Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

I would tell my high school self not to stress out as much. I would also say things will not be the same, you will change, your friends back home will change, and even your family will change; and that all of that is ok and natural. Embrace these changes, day-by-day they are unnoticable, but at the end of the year everything is different. Your family and friends back home will still love you no matter what you decide to major in, or how many times you call them crying over a final. These changes are natural, and they are nothing to be afraid of. Take pride in your friends accomplishments, and strive to do better for yourself. Go to the gym when you want too, eat your cookies in moderation, laugh loudly and proudly and most of all, be yourself. College will force you to challenge yourself in ways you can't even imagine yet, it will be tough and scary at times, but in the end you'll be glad you stuck with it. Lastly, study more; you don't need to re-watch Grey's Anatomy for the third time. Have fun.

I would tell myself to live in the moment, and not spend as much time thinking about the future, but enjoying my life. I would also tell myself to make more mistakes and not be afraid to do things that scared me. I would tell myself that I have so much ahead of me, and not to be afraid to go after it. I would also spend more time cultivating some relationships so that they would last a distance and time.

Study hard. there is no rewind button. study hard and dont wait for something to happen. Get it yourself, noone will give you what you want.

I would tell myself to get involved with on campus activites as soon as possible. When I first came to Loyola I was nervous about what a big transition this was for me, and while I did get involved with one or two clubs, I wish I had done more. I think I would have benefited more from trying to be on hall council, or trying out for student government and taking a more active role in my community than simply trying to be a member in clubs. I would also tell myself to not take Chicago for granted, and to appreciate what an active and thriving city I live in. I would encourage myself to appreciate faculty and staff at Loyola, as they are a large part of my day that often go unnoticed. I would tell myself to do things for me, college is about finding yourself, and learning to love yourself when you're alone. Finally, I would tell myself to appreciate the expierence, to step back and be thankful for what a wonderful expierence this has turned out to be, and to be excited for what lies ahead.

Take everything seriously (but not too seriously). Explore, search for the truth, and get involved in the community in which you are attending school! Make sure to attend your classes, sit in the first two rows (it's okay to do that in college - you're not a "nerd"), and talk to your professors. Your professors are your lifelines to the material and at what other time will so many experts in a field surround you? Take the time to read the material assigned and think about the implications it has in your life. Make friends! Go to every goofy "activities fair," try out Greek life, and join something, anything. Learn a foreign language if you can, it will help you down the road. Most importantly, college is a time when you get to define yourself, free from the labels that you applied or others applied to you in high school. Take advantage of this time and savor it. You are extraordinarily lucky to have this opportunity, that many others would love to have, and you should remember that. Finally, have a good time and remember that what you learn is sometimes more important than grades.

Just act! Don't procrastinate on getting things done. College and scholarship applications don't fill themselves out, and in a few months, you'll find yourself surrounded by friends who know where they're going for school, while you feel panicked because you haven't even applied to any schools yet. It's okay that you don't know exactly what you want to do because no one your age does; they're just better at faking it than you are. Just apply to schools that provide things you think are important to you, like a variety of majors and a gym you'll never actually use. You're smart and resourceful, so don't fear rejection or picking the wrong school (which you unfortunately will do). You can always transfer or change majors; mistakes can be fixed, so don't be afraid to make them. As for your parents, they will always be there to cheer you on and support your decisions, even if they may not understand them; all you need to do is just act!

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to embrace the change of college life more. The first year everything is changing and while it can be stressful just accept the change and move on. I got stuck on trying to adjust to everything for way longer than I should have. I would also say to put yourself outside youre comfort zone more. There are so many different experiences and people you can meet and I would love to go back and just talk to so many more people instead of waiting to come out of my shell. Being more outgoing makes going to college so much more interesting and fun.

Stop worrying. That's what I would tell the high-school senior version of myself-- the one who was so nervous and unsure. Stop trying to make a plan for a life that will change a hundred times before you actually get there. Your parents are sending you to college so that you are able to get a good job and that's fine. But, you are going to college so that you can learn. Your major will not determine what you do with your life, only you do that. The point of college is not a piece of paper with sloppy signatures. Experience new things. Go new places. Become passionate about problems you didn't even know existed. Become aquainted with who you really are. A college is not a career factory. It's a place of learning: about a subject, about yourself, and about the world. So take a deep breath and be okay that you don't know where your going. The whole point of these next four years is to figure that out. Move in the direction of your passions and don't look back. College is your place to do that.

When I was in high school I did not know much about living an adult life and I always took advice from teachers and advisors. Unfortunately, I was not given good advice at all. If I could talk to my former self I would tell them the truth about the education system in the United States. In high school you have two options that allow you to succeed in life. First, you can join the military and you will get free food, housing, and clothing and after you serve your time you can go to college for free. This is a great because, you will not need to take a mortgage out on your education. The second, option is to major in STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) these majors offer the highiest stability in their fields and are always needed as we advance as a human race. There are always scholarship opportunities available. These majors will also give you the opportunity to go into business after spending a few years in the field. These are the only two ways you have a sure chance of success in life. You will have a stable job and many job opprtunites available.

There’ll be plenty of sleepless nights, enough stress to leave you twitching, and times when you’ll feel ready to lay down in defeat. As you reach your breaking point, remember one thing: keep your goals in sight. Though our goals in life are quite different at the moment, what you must do remains the same. Whether you still dream of becoming a painter, or have turned your sights on physics or economics, pursue your dreams relentlessly. However, do not be afraid of change. The field of study you find most rewarding will be the one that will make you happy, not the one that comes most easily to you. Seek opportunities. You’ll be surprised with what you find. Talk with your professors often. They have connections, and you might need them later. Make friends. You’ll meet students who’ve been programming since they were children, others who grasp mathematics like Euler, and some whose skill in painting is not unlike Titian’s. Lastly, learn as much as you can. You are young, have nearly limitless energy, and a life dedicated to nothing else than soaking up knowledge. I wish you luck on your journey into academia.

I would tell myself not to get distracted by trivial things that I will not care about a year from that time. Stay focused on the ultimate prize and do not stop working to get there until you do.

Do not be afraid of the unknown. The greatest lesson that I’ve learned from college is that you must be brave and cannot be scared just to try something. The future looks abundantly brighter when you’re more open to new things. When you matriculate into you new institution, be on the lookout for the interesting clubs and activities that are available to you. Just have the initiative to devise a plan and run with it. Attempt an idea; failing is better than never trying. And so what if you fail? Learn from your mistakes, try something else, and stay positive. You have the skills and intelligence to accomplish so much in your future; you simply lack the confidence. Be optimistic and believe in yourself. There’s no limit to what you can do if you push yourself.

Ok, I only have 200 words to tell you but you are going to absolutely love college! I know you were kind of nervous about leaving home and moving away from mom and dad, but you will find once you are there that you can take care of yourself. Some advice I would give you, would be to get more involved in the things you know you’re going to want to be involved in. I know you signed up for like everything, but don’t do that. Please devote more time to finding scholarships to help mom and dad out; they are already doing a lot for you. And work hard on that ACT score, you are going to need it to be higher. Also, its ok to not go out every weekend. Some of your friends will try and tell you differently, but don’t listen. Do your homework, get some rest, and relax. Go out when you have free time. I know you’re pretty smart, but don’t be afraid to ask teachers for help and when you get to college, forming study groups will really help you and even telling people information is helpful.

Take your time. College is not a race; neither is life. Take your time to know yourself and how best to apply yourself. Do not compare yourself to others' progress. What you see on Facebook are the polished brags of your peers but never the raw turmoils you feel you stomach alone - you see a trophy case in which everyone has some superlative but you. Eventually, with your best, you will have something to gleam about too. High school is rough on the self-esteem. High school is an insular microcosm of an environment - the intense dramatic nature of academic pressures and cliques will eventually run its season. Your qualitative success is what is important, not quantitative time. Others may speed through their milestones, which is just fine. Know your personal pace. No one matters but you in this time.

If I could give my high school self advice, I would mostly tell me to just stop worrying about everything! Especially making friends, and finding someone you can safely call your 'best friend.' It takes a different amount of time for everyone. So what if your roomate finds her steady group in just two short weeks and you're still a loner. It will happen! Because guess what? I'm you, and I lived it so I can tell you first hand that you will find your best friend. So yeah it took a few months but that just doesn't matter. Things happen for a reason and whatever is meant to be will be. So stop stressing and take every opportunity good or bad as an adventure. This is your time now. Go explore, go make a bunch of mistakes, and go learn from them! Sucky things are going to happen but just take it as a bad day and move on. At least you've gained some more experience. The world is just a big adventure. And yeah you're on your own for now. But it's going to be worth it. I promise.

Back then, I didn't have the notion of what life would be like after high school. The moment I received my diploma, the moment it made it's way into the palm of my hands, I knew that my life had changed for the better. Little did I know that life would be throwing curveballs at me shortly after I've accomplished to reach a significant milestone. Here I was, a young man, unaware of all that I still had to learn. I thought I knew everything there was to know, but unfortunately, for me, I was utterly wrong. Had I been given a chance to speak to my future self in high school, I'd probably be a different person and sitting on a different set of problems. On the other hand, if I was able to give my younger self advice about this transition, I'd have said, "Embrace the changes coming your way because reluctance could only set you back. Face your problems the way your problems face you; with assertiveness, revelation, and an open-mind because that's probably the only way you'll be able to solve them."

I would tell myself to apply to many more scholarships so that I won't put my family though the financial burden that I am putting them through right now.

1.) Your GPA comes once. ALWAYS PRIORITIZE ACADEMICS. Yes, you passed high school at the top of your class and with flying colors, all while putting in very little effort. But the formula for attending class and paying attention NO LONGER means that you will do well. The system works much differently in college. Yes, you need to LEARN HOW TO STUDY - something new - but you must learn it nonetheless. It will be impossible to do well otherwise. 2.) Time: USE IT WISELY. It is the only way you will find success. 3.) You've always been social and very involved; keep it up. HOWEVER, don't let your heavy involvements in organizations get in the way of academics. Find a healthy balance. This will likely be your biggest struggle in college (FACT). 4.) Learn to LOVE learning. It'll be a process, but when you love it, you will appreciate it so much more. And academics will be far easier to manage. 5.) Don't wait to explore your career options! START IN HIGH SCHOOL! (Wish someonone told me this before.) 6.) Find a good group of friends that will keep you focused and sets HIGH expectations.

I would tell myself not to be so afraid of getting involved. It took me several years to get involved with things other than my classes and I feel much better after doing so, but I wish I took advantage of extracurricular opportunities as a freshman instead of just recently. Regardless, I now understand that what kept me from pursing those opportunities for so long was the fear that I would not be accepted by my peers or would be looked down upon for some reason. However, that was not the case; in fact, everyone here is treated nicely. Unfortunately, I did not know that until I actually made the effort to get involved last year. Now, as an incoming senior, I will be continuing my work as an undergraduate research assistant, helping with my student organization, working on campus and hopefully studying abroad. Furthermore, I feel more connected than I did as an incoming freshman. That is what I want my high school self to know - that there is much more to college than academics. Classes and grades are important, but extracurriculars can make the experience truly worthwhile.

If I could go back and tell my high school senior self anything it would be that life is going to throw you some challenges in the next year. You are going to be tested and tried more than you ever have been, but it is your passion and drive for the things and people you love most that will get you through. Don't let anybody or anything stand in the way of your dreams. Take chances and try new things. Meet people you wouldn't normall talk to and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Trust me, it will all be worth it in the end because the moment something good happens, the moment you find out you got into medical school or recieved the internship of your dreams, it's all that pain, determination, sweat, and tears that will make those moments that much better. I would also want to say I'm proud of everything you have accomplished in your life and don't let anyone tell you, you are anything less than you are. Now go out there and be amazing, I know you can do it!!!