University of Denver Top Questions

Dearest My Somewhat Naïve High School Senior Self, I appreciate how hard you worked through high school, obtaining a 3.9 GPA. Equally impressive was the leadership you took on from Day 1, freshman year. Researching colleges the way you did, preparing for the standardized tests. Good job! Here are a few things that if we could relive high school, we would both benefit from. •Learn how to function on very little sleep! •Don’t expect to get straight A’s in college – it’s a lot harder! •Learn to wake up by an alarm. Mom is nicer but she won’t be there. •Enjoy Mom’s cooking while you have it because dorm food just doesn’t taste as good. •Definitely don’t worry about taking all of your clothes because there just isn’t room in those tiny dorm closets. •Keep up the good study habits! •All the work you are putting into AP Language & Composition will pay off because there are a lot of papers to write in college! •Have some fun and don’t worry about getting into the most selective college in the country. Life is for living too.

Make a list of what you wish you could see happen in your lifetime, whether or not you believe it is possible. Then make a list of what you think you can contribute toward making those wishes come true. A good college education will be the bridge between those two lists. All you have to do is push yourself, and seek out the schools and the teachers who will push you when you think you have reached your limit.

If I were somehow able to defy the limits of space-time and appear to my high school self, because of my younger counterpart’s probable state of shock, I’d boil my advice down to three simple points. Firstly: get close and personal with the public transportation system. As a commuter student, I’ve squandered away countless nightmarish hours in traffic when I could have been kicking back and doing—tht's right—homework on the bus or the train. Second, I’d tell myself to get out of my own head and just talk to people. My freshman year I was so involved trying to be the best that I kept my head down when I could have been meeting a multitude of wonderful people. I’d also tell myself to get involved on campus. Now, I’m not really a “club person.” I joined class council freshman year and didn’t have too spectacular of a time. So “get involved” by starting your own club, nay, a society! I’m in the midst of making an art society that makes collaborative public works for campus. I only wish that I had started this venture two years sooner.

If I could go back and give advice to my high school self, I would tell myself to not be afraid of anything! College is a great time to try new things and meet new people. While these things can be scary and intimidating, they also provide chances to grow as a person. When I first arrived at college, I was understandably scared and nervous, but now that I have had great experiences trying new things and meeting new people, I wish I had done them sooner!

If I had the chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior what wouln't I tell myself. The first things would be to not put off from going to college 3 years. To go right out of high school. Not to put it of for later because to get in the habit of doing homework and studying for test is hard. That's is something that Im having trouble of doing. I was so used to just working part time and going ou with friends. Now that Im back in school I have to sacrafice not going as much cause I have homework or study for test. Woking and attending college is very stressful. So I definately would tell myself to go straight out of high school. Becasue you would be done with everything faster and the benefits of having a well paying and stable job will be worth it. Another thing would be to attend class! Missing class to much can reflex badlly on your grade. You can miss so much information that later on you can find on a mid-term or final! That's what I tell myself.

The strongest will is nothing beside the companionship of others. The will must be tempered with the lives of others. Never forget the lives are worth the price of time and treasure.

I would tell myself that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. I never thought I would be able to attend a private college, and it took me years to pursue the education I always wanted. I think when you first finish high school, there is so much anxiety and fear to apply to where you really want to go. It is why after high school, I attend a community college first, and then a local public univeristy afterwards. I was afraid of applying somewhere and getting rejected. As long as you tried hard in school and try to make a difference in this world. Even people you never met, the committee accepting your application for college will believe in you just as much as you believe in yourself.

Study harder, you moron! I mean, really. Why did you let yourself slack off so much? Just because it was your senior year and you thought it would be a piece of cake to just skate by and get by on your "good looks" now you have to study harder in college and now you tend to quit when things get tough. You never applied yourself so now you pay for it by stuggling to write an essay and not knowing how to manage your time so you are not stretched thin. I pay for it now and I wish you had realized that a few years of hard work is nothing if it means a better life in the future. And quit eating all that junk food because now I have to struggle to keep the weight off after losing it because you loved potato chips and Twinkies! Geez. A little self love wouldn't hurt! And stop taking everything so seriously. Life is short. Lighten up and learn to enjoy yourself a little.

The easiest way to transition is to be prepared. Rather than wait for classes to start to make sure your financial aid, special learning needs, etc. are met, take time over the summer months to meet with financial aid advisors, your curriculum advisor, and the disability services navigator if necessary to introduce yourself and make connections. The more people you know on campus who are in positions to help you, the easier your time on campus will be as you learn and grow. People often have information that can help you in ways you haven't even thought about yet, so taking the time to make yourself known before you get into the stress of coursework can often open doors for you to amazing things, and to the brilliant future you desire.

The advice I would give myself would be find as mean scholarships and grants as you can find and feel them out. Apply to them even if you don't belive that you will get it because it never hurts to try. I would also tell myself that try to stay in the military as long as possible so you can get your gibill.