University of Florida Top Questions

I would tell myself to work hard the whole year and to enjoy myself more. Get more active in things and to talk to more people.

Of all the things that have been a problem for me, it’s been my own habits that have been the hardest to overcome and change. If I could go back and give my high school senior self some advice it would be, be diligent in your work. Don’t procrastinate on any assignment, but manage it. Manage your time accordingly. If you have two weeks to complete an assignment at least start an outline for it. Construct something so you know what you want to say beforehand and even if that changes, at least you now have guidelines to work with. This way you aren’t scrambling for a topic, for material to write about, and for time to just complete the assignment. Take the time to study each day too. Part of college is exams and they can be tough. Studying at the last minute for one exam is strenuous, studying for four is insane. So do yourself a favor and manage your study time. Start early and do it each day. Time is always precious in this school and being prepared is the most beneficial thing one can be for an exam, for a presentation, for anything.

Anything you may think you know about your future college experience is wrong. There is no way that you could have ever fathomed what was waiting for you: the people you'll meet, the experiences you'll make, the things you'll discover about yourself. That major that you're dead set on right now? You'll change it before your first fall semester is over. Those friends from high school you are afraid to lose? You don't lose them, and you also make some cool new friends too. The anxiety you have about being potentially bullied for being gay once you get here? People really don't care. (heads up: you will come out to dad the summer between your freshman and sophomore year; it goes much more smoothly than you could've imagined) Just realize that plans and expectations rarely ever coincide with the reality of a situation, and my best advice for you is to accept that. Every experience you have will change you in some way, for better or worse, dramatically or subtly. The worst thing you could do for yourself is resist that. Good luck, kid.

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing, focus and study more. Join a sports team while you are waiting for Drama to start up and keep yourself busy. You have no idea now but when you are given a challenge you rise up and meet it and you are going places. Strive to get on the honor roll every year because you are going to need it. Community College is a second chance but take a step back and really think about what you want to do for a career because if you go to college after high school instead of waiting you will be able to get the career that you're meant for much sooner. You are an awesome person, don't take forever to realize that.

College is just like kindergarden, only way better. Remember that first day of kindergarden? Ok, well maybe you don't exactly, but I can assure you, you were a frantic mess. Your little five year old self was as nervous and scared as the day you thought you broke your little brother's arm when you threw that football to him. Anyway, the point is, after that first week or two of kindergarden you were settled in and it was great; nap time everyday and access to that big sixty-four pack of crrayons with the sharpener on the back. The only difference in college is there is a little less sleep. Have fun, be yourself and don't stress yourself out about it too much and you'll do great, just like you did in kindergarden.

Make just as much time for your creative pursuits as your schoolwork and social life.

If i was able to go back in time the best advise, I could give myself would be, to take my time not to rush through my education and life . Life is to fast and precious to run through and not enjoy the riches that come by you everyday. Also , to learn and listen to the stories from are elders they are full of knowledge that you wil not probablly ever learn in a book or classroom. life is full of suprises may not been the ones you expected but, take them and run with them . dream big cause any dream is possiable if you have the dermination and willfulness to go after them. dont ever say you can't do something or it's somebody's fault because you where to scared to say i'll try be brave and take a big breath and step forward even though it scary it will be a happy scary cause the unknown is always better than the known . live life to the fullest and to make sure you have your family beside you everystep of the way to enjoy it with you. life to short to be alone , be a square !

Forget about the rules and cliques. This isn't high school anymore. No one cares about how cool you were and how many trophies you won in your swim team competitions or if you were the captain of the cheerleading squad. It's time to look at yourself and everyone else as individuals and really find your place. Making friends will be awkward and difficult at first, but keep trying. Join every club that piques your interest and go to at least three meetings before you quit. Your professors aren't going to chase you down when you're missing a homework assignment, and no one's going to notice if you skip class for two weeks. This is your education, and your life, essentially. If you don't want to be here, that's your choice, and no one's there to stop you. Finally, appreciate your family. No matter how much you can't wait to move out, you will miss them, because when it comes down to the truth, no one else will care if you're vomitting your guts out at three in the morning. Love, live, and don't waste a single minute.

College is nothing like high school, high school Iqra. There are many things you believe in now that you will be disappointed with in college. It is something entirely different from waht you expect, but not always in a bad way. There are friends you thought you would have for the rest of your life. You aren't a whimsical person, but you saw them at your graduation, your wedding, your children playing with theirs. Life never works out the way you want it to. Remember that Whatever's meant to be, will be. People come and go; do not take that as a failure on your part. Taking that "whatever's meant to be, will be" mentality, keep in mind that college is different. Do well on your AP exams - they will save you incredible amounts of money and time. Form strong bonds with your teachers - they truly care for you and will always provide invaluable guidance. Lastly, most importantly, cherish your parents. Spend as much time with them. Take your mom out randomly. In a few months, you'll miss them more than you could ever imagine. In a few months, nothing will ever be the same.

Dear Me, Please don't be so scared of this. It's going to be really fun - I promise! You're going to live with Grandma, and even though she can be critical at times she'll be the one who helps you develop independence. When Ben breaks up with you, she'll be your way back to standing on your own two legs with her comfort food and advice about how to be your own person. So cut her some slack and don't gripe about her criticism every weekend when you come home. Smile lots! People will love it, and if you don't want to play volleyball, so what. No one cares or thinks any worse of you for it. You really can be yourself and people will still like you. Maybe don't go home every weekend and take the time to get involved at college. Definitely find a job earlier - sitting on the couch watching all that Law & Order is going to make you paranoid. Stop freaking out that every car behind you is really a murder/rapist out to get you. Most importantly, be confident. You can do this!! Love, Your Future Self

High school is the foremost platform for preparing for college. It’s an important moment in all of our lives to iron out most of the problems one will face during the college years. My life in my early schooling years started a great exploration. There are so many options to choose from. Thinking who am I and where I want to go was a daunting task. Determining what I want from my life is a decision that will call out and scream “It is time!” I had to start figuring this out very quickly. I place a great emphasis on furthering my education in Fire and Emergency Services. The Bachelors of Science degree offered by the University of Florida is completely online. What I know now is skills such as time management, discipline, and being focused. These traits is what I would tell the high school Abraham “Get Ready.” I would tell myself to also “Be goal oriented and try to stay as focused on college admission.” Classes I take and activities I engage have a direct connection to my career. Accomplishing my degree is almost complete. A quality education can help me realize these career goals.

I would advise myself to take a couple of easier classes the first semester. I got so many credit hours through AP and IB classes and exams that I started my freshman semester as a sophomore. All of my classes were higher level and tough. I did not ease into college life instead I jumped in head first. Take it easy and enjoy a little more and learn how to juggle it all.

As a timid high school senior, petrified of what college life would bring both academically and socially, I wish I had known how much less daunting college would be than what I had expected. I would advise myself to take a deep breath and enjoy every possible experience instead of constantly worrying about what was coming next. I would tell myself that being gay isn't as much of a constant struggle in college, and that unlike in high school, very few people are preoccupied by your sexual orientation. I would encourage my high school self to join the UF LGBT group much earlier and not to worry about what others thought. My high school self was so apprehensive about college classes and exams, as I suffer from severe test anxiety and had an incredibly difficult time in my high school IB Program. I wish I could have told myself then not to obsess about quizzes and tests and to trust myself. I would tell myself to go to a few more Gator football games, to play more than one intramural sport, and to give myself a much-needed break every now and then.

Dear Courtney, it's me, your older self!! I have a couple of things to tell you that will help you with your upcoming choices and paths you can choose from. FIrst of all, go for it all! Have confidence! You are brighter than you think and stronger than you think. You have amazing soccer talent, go forward and find a college where you can play!! I promise , you will only regret what you didn't do. Secondly, think long and hard about what you want to study when going to college. Think about a career that you will love. Look at your personality and what your strengths are and act on that in confidence. You have divinity within you! Time will keep on moving and it is much more difficult to get back to school when you are older. Remember, anything is possible if you are willing to work for it. Third, enjoy your high school days. They are precious and fun. Enjoy your soccer playing days, as they won't last forever. Live your life to the fullest, enjoy the California blue sky, and remember to work hard, play hard!

So you’re about to go to college, live in a dorm with strangers, and share a bathroom with walls so thin you could hear an ant sneeze on the other side. You’re going to worry about whether the bathroom is going to smell. You’re going to try timing doing your business when no one is around. I can sum up my advice to you in two words: Just go. The beautiful girl at the gym has bodily functions, as does that med school student who seems to have it all figured out. The faceless, nameless hordes of people competing with you all relieve themselves every day. Remembering this will help ease some crippling self-comparisons. It’ll bring the world down to scale, hopefully pricking the huge balloon of stress in your chest and deflating your shoulders in laughter. I know you’re embarrassed, and this isn’t the most politically correct advice. It’s real talk, though. You’ll want to stay at home, wrap yourself up in a blanket burrito and hold it. Just go! Go to the bathroom, then go out and meet people. Go do something new. I guarantee you’ll feel better.

Hey, girl. Listen, don't sweat it that you didn't get accepted to the University of Florida. I know it was your first choice, but the University of North Florida will introduce you to your best friend, Mary, as well as give you a soft spot for Muscovy ducks. You'll be able to transfer to UF later and graduate with honors! And remember that boyfriend? Yeah, he introduced you to Dungeons and Dragons (which you'll keep playing, don't worry) but you'll find someone much better: someone who treats you with love and respect. Also, he'll know how to wash his own dishes. At any rate, don't sweat the small stuff, ok? That B- you made in Personality Psychology won't be that big of a deal. You'll get to write more, and travel. Spoiler alert! You'll get to see real medieval manuscripts and work on dead languages at a university that's been around since 1592. It won't matter that you're a bit of a nerd: your uniqueness is beauty unto itself. So cheer up! Life is good, and it's out there waiting for you.

Do not worry about college. Everything that is meant to happen, will happen. It is not as scary as you might think and remember to attend all the football games!

I would tell myself to really think about what you want to do in life and then set yourself for the best way to do that. Talk to more people in business and try to get out of your comfort zone more. Do not get so wrapped up in each little thing that you are doing because it is only little things. Always remember to get better.

I wish I got to know people in the Gainesville community better. Often times, students here think that all there is to Gainesville is the university. However, there are real genuine people that live here with their families and are eager to share their southern hospitality with the students. Do volunteer work and build relationships with the people you meet at church. It makes things so much easier when you have people in the area that you can count on!

As a junior in college, I've changed immensely since my senior year of high school. I'm smarter, more stylish, I have a much more diverse friend group, and I go to events, bars, clubs, and parties all the time now. I still work all the time. Bills to pay, ya know! College has been a huge change from high school and not just because of the distance from the 'rents. College has taught me that I never needed to stress over that little stuff, like Homecoming or Prom. Who cares? Turns out nobody. I didn't need to stress who was voted Queen of the dance. Three years later, I don't even remember the themes. Besides, you can't put "Prom Queen" on your resume. Resume-building is something I should have focused on more, and not for my future career. I should have applied for more minimum wage jobs so I would have experince for jobs in Gainesville. It is a nightmare with all of this competition. Finally, remember that high school classes are a cake walk compared to their collegiate counterparts. Form good study habits now! And relax, college is way better than high school.