University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

I would tell myself to not limit my search to places that are close to home. I am from New Jersey, and Berkeley is the only school I applied to far from where I lived. Now that I have been here for three years, I realize how much I have grown because of the fact that I am away from home. I have been forced to establish my own life here and to become more independent. I think this is crucial preparation for my life after college. I love attending a school where people are from all over the country and the world. I would also tell myself not to be afraid to quit something if it truly is not making me happy or aiding in my development. While in college, I have learned that as I change, sometimes the things I do also need to change. I have made decisions to stop doing particular activities in favor of trying new ones, which has given me the chance to grow in many different ways and has brought me closer to discovering who I want to spend time with and what I want to do with my life.

Step-Up!

Dear 18 year-old Jessica,College is going to be harder than you expect — but you can do it! I believe in you. After all, I’m you! I’m just two years older, a little wiser, and I have a wealth of new experiences to share. So please, young Jessica, listen to my advice. Keep in touch with the people from home that you care about. Call your parents. Video chat with your high school friends. Reply when your sister texts you. Maintain connections with those who matter to you; don’t let them drift away.However, you should not stay in touch with everyone. It’s critical to remove the poisonous people from your life. Surround yourself with people who support you, challenge you, and love you.This may be hard to believe… but your grades might slip. It’s okay to cry if you fail a midterm, but utilize that emotion and negative energy to fuel yourself to study more, work harder, and do better next time.You will get through this. I believe in you. And, though it may be challenging, college will be the best experience of your life. Love,Present-day Jessica

Breathe. It's one simple word, and essential to life, so why did it become something that was often forgotten to do? My senior year of high school put a lot of emphasis on the rapidly approaching deadlines. While trying to juggle my academic workload, varisty tennis, and a million other things, there felt like there was no time to stop, breathe, and think about what I wanted in a college. I got caught up in the frenzy of applying to 20+ different schools in the hopes to defeat the odds presented by the ever declining admission rates. I didn't have much time to research the schools, but what I didn't realize was that ultimately it didn't matter what ranking my school was or how perfect it seemed on paper, it was how I felt about the people I met and the atmosphere of the school that made my freshman year of college. So the advice I would have given myself is: visit colleges, breathe in the atmosphere, meet the people that you will have to spend the next 4 years of your life, and thats how you will find happiness. Not in that ranking.

Never, ever lose site of your priveledge. You are privledged to go to UC Berkeley, priveledged to have supportive parents, and privledged to have a halfway decent head on your shoudlers to make use of it all. You should have taken half a year off after high school to travel and discover some important things about yourself, but then you would have missed out on meeting some of the best people in your life. College will be full of bittersweet moments like that. Learn to expect them and cherish them, because they are some of the most poignant moments you'll experience looking out across Bays, sunsets, and rooms full of friends, you'll know that this will one day end and you will smile knowing it was worth it. Remember to sleep just a little bit more, eat a little bit less, and go on more hikes/do more yoga. All those things will give you the extra energy to do what you really want to, which we both know is meet as many awesome people as possible, reach for the sublime, and have a great story to tell after. I love you, bud. Good luck.

Congradulations High School Graduate! You have made it through the four years of high school, and you graduated at the top of your class. You have made it through all the college applications, the SAT and AP testing, the long nights studying, the hours of community service, working part-time, and that elaborate Senior Project. You have much to be proud of, and you have recieved a well deserved acceptance into the University of California, Berkeley. Do not doubt your ablities and your strengths. You have nothing to fear. Your love for academic learning is all you need to succeed in this university. It is all new to everyone. You are not alone in your learning experience. Remember the professors and the instructors are here to help you succeed. These scholars are egar to built strong scholars like themselves. They understand the new college experience, and they will always offer a helping hand all you have to do is ask! Attend as many office hours as you can, and join as many study groups as possible. You will learn and grow most from others, there is no shame in participating in these learning settings. You define your own success!

Hey Mo! It's Me! I mean, I'm you! Yeah...this is wierd...nevermind...The point is, I am from the future and I gotta say, its not looking too great for you in terms of finances. Yep, should'a saved up that McDonald's money when you had the chance. You'll be piling about $60,000 in in debt in a few months! That's crazy man! Do me/you/us a favor, and apply to as many scholarships as you can! Set a goal for yourself; apply to at least one scholaship each week. Pace yourself. You're doing fine in community service and academics, keep up that great work, but hey! You'll end up paying off those loans for the rest of your life if you don't apply for scholarships! Financial Aid (FAFSA) doesn't cover all tuition!!! Take advantage of free money. Don't just stand there--go apply for a scholaship right now! What are you waiting for? GO!

I would advise myself to take advantage of more opportunities to participate in various groups and events. In particular, I would suggest trying to participate or play a part in each group two times. The reason is that I have learned that sometimes the first time you participate in an event or a grop pactivity, you have a negative experience, but the second time you do so, it can be very positive. Also, I think I would benefit more as a college student if I did not have such rigid ideas about being a non-conformist and instead, being open to groups and activities that might be characterized as mainstream. I have learned that many such popular groups and activities often have great benefits, and I would be close-minded to not at least to try to engage with them. If I do not truly enjoy them, then after I participate in them I can explain wtih greater confidence and more evidence why I do not liek them. I think that if I were open-minded in this way, I would benefit far more greatly from my college expereince, and emerge from it as a far more well-rounded person.

I would go back and tell myself to try harder in everything I should've done. Also to tell my past self that life would be very different and the world is a lot better out of high school. Make stronger connections with my good friends and to gain more experience in the work force because it's a real struggle to find work.

As a college student, I can honestly say that I am learning so much about myself. During my Senior year of high school, I thought that making sacrifices in order to get the best future for myself was the better way to go. Now that I am here, 8 hours away from home, I realize that I should have done what my heart really wanted: to make the choices that would make myself happy. I had always put my happiness aside when it came to what I thought I needed to do for the future. Now, I know that is not the best way to go. I should follow my heart and follow what would make me happy. I should not worry about what others thought of me or what they expect me to be. I should believe in myself and learn how to put myself first when it came to my own future. I should have known myself more and not listened to who I thought I was. If I could re-do it, I would have chosen to go to the college nearest my home and the people that I love and do my very best there.

I know what you might be feeling: a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and most of all anxiety. While all of these feelings are warranted, I have a few tips that may help you out. First of all, never be afraid to pursue lofty goals for insecurity of your capabilities will transform those insecurities into reality. It is here that the axiom “You miss a hundred percent of the shots you never take” holds most true. Although it is good practice to challenge yourself, it is equally important to practice moderation. There will be myriads of clubs, activities, and jobs that you will find interesting however, it is impossible to be part of everything. Thinning your time amongst too many activities leads to impartiality and stress. It is better to parcel your time to a few activities which allows for greater achievement. Finally, it is important to have fun. College isn’t only stress, studying, and tests. It’s a time to explore, make friends, and pick up new hobbies. Furthermore, enjoying yourself will reduce stress which will directly influence your school performance. With a proper mix of moderation, fun, and confidence, college becomes an enjoyable and far less daunting world.

Dear High School Me, Stop. Breathe. Wherever you end up going for college, you're going to be fine! Don't stress out about getting into an Ivy League school, especially when it's just for the brand name. East Coast winters aren't as romantic as portrayed by books, anyway. More substantial factors to consider are the various programs and school cutures that different campuses have to offer. "But what if I don't know what I wanna do in college?!" Honestly, your guess is as good as mine right now. Choosing an Econ major over a major like Biology or Engineering will probably have some impact over my future career prospects, but otherwise the discrepancy in career pathway options may be as inconsequential as a line on my resume. More important are the people you will meet, the memories you will make, and the opportunities you will encounter in a setting you can fluorish, though college is less about where you go than what you do there. As long as you keep an open mind and take the initiative to work hard and have fun, you will do well! Good luck! Your "Wise" College Self

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school I would tell myself to be prepared for many different experiences. I would tell myself to keep having an open-mind and to always be open to suggestions. I would say that there will be many decisions to face, but to always follow your heart and your first instinct. Never look back or say "Sorry" because if you're not comfortable then it's not your fault. Learn how to be patient and compassionate and also stop reading to much in different situations. I would tell myself to plan out the next four years in order to stay on track and achieve your goals. But most of all, I would tell myself to have fun, meet different people, and enjoy life.

Be prepared for a jump. No longer will the teacher hold your hand, all those warnings your teachers told you about being independent will become real soon. Think about your major, dont get distracted, because time flies. Your years of high school probably went by slowly. But, here I am writing this my sophomore year and I can't believe almost two years of college have passed. Use all the academic resources you can in college. Go to office hours, talk to the professors, get ahead in class when you can. Really think and learn about each topic learn it like it is your life. And if you don't enjoy it, well find something you do. College is a small part of the greater part of your life, but it can be something special if you utilize it to its fullest capabilities. Explore what out there subject wise, and fun wise. But... make sure you dont have too much fun because school is important and take school day by day, so life can grow day by day as well.

I would tell myself to take the time in my senior year to look for scholarships, grants, living allowances and internship opportunities for college. I say this because I really struggled financially and found myself homeless on two seperate occassions.That really affected my school work, however, it build my character and made me a stronger person through perserverance. I would tell myself not to live beyond my means and find solid roommates that are like-minded and want to save on expenses. Find people of good character and who are not going to flake out on you, and do this by taking the time to get to know people. Next, I would guide myself through the financial aid process in which I would tell myself to beware of student loans. If I feel pressure by financial aid advisors to accept student loans that will put me in debt talk to my college advisor and seek counsel. Last, I would tell myself to use the Biology Scholars Program to the fullest and balance my life. By that I mean taking time to be fully present in study groups. Then take time to engage in fun yet safe activites with others.

Numbers don't go to college, people do. Don't spend all your time studying and focusing on only school. You need to explore. Being a bookworm is great and all, but it doesn't mean much if you can't communicate. Get up and allocate some of your time to doing what you love. It's time to meet new people, make connections and make a difference in peoples' lives. You want to be a doctor, but you've gotta realize that you can't be a doctor if you only know how to keep your nose in textbooks. Go dance, take a break from studying, set time aside to learn how to cook, and be nice to people. Make friends, never enemies. Trust me, focusing on numbers will make you get a lot of enemies.

Dear High School Self, I would like to offer you some advice for your college years and future. College is quite different than high school, be prepared to work four times as much and struggle every step of the way. I urge you to start exploring your interests as soon as you get to college, find your calling and start working toward that. Do not waste time, meet with a counselor and draw out your plan for the coming semesters. Take advantage of the wonderful school you are going to attend, love and embrace the beautiful struggle that we call life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself the same thing that everyone else told me about college last year: not to worry about a thing, and to look forward for that adventurous college life. The transition from high school to college has taught me more than what anyone could have told me. Experiencing it for yourself is the only great way to understand and learn that transitioning to a new setting is not as bad as many think it is. And not worrying about what college life would be or how hard the transition can be is something that is very helpful because you are able to accept the new atmosphere of college life quicker - and are able to enjoy the independence and freedom.

Focus more on your goals post college than your time in college. My goal as a senior was just to go to college. I didn't understand planning for graduation and beyond.

I had a lot of emotional problems when I was in high school, however, not academic ones. Though, I was always an above average student my focus was never on school. I worked a night job and then graduated early (with honors) to work full time and save enough money to move here in California from Ohio. It took me four years at a junior college to grow enough emotionally and academically to be ready for a real university. I needed time and the right guidence to understand myself, find my passion and work my way up to where I am now. If I could go back to when I was a senior, I would let myself know that in the end everything I felt and went through would ultimatley be worth it. That I was making the right decision for myself despite what others thought and how they tried to hold me back. I spent too much time doubting and degrading myself when I should have been enjoying life. Along with this, I would have told myself how much I love Anthropology and the study of primates so I wouldn't have spent so much time.