University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Top Questions

If I were able to go back in time and give myself advice, I would remind myself to be smarter with the money that I had recieved from my family members in order to attend college!

As a high school senior graduating from an arts-oriented high school that took individuality, self-motivation and academic success very seriously, I was poised and confident, sure that I knew myself and positive that I could become a part of society and dodge the common phenomonea of being dissuaded by the things one truly wanted to do out of fear. If I could go back and meet my slightly younger self today, I would emphasize that I did not know myself, or the world, as well as I thought. I would say that people could be right, the world could be a nasty place; it could be hard, and unforgiving, terrifying, and difficult, in more ways than I had ever faced before. I would tell myself that I needed to know more, and know it best... to be present, aware, and independent, and to nourish the seeds of those things within me that I knew were already there. I was precocious and a confident dreamer, and the me now would tell the me then to not ever let go of that drive, no matter how complicated things got, because it was exactly the right way to feel.

Make sure that you choose the right college for you. You should definitely take a tour of the campus before deciding on one school. Once you have made your decision you are not done; don't slack off just because you are in college. Keep looking for scholarships that apply to you, there are so many out there, you are sure to get one!!! Also, don't stress about what you want to major, chances are you will switch it a bunch of times. Lastly, just be excited for it! You are starting a new chapter in your life and it can be as good or bad as you decide to make it. If the school you go to doesn't fit, you can always switch. If you enjoy yourself in a safe, fun manner, your GPA will benefit and you will be getting a lot more out of college than just an undergraduate education!

Stay on top of financial aid applicaitons and apply for scholarships! The earlier you start applying the better. Also, the transition into college can be crazy but its so much nicer than high school, the environment is much more mature and there is a higher degree of personal freedom.

The most important thing is finding financial aid, but always keep your mind open. College isn't much different from high school, but the key point is time management. The first thing that you should always do is make a study guild that allows you to get everything done as well as to have a life outside of college. You need a break from school work in order to get the best results out of yourself. Everything starts with organization and priorities.

Listen to your intuition. The teacher's who believed in you in high school, who saw your potential, don't scoff at it, but treasure it. Use the moments of interacting with them when you're sad as a reminder that there are those who know you can do it. Ask yourself when you're in a situation where it's difficult to make a decision, "what would so and so think? would they be proud of me?how would I feel telling them the story of this situation, would I be proud of my decision or embarassed?" Know that you aren't perfect and you don't have to be, but don't ever give up on yourself; you know your teacher's didn't.

I currently am a high school senior as well as attending a 2 year college. Knowing what I know now about college I would tell my younger self to remeber your dreams and not get distracted by other things. As hard as you are going to work it all is paying off and only you can make your dreams come true. No one is going to give them to you, you have to work for them. You will stumble along the way and find dead ends, but always remember why you are doing this. Let your dreams become a reality. The transition is not hard as long as you just be yourself. You will have to make choices that will be some of the hardest in your life at this time but always follow your heart. That is what I would tell my younger self.

I would tell myself to start college classes right away. I'd tell myself to continue with the USMC, and make sure to take every advantage of the education benefits that I would be offered. Some of those offers will only be for a short time, so don't wait too long. I would also advise myself carefully to avoid too much partying and to watch out for boys that would do me more harm than good. I would also tell myself that I have a good sense of people, if I'm uncomfortable listen and get out quickly! My family will always be there for me, so don't be afraid to call on them, asking for help is part of knowing yourself and being an adult. Age is just a number, the way you handle responsibility is the real measure. College life is hard, and it is a lot harder with kids and a husband, so don't rush things! Relax, I would tell myself, don't try to be perfect! You are only young once, just make the best of what you have been given.

Don't worry about making perfect decisions and following your preconceived plan for life. Life never works out as planned. Take things as they come and learn from your mistakes. Don't worry about tomorrow; it will take care of itself. Take advantage of the opportunities that arise, especially unexpected ones that are outside of your comfort zone. You never know what you'll learn, who you'll meet, and how much fun you might have when you try something new.

Out of my college experience I have learned a value to education. I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in ethnic studies. If we were able to get the Ethnic Studies major set up earlier I would be a double-major. From taking my Intro. to Ethnic Studies class a fire lit inside me. I absolutely love Ethnic Studies! Ethnic Studies allows for a unique angle on your application. Hopefully having my minor in Ethnic Studies will help me get a job in the career field. Ethnic Studies demonstrates that you are able to see another groups point of view, from why certain movements took place, black rights movement, chicano/latino movements and are just able to see where different groups are coming from. I am so glad this school has this department because it really opened up my eyes to a whole new set of ideas I would have never been able to be exposed to!