University of Florida Top Questions

As a college freshman in his second semester at the University of Florida, I could give a lot of advice to myself in the past. I might try to convince my senior version to develop study habits. I might tell him that I should set study times that I must follow, and not deviate from them unless circumstances are critical. Maybe I could say that he should never miss a class, regardless of how tired he is, or if he feels a little sick. Even if class starts in five minutes, he should still go and just be late. I could tell him to be more aggressive when looking for a job, and to be more dedicated when he gains the opportunity to work. I could tell him all of this, trying to make his life different than what I went through by using specific events. However, I can sum everything up into something simple. The thing I would tell him is this: live to the fullest, do everything you can to be happy, accomplish every task you are given, and do not regret a single action. Life is too short, so live it right the first time.

Decide early and quickly which career path you definitely want to go down. Too many students drift around intoxicated by the plethora of vaguely interesting course titles. Remain focused or else you will end up locked in to a major with too many credits to switch to another one. READ what is assigned, most courses outside of science classes are easily passed by simply doing the assigned readings on time. This is because most students do not read and so the professors are forced to teach the material as if no one has encountered it before. Get a job with tips and get it fast: pizza delivery, waiting, and bartending are the ideal jobs for achieving financal freedom in minimal time and they happen to be in very high demand in college towns. Skip out on binge drinking: party whe you want but avoid heavy drinking since it is the number one cause of all student problems e.g. pregnancy, rape, failing grades, fights, death, car wrecks, injuries, losing security deposits, robbery, arrests, destroyed relationships, etc. If you are going to be designated driver get paid. FOCUS ON LEARNING NOT ON GRADES too many 4.0s with no brains.

Now at 25 pursuing a second bachelor's degree, I would say to my young, more fit 18-year-old self just six words: "Don't let time pass you by." Even at 18 I think I would've understood, but in case I caught myself on a slow day, I'd elaborate with the following: "Kathleen, it goes by in a blink. Take more pictures, take more chances. Keep your arms and eyes open to all, and soak up every stream of opportunity that comes your way. Don't worry, you won't drink too much, but you know what? Drink even less. There's too much to discover! If you see an activity that looks even remotely interesting- go for it! When else in your life will you have the chance to attend unlimited numbers of free lectures, seminars, performances, exhibits and so on? Umm, don't park out of your assigned lot. They will give you a ticket, and $20 is way too much to pay for a quicker walk." "And one more thing, naive girl. Save your money! Just because you have it doesn't mean you need to spend it. Save now, stress less later!"

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would encourage myself to gain study habits. Although I didnt have to study in high school, if I would have enforced a routine of at least looking over material that I learned at a certain time of the day, I would have excellent study habits now. Study habits are important in college because the material is in depth you have to truly understand versus just retaining information. My advice to myself would be to really try to understand the material which may include outside research rather than just remembering what I need to know. I would also advice myself to gain orgainization and time management. In college every moment is valuable. You can be spending time with a friend, getting a head in class or practicing for a show that you have coming up for a organization you're in. In high school I took alot of naps instead of taking the time to get more acquaintant with my homework as mentioned above and I missed out on opportunities to join clubs because I was not organized in planning my days.

If i could go back in time i would probaly tell myself how to enjoy the little things alot more. College is the transition between the free life of highschool and the real world. Its the time that you discover your self and what you can be. In high school you stress out for all the wrong reasons. Its the last time in your life you can really on people to push you along. Being pushed to excel to even greater heights isnt a curse its a blessing. Yes you might be working harder then those around you but it will help you in a big way later in life. With all that said though i would have to say the most important thing i could tell my self is that at the end of the day it doesnt matter. To much of life is spend on stressing about this or that when really there not important enough to pass on to the next day. Life is a linear path that always goes forward, dont let the weight of yesterday drag you down.

Applying to college can be an exciting and intimidating time for a high school senior. If I could go back and give myself advice knowing what I know now about college, I would suggest three things to myself. First, I would advise applying for more scholarships. It never hurts to make the effort to recieve some of the free aid that so many organizations are offering, and it helps fund all expenses, from books, to living, to studying abroad. Second, I would suggest getting involved in more activities, and not being fearful of not having enough time for school work. Being involved on campus helps with academic time management skills and it provides a way to meet new people and make new friends, which is essential to adjusting to a new town and college campus. Finally, I would tell myself that it's okay to be undecided on my major in college for a little while. An undergraduate degree is not necessarily the determining factor of what I will use my education for in the future. I would remind myself that college is a time to grow, have new experiences, and discover the person I am supposed to become.

As a big fan of the arts and a self-proclaimed "theatre geek," I had a small, close-knit groups of friends in high school who were all involved in my drama troupe with me. I did not become truly close with these off-the-wall, quirky people until I had a falling out with my initial group of friends- who would have been stereotyped as the "popular kids". My falling out with these people caused me to shun mainstream thoughts, delve into theatre, and change completely. While this transformation helped me discover who I was in high school, it caused me to have an attitude towards those who reminded me of my former narrow-minded companions. If I could go back in time and give myself advice to help me in college, it would be to be more open-minded towards everyone I meet. I would tell myself that everyone is special and everyone deserves a chance to be known. I would tell myself that I could not possibly know who someone is just because of his or her apparel, friends, or community affiliations. Thankfully college taught me these things and it is better learned late than never.

Take advatange of all the resources that college has to offer. The social life may have been a priority in high school but will have to take the back seat for college life. Do not get stuck the same routine of going to class, then heading back to your dorm for studying, with the occasional surfacing in the cafeteria for meals. Take the time to make new friends and be invlovled in campus activities. It will help give you break from all the school work and if you are far from home it may help take your mind off being home sick. Remember just because you declared a major for college application does not mean you are bound by contract for the rest of your life in that profession. Take a few moments to think of what you ulitimately want out of life and what you are wiling to sacrifice or contribute to attain that goal. Make sure the decisions that you are making are ones the you are pleased with. Not just your family's ideal of what you should make you happy. Have fun! High school may have ended but life has just begun.

If I could have known one thing in high school about the University of Florida, I would have liked to know how key it was to get involved on campus. While I have a few leadership positions including Vice chair of College Republicans, I feel like I could have done a lot more with this knowledge. Now it is a little too late to get involved in my freshman year and I feel like I may have wasted too much time. Having known this as a high school senior, I could have gotten more involved in high school, so I could have put more on my resume in college. Though guidance counselors say that you get a clean slate once you get in to college, it isn't true, at least not from other students' perspectives. This is important because students run the organizations in college and are therefore more influential. Employers and graduate schools look at a student's involvement, and if you didn't do enough in high school that can cause you to be less involved in college. Basically, I would have told myself how important high school involvement really is to the rest of my life.

Go to class Meet your professors Work hard

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, I would stress the importance of getting involved, and staying positive throughout the transition process. I may not always get accepted to every club and organization I want to be in, but I have learned from these rejections, and in doing so have found amazing oppurtunities in other organizations. To remain confident in myself no matter the path I am on is so important, and I would want to give myself a heads up. I would also advise myself to be open to new relationships, with so many people at this university, giving everyone a equal oppurtunity to be a new friend/aquaintance will allow me to learn more about myself and grow. The last piece of advice I would give is to remember why I am here, academics come first, and even though it seems like you have time, a lot can happen to alter studying, and remember to keep academics in mind.

Going back in time to talk to myself would be a momentus occassion. I would make sure that I tell myself to shoot for the stars. Even if I'm taking a class on how to be me (Rudman), that I should never be so prideful that I don't ask anyone for the help I need. Here the school is giving me resources and opportunities that no one in their right mind would pass up. I know things are going to get rough because believe it or not, life is, but that's only another reason to keep on reaching for the stars. All of the studying taking place instead of partying will pay off in due time. When that time comes, I'll glow brighter than the Sun. Choose your friends wisely, and never take anything for granted because it can all disappear in a blink of an eye. Go after any money the government is willing to appropriate. Just make sure you use it responsibly. Have fun when you can, but never too wild. And one day you'll have the dream job of your life and the dream girl. Go hard or go home.

I know things are stressful right now, and you've got a whole lot to worry about. Which schools are you applying to? When are you going to right those essays and fill out those applications? Should you take the SAT one more time? Don't forget transcripts! Yes, yes, it's all a bit much on top of the course work you already have to deal with. However, once all that is said and done you have to make the ever important decision between the schools that accepted you. Which is the right fit for you? How will you know if you really belong there? If I could give you some advice, I would tell you to expect the unexpected. For better or for worse, college life is exactly what you make of it. You'll be happy to hear that the level of social pressure will be much lower than in high school and you'll meet some amazing people who like you as you are. The important thing is to let it happen. Don't let preconcieved notions or fears stop you from really discovering yourself.

I would tell myself not to worry or be nervous about an experience that every human being should be privileged to have in their lifetimes. Going to college truly broadens one's ability to think for yourself, to meet people from varied backgrounds and to share unique experiences with others. There is probably no other time in life that you have the opportunity to learn everything you can and try out different ideas without being restricted by family or financial responsibilities. I would tell myself to work hard, but also that it is ok to enjoy life's journey.

Don't take out more loans than you have to, since you will be paying them off for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! Pay attention at orientation. Make friends with someone who has a car as soon as you get to school. Try to eat real meals instead of take out and junk food. Go to bed at a decent time - 4pm is way too late. Don't wait to get a job until Spring - all the good ones will be gone by then. Don't be shy - everyone else is new to college as well. Take more pictures! Don't skip classes - it'll only hurt you in the end. Apply for more scholarships. Don't drop a class just because you are afraid you might get a B. Read the flyers on bulletin boards - some of the best classes, clubs, and events are hidden in that sea of paper. Trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to do your own thing. Live on campus. Get a good bike lock. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Call home more often. Trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to do your own thing.

I most suggest preparing yourself as soon as possible. Enjoy your senior year to the fullest but try not to lose focus about your future. Stay on top of deadlines to reduce your stress. It is easier to find scholarships as a senior preparing to go to college than to scrape to find scholarships later on. Be actively looking! It's also easier to maintain your knowledge by pushing yourself in your senior course work. The academic transition is softened by keeping your skills sharp. Your senior year can be an awesome time to learn how to balance schoolwork and fun. In college there is a multitude of opportunities to get involved and meet others, so be open minded! In high school it's easy to be involved in every club and on every teams but in college it's impossible for you to be involved in everything; you will stretch yourself too thin, not truely enjoy your activities, and you will run the risk of putting academics after fun. Explore your options to find what you are passionate about and devote yourself to those things. College can be the best years of your life if you make them it.

I would tell myself that the transition is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. While I worried that I would miss my family and old friends tremendously, I have been able to balance school and keeping up with all of them on a daily basis. I would also tell myself that it is going to be very easy to make new friends and meet new people and to be prepared for all of the diversity found in the world of college. Finally, I would tell myself to make sure to get involved in college and to put myself out there to meet new people and be open to new things.

Staying in the dorms on campus may not seem like the most favorable thing because of shared space issues, but it really does have a big impact on helping you fit into the campus community. Freshmen who stay oncampus tend to be more involved in student organizations and it helps them to make friends and ease into the college lifestyle more smoothly. Always remember your studies. Student organizations are fun and help you make great friends, but never forget that you are attending university for an education first and foremost. Never let your social life dominate your schedule. In the same respect, don't immerse yourself so completely in your schoolwork that you find yourself hardly going out with friends. Always strike a balance in all you do, it'll make you feel much better overall.

If I could go back in time, to talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would encourage my past self to not underestimate himself. Knowing what I know now, I know I'm cabable of great perseverance. How I can take a stormy day and appretiate the sound of rain on my window. I would tell the younger version of me that this trait is not to be undermined or wasted. That this trait will be tested before long, and that his success depends on his perseverance, not the other way around. I would tell him that his determination is his greatest strength and to never let the storms wash it away.

I would tell myself to make sure I get involved and active in the services that are offered to freshman and definitely take the initiative to stay on top of classes as well as seeking out academic related experiences that would enhance my overall college experience. I would definitely encourage myself to get out of my comfort zone and seek out things that I never would have imagined doing. Determination would be another point I would drill into my head to ensure that I was giving my best in ALL of my classes and not allowing the capacity of my mind to learn and formulate new ideas go to waste. Thankfully so, I've been able to do these things but only until recently and looking back had I been on this path in the beginning of my college days my overall experience would've been even more amazing.