University of Colorado Colorado Springs Top Questions

Out of my college experience I have obtained responsibilities, friendships, and advanced knowledge that I otherwise would not have received. I feel I have "grown up" and now am excited to begin the rest of my life. Without school, I am not sure if I would have ever felt I've accomplished anything and probably would have remained miserable.

I believe that without college, I would not be developing necessary life skills that will make me grow as an individual as well as a leader. Participating with Phi Theta Kappa and other student groups broadens my horizons of many different people, backgrounds, and experiences. Not only does attending college build on what was started in my high school education, but it creates a sturdy foundation for me entering the workforce. I will be trained with many abilities that include technology, foreign language, and health information. By attending college and gaining a degree, I have a trade that will make me a functioning, useful member of society. There is no way I would be able to be well-rounded in life without my college experience. My communication skills are more developed, my thoughts are not as narrow as when I was simply fresh out of high school, and I have learned invaluable leadership skills that allow me to be a more competent team player. If I had to make the choice of attending college or starting in the workforce immediately, I would still choose college without hesitation.

Out of my college experience I have received the skills and education to help me pursue the career of my dreams. I have gained knowledge to reach my goals and understand my life at a different level. I have a dream to become a Radiologic Technologists and going to school has helped me to get to where I am today and happy with what I am accomplishing. School has not been easy so far and I find that good, I like a challenge in life, things have never been handed to me so I enjoy working for what I am obtaining in life.

My cumulative college experience has taught me the importance of completion and that there are consequences for your actions. My first two years of college, I did not take it very seriously. That has made my return to school that much more difficult through suspension, not just from school, but also my financial aid. I am now more driven than ever to complete my education and fully understand that not taking my responsibilities as a student seriously could permanently prohibit me from finishing. I am currently unemployed and have more bills than just a part-time job can pay. Without a college education, finding employment that will fund my existence will be very difficult. A college education is essentially priceless in that regard. To secure my future and make my life better not just for myself, but for a possible family. I cannot begin to place an amount on that.

College has given me confidence. In high school I did not do so well, I got mostly B's and A's were very rare. I had no motivation. I always told people I did not even want to go to college, that it was not for me. Now, not only did I decide to go to college but I picked a major that I completely love, Communications. and I have decided to graduate early! I have only been here for one semester but I have already proven that I can do well in school. I earned good grades last semester and got a GPA of 3.52. I realized that the only reason I did not want to go to college was because I did not think I would do well. Now I see that I can do anything as long as I put in a lot of effort. I have evolved into someone who enjoys going to class and enjoys learning. I owe all of this change to my decision to go to college, and my determination to do well.

I would say, "Relax. If you take things one day at a time and work steadily instead of procrastinating you can succeed without stressing out. Find good friends to study with so that studying can be fun instead of just work. Also, talk to older students to find out which teachers have the best teaching method, are the most fair graders, and are helping and kind. Look for a school that you fall in love with and connect with people whenever you get a chance. If you don't make an effort to make friends, you won't. College can be fun and will be fun. Don't worry about your whole life right now. One day at a time, one exam at a time, one semester at a time. You are responsible for your own success and it's not as overwhelming as it seems right now."

I would tell myself that college is important and to go right after you graduate. I would tell myself to make excellent grades because they will help you get into a good school and get scholarships. I would say you want to be a nurse.... so that it doesn't take me 8 years to figure out what I want to do.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would definitely tell myself to do several things different in making the transition to college life. First, I would tell myself to look at schools based more on academics and college life rather than solely on softball. I would tell myself to not even play softball in college and to instead have a job because money will be more of an issue than I thought. I would make sure I saved as much money as possible and apply for scholarships like crazy. I am not a fan of cold weather at all, and so I would be realistic and look at schools in warmer states. I would stay closer with certain friends but not worry about the ones who don't show care for me.

If I could go back and give my "high school" self advice, i would say two words, focus and develop. During high school, like so many others, all I wanted to do was make it to graduation day. I never understood that high school was actually my orientation to the beginning of my life. I always thought that it was too early to think about what I wanted to do when I grew up and that I had plenty of time to decide once I went to college. What I did not realize was that my senior year was the time for me to decide these things and my opportunity to prepare myself to take on these challenges. Instead of going on senior skip day to the beach, I should have gone and sat in a college lecture to get an understanding of what I would be experiencing for the next 4 years. Had I done so, I would have be able to develop the study habits and focus required to be successful in college courses. By doing this, I strongly believe that I would have had an easier transition to college life during my first year in school.

Focus more on your grades from the beginning of school, it's harder to dig yourself out of an academic rut. Find time to relax and enjoy the things you love to do. Don't forget who you are in the process, or where you came from.

If I could go back in time and be a high school senior again, I would like to give myself the advice of learn all that you can. Learn how to manage your own bank account and to pay for everything on your own. I would say to learn how to take out loans and how to just live on your own in a way. Be more prepared to live by yourself with out the help of your parents. I would advice starting to pull away from my parents sooner and trying to figure out what the real world is like.

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, it would be to try harder in high school. I would tell myself to work hard in class to try to earn some scholarships to help pay the expenses of university. I would also tell myself to take Advanced Placement classes more seriously, and to take more of them. This is because they can greatly reduce the number of courses one needs to take at a university, and, consequently, will reduce the amount one needs to pay to a college in the long run. I would also tell meyself to get more involved in the clubs and teams offered in high school so that I could get a better feel for what I want to do after I graduate.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have many things to say. I would tell myself to continue to stay focused and study hard for every class. Classes will continue to get harder as I move forward through my schooling. The one thing I would stress to myself is that I should not stress out so much about every exam. Exams are always easier than you expect when you are fully prepared. I always study hard for exams and I make sure I am prepared for every possible question. My only problem is that I stress out even when I know I'm ready. Telling my high school self about this secret would relieve much stress in my final year of high school and my first year of college. Also, I would tell myself that the transiton to college is very simple. College is just like a big high school campus where you have a lot more freedom to do what you wish. In college, you are not concealed in a building until a certain time everyday. Overall, going back in time would help better my college years in many ways.

Manage your time well! This is the most essential part of the college life, and learning how to balance studying and friendships is essential to survival. You need to learn how much to study and what quality of studying you should do. Don?t simply study your notes, memorize everything, and then throw it up on the test. Make sure you?re actually learning the material, and remember what you learned. Don?t take anything for granted, and don?t ever assume that you already know everything. Be willing to expand your horizons, and always be open to learning more about a subject you already understand. Make sure you leave enough time to go out with friends, and never devote too much time to studying. Trust me, you will drive yourself insane if you don?t leave the house and enjoy yourself at least twice a week. Being with other people and having fun are the only ways in which you?ll be able to survive the collegiate life. Don?t ever be afraid to express your opinion, talk to people, or make a friendly gesture. If you do all these things, you'll be extraordinarily happy in college.

"You've worked so hard - don't slack off now." Yes, you've made it through the first three years of high school with your student record fairly untarnished, extracurriculars in place, and a GPA slightly higher than expected. Don't get complacent now that you have made it this far! Keep yourself in gear, at your academic fighting weight. Regardless of what you'll hear about "senioritis" and how "colleges don't even bother looking at your senior grades," you must stay focused and on target. Colleges DO check. I watched several friends lose their scholarships before they'd even finished high school. Don't let that happen to you!

I would go back and advise myself to not go away from home to a university right away. Going to a community college for the first year or two would have been a much better choice. I would also tell myself to get a list of available majors from my college and do my own research about each and every one listed, instead of choosing my major based on just my academic advisor's advice and information. I would tell myself to get a thicker mattress pad for my dormroom bed and to always have some breakfast foods available in my dorm, since breakfast ends before most college students are even awake. I would tell myself to never, ever buy textbooks from the campus bookstore without doing research about prices elsewhere. I would advise myself to ignore my academic adviser's suggestion to take 18 credit hours during the second semester of my freshman year, and to take more time instead to learn how to balance a course load with having friends and relationships.

Laura, Right now it's your senior year at Doherty, and you are having fun with friends, family, and a boyfriend. You've started to think about colleges and decided on UCCS. I know that you think UCCS is the safest bet for you because you can stay in Colorado Springs and live comfortably at home. But I want to stress to you that you do not have to be afraid of what comes next in life. You are about to limit yourself to living at home and cursing yourself to a boring freshman year of college. You are making a big mistake! Don't be afraid to make the leap to an out-of-town school! You will be so much happier if you consider all your options and don't limit yourself to what you think you are capable of. You are capable of so much more than you know, and you will make friends quickly. Don't worry about missing your family, you will see them often. Get rid of your fears, and you will be so much happier. Take some risks! Be proactive! It will pay off big in the end.

The advice I would give myself, if I went back in time, would be to work more on my studying skills. More specifically, studying math and physics in more detail. Granted, I didn't know at the time I was going to be a Physics major, but that's why you go back in time! At any rate, I would also have to tell my younger self, "self, you need to balance your schedule better. Otherwise you will fall into an internal pit of darkness." I truly believe these lessons could have made my transition much easier then it is for me today. However, this is my present, my past, and my future.

As a senior I developed a horribly debilitating disease known as "senior-itis." This common and unyielding disease has been known to cause lack of motivation, laziness, and short cut taking. I lost focus on my goals, and began to slack off in my classes, assuming I was home free. If I could travel back to that time and talk to myself I would give myself the only known antidote to "senior-itis," 300cc's of a reality check. I would inform me that I would not finish a 4-year degree, only a 2 year at a Community College, and that I would be working full time in retail. I would force myself to focus on my classes, look into majors that interest me, apply for scholarships, and use the many tools available to benefit myself to the fullest degree possible. I would advise against excessive social outings, and stress the importance of finishing strong as if I were running a race. I had great potential and have not lived up to it so far, I have anew outlook on life, new goals, and new determinations today, all of which would have benefited me greatly in the past.

If I were to go back in time and give myself advise about school, I would tell myself not to wait so long. Take your future into your own hands and keep your motivation high. School gets more exciting from here on. And there?s nowhere to go other then up from here. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Education is the golden tool to becoming a successful adult in life. Don?t waste this opportunity to build your future to unbelievable heights. Continuing your education from here should be your main goal. Now is the time to focus on the field of work you are most interested in. Take charge of where you want to go, don't give these years to anything other then your education. I promise you will not regret this.