University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Top Questions

Catie, I want to tell you that college is not as scary and not as directed towards the 4.0 students as it seems. College is for people who want to learn. You know you love to learn more than some of your straight A student friends, don't compare yourself to them. Don't mistake your B's and C's in english for incompetency. I'll let you in on a little secret; know that when you write your college papers, you will get and A on every single one, and know that you will develop a love for writing that is absent in your current High School experience. Know that you realize the wis message your mom told you every night at dinner, that you never know how you will feel about something until you try it for yourself. In college you will participate in clubs and events and you will be surprised of how much your mind expands. Try to embrace this expansion now because I believe it will only make you a brighter more well-rounded individual, which is more valuable to me, to you, than a perfect GPA.

Tour your university before you make your decison. It is important to get a feel of what you will be doing and where you will be for the next 4 years of your life.

As a high school senior I began to get very scared of leaving home to attend a university I had never even toured. After accepting the offer and officially being registered as an incoming freshman, I wondered if I had made a mistake. I would leave behind the town I grew up in, where I had been accepted by the local university, and leave behind my friends and family who mean the world to me. Now, as a college Junior, if given the chance, I would tell my younger self many things. I would begin with, "you made the right choice." I would then go on to explain how beautiful the campus is, how helpful and friendly the staff and other students are. I would explain how the classes are taught by some of the most compassionate professors who treat you as an equal and help as much as you need. I would end by letting myself know that I will make lifelong friends who will make the next three years amazing, but my friends back home will always be there as will my family. However, I don't think I would tell myself, the mystery is half the fun.

I would say be yourself earlier. You are amazing with many quality traits that others desreve to see. You shouldn't hide behind a facade the is unreal and untrue to who you are. I understand that living within a different culture is difficult but letting others in and being fully aware of yourself will allow you to go far in this world.

I would give my self the advice of, get motivated. I feel I missed out on a few opportunities because I wasn't self motivated enough. I relied on my closest friend to keep me motivated. When I finaly motivated myself, everything became so much easier and a lot more fun!

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be to not let the small things get to you. All seniors feel the stress of moving on to college, new friends, new places, and figuring out yourself. I would tell myself to study hard, yet enjoy the experience as much as possible. Go to all the school events; pepfests, football games, ect. Just feel the senior experience before its gone. Also, don't take relationships too seriously. It really is true, that once you move on to college, some friends will stick with you, while others won't.

If I could go back in time and give advice to my high school self, I would tell myself to RELAX! The transition to college will be stressful no matter what, but I feel that I rushed through the end of high school...especially the summer before college, worring about going to college. Knowing how much your life and priorities change while in college I think it is extremely important for high schoolers to enjoy where they are in life. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy your sports. Enjoy your classes...yes, go to class. Enjoy your clubs. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your school. Enjoy your teachers. Enjoy the relationships you have built. And lastly, appreciate all the things you have enjoyed throughout high school. Your life will change, for the better :), in just a few months!

Stefanie, I'm not going to give you a long drawn out speech about your transition into college because you probably won't listen. With that being said, I will say this though; BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF! You know yourself better than anyone else. You know your limits, how much you can handle, as well as your boundaries. Make the best decisions for YOU. Never try to out due yourself. As soon as you get settled in, make a schedule and list your priorities in order! Take care of business first and celebrate later. You can't possibly have fun knowing you might fail a test in the morning! There is no greater reward than the feeling of COMPLETION! Network! Network! Network!!! Always carry a pen on you. Sometimes, in this world, it's about who you know and those wonderful people you will meet throughout college. Most importantly, stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. Look at it this way; you hold the key to your future! Your actions, dedication, and drive can determine just how great it turns out. Never except No for an answer, when there is always a YES to the solution!

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to apply myself more in high school. There are many times in which that I wish I would of payed more attention to subjects in high school. If I would of studied maybe a little more it could of benefited me more when studying for my college exams which are much harder than exams given in high school. I would also tell myself that when I go to college, that I make sure to study more my first semester and over studying is not a bad thing.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to work hard, but to enjoy life. You have your whole life ahead of you to work so make sure that you enjoy high school while you can. At the same time it is still incredibly important to keep up the hard work as it will provide you for more opportunities in the future. College is a lot of hard work, but it can be fun if you make it. Be social and introduce yourself to the people you see when you get to college. The more people you meet the more advice you can be given. Some of the advice won't help, but some of the advice you will recieve will stick with you forever. Enjoy life.