University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself a few months in the past, I think I would have a lot of advice to give myself, Don't do this, dont wait until the last minute to register, don't say that, etc. But the main piece of advice I wish I could give myself is to actually do what I want with my life and don't be so afraid of the if's in life to even attempt going for it. Being that I'm going into a creative field, and that they aren;t exactly the most in demand jobs, I was skeptical and cautious when it came to choosing a major. But the delay ended up being a waste of time, in the end following my heart proved to be the onyl true path, and even after months and months of thinking I just returned to my original dream. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how mch moeny you make or how secure your job is; it's about actually enjoying what you do and having a passion to continue doing so.

Dear Self, After not pursing a likely chance for a full-ride scholarship at that “other” school, I know you are down. You want to go to Mizzou. That’s where your heart is. You even smiled when you walked onto campus. The other school may be known for engineering, but you aren’t happy there. Following your heart was the correct decision. In matter of fact, everything in college is a decision. There are a million things to do, but only time for a few. You may have to choose music and alone time over an ideal grade. You are off to a great start, though. The decision you just made will be the jumpstart to choices where you follow your heart and do what you WANT (not what is “right”). In college you will not get your perfect GPA or be able to do everything (you are Chemical Engineer for goodness sake), but you can make the most out of it if you are willing to choose what’s important. Although your transcript won’t be flawless, your life will be more so. Just do what means the most to you! Sincerely,That Little Voice in Your Head

It's ok to not know what you want to major in and don't claim a major your first year of college. That first year of school you'll meet new people and have experiences you never had before that may have more of an influence on what you want to do with life. Enjoy that first year of college and get an idea of who you are when you're not surrounded by those who have had the greatest influence on your life. If you go in with a set major in mind, know it is ok to change your mind about what you want to do with life and change your major. Don't be afraid to try something new.

If I could go back I would tell myself to try harder in highschool to get mroe scholarships. I would have told myself not to worry too much because everything works out. Friends come and go. I would have told myself to save my money for a car rather than expecting my parents to buy one. I would tell myself to focus more on family and less on friends because your family matters the most and they will not be here forever.

The transition to college life was not as hard as some people think. I absolutely love the freedom and excitement of college, it is way different from high school. In fact, high school looks really boring from the collegiate angle. College helps you see new paradigms and broaden your horizons. I encourage you strongly to go to the University of Missouri. It is a vibrant place where learning and fun coincide and opportunities are abundant. You have to get involved, even though you werent outgoing in high school, college is where you can shine. It's like a fresh start, no one knows you or expects you to be a certain way. Keep your grades up and and fill out as many scholarship applications as possible.

My school has adequate educational resources, it treat each student fairly and make them feel that they belong to it.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to taking everything seriously, but enjoy the ride more. Give the academic experience everything you have at all times. Procrastination always leads to failure, therefore avoid it like the plague. Completion of high school and the transition to college is a joint effort, so thank the people around you.

Prepare yourself now. Learn how to study, how to time manage, and how to keep up with homework. Just because high school is easy doesn't mean that college will be the same way. College work is a lot more difficult than high school. It takes more focus, time, and dedication. Being responsible in all aspects is also very important. You should be confident in your self to make the right decisions in any situation because mom or dad won't be around to tell you what is right and what is wrong. The best part of college is the social atmosphere. Be outgoing and make tons of new friends - especially the first week. Get to know the people in your dorm and in your classes. The more people you know the smaller this huge university campus will feel. No matter what though, know how strong and smart you are and always follow your heart.

Craig, 1. Look at each day as an eight-hour work day- go to class and spend the rest of the eight hours studying. This will still leave you plenty of time to be involved with student organizations and have a social life. Sleep eight hours, "work" eight hours, and use the other eight to make friends and have fun! This will help you stay healthy, happy, and do well in school; balance is key! 2. Do join a fraternity- I know right now you think all they care about is drinking and partying, but that is not the case. Greek-Life is full of many extremely intelligent, driven individuals; and you'll make amazing friends. 3. Make sure to get involved with student organizations on campus! BUT, do NOT join so many organizations that you're overwhelmed- two is a good place to start. 4. Get a job on campus ASAP- it will pay off in terms of making friends, building your resume and gaining valuable references. 5. Take care of yourself! It is very easy to get caught up in everything going on at college and quickly forget about your health! Being sick makes life a lot harder!

In high school instead of focusing on rigors academic courses I focused on extracurricular activities, which prevent me from exceling in college. For some reason I believed that if I took honors courses I would not be able to be activity in my high school years, but now I see I made an excuse and was being lazy. I wished I had taken honor courses because now as I attend Community College I am struggling compared to others who took honors. I see other student struggling less than me because the classes taught them what they needed to know, so that they can sail through the courses. While I am still struggling and must use more time to study to pass. I would have done whatever I could to take classes like college courses or try to get college credit so my transition to a university would be smooth after attending Harold Washington College. So than I could have used the time to get a job. I wished that I would have listen to family when I was told to take honor classes. As I look back now I see how it was a big mistake I made.