to get a score on the ACT or SAT that will give me the opportunity to go to any university or college of my dream. I would also advise myself to learn some techniques in high school that could be useful in college. In addition, I would advise myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible because that money will be useful to pay for my expenses. I will also tell myself to take some college classes while attending high school that will help me to be closer to my dream as a high senior. I would apply to a lot of universities and colleges. I would tell myself to take classes that are challenging in high school to help me understand that college will be harder and harder. These are some advices that I advise myself to take.

Things are tougher than they seem in the 'real world' than you may imagine at 18. College life is exciting and rewarding in so many ways. There will be so many new people to meet and the possibilites for learning anything are endless. Keeping a positive strong support system with friends and family are extremely important to get through the tough times. Stay focused and consider each opportunity that comes up carefully. Choose a path in your education that is truely you. Never lose sight of your goal and dreams. Stay positive and work hard. You can make ANYTHING happen, whether you realize it now or not. Trust me. A lot of hard work and dedication will get you everywhere.

Dear Jodi, If I remember correctly, you are senior who is confused about almost everything. You don't know where you're going to be in a year, and you don't know what to study when you get there. You just want to stay in your small town with your friends and family. You want to stay in a place that is familar to you. You don't want life to change. I am writing to tell you that although change is scary, it will help you grow to be a stronger, wiser, and more open person. It's okay to not know exactly what you want to do. This is your time to make mistakes and learn from yourself! Just keep studying hard and get those scholarships! College is not a decision you will look back on with regret. It's a chance for you to invest in your education so you can give back to the world. In the next year you are going to come to Duluth and eventually settle on International Relations Major so you can join the Peace Corp do you can help change the world for good.