University of Connecticut Top Questions

I would have let myself enjoy college a little more. If I could I would do it all over again. But I would be more social, be more out there and really enjoy the experience because you only live once.

Don't do things just because they're expected of you. It's really ok to circumvent the traditional paths in order to first figure out what you really want; that way you'll always know what you're working so hard for. To have real friends and positive relationships with the people around you are so, so important, maybe especially while you're learning. Don't go anywhere where you're not happy or do anything that you're not totally happy about. Stand up for yourself and also make sure that other people know that they're accountable, make sure they know that you're grateful for what they do to help you and that they're able to hurt you when they make mistakes. Reach out if you can. Put yourself around people you can respect, people who act like what they say and do matter, and people who hold you accountable for your words and actions. Learning is best when you're learning what you're interested in, and when you're in an environment with people like this; because in the end, the real learning happens only when you have the motivation to teach yourself.

Honestly, my main advice would be to apply for scholarships in high school! I'm having a very tough time finding good resources, whereas in high school they basically fed it to you. You take for granted the fact that half the teachers know you well enough to write a recommendation, at minimum know your name. My transition was a bit different because I decided to take a year off in between to travel and work full time. Being independent and working as an office temp really gave me a taste of the adult world. In a sense it sent me into the future a couple of years and made me realize how low the ceiling could be if I don't apply myself and do well. (Great decision!) Talking to my senior self I would reassure myself that college is not like high school. The people are different as well as the relationship you have with them and that Uconn is far enough away. I would also suggest getting a job (I had time) and being WAY more careful with money. I may suggest moving in with Tara and throw in a lotto ticket for the hell of it.

I would tell myself not to worry so much about social life. IN the long run it is not important. Don't worry about not having a million friends and going to parties. That life is not for everyone. Don't feel like an outcast or a loser if you'd rather not drink or party like all your friends are doing. Learn time management! Do not put your work off until the last minute. It will catch up with you and become overwhelming. Do not be ashamed or embarassed to go to tutors for help. Ask questions. Find other students who would like to form study groups. Sometimes it is more helpful when one of your peers can explain something to you rather than a teacher or professor. Try to get involved in campus activities, clubs and sports. It is a fun and esay way to make friends. Overall, blanace is most important. You have to create a balance between school work, friends, fun and sleep

Some advice that I would give myself is to look at all of my opportunities before making decisions that may not be the best for my future. I would also tell my self to start searching for scholarships early, therefore you have a better chance of submitting them before the deadline. I would tell myself to stay on top of my college applications and really research schools before applying to them. I would want to research the particular programs that I am interested in to know if the school is really right for me. I would also research lower priced schools so that I would be in less debt when I graduate. I would go about looking for schools differently then I did at first. Instead of looking at schools with prestige, I would look at certain programs and prices because that is really what is most important to me, a good education.

Try and pick classes that you really enjoy, there is no point to sitting through a lecture and not paying attention the whole time, its a waste of time and money. Make sure that you go to class, it helps you absorb the information, even if most of the notes are online. If you have any kind of choice make sure you get a roomate that you will get along with, roomates make all of the difference in how happy you are your first year.

As an experienced second year college student, there's a lot of things I wish I could tell my high school self. I'd tell myself to get used to studying more than a few hours the night before a test, or all of that petty drama isn't worth my time, or that being seen with my mother in the grocery store isn't the fatally embarassing. But most importantly, I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to get ready to ADJUST. The number one thing I had trouble getting used to, (along with many other college freshmen), was suddenly finding myself being a completely new indivual. My family, my friends, my four-year routine, was all a safety net that was cut the instant I was left by my family in my dorm room. Every day I was filled with choices, silly things like, what and when to eat, and serious things like taking notes instead of doodling in class. That life changing adjustment, which came as a stressful shock during my first semester of college, would have been a lot more bearable if only I had known of the interesting road ahead.

Looking back on my life as a high school senior, after attending college for one and a half years, I would have plenty of words of wisdom to give myself in order to better prepare myself for the college experience. I would tell myself, first and foremost, to prepare myself for change. In the course of my 2 and a half semesters at the University of Connecticut, I have found that life is much different from what it was in high school. Alcohol and drug use is much more prevalent in college than it is in high school. Also, classes are more challenging, requiring several hours of studying every night. However, while things may change, I would also tell my high school self that there's no reason to be afraid. College has been a wonderful and exciting experience for me. The challenging and interesting classes, coupled with the competent and helpful teaching staff, makes college academics both enjoyable and educational. The social aspect of college, although somewhat different from my high school days, is fun and serves to stimulate my interpersonal skills. Plus most colleges provide plenty of alternatives to drinking so students can enjoy themselves above the influence.

To my somewhat naive but well intending 17 year old self: I know you're kind of scared and you don't want to move on. You're afraid of changes and pretty content to stay nice and high up in the pecking order at Stamford High School. You like having lots of friends, knowing all your teachers and easily navigating around the 6+ floors. Well stop dragging your heels already!! Nothing you do can change the fact that time passes by, and you're ready and more than capable of moving on to 'bigger and better things'. Get your act together! Do more research, apply to more scholarships (if you're gonna face the inevitable, might as well do it with more cash in your pocket!). Don't treat UConn like your only choice and death sentence. Don't be so caught up in the past, and for God's sake don't give so much to your boyfriend back at home by making that hour and a half commute every weekend. - Your future and only slightly wiser self, Jessica P.S. Don't be so nervous about college academics, we have a 3.9 GPA now!!!!

I would advise myself to not think that college will not be as easy as high school was. I need to do a lot of work to keep my grades up and always pay attention in class and not slack off. I would also advise myself to talk to other students to find out about my professors and see if they have heard anything good or bad about them. This advise would have made my transition easier, however, I did not find the transition that bad.