University of California-Santa Cruz Top Questions

I don't know if I would tell myself to do it any different. I took a year off between high school and college. I decided to go to community college to save money and get my general education credits out of the way. I worked hard and earned top marks and was very invovled at my community college, I was even president of our honor society! I do remember the first 2 months of school, I was going home every weekend, which was crazy now that I think about it because I lived 2 hours away. If I were to give myself any advice, I would have tod myself not to go home every weekend and to stay on campus. I missed out on crazy adventures with my friends. I would tell myself to not take things to seriously. I focused so much on school and grades and the organizations I was invovled that I forgot to enjoy my time at Ellsworth and really take in the moment. Like Ferris Bueler said "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I was a very different person in my senior year of high school compared to myself today. My biggest fear before moving for my freshman year was associated with my girlfriend from my senior year of high school; I thought losing this girl was the end of the world, and it really destroyed my self esteem. I had trouble opening myself up to others and had no luck initially meeting friends or expressing interest in other girls. If I had the chance to go back I would tell myself to realize that high school relationships are not supposed to last for the rest of one's life. Throughout the last year I have matured exponentially and I am a very different person and I am glad to be seperated from all of the call backs to my old life, including my ex-girlfriend. The biggest adjustment I wish I realized about college is that all of the previous decisions and actions I've done don't come back to haunt me. College is the time to learn from the past, see the decisions I've made and decide to not make the same poor decisons again.

College is a time to grow. It is ok to have fun but you must remember why you are there and that is for your education. The first year will probably be the hardest since you do not know what to expect. So for your first year, set a good foundation. Make sure to prioritize your time, but also schedule some time for yourself or else you will get burnt out. College is not that difficult. Talk to your professors. They are understanding and will help you. Do not be afraid. Go into their office hours and talk to them about your homework or quiz grade or even just to say hi. They can write you letters of recommendation for jobs, internships, or graduate school. Let them be your mentors and check in often so they can see you grow throughtout the years. You should also create study groups and surroud yourself with encouraging friends who help you succeed.

Now that I have experienced the college life and how everything works, if I could go back in time I would have pushed my self even further than I had. I was taking only two ap classes per year since my juinor year. Understanding the workload from college and everything that was required my first year. I would have taken six AP classes every year becuase the little work given wasn't nearly enough to prepare oneself for the new and much more difficult college life. Studying in high school was an understatement hardly any was ever needed, however when it came to college it became a mandatory habit I was forced to learn. In high school I would of practice studying for everything at least two to three hours per class so that when I did get into college I would have already had the necessary skills to ready myself for college. These were the two main things I would have advised my past self to do so that I would be much more prepared for the future.

Spend more time researching the different colleges at UC Santa Cruz, and know that Merrill college is not one of the adequate ones you are looking for. There are a multitude of other colleges that offer an infinitely more interesting experience than what Merrill has to offer. The location is stiff as the location is inconvenient. Even as you have heard this advice before, apply to scholarships, there is nothing more worse than taking money form your mother and having nothing to give back. Focus on what you have left of your schooling and pay atttention to what's available. College life is a tough transition, not because of the time spent away from home, but because of the dynamism of people who go to college. Do not expect the people whom you knew in high school to be the same going to college, do not change yourself to fit that dynamism if it is not your own, otherwise you will end up hurt and regretful. No matter what, remember Conan O'Brien's words to be kind and work hard.

I would start college much sooner.

Dearest Jesy, I wish you would open this letter during Mr. Zeoli's AP English class. I know you really enjoy that class and to tell you the truth college will be much like that class--but better. Remember that quote from the movie An Education that really spoke to you back then? I'll remind you in case you can't recall which one I'm talking about: "I'm going to read what I want, and listen to what I want, and I'm going to look at paintings and watch French films, and I'm gonna talk to people who know lots about lots". Well, I can assure you attending a university is really like that! This also means you might have a little bit too much freedom, but I know you will maintain to be as organized and responsible as you are now, always carrying that little black agenda of yours with all your to-do lists and goals. College, however, can seem intimidating, frustrating, and terrifying at times, but I assure you, for someone like you who loves learning, this is the ideal place for you.

When I was in high school I was scared about what was going to happen to me in my future. I did not have money to go to college, and I applied to just a community college. If I was to meet my youngerself I would say to relax and just do your best. Go to the community college finish all you general classes there so when you go to a four year college you only have to pay for the things you want to learn and nothing else. Even if you love music and do not know how music is going to get you any kind of income, just think about the other things you like, for example languages. In high school you started taking French and Italian, so apply that to your back-up plan, may be you can even combine both. Always tray your best, have good grades and try not to stress over the little things.

Ian, It's me. Well, it's you... but you know what I mean. Listen up. Community College isn't going to be exactly what you expected. In some ways the classes will be easier than High School -- at least you're going to enjoy them more -- but at the same time there will be different kinds of challenges. But that's not what I'm here to say. College is about more than education. Actually, I'm not even sure college is at all about education anymore. It's about so much more than that. It's about socializing. Not with friends (though you'll have those too) but with peers. With collegues. You're going to practically run this place when you're through. You get an internship under the head of the IT Department and the semester after that he hires you. He likes your work ethic and thinks you're brilliant. You'll be accepted onto a faculty-run committee and be in charge of real decisions. You'll experience the life of an adult for the first time. And really, that's what college is about. So be ready for it. Because it's coming.

After spending almost two years at the University of California Santa Cruz, I have learned that it is very important to stay focused and make time for your studies. In saying this, it is also important to separate your social life from your academic life. From all my experiences thus far, I would advise my high school self to be patient and self-disciplined. I have conitnuously thought to myself that if I worked just a little bit harder my last two years of high school, then I would have more options on where i could attend college. In college, self-discipline is the key to success; it takes self-discipline to go to the library and study, it takes self-discipline to stay in on a Saturday night and study, and it takes self discipline to get up and go to an early 8 am class. High school should have prepared me for college, and it did academically, but not mentally. In high school I was so dependent on my parents and in college I had to instantly become independent and self-disciplined. If I had been more self-disciplined then i would be more successful.