University of Illinois at Chicago Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there is one important thing I would tell myself: Don't forget to make time for you. I've always been hard on myself. Academics have always been important to me. I push myself to excell, and sometimes I have a hard time accepting that imperfection is okay. My first two years of college, I struggled to commit to anything unrelated to academics. I spent many weekends in my room studying. Though I have many friends, I struggled to find time to see them. I had a 4.0 at the end of my sophomore year, and I promised myself I would be involved the next year. A truly successful college student succeeds when they have many responsibilties and somehow prioritize. I joined UIC's cheerleading team my Junior year. We practice twelve hours a week in addition to games and events. I am currently still holding onto my 4.0. I proved to myself that it is possible. I am happier than I've ever been. I would tell myself that academics are important, but so is your happiness. Make time for you.

Don't expect to find life long friends during the first few days of college. More often than not, you'll never talk to the people you talked to during the first week ever again. Be open to meeting new people and take every opportunity to make new friends. Be patient and everything will fall into place.

I would give myself the advice that i should explore all my options when it comes to choosing my major and University. I would encourgae myself to apply to schools that have high requirements and may seem tough to get into, because when i was applying to universities i always thought applying to IVY league schools would mean my chances are slim. But i have learnt that selection processes vary from school to school and all ambitious students should apply everywhere. Also to research into the major to make sure that is what you want to do for the rest of your life. For some people a topic of interest seems like the perfect choice but i personally think that an individual should test his/her own strenghts in other fields too so that they may draw a comparison and be very sure of what they want to pursue.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to get excited it is a brand new fresh start. This is the time where you stop being shy and meet a diverse amount of people. College is filled with interesting and talented people, and it would be a shame if you did not get to meet them. Try to get involved the summer before your first semester. You will get a head start on knowing the campus, meeting falulty, and meeting new people. The connections you make there will make your first semester of college and enjoyable one. Sure it may seem scary at first to enter this new stage of your life, but don't worry there are so many programs that can help make your transition easy. Do your research on the school and see what they have to offer. Try to find a support program like TRIO, Urban Health Care, or even counseling. If that does not interest you look into clubs and organizations that you can get involved in right away. Just remeber these key points: it isn't as scary as you think, get involved, and learn how to manage your time wisely.

The advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior is to enjoy the college experience. The four years go by fast and if you don't take advantage of all of the opportunities and resources available to you, you may end up regretting it after you graduate. I would tell myself to be more open-minded and make time to interact more with my teachers and peers. I would get more involved with the efforts of the University I attend. I would really strive to be a bigger and louder voice on campus and help other students appreciate the great opportunity we were given to further our education. I would also tell myself to not stress out too much about figuring out what my major is until well into my sophmore year--my interests will be more defined and the prior experiences will help me to understand what I am truly destined to do. Ultimately, I would tell myself to go to the school my heart is set on. I would tell myself it is okay to move far away from home. My life will be home when I finish my degree.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now, I would tell myself not to worry. The transition between high school and college is not as hard as many high school teachers make it seem. My career choice isn't as easy as one would think; I would tell myself to be truly dedicated and to put my all into everything that I do. College is a lot of work, but it can also be very fun. Being a college student means having the freedom to be on your own, whether you're living at home or not, but you have to use that freedom wisely because you can't run for help anymore. You need to learn to prioritize, get serious, do your work, but you also need to know when to step back and relax. The stress from school can be overwhelming, so never take on more than you handle.

Looking back at high school I can picture the tan brick walls and white tile floors and I think to myself…if I had only known what I know now; things would have been much easier and I would have focused on different aspects of life. If I had only known that being myself was the answer to everything. There are many other things to pour my energy into that would help my future forever. Confidence is the key to everything. I would look back and tell myself: if you believe in whom you are and you believe that you can accomplish anything, no one can get in your way. It all comes down to being comfortable in your own skin and believing in what you are capable of doing. I would tell myself not to settle with things just because my friends are doing it. Do things because you want to do them. If I had understood that then, then I would have put more emphasis in finding out what I wanted to do in life and I would have worked on those things that truly interest me. Luckily, it’s not too late, I can still do that!

Some advice I would give myself is to actively look information up and apply early. You never know what scholarships you will find if you look early. If you have questions on certain information, always ask college advisors or look it up. You would rather be crystal clear on information than hazy. Apply early to many different scholarships, so you will have a better chance. Also do not wait to apply to different schools. That way you will have many options when you definitely have to choose a school. You will make plenty of new friends and have new ambitions. Don't be afraid of the changes that will happen. I know its hard to let go o the past you knew but their are bigger and better things ahead. Do not get distracted by the pettyness of high school. There will be likeminded individuals who will get your vision. Do not get discouraged, many people will tell you who to be and what you do, but you are capable. You can do this. Be a new you and find your passions.

I would tell myself to always always plan ahead and never procrastinate. Procrastination is every college students habit and is hard to get rid of so never do it. I would also tell myself that if I have any questions about the material to always reach out to a proffessor or TA and get help. Do not be afraid to speak up during class discussions because even though it is a large school, every one is kind and listens. But most importantly, always remember that even though college life is tough and your social life may stink that you are there to accomplish your dreams and that you are priviledged to be learning something that you did not know the day before. An education is a luxury. Remember that.

If I could back in time, I would have to go back to the end of my junior year. I took online classes to graduate a year early from high school and to attend college. I would go back and tell myself to take my time and enjoy my senior year. Use this time to learn as much as possible, take an AP course, participate in gymnastics, hang out with my friends and be a kid. Life is so much easier when you live at home. I went to college too early and it was more challenging than I had anticipated. I struggled and had to seek out academic help. I did not live at home and my family was too far to help me. Although I survived, it was a big lesson learned. I would tell myself to use my senior year in high school to develop more academic knowledge, study skills and maturity.

I would tell my old high school senior self to try her hardest to earn more money, both for school and living expenses. I go through extreme stress and energy just to pocket some money in order to afford the daily costs of college. I would tell her to definitely find a job in high school because it is extremely hard to get any job, let alone a decent-paying one, in this day and the more work experience who has puts them in a better situation to switch jobs later. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of applying for more scholarships and securing a part-time job early on. It feels horrible not being to make enough just to have a livable wage even when your habits are already very frugal. Also I would tell my high school senior self to get into the habit of saving - saving in general, saving for a particular trip or item, saving just because and do not feel like you have to spend money right away. One last bit of advice I would share is to take a breather once in a while. Have fun or you will regret it. Believe me.

Gabriela, Follow your intuition as to which school to choose. Do not be afraid of making a mistake because it is not the school that seals your fate, it is what you do with it. Your first semester may be difficult but, you can do it. You are just as smart as everyone there. Be confident and bold but also have a healthy fear of certain classes because they will drive you to work harder and excel. It is okay to reevaluate your choice of major, it will fuel your love of psychology and Gender Studies even further. When you take your first Gender Studies class, it will kick your butt. However, that class will introduce you to a whole new world of ideas. When that advisor tells you that that psychology class is too advanced for you, ignore her. You know the materials and she is clearly underestimating you. You are Gabriela Brizuela and you can change the world. Best, Your future.

Currently, I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago as an out of state student. Although I am very happy with my decision to attend this university, I reget not applying to as many scholarship programs as I possibly could. If I were a high school senior again, I would take more time and effort into scholarship applications. In college, I had to become smart with how I spent my money. Another piece of advice would be to start saving in high school because saving a few dollars every week will accumulate in the end. I am sure I could have stirred clear of that four dollar cup of Starbucks coffee or that meal from Taco Bell and saved that extra money for much more sensible things, such as college textbooks or that Freshman orientation fee.

Dude, I know that you're making a hundred bucks a night working in that bar, and if you went to college you'd be broke, but let me tell you... when you're 29 years old and an alcoholic, you're gonna say to yourself, "I should have went to college". You KNOW that the decisions that you're making now are gonna end up messing you up later in life. Make the right choice.

I would tell myself to question everything. Curiosity is all it takes to peak interest in almost every subject. Asking questions is the best way to learn about a new topic. Being naturally curious isn't enough, you have to create a hunger for knowledge and information. But the great thing is that once you initiate that hunger, it almost comes alive on its own. You start to become addicted learning and it is one of the best feelings in the world. All it takes is for you to start asking questions.

If could go back in time I will advice myself to take Advanced Proficiency (AP) classes in High School in order to save not only money in tuition and books for College, but also time. I would also advice myself to get a part time job in High School to start saving money to pay for College. Education should be a right for everyone, unfortunately it is too expensive and not everyone can afford it, that is why everyone should start saving money as early as possible.

It's quite a different picture than we imagined while growing up. The important thing to know is that you need to stay dedicated and hardworking in your courses. You will struggle with a few courses along the way so don't be afraid to speak to your professors. That is what they are there for and are more than willing to help. It's also best to get familiar with them when the time comes for recommendations. Speaking of help, I cannot stress the importance of on-campus resources such as tutoring and writing centers. Don't be afraid to use them. This is also the time to come out of your shell and socialize. You will meet so many new friends, not just in your classes, but in clubs and study groups as well. These next four or five years will be the best time of your life, I can assure you. Stay positive.

Senioritis? This is only the beginning of the end, do not give up, this is your time to shine. You need to give it your all because you only perform as well as you practice. Those who succeed are the ones who are not afraid to fall; pick yourself up, if you try to look for the easy way out, you will always be faced with a difficulty. You have the privilege of attending a University, do not take it for granted show them and most importantly show yourself why it is that you do belong there. Do not become discouraged if you feel like an underdog, remain focused but not narrow minded, be strong and believe in yourself, burn fire with in, you are not a dud, Stay positive and give it 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, there are no losers, the only loser is the one who quits.

College is not a step you take in order to be guaranteed a job. A college degree could help to find a job during a difficult economy, but not all majors are equal. Before deciding on a major, check the career opportunities and the average salaries associated with them on a worst case scenario. Then compute how long it will take, on your entry-level salary, to pay off your college investment. If you are not willing to be in debts for that long, then consider another major or doing something else. Although people have been cramming your brain with "follow your passion", or "do what you love most", remember that this advice can be lethal when your "passion" cannot bring food on your plate. Consider that "passion" is not predetermined nor innate, and you do not necessarily have only one "passion". Finding your "passion" requires craft and patience, but above all, it require trial-and-error. You have to try, make mistakes and learn from your mistakes. Only then, you could call it "passion". So while you are in college, remember that nothing is definite, it is ok to make mistakes because this is how you learn.

This is a very interesting and deep question that I even ask myself from time to time. I would go back in time and quickly develop some study hobbits because in high school, I really did not study because I never really had to. I always received grades of A's and B's, so, when I got to UIC, I thought that it would be the same thing. Boy, was I wrong. I would go back in time, and shake myself and make myself realize that life as a high school student is easier to life as a College student and that I will need to study, ask for help, and make strong connections on and off campus, and get to know people that have took the classes that I have taken, enquired on which teachers are the best teachers, how to receive my books and school and class supplies the cheapest, and how to maintain a positive attitude when the work load gets very heavy on my shoulders.