The University of Montana Top Questions

I would tell myself that life really is not as serious as everyone makes it out to be. It is important, and curious, and wonderous; but it is not as serious. Don't fret over not knowing your major, do not be scared of puking while trying to speak publicly. Don't let an advising appointment make you nervous, or not know what will happen if you take that weekend off. During your lecture classes, feel free to smile when your professor makes a joke. This isn't a funeral home, it's college! So laugh and celebrate being able to just go for something.

Besides family, school should be the first priority. The opportunities that are available for people with a college degree are for the most part better than those that just hold a high school diploma. Also I would insure that a 401K plan was set up with the first job that I had, even 1{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} at that age can grow a lot by the time you get out of college and into a profession. Lastly I would tell myself to go after your dreams and make them happen rather than just sitting back and letting life go by. Grab those opportunities as the come up and learn from your mistakes to grow and mature.

Don't be scared. Things are different, but still much the same. Stay motivated and confident. Save your money and always work hard. Stay determined and keep your eyes on the prize. Spend more time with your family and cherish the time spent together. You will miss them.

I know you are going through an episode of panic right now, but you don't have to be. Remember to take a breath now and again. No matter what happens next, it will be the best for you. This is the start of the rest of your life, but you don't need to know exactly what each step of that life will look like. Just take things one step at a time, and it will all turn out how it should. College is not the big scary world you think, but rather an exciting place where you can finally be yourself. You have been prepared for the academics part better than you think. Just stay focused and find the balance. Best of luck!

I would have started looking at colleges in my junior year instead of trying to decide at the last minute before application deadlines. I would have only looked at schools that offered the exact curriculum I was looking for and not choose a school due to it prestige.

While you may think that you are busy now and that life is moving too fast it isn't. When you get to college life is going to pick up, in a good way mind you, but pick up it will. I know that you feel that there are a great many things that you want to do and you don't think know is the time to do them. Well you are wrong. Get involved, go explore everything no matter how silly.

To begin I am now 27 years old. I knew when i finished highschool i needed a break . I have always wanted to travel and spending just one month traveling throughout europe i felt i learned what no classroom could teach. So i would advise all seniors to take a year break before going straight into college. Educational opportunities don't end at a certain age. Travel the world or explore in your own backyard. It can certainly be a smooth transition for some but for most i feel at 18 knowing what you want to make of your life in a world as uncertain as ours is quite daunting. Plus I feel most public schools though they say they are preparing you for college , there is something they aren't able to give as much. A confidence in one self , a meaning to education that i feel has been getting lost in todays' educational system. I want to be a part of that change of routine or set schedule of growing up. To help build that self purpose in young hearts. We can think and live in a life of our creatiion. Slow down! Go at your own pace!

When I was in high school, I was sorely lacking self-esteem. Most of my classmates did not respect me, I never had a boyfriend, and I considered myself a nerd--I was the one with the straight A's, the band geek, the benchwarmer. But if I could go back, knowing what I know about myself now, I would tell myself to stop the self-pity because I have a lot of potential. I have skills and abilities that, no matter what anyone else says, are wonderful gifts and they will be appreciated someday. I would also tell myself to listen to Daddy because he is right--this place is in fact a small pond relative to the rest of the country (nay! the rest of the world!), like the ocean in comparison. Lastly, I would tell the younger Me to be nice to my schoolmates because most people are good at heart, and will treat you with respect if you treat them with respect. If I had known these things, I believe my high school experience would have been more enjoyable.

Challenge yourself even though the classes are put into low challenge mode to compensate for all the slack students the college accepts. Be your own motivator. Second, choose projects that bring out the best in you and are what you care about, not what your parents or teachers tell you to choose. Keep exercising. Leave friends that are toxic quickly and move onto better people. Take dance classes like swing, salsa and ballroom. Enroll in classes you always wanted to but never thought you could, so you can discover your passion in life. Practice getting a boyfriend or girlfriend because time flies quickly.

The importance and availability of financial aid and scholarships is something that I wish I would have known more about in high school. College is expensive, and knowing more about the cost and assistance available I believe would encourage more people to seek higher education. I would have to tell my high school self to develop strong and productive study habits. In high school, it was much easier to do work at the last minute and still do well on an assignment, whereas in college, it is important to manage your time and get things done in a manner that produces good results. Being away from home and restrictions, it is easy to get caught up in one's social life and forget about school for awhile. This can take a toll on students academically and mentally, and I think that having those solid study habits going into college would be extremely helpful as opposed to trying desperately to develop them during finals week.

My biggest issue with starting college was learning how to conserve my money. When you get out on your own and you realize you are in control of your own life, and free to do what you want, it sometimes goes to your head. Sure we have family and friends to help guide us on the right path, but we aren't always thinking clearly with our newly-found freedom. If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior, I'd tell myself that it's a rough world out there, and more than you think is based on money. Money goes to tuition, books, room and board, food, and so much more. My biggest challenge was budgeting my money in a manner that made the most sense, and I wasn?t too great at it. As a result, I had to come out of school and work for a while in order to hopefully go back in the near future. I know now that my mom was right when she told me to not rush life, and to enjoy being a child. It's a lot easier and a lot less stressful!

Right now, you are worried about what your perspective major is, let alone what you'll do with the rest of your life. Two words: don't worry. A year from now, not only will you be in a great college you didn't even consider applying to at first, you will have already chosen a major that works for you. College life is so much different than that of high school. You pick your class schedule, you prioritize your time, and you decide what works best for you. As long as you finish your high school career with good grades and put in your applications by the deadline, you're set for your college career. Don't stress so much about your major, it's a big learning process of trial and error.

I would encourage myself to consider student life as much as academics when it comes to choosing a school. I transferred from my first school because I felt like the administration was making no effort to improve student life for students (and it was a residential college). It seemed to me that students spent ALL their time studying or in their dorm rooms, creating a school full of isolated, depressed individuals. In order to counteract that, a few of my peers and I started student advisory boards to improve student life. If there is an issue on campus, go ahead and take action to address that issue; the entire reason that colleges and universities exist is to serve students. If students are unhappy or unfulfilled, the school is not doing its job. Become active, socially and politically, to change the climate of your campus. Also, take advantage of Intermural Sports and free fitness classes... you won't have much access to those once you graduate. Finally, cherish the friendships you make; many of them will last for a very long time! Study and succeed, but don't let that hinder your social or physical life; enjoy school!

I would go back and tell myself not to worry about the transition to college, as intimidating as it may seem. I would remind myself that there are many people in my life that are willing to help me make the transition, and make sure that I will be comfortable when entering college. I would tell myself that I have the means to be great at college and to use my talents in effective ways. I would also remind myself to keep working hard in school and on scholarship applications, as they will help me immensely in the next four years. Also I would tell myself to make new friends at college while remaining loyal to my friends from high school - no matter if they went to a different university. I would tell myself that even though I will go through some hardships and a terrible loss my senior year, that I will use it to move forward with new strength. Despite this, I would remind myself to have fun and that the best four years of my life lay ahead of me!

I wish I could go back even further, maybe sophomore year. Far enough back that I could tell myself it is possible to go to college and that it is worth it and to try harder. I took the easy way out most of high school and it was only my senior year that college became a reality. I would tell myself to get more involved and to go for honors classes, and soak up as much public free education as I possibly could. There are so many classes I have to pay for now that I could have gotten college credit for in high school. Thats one thing even my senior year I hadnt fully grasped. I have to pay for every little thing. I would tell myself to take as many classes as I could and to do flagship. Another thing, I would say to my slightly more innocent self is to take school as a privliage, not just something you have to do, or just another garauntee in life, but something to cherish and take full advantage of. I have so much respect for my education and learning in general now that it's mine to persue.

Dormitories tend to be a very busy place; so many lives are crammed into each building. It does not create problems between people, arguements happen naturally. The residents are kind and most tend to want to meet new people. Everyone devolops different schedules. When there is always something happening, it becomes very easy to get caught up in socializing. The biggest problem I had entering college was laying aside time to study. When a slot of time becomes open, where there is nothing happening, take advantage of it. Use it to sit down and study. A lot of the time, the morning is the most effective. The key is being well rested. You may think that the room mate would be an issue. At first, he was. Like any shared living conditions, the room mates should set rules and abide by them. Usually the basis of the rules are similar. The need to be able to study is mutual. The number one concern is being able to focus on school work.

Get motivated! Get out and meet people; get good at it. Apply for more scholarships.

I would tell myself to make sure I take classes that are interesting. Even if some classes are not necessary, try to gain as much knowledge as possible. Also, I would suggest learning the values of networking early on, and to always practice those skills because you can never tell when you will meet a person that can help you out considerably with your career goals. Be sure to keep an open mind and try to see things from another person's perspective, because you will meet a large number of people with incredible insight.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would say that the most important thing is learn how to study and listen. The next thing I would say is don't get distracted and stay focused because life is short and a college education is the best way of achieving your dreams. The last thing I would say is that college is nothing like high school and no matter what you are interested in the is an opportunity to find like-minded people and activities that will expand your dreams and guide you into a career and a more satisfying life.

To major in the biological/environmental side of agriculture- I started in math, thinking I'd have to teach to pay off my student loan. Reconsidering it though, I've decided that teaching is not what I'd want to do. I'd rather be in the outdoors more, and be able to and get my own little place out in the woods and grow and hunt for my own food. Therefore I would not have to rely on others.