University of California-Santa Cruz Top Questions

I would tell myself not to stress out to much about college life. Yes, it's different in many ways such as having to leave home for a long period of time and taking more responsibility for your actions, but chances are that you will meet people there that you will come to consider your second family, and they will be there to support you through the tough situations that you're in. People think college is a time where you have to start thinking about your career and how you're going to live the rest of your life, but you should also know that you won't be alone. There are other students experiencing some of the same struggles as you are, and together, you guys can make it through. Plus, being away from family and parents will allow you to truly figure out who you are as a person and what you really want to do with your life without someone over your shoulder telling you what is right or wrong. College can be stressful, but in time you'll get used to it and it will a period of your life that you'll never forget.

The sleepless nights of high school are worth it towards your GPA. This GPA will be asked in most college applications, and can either help you into one or be the decision that won't get you into your dream school. It is essensial that you take into responsibility and I mean it. What everyone says it is true, colleges will judge you on what you did throughout the high school years. Accomplish something big, get involved in school. Enjoy those years because they will go by fast and it is free education and you will miss that.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to not just push my comfort zone, but to break through it: to make new friends around every corner, and to get involved with several different clubs, not just one. I would also tell myself to develop better study habits in high school, because the way you study in high school is vastly different than the way you study in college. I would tell myself to spend more time with my family, because it is really hard to leave them in September. I would tell myself to call them more often once I got here, and maybe even text Dad out of the blue because, believe it or not, he misses me. I would tell myself that the macaron business is worth it, that Maggie's Macarons succeeds, and that all the time put into it paid off. I might also encourage myself to get a second summer job to help ease the burden of college expenses. But if my past self didn't listen to anything I had to say, I would be fine, because life right now is how it was meant to be.

Expand your mind and open your heart wider than you thought possible; the world is unimaginably full and richer than you know. Be a sponge and allow yourself to absorb every last drop of your experiences. There will joy, heartbreak, a dismantling and rebuilding of your identity, a rediscovery of your values, and endless opportunities for self- and other-exploration. Fear not novelty; expose yourself to possibility, question everything, accept the challenge of uncovering the answers, and watch yourself grow in ways you had not previously considered. You will struggle; you will feel lost, you will feel alone, you will question your journey and the destination, and you will doubt your ability to achieve success. Take comfort in knowing that everyone around you has felt, does feel, or will feel this way from time to time. Embrace these struggles, as they will teach you more about your strength and inner resources than anything else. Welcome change and transformation with open arms, but remember who you are and do not compromise yourself. Above all, be proud. You have already achieved more than you realize, and if you want to, you will thrive in this new world of endless possibilities.

I would tell my high school senior self to take advantage of the many interesting courses the school has to offer, and not feel so pressured to decide on a major in my first year. Finding a good balance between academics and a social life is important, and first year classes should still be taken seriously. The ultimate would be to get the best grades in the first year while also forming incredible friendships. The way to do this is to hang out with people who share both your work ethic and your need to relax and have fun. What's more, going to a Professor's office hours really helps improve your grade, mostly because he/she will be more inclined to help you if he/she sees that you made an effort to do well. Lastly, college is about finding yourself and figuring out who you want to become, so go on more spontaneous adventures, befriend different types of people, and learn as much as you can about yourself and the world you are a part of.

Plan everything ahead and make lists. Don't be afriad to ask for help and feeling overwhelmed is totally normal. My biggest advice would be to create a support group to help emotionally and academically with the struggles ahead. Keep breathing and keep working, it's worth it.

If I could go back, I would tell my high school self to take advantage of all the campus resources. It took me a few years to figure out that going to the tutoring center, and speaking to counselors helped me advance in school and raise my GPA. They are there to help, and you definitely don't have to do anything alone. Take the help, the advice, and use it to your advantage because this WILL help you succeed. Everything can be done if you set your mind to it.

Never be afraid to ask questions about anything you are unsure of. Even if you feel like it is the silliest question in the world, it may be the same question your peers are thinking about. Do not allow yourself to feel intimidated by your classmates or professors. They are there for the sam reason you are, to achieve their lifelong aspirations. So please seek out help from your professors and teacher's assistants, they are there to help you not confuse you. College is practice for the real world and failing only teaches you to not make the same mistake twice. So do not be afraid to take the time and ask yourself, "Why am I in college?". There is nothing more unsettling than forgetting your goals and how you came to be who you are. It will help reevaluate your ambitions and your motivations for success. Attending the social events and seminars on campus is where you will get a hands on understanding of the major contributions your professors and peers are making to the academic world. Most importantly join a student-run club or organization that will help you unwind and create relationships that last a lifetime.

The high school experience is difficult for every adolescent simply because it is a tug-of-war between finding yourself as an individual and conforming in order to fit in with your peers. During that time you don't know what you want, you haven't experienced enough in your life to understand your purpose, but our expectations from our teachers and parents remain high. I attended Los Altos High School in the heart of the Silicon Valley, an area known for its wealth and successes. My family however lives on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to income and accomplishments. Going to high school every day with kids who had it all was challenging. Looking back at it all I would tell myself that it means absolutley nothing! Materialistic items and striving for perfection is all useless in the long run. High school is a time for you to enjoy your youth. Embrace every moment of it because when you go to college all you will take with you is the memories you made. Be positive and don't let what you don't have bring you down. Appreciate every moment and chance you are given.

The first thing I would talk about is the extreme differences in environments. I grew up in South Los Angeles, near Inglewood. UC Santa Cruz is right in the middle of the forest. It is very different. I would tell myself, "Aneshia, enjoy the silence of the forest. Don't be afraid to explore just because you've lived your whole life in the city." Another thing I would talk about is the work load. The work load at UC Santa Cruz can be overwhelming, especially in the quarter system. I would tell myself sternly, "Don't get cocky! Just because you were an A student in high school doesn't mean exceptional work will come naturally in college. Learn to accept failures, and learn from those failures. What's important is not how many times you fall down, it 's learning how to get up every single time."

What you will get from your experience here at UC Santa Cruz will be exactly what you put into it. Understand that you must be the one to reach out to the professors, that you must be the one to find internships over the summer, and you must be the one to reach out to any of the clubs or campus organizations. The resources are there to excel in any field you wish, but you must be the one to take the time and make the effort to find the resources that are available for you to succeed. And, no matter what, don’t stop believing that you can pass any and all of your classes, don’t ever doubt that you are smart enough to major in engineering, for at times it will be hard, almost unbearably so but you will succeed and accomplish amazing things.

Dear Josh: I know you are pretty exhausted from your intensive high school career at Lowell High School, especially in your junior year, and yet your hard work and altrusim regarding the significant community service you have done as well as the helpfulness to your classmates and youir you8nger brother will serve you well. Before you leave home, let Mom and Dad help you be more independent - it will really help when you are away from them at college. Take on more personal responsibility to obtain healthy food, do your laundry, and keep youirself as organized as you can. Don't forget to take youir Ritalin and Strattera for your ADHD, even on the weekends, because it really helps you stay focused and orgasnized, even if you think you are not as outgoing or funny when you are taking them. Plan to continue the friendships you made at Lowell with those students who are also going to attend UCSC with you. Consider asking Kent to be your roommate, since you won't have any idea of the kind of roommates you get or how well you will get along with them otherwise. Be welll and take good care of yourself!

I would tell myself that I should always trust my gut instinct. If a subject in interesting I need to pursue that to the best of my ability. That I need to make friends with my professors and have a simple chat with them. That as long as you focus and put your mind to it you can fly beyond your expectations. I would tell myself that I need to be myself more to really enjoy my life and that Santa Cruz will allow me to do that. I would tell myself to go talk with other students and make friends. I would tell myself that it is okay to give strangers a smile because you just might make their day and getting a smile in return will make yours.

I would have taken more extra curriculars and been more active in my community. I would have also taken a lot more AP classes. It would have been best for me to not be so stressed out and not have worried so much about school and where I would end up in University. However, I have greatly learned from my mistakes and do not truely regret any of my decisions. I honestly am fine with how things ended up, and how my life has ended up. I love University of California Santa Cruz and would not have chosen any other place.

If i knew than what i now know. Yes this is a question i frequently ask myself. And to be honest the one most important thing i would tell myself is not to be embarresed and dont be shy. Reason being is that you are not the only one with questions. There are more like you with a lot of doubt. Remember no question is a stupid question. Stupid is not to ask and always be lost and not know whats going on. Also dont worry about what your friends are doing or going to do. they are not going to help you pay the bills later, and they are not always going to be there when you need them. To tell you what will be there? Well guess what? Your education will be. There is nothing or no one that can take that away from you.

As a college student now I have learned many things of which I lacked the knowlege to back as a high school student. The information I know now are things I could of easily figured out when I was in high school, but to which I never knew because I didn't want to take the time to ask my counselor how I could start preparing for college. The embarrasment and low self-esteem blocked me from learning and getting informed, and now I regret it because this has now put me in the spot as to where I recieve no financial aid what so ever, when I could of easily over came my emotional feelings of embarrasment and spoke to my counselor. The best advice I would of given myself was that instead of spending time with friends and being embarrased I should have met with my counselor at last once a week to prepare for college, and more than anything to figure out how I was going to cover my financial charges.

Remember when me and mom sat in the back of the classrom and I began to translate for her. Remember how as I spoke people turned their heads with their eyes pointing at us irritated, hearing my voice in the background, but I had to do it. This was a milestone for me, for us; it was the first time mom had taken a day off to come to parent’s night. In the back of my mind I knew mom was being criticized, but I learned English so she wouldn’t fight ignorance and racism by herself. Rrember that night when we returned home I cried thinking of those faces looking at her with disgust; that day I knew I had to do my best in school to prove not the world, but my mother, that I could become a face people would look at with pride not repugnance. Every day stereotypes try to dictate who you are, but you are always ready to overcome anything others bring upon yourself. You were the Hispanic kid less likely to succeed, yet you were the one who proved that people cannot be judged based on how they.

All right, listen up soldier. I mean, senior! The minute you leave for college, your drill sergeants (your parents) will cease to be your commanding officers. Their authority to make you do push-ups or scrub toilets when you get lousy grades will be stripped away. Once you leave home, the external scholastic motivation your sergeants gave you in high school will vanish faster than a stray bullet. This means you’ll have to become your OWN college drill sergeant. I don’t care how much of an academic wimp you think you are. Even kids with featherweight brains can do well in college and reach their educational goals. Just remember these three things: 1) Motivate yourself. Believe that you can reach your goals and then seek out people (like tutors and advisors) who will help you succeed; 2) don’t procrastinate. Bad grades on late assignments are instant enthusiasm killers; and 3) arrange your educational goals in steps, starting with the most attainable ones. You can’t win a war in a day and earning your degree won’t be easy. But it IS possible and it WILL be worth it. So square your shoulders and buck up, soldier!

Dearest (past) Christina: Please, for the love of everything, concentrate. You're in a rough place right now, and I know it's tough to balance everything, but you have to focus on what matters. I love our friends, too, and I haven't forgotten any of them, but if you want that theology degree that we always wanted, you're going to have to escape from the school with good grades! I know we tried so hard, but I think we could have done better. Forget about the teachers and the other students harassing you. Forget about the way that one principal always has to have something to say. Forget the girl in choir who outshines everyone. We could have done this! I'm sorry I can't change you, but I can change me, and right now I'm trying so hard to do right by us, to do right by everybody: so I guess this is a bit useless. But I'm going after that degree—and I have high hopes. I'm on the way. I know we didn't do so well back then, but I wouldn't be here without you. Love, (present) Christina.

My advice would be, "Talk some, and keep some." Not everyone has to know what goes on in your personal life. Be careful who you open up too but you don't have to keep a tough guard up all the time. It's a jungle out there but there are ways to navigate through it. Stay focused on what you came to college to accomplish. It's really easy to get distracted and overwhelmed by everything. You don't have to go to every party or every event on campus. Yes, it's good to get involved but don't bite off more than you can chew. Network with people and make connections! These people don't have to be your best friends but keeping in touch with certain folks can really benefit you in the future. Always try to put your best foot forward and if things start to go wrong, keep pushing on. Don't ever give up or run away. Always stay true to who you are no matter what. Don't pretend to be something you're not. Be yourself and get through it. And remember, your degree is the most important thing. The goal.