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.