University of Central Florida Top Questions

Work hard, don't settle for a B when you can work a little harder and get the A it will be worth it your senior year. Go out but study and don't take no for answer, be nice to everyone :)

Looking back to my senior year, I would give myself one piece of advice that if I knew this previously, I would most likely be living a completely different lifestyle. I was an avid dancer for my high school and had plans to become part of the dance team for UCF. Unfortunately, during a performance, my senior year in January, I was begged to do a dance move that I knew was dangerous, but I did what my captain told me and as a result I completely detached my hamstring. I went through a long surgery that left me in a brace and out of school for eight weeks. Once I returned to school, I realized my friends had moved on without me and I was left with a haunting nine inch scar to remind me of the horrific event. I still to this day cannot participate in sports or any physical activities without caution. I started doing things for myself and not just others, I have set a goal to condition slowly and climb the rock wall at my schools gym before I graduate. This leaves me the advice to my younger self, do what is best for you.

I would tell myself to go to a college that i think would best fit what i want to do in life and one that gives me the best oppurtunity to succeed. I would practice more on organizing my time because college life is much more hectic than high school life.

If I had the ability to go back in time I would tell myself two different types of advice. The first would be to decide my major early so I can take High School classes that my help with my ideal major. I would have taken AP Art History if I had know i would have to take History of Western Art I and II. I could have just simply passed the AP exam and saved money on those classes. The second thing I would tell myself would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible. I realize now that I do not want student loans but do not have enough money to pay for tuition. So when I do finish college I will have to use my beginning paychecks to pay back loans.

If I could go back into time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would give myself the advice to apply for more scholarships and check online for scholarship opportunities more frequently. I would tell myself to get to know each of the guidance counselors on a more personal basis, to take even more higher level courses such as honors, dual enrollment and AP classes, be more involved in clubs and other organizations such as NHS and SGA. I would mostly tell myself to get used to studying more and taking the time to write accurate notes to avoid last minute cramming. Last but not least, I would advise myself to start working and saving earlier. That way, I would be able to have money set aside for emergency use instead of depending on family at times. I have noticed that each of these changes would have made me much more prepared for college and made my first year of college experience much easier.

If I had the ability to go back in time, I would talk to myslef as a high school senior and tell myself to spend a little bit more time analyzing my skills and abilities and really trying to find out what my interest for a career would be. I happened to go for one major and then ended up switching. This tends to really waste your time in college due to the fact that you are taking courses you may not need. I really wished I did more researching and analyzing what major was of most interest to me or what career I wanted to pursue from the beginning.

Take the time to find out how and why things happen. Spend time in a counselor's or teacher's office asking questions about everything. I could have saved a lot of time and money by just finding out the "tricks of the trade" on financial aid, utilizing my advisor and campus resources. GET INVOLVED! You will make friends and connections of a lifetime and the fastest and best way to do that is getting involved in clubs, organizations and events that you enjoy. Make mistakes but learn from them! Question why things happen and don't just accept the status quo. You're going to love college.

I would tell myself to buckle down! I somewhat floated through high school only doing what was required. I would encourage the younger me to put more into my academics, and develop better study habits. I feel lthat if I would have done these things in high school, the transition to college would have been a lot easier. Since coming to UCF I have learned these things, and although it was hard to adapt, develop good study habits and focus , I did it because I have goals. I realized that if you dont help yourself no one else can help you either. You must get YOURSELF to where YOU want to be, no ifs, ands or buts! I would t

After attending two community colleges, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would emphasize to myself as a high school senior the importance of applying for as many scholarships and grants as possible. I completed my AA degree and never received any extra money to attend school because I did not take the time out to apply. In high school if i would have done that, it would have made it much easier to put myself through school. Another tip I would give myself in high school, would be to continue playing travel sports so that I would have a better chance of being noticed by a university. I played travel softball for a couple of years, and after that I played only for my school. If I would have continued playing on a travel team, it would have given me more opportunities to get noticed by a college coach, which in turn would allow me to play softball at a four year university, possibly with a full scholarship.

Life as a high school student was all but carefree till the time came to choose a college. I applied to both UCF and Rollins College. Rollins was my dream college since I was in middle school passing by the old buildings and rowing on Lake Maitland for the annual Metro Cup. I was all but awestruck by the price of such a school and the lack of rowing scholarships. So if I could go back and tell myself what I know now, I would have focused on my attendance at UCF and forget my lofty endeavor at Rollins. I have truly made a home here at UCF. I would tell myself to continue my pursuit in rowing and to love football even if our school does not always win. To be more of the community here, I would tell myself to visit the gym more often and to sign up for trips with the outdoor adventure. As for academics I would show myself the secret study spot I have acquired and to remain an ever present shadow in the Student Academic Resource Center. In the end life would be easier if I had known then what I know now.

As a high school senior, I was very excited to finish school and more to the next level, however there are a few things I could have done to prepare better myself. First, I would have definitely told myself to save the money I made at my job in high school, rather than spending it on frivolous items. When I came into school the only money I had for each semester was the financial aid I received until I was able to get a job in my second year of college, and living was very difficult. Along with saving money, I would say study harder and pay more attention in SAT prep courses. If I had obtained a higher score I would have been able to have better scholarships and possibly be in the honors program. In addition, I would have applied for more scholarship opportunites that are available to graduating seniors because I was skeptical and did not apply to as many as I could have.

I believe the most important information to relay to the younger me, is that you may never be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} prepared for college. Realistically speaking, you have now become an adult and are expected to act as such. College comes with many responsibilities and I feel that is the area where any student might be ill prepared. In college, teachers don't always stay on top of you for your assignments; the counselor is not going to call you to their office if they see your grades have slipped; your GPA means EVERYTHING and can easily be affected by one bad semester. Another thing that you will never be prepared for is the tragedies and difficulties that come along during your college career, such as the death in your family, the hard break up, the bad friendships, the lost jobs and you must walk yourself through it all. But there are many resources available to assist you and allow you to become the best student you can be. Afterall, your main goal is to walk across the stage at commencement and receive that degree that will open numerous doors and windows of opportunites for you. Now, let's go!

If i could go back and talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would definitely say to stay on track and stay focused on what you are trying to accomplish. College is a completely different experience from highschool and there are a lot of distractions that may come from every direction but you need to show up on time and be prepared to work. Do not wait until the last minute to try and finish or even start on assignments/ projects because in the end you won't be happy with yourself or the grade you receive. Get in involved with school events and programs, these things will help you in the future and expose you to a lot of new and exciting experiments. Always make sure you have an academic advisor so that you know what classes you are supposed to take and so that you are headed in the right direction for your intended degree.

Form better study habits, enjoy the easy workload while it lasts, and live it up before real life hits you.

You need to find a roommate matching service. It is quick and easy. I know you think that you aren't picky and can deal with anyone. Heck, you'll be out until 3 AM anyway, right? Well, I hate to tell you this but a number of my friends and myself felt the same way last year. However, another number of my friends took the initiative and found compatible roommates prior to leasing. I will have you know that those who found roommates using a matching service are far happier. After all, these are the people you will share your home with for at least the next year sometimes two. Don't worry. There are several options for finding well suited roommates who may well become life-long friends. I know at UCF there are Facebook groups devoted to the subject. What could be more convenient than that? A number of schools I looked at had matching services of their own. Whatever the case may be, this is a quick and simple process that will save you from a long and miserable freshman year.

I would like to tell myself that I need to slow down and take every day as it comes. I came into college knowing that I was no longer living with my parents and that I was now an adult to act as I pleased. I would like to have told myself that the famous quote, "The world is yours," may not have been the best motto to live by. I quickly learned that I was not gifted with superman powers and in fact, I could not bear the weight of the world on my shoulders. I signed up for everything that I was given and overloaded my schedule with clubs and programs that I had no time to do. I quickly learned the hard way that my eccentric personality of "do it all" was alittle too much. I have cut back on the extra curricular activities and begun to look into clubs and programs that peak my interest. In the end, I honestly wouldn't want to change my experience in college but I would say this "Wake up every morning and be thankful for the oppertunities you are given."

If I could go back I would definetly have started out at university and not a community college. I would tell myself to join a sorority and possibily live in a dorm for one semester. I would have definetly thought of the idea of leaving Florida and studied outside of the state. I would have worked less and partied more. I would have told myself to go out and meet new people and make new groups of friends. Im definetly not saying that I regret my first year of college but after going through three years there is alot of stuff I wish I would have done. You only live once so live it up the first time around.

Michelle? This is Michelle. I would like to tell you some things that I know now that I didn't know then. Please study harder for that SAT. You know it was a hard test and you studied, but you should have studied more! You almost forgot your calculator, for heavens sake! Oh, Michelle, be more serious about your future when career day comes to school. You didn't think about it much and it may have been easier to choose a career path if you had only thought about it. You could have taken more honors classes. You had the smarts to do so, but you chose the easy way out in a few subjects. You know you can do it.

Perserverance is golden. When the times seem hard, work harder.

It?s been 10 years since I graduated. However I would sit across a desk and look at an eager, enthusiastic Luisa, so ready to start her life. I would advise her to calm down, to take things one day at the time. I would help her understand that decisions aren?t always final and even after making a few mistakes, those mistakes help us grow and see things through a different glass. I would also tell her to never stop trying. To keep dreaming regardless of the adversities. To pursue her dreams even if they seem distant and unreachable. But most importantly I would tell her to be strong. That when things don?t turn out as planned or follow the traditional path it?s never too late to accomplish her dreams even if they change and take on a different form along the way. But I know for a fact Luisa, passionate and inpatient, jumped into her life and made a lot of mistakes. Except she eventually was able to look back, come to her senses and realize her advisor was right, she was worth another chance. Education is the key of all dreams truly worth pursuing.