University of San Diego Top Questions

Be positive and know that as a freshman everyone is in the same boat as you and they are going through the same emotions. Also, if you are undeclared it is ok to take your time and figure out what you want to major in.

Travis, okay, this is for real. You're on your way to college now. You MUST keep your focus. You cannot hang out and party and chase females and expect to make it academically. You need to cut off some of your associates, because they aren't looking out for your best interest. They aren't even looking out for their best interests. I know you desire to be successful in life and I know that you want those you love to be comfortable in life. The only way to do that is to trust GOD and allow HIM to use you! You cannot fail if you're obedient to HIM! Get your priorities in line right now. #1) JESUS. #2) School. #3) Family. You can't fail with a sequence like that. I know everything is not always going to be a cake walk, but as long as you keep your focus, you will make it through just fine. You will experience loss, but you'll be better equipped to handle them once you apply this advice I'm giving you. Don't get distracted. You aren't missing anything by staying home and studying. You're gaining education!

My best advice to myself would be to not be afraid of anything. The transition to college is an interesting experience. I remember times when I felt very lonely and unsure, but this is normal. It is okay to feel afraid, what is most important is to not let that fear hold you back. The most important time in college is the first few weeks. You quickly meet a ton of people and you need to be out going and accept new chances. It is impossible to make friends in college or take advantage of all the new opportunities if you do not put yourself out there and take chances. The best way to find where you belong is to try everything possible. I would tell high school me that if I do not try everything then I will always doubt and regret my lost opportunities. The more social and open you are, the easier the transition and the more chance to make lasting friendships. College is an amazing adventure so put yourself out on a limb, take the plunge, and all the other inspirational sayings we have all heard. They all come true the first few weeks of college.

Your choices and actions affect more than just yourself now. Choose wisely. Do not view your college years as a means to an end, but view them as an important and vital part of your life journey. The friendships you make are almost, if not as valuable as the courses you take. Choose your friends wisely and do not take those relationships for granted, they will be with you much longer then the information you learned in the random class. Choose a major that will take you places and not just one that sounds like it's interesting. Think long term with vision; not dwelling on the future, but pondering it, seeing how today is just as important as tomorrow. Don't be afraid to live free from regrets. Study abroad, play on a sports team, join a club. Take the time to look up from your textbook and enjoy your life now, knowing that it will only get better as you make wise and meaningful choices.

I would suggest that instead of trying to make a long distance relationship work with my high school boyfriend that I come to school single. It isn't that I wanted to date, but that relationship controlled a lot of my experiences and caused a great amout of stress. I only ended it after it began affecting my grades. As a freshman in college your priorities should be school work, friendships, and personal mental and physical health.

I was fortunate enough to be able to pursue college right after high school. I now know I took for granted that opportunity. I was young and inexperienced in the subject of life. If I was able to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself a serious pep talk. First, I would tell myself to stay with the plan to get my general education classes completed at a junior college before transferring to my desired college pick of USD. This eases you into the college frame of mind. I should also keep the socializing to a minimum in order to succeed in my classes. Living on your own at age 20 is a huge transition which can be scary, but also exciting. Having received my Bachelor’s Degree, and now trying to apply to a Master’s Degree program, I am very aware of the importance of good grades. Socializing and having fun while in college are also important when it comes to growing as a person, but there is such a thing as too much partying. Above all, always think of the consequences of your actions. There is life after college.

If I could go back in time, to when I was a high school senior I would tell myself a few things. The one thing that I wish I would have done is apply for a lot more scholarships. At the time I did not fully understand how much money culinary school was going to be. I also thought the scholarships and grants, I had received would pay for most of my schooling, however I thought wrong. I would tell myself that the more scholarships you apply for now will prevent you from stressing later on. For the most part I am independent, so making the transformation from high school to college was not difficult; I was ready to start my life as an adult. College was not a big change for me. The only thing that has changed is that I now know how it feels to constantly be worrying about money.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to focus a bit more on applying for outside scholarships during that time period. The cost of a higher education weighs heavy on my mind, and I am aware of the financial burden my education is having on my parents. Applying for more scholarships during my senior year, would have greatly impacted the amount of money needed to complete my education, and made my transition into college less stressful by eliminating the daily worrying about finances.

I have gotten the fact that it is time for me to make harder decisions. I am living on my own now, the first for me, so I really have to make the right decisions. I also have learned that I was always right when it came to what I wanted to do. I know it's the right path, it is just a matter of being able to continue that path when that path is so expensive. I also have realized that I must do whatever I can in order to continue with my dream.

My college experience has given me a new sence of independence and knowlege that I never though possible. It has given me a great feeling of teamwork and pride for my school and myself being an athlete on one of the many teams present at this University. I have learned how to grow up and find interests that make me happy and unique to others. This will all help me in the future when I graduate college and head off into the workforce. The schooling I am getting at the University of San Diego is unlike any other because of its small class sizes and close attention each student is given. This has made it easier to grasp concepts and further my learning. Not only will I be able to head out into the wold but I will be able to find a job and know that my education was worth it.