University of California-Irvine Top Questions

The addvice i would give myself about the college life would be that to turn in all paperwork on time and to keep getting good grades and it will all pay off later on when i get my degree.

Don't take for granted the amount of scholarships available to graduating seniors. Do some volunteer work and get involved with student organizations. Ask questions, get help, and study for the ACT. Make sure you're going to school for the right reasons. You must resist the urge to get coffee with friends instead of studying. Copying homework may seem like a good idea amist the chaos but, what you don't realize is that you are slowly forgetting how to do math, and at some point you won't remember the simplest equations. You'll regret this when you're paying for developmental courses. You don't know what it's like to have to go to school, work, and find study time. Federal financial aid people are like gods. They may giveth but, they may also taketh awayeth if you waste it. Your teachers, the financial aid people, and your parents cannot want your degree more than you do. If this is the case, you're setting yourself up for failure. You have to want it bad enough. Until you do, I suggest taking a semester to figure out who you really are and what makes you tick.

College is definately different than high school. It can be a challenge and you have to motivate yourself in order to do good. You can't slack off as much as you did in high school and still get by with good grades. You are on your own and responsible for yourself. There is no one making sure you go to class or do your homework. It can be fun be a little overwhelming at the same time. You should enjoy college, go out every once in a while but don't gve up on classes and let it slide because doing so can be damaging to your education.

I would tell the younger me to live life with no regrets. I would tell myself to spend less time worrying about the costs of college and the application process, and live a little. Also, I would advise myself that people change and even best friends can turn into the best of enemies, so don't let anyone get you down. Friends change and leave, and it is completely fine. New friends will enter your life, and they will impact your life in a deeper and more meaningful way than the friends who left ever could have. It is no use to cry tears over people who do not want to be a part of your life anymore. Learn to live and let go. Let go of the past, and look ahead only to the future. Trust yourself, and go with your first instincts always, because only you know your limits. And most importantly, listen to mom and dad, even when they may sound like they do not know what they are saying. Trust me, they do. And usually they are almost always right.

Try to do better at school to keep up a better GPA after high school. Do a lot more volunteer work when you can because during college there is less time for that. To save money and to try to have my goals straight before picking a degree. To not procastinate and manage my time better. I would have joined a bit more clubs and educate myself more on everything my campus had to offer.

Although I am happy that I ended up at UC Irvine, I would tell my high school self to apply to more colleges and keep my horizons open. In high school I was very focused on just getting into three schools, when I should have been exploring my options. I would also tell my high school self to not get too excited about college and hold it up on a pedistal, because there is no way my expectations would been met at any school. I would tell myself to pace myself with college classes because they are much harder than high school classes and actually require doing work. I would tell myself to be open to new experiences, and get out of the dorm more often. I would tell myself to go to more sports games and talk to more people. But, even with all that being said, I think I turned out alright for not having any of that advice. The best way to learn is through doing, and that is what freshman year is all about.

I would tell myself to get involved even more than I did and to not get a job at least the first quarter. Although it was nice having the money, it stopped me from hanging out with friends or getting to know my dormmates better. Also, it's okay to not go home a lot. You're in school to meet friends and grow, your parents and siblings will always be there, this is time for yourself.

College is not only about freedom from parents, from annoying siblings, from ex-boyfriend, or running away from past mistakes. College is the place to find one place, build a self esteem, believe that no matter what, one can achieve only the best; learn from others while setting examples for others to learn from you. College is about having A+ and F+ experiences. Those who takes A+ experiences and always keep it A+ are true life achievers. However those who take F+ experiences and bring turn them into A+ experiences are those who know how to succeed in life. A great moto for college is: Never stop believing in yourself because once you do, you end up quitting in life.

As a High school senior I was already pretty good at time management since I have always been a perfectionist but now as a college student I began to realize how important it is to use your time wisely. It is crucial to select your classes as soon as you can because once those doors open for a class many other students are also going to apply for that same class and the classes fill up real quickly. So priorities and don not lack off. From my past experience I would also suggest that during Finals/Midterms you focus on your classes and studying because that test can really screw you over. Just remember to manage your time wisely and to priorities your tasks before you face the consequences.

Since I was homeschooled a majority of my highschool career, I would tell myself to stay in public school a little while longer! Public school would have provided a lot more opportunities for me, in order to prepare for college. I would have done things such as the Tech Center, which would have provided me with college credits & training before entering the field. I also would have advised myself to take advantage of any scholarship opportunities that came my way! College is very expensive and anything would help.

If I could write a letter to Paige Rieboldt a year from today, it would've went like this; Dear Paige, Things start off tough your senior year, there are a lot of distractions and incidences that come along with growing up, but keep your chin up and work hard. You know what you need to do in order to be successful, so just stick to it. There are some things you have no control over, but your future is something you can make happen. It isn't going to be easy and not at all what you have been expecting, but do not let that get to you. You are full of motivation and college is next year, so apply for your dream schools and everything will work out in the end. Basically, just do not let the things you cannot control bring you down. Your future is bright, you just have to take the steps to get there, so go ahead, take that first step. Take the SAT's and the ACT's and do not let any hard classes stump you. I believe in you. Sincerely, Me

Although college is often described as the time to branch out and explore new opportunities, I believe that students should begin this during high school. During my high school years, I spent the majority of my time in the theatre, which limited my friends, my opportunities, and my activities. Therefore, I would tell my high school self to get out of the theatre and try to find other things of interest. Personally, I believe that starting "the age of self-exploration" in high school would have made the transition to college much easier; I would feel much less uncomfortable to branch out and conversations would be much more diverse.

Dearest Paula, Enjoy your senior year! Stay away from any drama and stick to your true friends, the ones that will still be there in college. As for college itself, remember to keep an open mind! Don't be afraid to try new things [like going to the gym for freshman 15]. Don't be shy! Take a risk and initiate the conversation. Not only will you become friends with fellow students who can help with school, but you'll also make companions that may last a lifetime! Don't be afraid of rejection from people, just go out there and be yourself! On the note of rejection, again, try new things! You might not like it at first, or may it's too farfetched, but just give everything a chance. Who knows, maybe you'll end up being extremely involved in a Vietnamese Catholic group or even play in a basketball tournament [hint hint]! Apart from those, remember to focus on your studies. Don't don't procrastinate, like you always do. Procrastination isn't allowed and it will destroy you! Keep on top of your work and you're academics shall be great! Sincerely, Your future-self

Relax and take it easy. I know it sounds simple and many people did give me this same advice, but I would forewarn my high school self that there is no fun nor wisdom in rushing. College has to be a whole experience and not just a phase that you need to get through. Take your time and enjoy your classes. You know you love to learn so take your time and go the extra mile by learning beyond the classroom. Network with your teachers and form friendships with them. It's not high school anymore. You don't have to be in that kind of relationship with your professors that you are used to in high school. In fact, go visit them in their office hours. Ask them questions. Don't forget to tell them how much you appreciate them (if you did enjoy them as teachers). Take classes to learn and not just to earn credits so you can be closer to getting your degree. Obviously, you're there to eventually earn that degree, but make sure that your goal is to learn-about your subject and about yourself. So, relax and take it easy, mate!

Put yourself out there. There is more to life than being behind a textbook all the time. The most valuable information is achieved outside the classroom. Also, if the class is harder, but the professor is inspirational, take it. Challenge yourself is better than making excuses for yourself. Understanding the concepts are more important than achieving a high grade. Some people receive A's but they still don't get it. The best advice I received from a professor and would like to pass on is: "Don't believe what I say." Don't take everything you hear as truth. The only truth you will ever find is through your own eyes, not through your ears or the spoken words of others. You will not like everybody you meet; never hold expectations for others or else you will be let down. The only person you can trust the most is yourself. Own that, and live it.

Don't stress as much over high school grades and be prepared to somewhat lower your academic standards if you play D1 athletics like I do. It's okay to get a B.

I'm a college freshman and recently completed my first quarter at the University of California, Irvine. On a campus dominated by Californians, I am one of the few out-of-state students enrolled here, and even though my home in Oregon is only a plane ride away, I spent much of last summer thinking about the hundreds of miles that separated me from my future classmates. Something was bothering me, something that everyone has been anxious about at some point in their lives—I was worried about fitting in. Somehow, I thought I would be an alien in the eyes of my peers, unable to relate to or make friends with them because of our different backgrounds. Upon moving into my dorm in September, I quickly discovered just how ridiculous my fears had been. Everyone I met was experiencing college for the first time. Everyone wanted to be accepted, just like me. Throughout my first months of college, I have been constantly reminded of an important truth: We are all more alike than we are different, even if some of us grew up on the sunny beaches of California and others on the rainy Oregon coast.

A student going from high school to college might not be aware of how much he or she will intellectually grow from the college education. As being a freshman in college, I say that college has given me a direction towards my career in the future. My high school world was very limited—surrounded by many rumors about how the actual professional world is. The college, on the other hand, exposed me to the reality which is to learn and apply the textual knowledge in the real life situations. When I was in high school, I barely had an idea of science profession that I’m interested in. For example, in high school, I thought studying biology could only lead to become doctor. The college exposed me to the variety of pathways that I could take after I graduate with the degree in bachelor’s of science in biology. Currently, I’m happily pursuing a major in biological science with a goal of researching and getting into a medical school in the future.

During my short time so far at UCI, I have learned that what I thought was the major for me, Biological Sciences, actually was one of the worst majors I could have taken. Now I am trying to figure out what direction I want to go in for my new major, and my school has been really helpful. I am taking classes in various subject areas and I have spoken to counselors about different options that I could have. I have learned who my real friends are, because those that really care about you will stick with you when times are tough. My experiences at UCI have been extremely valuable because I am learning who I am as a person, and the classes and professors that I have taken have been invaluble to me. Thanks to UCI I am figuring out who I am instead of who my parents want me to be.

One thing that I've learned and that I've always told my peers and incoming freshmen is simply to get involved. The school's responsibility is to provide resources, clubs, activities- but it's up to the student to attend and get involved. Putting myself out there and stepping out of my comfort zone is probably the most valuable thing I've learned and will carry with me for the rest of my life. Many students at UCI unite to get students involved, but again, it's still up to the student. From my experience, I not only got involved and recieved many different opportunities to promote my academic success and enhance my social life, I also learned how to be independent and responsible. I learned t hat everything I learn in a college setting isn't just the teacher telling the student exactly what he or she needs to do. They must have to aspire to learn and acquire the knowledge that is given to them. It was a challenge for me to really take the responsibility as a student to put in my 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} to do well in classes, but I managed to challenge myself and succeed.