University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would remind myself to look past all that all the drama I was going through at that time. I would remind myself that in only a few months I would be in college where the girls aren't snippy and there are plenty of other guys to pick from. I would tell myself to stop bending over backwards to be friends with certain people because the friends that are true will prove it by staying in touch next year. Plus, there are going to be so many people to meet and become friends with, the untrue friends wont matter anymore. I would also tell myself to spend more time with my family because you are going to miss them like CRAZY in a few months! Put them first, before friends. And i would remind myself to be open to anything, a lesson i learned throughout first semester. Last, I would tell myself to HAVE FUN in school, it's going to be the best years of your life!

My advice to my high school self can be summed up in one word: balance. You need to balance the present with both the past and the future. College is a time to enjoy yourself, but it also prepares you for your career. It?s important to balance your life between the two while remembering what got you this far. You have to learn to balance your new friends, old friends and academics. These are four years you will never get back and you should enjoy them. Once you graduate, the responsibilities become more burdensome. Take advantage of the relaxed college years by meeting new people, joining clubs and having fun responsibly. At the same time, it?s important to keep your high school friends in your life. Ignoring them and only valuing their friendship when it?s convenient for you is no way to maintain the relationships that shaped who you are today. With all this being said, these four years are just as important for setting up the rest of your life. Waste away your four years and you?ll pay for it once you hit the real world. Balance is the key to make it through successfully.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would make sure to stress certain aspects of college life, and bring out the truth about some misconceptions people have. I would tell myself to save every penny that I was earning at the time. It's nice to go out and have fun with friends, but that money will be needed very soon. I would tell myself that living in the dorms realy is not that hard to get used to and it is actually a great way to meet new people and make friends. My one warning would be to realize that college is a complete shock at first, especially from what I was used to at my high school. I would tell myself not to freak out, but be aware that the workload is intense and the classes are quite a bit harder. I would say be ready to grow up and get even more of a sense of responsibility. I feel like I have matured a lot in the last few months and I know that college is going to be one of the best experiences of my life.

Dear Caitlin, Put some of your preconceived notions of college aside. I would advise visiting your advisor more than once a semester in order to get on track and hopefully graduate early. Getting involved in activities might be painful at first, but it?s a good way to meet people with the same interests. Go to the politics study sessions, you?ll need them. Don?t be afraid if you really dislike college for the first three months, I think it?ll get better. Do not over stress about things, just relax and do your best. You aren?t a baby if you really miss home and your friends. Your roommate will annoy the heck out of you; find a place to study besides your room before things get bad. Most importantly, don?t doubt yourself and your abilities to do what you might not think possible. You have a lot more going for you than you think. -Caitlin

Knowing what I know now I would deffinitley tell myself that time is very valuable in college. Time management is so important in the life of a college student. Every hour you spend in class is an extra three hours outside of class to study (at minimum). If you do not have the time to study and concentrate on school then there is no point in going because you will not succeed. I would also say managing money is very essential. College is expensive and the more money you save and manage the better off you will be in the future. One of the most imporant things that I would also tell myself is to prepare for the responsibilities that are to come along with the college life. College means that you are responsible for everything. No one does anything for you anymore and you are responsible for all assignments, readings, attendance, and focusing. College is a big step from high school and all of these things that I know now I wish I knew before I went to college becasue it was definitley a big wake up call. But I have gotten used to the transitions.

I wouldn't want to change the university that I had chosen. I know I made the right choice there, but I definitely would have told myself to spend more time with friends. I look back and can't believe how fast high school flew by. I miss all my friends and wish I would've keep in better contact with them. I also would tell myself to save all the money that I could in order to live a comfortable college life. Now that I'm in college I really watch my money and regret not saving more for everyday essentials. I would have told myself to call my roommate more and get to know her better. She's a really great person and we get along great but I wish we would've been closer friends before moving in so that it wouldn't be so awkward moving in with a stranger. The last thing that I would mention to myself would be to cherish every moment that I spend with my family because, now that I live on my own, I miss the closeness of my family and the comfort I had gotten from being with them.

First and foremost: be true to yourself. Do not allow the opinions of others to sway your dreams and aspirations for yourself. Do not settle for less than you deserve and aim your goals high. There are plenty of people in the world who would have you to be less than what you were meant to be, but do not put much weight on their opinions. Be the best you can be because the world will thank you for it.

Knowing what I know now about collge life and making the transition, I would give myself advice focusing on the emotional and physical changes. Prioritize: Figure out a schedule that works for you. Determine what things are important in your life. Things may have to be cut from your schedule once college arrives. Socialize: Don't worry that you won't make friends. Everyone is in the situtation you are. It's a fresh start. No drama. No history. It's up to you to make your new journey. Relax: When school becomes hectic, just breathe. It will be over soon. The challenges make you stronger. In the meantime, find a hobby that calms you, whether it is exercising or playing music. The adjustment from high school life to college life isn't easy, but it doesn't have to be hard either. Just remember that you have family and friends who continuously offer support, guidance, and encouragement.

I was most nervous of leaving my comfort zone and going to a strange place that would be a hundred times bigger than my highschool. I would tell myself the same thing I tell my younger siblings; college is tough but very rewarding. Not just tough academically but because its hard to force yourself to leave your comfort zone and try new things. Meeting new people can be very intimidating but all the freshmen are go through the same culture shock. I would tell myself to get involved with as much as possible but not to overwhelm myself with too many activities because, as important as it is to be involved and keep up your academics, I believe that having a healthy social life is important too. After graduating from college we need to have good communication skills when dealing with employers and other co-workers. Those skills are best acquired through interactions with other people, not just close friends. I'd encourage taking initiative by going to professors for help, and questioning , intelligibly, the information presented in classes that sparks intrest. Finally I'd say to put forth your best and you'll feel most satisfied with your results.

I would never have start out at a Community College. I would have went straight to a 4 year college. I would have sleep in dorm to escape stress and family problem. I would have apply for many scholarship and apply for many college instead of waiting till the end of school. I would have apply for Financial Aid earlier so I wouldn't be so stress out. I would have concentrate more on math course because I just realize how much math I needed to learn in college. I would have practice harder and study harder on the ACT test score. I should also change my personality because my personality and attitude is what got me into this mess in the first place especially my procasination.