University of California-Riverside Top Questions

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior i would tell myself to work harder and get better grades. i would tell myself to try to get more credits for school through tests. however, i would also tell myself not to stress out so much on being a senior and to have more fun. another thing that i would tell myself is to keep my options open and to not worry so much about what i am going to do after school is over.

If I was able to give myself advice knowing about college like and making the transition; I would tell myself never to settle for a school, and to be sure I am in love with the people, enviroment, city, and teachers. My choice was to go to UC Riverside, assuming it was a good school and I would be okay with wherever I choose to go; however, little did I know I would be unhappy with the city, dorm life, and school life. I woke up each morning without any enthusiasm of what I would do after my classes; in fact I would spend my weekends doing nothing but homework, and hardly went out. I also made the choice to be in the honor dorms, which were truly secluded, and a wrong decision on my behalf. If I had this advice to never settle for a college I would have been better off after high school. I transfered to a community college after my first quarter and have plans to go to hawaii for fall semester 2010. I believe seniors would should be deeply in love with their school before they decide to make a big commitment and never settle.

If I were to go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to look for scholarships before the college academic year began. Applying for scholarships can be very discouraging especially if application after application is denied. But even if one was to spend a whole day filling out applications and writing essays in effort of winning a scholarship and they wind up winning just one, it would be well worth the effort to receive any amount of financial aid. I wish I would have known that then because I definitely would have filled out as many applications for scholarships as possible in order to be able to pay for tutition, books, and other supplies needed to receive a college education. I also would have told myself to get comfortable speaking in front of my peers because public speaking, communication and participation is a major aspect of college education in all areas of study. It requires confidence, clarity, and the willingness to be critiqued by professors as well as peers.

Being a Peer College Counselor in High School, speaking to students about their futures was a part of my everyday schedule. It was my job to prepare them for not only the college application process, but also how to adjust to the college life. As a College Sophomore, I now know that all of my advice was nowhere near inclusive to how this experience would be. First piece of advice: Break out of that shell now. College is all about making connections, whether it is your future bestfriend or your favorite professor. Communication is the key to success so as shy as I may be, I need to continuously work on being more outgoing. The most important lesson I would have loved to know as a High School Senior-things won?t always go as planned. College is a wake-up call that everything doesn?t go your way. Papers are due the night before midterms, and for that reason grades won?t always be what I?m used to. Work on my time management now, get used to scheduling everything out. Most importantly, stay focused-visualize the life you want to lead after graduation, partying will always be there.

While attending the University of California Riverside, I finally understood the importance of a sound education. As a person, it is essential to always be ?learning.? Learning will open doors and develop your frame of reference to successfully execute life?s obstacles. Through learning, you will acquire a sound education; the skill that will allow you to be competitive in our advanced world. Most importantly, stay focused; be able overcome the socio-economic barrier that sets you back because the taste of success will only be that much more meaningful. The best advice you could?ve given me as a financially struggling high school student that was the truth: obtaining a sound education makes you a marketable human and greatly increases your potential in obtaining your goals; the time you invest now in your education will pay dividends in the future. California?s k-12 education is a weeding out system. Although you?ve been placed in a disadvantaged situation that at times makes learning an unbearable burden, it?s important that you strive to the best of your ability so that one day you can contribute to the ?gradual evolution of human institutions? that President Kennedy once spoke of.

Fist of all I would go back to freshman year, and tell myself not to procrasinate. In college one must get every assignment done as spoon as possble and with effort. Also in high school homework assignments actually count towards ones grades. There's no such thing as turning in an assignment that's done last minute because then it will relfect on ones final grade. The work in college can feel overwelming, so I would tell myself to do all the work and read everysingle page that's assigned ,because every single word of information counts in college. Also, that attending every lecture is the brightest idea because professors are there to help and there's our money anyway, so why waste it. One last thing, in college classes tend to be huge at times. I would advice myself to be comfortable with Teaching assistants, because office hours are successful in ones education.

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself that although nothing can truly prepare me for what I am about to experience in college, start getting involved in school activies from day one. Use every resource avaliable and volunteer for the campus and the community every chance given, because this will truly change the outlook on life and change me for the better; it will help me expand my mind and grow, not only as an artist but as a person as well. I would tell myself to not be shy and scared of voicing my opinion during class. It will not only help me understand the material better, but it will intellectually challenge me and give me an idea of what I truly feel towards certain subjects. Lastly, I would tell myself that going to school was the best move I have made, because it has engaged my mind and made me a much more confident person, who now knows will become something wonderful later in life.

I would tell myself to reach for the stars. It has been a tough since high school. I lacked the knowledge, confidence and courage to apply to a university. If I could go back I would give myself directions to transfer to a UC. Looking back at that young and shy girl I remember she needed a friend to tell her she can do it and that she is deserving of a higher education. Someone she could trust and give her the instruction of how to put her past behind her and look to the future by applying for college. I would tell myself not to worry about what people think or be ashamed of who you are or where you come from. Use the good parts of your past to your benefit and forget the bad for it will cloud your judgment. Be free. Use your talents. Dance. I use to think that college was an intangible dream but now I know that filling out that application was the easiest best thing I have done for myself. I will learn from my mistakes and take advantage of this opportunity and aim for that star of becoming a doctor.

If I could go back in time as a senior there are a few things that I would want to advise myself to do which would have made the transition to college easier. For one, I would advise myself is to take more AP or college level courses. This would mean I would need to take less classes in college and save me some time. I know realized that not doing so has placed a burden on me. Although I did take a few, I felt as if I could have taken more. Second, I would advise myself to become more independent. While in highschool, I was so used to having all my friends around between classes and for homework and at other times, yet I know have realized college isn't this way. In college, every one works for themselves and doesnt really have time for these type of things. Of course there is a social life but every one is out there on their own. If I would have made this change during highschool, the beginning of college would not have been nearly as bumpy. With these things set, my transition to college would've been easier.

AP classes and extracurricular activities are what seem to get you into Harvard these days, but it all lies in confidence. Anyways,back to the question, If I time- traveled to the past I would go to the precise time when i got my first rejection letter. Knowing how I was in highschool, I would tell myself to RELAX. There is so much pressure these days to get into college. I worked hard to keep my GPA as high as i possibly could since I lacked in extracurricular activities. However, my college self would explain how college isn't about where you go to but the experience you get from it. Although cliche, it's true. One professor made a difference in the way i view college and would have been great advice in highschool. He entered college from the side door. His experience started at a community college, then moved on to University and Graduate School. Now he is a professor at UCR, and one of the best I might add. To us, College is all about experience.