University of Arkansas Top Questions

First and foremost, I would tell myself to seriously get checked out by a psychiatrist. Medication for Bipolar disorder has helped so much, and having that work against my favor during my senior year really harmed me. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship that added to my stress and kept me from getting sleep I needed, not only before tests, but during day to day activities as well. I would tell myself not to bother taking AP Statistics, and to instead take AP Calculus. Statistics isn't needed in my major plan, and Calculus is difficult for me to grasp. I would tell myself to take ACT preparation exams and really push for a higher score - just a few more points and so many more opportunities would have opened up for me. I would emphasize to myself to really seek help, because then I would be more motivated to take care of myself, and take advantages of the opportunities I did have. I would also tell myself to keep looking for local software development internships - I got one and it was amazing. Basically, I would say that I needed to prioritize myself.

I would tell my high school self to be prepared. The obstacles in college are many and difficult. Apply for more scholarships, there will always be more expenses ahead and you will need all the help you can get. Also I would tell my high school self to not let college change you. There are so many Greek organizations that can turn a perfectly kind and caring person into a self obsessed person who has little regard for anything beyond appearences. Stick to what you know to be right and treat everyone you will ever meet with nothing but the utmost respect and kindness. The last thing I would like to tell my high school self would be to thank your parents. They do so much for you and you should show them that you are infinitely greatful for everything they do.

You are bright and driven. College will not be too hard for you academically. College will be hard for you in other ways: socially, emotionally, and vocationally, it will be tough. I want you to know first that, if you find yourself hanging around people you don't like, people who drag you down, or people who don't actively make you better, you can leave them and find new people. College is full of not just smart people but also good people, people who will support you and challenge you and be loyal to you. Find them and do the same for them.Second, don't worry too much about what you'll do after college. Have some ideas—have all the ideas you want, the more the better—but instead of trying to figure out exactly how to get yourself exactly where you want, focus on doing the best you can at what you're doing where you are, because people will notice. It will take you places.Last, explore everything. Libraries, cemeteries, the town you're in, your friends' stories. You might never again have this opportunity to make your world a bigger, brighter place.

The most useful resource you will find in college is your classmates. You will not succeed just by showing up to class, taking notes, studing, and doing your homework. You must find time to make friends with the students in your classes so that you can all work together to complete assignments and discuss your area of study, this is how to truly learn. I have learned more in latenight sessions in the engineering building with my lab partners than I have anywhere else. To be successful, break out of your shell and do not be afraid to approach the people you see everyday. Ask for help when you need it, and always be willing to offer help. You can finally grasp the concepts and understand your work when you collaborate with the people surrounding you. The experience of discussing course work and ideas concerning your area of study with people going through the same thing that you are is invaluable. The perspectives that your peers offer will stick with you through the rest of your college career, and help you more than you can imagine.

High School, to me, seemed to be a never ending stage in my life. During those four years, I became comfortable with my schedule and knew how to skate by in my classes without interacting too much with others. If I could go back in time, I would convince my senior self to make more connections and to ask questions. Speaking to teachers and councilors is a good way to prepare students for college life. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to ask my councilor about scholarship opportunities and ask my teachers for proper studying techniques. I didn't take advantage of the knowledge that was all around me, because I was only worried about passing my classes. If I had been proactive and made personal connections with the staff I probably could have transitioned more easily into making my own decisions. In college, students can't rely on their parents anymore. Learning how to communicate efficently by myself was a difficult task, and I wish I had broken out of my shell in high school in preparation for the increased independence of college.

If I could go back to my high school senior year, I would tell myself to calm down and breathe. Going from the top of my small high school as valedictorian, to a nervous freshman of a 25,000 student university was such a drastic change. I was stressed about grades and being the perfect student my freshman year of college, that I feel I let a lot of fun times pass me by. If I could go back, I would say, "Brooke, no matter what is crashing down around you, there is ALWAYS a reason to smile. So, do just that. Smile, as much as possible and celebrate every chance you get. You are in college, and as long as you are trying your best, everything will turn out just fine. You do not have to beat yourself up when you make a mistake. This is college, this is the time to not only make mistakes, but to learn from them too. Take this time to learn about yourself. Find a hobby that you can call your own. Enjoy your own company and be independent. Know it is okay to be proud of yourself; and learn to love yourself."

I would have taken all the courses in my high school that were available as college credit to save money during my undergraduate career. Every single penny of my earnings during high school would have been saved for college. I would apply to every scholarship that I could apply to. I would have enrolled in summer school at my local community college before I attended the University of Arkansas.

Knowing what I know after a year of college experience, I would tell my high school self to save money for college. As a senior I was all about going and doing with my friends and blowing money on bogus items, but now that I know the stress of being in debt trying to pay for school I would go back and advise myself to realize college is expensive and any amount of money helps, saving as much as I could through my senior year of high school could really help me in the future. I would also tell myself to get serious and really get my priorities straight. Yes, freshman year of college is enjoying new freedom, but you are there to get an education. It is important to remember grades benefit you more than constant partying. I wish I could go back to senior year of high school knowing those two things, but like they say; mistakes are lessons learned.

If I could go back in time and give myself college advice, I would tell myself to start a savings account. I would also tell myself to go to office hours, to communicate with my professors if I had any problems, to take a full course load each semester. I would tell myself to skip the meal plans and get more work experience.

If I could go back in time and give my younger self advice about college, I would tell myself that I need to learn how to study. My high school career was pretty lax for the most part-I never really had to put any extra effort into my studies, and because of this I am just now learning how to go over my materials effectively. As it could be imagined, this has had an impact not only on my schoolwork but on my mind as well; I am often worried if I have gone over a class' materials enough or if I truly understand a subject well enough to use what I am learning. Although I have maintained somewhere near a 3.1 GPA for my entire college career up until this point, studying would have bumped up my GPA to a higher point than it is currently sitting at and would have given me more confidence in my abilities to learn the material and apply it. Of all of the messages that I could ever give my younger self, I believe that this message would have the greatest impact on my current situation and standings at the university.

The advice I would give to my past self would be don't slack off. Go to classes, study for test, and do the best you could possibly do.

Dear Dakota: It is good to see you Dakota. I'm sure you have a ton of questions, but I don't have much time. My first advice to you is to enjoy your last year of high school and live every moment of it. This last year will be a great conclusion to your high school legacy. I know that you have been stressing about college. Just continue to do what you are doing and know that you will end up where you are supposed to. Now on to what I am sure you are just dying to know about. College is going to a very different experience for you. Going from a town of 4,000 to a college campus of 20,000+ will take some adjusting, but don't worry you will get the hang of it. When you first get on campus try to be as outgoing as possible. I know that that will be tough, but you will meet some great people. Also you know the head football equipment manager you have been e-mailing? Keep e-mailing him, I'm sure something will come of it. Good luck and remember to just be yourself!

As a high school senior I was unaware of the academic, lifestyle, and environmental changes that came with moving away from home and attending college. The most important advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to create effective studying habbits now and avoid waiting till the last minute to accomplish tasks. In college you are faced with many more distractions than you were in high school and it makes it difficult to want to make the time to do homework or study. By creating these habits now, you will be better prepared to avoid distractions and it will make the transition from high school to college a lot easier. The second advice I would give myself would be to practice on managing my time more efficiently. While in high school you are told what time you have to attend class, eat lunch, and socialize with friends, in college you have to juggle your time to do certain tasks around the time of your classes. If you practice on setting times for yourself to do certain things outside of school, you will be better equipped for managing your life in college.

If I had the capabilities to rewind time, I would go back and whisper these words once uttered by my idol, Julia Child, into my high-school self’s young and naïve ears, “find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” I was diagnosed with a learning disability; therefore, one of the many labels now stamped onto my forehead is “math deficiency” due to dyslexia. My dream was to become a Registered Dietitian but the degree requires extensive advanced science courses. I thoroughly convinced myself that I was incapable to achieve this goal, that I would fail. Consequently, I devoted two years to studying Hospitality Administration, a seemingly ideal second choice. Although I graduated, with honors even, this was never something I was “tremendously interested” in, just something that I could do. I held myself back from my dream because of my fear of failure. I have since then transferred and now studying Dietetics. The struggle is real but it will make me appreciate my achievement so much more. I am passionate about nutrition and I would have told my former self to not allow doubt to overtake you - you can accomplish anything you desire.

The way the media depicts college life is not how it really is. There is more to college than just wild parties, you actually have to work very hard. Being able to master the balancing act between getting enough sleep, doing well academically, and having a satisfying social life is something you'll have to work on for a while. It will be pretty stressful at first, trying to find your perfect balance of these 3 things, but keep trying and you'll eventually figure out the formula that is best for you. Getting involved on campus DOESN'T make you a nerd. The more you get involved on campus, the more opportunities you open up for yourself, both during college, and for your future. Make friends with people who have different cultural, religious, and other views than you. The more you put yourself out there, the more you will actually enjoy college (it's not all work). You don't have someone making you go to class, but GO. It teaches you responsibility and you'll miss out on a lot if you don't go. Most importantly, make the most of this experience, you only experience it once!

Dear Adam, Do not to conform to the crowd! When you enter college, you will see many who will be consumed in their personal image, striving to make themselves look great to others. If you are not careful you will fall to this trend. It is likely if you don't stay true to your character, you will begin to make radical decisions during this time. Strive to find friends who realize the importance of living a life with integrity. Do not be conformed to the environment around you that tells you its okay to slack off and just get by! Sadly, my first semester I fell into bad decision. But I did find a strong group of friends who took me off a path that could have lead to a bad start. Adam, in retrospect, I can tell you if you remember this exhortation, you will do great things your freshmen year!Always remember that Mom and Dad are proud of you and will always love you. Stay strong to your faith. I'm excited to see what you will do if you will make the wise decisions. You can do this! Your future self Adam Burroughs

Freshmen year is meant to be fun, but attending class is also important. Meet everyone you can and start making connections now. They will help out later if you need help in class or a study group. Go Greek! You meet amazing people and it can help you with your future job.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, i would give myself a liitle advice. This semester has taught me some valuable lessons. The first piece of advice is to develop good study habits. Although I never had to study in high school, college is much different. If I had developed those habits it's would not have been so difficult to figure out how to study. One other piece of advice is to learn how to take notes. Notetaking is valuable because you must decipher what's important and that is a great study tool. I believe if I had used these two things, the transition would have been much easier.

Spend more time studying math and other subjects that were not interesting to me in order to prepare for the challenges of college coursework.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to slow down and only focus on applying to a few schools. I got so caught up in applying and being accepted that I didn't even realize I was applying to schools that I would never be able to afford (schools with out of state tuition, or private schools). I would tell myself not to focus on where my friends were going to school, but to focus on a school that is best suited for my major and a place I could easily call home. Honestly, I would have probably advised myself to stay home and attend a community college so I could save money, and have more time to decide where I wanted to attend school. Ultimately, my advice to myself would be to stay patient and to realize that I always have to do what is best for me; even if it means taking a step back and slowing down to figure things out. When we are forced to make important decisions, but cannot decide which is best; sometimes the best thing to do is not make a decision at all.