University of Vermont Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself, "Although you will go into college with a declared major, take a variety of classes. Do not be afraid to take a science course that involves a lab or a crazy philosophy course. College is really a place for finding out what you want to and what you want to be a part of. Do not be afraid of the different people here and join clubs and groups and apply to different types of community housing. Make friends with everyone and if you do not stay friends with everyone, that is okay. Things will change at a faster rate than they ever have before in your life, but you just need to hop on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride because it will go by faster than you could have imagined. Most of all, make sure you have fun and make memories that will last for a lifetime because it is your life to live."

It is the atmosphere of a school that cultivates your personal experience. You are completely able to create a great situation for yourself regardless of the university. You can always find niches and silver linings that fit with the person you are looking to grow into. That said, the atmosphere of a university is the single largest impact on you. Inevitably, being submersed in an environment for years will influence you. Therefore, choose a school with an atmosphere that you believe will force you to expand in ways you would like to grow. For example, if you would like to become more involved in the environment, look for a school with a strong focus on being environmentally responsible. Or, if you would like to transition into being a serious student, find a university with a rigorous student body. Essentially, look honestly into yourself right now and think about what your goals for school are. In what ways do you want to grow and change? Ideally, how do you envision yourself upon graduation? From there, pick a school whose atmosphere fits best with your personal goals. Go to school and be whole-heartedly open to everything it has to offer.

Dear 2008 Shauna, Wow, you must be excited to be going to college! You're finally leaving home, you?ve bought all your supplies and you're ready to move in! Well, before you get too excited, allow me to let you in on a secret: you're going to leave for Christmas break at approximately 5pm on December 19th {don?t ask how; I just know) and you're going to unplug your fridge and close the door and leave. This is a MISTAKE. Your RA won?t warn you about it because they probably figure you're smart enough to leave your fridge door open, but you're not. Nope, you?ll leave it closed and while you're gone, mold will grow in it. Yeah, big colonies of wet, brown mold?lots of them?and when you get back you're going to have to scrub it out. You're not going to like it, I promise. So dear, na?ve freshman Shauna, if there is one piece of advice you take from me: keep your fridge door OPEN when you leave for Christmas, please, for both of us. Thank you and good luck! Sincerely. 2010 Shauna

While Grades and SAT's are important, extracurriculars and finding outlets are just as significant. I found a large school that actually read my application, and although it's not wher I thought I wanted to go originally- I consider myself so lucky to have wound up here. Apply to school near and far, with different sizes and communities. Then visit the ones who accept you- you'll know where you belong.

If I could go back and talk to myself I think the best advice I could give is the same advice a friend gave to at the beginning of high school and that is "live in the present." High school goes by so fast and college goes by faster. I think we have a tendency to always be looking ahead so much that we forgot about whats going on right now. If you just focus on the present -- on your current classes, friends, living situation, clubs, etc. you will be so much happier and do so much better. If you're constantly worrying about whats to come your going to have a really hard time adjusting to college life, or to any changes that life throws are you. The future is always going to change and we really have no control over that. The present is a present and we should really treat it as such and just enjoy it while it lasts, the futures going to be our present soon enough anyway.

There is only so much that you can learn through books and manuals about a school. Sure, you can go on campus tours or stay overnight too- but that won?t help much either. What?s important in the selection process is uncovering your passions. What is it that you enjoy in the barest sense of the word? If you are capable of making a list of interests, for instance if you enjoy good music and nature, then you are already better off than following all of the survey mumbo-jumbo. What I have found is that college is college. All across the globe college students are pretty much doing the exact same things. Sure the atmosphere may vary from a desert poolside in Arizona to icy slopes in Vermont, but, when it comes down to it, people are learning, eating, drinking, socializing, lounging, and being active wherever you go. It?s important to decide what you are passionate about and don?t worry about the rest. If you are true to yourself then the location and transition don?t matter, because you will naturally just surround yourself with good people and the environment that is most suitable to you.

As a senior I looked forward to college for reasons any typical teenager would. I was excited to go out on my own and have some fun. Once I decided to go to UVM, I did what any senior did and developed senioritis. My friends became more important than school and I took no pride in my school work. If I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself that what is best to look forward to is not partying; the best part of college is actually the reason why you are sent there, to learn. At UVM I have learned to take pride in my work, my academic integrity has grown. In high school there seems to be more fooling around then getting work done. But I've learned that listening to lectures is very enlightening and interesting. My classes are much more challenging. My high school self would have considered more work a hassel and a chore. Therefore if I could go back in time; I would tell my high school self to keep working hard, to take pride in my work, and look forward to my college education with eagerness instead of indifference.

The advice I would give myself is to have a really good idea of what college I want to attend before I go and visit many of them. I spent way too much money applying to schools that were too expensive or far away. I would tell myself to look at the underlying reason I am going to a school (instate tuition makes UVM the cheapest, and it is close to home). I would tell myself and others that you think you want to go as far from home as possible, but in the end, people always want to go back home. Also, pick the school that fits these criteria, and is best for your major or field of study. Another piece of advice, pick the school that is moderately difficult to get in; I needed a challenge, and UVM was the perfect challenge for me. Another thing, SAT and ACT scores are not the most important aspect of your application. I did not get the best scores, but I was still accepted to 5 out of 7 schools I applied to. What's most important is your High School involvement.

I think the best advice I could give is to obtain the required class materials as early as possible. Send an email to the professor if clarification is needed. Find as many scholarships as possible; do every one possible.

Do your absolute best in high school and don't get so worked up abuot which college you go to, you will make the best of wherever you go and love it. Good luck! Have fun and enjoy.