University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Never be afraid to try new things. The experiences you make whether good or bad will help you grow as a person. Have self-confidence and be open to try many things, whether it be majors,activities,clubs,etc. There will be times that will bring you down and you might believe that you have failed but never believe that failure is the end. Learn from your mistakes and breathe in a new day. The world does not end, it begins.

I would tell myself that in life there will be many obstacles. Some of these obstacles will seem like they will never pass. No matter how hard something is though, you have to remember that you are not alone in the world and that your family and friends love and support you. Everything that happens may not always seem good and helpful in the moment, but in the end your life will be better because of them. It is those exact things that are so difficult that they may even make you cry; that you need to take a deep breath and use all your courage to keep moving forward because in the end you will have grown as a person. Learning is a lifelong process and in the end it will not matter where you went to school, but what you were able to get out of it and apply to your everyday life. College is not just about your degree, it is about the type of person you want to become. As long as you keep your head up and your heart open you will learn how to live and become the best you possible.

Dear Senior Highschol Angelina, Unlike of what you dream college would be, it is completely different. It is not some scary place where you are isolated and alone. In college, there are many chances to make friends and you should make the effort to keep in touch with your friends now. Additionally, work harder in your courses. Believe it or not, they do matter in college, especially calculus. Also, try to research more into computer classes so that you know what you are getting into. Pass those AP and IB tests with flying colors! It will get you ahead! Moreover, apply more for scholarships and grants. There are plenty out there and college is not easy to pay. You don't want to be drowned in debts and loans while you are in college. Enjoy being with your family, because when you are in college, you see them less because of the distance. There is nothing to worry about when you are in college though, the seperation is an essential part of independence. Brace yourself for college. You thought your highschool campus was big, college is about ten times bigger!

Kirstie, remember when you were thinking about how you wanted get away from your family and be as far away from them as you can possibly be? Well you weren't wrong but you weren't right either. You're going to love college because of all the faces you're going to meet and all the chemistry and anthropology classes you get to take. However, you're going to feel home-sick after you've realized that momma's home-cooking is no longer down the hall, you don't get a tub for bubblebaths anymore, and classes actually require real work. You're going to come home for the breaks and realize how much you've missed out on and you're going to be bitter about it all. You'll be so surprised at how life just keeps going on at home while you're a plane ride away. You see yourself growing up as a senior, thinking that life can't get any better than this. Life gets better and then it gets worse, you'll love it though. Do not choose a school close to home if you want to grow up and experienc more.

If I were to return to high school and give myself advice on how to be better prepared to make the transition to college I would definitely give myself lots of advice. I would tell myself to focus on my strengths and not worry on my weaknesses. For example, personally as a went through my high school years I was more concentrated in quantity instead of quality. I went on to take multiple Advanced Placement courses. Some of the times it was hard to keep up with all the work and study for the final exams given at the end of the course. It would have been better to focus on what I was capable of doing and to have success in those classes. I would also tell myself to have more patience in life. I wanted to grow up too fast, but we shall know that there is time to do everything in life. There is no need to rush your life. Lastly, I would tell myself to have faith in my abilities to success. Having confidence is one of the most important components of success. This is all necessay advice that would be halpful in movong to college.

Walking down the mundane hallways of high school, I couldn?t wait to leave and go to college where there were new faces, classes, and lifestyle. I was done, checked out. Colleges accept you starting January and then we all make our decisions, get excited, talk with friends about how you?ll never lose touch, buy a sweatshirt for your school and ?Bam!? you're no longer a high school student, but billboard of what school you chose, what future you picked. When I made my decision, I bought the sweatshirt. I still went to classes, attended my club meetings, but went through it in a daze. For the last six months I was there, I missed out on the life of high school that I had once enjoyed. It seemed pointless to go to the game or spirit activities. ?Why go? What?s the point?? The point is, high school happens only once. You become who you are, and at times think it?s the worst place in the world. You?ll reflect on it with other students in college and talk about your memories. Looking back, I would have been more involved in high school until the end.

Do not slack in your short years of high school. Focus and take the necessary classes in order to succeed. Try to open your horizon and try out new things to see what you are good at. Do not depend on others to carry your work, but study hard and acheive that 4.0 that you deserve. Do not cut yourself short because of laziness or procrastination, because its your persistence that will get you to the future that you want.

The biggest advice that I would have given myself was to have gone to a four-year university instead of a community college. My community college, unfortunately has a very high retention rate and a low transfer rate. I never knew the meaning of these terms until I experienced it. I thought I would successfully finish within the projected two years but like many, I failed to do so, even with my impressive 4.6 accumulative GPA. I would have told myself to work harder and to not let others influence what sort of activities I do. If I need time to study, I shouldn?t feel bad for declining an invitation to go out. I should have been more proactive in my choices which may have led me closer to my goal of becoming a doctor. However, in lieu of everything, I do not regret anything I have done, it has made me a better decision-maker, wiser, and appreciative of what I have accomplished and what I will continue to accomplish in life.

I would emphasize the importance of financial aid. When I was a high school senior, I believed that the environment of the college would completely alter my life socially and academically. This was not the case. Because I am still the same person, my life in college resembles closely my life in high school. I would advise high school students to consider financial aid more strongly in picking a college; attending a slightly less prestigious university and paying significantly less may be a viable option. I believe that the college experience has less to do with the surroundings than with an individual's personality. In addition, I recommend that students fully delve into the housing situation. Living in a triple is not a joke. There is always the possibility of clashing with roommates, and spending even the night with two others in a cramped space may result in sleep deprivation and lower grades. Students should seriously consider if they need time alone, or if they can handle the stress that results with in such a living situation. It may not be possible to study in one's room. In conclusion, focus on yourself, not on the college.

Let's face it. You need 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to keep up that 4.0 and your sanity - you're not the kind of person who can handle dorm life. Get a quiet apartment off campus and save yourself the stress that could cause you to shoot up 15 pounds by October. And once you're set, get out and explore like I know you want to, but don't let your carousing take precedence over your career path. The Regents aren't going to hand you a full-ride scholarship for your life after college, so take some business classes in addition to all your foreign languages - because even if you become fluent in Japanese and move to Japan to get a job, you're not going to have a thing on those natives who already speak the language if you don't have other practical skills. You don't want to let the real world hit you in the face four years from now - this is your chance to make a smooth landing. Don't forget to be street smart while you're making those grades!