University of Utah Top Questions

Don't be afraid to speak your mind whether sharing an opinion or asking for help. Spend as much time as possible studying and giving your education your best effort-the future of the country depends on it. Take the time to learn and apply the concepts to make sure you understand them. Apply for as much help as possible...College is expensive! Especially the single room dorms :) worth it but so much money! Find an off campus apartment or home to rent to save up for the long road of schooling ahead. Remember who you are and don't let anyone change your beliefs, they create a big part of your heart and soul. Be proud to be who you are, theres no one like you and that's what makes you special. Don't be shy and be yourself so that making friends will be as easy as it always has been. There are other people out there alone and searching for friends too, so reach out and be a friend. Best advice I could give is just to work hard and have fun too. College only happens once, make the best of it and be happy!

Looking back to my senior year in high school makes me cringe. It wasn't necessarily the bratty cheerleaders mixed with the nerdy senior class president, but I will say this with honesty and enthusiasm, it sucked! During my senior year, scholarships were announced to the "over achiever" and the band's most talented cello artist. I kept my grades no lower than a 3.8 GPA and danced every day on the PCHS Dance Company. Although, that wasn't good enough. There are very few students who jump right into applying for scholarships and others who wait to hear the announcement to pick up a packet in the main office. Obviously, I was one of those students who was oblivious to scholarship applications and just worried about graduating with a decent overall GPA. I never want to look back and regret anything, but if I were to change the past I would have looked into scholarships more than I did. Assuming I am a college freshman, applying for this scholarship, means I obviously didn't try as hard as I wished I had, but here is my chance to try again.

Don't procrastinate! Get organized! Establish good study skills! Get involved. During the senior year of high school, many students begin to suffer from "Senioritis." Since its the last year of high school, students can't wait to be done. They begin to slip and loose their focus. They start gettinig into bad habits which can transition into their college life. College is quite different from high school. In college, no one is after you to do well in class, go to class, be on time, do the reading, or the homework. You are now responsible for yourself. So if from high school you continued to do well, then you shouldn't have a problem. However, you must also learn to have a balance. You can't simply lock yourself in your room and study and study and study. Yes, studying is crucial in your success in college but you need to get out and meet new people. You can join clubs, sports, do community service and so much more. Overall work hard, don't slack off, but also have fun.

College is a giant change from high school, but it is definitely a good change, full of ups and downs and wonderful experiences you couldn't get any other way. Always remember to take advantage of every moment. Don't allow yourself to regret a single second. Accept yourself for who you are and go with it. Don't ever wish you could be someone else -- you never know who might be wishing they could be you. Study hard, but don't let it take over your life. A social life is key to survival. Remember your old friends, but cherish the new ones just as much. Never fear mistakes; they can be marvelous learning tools if viewed in a positive light. Try new things -- you will love the new experiences. Don't dwell on the past or worry about the future; live in each moment to the fullest. Learn to laugh at yourself; you will be better for it. Strive every day to make someone else's life just a little bit better. Never settle for mediocrity. And finally, always follow your dreams; you never know exactly how far you can go until you give it your best shot.

If I would go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life I would first tell myself that grades and SAT scores count. Just work hard in and out of the classrooms. College not only prepares you as far as academics but it teaches you to be a well rounded person. I would tell myself to relax if I don't know what I want to do for the rest my life you don't have to make any quick decisions. Focus on getting your general courses out of the way. I would also tell myself that even if you didn't get into the college you really wanted to go to you could go to a 2 year university and get your general courses out of the way and work on getting a higher GPA and then transfer that same college. Lastly I would tell myself to relax and have fun because you are about to end one chapter of your life and start another exciting chapter of young adulthood.

The most important advice I would give my high school senior self, would be to be patient. The reason I would say to be patient, is because, you never really know what life will throw out at you. I remember thinking in high school that if I planned really well, I could calculate the approximate time that I would finish college. It turns out it didn't work that way. Things came up, things happened. It took a lot longer to finish my degree than planned. A lot of people would get frustrated by that. So I would just tell my self be patient. Life is going to throw many paths out there for you. Take the one you feel most comfortable with. Take the one that you really feel good about. And all will work out in the end. College takes a lot of work. It can in many ways be a lot more difficult than high school. Yet, it can also be a lot more rewarding.

I would assure myself that I am making the right decision. I went to a diffent university then all of my best friends. The first week I thought I had made a horrible decision. I talked to my friends on the phone and missed them. They all sounded like they were having alot of fun, and they were around people they knew. I knew no one. I would tell myself I've made amazing life long friends at my school. I would tell myself to relax about getting college credit in high school. Part of the fun of college is the diffent classroom experience. Not much of my college credit transferred and the little that did was only general credits. I have to take the same amount of college courses as I would have if I didn't take them in high school. I would tell myself to still take hard classes but not to worry about wether or not they are CE.

Dear Kastin, I know right now you might not believe it's really me (just an older more awesome version) writing this to you so first i will prove myself. You have a large bound book of quotes you constantly write in that only you and Mama know about. However no one has seen the new poetry you wrote in it because you are a little afraid to show someone. You are used to juggling many sports and extra circular activities but be ready for a change in college. You were blessed to continue Track so make the most of each practice but know as much hard work you put into being a better athlete the most important part of going to college is the student part. (You do great so don't worry just keep working hard) Also you think you might want to be that physical therapist or optometrist but along the way you will figure out that switching majors turns out to be the best thing for you! I'll let you experience that one on your own ;) Live everyday like it's your last and do homework on Trax trust me. Kastin Jane Frostl :)

Dear High school me, You really should take all the opportunity your high school had to offer. Start asking your teacher about getting college credits and high school credit at the same time or any job or internship opportunity but on top of that make sure you put some more work and effort into your community service because once you apply for graduate school (particular med school or pharmacy school or any school in the health area), because that is where you are heading of course, they are going to look at your community service big time. One other thing is, do not be a hermit and break out of your shell. Get together with your classmates and form a study group and really study, not like the last time you tried and all you did was talk about how you went to McDonalds the last day of school. To stay focus on your work and avoid distractions I would suggest that you find the quietest place to study, if you and everyone else is not able to meet up at one another's house or something then I suggest taking one hour after school and go to the library.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself to stop worrying so much! I would say to continue to work hard like I had been, apply for as many scholarships as I could, and then sit back and enjoy the ride. There isn't so much to be afraid of at college if you prepare and are working hard in high school. If you know how to study and come to college to learn, then youll be fine. Take a lighter course load your first semester to help transition yourself, and take classes you enjoy. It makes it so much easier to go to classes and do the reading for the class. College is fun, so dont be so stressed out! There are new friends to be made and a whole new world to be discovered. Work hard, and enjoy!