University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

My main advise to myself would be to stick with what you are passionate about regardless of what others may think. My freshman year I became so caught up in my friends' choice of majors of business, pre-med, or economics, I forgot what I was actually interested in. I am not very strong in math or science so obviously those three majors would not have been a good fit for me, but I decided to try the pre-rec classes. They ended up dropping my GPA, gave me a terrible platform to start my college career, and drained my enthusiasm for school. It was not until the spring quarter my sophomore year that I enrolled in an art history course and fell in love with a subject. But, I didnt want to major in art history originally because I thought it was a "joke major." But, the deeper I got into the classes the more passionate I became and realized that it is truely an intellectually challenging major. As soon as I became an art history major my GPA skyrocketed, I have made Deans List every quarter since, and I recently applied to go onto graduate school.

There is a difference between dreaming of your future, and working to achieve those dreams. My habit of introversion is not easily broken, yet social adroitness is one of the most prominent aspects of my college career. Even when I was a high school senior, college seemed years away. The idea that I would soon be transitioning into a school with thirty-three times the number of students at my high school didn't click until I entered my first (enormous!) college classroom. Now I am slowly learning how to make my voice - so minute among the masses - more voluble; how to become more involved in my classes, to plan for my future, and join the groups that capture my interest. I come to these activities an opsimath, and it makes me feel like I'm on uneven footing with the rest of my peers. Volunteer work, community involvement, positions of responsibility in clubs and school government; all would have helped me integrate into the community and prepare for the 'you're on your own" college mentality, before I was forced to fend for myself with my nothing more than my puerile high school mentality and gauche social skills.

I would look for and apply for more financial aid earlier on. I would also make sure that I got housing secured earlier on.

As scary, confusing, and mind boggling the transition from High School to college may be, I would not go back and give my high school self any advice. Because I was clueless to the situation I was forced to learn and grow on my own. I was forced to make choices for myself. This type of growth truly plays a part in the person that one becomes and I would not want to have done a single thing differently. I would not tell the young me anything because I wouldn?t want her to miss out on any life experiences that my advice may have given her. At best all I could do is over her some reassurance or an encouraging phrase but as for advice, I could never.

I was able to go back in time and for some reason, I was back in my senior high year. It felt strange walking down the hall again when I spotted a girl sitting in a classroom. "That must be me..." I whispered. Suddenly an idea struck me, why not give my highschool self some sound advice about college life. I approached my former self and explained to her who I was. "Listen, college life isn't going to be easy, especially when you're far away from home. What is important for you to keep in mind is that when you're in college is to expect the unexpected. You might become homesick, but don't let it get the best of you and stop you from being acquainted with your surroundings, finding some way to get involved, and making new friends." "I know that..." My former self said as if things were easier said than done. As I walked away, I wondered, 'Man, why is she so stubborn! Oh, yeah because she's me, but she'll keep what I said in mind.' "One more thing," I said "Cherish the life and people you have right now."

Given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself some serious advice. The first being, it will be hard. I was enlivened by the idea of going off and becoming my own person, especially in such a large city with so much to offer me. I would warn myself of the unnecessary spending that occurred days before I left for college, at the time I did not realize that I would no longer have an income and additionally living in Seattle is like living in the middle of inflation. I would prepare myself to live in small and cramped conditions with two other girls who I did not know. But most of all, I would challenge myself. Challenge myself to go and do what it is I had set out to do: become my own person. To not waste any opportunity thrown my way, living in the moment and searching out the best that life has to offer. I would urge my younger self to make the best of every situation in order to get the most out of college and out of life.

The two most important things I would tell myself would be to be less shy and to get as much practice in high school as possible. First, navigating the social scene, especially at a large school, is very difficult. I would encourage myself to have fewer reservations about getting out and meeting new people. Learning to get along with roommates is also important and can be tricky--I'd remind myself to be flexible and empathetic. I would also stress that it is good to keep in close contact with friends from high school and family. It's great to fall back on those relationships when you start to feel overwhelmed. Second, academic practice in high school is valuable! Don't cram, actually study! If you remember what you learn in high school, you won't have to pay to re-learn it later. This is especially true of essays. They are tricky, so get feedback and practice while it's free. You'll also do better in your classes with a solid foundation of knowledge.

My senior year in high school I became very distracted by an unhealthy relationship I was in. Honestly, if I could go back now and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stay focused on my academics and to let anybody who incessantly brought me down out of my life. I'd also tell myself to get a job as soon as summer started so I'd be more prepared for the financial burden university brings. Finally, I'd tell myself to be more outgoing and to start studying as soon as school starts, not as finals roll around.

If I could talk to myself as a senior, I would convince myself to live on-campus. As a senior, I wanted independence and freedom, so decided that living in an apartment while in college would make me happiest. However, now that I am living alone in an apartment while going to a huge school, I find myself feeling isolated and missing out on the very important college experience of living with others and meeting a diverse student body. The University of Washington is very large, so meeting people around campus tends to be difficult. Combining that with living alone, I find that I am not meeting as many new people or making as many new friends as I hoped to. If I lived in a dorm, I would meet a wider variety of students in a non-academic setting, the perfect environment for forming relationships. While living by myself off-campus increases socialization difficulty, I am not giving up, and instead make extra efforts to let my guard down and meet others. However, if I could speak to myself in high school, I would convince myself to live on-campus to ease the transition and expand my social circle.

This is what I would say: Be ready for many distractions and temptations to come your way. You have been sheltered with your parents around to look out for you, and now it is time for you to look after yourself. It is easy to put off homework for a parties and to skip class. Whenever you feel tempted to do so, you must avoid this at all costs for college is expensive, and your parents are not paying more 30,000 dollars a year for you to mess around. You are an adult in the real world now and you act as such. Be sure to look at all the opportunities that the University of Washington provides, as you can have an experience of a lifetime. This is the part of your life where you develop social networking skills that will prove invaluable for future careers. Be sure to establish contacts, as you may start a relationship that can last a lifetime. Enjoy the college experience, but always remember the privilege that you enjoy attending this university and the sacrifice that your parents are making everyday for you to be successful.