University of North Carolina at Greensboro Top Questions

Focus. Don't let the social aspect of college take over what you are really in college for. School should always come first no matter what. Waking up for that 8am class was not as bad as you will think that it is. Have fun but also remember that you are paying for this education and you can't let outside forces mess up your future. Be smart.

My life as a high school senior was different from many students. In the beginning of my senior year, my Mom was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. The first two years of my college life were spent living at home and going to a community college. If I could go back and give myself advice, the first thing I would tell myself is to stress less. I value my grades and work hard to get almost all A’s, but sometimes I lose sight of the most important moments. I would tell myself to have a little more fun and to take more pictures! Take your studying time seriously, but don’t miss out on important opportunities. Always keep up with your chapters, so that you don’t get stuck studying for three days straight before a test, which I learned the hard way! If I could go back to my senior year of high school, I would not tell myself that I was going to lose my Mom at 19, but I would tell myself to work hard, be proud of yourself, and don’t forget to breathe.

Hey, Alex! I know high school is coming to a close very shortly. Cherish the moments with your family and friends before you go away to school. It will be very strange being out on your own (no parents for the first time in your life) and it will be a scary transition into the adult world. You will have to study, study, study to keep your grades up, but remember to make lifelong friends along the way. I want you to promise me something. Find your passion. I don't care if you decide you want to study underwater basket weaving at UNCG. Happiness is the most important goal I have found in life. College is the perfect opportunity to find your passion, whatever it may be. Go out and start dreaming! Once you find your passion, the steps to your long-term goals are at the end of the tunnel, my friend. Work hard; stay focused. Remember that your professors are not only your teachers, but your friends. Engage with your teachers and your classmates! Get involved at UNCG! You can do anything with passion in your heart. I am so proud of your accomplishments. I love you.

Don't do anything different. Join the Army Reserve because you'll get to experience a lot more than your average teenager and learn a useful skill. Come back home after a year in training and use your education benefits so you're not in massive debt. Best part is, you only graduate a semester later than the rest of your peers you graduated high school with and you've done way more. You also get to meet great people, many of which are fellow service members, reconnect with your best friends that you haven't been able to see in a long time, and even become VP of your school's student veteran's association. Seriously. No matter what, don't change a single thing.

Hey pretty lady, can I bend your ear for a tick? Remember how you were unsure how to choose a career, because you’re an introvert? Well, knowing yourself is key to making meaningful decisions about your future. It’s the most vital part of seeking long lasting career satisfaction. Explore yourself in entirety. College is not like it looks in the movies. It is NOT all about sorority parties, finding a best friend for life, and overnight study sessions jacked up on Starbucks coffee and Sbarros pizza. It IS, however, all about repetitively: listening to lecture, reading textbooks, internalizing concepts, and regurgitating wisdom from your noggin onto a Microsoft Word document. It is trying, but every day gets you closer to the life of your dreams. Oh yeah, and PLEASE invest in comfortable sneakers, because you WILL be hiking your fifty pound textbook-laden backpack all over the land of scholarly aspirations. And remember, being on time does not consist of pulling into your parking spot two minutes before class starts. Campus officials design the property as a maze to weed out people who lack punctual manners. Be on time for your success. High-five! You can do this!

I would go back and tell myself to not stress so much. I have an anxiety disorder and I let it get the best of me my freshman year. I would go back to highschool and tell myself to make sure I set time aside to take care of myself. I would tell myself to make sure I go to campus events and have fun, because not only is college about gaining education but it is also about making an experience for yourself. I would tell myself to cope myself up in my dorm room studying all the time and to go have fun and relax. College is a learning experience, not from just the academic stand point, but also from a growing standpoint. You learn so much about yourself. I would make sure I would tell myself to make it worthwhile.

DONT SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY ON CLOTHES, SAVE IT ALL! APPLY FOR EVERY SCHOLARSHIP! JOIN EVERY CLUB AND FOR GODS SAKE TAKE THAT AP CLASS!

I would tell myself to stick to your guns and not compromise on any of your beliefs, no matter how appealing the other ideas sound. I would also tell myself to be careful who you start to fall for because, frankly some of them are idiots, even when they make good grades.

The best advice thaat I could give myself is to be prepared for anything. It is quite easy to maintain academics when you are stress free but when you are constantly worried about funding your education, you are less focused on your academic work. I would tell myself to look for jobs on campus as soon as possible and save money instead if buying nice things for the dorm or a few new items for the wardrobe. I can not express the seriousness of having some stored up money enough because life threw my a curveball called tuition and no one but my mother is trying to help me. Most importantly, I would want my high school self to know that it is ok to not be perfect and to allow herself to be helped and loved by others.

If I could go back in time to high school I believe I would have gone sraight into a 4 year university rather than transfering from a community college. Attending a community college first allowed me to save money and finish certain classes but in the long run it only hurt me. This is becuase when I transfered some of my classes that I was told would help me didn't and then I was told I had to take other classes before I could start my major.