University of Rhode Island Top Questions

I have spent the last couple years of my life working aboard a commercial fishing vesel in my home town. When I graduated high school i chose to go into the work force instead of attending college. If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to go to school!! Living on my own and working has provided me with an invaluable experience, but i could have gotten the same experience working in the summer then going to school in the fall like all of my friends did. Now i feel like i am at a disadvantage because i took so much time off before going to college. I have also put myself into a financially tight spot because i chose to go into the fishing industry, which has been a rocky road. That is why this scholarship money would help me out in a big way so that i can go on to make the best of myself in college. Thank you for considering me.

the advice I give myself is to relax and go with the flow. there is a lot to learn, and a lot of people to meet. don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Everyone is there for the same thing. enjoy yourself and have fun.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to not be so nervous about beginning college. I was nervous about living in a dormitory with other girls, about finding food that I would actually enjoy, about leaving my dog, boyfriend, and family behind. My mind was filled with "What if?" - What if URI is not the right school for me? What if college is not what I expect it to be? What if I don't make new friends and completely hate the experience? These thoughts constantly raced through my mind throughout my senior year of high school. Looking back at the transition from high school to college, I realize that it couldn't have gone any smoother. As soon as I set foot on campus on move-in day, all of my worries seemed to instantly dissolve and I knew that I would be okay. I would advise myself that I shouldn't worry about going to college, because I would love it from the very beginning.

If I could go back in time and talk to my highschool self, I would tell myself to forget about physics and enroll in a biology major. I would say that although physics is fascinating, I truely love biology and the idea of somehow helping the planet we live on.

Get a job. Study every day. Do what makes you happy. If you get the idea that something isn't right for you, stop and think about why and then make the best decision for yourself regardless of what others will think or how it might seem to your parents. Life is too short to be spent doing things in which you derive not only no pleasure but are extremely unpleasant. And don't waste your money on stupid things. Work hard every day.

Put more effort into school work.

Start looking up careers and jobs that are in your intended major field NOW! Make sure you use the next four years (or more!) to take the classes, earn the certifications and aquire the skills you need to succeed at those jobs when you graduate. There is absolutely NO substitute for hands on experience and most jobs - even entry level - won't hire you without at least a year of experience under your belt. Get serious about what you're interested in early, and even if your ideas and goals change along the way, you'll know how to take the steps to get where you want to go and will have a great resume to boot! Work hard at school, but make time to play and get involved. Some of the greatest lessons I learned that help me in my personal & professional life today I learned outside the classroom through the clubs and teams I was involved with. Bottom line? Do your Research. Get Experience. Look for Inspiration and tools Outside the Box. Make time for yourself, figure out who you are, and nothing will stop you from getting where you want to go! Best wishes!

I would tell myself, that it is okay to make mistakes. It's okay to change my major. You don't need to have a whole long plan for the rest of my life at the age of 18 because you'll just end up changing it. (like i already did) I would tell myself to stay positive and enjoy college and all its resources because it really does fly by. I would say take in every moment and learn as much as you can. College is about balancing and adjusting; it will challenge you and change you. You will remember college forever, but it will not necessarily define you as a person. Getting an education is important, it does not have to be the top school in the country to receive a great education and a rewarding experience.

"I'm going to warn you. You've never seen a drug in your life, but about a quarter of the people there are probably carrying weed at any given time. It's fine, people are much less annoying when they're high than drunk. Also, when your room-mate pees on your floor at the end of first semester, It's alright, the school's going to compensate by giving you a single. The meal plan is a little difficult to get used to, but once you get into the swing of it, it's about 5 times healthier than the food at home, and tastes fabulous. The only other thing I need to warn you about is the housing department. They're gonna say they'll e-mail you, but they don't, they post your appointment on some obscure site online. They're the only department on campus that's terrifying though. This campus is your friend."

Looking back I would kick myself in the butt because I would honestly tell myself to try my hardest the first year in college. Sometimes you have to be willing to sacrifice some social opportunities, but you can not let yourself get overwhelmed with the work. However, looking back I would not change everything about my first year at URI because a lot of the mistakes I made throughout that first year helped me to grow and realize what I had to do the next year. I understand better how to study for certain classes because I realized certain techniques did not work out as well. In addition I learned too break out of my shell and I'm not as shy as i was in High School. However the best advice I would give myself would be to never doubt myself and keep pushing through, college is going to teach you a lot about life and help you grow as an individual. Its going to be tough sometimes, but in the end it will all be worth the adventure.