University of California-San Diego Top Questions

The moment you set foot on campus, you will be engulfed by diverse opportunities. Within that first week freshman year, there will be hundreds of fliers handed to you promoting organizations ranging from the Gardening Club to the top business fraternity on campus. College is a capsule in time where you have four years to discover what you want to pursue. It is the perfect time to develop your “brand.” Do you want to be that person who is somehow at every party or do you want to be the stud who is president of multiple organizations on campus? (Note: I hope you choose the latter; you can’t get a degree in ‘Partying’.) Know that it is never too early to start figuring out your life. Don’t be afraid of figuring out the things you dislike before you finally figure out what you do like. Get involved with organizations with goals that speak to your values and passion. This will also help you meet people with like minded interests in larger, worldly issues. The social events and parties will always be there, so lose the, “fear of missing out” and start creating your brand from day one.

I would tell myself to enjoy my family and friends before I moved away for college and to have more fun, instead of sitting at home all day. I would say to be more adventurous and to not be afraid of trying new things. I would also tell myself to take more spoons and forks because you never know when you're going to need them.

Senior year in high school is a time to look back at what one has gone through to get to where they are now. Having been there, I would advice myself to seriously cherish all the moments left with my friends going to dances and malls and sleepovers and beaches. Allow yourself to enjoy the freedom of not having to worry about grades as much anymore and take advantage of the memories you'll make with your friends. Once college begins, you will make new friends and at times, it will be hard to keep in touch with your old best friends. Learn from your friends and be a blessing in their lives as well. Don't be too stressed about finishing senior year with straight A's but relax and take the semester as it comes. Remember that you've already finished the hard part. Now it's time for you to enjoy the next couple months for yourself and look back at what kind of a person you are. Discover your identity.

There are many things I would tell myself as a high school senior, but I would first congratulate myself for what I accomplished. I would tell myself that I need to work harder, attempt to do harder classes and think long range about how it is going to benefit myself in the future. I'd say that college is a whole new world, full of endless possibilities but, it's also much harder and time management is the biggest factor in college life. Don't stress about every assignment, each one is a building block and you learn something new with every class you take. Take classes that interest you outside your major, try something you'd never do in high school. Making the transistion is going to be one of the hardest processes educationally you'll ever have, but you'll have to learn to balance school, sports, and extra activities. It's going to be rough, but it's what you have worked for in these past four years of your education so don't give up even when you think high school is hard. You can accomplish anything in your sights.

Get involved in a lot of activities right away!! It is a great way to make friends and establish contacts for the future.

I didn’t know it at the time but going to community college is the best choice I ever made because it saved me a lot of money. Another piece of advice is to take time in college, but to keep in mind that time is money. The longer I am in school, the longer I am building debt and not making money in the workforce (because I would be in an internship). The second bit of advice would be to find a degree that I excel in and is practical. For instance, if I want to be a film director, I can get a degree in Business and minor in Film Production. If I don’t excel in Business, I should consider it a warning that my ceiling in that field may be limited. I emphasize practicality because I can have a good paying job that will support my other passion. Lastly, I would tell myself to physically visit the campuses that I wish to attend and get a feel for the campus life. Find a college that takes pride in itself and one that will help me become a valuable asset in the profession of my choice.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself be happy and find some personal conviction. College life is uncertain and unstructured, and knowing oneself is crucial to moving forward. I would tell my high school self to throw myself head on at college academics. I would push that surly and oblivious high school self into thinking for herself and actively searching for career options. I would tell myself to go through Sorority Rush and join one during freshman year so that I could get my curiosity out of the way and done with. I would tell myself to fight for my Psychology major and pursue research opportunities to excel in a field I had a passion for since age 16— instead of meekly obeying my father’s directive to be a pre-medical student in pursuit of a dream that was not my own. I would reassure my high school self that high achievement and success can be gained through a variety of ways. Lastly, I would tell myself to find a good exercise routine because life is much better when your body is healthy!

Dear Impatient,I bet you're bored at home. The house is messy. Your brothers are in the next room playing videogames, being noisy. Your sister is on the phone with that bad-news boy from school. Of everything on TV, Dad chose to watch golf.You’re doing a quick count of the days until you leave for college, wishing that you could make them go faster. You don’t know it now, but you will miss this. College will make you realize that your brothers' obnoxious laughter sounds like music, you secretly love when your sister bothers you for help with boys, and you would watch golf for hours if it meant you could hang out with Dad again. When you get ready to leave, pack more than just clothes. Pack up your memories. Store them in a safe place in your mind and don’t leave anything out. Save them for nights like these, when you’re sitting in your dorm writing a letter to yourself, looking out the window at the ocean view you always wanted, and wishing you could change it back to the view of your crazy family in a messy house.Sincerely, Wiser

Dear Makaela, UCSD will not be what you expect, but you will look back and not regret attending. Friends aren't as easy to make, it will take you a long time. You will be lost in the sea of people for what will seem like forever, just keep trying. You will eventually find your niche. Get involved in the things that are closest to your heart, and try not to work too much. You will be happiest working on campus. Live with other UCSD students to strengthen your bond with the community. Live as close to campus as possible. Commuting is not easy. The academics will be challenging, but nothing you can't handle. Study, go to class, ask questions. You will be ok. Don't be discouraged that dating other UCSD students is difficult. Everyone there, including yourself has the top priority of getting a good education, not finding a significant other. Study abroad as much as you can, you WILL love it! Keep in touch with the few friends you make, they will be great resources later. Don't count on getting a stellar job right away, your life will make unexpected but mostly positive turns. Enjoy!

Senior Hannah, I know that this is an exciting time in your life, as well as scary. Moving away from your amazing family, and leaving your friends behind is difficult, but you are finally reaping all the benefits of your hard work in high school. Enjoy it! A transition is never easy, but it is even harder when you don't put yourself out there. Try new things. Friendships will come, test scores will fluctuate, and trials will pass, but you are going to change and make your own rules. Take the photo album. Bring your favorite blanket. Growing up does not mean leaving home. You have so much love and support, so do with it what you're meant to! This adventure will transform you and your life for the better. Also, it will always be okay to call your mom to say I love you. Good luck