Sarah
Plan it out. Take one of each type of class. Don't take only Biology and no Chemistry, because later on, you'll have to claw and scramble to make up for lost time. Also, have some financials or a job lined up, because girl, it is expensive! And plan out your schedule wisely. Think well ahead in to the future so you won't ever have to miss classes or important dates.
Dianna
As i was a senior there was much iformation about how to apply for college but it was not enough, the first thing that i would do is to get all the information about classes that i needed to get prepared for college, instead of taking classes that were not nessesary. Iwould try to get in harder classes in my senior year to be prepared for my freshman year of college. Interships would have helped a lot during my senior year because it would of helped me see if my major was right for me. Although research for carrers was available it would of helped to meet someone from the University to talk about student life to make it easier. Looking for more schoolarships during this time would of been helpful because then i could of had a plan and have enough money to pay for classes. The main thing is i would of applied earlier to the university that way i had more opportunity to not be so stressed out and do everyhting on time. Getting to know what was better wethere to live on campus or off campus would of been of great help as well.
Paulami
There has been so much drama and obstacles that I've gone through my freshman year of college and I learned so much from each of those rotten experiences. I've learned how to avoid or not make those mistakes since I don't want to go through that road anymore. I've learned to improve my self. My academic improvement is a priority. I've accepted the fact that I need to learn to loosen my efforts in trying to please others all the time. Friends were my priority before, then I saw that when you want them, they can not make time. If they don't have time for your friendship, then those people are not worthy of being your friend. The most secure advise to incoming freshman would be to study hard and then go play. Good grades are worth it in the end, don't lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. It is important to remember that you are not there to only gain experiences, but also to gain a solid education and go past the darkness and onto the light of success!
Stephanie
It is rather hilarious that a lot of high school seniors are stubborn with their major. They know what they want to do with their life and will snap at you if you say otherwise. I was one of those students, but it all changed my first semester of university. My first major was international relations, but after taking classes with this area I realized that this was not me at all. I believe that is what college experience is all about. Experimenting with classes to see what fits your personality and character is critical in the college experience. It is about taking risks, but if you fail you can only get better. College is a privilege where values that students would never notice are introduced with a handshake. I am currently taking a US History class where my professor commences class with current event discussions. At first I was annoyed for it was not related to the course content, but these discussions open my eyes to a world that is greater than our own. College then not just only distributes knowledge but introduces me to a new world that I would’ve never found on my own.
Ryane
I have gotten so much out of my college experience even though im not even finished yet. I have gotten a sense of pride in my school, the determination to be successful in my life and to be able to say that I as educated at the University of Houston. Being apart of the University of Houston makes you feel like your dream career isnt just a dream it can be real if you work at it. And with the campus beign so diverse no one ever feels out of place or uncomfortable and that makes you feel like the world it self is changing. As a person I feel like I am constantly growing and changing everyday. What I am getting out of my experience is finding myself, and this is valuable because that is what is going to help make me succeed. Along with the help of my University of Houston degree.
Alfred
A college education is very important because it gives you a lot of opportunities to get a good, stable job which is tough to have right now due to our economic situation. I know that having an education doesn’t guarentee success, but it definetly gives you an edge over somebody applying for the same position without a degree.
Claudia
My college experience has impacted my whole life. I will be the first member in my family to graduate from college and I am truly pleased with the experience I am going through. Since I was in elementary school I have always dreamed of going to college and become a teacher. I am currently enrolled in Galveston College and my classes has been going great so far. Once I'm done with the classes I need to take before I transfer, I will be attending U of H in Clear Lake. Going to college has been extremely valuable to me, I see myself as a very strong person and I know I will be able to get where I want to get. Galveston College has helped me accomplished many things and now I feel like my goals are way easier to obtain. College has been valuable to me because I want to be somebody in life and make my family proud. I know my degree is going to get me where I want to be in life and I am willing to do whatever it takes to be somebody. Thanks to caring teachers and scholarships, students obtain a valuable education.
Emily
Although this has only been my first year in college, I have learned more about myself more than I ever have before.
By the end of my senior year of high school, I thought I was so sure that I wanted to become a photographer. Later, I learned that liking art is not the same as wanting to make your career out of it.
Disenchanted, it seemed to me that nothing seemed to suit my interests and be of important use to society.
After many months of dissatisfaction and listlessness, I discovered an unusual but ultimately good way to contribute to the world and my personal happiness: entomology.
Since the animal kingdom is comprised of ninety percent insects, investing my time and talents into studying insects will be worthwhile to me and to the world, as insects can both harm and help humanity. Thus, I wish to be of service to my larger international community by becoming either a forensic or medical entomologist.
This is the most influential and most valuable experience I’ve gotten from my few short months in college: the realization of my true, strange self and the feeling of self-worth and purpose in my life.
Erica
This is only the beginning of my second semester at UH, and I've already fallen in love with being a cougar! So far, I've had the oppurtunity to partake in a multitude of extracurriculur activities that have made it more fun and easy to adjust to life as a college student. Whether I'm covered head-to-toe in body paint cheering on the coogs at a football game, or on stage singing with one of the choirs or accapella groups I'm in, I am having a blast and learning something about how to live a productive and happy life and interacting with others. UH is the most diverse university in the U.S.A., and that forces students to continually come into contact with people that are very different from themselves and learn to work together. I love the fact that I have friends that are incredibly different from me , and that we get to experience and learn from one another. Also, the metropolitan setting of the school allows students to become more independent. The most valuable aspect that a student receives from attending UH is becoming an sociable, excellence bound, well-rounded student. GO COOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christine
I was 18 when I headed off to college. Having fun and hanging out with friends was often more important than making an A in a class. After, having graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, I realized that I had wasted an excellent educational opportunity. I currently teach at an Intermediate School in the Houston Area. I continually have to remind my students that although college may seem like a long way off, they must start preparing now. For the Fall 2010 Semester, I tried to apply for graduate school in Houston and I was denied admittance because of my undergraduate work. It broke my heart, to realize that the mistakes of my youth would continue to follow me. However, I applied to another local University and was accepted. Since admission into their Educational Leadership program I have maintained a 4.0 GPA. I am proud of my educational accomplishments, and I know that my studies in Educational Leadership will give me the knowledge and opportunity to help to develop leaders in our future generations.