The University of Texas at Dallas Top Questions

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would start off by saying, "make sure you take the time and apply for scholarships, grants, and any other finances that are available to college students." I have found that my main concern when it comes to college has been finances. I began college in 2003 and decided that I wanted to pursue a degree in Business Administration and work in the Medical Field. I found that I sturggled trememdously with the eligibility of alot of scholarships and financial aid. I pay for my own college, but my beginning years of school I was always told that , "my parents make too much money for me to recieve financial aid." This held me back alot. If I had the opportunity to get financial aid or other scholarships I feel like I would of been able to go through a 4 year University within 4 years and already be in my career helping others. If I could go back in time, I feel like not only would this information of saved me time, but it also would of saved me money!

College is a great time to really discover yourself and your future career aspirations. There are so many tools available and so many different ways to get to where you want to go so really take a step back and think through your options and don't get overwhelmed. Also, as fun as it can be remember to start your first year really well because whatever damages you make to your GPA the first semester especially, will take you years to undo and even then it won't let you reach as high of a GPA as you first wanted. The transition is also a little overwhelming with so many different people and opportunities available on campus and off so take in the experience but make wise decisions to make the most of your time there. Sometimes things won't go your way or how you planned but that's ok. It really is a wonderful and life changing time so grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the ride! But make sure you also have a safety mat next to you to break the falls and then get back up and try again!

It costs more than you think and it's fun but also alot of hard work. The cost for little things adds up and be sure to plan and stick to a budget.

i would advice my self to be carefull of a lots of things performed in college. College is a place i saw a new life and that new life was decsive for my future life since i am feeling independt now. When i feel like independet i start thinking about my future and i feel like being very strong striving to be famous in doing good things for the whole people of the world so i would advice my self not to forget my goals and future plans going back to highschool senior level. Wow it brings a difference i as a highschool senior student should bring somechange in this world so that life can be a little bit easy to those in problem .if i were a highschool senior student by this time i would really advice my self those things i mentioned above.

If were given the chance to go back to be able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say to apply for scholarships and grants. When you graduate from college you will $50,000 in debt, so help from grants and scholarship aid will help relieve some of the stress when paying back your loans or federal aid and even your parents who have helped along the way. I would have also told myself to talk to an advisor at the intended university that I would transfer to, to make sure that the classes I would be taking at the community college would transfer. I wasted a lot of money and time on classes that didn't transfer, so the tuition and the books I paid for were useless.

I think out of all the practical advice I could give, I would ask myself why I wanted to go to college in the first place. I had a fuzzy idea of course, but college is a long and challenging trek, and not having a solid goal to work towards gives you a very rocky foundation. It's better to start out knowing what you want than wandering around lost in your own head for a year. I think it's important for any upcoming college student to keep the end in mind, and to be honest with themselves as to why they are going to college. I could talk all about having a good work ethic, or staying focused, or not cramming and all that. But if one has a lofty goal in the first place, then they would be willing to give their all to achieve their dream anyway. They say college is the place to discover yourself, and it's true. But the future won't wait for you to finish that journey. The best thing to do is to have that light at the end of the tunnel that will sustain you during the college marathon.

Going back to talk to myself as a high school senior, there are a couple of important things I would like to let myself know. First I would tell myself to not lose my focus and desire to work hard. Often times, I feel overwhelmed with the idea that what I do in college is meant to determine the rest of my life and instead of working harder, as I used to, I just mentally shut down. Second, I would like to tell myself to enjoy my faith that my life will work out and try not to lose it. Frequently, things do not go according to plan, and I begin to panic and think that nothing I want is going to work out. In high school, I always had a faith that things would happen for the best, and it would be nice to enjoy that feeling again.

I would tell myself to make friends in the first semester, especially in classes related to my major.

I would tell myself to NEVER take a 8am class, ever! I would tell myself to never get discouraged, keep at it, and work hard. Always pack food in your backpack, you never know when you'll get hungry. Be efficient, don't procrastinate, and always take time to do something relaxing. Smile, talk to people, don't let anything pass you by. Go to events, join a club, get into study groups. Mostly importantly, college is stressful, challenging, and one the best experiences you'll ever have. You'll grow as a person, have new experiences, meet new people, and try new, different things you'd never think you'd do.

If I were to go back to high school and talk to myself, I would tell myself to learn how to study! Often times in high school, and emphasis on study and research is neglected, so students are able to pass by just doing worksheets. College was a slap in the face compared to all of that. If I had a good study ethic going into college it would have made things a lot easier on myself and there would not have been such a big adjustment.

For those that receive full rides to a certain college, go for it. For the rest of us, life is not that easy. First of all, actually step foot on campus and get a feel of what the school has to offer; catalogs are not good enough. It's hard to find good reasons to stay loyal to a college, so look for the don'ts. Do not pick a school that offers your major because chances are, you're probably going to change it. Do not pick a school because your best friend or boy friend goes there because if you two mean the world to each other, distance should not be a factor. Do not pick a school with nothing surrounding it because you'll eventually lose your mind from boredom. Do not pick a school with too much surrounding it because you won't stay focus. Mainly, pick a school that you know you will feel comfortable staying for four years because the education is pretty much equivalent all around. Do not force yourself to like a school that does not feel like it's "the one." Like marriage, you can't fake, force, or abuse it.

Parents and students really need to look into what they want in a college. If you know going in that you are a hard-working student, look for a college that offers research opportunities and has acclaimed professors. If you want to go to college for atheltics, look for a school with strong athletic organizations and winning records. College is different for every person, but with enough investigating, you can find the perfect fit for you. Don't choose a college just because of the reward letter, or becuase it is the common school that all your fellow high school graduates will enter. You don't get much of a choice for high school, but college is where you will find exactly where you fit in and can join the groups and participate in the activities that define who you are and what you want to do with your life. Whatever type of student you are, don't take college life for granted, you never get another opportunity. Participate in the events around campus, study hard, and enjoy the time you have in college.

It's a good idea to visit the campus and get a feel of the campus life. Another thing that will help to determine whether or not the campus is right for you is talk with the current students enrolled there. Getting feedback from the students will give you insight on the what you'll be expecting.

Honestly, just look around, and go to the school that is best for you and only you. Make sure you don't let too many outside influences alter your choice of college, because in the end it is your life.

I would advise the student to take a walk on the campus while school is in session. A ten-minute walk around campus, watching the students interact, getting a feel for the area, seeing if you can picture yourself sitting under a particular tree; these little things will make all the difference. When you come across the campus that is right for you, you will feel at home there. You will be able to imagine classes, and friends, and free time. If you walk onto a campus and you feel completely uncomfortable there...go with your gut instinct. Mine did not steer me wrong.

When considering a college, it is integral to do the right amount of research based upon a variety of factors. These factors include: location, financial aid, scholarships, and student life. I would like to take this opportunity to elaborate on the importance of each of these factors. Location is a critical factor when selecting a college. During my undergraduate degree, I lived at home and attended The University of Texas at Dallas. The university was close to my home, hence, I saved a significant amount of money on rent and utility expenses, which I would have been paying if I lived on-campus. Financial aid and scholarships are equally important. I encourage all students to apply early for the FAFSA to ensure they receive government aid. I strongly believe, "Since the money is available, you might as well apply for it." As far as scholarships are concerned, there are many scholarship search engines on the internet. In order to make the most of one's college experience, parents and students must consider a college's student life. Therefore, I strongly suggest doing a campus visit to discover a college's campus facilities, extracurricular activities, and diversity amongst the student body.

I would suggest that they visit the campus to make sure they will be comfortable there. Visit some classrooms to see if large or small classes best fit their learning style. I think the cost is important but should not be the be all end all of the decision. A university's reputation is more important than anything !

I think visits to the campus are important especially at different times of day and even different times of year. Research is important also, be certain that the school offers the degree plan that you are really looking for, do your homwork on financial aid, professors, campus facilities and/or activities. The more you know will result in a netter decision. College education is should be taken seriously because it can make or break a future.

Visit your prosepective colleges and talk to the students. Plan for the future, you might have the money to go to school, but something could happen and it could all go away in the blink of an eye. This is what happened to me. The school I go to now was not my first choice, I would not even apply here because it is not right for me. However, because of finicial hardships, I am stuck here. If you look at financing options, work and save your money, you could avoid the heaping amounts of debt I will graduate with, circumvent transfering schools, and save yourself a lot of worry. Pick the school that feels right to you. Make sure its an envrionment you love, or the entire experience will not be worth it. If my school was in a different environment, I would probably enjoy going to school here. And remember, you're only in college once, live it up and savor it, because it will be the best years of your life.

For each person, college is what he or she makes of it. It is an individualized experience. Because of this, it is important to take your specific interests and personality into account when deciding where you will attend college. Whether or not the school is a good match for you has the potential to make receiving your college education either a great experience or a horrible one. When researching a college, talk to students who already go there! This will give you the best feel for what it is really like to be a student there. Try to get your information from a variety of people, and take most into consideration the opinions of those who are similar to yourself. Most importantly, get involved once you are there. There are a variety of ways to do this no matter where you go. If you put in the effort to find your niche, you will be rewarded with a sense of fulfillment and with the opportunity to make meaningful friendships.