University of Georgia Top Questions

I would tell myself to develop a strong sense of personal accountability and self-esteem. In college, as in adult life, no one holds your hand and tells you how to navigate your life. It is up to you to decide what you want and to determine the best way to achieve your goals. Becoming mature means being able to accept responsibility for one's own decisions, mistakes, and choices. It is also important to recognize that every choice has consequences. Sometimes these consequences are negative or unintentional, but we must each accept responsibility for the outcome of our decisions. I would also tell myself to stop expecting other people to clean up my messes, and to learn how to stand on my own two feet. A confident, capable person is less likely to make bad decisions or to be taken advantage of. Particularly for a woman, a strong sense of self-worth and confidence in her own abilities are two very critical tools that will enable her to make good choices in college and in life.

Dear Ali, I know how stressful this senior year is with all the AP classes and trying to work your job. Just know all that you are doing is preparing you for next year. College is wonderful but the hardest part is trying to do it all on your own. With Mom and Dad 7 hours and one state away everything is up to you. At home students take advantage of hot meals and clean clothes. These things will be your responsibility along with classes and school work. The scheduling of your time will become the hardest task ahead. You already know you can do the coursework just know you have to prepare yourself for the LIFE work! Relax and enjoy your senior year but know college will be harder and more challenging. Also know it will be more rewarding because you have done this for yourself. Ali

The most important advice I could give myself would be that staying on top of reading and homework is necessary to do well. When I arrived to UGA I spent most of my time socializing with people in my dorm instead of doing work for my classes. There's plenty of time to do both, but I didn't understand that because in high school I never had to work hard to get good grades. College professors expect you to act and be responsible like adults, not high schoolers. They expect you to get yourself up in the morning and get to class on time and to turn in homework and other assignments on time. I would tell myself to take morning classes if you're a morning person and to take afternoon classes if you're not because being present in class is very important. I would also tell myself to take a slightly easier course load the first semester because the transition to college takes some time. You should take an easier course load so that you will have time to make friends, to find resources available to you and to do the work required of you.

I would never change the decision I made to go to the University of Georgia, but I am an out-of-state student so this decision was very intimidating. I would advise myself to relax and take the chance. By going to a school where I knew no one, I have been able to become more independent, open-minded, and involved. I would explain to myself that sometimes taking a risk like this is worth it because you must rely on yourself to grow and mature into the person you want to be with less outside pressure. When you go to a college like this, in a brand new place, you step into a whole new atmosphere, a whole new world where you get to challenge yourself to try new things that you never dreamed you were capable of in high school. Do whatever it takes to attend the school you want. If you find your dream school and are accepted, do whatever it takes to get there even if that means facing your fears and taking a chance. Do not sell yourself short or believe that you cannot take on a challenge. You may never have that opportunity again.

Looking back at all of my experiences and knowing how to handle certain situations, I would tell myself to take every opportunity that you come across while being in college. Throughout the years, many different opportunities such as campus activities and events have been given and I have not taken those opportunities. I would look into that senior's eyes and tell them to take everything that is being handed to them, because once their gone, you'll never get them back. Making the transition is not the hard part, it's knowing how to interact with people who you don't know and taking the time to get to know them and watching your time wisely. Spending too much time with your new friends can cause you to get distracted and lose focus of your studies, but too few time spent with people can cause you to feel isolated and you will not get the full enjoyment and college experience that most of your fellow peers received while at the university. This will be the time of your life, enjoy it and take every opportunity that comes your way. It's life's best 4 years, live it well.

College significantly increases the pressure and self reliance students have on themselves. Handling class schedules and timing can be extremely difficult. Also being knowledgeable about the school you are planning to attend and then also the major you will pursue is important. Sometimes just looking at a school's website is not enough; investigate the universities and the departments. You will be spending at least four years of your life at this school and it needs to be a good fit for you. If you can talk to current students at the school do that as well. Once at school, organize your schedule. Academics, extra curricular activities, athletics, and anything else can all coexist together. Your time is in your hands now and you decide what to do with it. Be excited about college life and look forward to the new freedom. This is a thrilling time in your life so enjoy it to the fullest.

Supposing I could go back in time to my senior year the one thing that I would tell myself is: determine now what it is that you truly want out of life (what you want to be, but primarily what do you want to achieve). Once you have done this create a road map or a chick list of the most crucial things you must do or achieve to get you where you want to go in the life that you create for youself. This would be my advice to myself because once you have a clearly defined achieveable goal along the way to achieveing it, you develope a zeal and drive like no other. Each time you check a milestone off of your list or you reach a checkpoint along your journey your passion to reach the finish only intensifys. Your attitude transforms from "I can" to "I will" and a that point you are an unstoppable force, because "your attitude always determines your alltitude."

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would recommend becoming more involved while in high school and continuing that into college, as well as to live on campus longer and diversify my friendships.

So you are ready for college? I have some advice before you make the transition from living under the parent's roof to living in a dormitory with over a thousand other students. Of course you are going to college to earn a degree, so classes should be your top priority. Signing up for classes as early as possible is extermely important. As a freshman, you have few hours which translates into being very low on the totem poll of signing up for classes. The earlier you register, the better chance you have of avoiding those horrible 8AM classes. Make sure you get involved early as well. This is a great way to meet new people and make a name for yourself on campus. Meet your teachers. Introduce yourself to them and have them remember your face (in a good way). This could help you if you ever need to meet later in the semester. The best advice I can give you is do not skip classes. I've seen many people regularly skip class and their grade always reflects their lack of effort. I hope these gems help you in furthering your education. Good luck less educated, younger me!

So much has happened in the past two years - so many changes, discoveries, and revelations about myself and the world. The things I would want to tell my senior self would be enough to write a book or two on. Giving the limited amount of words I'm allowed to type, I would say my biggest advice I would give myself would be to relax. My first year seemed to be entwined with anxiety - I was always worried about what my major would be, what career I would go into, would I get a job after college, why were people so different now? I spent so much time worrying and trying to stay in my comfort zone that I believed I missed out on some great memories and friends. So my major advice would be to relax, to get out of my comfort zone and do the things that made me nervous because that's what life is all about. Oh, and I would also tell myself to buy books online because the ones in the bookstore are extremely over priced.