University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

I would tell myself to never hold back. I feel like in high school I always tried to avoid enrolling in difficult classes so when I came to college I felt like I was being over worked and at first, and as if I would never survive. After overcoming many obstacles, I have earned a 3.5 cumulative GPA and I feel like this is truly due to the act that I began to engage in different ways to study and to learn. I wish I would have taken challenging classes in order to prepare myself for what was to come. I had such a wonderful experience in high school and I do not regret one single thing I was involved in, however, if I had the choice of traveling back in time I would have prepared myself much better so the work load would not have been such a shock once I got college. In high school we were preparing ourselves for college, while in college we are preparing ourselves for the real world, so work as hard as you can and do not be afraid of a challenge.

I would tell myself that even though having fun and putting school work off is a good idea at the time, it really isn't. Don't procrastinate on homework get it done right away! If you put it off then you will rush to get it done the night before and it will not be your best work and may hurt your overall grade. Also, don't be scared to say no to hanging out with your friends or saying no to working. Your friends will understand and work is not that important and it will end up comsuming all your time. Make sure you study the material you learned that day either right after class or later that night. It will help you remember the material for the upcoming exam. Don't stay up all night studying for an exam. You will be tired and won't do good on the exam because you will be too worried about sleeping. Even though they say getting involved is a good way to make friends, it is but meeting people in your dorm is a good way to make friends too. Be ready to learn and give everything your best.

You might think that college life is great and that there is no stress at all. But what about the transition from high school to college? Towards the beginning of senior year in high school, you have to spend time looking up colleges to see which one fits you best. You cannot choose the first college you search; it takes time looking for the right college. Applying for one college will not cut it. You should apply to many colleges so you have a chance to get into at least one of them. After sending in all of your college applications, it is time to start searching for scholarships. What you should do is look at many different websites and make a list of possible scholarships. Make sure to apply to as many scholarships as you can. Once you hear back from the colleges that have accepted you, it is time to take a few days or weeks to choose which school to attend. As you think about all of this, it does take a lot of time and work going from a high school senior to a college student.

If I could go back I would take studying way more serious. In high school I barely had to study for tests, or I would cram it in the class before a test and would call it good. In college that doesn't work, and because of my lack of study skills in high school I have found it hard to know what to study for tests. I would go back and tell myself to try harder, to study more, and take studying seriously. I would also tell myself to step outside my boundaries because at UW-OshkoshI have found myself to try things that step outside my comfort zone, but it has opened up a whole new world to me, and helped me be more aware and open to trying new things.

I wish I could teach my former self to approach learning with the same level of engagement that I have today. A large portion of my high school career was spent bored and unmotivated because I was not participating holistically. I neglected much of my classwork because I did not feel challenged and was not immediately entranced by the subjects. I would love the opportunity to return and convince the former me of the value of working hard in the areas that did not come naturally to me, instead of spending my time in high school concentrating exclusively on subjects in which I innately excelled. When I returned to school after eight years in the workforce, I keenly felt the real life value of learning. I enrolled in the Honors Program at my college and found myself enjoying the benefits of richly appreciating the subjects I was learning about. I began to identify connections between subjects I was less interested in at face value with subjects that I had always enjoyed. This ability to create personal interest in my studies enabled me to excel in college in the same areas where I fell short in high school.

I would tell myself that it would be easiest to go straight from graduating high school to attending college. The option of taking a year off to work or travel may seem appealing at the time, but it will only hinder your drive to continue your education. It is important not to overestimate your ability in college. At the time, taking a full course load may seem like the most ideal option, but taking all those courses and maybe a part-time job make for quite the impossible task. Don’t be afraid to drop courses that are stressing you out or do not interest you. Make sure you research your professors before signing up for their classes. The difference between passing the class and failing could quite possibly be because of the professor. If you’re not having a good connection with your professor or find yourself hating them, drop the class and enroll in a different one: you will do poorly if you hate your professor.

If I could go back in time during my senior year in high school, I would tell myself to go with my gut instincts and pursue a Masters degree in Psychology. I originally wanted to study Psychology since I've always enjoyed giving my friends advice and making them feel better about any problems they were going through however I decicded to study Information Technology and Networking because I like computers. What I know now that back then I did not, was that even though I like techology, I don't exactly quite understand computers as much as I thought I did. I changed my major to Psychology and feel much better about my life as a college student and I hope with my Pschology degree I can help out those who need counseling and can use my advice. I would also tell myself to always study and work hard as a college student because the college life is nothing like the high school life. The college life is tougher and more demanding but it's worth it because when I become a college graduate, I'll have a brighter future and a better life.

I beleive that a lot of my successes in life can be accredited to how I prepare. Going into something without a general background is very difficult for me. So when my transition from high school to college took place, I looked for many resources to help guide me in the right direction. One of my biggest and most valuable connections I was able to create was the upperclassmen that I meet during my first few weeks on campus. I constantly found myself using their previous knowledge to help guide me in the direction that I would want to go. The retention rate at my university isn't the best, so I knew that I would have to start on a good note with grades. By not doubting myself and using the wisdom provided by my self-appointed mentors, I have been able to get involved in volunteer programs and other groups such as Alpha Lambda Delta, all while maintaining a 3.862 GPA. One of the biggest things to remember is to create a schedule with a plan of action, and then follow through with it. With proper preparation and mentors, success is a lot more achievable.

If I could go back in time to speak to myself as a senior in high school I would give myself a few bits of advice. Firstly I would tell myself to not slack off and to apply for as many scholarships as early as possible. While at high school try to focus more on my studies to keep my grades up and to not stress out over all the little things. Secondly I would advise myself to be less nervous about moving on with my life, while it may seem overwhelming college is not all that different from high school and making friends is very easy to meet new and friendly people.

The one piece of advice that I would give to my high school self is that opportunity is what you make of it. I was so fortunate to the have the chance to further my education. However, what is even more important than the opportunity, is what I choose to do with it. I would tell my high school self to never take for granted any of the experiences that college offers. In order to make the most out of a college career, one must take the initiative. Good things don't come to those who wait, but to those who actively seek them. If I want my college experience to be everything I hoped it would be, I must take chances, step outside my comfort zone, and embrace the unfamiliar. I would tell my high school self to not be afraid of the future, because the future is full of endless opportunites.