University of California-Merced Top Questions

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, this is what I would say. Decide what it is in life that you want to do now. It may be difficult to decide without exploring the options available, but being able to make every course/semester count towards your degree will be much more rewarding. When I entered as a freshman, I made the mistake of picking a major I did not enjoyed and my grades suffered the consequences. I waste away two semesters of courses that did not count towards my degree. My friends made the mistake of taking a major far too challenging for them just because they wanted to go to medical school. Now, they can’t get into medical school because of their GPA. The truth is, if you’re going to experiment with your options, talk to someone who is in that field and don’t take random courses. If you want to go to medical school, you do not have to graduate with a degree in Biology, you just need to take the required courses and you can major in any field you want.

One advice I would give myself would be, learn how to study. As a third year in college I have finally understood how to study and it has been a long and hard process. Throughout highschool I was able to get by with the minimal amount of "studying" to pass my classes and to pass all my exams, but that is not enough in college. There is no easy way out of studying, and starting early would make a difference. The second advice I would give myself would be, be involved with leadership roles more. Throughout college I have been a part of many clubs/organizations and have even picked up a few officer positions in my three years. With the leadership roles offered at my highschool were to all have been sought out, then my leadership roles in college could help whomever needed my assistance.

Be yourself. Enjoy the first two weeks with all the new experiences, enjoy meeting new people that will soon become your friends. Do not be nervous when you walk up to your professor, (we dont call them teachers anymore) and introduce yourself. You will do very well academically, you will even make the dean's list. You will soon find out that the school is smaller that you once thought, you will come to know every inch of campus my the second semester. There will be lots to learn, many chalanges that seem impossible to overcome, maybe you will have to stay up to 3 am every night for a whole semester, but you will enjoy every minute of it looking back. Cherish those weekly calls back home! You will despretly need the sound of your parents, sisters, familys voice over the other end to keep you grounded to who you are. Home sickness is not a sickness at all, it is just a nessary transition phase that will let you know how much family truly means to you. ENJOY it! Do not be afraid to transfer, or change your major. . . your parents will still love you no matter what

I know you wanted to take a year off so you could figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life, but Don't. One year can change your entire feuture. You may be thinking how would you know, but im here to tell you ive seen your feuture after your one year of funn and it will change the corese of your life forever. You will love and embrace every change and chalenge but it will make your goals much hareder to acheave. So stop playing around and pay atention and in your free time start figuring out what it is your going to do with the rest of your life and jump on it there will be plenty of time in the feuture to take time off.

The opportunity to go back and advise yourself is a chance to focus on what you could've done better. I'd refrain from limiting myself by listing everything I should'nt have done, and instead concentrate on what I know I'm capable of accomplishing. I'd advise myself, to be patient, the highschool/college transition isn't easy. You're miles from home surrounded by unfamiliar faces, you miss family and friends, the work load is more than you're accustomed to, and yet simultaneously, you feel you're independant and want to experience everything. However, there's no need to rush into experimenting, or trying to change who are to gain friends and fit in. You've always been a strong, confident female. Never change that. Don't let people intimidate you, or pressure you into being or doing something you aren't ready for. Also prioritizing and organizing, it'll make life much easier! Always remember, life is about experiences, don't be afraid to expand your horizons and try something new. There's more to intelligence than books, you learn from past experiences and apply that knowledge in making better choices in the future!

I would advise my high school former self to attend college straight out of high school and earn her degree. I would encourage her to have fun, study hard and enjoy what college life has to offer. It can be difficult to get acclimated into a college environment and that it is okay to feel nervous. However, being pro-active and involved is a beneficial way to ease the stress of transition. I would encourage her to play sports, do theatre and join groups. I would tell her to be patient with herself and seek out support services at the campus. To use the resources available, such as counseling, study groups, the library and tutoring services. I would share with her that college can be one of the most amazing and rewarding times in her life. To embrace the challenges that often come with college life as an opportunity to grow and learn. I would give her a big hug and tell her that I think she will succeed at anything she puts her mind to. In closing, I would say that transitioning into college can be scary but we are giving ourselves the greatest gift we can, an education.

Looking back on the decisions made regarding my future in college during senior year there are many things that i would go back and tell myself. First off, i would tell myself that as exciting as the idea of going far away to school is, in reality there is nothing easy about it. I would tell myself to look at schools that are far enough to be going away, yet close enough to also go home occasionally . I would say that one of the most important things to do in order to ease the transition would be to get very involved and meet a lot of people. Having friends and people you can count on who are going through the exact same thing as you in very important. Lastly, I would tell myself that going to class, paying attention, taking advantage of professor's office hours, and studying hard is very important. Keep up your grades, and even if it seems like it's ok to miss a class, go anyway! The first year of college is going to be a lot of fun and exciting but also scary, maybe a little lonley and a lot of hard work!

I have always known that college was going to be an important asset for my future goals, however I never really knew how much of a life changing impact it would have on me. As a second year student at UC Merced, my college experience thus far has been unforgettable. From the annoying roommates to the college dorm food, and the many deadlines to the late-night studying , I see why college is and will be worthwhile in the end. So far I have learned the importance of time-management between social events and academic priorities. I have also learned the importance of tolerance and compromise with roommates and peers. But most importantly, my college experience has been valuable because I have met people that are willing to help me in times of need. Whether it be on a homework problem, or on tutoring me through a whole class course, there is always someone who is willing to extend a hand when it is needed. Because of college, I have learned the value of networking, and I know it will come in handy in the future.

Coming from a small school, I needed to go somwhere where I could gain a new perspective on life, yet not loose who I am and my values. Coming to UC Merced was a choice I do not regret because not only have I made friends that I can already tell will last a lifetime, but I have had experiences I will never forget. This includes leading the campus club softball team as we try to make it to the NAIA league next year, having a job as the Physical Fitness and Nutrition Group leader for a Students Wellness Program on campus so students can learn to lead healthier lives, and simply making friends from all different ethnic backgrounds has made me a better person.

I have really been able to live independently and really get to find out who I am and what I like to do. Living away from home made me realize who I am and I have really been able to grow as an adult. Attending college is very valuable for me because I am the frist person to attend college in my family and I take pride in anything that I do in school. It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, and it will take a lot of dedication to continue here, and I am really looking forward to it.