University of Alabama at Birmingham Top Questions

I would tell myself to remember you can be whatever you want to be. You can change your mind. If you have wanted to be a dentist since you were 12 years old, it is okay to take a some English or Psychology classes just to make sure you will enjoy what you do. You will meet some amazing people and have some very life-changing experiences. No matter what, have fun and enjoy it, because it goes by way to fast. I would also tell myself not to be so shy when I started college. It is much easier to make friends if you talk to different people during the day. It is important to take advantage of everything the university offers you- counseling, advisors, tutors, escorts to parking lots at night, financial aid, & ect.. I wish I would have known about all of the different resouces UAB offers students when I was a freshman.

I would tell me to try to find yourself while you are at college and to be careful of distraction that can get in your way. To apply for as many scholarship opportunities as you can. I would say to be yourself and to not let anyone tell you that you can't do something because you can if you just believe and have faith. And I would say to follow your heart and always go with your first mind even if it sounds crazy lol. I would tell myself to make good friends and to be very involve on campus. And Lastly I Would tell myself to Just have fun and enjoy college life while you can because once you graduate, you are on your own.

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would have taken more advanced classes such as Chemistry and Biology, even though they were not a requirement to graduate.

Hey there I know graduation is coming up and life is speeding like a freight train, but let's not rush it. Take time to plan for each semester financially. Saving excess money is of the essence. I know that new pair of heels would look killer with that outfit for this weekend but dough in your savings can help out with unexpected car expenses you may have. Sound like dad? But hey this info will help out and you'll thank him. By the way procrastination ...um leave it here in high school because doing things last minute can be costly. Remember that academic scholarship application that you picked up two weeks ago? Go ahead and fill it out turn it in. Let loans be your last resort. I know more money looks better but what if you don't get your dream job right out of college? A little planning now can keep your loan debt low later. Alright enough with all the lectures. Lastly, go to school have fun and make new friends. They are waiting to meet you but they will never know you if you never open your mouth. Ok Love ya, ttyl

Don't be in such a rush to grow up. Live life for what it is, through the good experiences and the bad. Doing so will teach you valuable lessons in the long run. Don't imprison yourself behind the bars of society's limitations; the only limits in life are those that you set. If you decide that there is no statue of limitations on what you can do, then you will go beyond what anyone could ever "expect" of you. Live by no-one's definition. You don't have to be in any existing category tobe someone in life. You define yourself andknow that the best definition one can ever embody is that of "undefinement". Don't strive tobe the best, strive to be your best. If you're satisfied with the person you are and are becoming then what everyone else says doesn't matter. Life is a journey, God has shown us our beginning and our end. He never said what routes and detours we would have to take and make. Enjoy all that is your journey, it will make reaching your destination all the more precious and worth it. LoveLearnExperienceLife. Love, A Wiser You

I skipped my senior year using dual-credit classes at my local University. But if I could go back and talk to myself at that point in my life I would tell the younger me to focus less on work and more on school. The money I made at the time didn't last, and the plays that I acted in only brought drama into my life. I would tell myself that if I would only apply myself to Psychology, that I would enjoy my school work(the way I do now), and feel like I accomplished something instead of starting over nearly from scratch. I wish that I could say what happiness I feel NOW when doing schoolwork and internships, so that I could understand that everything doesn't have to be overwhelming.

I would definately tell myself that I really should have paid more attention my senior year, even though I came out at the top of my class, I had 'senioritis' and just didn't care. I'd tell myself that studying is the key, I can't party all night and plan on taking a test that I tried to study for a few hours before the test and expect to pass. That does not work in college. Also, learn to manage my time wisely. I always find myself saying there arent enough hours in a day but it is only because I don't really didn't learn time management until I got to college. Last thing is do not try to work a full time and go to school fulltime like in high school, it does not work!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would encourage myself to look into other scholarship options and try to get a job that could support my education.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is prepare more for college courses, be more involved, and talk to more people. Do not think the friends that you talk to in high school will be your friend in college. People change and you will meet new people at college. I would also tell myself not to be so stressed about going to college because, it will be an exciting experience and you will learn alot about yourself and other people.

I would tell myself that the most expensive school, like ivy league or private, is not always the best choice. Before I finally decided to attend UAB, I wanted to go to Vanderbilt University. I loved the setting and the professors from when I took a summer program called PAVE. Now, I feel like I made the perfect decision to attend UAB because I am already in an honors college, president of a club, and on the Dean's List. I feel so comfortable in Birmingham knowing that I have scholarships to pay for my tuition and housing. Also, I would tell myself to learn my study habits before I attend college. In high school, I studied everyday after school and completed all of my homework. Now in college, I do homework in the mornings, afternoons, and mostly nighttime. My schedule is always different each semester, and sometimes I have morning classes or night classes. By learning my study habits, I will find the best time for me to study. If I had known that earlier, I would not have experimented for weeks in my freshman year trying to learn the part of the day I study the best.

I would convince myself to go on to college instead of working like I did. I would not change getting married and raising a family. I would make myself realize that continuing education was important for my future. I would also make myself realize that going to college was not as hard as I thought and that I would be fine.

“Lauren, stop worrying, you’ll be fine. Just enjoy yourself.” I can not count how many times this statement was told to me as a high school senior. Whether it came from my parents, my coach, my teachers, my friends or my boyfriend, it annoyed me. I had everything planned out and they just did not understand. Months later, I was alone and terrified in the ICU of the hospital near my university. I had been diagnosed with a blood clot in my right lung. My first college homecoming was spent in the hospital and my entire freshman year was filled with doctor visits. None of this was part of my plan. I’m now in my third year of college, and things seem a lot less extreme to me now. I don’t cry over a ‘B’ on an exam and I’m thankful for little things. Looking back I remember being so upset when things did not go as I envisioned. I just wish I had been able to tell myself: “Lauren, stop worrying, you’ll be fine. Just enjoy yourself.”

If I were allowed to rewind time, I would tell myself to stay in that wretched little town for just two more years. I would have been better off had I gone to the community college in my home town and completed the general studies core classes and then transferred to the four year university of my choice. I probably would have been able to attend the school of my choice and would not have settled for the school that I did. I also would've had enough time to figure out what I really wanted to pursue rather than picking something that was available at the school just to seek and achieve a degree. I have changed my major many times only to realize that what I really want to pursue is not even offered at the school that I attend. I am seriously considering transfering to another school.

Be opening to learning new things.

My college experience has taught me how to be an independent adult who makes educated opinions about the world around me. Before I came to college, I always depended on my parents or other role models to tell me what decisions I should make. However, being in college has taught me how to form my own opinions and decisions based solely off my own judgement. I have also discovered my passion for my career in college. I have always planned on going into medicince, but at college I had the opportunity to shadow and discover how I truly want to make a difference in the healthcare world. College has forced me to overcome my shyness and break out of the shell I had always lived in before. The college experience has been so valuable for me, because I finally found my place in the world. I now live passionately every day, because I love being in college and am surrounded by people who are working for the same goals that I am. The college experience has been priceless in my life, because it has formed my future.

In my first semest of college its been tough. I didnt recieve any financial aid til the last week of the semester and i was not able to afford the textbooks until after midterm exams. But I have learned that the proffesors are great and even without the text book I was able to learn a lot of the material. That the people in college are there too learn. Sure you can have fun once in a while but majority are there to get ahead in life in a business worlk that is getting tougher and tougher to find a job without a degree. So even if its tough to barely get the neccessities for college I'll do everything I can to get a higher education to reach my potential.

College is truly an extremely different world from high school. You are responsible for everything you do. I have learned how to be my own person and become much more responsible. At UAB, students can find help if he or she has a problem. Many of the professors help students find solutions to problems. I have also been able to make friends with the same educational interests I have. UAB shows students how to connect with people from many different cultures. This has made me a better person because I get to see how people from every culture in the world are similar. UAB has changed my life for the better.

I have attained so much more knowledge than I thought I would have, and I've been here less than a year! Everyone here is living the college life to the fullest. I have made many friends already and I know many more are coming. UAB is helping me to achieve my goals and dreams for my future, while also giving me life long friendships and a great time!

My freshman year has been stressful and full of changes; however, I have a high value of appreciation for my college education because it has allowed me to take a more responsible role in my life and take initiative rather than wait for a push in the right direction. College has been valuable because it has also showed me that one must be careful and every day can be an opportunity to either take a step in the right direction or in the opposite direction. The strict demand of the professors is something unlike anything I've ever experienced at my high schooll and it pushed me to stay focused and determined on my goal of passing my courses and being closer to my long term goal of graduating from graduate school as well as undergraduate school. The education I'm receiving at UAB is valuable because it has caused me to work than I ever have for anything in my life and the long nights I spend studying for tests or the hours in the library shows me that hard work will be rewarded.

At the University of Alabama at Birmingham I found out what I wanted to do with my life which is Neurosurgery. The campus is intertwined with a hospital. UAB has a top medical school. My anatomy class was what gave me my love for the human body and my drive to help those in need. At UAB there are many lectures you can attend on diseases where doctors and researchers speak on what new procedures and treatments they have discovered. Attending these is what helped me figure out what I wanted my major to be and how I wanted to specialize after medical school. UAB's diverse campus allows you to encounter many cultures and types of people. This campus unites people and teaches it's students to interact with each other. Not only that UAB plays a huge role in community service with the entire student body participating in a function called "Into the Streets" in which all of UAB participates in cleaning and helping out throughout Birminingham. This college gives students not only knowledge, but leadership, and discipline. UAB has helped shaped my future and who I am today. I love this University. I just need finacial aide.