University of Idaho Top Questions

Reflecting on my college experiences thus far as a senior at the University of Idaho, I am confident in stating that the years lying between a high school senior and a college senior have the potential to be the most impactful time in a person’s life. I would not be the person I am today without the priceless opportunities provided to me by my university and the unconditional support I have been given in different areas of my life, much of which I have received in unexpected ways. Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to always keep an open mind, to prioritize my values, and never to underestimate the wisdom and advice coming from those who can relate to our struggles. Most importantly, however, I would advise myself to embrace change as an inevitable part of life that offers endless opportunities for growth. Having said this, I am a strong advocate for encouraging high school students to attend a university because I would not have been able to obtain these values without the firsthand understanding of experiencing college and everything it has to offer.

If I had the opportunity to speak to my 12th grade self, it would change my life. Life has not been easy but without the experiences I've had, I would not be who I am nor have my daughter. Putting that aside, I would have a lot to say. Most importantly, I'd tell myself that life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself. Without a real drive to succeed and hard work, you don't turn out to be much. Additionally, relationships should be supportive of this and of life's positive progress. Don’t hold on to dead or toxic friendships and relationships. I would tell myself how important it is to stay in school no matter what, that education should be the highest priority. Taking care of yourself and your future solely relies on having a real career in motion. Life is full of choices, so don’t settle. Don’t let anyone talk you out of having standards. Finally the most important is to be very careful and knowledgeable in doing so, but take risks and do things that inspire and intimidate you, these are the things that will change your life.

Although I can't go back and warn myself about college or the "college life" the only thing I can do is learn from my mistakes and try harder next year, but if I could go back I would tell myself that the "college life" isn't as great as the movies make it seem. Yeah, living on your own is great, at first. The movies fail to mention that the educational endeavors get more challenging and your motivation if not kept at its peak will dwindle away. There are parties and those may seem fun, but in reality they are a wrong way on the road to graduation and success. It may not be high school, but there will always be people trying to bring high school to college with their drama, so don't let them get in your way you are greater than that! Show them who you can be, and don't try to impress those that try to bring you down with there negativity. Most importantly show those that believe in you by offering you money that their investment in your education wasn't ill spent and in the end go get 'em tiger!

If I could go back, I would tell myself many things, but the most important are the following: - Get active: There are so many clubs devoted to outdoor activity, and they're some of the best ways to get to know people. They may be expensive, but they're worth it. Whatever you choose, make sure you do it with new people. This is an open, friendly campus. Don't be afraid to meet new people. - Find a job: Yes, I know. It's hard to balance school, friends, and a job, but it'll be worth it, and it'll allow you to put yourself in a more stable situation for the future. It also builds up that resume, and that's important. It's a tough world out there, and it might take a while to find even the lowest of paying jobs, but the sooner you start, the sooner you will find something. It just gets harder the longer you wait. - Dont' procrastinate! You love your friends, and they're great, but school comes first. Remember that. As much fun as going out tonight sounds, you have work to do. Do it. One last thing: Good luck!

I know you're depressed right now and therefore aren't planning your future, but don't waste 8 years piddling your life away at community college. First, don't let your succubus of a "best friend" drag you down into her pit of "slackerdom". Remember when you were just a little girl and everyone would ask what you wanted to be when you grow up? You would answer: "a zoologist". Stick with that gut passion; because, after bouncing from pyrotechnics to painter to special effects makeup artist to chef, you're going to find yourself back at animal biology. Sure you became a fairly decent painter and had some fun in those 8 years; however, if you just knock out your 2 years at community college you can be done with school in 4 years. Still take painting, you just won't be as good; but it's not like you're going to sell your paintings anyways. Also, check out internship opportunities at Cosley Zoo and Willowbrook Wildlife. Those will help you confirm your love for wildlife conservation and nature as a whole. Game plan: community college, internships, university and BAM! get intership at African wildlife reserve.

You need to calm down and take time to do everything. I had the bad luck to try and do everything at once but that only caused me to be too tired for fun things. Therefore, you should have a good schedule for everything and yet, leave some room for fun because it's no fun to go to a college if I don't experience all aspects of it. The schedule is only a guideline for you to follow, not to control your life. College is about getting your education and forming strong bonds with your classmates so take time to slow down and smell the roses in other words. Don't be in a hurry to finish college because that's the last time you will actually get to be a kid in a way without having the burdens of being an adult in every way. Be happy and make wonderful memories along with your education because it will go farther than separate. It will help turning you into a happy full-grown adult. Have fun and learn everything you can learn at the same time.

If I could go back in time and give my high school self some advice, I would warn myself about a lot of the influences there are in college. Drugs and alcohol run rampant on so many campuses, and I was not prepared for that. I would tell myself to be aware that people I meet might be into those kinds of things, and to be careful who I choose to hang out with because I want to steer clear of that kind of stuff. Staying clean and focusing n my studies is very important to me, and things like drugs and alcohol are very distracting if a college student gets into them. Thankfully I have been able to stay away, but it wouldn't have been as much of a struggle if I could go back and warn myself about it.

The best advice I would give is to get involved on campus! By joining a club or volunteering, you will meet new people and make new friends. That will make the transition from high school to college much easier. A freshman usually has to leave the family he/she knows to go to college, and usually does not see many of his/her high school friends much once the school year starts. Getting involved is a great way to make new friends, but it can also help a great deal with networking. If you join a club related to your major or your career interests, you may have the opportunity to meet industry leaders and professionals who can help you when you are looking for an internship or job after college. Once I got involved with clubs, I was able to meet some industry leaders and important career professionals and now have a prospective internship. Getting more involved in my college has also helped me to meet important faculty members from whom I can easily get a great letter of recommendation when I need one. I cannot stress enough; involvement on campus makes college a blast!

College is not what you expected so great rid of those ideas of what you think will happen. The homesickness will go away after awhile and you'll forget about it. Don't groan about having to call your parents every week, your mom appreciates it and in the end you eventually realize you do it for yourself too. Bring more movies-you have more free time than you thought you would-or check out books from the library. Don't be afraid to be foreward and ask for help, swallow the pride you had in high school where you didn't need assistance and just get off your butt and do something about it. It is alright to cry about leaving home because you are now forced to grow up and face the future head on. Remember to be truthful about yourself and forgiving. Go out and talk to people, make as many friends as you can because in the end they will make you happy and always have your back. Keep laughing. Study more, it will only help you in the end and relieve a lot of stress. It will only get better. Have fun.

I would tell myself to start applying for all the scholarships that you can! college is expensive. Pay attention more in classes, esecially math and english. Learn how to write really good essays, you will need it. Start saving your money now. Take more AP classes, then you won't have to take them in college.

The first semester of college was challenging for me. I attended a very small high school and the teachers were always there for me, whenever I had needed to talk to them or needed assistance. At college, this is not the way it is, although U of I is smaller, the staff is not as available or helpful as my teachers and the other staff were in high school. I know I was extremely spoiled when attending a small high school, with the school staff being so accomodating and helpful. I think I needed to be more prepared for the emotional let down of not being a 4.0 student any longer and for classes to be harder. It was difficult to adjust to all the "online" support and how much I acutally had to use my computer to access teachers, do assignments, etc. I am not sure how to have been prepared for this. I do find that my second semester is much easier due to "knowing the ropes" and what to expect. So, I guess I have to say, be patient and college will get easier and make more sense as you gain more experience with it all!!

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships.

College. A breath of fresh air after the hell that was high school. One week before college started I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. My plan to live on campus, go to crazy parties, study until my brain popped, and fight the Freshman 15 went down the drain. My plan to be a normal student was gone. I lived at home, took medicine twice a week with horrible side effects, and felt sorry for myself. My world was upside down. It took me two or three months before I realized I cannot let being sick slow me down. The opportunities college presents are too precious to spend them sleeping off medication effects. College has taught me to, even when I want to cry and sleep, get up and go to that party, make new friends. Pretend like nothing is wrong, and eventually you feel like nothing is wrong. College has been valuable in teaching me about myself-teaching me my absolute limits and then to push them one step farther. I look forward to continuing my education and becoming a full time student when my medical bills are paid off. It will be a whole new exciting world.

I graduated in 1993, with an associates degree in Medical Assisting. Since then, I have had numerous jobs, that did not challenge me. I am now 36 years old and am registered to go back to college in January. I look forward to learning, as well as enjoying what I do when I eventually graduate with my masters degree. I am so excited to go back to school, and be someone that my children can be proud of.

Undescribable after deciding to straighten out my life and work on a career

What I have gotten out of my college experience so is that it is very important to always stay on task. If you stay on task then you will get more out off what you are learning. Being on tast helps me to know what is going on, and when it comes time to take a test or an exam I am able to be more confident in my work. It has been valuable for me to attend because I have plans to become a successful dental hygienest. I know that going to college and being a college student is the one way that I will be able to achieve and attain my goal.

College, for me, has been quite the learning experience. It has allowed me to discover more about myself and what I want out of life and has helped me to see the "big picture". I have had the opportunity to meet new people that come from all cultures and societies around the world. I have also had the chance to do a variety of community service projects which have allowed me to help make a difference in my community, my school, and myself. Though being so far away from the comfort of my home, love of my family and support of my friends has been incredible hard, I have learned to better take care of myself, making me more indepentent and allowing me to grow up more so than i could have if i had stayed at home. Overall, my college experience so far has been exciting, enriching and very valuable.

I am experiencing what it means to become independent. I am creating the person I know I can be. It is very valuable to attend college for many reasons. One reason is to become educated in a field that I am happy with and wish to persue high levels in. Another reason is build connections with people to network yourself into the world. Finally, attending college is valuable to defining yourself through tough work, fun, and living.

From my college experience I have learned more about life and myself than I think is possible. University of Idaho is worth attend for the shear fact that what you learn in class and out of class will be more useful to you in the next 10 years than if you were to have gone anywhere else. It has been vauable to attend because I'm able to hold my own in conversation ranging from economics to political science and I'm an art and psychology major.

I have learned a lot so far in my college experience. The classes are harder but it provides a greater challenge for me to suceed. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy thing but I want to continue. It is valuable to attend college for me because I need the education for what I want to do in life and I feel that when i have kids and start my own life and family that I can look back and say I did everything in my power to learn and have a wonderful job to support them. Without the college education there are not good paying jobs in the world, unless it is military.