University of Denver Top Questions

Don't hold back. It's 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} worth it to put yourself out there, everyday. Try new things, talk to everyone you meet, and really listen to what they have to say. One of the best things about college is living with and learning from people from so many different backgrounds. Try something new every chance you get. Also, balance your life: grades, work, extracurriculars, and friends. Don't ever forget to have fun! And get off campus and into the mountains as often as possible. Finally, and most importantly, pursue what you are passionate about. Find something that interests you and just GO FOR IT. Learn, ask questions, think critically, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. It will make your college experience unforgettable.

Dear You, It's you writing...or me writing I guess. There are some things you need to be aware of for the future. For one thing, learn to ask for help. Asking for help shows a willingness to learn and explore while being stubborn is a sign of weakness. Do not worry about attending college right out of high school. I know people have their own opinions about the opportunities you're giving up by not going back to school immediatley but you need to understand there are obstacles you will face before you turn 20 years old that are going to change your life forever and school will suffer - do not be ashamed for doing what's right for you. You need to learn to budget. This is not only going to help you in college with paying back loans but with purchases you will have to make in the future. The economy I live in is not the same as the one you live in during high school. Finally as a first generation college student cherish your support system. They were there before college and they are still here now but won't be forever. Sincerely, You

The best thing that I could tell myself, or anyone in high school would be to seize every opportunity they offer. There are so many options in high school to get involved and to talk to different people and there are even more of those opportunities in college. It would have been more useful to seek out different opportunities in high school so that by the time I reached college talking to various people who have different backgrounds would be easier. In high school, it seems that everythign is so segregated by what people like to do and what people are involved in, if one were to be involved in more groups then the understanding of different people would be easier and it would help with the integration of people and ideas.

When applying to college, interviewers often asked me what I thought about the importance of diversity and, at the time, I thought the question trivial. I am an Asian American woman from Hawaii and learned at an early age that I lived in a “melting pot”. Interviewers would reliably add a disclaimer to the question such as “I know this doesn’t really apply to you,” but I never realized the full extent of this statement until I left my island and settled down on the mainland. Going to college has taught me a new appreciation for the concept of diversity. If I were to give my high school-self one piece of advice about college, it would be to understand the importance of diversity on a school campus. Diversity is more than the ethnicity of the faces surrounding you; it is also the varying experiences and opinions of people who come from different backgrounds. After a year at college I realized that diversity of mind is correlated to diversity in ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. I would tell my high school-self to deeply consider a college that sincerely values diversity on campus and not just in their marketing brochures.

You will struggle and there will be setbacks, many, many setbacks. You will feel like you want to quit. You will have many obstacles in your path that you have to find a way to get through. You wont have the same experience as most. Your life will go in several directions and you will be more confused about yourself and life than ever. But, it is all worth it because you will also, succeed no matter what. The amount of friends you will make on the way will help you get through those obstacles and struggles. You may not have been able to experience a typical college life but that wont matter to you. The direction you choose to go in will be the most rewarding; no matter what path you choose to take. Most importantly, do not forget about how much you are loved and how far you have come.

If I could go back and talk to the high schoool version of myself, there's a couple things I would say. Some major advice would be to tell myself to not choose a major so quickly and experience some other classes. I would say to keep an open mind and experience a variety of things and not put all of my eggs in one basket. Doing this, I would hope to find an area of study that I am truly passionate about, since I will be doing it the rest of my life. I wouldn't want to spread myself too thin, but I would want to keep my options open. The second piece of advice I would give would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible. The most stressful part about college is finding ways to pay for it and by applying for more scholarships, it could relieve some of this stress. By getting more scholarships, this would help pay for my undergraduate degree so I could save money for medical school. These two pieces of advice would have changed my thought process and helped me along the way.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that I needed to re-prioritize my criteria for choosing a college. When I was applying to and picking colleges, I had all the wrong reasons for my decisions: I was obsessed with leaving my home state of Colorado for a warmer climate, going to a big school with Division I athletics, etc. I thought that these things were what made the 'college experience.' Well, I was wrong. I ended up close to home at the University of Denver, a small private school that doesn't even have a football team- and I couldn't be happier. You can have the college experience ANYWHERE- be it California or Iowa. The important qualities in a school are that it has a good program for your major, will give you the most financial aid, and will set you up the best for your future. Beyond that, it's all up to you to make it what you want it to be. Get involved with campus organizations, study hard, and have fun- THAT's the college experience, no matter where you are.

One piece of advice I would give myself is to look hard at the financial aid that one school is presenting over another. I had a choice between going to a school in which I had a free ride or the University of Denver in which I thought would give me a better chance to go into my field. I would not necesssarily change my mind completely, but I would have given it some more thought. With my financials being in trouble, I would think that getting a degree from anywhere would be wiser than making sure that my degree came from a more prestigious university. With an economy that is shaky at best, going into a lot of debt does not make sense. Students come out of college with a prestigious degree and cannot get a job. Therefore, they cannot pay their loans and their credit scores take a massive hit. I would tell myself that although fits work great in college, as long as you can finish and get the degree, it's more important than anything else.

My biggest advice would be: trust yourself. At the beginning of college, there is sometimes a temptation to reinvent oneself - start spending time with a new crowd of people, change the way you dress or act, or try new things you've never done before. Exploration is an important part of the college process, yes, but it is also important to adhere to your core beliefs and values. There's no need to change who you are or what you believe in just so that you are well-liked or more appealing to your classmates. So yes, in college it is essential to make the time to try new things and discover new things about ourselves. Join a club or two! Go to that psychology lecture! Say hi to someone you've never seen before! Join an intramural sports team! Just make sure you don't lose yourself along the way.

The advice i would give to myself would be to study more and work harder. i went into college with a 2.7 GPA and it was a lot of work but i maintained a 3.5 GPA my first semester and i am so proud of myself. i know if i would of worked this hard in high school i would of done better but i just didnt care. knowing what i know now i definietly would of applied myself more and prepared myself for the overwhelming college stuff.

Always remember that college is an investment in yourself and you only get to do it once. Make the most out of the experience - both the social AND educational experience. Dedicate plenty of time to learning on a deep level but also take the time for some fun. Your professors will be full of knowledge and expertise, learn all that you can from them and take the time to chat with them outside of class. Learn from your classmates and respect their opinions, try to understand their viewpoint. Sleep. Get involved with activities on campus but don't stretch yourself too thing. Time is a valuable commodity. Know when to ask for help. Work together on group projects, don't be a dictator but don't let everyone else do the work for you. Relax. Keep a schedule book with assignments, meetings, and deadlines. This isn't high school anymore, "accepted late work" does not exist in the college world. If you're sick, don't go to class; then we all suffer. Finally, take a step back once in awhile and let it all soak in. Have fun.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college life I would tell myself to make sure I choose a major I love, not like, and to work harder than anyone else. Going to college opened my eyes on how many students are out there with the same goals and dreams that I have. You really have to love what you’re learning, or you will lack the dedication it takes to succeed at the college level. There is really no point to go to college if you’re not going to take it seriously and plan on using what you have learned to move on in life. The first time I went to college I was right out of high school and had no goals or any idea of what I wanted to do with my life. As a result my grades were not good and I ended up not going back for my sophomore year. Come fifteen years later, I have fallen in love with architecture and have flourished with my grades and am at the top of my class.

Stop being so dumb, look at your future and what you have in front of you. Education is important, its the key to success, now that you have done everything backwards in life, correct yourself now and be smart. You have kids, set the example for them, don't let them make the same errors you did. NOWS THE TIME FOR CHANGE!!!

There is not a whole lot that I could tell myself. I was one of the lucky ones who was rather prepared for everything that college had in-store for me. However, I am not perfect and have a few things. One of the most important things to have figured out is that you need to make sure you have your financial situation figured out before you get to school. Don't be foolish and wait until the last minute to apply for private loans, because you are going to have a rough time if you do. Refresh yourself on your people skills is the next thing I would inform my past self. It is really strange to go from having your set group of friends then having to create a whole new group of friends. Lastly I would advise myself to prepare to get out of your comfort zone, as you are bound to get out of it anyway, it is best you ease into the situation instead of jumping right into it.

Hey Lisa, I want to talk to you about your college future. There's a few things that I really want you to slow down and think and pray about, that could really help you benefit in the future. #1: Plan on going to college: Deep down inside, you want to be a highschool teacher, and you need a college degree for this, so start planning now. #2: Take college courses in High School: Go to the community college and get some courses done this year. They're free your senior year and you will save time later on. #3: Get rid of the "College is too expensive" mentality: Your family WILL support you; stop feeling guilty and don't let money stop you. #4: Take your ACT/SAT: Don't miss the test dates, take the tests seriously, study, and GO! #5: Apply for different colleges: Work with a counselor to help you apply; you have what it takes! Send aplications to CSU, UC, even private colleges like Standford and Juliart; give youself a chance. #6: Major in Music: this is your ONLY chance; don't let it pass. #7: Believe in yourself: You totally got this girl!!!!!

The only advice I would give myself would be to not be as nervous as I was. Since I am from Rhode Island and the usual path to follow is attending University of Rhode Island, it was hard to make my own path. Many of my friends ended up staying in Rhode Island or at most an hour away. I decided to take the leap and come out to DU which I knew was the perfect school for me. Having faith and knowing everything will work out would've helped me when I felt like I'd be so far from home. I could not have made a better decision coming to the University of Denver. Although I am far away I have made really great friends who I can consider as new family members. The environment here is much different than at home. I feel reinforced with positive energy when I wake up to the clear skies and sunshine. Also, I am completely prepared for the academics here on campus. Although it is a challenge, I know the work I put in will pay off.

Listen up Courtney, this is you speaking to you from seventeen years in the future. You’re about to graduate high school. And, you knows it was no regular high school either. You’ve been trapped at a Baptist boarding school, listening to some preacher froth at the mouth, day in and day out, about how you’re going to burn in hell for all of eternity. While most kids were getting their first jobs, first cars, and having their first semi-serious relationship experiences, you read a bible and went to church and bible study. It’s time to say bye to that bull. Let it go. Let go of your anger toward your parents. You hold onto this and you will mess up your life in a major way. However, there is good news. Even if you do not listen to you, you eventually figure it out. You changed your mind. Keep being you. You are pretty happy with your life, You don’t finish your AA until your thirty-five, but, guess what? You got into the University of Denver! Now, figure out how to afford a BA by the time you’re thirty seven. Gotta run!

Melanie, You are both better than your worst fear and humbler than your grandest dream. Do not overshoot and never undersell. Your life is branching in a new direction and you cannot mistake this as a minute experience. College is not a vacation; it is returning to work or even starting work. If you can do one thing, it is to do everything. You are a woman; and in the words of Sojourner Truth, "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, then these women ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again!" Are you not a woman? Are you not one of half the world who works, cares for, and speaks? That you are not a man is irrelevant; the relevance is that you are a human and you are the greatest product of this world's progression. Whatever you choose to do will be groundbreaking; it will be glorious. You are leaving your parents' home, but you are not leaving them behind. The love you have recieved must be equal to the love you will give. Love well. -You

I would say "just make a decision! It doesn't have to be the right one, but stand up for yourself and choose what you want." I had a really hard time choosing a school because I felt that I was just trying to please my parents and go to the school they wanted me to go to. I would tell myself that it is MY choice. Do what I feel is right. I love DU now and I am glad I went, but I know I would have loved a different school as well. It will be hard freshman year no matter where you go, but you will adjust. I would tell myself that it is ok to be scared, but you WILL adjust and be ok. It took me until my second year to find my niche and as soon as I did I felt like I was par of a community. I had friends and I became very close with my department and professors. So it may take a while to adjust, but use your freshman year to just have fun! The rest will fall into place.

Going back, I would tell myself that its ok to be who you are in college and you don’t need to change to impress others. When I got to school I had a hard time making close friends. I decided I would settle for the people I had met and would adjust to who they were. However, as time went on I found it to be exhausting. Among other things they liked to party while I had no desire to go, so I spent a lot of time justifying who I was and why I chose to or not to do things. As classes continued, I met people who had the same values and did the same things I did. We grew closer together and I found myself enjoying life more. I was able to do the things I like with people who also liked to do the same things while trying new things with them. Now instead of spending Friday nights explaining why I didn’t want to go out and party, I had movie nights with close friends. Then we were able to spend Saturdays going out and exploring a new city with new friends.