University of Oregon Top Questions

Don't be afraid to try new things, and don't procrastinate so much. Although you're getting straight A's even without trying your hardest, you will see that doing everything to the best of your ability really pays off. Get involved in things you never thought you would, talk to people you wouldn't usually talk to, and live your life to the fullest. In college you realize you should've done this sooner, and would have been more prepared when being faced with new situations and people you never let yourself encounter before.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self I would tell me that I need to learn how to manage my time between work and play. I would tell myself that I need to get used to not having as much privacy as I would at home and to get out and be more social because there are a variation of people at a 4 year school. Knowing that tutors are there for help is a great thing and they will definetly help you with any troubles you may have. Another thing that I would tell myself is to quit being such a picky eater because the food gets old after awhile and its something you need to learn to get use to each day. Parents aren't going to be there everyday to cook you something special or to help you throughout the day. Most importantly learn to have more fun! You are going to be on your own for awhile so get out there and meet new people while managing your homework as well!

If I had the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not hold back and to not be afraid of failure. It is a very difficult transition when moving out and being on your own, but because this is a new "chapter" of my life, I'd like to tell my senior self to let go of my fears of being judged and to reach for the stars. It is very important, I've realized, to let go of your inhibitions and to say what's on your mind; there will always be that one person who may think your idea is ridiculous and does not agree with you, but will always be twice as much people who will respect and support your thoughts and opinions. Note to self: do not be afraid of being different because remember - those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

If I could go back and talk to my senior self, I would want to tell myself to take a breath and enjoy the first part of senior year. I would want to enjoy being a senior more than just studying and focusing only on college. I'd say, "you are not in college yet, think about now." I'd tell myself that there is more to life than grades and test scores. I would want to attend more school events such as basketball and soccer games because you are only in high school once and that it's now or never. I'd tell myself to branch out and take some electives I was interested in, not just those colleges look at. Overall, I'd tell myself not to be so uptight and to enjoy high school and not stress out about the future as much.

Looking back at the past three months since i first arrived on campus, I do think of how thing would be different if i made certain decisions back in high school. If I could go back in time to my senior year of high school, I would most defenetly advise myself to get a job. Adapting to this enviroment, completely different from what I am used to, was no issue. I once heard that some students go to college more worried about paying tuition than they are focusing on academic works. I would highly recomment a job during senior year, I knew at that moment I had time for a job, but thinking this far ahead I had no idea it would be like this. I am currently trying to find a job due to the inability of my parents financial support next year and my desire to continue my education here at the U of O. Through out the day I wounder how it would be if i had held a working position during senior year. Everything went well as I moved here, just thinking about tuition makes me wounder "what if."

If I could go back in time and advise myself on how to approach the transition to high school, I would definitely advise myself to choose a 'quiet' or 'studious' hall on the Housing Application instead of 'collegiate' and 'social.' The dorms in particular can be very noisy at any time of day. It's really rough when you have midterms or finals the very same morning that your colleagues decide it's a good idea to play hallway soccer at 3 AM. In the event that my past self told me that there was no way to avoid getting stuck in one of those hallways, I would tell him to invest in a set of earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs. Sleep and relaxation are imperative to success in college. Being well rested helps with information retention and comprehension during lecture and study, as well as recollection and application during exams. There is no substitute for a good night's sleep (not even caffeine!).

In the past few months, I have had time to reflect on my high school career and I realized something that never occured to me before. Although I was very involved in high school, I never took the time to search for something I was really passionate about. My high school years were filled with activties that I had been a part of throughout middle school that had become second nature. I never felt the need to try something new because all of my time was occpuied with activites I felt comfortable with. For example, I was involved with leadership, soccer, tennis, and various clubs; things I had done since middle school. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to try at least one new thing that I've never done before to remove me from my comfort zone. Choir and painting always interested me, but I was intimidated by my fellow classmates who were already experienced. I feel as though I missed out on many opportunites to discover a new passion. I would advise myself to not be afraid of being bad at something when the opportunity of learning something new about myself is present.

I would advise myself to relax, take one day at a time, and try not to get ahead of myself. It is very easy to get stressed and succumb to anxiety in the college setting.

The advice I would give to myself is consider the college factors such as the city, clubs & programs, and new experiences. I look back on high school and I realize that I cushioned the seat for myself and I chose the safety net. I would advise to myself in high school to not be afraid of change, including the people you meet, the city you become exposed to or the person that you might grow into. If you are able to get into a university that you've dreamed of attending, don't let your friends, your family nor financial matters get in the way of experiencing something different. These new experiences will open your eyes and give you a new perspective on life and yourself. Do not be afraid to change or grow into the person that you can be.

College is an experiance unlike any other one might remember from high school. Although there are games, events, and homework, the ambiance is completely defferent. If I could go back and give myself advice to better prepare myself, I would have read more in preparation for college. Although I did a full IB load in high school, college grades are so different. No longer do I recieve points for my thoughts shared in class or for projects, instead it is completely based on test scores, or at least it has been for my past classes. I would have prepared myself more by learning how to hold onto material through reading, and not allowing myself to only be taught by the instructor. College has made me realize a lot of times you have to teach yourself at home through gross text books and exhausting internet readings. To maintain the information better, I should have started trying to learn how to teach myself best in high school.