University of Central Oklahoma Top Questions

As a student at the beginning of my second semester of college, I do wish I could go back and talk to my high-school-senior self. First and foremost, I would encourage myself to look around more for a university; I have to admit I settled with UCO and there are regrets there. Also, as much as I hated it then, I would emphasize the importance of getting scholarships, and uge myself to do more in that area. Beyond those two items, there is not much else I can say; if I had excelled more there I would be in a different place now. I must admit, this is truly difficult. I was recently not accepted into an internship program I wanted to be a part of very dearly. So in all honestly, I would tell myself what I believe I did wrong when applying and change the outcome. This may not be the "right" answer, but when I take the time to really imagine what I would say, it is that. If I could change anything within the past year, it would be the results of that interview, as they truly broke my heart.

There are two extremes on a college campus. There are the people that sit back and do nothing but study and go to class; they don?t socialize, they don?t go to games, they don?t join clubs or organizations. Then there are the people that do everything but study and go to class; they are the social butterflies, they are at all the games and in all the clubs. I was the latter, however doing so spread me too thin and hurt my GPA in the long run. If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to get involved in clubs and organizations, but not to get too involved. Joining things is definitely a great part of college, but you don?t want to do so at the expense of your grades. To be successful, you need to make a balance between schoolwork and fun. I would tell myself to be neither extreme, but instead be in the middle; enjoying college life and making good grades.

If I could go back in time and reconsider again going to college and choosing a major, I would think about what jobs would be most in demand in the future. Certainly, with the experience that I have now at 26, it is quite obvious that Science related jobs are more in demand than any other cause the business field is quite saturated. If I could make a new start I would probably have chosen a degree in Computer Science or Engineering rahter than Business Administration or Accounting. To land at a good business job, aside from the education, you need to have connections and a good community network so candidates who come from other states or countries have that disadvantage of not knowing as many people as local folks. On the other hand if you are a good programmer or an engineer your skills are more likely to be appreciated by employers cause connections and word of mouth cannot substitute the high technical knowledge that one acquires pursuing such degree. So I would definitely go for a Science degree rather than a Business one. That's of course just my personal point of view.

Going back in time to my high school years knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to take in all the education and skills that I have aquired from the vocational program that I was enrolled in. Back then, I didn't think that college was necessary and a full-time factory job would be just fine to get me through the years. Knowing now that I got pregnant and skipped out on college and worked in a factory, I regret it, and I would most definately tell myself to take the college route when I should have (after high school). Education is important as well as the grades that you acquire. Grades and a college education make your future, not a factory paycheck. Having two kids now and living off of government assistance, I really do regret not taking the advice and lessons that were given to me. Now, 6 years after graduating high school, I am now a college student with two kids and no job, and a husband that drives fifty miles a day to and from work. If I was smart back then, I should have gone to college and kept my grades up.

When I was growing up the value of education was never emphasized. It took me several years coupled with several unfulfilling low paying jobs to understand the importance of a college degree. If I could travel back in time and give myself advice I would say this: College is a must not a choice. It is one of the single most important decisions you will make in life and it is important to obtain a college degree before you do anything else in life. It will afford you options you would not otherwise be afforded. Find a major you're interested in; one that is in demand and specialized. Surround youself with likeminded friends. Make good grades in high school, participate in different school clubs, and volunteer in the community. Take AP courses, and if available take a few college level courses. Visit colleges you are interested in going to and once you graduate from high school either move to a college dorm or join the Greek system. But either way and above all do the full college experience and have fun!

Dear Juanita *May 2006, Wow! Congratulations on your graduation. I know that you are proud, but this is just the beginning of your life. You will soon be headed off to college and I wanted to give a few tips; but before you just shrug off what I have to say, just know that I've been there and I really hope you take my advice. Be sure you have an idea of what you want to do, it'll be less stressful later on if you don't have to keep switching your degree choices. Be careful to budget your spending, I know you'll be living on campus for a couple of years, but keep your mind clear for the future-you'll need some money then. There are always unexpected expenses that spring up at the worst possible times. Study a little every day instead of cramming the night before the test. Not only will you retain more information, it's much less stressful. Stay close to your family, just because they live close, doesn't mean you can't drop by once a week, or call to say hi. Remember these, and you'll do fine.

College is a whole different world comapred to high school. As a senior in high school I would tell myself to fill out every scholarship I can. College is more expensive than I thought it was. Go to all the orientations your freshman year. The more you learn the more comfortable you will feel. Staying on campus is one of the best things you could ever do. You will meet some of your life long friends there, and these are the people that will keep you sane throughout college. Get to know all of your professors. Sit on the front row in class. Be the teachers pet. These all will help you out in the long run. Getting involved on campus is another thing I would mention. Joining different groups and organizations will help you deal with homesickness, meet new people, and get more connected with your school. College can be overwhelming, yes I know. However, it's a great experience you don't want to miss out on. One last thing: STAY FOCUSED!

If I could go back in time to my high school senior self, I would encourage myself to try and pratice new study habits. Since being in college I have had to adjust my study habits, for me each class requires a different way of processing information. Another thing I would tell my self is that change happens and I would just have to go with it; people change and people grow. Also I would tell myself to take each day as it is enjoy it and don't wait to long to try new things.

Life is strange sometimes. You might not find yourself where you thought you would be, but I think you'll find you're happy just the same. Still, know this: There is nothing wrong with taking a semester off if you need it. The time lost that semester will be far less costly than burning out mid-semester. Also, don't get too wrapped up in your studies. Take time to make friends and be with the ones you care about. Finding a healthy balance can be very hard sometimes, but don't stop trying to find it because having it will prove to be invaluable. Lastly, (and this may sound strange) don't be afraid to be selfish sometimes. This is your life, and, while it might not seem like it now, you know what you want from it. Be honest with yourself and others about your wishes. That may mean making uncomfortable changes in your life at times, but when you emerge from those strange times, you'll find that you're a much better person than you probably ever imagined you could be. Stay true to yourself. You're a good person.

If I could go back and talk to myself my senior year about college there would be a long drawn out talk. My younger self probably wouldn't listen, but I would keep talking to him until he understood he needs to do all his homework to get a little higher gpa. Then I would tell him to focus on studying habits and time management skills. I would tell him that paying for college isn't impossible, and if he would just sit down and talk to dad he wouldn't have to join the US Navy. I would then tell him that he needs to join the US Navy because its going to turn him into the man he is going to become and give him an edge when it comes to college. Then some other things I would tell him would be spend more time with Crystal, she turns out being a really cool girl. Don't sell your guitar to buy the girl the dress for prom, she will just leave you two weeks later. Then I would tell him to keep his chin up, because life might be hard right now, but it gets better.