University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

I need to prepare myself for college next year - the first thing I need to do is to check out the on Campus housing to find out which dorm will be best for me, and consider whether I should try to get into a dorm on campus which is close to my classes , as well as check out which social activities I will plan to be active in, like church, Husky Games, tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball, weightlifting etc... so its not so far to walk. I should also make an appointment with an advisor to see which areas I am best suited to major in as well as check out what schlorships are available and , what their deadlines are so that I can put aside a list of the ones I would like to apply for and, their deadlines. Finally I should check out which areas of major I am interested in and maybe find out what jobs are available in those areas, if they are something that I would like to do for the rest of my life and/or, if they provide opportunities to grow and expand into other areas.

There is less time to adjust than you think. Days fly by in college, and the less time you spend trying to acclimate yourself the better. College is where things happen, but nothing will happen to you or for you until you start making choices. So make them! Try new things! Don't be afraid because you don't know how to do something, but instead relish the thought of learning something you had no idea about before. Utilize your time in the classroom, and see it for what it is: knowledge that matters. Take in every second, and don't waste any of it, because I promise that once you can see that graduation deadline approaching, you will start to think about all the things you wish you would have done during your time here. College is a gift, a privilege, and you must treat it as such.

If I was able to go back in time and talke to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to stress out so much! Life works and there will be many struggles and hard classes, but by staying focused and keeping up with reading, everything will be ok. If I still attended UW, I would tell myself not to get caught up in the drama of sorority life and that once I move out into my own house, things get a lot better. The transition is hard, especially working, volunteering, playing a sport, having a boyfriend and going to school. College is all about prioritizing and finding a balance. The best way to balance is to take time and find what truly makes you happy. Graduate school is going to be tough, so get the best grades that you can now as to get into the school you want. Don't feel pressured by others to go out and party, often, staying at home and getting caught up in school is much more rewarding. Life is a journey and each path an adventure. Enjoy it.

As I look back over my life, the image that comes to mind is that of a girl on the verge of becoming a young adult. With the earnest desire to attend the University of Washington I believed that this pursuit would enable me to achieve academic and personal success. However, it is through my experiences that I have learned to understand the value of hard work and civic responsibility. I would tell LaTasha to always put forth her best in everything that she does. To remember the importance of attending class, studying, and receiving good grades because this opportunity is something that neither of her parents had. It is also important to surround yourself amongst positive people because not everyone wants to see you excel, especially those who do not have a path of their own. Having the opportunity to join this learning community and take courses that will enrich your world view and frame of reference is a wonderful experience. Open yourself to a new world and take advantage of the resources and people who are there to help you succeed. Always remember that you are a scholar and defeat is not in your vocabulary.

As a senior in high school one of the biggest issues I faced was procrastination. I put too many things off for too long and in the end I missed out on a lot of opportunities. If i could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself to start earlier on scholarships. Being of Hispanic decent there are many scholarships available to me, but only if I make the effort to find them. That is what i didn't do as a senior and I am now paying for it as a college freshman with huge student loans. Another thing that I would tell myself would be that you need to find something that you are passionate about and that will make a great story to tell everyone when you get to college. One of the hardest things to do when adjusting to college life is meeting new people. There are only so many small talk questions you can ask someone. If I had an awesome story to tell people maybe things wouldn't be so awkward for so long.

Time is everything! Managing time between classes and studies is important to stay focus. Make sure you always know your tasks and complete them as soon as possible, don't put them off til the last minute. Also, work hard for what you want, there are professors,who are going to challenge you, but they are only doing it because they believe in you! If something is unclear, don't just leave it that way, ask questions its your education!

If I had been DeDe's counselor, I would have insisted that she try to find an affordable way to pursue her education and be involved in the career of her dreams. She loved to write and had a passion for film so she figured out that she would like to go to school for Film or Screenwriting. Yet her grades were average and she had not yet developed the discipline necessary to pull yourself up should you fall behind in your schoolwork. Additionally, most scholarships are awarded to those who demonstrate academic excellence. That does not make it fair but it will often become an obstacle if you are in a situation where the majority of your decision will be based on affordability. So now she has been forced to leave her dream school twice because she could no longer afford to attend. She tries to work and save up the money to pay out of pocket but with the current economy it becomes more difficult to find a job that pays enough with just her high school diploma and an unfinished degree.

First of all, take advantage of all of the opportunities presented to you throughout high school. The small classes and individual attention granted by teachers is a feature not available at large universities. Thus, be sure to fully utilize all advantages and great mentors present in school. Furthermore, the opportunity to take classes that provide college credit is a simple one that one may overlook, but is also an easy opportunity to get one step ahead of the intense competition that will undoubtedly exist in college. Getting these simple credits can make it possible to take lighter loads of classes once school starts. Lastly, make sure you have fun! The end of the year is a great time to kick back and spend some time with all of your friends that you've been with during high school. Many of them may be going off to different colleges than you, so be sure to spend as much time with all of them as you can! Those memories will stick with you and possibly lead to long-term, and maybe even life-long friendships. Relax as much as you can, because college will take up all the energy you can summon!

There are many ways to be successful in life, and i measure my success by different standards now than i used to a couple years ago. To me success is measured in how i grow spiritually and emotionally. It is measured by my ability to create community, live life fully, and have an abundance of opportunities, ideas, and self-confidence. My parents have a different idea of success. Personally my choices were limited to an in state college (and tuition) and a school that had prestigious "practical" degrees in mostly science. I wasn't given a choice to take a year off before i went to college, and started taking classes that i didn't personally value. If i could have changed it all i would have taken a year off from schooling to fester my passions. I would say that college is to get into the corporate world and if i were to pursue holistic health, community, documentary film, dance, environment, nutrition, etc. i would require a different, more nurturing environment. I would have told myself to not resign to the pressures of parents and money, and enjoy the journey my life is taking me on.

Hey Joe, this is you from the future... yeah I know, crazy right. I've got something important to tell you. It might sound lame and overrated but listen. You need to remember that even though school is important, don't let academics consume your time and prevent you from meeting new people, experiencing new adventures and most importantly having fun. College is more than a insitution of academia but an environment of people from all over to meet and share each other's life experiences and growth. You will learn a lot in class, but you will learn more from the peers around you. Stop playing video games and wasting time on the internet. Get out there and do something, with someone, somewhere. There is so much in this world you are blind to right now. Open your eyes and look. Open your ears and listen. Open your mouth and talk, like really talk. Make sure you are heard. And remember these three words, People Matter Most.