University of Central Arkansas Top Questions

Overall, I loved my high school experience and was fortunate to have a great community and friends. If I were to give myself advice, I would encourage myself to take study and my school work more seriously. Getting to college, I've realized it's much more difficult and you are accountable for your own success. I would work on my studying habits and skills.

The best advice I could possibly give myself back then as a high school senior would be to fill out scholarships now and to stay on top of what is priority. I've learned that keeping up with files and also being diligent has helped me with my college experience and also being proactive with getting things taken care of in a timely manner. Scholarships are very much a huge part of going to college. It helps lighten an already heavy load that the everyday student bares while dealing with exams, projects and papers. Scholarships make it one less thing to worry about while going through college and which has helped me tremendously while I navigate through college life.

Never take what you have for granted. Start early applying for grants and scholarships. Don't procrastinate getting your stuff done. Always pay attention, because what you see in high school, for the most part you will see again in college.

I would tell myself not to listen to the high school counslor so much. My counselor told me I had to wait until my senior year to apply for scholarships. I later discovered that I could have started applying for scholarships when I was thirteeen. I was also given a monthly one and a half sheets worth of scholarships, most of which I didn't qualify for . They were mostly math, science, for males, or for athletes, of which I am none. I felt stupid for listenng to the counelor, but I had trusted her to lead me down the right path. I had gone to the library to try to find a book with a list of scholarships, but I couldn't seem to find anything but books aboout how to apply. During the summertime however, I did find a book with a list of scholarships, but about half of them read,"Must be in high school." I felt awful. I had just missed qualifying for a lot of scholarships. I would tell myself to start applying earlier, and to go out on my own to find scholarships.

I would tell myself to cherish every moment spent in highschool. The best thing about high school is getting to see your friends everyday, friday night lights, and all the late nights you spend cramming for that test. In college, you don't have late nights because nights turn into the next morning really fast. You're not living at home with your parents and eating the food they cook. You have to eat what the cafeteria provides and most of the time it is not good. In highschool, you cannot wait to grow up and move out of the house, but when the time finally comes you will wish you had more time. The final thing I would say is to not rush growing up, live in the now, cherish every moment you can!

I would love to go back and talk to myself as a high school student. I would say that grade point really does matter. Tuck away 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your earnings in a Roth IRA and pay yourself first. Stop dating and do your homework and remember that school work and knowledge is for your future and worth more than anything you can buy at the store or own. Find a job that is more like a hobby that you get paid for because working a job for 40 years totally sucks! Be kind to everyone and give another 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your take home pay away to church or other people that really need it. High school is something you will look back at and remember the fun times you had as a kid and realize how stupid you really were no matter how smart you think you are now. If you think you are fat now, wait a few years, you will always want to get back to your current weight. Hug your mom and dad because they wont live forever and stop and smell the roses because life may be short but the longest thing you will ever do!

If I could go back in time, I would encourage myself to put me first sometimes. It is important to care about and take care of others, but sometimes you just need to take care of yourself. Learn to say no, be observant of your emotions and what your body is telling you. If you neglect your own needs, you can't do your best in school, your relationships, and helping others. Things can fall apart pretty quickly when you don't remember to take care of your emotional and physical needs. It's okay to go to the counseling center. It's even okay to go to more than one counselor if the first does not meet your needs. A lot of my undergraduate students I mentored could have used the same advice, especially the students who were determined to succeed and to achieve their goals. College can be tough, you might be moving away from family, friends, significant others that you usually rely on for emotional support. With help and support from resources in your college whether it be the resident assistants, counselors, or your roommate you can succeed and have a great experience.

I would tell my former high school self to work really hard and take high school seriously. I would tell her not to slack off and do her homework even if she doesn't want to. I would tell her to balance everything out starting now, for example: her work, social and school life. I would tell her to be motiveted about what she is doing and to have a goal in her life. It was once said by Mahatma Gandhi," Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it." I would also tell her to never bring herself down no matter what obstacles come her way and always look towards a brighter future.

The advice I would give to my past high school senior self is to not be afraid or stressed about what will come. The present is what can be taken care of and the future can always change. Always have a way to find food as it is very important after marching band. Remember to make friends and socialize. All these people around you have the same stress you are in. If you socialize more, you can destress and make great memories. Even if you think you have nerdy interests so do other students. This will be your home and you will love it. Remember friends are great and are there for you. Never be scared about what is come. It is okay to make mistakes because they help you learn. Also professors will help you fix your mistakes.

Find a way to move to Austin and go to college there.

Study hard and work hard. But it's alright to socialize and have fun too. It's great to have balance in school and in life. Keep up the good work.

I would tell myself to start looking for scholarships ASAP and find someone who is looking for the same things in life that I am that is willing to help. I would also tell myself to find a group of people to sociate with that are helpful and are serious about achieving their goals and making their dreams a reality. I would tell my senior self to develop better study habits and even encourage myself to sit on the first row in class so I know I am taking quality notes and that I am understanding what the teacher is teaching us. I would also tell myself not to worry as much because college is not so different as high school and my senior self would eventually see why I told him that.

Take the concurent classes. Breathe--you'll make it through. It helps you insanely when you are applying for schools and increases your GPA like you won't believe.

Don't rush the decision, but don't overthink it either. That's the first thing I would tell my senior self. There are hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, and all of them are excellent institutions in their own ways. Find the one that really stands out to you, the one in which you immediately imagine already walking and living on that campus, knowing you truly belong and that it's meant to be. It's okay to be indecisive about the process, and it's okay to change your mind as soon as you arrive on campus, or even in the middle of your college career. The cool thing about colleges is that you never have to worry about finding a place for yourself. Colleges are so diverse and welcoming these days, that it's always possible to march to the own beat of your drum, and people will understand what you're about. When you go to college, it's like having a miniature version of the world at your disposal, in every fathomable way. Take advantage of this every single moment! I guarantee it will be an experience worth the money.

I was such a dummy back then. I didn’t pay close enough attention in class, understand the importantance of a good education, and I didn’t have the desire to finish college. In thinking back as to high school, here are a few words of advice about starting school and finishing. Pay close attention. The basics are what carry you through school. Dig deep down within yourself to find the want and desire to have an education behind you. Your education is the root system of your life; it provides the strength to overcome adversity. You are a true individual when you strive towards your goals and you are no longer just a follower. If I had only realized back then how much my education would have been helpful now, I would have had a much easier time of it now. Being blind to the possibilities that would have been available to me, I am now struggling to complete my goal. I now know if we set our mind to the mission at hand and press forward, we can do anything, and that includes finishing our education at a higher level. Thanks high school self for listening

If I could tell my highschool self anything it would be, do not worry life and school get better. You will have to work harder, but it will be towards a life for your new baby girl and it will all be worth it. I would also like to say that the social life is better in college, there will be no more eating lunch and roaming around alone. Best of all, all of the stress you feel will all go away after you PASS each assignment.

During my freshman year, the typical telephone conversation with my mother progressed in the following format:Me: "Hi, Mom (tears)"Mom: "Have you gotten enough sleep?"According to the National Sleep Foundation, 63{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of college students do not receive enough sleep. Sleep deprivation has been linked to a variety of physical, mental, and emotional health problems including depression, weight gain, irritability, and headaches. Although the amount of sleep needed for every person is different, it has been found that students who sleep 7-8 hours receive higher GPA's, have fewer emotional/mental issues, and have better memory retention.Looking back at the times when I was confronted with a problem and felt anxious or overwhelmed, the best solution was always to go to bed and "sleep on it." The morning always seemed to bring a sense of calm and clarity to the situation, and I was able to rationally evaluate or creatively solve my predicament. If I could give one piece of advice, it is that a good night's rest is priceless.

I would tell myself to get involved in the community more. Find something that interests you and stick with it the entire year. Community service teaches you time management, discipline, goal-setting, and the value of helping others. In high school, I have always been very studious in my academics, taking a bunch of honors and AP classes and graduating with an over-4.0 GPA. But I never knew the great importance of being a well-rounded person when it came to showing yourself off to the college admissions committees. I had the mindset that my relatively high grades would get me into my top-choice univeristy. Establishing yourself as a well-rounded person shouldn't just be about getting into a prestigious university, it should be about finding what you love to do. Get involved in community service, clubs, or sports because you want to, not because it looks fantastic on your college application. Your own initiation, not your thinking solely about whether you will impress an admissions officer, will translate into a passionate story that will be sure to make you stand out in the selection process. So do what you love, and have fun doing it.

Dear Younger me, Your not ready. Listen to the adults around you because you don't know it all. Those who are trying to help you, LET THEM. The friends you think you have are most likely aren't going to be there at the end of your journey. When you start working towards your career they're only going to get in the way. Your so ready to get out the house and be on your own, trust me your only getting your feet wet you still need help getting on your feet before you're able to walk alone. The transition to college is a great experience but dont get caught up in the partylife it will still be there. You think you can handle the night/early mornings when it's time for the a.m. classes you're going to regret it. GO TO CLASS your going to look at those days they give you and your going to hit that limit faster than you think. All that I am saying is that college is the start of a wonderful journey don't mess it up before you even starts. Love, Future You.

"Jacob, you are going to absolutely love college when you get there. You are just a senior right now, but be ready for the best times of your life. " If I could talk to my high school senior self, that is what I would say. Then, I would proceed to tell him, "Now, the transition you make from high school to college is about as big as when the first big step was made on the moon. It is going to be more difficult and challenging to make As and Bs in college courses. So, do not set your standards to above and beyond one hundred percent (bonus) cause that is just not happening in college. " "Oh, and another thing about college, it is seriously expensive. You are going to be told on the night of your graduation that you received $40,000 to attend UCA, but in reality, that was just an estimate. You are really going to be only receiving $10,000 to attend UCA, so be warned. Other than that, college life is so amazing! The faculty you will have are great! The residents and friends are wonderful! You'll get used to it! Good luck!