University of Florida Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be 3 main actions I would do. I'd first shake myself while saying "snap out of it" and realize that I should've taken advantage of my senior year by applying to more scholarships and in a timely manner, I'd tell myself the cliche saying "college is a whole different ball game/league", which I have come to find is true, and lastly I would tell myself that in college I have to dedicate a lot more time for doing homework because if I just stick with the homework routines in highschool, I would only pass my classes with a C, if Im lucky.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a High School Senior, I would warn myself to not expect so much of people. Life is what you make of it, not where you are or whom you are with. Just because you find yourself in college doesn?t mean you are going to find yourself in this sophisticated, goal-oriented atmosphere surrounded by educated elite. I was so insistent that people in college would be different; that they would care more about actually learning and volunteering than just the grades or which party they would go to that night. People don?t grow up because they get older; they grow up because they figure out how to enjoy dealing with everything that life throws at them. Unfortunately, I know this is not something the High School me would want to hear. So I would let myself down softly, explaining that college doesn?t mean instantly finding people you like. College means taking responsibility and surrounding yourself with people who impassion you. College means working for what you want, despite nobody else caring. College is what you make it; you are the only one who can make it amazing.

I think about this scenario almost everyday of my life, and there are so many things I wish I had known way back when. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take my AP exams seriously. If I had known that they would have saved me time and money when college rolled around, I would have most definitely tried to pass the exams! I would also tell myself to go with the school that offers the most awards. I chose my school based on merits, and gave up $5000 per semester in awards from another institution! Since attending UF, I've been financially struggling between paying tuition, books, housing, food, and all sorts of other fees. Some days I go without good food or some months without rent money. Furthermore, I would tell myself to focus on school and be careful about who I befriend. I started off making straight A's, but then partying and the wrong crowd came along. These two experiences have taught me much about life and the people that surround me, and how neither are healthy for my well being.

College really is the best time of your life. I know that everyone says this but sincerely the hard work and difficult application process are totally worth this experience. My advice regarding applications is try not to write what you think they want but really tell them what they need to know about you. My application essay was about experiences I was looking forward to because I felt those would be more defining than anything I had already done. Once you're in college don't procrastinate. The first few weeks aren't very challenging because regristration still isn't totally settled, but manage your time and get work done early. It seems really easy in hte beginning because teachers start slow but read and study the material they give you when they give it to you, it'll save you many headaches in the future. Everyone said this and I tried to take them seriously, but I still fell behind and was under a lot of stress late in the semester. Also get enough sleep cause you're immune system really struggles with only a few hours of sleep and the worse thing is to get sick during finals.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry so much about college. The transition was hard at first because I had more responsibilities, I missed my friends and family, and there was a lot more school work. However, after the initial shock wore off, it wasn't as scary as I thought it was. Everything has changed, but for the most part, they were good changes. Having more responsibility is an empowering thing. It has given me the opportunity to act like an adult. It's been preparing me for the real world when I enter the job force. Being apart from family and friends is hard too, but I think of it as starting a new chapter in my life. There is a million different, easy ways to meet people at college, and for the most part, everyone has been friendly and helpful. Also, the work isn't extremely difficult or boring or anything else I once thought. It is hard work, but challenges are a good thing. Plus, things are much more interesting to me now that I get to study what I want!

College isn't all about memorization. In life you start out as an social and academic catepillar. Don't stay closed up in a cucoon because thats what other believe you should be. Soar and become the butterfly you were meant to. When trapped in a room all alone you will learn that you are the one that makes your mistakes and failures, so don't let other people steal you choice away from you.You can only suceed if you focus on the yellow brick road ahead of you.. Life is a mountain you have to climb. It;s hard but when you look down on what you've accomplished and overcame you'll be proud of you.

If I were to go back to give myself advice as a senior in high school, I would tell myself to have more of a social life, because I spent most of my time studying for classes in the International Baccalaureate program. After graduation, I realized that in order to be a well-rounded student and get the fullest high school experience, I should have a balanced schedule of study time and outside interaction. I studied often, and was prepared for any exam, but I missed out on the inside jokes and fun trips that my friends went on together. I also would tell myself to participate in more in high school sports and extracurricular activities. I only spent two years on the school soccer team (grades 10 and 11), but I now wish I had been more outgoing during my last year. Overall, I am grateful for the high school experience that I created for myself, and am content in reaching out to more experiences in college that I missed in high school.

One should experience college to its fullest because you get out only as much as you put in. While this seems obviously true in regard to one's course work, it is equally true in one's social life, and getting the most of your experience means achieving a balance between study and life. One's college years are a time of great growth, a maturation of not only one's intellect but one's personality as well, and it?s important to culture the development of both in order to achieve one's full potential.

Live life with no hesistations, don't get caught up in the details and there's no time for regrets. Do what you want to do and what's right for you, and you'll know what to do. One last thing that I like to live by, summerized quote by Thoreau- Life is like walking on the beach, going as close to the edge as possible.

I would advise myself to pursue every option. Every event that I would be invited to, I should go. Every Bible study, every sports club, every volunteer event: everything. And when my past self would question "Why future Bryan, why attend all of these outings?" I would answer back "Past Bryan, college is not only a time of psychological growth, but you need to grow socially into the person you will become for the rest of your life. To truly become this person, you must experience as much as the world as you can, and by meeting someone new every day, by taking a part in something differant constantly, you will be chipping away at the marble that is your role confusion and be sculpted into a statue of your true self. " As far as the transition goes, I would advise staying in contact with high school friends and family as a form of a support/advise system, but to also attempt to form a new group of friends in the college town Maintaining past friendships is just as important as discovering new ones, and the people who stay closest will be a good representation of who you will become.

The only thing that I would tell myself would simply be: your best friend may not always be the best roomate for you. I learned and matured so much my first semester at the Univeristy of Florida, unfortunately the circumstances were far from pleasant. I would tell myself to live in a dorm on campus my first year and to skip living with my best friend at the time. Needless to say, it was one of the most terrible experiences I have ever had to live through, and I lost a very important person in my life because of it. I give this advice to others in hopes that they won't make the same mistake that I made. I have seen many friendships break because of a silly living arrangement, and I always tell others "you may be compatible, but that doens't necessarily mean that you can live with each other." It's a shame, and although I did learn a lot from it, I feel that it was premature and unnecessary at that point in my life. Other than that, transitioning into college was smooth and I would reassure myself that everything would work out just fine.

No high school kid knows what college will be like. I thought that college was a magical place in which I would find myself, have fun and still have time to get straight A's. This idea quickly changed when I entered school this year. School was not this place that made me perfect but rather I had to work and it was hard. My high school self hade been well....lazy but I'd always managed to get the A's that would get me into university. I have to study now...STUDY! and my high school self had to get used to this concept. I had to learn how to use notecards and pens and papers and I had to use textbooks. So my advice to myself would be simple, learn how to employ all the study devices people have been trying to instill in you for years. University is new and it is exciting but it is hard and sometimes you just need to actually work, however lazy you feel (that's what the weekend is for).

Going back in time, I would tell myself to overcome the laziness that every senior in high school suffers from. Applying myself in my senior year would have enormously helped in my freshmen year in college. A number of times I have tried to understand material in college that I know was covered in my high school classes and have become discouraged at my ignorance in my senior year. My senior year I could not stand the fact that I was not out of the school and, as such, my understanding of my classes faltered. Specifically, my understanding of the concepts of my physics class fell through the cracks, and, while I still earned an ?A?, it came at the price of forgetting almost all of the material. Last semester, I found myself stumbling around, trying to find my way through the thick forest that was my freshmen physics class. I realized that if I had just overcome my senior laziness I would have seen the path that was just beneath the brush. I failed to look to the future and plan accordingly.

I would tell myslef to relax and enjoy high school. I think I was too worried in high shcool and now that I'm in college I realize that I missed growing up. You have so many responsibilities when you live away from home and you have to become your own rule book. A little fun would not kill a high school student, but help them to prepare for the responsibilities of college.

Assuming I could travel back to the spring of 2008 , I would have a difficult time locating myself to pass along any advice. That semester was for me a fulgurous blur of college applications, my rigorous academic schedule, my six or seven clubs, and graduation parties. I never stopped, rarely slept, and spent all the free time I did amass worrying about "The College Transition." If I could manage to pin myself down for an afternoon, I would give myself this hardly unheard of advice: stop worrying so much, and just do your thing. I was always a natural at getting involved, why should that be any harder in college? Embrace the opportunity to take your education and future into your hands, don't fear it. The educational experience I've had has everything to do with my efforts in asking my professors and classmates for help in my classes, exploring new academic interests, and finding a way to get involved with my school. Now that I'm five semesters in, I've got the system down; I only wish I hadn't spent the first two or three letting my fears and insecurities get in the way.

Looking back, I would give myself these words of wisdom. First of all, time is of the upmost value, every minute counts. Due to the demands in college, it is important to study on the bus, in the doctor's office, and during any "free time". Administer your hours of study carefully, so you can have time to "play". It is just as important to have fun as it is to work hard studying. Second of all, friends are more than just people to hang out with. They become study partners, tutors, and a vital support network; choose them wisely. Develop strong study groups and interpersonal relationships that will help you achieve your goals. Lastly, perseverance is the key to success. No matter how difficult a class may seem or how boring a professor might be, the final outcome is well worth the torture. What is four years of your life in college versus the rest of your life feeling miserable about not having achieved your dream. College is for the brave, the strong, and the fighter. Regardless of your smarts your effort will pay off in the end.

Dear Self, While college is meant to be the tool for preparing you for your future ambitions and dreams, do not forget to relax and enjoy your time there. The transition can be an easy one if you make it that way. It is all about what you tell yourself. Sure the first semester may be daunting; however, do not let this dictate the way you perceive the next four years to be. College is also meant to be fun. The secret is time management my friend. Finding the right balance between "study-time" and "friend-time" is like discovering the recipe to a great college experience. Be confident in yourself and your work. Listen to criticisms, and don't take it personally--they are preparing you for the real world. Stay positive about your future--everything will fall into place, and what's meant to be will be. Everybody is scared at first, verbalized or not, so you are not alone. Study hard and try your best, but also don't forget to have fun. Cherish these years and they will be the time of your life!

Friendship, experience, and knowledge are what I've gotten out of my college experience. Originally being a shy person, college has taught me that speaking out to a stranger can lead to great friendships. Joining a club or a team encourages this friendship and helps diminish the shyness. Some of my best friends and people who will be with me throughout my entire life I've met in college. Going to class and learning from professors has encouraged me to reach out to other professionals, such as orthopedic surgeons, to enhance the learning experience. Taking the learning out of the classroom and into the real world has been an incredibly valuble experience. The primary reason people attend college is to gain knowledge. To become ready to have a real career someday. Throughout my college experience I've gained knowledge not just from textbooks about particular studies, but about myself as well. I wouldn't change my college experience for anything. It has taught me about myself, friendship, and life, which are the most valuble lessons in life.

When I was in high school, I thought that college major equals chosen career field. This is a misconception. I wish I would have known that prior to entering college because sometimes I focused on majoring in something that is very practical yet had a strong interested in philosophy and other liberal arts. I did not realize that there were many career paths for philosophy majors even if the career was not identical to my major, because once I graduate, I will have a number of skills that are adaptable to several work places. I would also encourage myself to be involved in a few student-run organizations and clubs, with a focus on gaining leadership experience. This way, whoever my future employer is, they will know that I have number of pther skills that fall under leadership: organization, communication, cooperation, etc. Plus, campus involvement can lead to great friendships and connections. I am glad I learned these tips before I graduated, but I wish that I would have known them prior to college so that I could get the full college experience.

Everyone's dream is to time travel, but does it contradict to the belief of never living with regrets? I believe that college is a transitional phase in one's life. The chance to live on one's own teaches independence, and the need to study for exams while balancing finances teaches responsibility. Although being an age from 18-21 is barely considered an adult, college experiences allows one to mature from the peer pressured environment of highschool. No, i do not have regrets, however i would go back in time and give myself advice. I would explain that education and good studying skills isn't just overly lectured qualities to have, but rather they are neccessities to succeed in college. I would explain that possibilities in life are endless with the value of education, especially when you couple it with something you love. Education isn't something to take advantage of, but a privledged experience, especially since a highschool student doesnt have to pay for classes/books! I would tell myself to take a deep breath and know that life will become harder on my own, but the lord never gives someone something they can't handle.