University of Alabama at Birmingham Top Questions

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.