Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Top Questions

There is one word that I would love to go back in time and tell myself in highschool and that is prepare. I feel as though my late choice to change from going to a technical school to a 4 year bachelors degree caused me to feel rushed and illprepared for college. I felt that I failed to learn which studying techniques worked best for me while in highschool. This hurt me when entering college because there is a larger amount of independent studying that needs to be done. I adjusted quickly and my grades were not affected much, but the transition to college would have been a smoother process if I was more prepared.

Listen to mom. When doing or procrastinating from doing an assignment, never say whatever -- it can form a habit in giving up which can ruin your GPA which stays with you throughout college. Don't be afraid to ask for help or clarification. Definitely use index cards for studying. Most importantly: utilize your resources in order to do something great.

If I could go back in time and give my 18 year old self some advice I would tell myself not to worry so much about what my friends are doing and focus on my own goals. I was too preoccupied about trying to do the same things everyone else was doing, like trying to apply to the same schools or move to the same cities as them. I wasn't making my own decisions; I was trying to imitate the choices others were making because I was afraid of being different or people criticizing me. So I would have a conversation with recently graduated Mariela and tell her: if you want to study fashion, do it, even if people laugh at you or don’t take you seriously. Pick the school and city that best fits you not the one that all your friends or classmates are going to. Be confident in yourself, you’re strong enough to make it in this world alone and you don’t need the approval or recognition of every single person you know. Trust your instincts and know that the people that love and care for you will always encourage and support you.

Growing up in my household I was always very grateful to be going to college. I never thought I would make my educational goals come true because of how expensive college was. When I decided to attend college the amount of research for finical aid was outstandingly large, but has paid off. Advice I would have given myself about college is every penny counts. I would have told my senior self about how to shop for affordable books, how to find affordable housing that is also safe, I would have spent time in high school doing more research on scholarships. College to me is a gateway to a better stable future. I plan to take advantage of all of IUPUI’s assets, and continue my education at Law School. The most important thing I would tell my high school self is to never listen to someone who says you can’t do something. Even against the finical odds I would notify my high school self that I am achieving my dream.

Don't fail and have to retake so many classes. You could have been out in 4 years and not needed the next summer and fall to finish. Stay school focused. Friends and family will be there for you no matter what. Boys can wait. Studies are the most important thing. Don't let things get in the way of your studies. If your friends don't understand why you have to study, then they don't need to be your friends. You will find new friends that have the same interests as you.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work much harder. College was a huge wake-up call from my lazy senior year. By taking easy classes and missing a year of math, it was truly difficult and made my first semester challenging. Learning to manage time was a whole new concept to me. Considering I rarely had to do homework during my final year of high school, staying up all night and studying was exhausting. I would advise myself to stay on task, and pay attention to my teachers when they warned me to prepare myself for college.

Every freshman should know that they need to purchase a parking pass before coming to campus. The parking pass will have a letter on it and it is primarily "E" for student parking. This means you can park in a lot that has signs posted stating "E" parking for students. Also, freshman should know that the campus has hours posted for each building meaning students are only allowed to enter the building for this amount of time. If you do get in a situation where you need a computer and place to study, the IT lab will be open 24/7 but every other building locks up after a certain time.

IUPUI is the way to go. It's cheaper than most schools, and it has a lot of great opportunities!

College isn't just about intelligence, persistence is a much more important thing. Showing up is ninety percent of the battle and if you plan to be successful make sure you go to class. Also make sure you get help if you don't understand the coursework. The majority of schools offer oppurtunities to get outside tutoring that are very important in success.

There was once an idea of a former me. A boy misinformed and disillusioned. If I could go back in time and talk to this former self. I would say, "Have fun now, but remember that everything comes at a price." Upon graduating high school I thought I would be given a free ride. Like many other American's I felt entitled to get something for nothing, but unfortunately this isn't reality. A better description for life is the harder you work the luckier you get. Often times now so much is provided that we as youth are enabled to have a free ride, but really we all need face and overcome our own challenges. This is the only way to learn. So I would look at my former self and would lead my former self. The best advice is being a inspiration to others. I could reinforce the values and commitments I now have to education through my leadership. I understand now that if I want to achieve the things that I want, I need to contribute to society in awesome ways.