University of North Carolina at Greensboro Top Questions

In the recent months at UNCG I have learned something that I wish I would have learned my first year in college, not my sixth. I have learned that in order to succeed at any school, there must be a goal in mind. Not only does the goal need to be in your mind, it also needs to be in your heart. I know that sounds cliche and a little bit cheesy but I believe it to be true. Saying to yourself, "I'm going to be a doctor" and having that goal in your mind is good, but not enough. You must have the goal in your heart. The goal must be the thing that drives you. The thing that says to you "You can make it to your 8 oclock class!" There must exist within you a passion to achieve your goal. If this is not the case you may still reach your goal, but it will have been in vain. It's like climbing a mountain and reaching the summit without any desire to be there. You climbed in vain. The goal must be in your heart.

I would go back and convince myself to stay on campus instead of being a commuter student. I would tell myself to set aside plenty of time to study, and I would get a head start on reading most of my text books. And lastly, I would tell myself to be more open during those first few days of classes so I might have made more friends.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself that I need to know how to manage time, money, grades, and taking advantage of scholarships and college courses. Time is the most important thing in College for it takes a considerable amount of time to study and read. Managing money is important because money does not come by easily. The money use in school is either from grants, scholarship, or loans. When it comes to loan, the money must be paid back in full including interest. Not only that, the grades matter as well; this is where scholarship and grants may help pay for college if the GPA is maintain well. As a senior in high school, I should have look into more scholarship and apply to it so that I would not have to loan so much money now for college. Also, I would have taken the advantage of taking more college courses by doing duel enrollments, which may have helped me earn some college credits by spending less money.

You really going to have to buckle down and figure out your goals you would like to achieve and how does college fit in with them. You have to have a balance between work and pleasure. You can go partying and hang out with friends just make sure you don?t have a test the next day or anything due. Scheduleing is important, look up the buildings so you may be able to put enough time to walk from class to class. Get to know what college has to offer you, what events fit you, what kind of money do you need for like washing clothes and get to know the area. VERY IMPORTANT dont forget to file for FASA, and apply for as many scholarship as you can. The money is going to help with books because even if the college offers a discount for students doesnt mean that its going to help a whole lot. College has the recreation centers that has a many facilities and group exercise classes which there is something for everyone to enjoy. More importantly, most of the services are FREE! That is one of the numerous benefits of having a college id card.

I experience a classic internal struggle when I ask myself this question. On one hand, I believe I am right where I am supposed to be and my life 's events happened just as they should, so I wouldn't change anything. On the other hand, I would tell myself to slow down, relax, and take a year off to travel to genuinely get to know myself. I would strongly advise myself as an eighteen year old to avoid partying and alcohol, because it only causes trouble! I would stress the fact that nothing good has ever happened to me by staying out all night and drinking bud light! I would advise myself to go to a college close to home. I now know how important it is to have a family support system close by to keep you focused and strong, as I began my college career at a school four hours away from my parents before transferring home to UNCG. I would advise myself to become invested in creating meaningful friendships with other females, because I have learned how crucial it is to have girlfriends for support. I have learned these lessons through experience and I am grateful.

I would tell myself to be more friendly with everyone you come in contact with at school and participate in more extracurricular activites. It is so much more fun to come home and hang out with a big group of friends to catch up on things versus not having anything to come home to. I would tell myself to be aware of the things I want to accompish because if I had known that I wanted to go to UNCG and be a Nurse then maybe I would look more into the classes I needed to be taking now. Most importantly, I would tell myself to apply for every scholarship that is available to me because people should learn to use their resources. I would tell myself to take every opportunity that comes available to me because experience is the key to life. I would tell myself that when you go to college, don't forget about your family at home who constantly misses you and your voice. I would tell myself to focus on your goals, that is why you are at school.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high schoo senior knowing all about college I know now, I would tell myself to learn how to study. College classes are difficult, and to succeed, it is essential to learn how to study. I would also tell myself to get more involved in campus events, clubs, and social groups. They make college much more enjoyable, and they are a great way to meet new people and lifelong friends. If I coul go back in time, I would tell myself to attend every class; you never know what you will miss by being absent just one day. Missing class can be th difference between a B or C in a class, or an A. All of these facts are important to know when preparing for college. If I had known these when preparing, I would have had more of an idea of what college was about, and how to succeed.

Jordan, take your time and enjoy right now. Don't look into the future and try to predict what will happen. But don't look into the past and regret what happened either. Concentrate on now. Keep in focus what is really important and prioritize your life. Literally, write it down and look at it daily. Remember why you are here and what it took to get your here. Don't let your parents down, but more importantly, don't yourself down. Get help when you need it - please don't wait until the situation feels hopeless. Read your syllabus and assignments throughly and keep up with the reading and writing. Don't be afraid to go to your advisor or others if you feel lost. It's okay to ask questions. Remember you are going to have to push a bit harder than you have in time's past. But it will be worth it. And you will look back and say, "Those were some of the greatest years of my life. " Have fun and stay focused. Don't forget why you are here and what it took to get you here. You are a winner!

Look. There's nothing wrong with taking your time, but you have to realize that if you change majors mid-stream then you'll pay for it at the end. Pick one and stick with it, so you can finish up quickly. Always work a 15-hour job while you're in school. It'll feel great to be able to afford random pizza or movies, and not having to rely on your parents will improve your self esteem. Also, be the one with a car. It'll make you a lot of friends, and the opportunity to build relationships by always being in-demand. Live on campus for a semester to see what it's like, even if you decide to move out or back home. It's worth the experience. Don't rely on your parents. Whenever it's humanly possible, make/do/buy what you need for yourself. It's tempting to bring your laundry home, but consider this practice for real life. Your parents' respect, and the car or place to live it'll buy you once you're finished, is more valuable than the $1.25 you'll pay for a rinse cicle.

I would tell myself don't buy books before you go to the class, study a lot with lecture notes and the book, and living on campus is not necessary.