University of Houston Top Questions

Knowing what I know know the best advice I coould offer myself as a High School senior would be to get involved in academic groups and not to be afraid to ask for help.

If I could go back in time and give my high school senior self some advice, I would tell myself to stay completely focused throughout the entire process of undergrad and not let time constraints push me to do too much. When I was in college, I pushed myself to take too many classes at once, or classes that were very difficult at the same time so that I could graduate "on-time." What I know now is that that led to a lower GPA which caused great anxiety when I was applying for law school. Thankfully, I was accepted into my first choice law school, but the time it took for me to graduate undergrad does not matter at all to graduate schools or even professional jobs, what matters is your GPA. I would tell myself to stay focused, work hard, do not slack, but pace yourself and make sure your grades are high.

If i could go back in time and talk to the high school me, the one thing i would make sure to say to myself is to work hard no matter what. At first when you get to college it might be a bit overwhelming. In high school you were used to getting things handed to you but now in college its mainly up to you whether you succeed or not. Make sure to put in the time and effort needed to get the results you hope for. Sometimes it may mean not going out much or stay stuck studying while theres other fun things you can do, but you have to keep your end goal in sight and realize what you're doing now will pay off in the long run. College may be stressing or difficult, but its a beautiful struggle and when its all said and done and you'll be able to look back at the great things you accomplished by always working hard.

As you're ending you're senior year really think about how the community college will be the basic start to a life changing decision. Do NOT fool around, start and do the best you can make sure to give it your all so you can finish as fast as you can. Don't get too comfortable there because the university life is way better. Go in do your basics and get out. Also don't think its like high school where if you miss a day you have 5 days to finish anything you missed. If you miss something you will not be able to make it up. Always go to class. Apply for the scholarships you can because when you get to the university it will cost you way more and those loans are pretty stressful. Make the best of your college days and make your mom proud.

College is not about coming out on top. Sure, there are competitive elements - like the admissions process or that quest for scholarship money. But, despite what the world will tell you, college is not about competition - it's about so much more. There will be a day when your roommate's whole world is crumbling around her. In the back of your mind, you'll be thinking about that paper due at 8 AM and the 4.0 you'd hoped to maintain. You can't afford to spend the night as a shoulder to cry on, but college is not only about getting the grade. It's about learning to be a well-rounded person - someone who can balance her own goals with compassion for others. So, when the time comes, be that shoulder to cry on. One day, you'll be proud you did. The ultimate goal is not a 4.0; the ultimate goal is to be prepared for life. And life is not about success, but about learning to make decisions about what you will prioritize. It's those decisions - much more than your GPA - that will determine the person you become.

I would give myself the advice to seek for help when needed. I know that I am not going to understand everything that is going to be thrown at me, but I am the type of person that is too prideful to seek help. I would ell myself in highschool to not be afraid because that is the only way that I am going to move on to to seek help in those around me. I need to break out of my zone and do things that I would not likely do. If I had started this in highschool maybe I would not be so resiliant to it now. I do not want to be underminded by anyone just because I can not do something. I have realized that this is okay because that how I will grow as a person and be succesful.

Definitely do your research when it comes to making a descision. Pick a school were people like to get involved, don't just go where they gave you the best deal, trust me you'll regret it. Going far away from home is'nt that bad, but only if your school can feel like a home away from home, this one doesn't. Be smart when making your descison.

If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I would advise that when deciding what to do after high school, I'll be commencing a journey that will last not only the next few years, but the rest of my life. Therefore, rather than choosing a field of study simply because it seems practical, or acceptable to family or peers, I should determine what I truly enjoy and feel passionate about. Then, I should incorporate those interests into my educational and career goals, and devote every effort to excelling at them. Fortunately, even if I make mistakes along the way, I can still change course later; but nevertheless, the earlier I make the right decisions, the easier my path will ultimately be. Additionally, while studying and work are essential components of college life, I shouldn't forget to enjoy my college years. A university campus is a lively and intellectually stimulating environment -- one unlikely to be matched by most other places I'll encounter in life -- so I should strive to avail myself of all the opportunities it affords.

If I could talk to my younger self, I would say “please do the research.” Don’t take unnecessary classes in college. Have a vision of what you want and be true to yourself. I began my college career as a nurse, a dream that only parents had for me. At the end, I enrolled in University of Houston studying what I always wanted to be, an Anthropologist. Don’t be afraid to go against the crowd, enjoy being single and spend more time with true friends.

1) Be selfish. You're in school for yourself. Try your hardest. Keep the end goal in mind. 2) Ask stupid questions. You are paying for this. Raise your hand. Go to tutoring. 3) Eat, sleep, shower. You will not be able to concentrate if your body is exhausted or starving. 4) Your bed is a temptress. Remember that time passes, whether you work or not. 5) Walk around in your PJ's. Don't fear judgment. No one cares, and everybody understands. 6) Eat as many cookies as you want. Do what makes you happy. 7) Talk to people in the elevator. Make friends. Introduce yourself. Make the first move. Do not underestimate the power of the study group. 8) Ice cream is the best pick-me-up. Don't be ashamed to cry or to take a moment to just breathe. 9) Mommy and Daddy love you. They want you to do well. They understand that you have to study. Don't feel guilty. 10) Always remember to buy toilet paper... Someone will always forget.

Knowing what I know now, I would have told my high school self to try harder. I would've told myself to not make excuses. Just because I grew up poor does not mean that I have to be poor forever. I would have told myself to start early, to get a head start in finding financial help for school and to not depend on loans to pay off school. I would have told myself to study more and think less on what it could have been if I was living in a middle class family. It all made no difference pondering on such things. It just extended my time and reach for success. I would have told myself to work less in high school and spend more time being more active in school activities, creating broader networks that could be useful in the long run. Knowing what I know now, transitioning to college life would have been much more easy had there been someone to guide me through the process.

The advice that I would give myself would be to take your school work seriously. I would tell myself that you need to focus more on school because 'we' tend to get stressed out when we procrastonate until the last second. I would let myself know that not doing your work on time or letting things snow ball out of control will only hurt you later, when you realize what happened and try to put the pieces back together when it is already too late. Although most of the things I would tell myself are academic, I would also tell myself to branch out more socially. Join more clubs, thats how you will make life long friends. I would also tell myself not to be afraid to be myself, there are people who really like you for who you are, nerdyness and all. Don't sweat the little things, everything will fall into place eventually, don't worry.

When I was a high school senior, I was forced to transition to a lower standard high school after going to fairly prestigious high school in my city. That had physically and mentally crushed me, I felt that the future I planeed out was ruin and it took away all my motivation to do well. I ended up doing everything half-assed. If I was to go back, I would slap my younger self and tell her, "you're an idiot". Because of the stupid decisions I made when I was younger, I'm suffering the consequences now. If I really could go back in time, I'll tell her to look at the bright side of the bad situation. I'll tell her that even if she is going to a lower standard school it doesn't mean the world ended it just means things just changed a little! I'll tell her to strive to the top, look at all her opportunties, and not to only what is in front of her. That way I would probably be happier than I am now.

I would tell myself to actually study for the SAT’s. I couldn’t stress enough how important it is to get into a good college or land a full ride scholarship. Get involved in organizations and do volunteer work. Fill out as many scholarships as you can, even the ones that require essays. Enroll in different colleges even if you’re already planning to attend a specific one. Don’t let yourself procrastinate and stay on task. I would say sign up for your college classes early each semester and don’t be afraid to try new things. Do your homework ahead of time, not on the due date you’ll get swamped with work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and take advantage of college opportunities such as tutoring. Most of all don’t be afraid to be yourself, to have fun, and to let your guard down every once in a while.

Well, the best advice I could give myself as a college senior on my first day would be to find yourself. The sooner a man finds himself, the more fulfilling life can be from there on out. Find something you love, find something you're passionate about, find out more about yourself as James. People always talk about how important the future is, and I agree the future is important. But take time out of your day every day to focus on the present. Focus on the now. Sit back, relax, and reflect on the world around you. As far as college applications, and other pressures about college, just don't procrastinate. It's that simple. The less you procrastinate the more time you'll have to focus on yourself. Enjoy your senior year, it'll be the best of your life thus far.

I spent my four years of high school trying to become someone I was not. My group of friends were the type of friends that settled for average. These type of people had no motivation to become someone better. For that reason, the influence they had on me led me to not be involved in any sports or much extracurricular activities. I took a few AP classes here and there but I know I could’ve pushed myself harder if I only would’ve tried. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself the following: once you accept that high school diploma, social status, the parties, who dated who, drugs, and trying to “fit in” will no longer matter. All these things are temporary and unimportant. I’ve learned that becoming someone whom your parents and your family will be proud of something to strive for. I would tell my past self to worry about who YOU want to become and not to blend in with the crowd. If someone tells you you can’t do something, do it and shove it in their face. Be original, be yourself, don’t be afraid to try something new.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself the following: In order to be successful, you need to plan ahead and practice good habits because that's part of having good discipline. Get involved in the community and volunteer a little more. Do not worry about finding a job now because you will always have a job after you're done with school if you go to school. Time does not wait for anyone nor will it wait for you so make sure that you use your time wisely. I promise that you will have plenty of time to have fun, but first focus on your studies in college and do your best. By completing school, you will be able to show and lead a good example to your family members. Others will look up to you and you will be able to guide them through school because of your experience. Education will never be taken from you, enjoy and remember that knowledge is power.

I would have pushed myself harder to study more for my classes. I would have payed more attention to my school books than the boys in high school.

I would give myself a perspective of how working just a tad harder and putting out a little more effort in all my classes may have helped me recieve more scholarships. Also, telling myself to stay in Football past my sophmore year because I have the potential to be something special, but was scared I wouldn't be able to balance schoolwork and sports. Furthermore, I would tell myself to open up to more people rather than just talk to the same people everyday. I would definitely tell myself to smile more and not listen to my music in the hallways. Last of all, tell myself to stop worrying so much what other may think of me and be more confident in my own skin.

You need to e really focus and stop waiting to the last mintue to do something. Trust me, thingd will be a lot easier on you when buckle down and get serious.