The University of Montana Top Questions

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to study harder to get a better GPA but also get involved with school activities. The professors in college are not always there for you like high school teachers were. Go out and meet new people and do not get involved with people who have a bad influence on others. Let loose and create a new you. Hard work will pay off in the end of the road. Do not be lazy, make flashcards and your own notes. Writing notes on your own helps a lot more that copying lecture notes.

Do not switch schools! You will lose most if not all of your financial aid. Also, apply for as much financial aid as you can. The school won't pay for much.

You must be your greatest cheerleader and motivator. Please focus on your gifts and make the best of every moment while in school. Getting your degree will help make you more valuable to yourself, family and society. Surround yourself with people who are where you want to end up in life. Life goes by so fast and would of, could of and should of doesn't count. Education is an easier path to success and self-fullfillment. Always stay positive and stick to the journey no matter how long it takes. Don't wait!! Do it now!! Live, never regretting the past but learning from your journey and moving forward in life. If I could do it all over, I would have made sure a positive mentor was in place all during my earlier college days. I have since completed many successes in life, but obtaining my degree in Applied Management would be an accomplishment I've always longed for. NOW is the time!!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to calm down and relax. The hard part was deciding where I would go and finishing all of the financial aid applications. I decided to go to a school that I knew had a good program for my major, but I didn't know anyone else who was going there. The important thing to do is just open yourself up to meeting new people. Many people who are attending college for the first time don't really know anyone else either. When it comes to schoolwork, figure out a work schedule that works for you so you don't get behind on homework. If you figure out a study schedule, you can avoid extra stress during finals week.

To my younger self I would give two pieces of advice. The first would be to start with a psychology major instead of a classical languages major. The other would be not to take any time off school. The break is nice but it's more hastle than it's worth. The only other thing which i would say to my younger self is to make sure I took judo class and joined the club as it is the only true source of happiness which I have had these past few years.

Beth, The only advice that I would give you, is to make sure that all the steps you take in the future make you happy. You are a hard worker and always work to get good grades. The good grades will come and the bad ones may too, but your happiness is what should matter most. Work hard, study hard, and be thankful for all the blessings you've been given.

The college decision-making process is lengthy and usually accompanies heated and heart felt conversations with your parents regarding the future. The future you worked hard for in high school endeavors. While looking and applying for prospective colleges in high school I was a sponge. I read as many college pamphlets as I could and spent many hours on PrincetonReview.com researching my ?best fit? schools. In the end, I applied to nine different schools. If I had the opportunity to repeat the process I would have applied to perhaps five schools at the maximum and devoted the rest of my time applying for various scholarships.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would empart this one crucial piece of advice to myself; relax. Being able to relax is the key to a successful college career. When people start to panic, they lose the ability to analyze problems they are facing and therefore they are unable to solve them. I would tell myself this, "Do everything you can do at the time and then relax. You know you can do this, just take it one step at a time." There is a saying that I have found very helpful thus far in my academic career; "The longest journey starts with a single step". This saying has helped to calm me down on those weeks where I have three essays due, two tests and a quiz. It helped keep me focused on the task at hand while also having a knowledge of what needs to be done. That is why the most important piece of information a college student can have is a single word; relax.

The transition to college can be scary at first, especially if you are a shy or self-conscious person by nature. It will be very tempting to keep to yourself, and surround yourself with the familiarity of your computer. Make sure you don't shut yourself up in your dorm room or spend all your time on the internet talking to old friends. While it is important to keep in contact with all your close friends and family from home, it is also important to get involved with other people in your building or your classes. The more you reach out to people, the more the school will start to feel like your home. Don't be afraid to talk to your professors. It may feel awkward or scary at first, but once you start a convesation, you'll probably find that they are very open and interesting, and they may even be able to point you in the right direction for research oppurtunities or a job. No matter what happens, remember that you are there to have adventures. The worst thing you can do is NOTHING. So, go out and do something awesome!

I would realize AP classes aren't really as amazing as advertised! However, I would have done Calculus at the highschool level to accelerate my math. I also would have started saving money and looking into scholarships a LOT sooner. And when going to a decently priced school, studente loans aren't as bad as you think they are. Working while going to school is very stressful, even if you only work three days a week and especially if you are on the night shift. NEVER work the night shift when you're going to school! Also, almost no one realizes the differences between college in highschool. Whereas in highschool you can get away with not doing your homework til the last second, in college procrastination will lead to failure. It's a tough lesson for freshmen to learn, so just do your homework early and on time and you'll do OK. Also, if you're having problems with math or writing, there's plenty of tutoring on campus. Look around! And sororities may not seem like a big deal, but they could be a good way to make friends. Lastly: be seen! Go to all free events!