University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

Don't stress too much about academic success. You could do it in high school; you can do it in college. Time management is more important than ever now. Though late nights are bound to happen, try to prevent them by working ahead. The 20/80 rule (the Pareto Principle) is good to keep in mind too: identify the 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your work that will get you 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} complete. Don't try to multitask, it doesn't work and when it does one of the things you're doing is probably irrelevant. Get involved immediately. There are people who share even your most obscure interests! Join the EEB club (Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior) to meet other people in your major. They'll help you plan out your remaining time at the U. Keep in contact with old friends, but start making new friends and networking. Having friends in many different areas is both fun and useful. Having different people to seek out when you encounter a problem in a specific area is incredibly helpful. Most importantly: You get done what you do first, so ensure that what you do first is most important.

I would say to not be afraid to be outgoing. Sometimes it can be really scary to put yourself out there, but trust me: IT'S WORTH IT! Looking back, I can see a lot of missed opportunities for friendship or even a networking contact. College is about exploring yourself, so make sure that you take every opportunity that you think sounds remotely interesting. Also, advisors are there to help! I'm sure that mine got tired of me coming in, but I finally know what I want to do! Finally, dont' be afraid to take a Career/Major exploration class if you're confused or questioning what path to take. They are really helpful and offer a lot of insight into not only what career/major path you should take, but also insight about yourself.

“Independence” and “freedom” may be some catchy words associated with a student’s transition to college, but these words simply mean that you are completely responsible for your actions, and if you behave irresponsibly, you will suffer the consequences later down the road. With this in mind here is some advice for having a successful first year in college. The first semester tends to be the worst semester academically for many students, so it is important to enter college running on all four cylinders if you don’t want to fall behind. Make sure to start working on your homework early; waiting until the last minute won’t work in college and pulling all-nighters will leave you exhausted. Get in a habit of visiting professors during office hours, it will help boost your grades and being on a first name basis with the staff may help you later on. In order to keep you mind focused, stay active. Try joining student groups that encompass a range of activities, from sports to card games: it’s also a great way to meet new people. One last thing: remember to focus on the future, but don’t neglect the present.

dont change a think my life might have been a little crayz but i make it to an amazing pooint in life where i have the most amazing support system loving husband and daughter. so i would tell myself dont give up times might get hard but your headed to an amazing loving life and family.

Get the degree. Go to a school that offers what you want to do and is good at it. Don't just go to any school but make sure that they offer you what you want to achieve.

Looking back, I would tell myself how important it is to take advantage of campus resources as soon as possible. I would say, "go to the Career Fairs and associated workshops! They are filled with amazing opportunities for personal and professional growth, so don't be afraid to approach the company representatives. Also, understand that confidence and personal presentation speak volumes." I would also say, "go to recruitment meeting for campus organizations that you are interested in. They often involve a free meal so the time is easily justified and will provide you with great opportunities to find a community on campus whose members share your passions. I joined my first student group my second semester on campus and a research group the following summer and found that the resulting feeling of belonging and purpose was even greater than the amazing academic and professional growth that these experience provided." Lastly, I would say, "go to office hours! Your professors are amazing and really care about your education. Also, if you run into a professor who has trouble conveying their knowledge in class, remember that these individuals are better one on one and are also generally paired with great teaching assistants!"

The first thing I would tell myself is to learn to study--and to actually do it. The first semester of my freshman year I struggled because I had never needed to study in high school. I nearly failed my first chemistry class because I didn't know how to study well, and I didn't realize that I needed to until it was almost too late. The second thing I would tell myself is to get a job in a research lab, but find one which wouldn't interfere with marching band. I should have done biological research in college, but I know the best decision I made was joining the marching band and continuing in it for all four years. The third thing I would tell myself would be to go on the Michigan road trip freshman year. Turning down the trip, which resulted in not being able to see the Gophers win the Jug in person, is the only regret I have from college. The final advice I would give myself would be not to worry too much, because college was awesome.

There is no perfect guideline to go from high school to college, in one way or another, it is going to be a shock to your system. I would tell myself that I cannot ever be too prepared. Hard work in college and high school mean two different things and I am going to have to step my game up much more then I ever would have had to in high school. High school is like when you first learn how to ride a bike and your parents are right there, holding you hand and bike, along with you training wheels. College is when they let go and the training wheels come off. You will fall sometimes, but you will learn how to ride that bike, and once you learn you never forget. College is the same. You are getting ready for the world and the things you learn in college will stick with you forever.

The first advice I would give to myself would be to first leave my high school sweetheart alone. I was a very bright student who was A and B's but smart enough to have been a straight A student. I would have then told myself to go ahead and apply for scholarship and grants to help funding my college education as well as enrolling in a nurse program at the local hospital near my school to get the experience and additional funding needed. There are so many opportunities out there for students' college tuitions to be paid for, however so many people do not take advantage of them either because they do not know or just not committed enough to do the work for the scholarships. I would've most definitely took on college beginners Spanish courses while in high school so by the age I am now I would be fully bilingual and would be getting paid for it as well. I would definitely advise myself that hardwork is well on the way.

When i graduated high school, i didnt have much motivaton for school and to be my best in it. Ive grown a lot since then and during that time i have moved away from home and next semester i am transfering to Florida State University. Along with that, i was put on the deans list during the 2010 fall smester. I would have told myself to do a lot better from the begining. I could have saved my self a lot of time and money if i had pushed myself from the beginning and gotten the good grades. Now that i am motivated and loving my college life with good grades, i am able to party and get all my work done. It is extremely worth it.