University of California-Davis Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self I would say so much. I would tell myself to be as outgoing as I could first quarter, and not to worry too much about grades. I'd tell myself to try to study for chemistry more though, because it's much more difficult than I thought it would be. But, most importantly, I would tell myself to enjoy the experience completely. To not focus too much on grades or study too hard and to take some time for myself everyday to relax. I'd also tell myself to spend as much time with my family as possible before I left, because as hard as it is to believe I miss them much more than I ever thought was possible. I would probably tell myself to not room with my friend from high school as well, that way I could make new friends easier instead of always having them to hang out with.

College is not easy, but it is not difficult, too. But it all depends on what was your attitude to education. If you hate it,k it means nothing to you even if you get all A's. But if there is a purpose in life, then everything you do will be a light to the world. Know this my dear past, what you do is to glorify God. And therefore, when you are discouraged, turn your eyes to the cross. For God knows your suffering and pain, He will guide you through. Trust in Him always, for it shall be sweet to your heart. Life is like an adventure., but you need to choose wisely. A small off-course can be detrimental. Treasure your family for they are always there for you. Know that your family will always love you even if you fail. Take heed to your father's instruction, for he will not live long around you to see you graduate from college. Give up the lust of this world, for things of the world will distract your focus from God and from school. Entertainment is not bad, but self-control is the core to success.

Valerie, you have done an amazing job the past 11 years in school. You are almost there so remember how important it is to continue to push yourself and reach your goals. You have maintained a 4.67 GPA the last three years and your hard work is clearly reflected. College expenses are huge so apply, apply, apply for scholarships starting now and continue applying until you begin college. I know it is very time consuming but having the financial stress removed when you are awarded scholarships will help greatly allowing you to focus and concentrate fully on your studies.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would insist that she take all the basic science and math courses. These courses are important for any major she might one day want to pursue. I would also tell my high school senior self to job shadow and apply for interships so that she might have a general idea of what to pursue once she was in college. I would also tell her to brace herself for the quarter system. The quarter system is a lot faster than the semester system and so she has to adopt a flexible time management system for herself so that she will not become overwhelmed.

As a high school senior, I wish I had known just how hard and different college life is. During senior year, all I worried about was getting in a good college; I didn't think much about what would happen after I got in. I wish I knew what I wanted to major in at that time so that I could have selected a college based on what I wanted to do in the future. Everyone always says not to worry about your major and that it's normal to change your major several times in college. However, they don't really tell you the consequences of changing your major so many times. College goes by a lot faster than high school, so it really doesn't feel like you have a lot of time to decide your major. If you want to graduate in four years, it's best to decide your major as soon as possible and not waste money and time. As a college sophomore, I stressed and went through several breakdowns about deciding on a major which all could have been avoided had I defined my path earlier in high school.

There are those lucky few that know from very early on what they want to do in their lives, what careers and what they want to study. I was not one of those lucky people. Looking back now ,the major advice I would have given myself would be to take the time to explore who you are what you're really passionate about. Not that college isn't a good time to explore that, but having a passion makes it's easier. I love studying psychology and communications and I look forward to either teaching preschool or being a forensic psychologist. But my true passion was something I didn't discovered till my sophmore year of college: the culinary arts. If I had taken the time to explore my passion maybe I would have applied to culinary schools. Still overall, I don't regret the decision to come to UC Davis. I love and am passionate about what I'm studying and I want to make a difference with it. Being passionate about something is crucial for a fulfilling life and every student should take their time to explore their options; it's an important step in growing up.

"Do not freak out about your major!" As a high school senior, I would have loved to have faith in that phrase. I constantly worried about what major I would soon have to declare after high school in order to get a degree, graduate, and move on to the intimidating and unknown future. It was all happening too fast; I could not make up my mind with all the anxiety and pressure of college. I ended up entering UC Davis as an undeclared freshmen and the inevitable decision of my major became even more present in all of my thoughts and decisions. But now, almost half-way through the school year, I finally have reason to believe that a declared major is not necessary right away. Academic counselors and the general catalog of degree information became my best friends. I learned that I have time to explore my possibilities and by also seeing some of my fellow classmates change their majors for the nth time assured me that a major is not necessarily set in stone. I am slowly but confidently narrowing down my major choices but right now, general education credits are what matter.

My advice to myself as a high school senior would include: Always start on assignement the day the are assigned and work on them until the due date. Use cell phone to make a calendar with classes for each day and other events with alarm reminders. Make a schedule on what needs to done and learn to prioritize activities. Always study for a test at least five days before. Always be the one to take the initiativae when in need of something whether it is academic help or othr type of support.

Get excited! College will be such a great and rewarding experience for you. Even if you are not sure what direction you want to take, persevere in everything you do; it will be worth it. Getting involved never hurt anyone and its a good way to make new friends. Just because there are no parents around to tell you to do your homework and chores doesn't mean you should get carried away. Managing time will be the hardest part for you but eventually you'll get the hang of it. Remember the primary reason why you're here, for school! Take random classes that may not interest you at first, you never know what you're going to like. Once you find that one thing that inspires you.. go for it, 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. One of my favorite quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt is "No one can ever make you feel inferior without your consent" (which you already knew, since you ARE me). But don't let anything or anyone get in the way of your goals, it makes the journey that much better!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be many things I would tell myself. I would tell myself to be as friendly as possible and try to make friends with all the people on your dorm floor, even if it feels like you are back in kindergarten making friends for the first time. Also to get involved in something such as sports, clubs, etc to network and meet new people. I would tell myself that though the transition to living in a dorm and not living at home may seem scary, you will be alright and will actually mature as a person. Another thing I would advise would be that to stay caught up with reading and schoolwork because it is easy to fall behind. The university is not even close to your high school experience and it?s a whole new level of learning. Lastly I would tell myself that you are going to be happy with your choice of school and there are many opportunities for you to take advantage of in the next chapter of your life.