University of Arizona Top Questions

Try to find clubs you like as early in the year as you can. Keep better track of when certain assignments are due. Work on projects and long assignments by doing a small parts of it each day, it's easier to do than finishing it all at once in a night or two.

It is interesting how people can have phobias in certain situations and not others. Take me for example. When a scratch drips or a bloody nose runs I am the first one to call my husband for ‘doctor duty.’ We negotiate one doctor duty for three diaper duties, which I am happy to oblige. Hemophobia can be an incredulous situation, especially in a house of kids. Nevertheless, I work in a dental office as an assistant, and each time the gum bleeds or a tooth is extracted it never troubles me. Funny how that can be. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I choose Dental Hygiene for my career? Never forget where you came from. Never forget who you are. Always be ready for who you will become.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself some encouraging advice because during high school I often felt that I would never prosper at a university level. I would tell myself that course work at a university level is achievable, so I would say "you can do it and believe in yourself." All throughout high school, I was also a victim of bullying, which created anxious feelings about transitioning into college life and meeting new people. I would say, "There will always be mean people, but college students are open to others opinions and often accept you for who you are instead of judging you based on material objects or clothing. Start college on a new foot and show your true colors. Whoever doesn't like you is certainly missing out on a great person." Lastly, I would give myself some advice regarding majors because I was very concerned during senior year because I was enterting college as an undecided student. I would say, "Do not worry, you have plenty of time to figure out what you love doing. Slow down and enjoy exploring what makes you happy."

If I could go back to senior year I would tell myself how much effort really needs to be put into the work in college. I would tell myself I can't slack off like I did in high school. Professors in college don't care about the excuses as to why work isn't done. You either do the work or you don't. There is no middle section. I wish I knew that I had to take work more seriously, because I can't get away with using stupid excuses in college as I did in high school. I wish I could tell myself to take my academics more seriously because they do matter in college. What I do will effect all four years I am at the University of Arizona.

If I could go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, there would a key point I would say to myself. High school prepares you academically and socially for college but the main diffrence separateing the two is independence. In college you are extremly independent, your success depends on your drive and no one elses. Teachers are there to teach, not hold your hand throughout the semester. No one will be there to tell you to go to class or to do your homework. College will be what you make of it and the quality of decisions you make. My advice to the highschool me, would be to not take an easy last year as I will be in for a rude awakening come the beginning of college. Seniors should maintain a fairly regular schuduele and try and take on more independent responsibility. The college transition will be an adjustment but far from impossible. Structurly and content wise college is not much different than high school. College will be an adjustment but take it one step at a time. It will be a new chapter in your life so make the most of it.

Mateo, get your stuff together man! Learn to be organized! You had papers everywhere during high school. Plus, you need to be neat for your roommate! Also, learn how to study! You got by just fine with barely any studying in high school. That does not work in college. You need to study your butt off if you want to maintain good grades! Also, stop with the procrastination man! Get your work done, then you can play if you have free time. Do not do it the other way around. Finally Mateo, search and apply for scholarships more often! It's basically free money for school! School is expensive man! Do not pass up free money!

Make sure you know what you want out of life before you make your college decision. Don't let money or parents or anything else sway you in one direction. The college you choose is ultimately the place you will become the person YOU want to be. Be sure to pick a college that will do whatever they can to treat you well. But when you get there, don't slack off. It sounds redundant, but it's a simple concept many people overlook. If you want the results, you have to put in the effort- it's that simple. Take time to enjoy your college experience, meet new people, explore new things, but never lose focus on why you're there: your education. College is everything you make it to be. Don't ever tell yourself you can't do something you're dreaming of doing, because in college, there's almost always a way to make it happen.

College is not like high school. The fears, the friends, the fun. It is all different. Instead of worrying about gossip, you worry about whether your professor will like you, whether you will get the research opportunity you desire, or whether you can finish all your papers on time. Your friends are not all from the same town anymore. They are from anywhere and any place, coming from across the nation, across the border, or across the ocean. You do not consider whether you will finish your work, but when you will. The bootstraps of seriousness come down in college and it takes patience, charisma, and courage to hold on and hold out. Instead of trying to jump in right away, baby steps are important. Making new friends slowly, acting oneself, rather than acting as someone else, and exploring new places and things on campus are important. If rushed one will definitely miss things, but staying blunt and ignorant to everything will only hurt you. Instead, join a club and see how you like things. Do not start working right away, and definitely keep your relationships with professionals and professors, well, professional.

In retrospect, college life is definitely not like it is portrayed in the movies. Courses require a lot of time and devotion in order to succeed. As a high school student I recieved nearly straight A's, and was involved in clubs, sports and student council. When I began at the University of Arizona, it took nearly all of my time to get the grades I wanted in school. There is constant distraction from other students and pressure to go out on week nights. I felt like I was missing out on a lot of things that "everyone else" was doing. However, I worked hard and allowed myself to opt out on a lot of things other students seemed to be doing. Knowing what I know now, I would advise myself to stay true to my work ethic, and the 4.0 I recieved at the end of the semester made missing out on some events well worth it.

"Stay calm and do not stress out over labs, homework, or tests. You will be just fine." Those would be the words my current college self would tell the high school senior me. I did an awful lot of worrying throughout my first semester of college, and just as the many professors I discussed my concerns with predicted, I did very well. I now feel that I am able to strive in any class I take during my college career, but I wish I could have saved myself from worrying my way through the stressful first semester.