University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

If I could go back in time and advise myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to meet new people. While I met my fair share of people in my first two years, I wish I had met more. I think that meeting people both professionally and personally is very important, especially in the first few semesters at the university. The benefits of making professional contacts are countless. Everything from more relaxing discussions with the professors to advisors writing recommendation letters for graduate school is improved. On the opposite side of professional contacts are personal contacts are friends. Meeting people both in classes and outside of them is equally important. Some of the friends I have made I will know for my entire life. My only regret is that I haven?t made more. If I could do it all over I would go even more out of my way to meet everyone and everyone. I would try to develop more personal contacts with my professors as well as enjoy my time with my friends.

I never imagined that I would be the one to have a tough time making the transition from high school to college, but I did. I had always been a high honors student in high school, with minimal effort. The transition from high school to college was therefore a huge shock for me. I don't mean to sound conceited, but for the first time I had to try to get good grades. I had to put time into studying and I had to pay attention in class. I experienced a drop in my grades, which was difficult for me to deal with because I had always been "the smart one". Knowing what I know now, I would definitely tell my senior self that college is no joke. From day one, effort is demanded to do well in class. It's my responsibility now that I am away from home to commit myself to my studies. I have to work hard to achieve good grades. I wish I hadn't had a less-than-stellar first semester, but now I know that with hard work and effort, I can achieve great things, a lesson that I can always use.

If I could go back a year and talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to relax. I spent the majority of my high school career worrying about my college decision. I waited until the last minute until I finally chose a school. I was stressed about trying to find the best fit for me. I know now that it was a nartual transition. I was quick to figure out my way around campus and feel comfortable here. I would aslo tell myself that living away from home is a lot less frightening than I thought it would be. My parents did a lot for me, and I feared that I would not be able to survive on my own. I would tell myself that at school you are never really alone, you are surrounded by friends. I would tell myself that living away from my parents and relying on me is not nearly as scary as I thought it would be and has helped me discover myself more than I ever had in high school.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself a lot of advice. First I would warn myself about the Freshman 15 weight gain. It happens to many college students but I have realized there are easy ways to avoid it. I would tell myself to limit myself to one plate at the buffet style dining halls, walk to class, and avoid late night snacking. Another useful tip would be to avoid taking naps. Naps just make you more tired and take away from time that could be spent doing homework. I would tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. Although attending a large university can be intimidating, it is important to make a name for yourself in any way possible. Leadership, research, and volunteer opportunites are all excellent ways to get involved and meet new people. Lastly, the most important advice I would give myself would be to relax, not get to stressed, and enjoy the time you have on campus because it goes by fast.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot to say. I would begin by saying that college isn't the place you thought it was. It is more than just work and parties like you hear everyone say. College is the best experience you could ever have. You will meet many people who are different than what you are use to. You will learn a lot from them and learn to appreciate the world around you. You will grow up very fast so be sure to stay focused on the task at hand. Once you manage that, more doors will open for you than you can imagine. Some of these doors are the networks you will develop with the people around you. These are the most important part of college. Be outgoing and develop friendships, because even if you do poorly in college or decide that it isn't the place for you, friendships will last forever.

I wouldn't actually make any changes. I believe I prepared myself very well for the college life. I maintained good grades my senior year and didnt slack off. I did unfortunately however, sort of slacked off first semester of my freshman year in college. I didn't fail any classes or anything, I just could have worked harder than I did. With that being said and second semester just starting, I'm focusing on my school work ten times harder than I did first semester by taking advantage of the library more than I have before. If I could give advice to current seniors in high school now I would tell them to remain focused and don't let college life and freedom take away from your studies. Manage your time wisely because it can effect you negatively in the long run.

One piece of advice that I would tell myself would have been live life like as if it were my last. I would say this because you make so many memories in high school that you cannot repeat twice. You get to experience many new things in college but you can never relive the memories you made in high school. Life goes by fast when you?re doing nothing but seizing every moment of your life would make time seem a little bit longer. Playing on different sport teams, being a part of different clubs, going to school dances, and being the senior at your high school is a once in a life time chance. I would have told myself to give it my all and not to be ashamed and try to be all that I can be. I think I stressed too much about college and life after high school that I did not get to appreciate my last year as much as I could have. No one really notices how good things were till it?s gone and now that I?m in college you begin to say to yourself, ?man I missed those days.?

If I were to talk to myself as a high school senior I would advise that I be open to all opportunities that come my way. I would suggest meeting and establishing relationships with as many people as possible disregarding any differences they might have from myself. Most importantly I would stress the importance of developing relationships with professors because they will be the ones aiding me in everyday work, research and eventually a career search. Furthermore, I would establish the importance of developing as an individual through new experiences. These experiences should include concerts, internships, seminars, clubs, parties, laundry, dorms, fast food and all other things that are so representative of the college life. I would warn myself how fast the time flies and how important seizing every moment is but I would also tell myself that sometimes it is ok to slow down and enjoy time to myself. While I was academically prepared for college I had no idea of the wonderful life changing experiences Illinois would present for me outside of the classroom. I wish I could go back and tell myself how lucky I am to be attending such a diverse, well rounded and prestigious University.

Ever since I transitioned into a college life, it changed my views of college that I originally had when I was a senior in high school. There are many things that I wish I knew before I got settled into my college life. The major advice I would have given myself if I was in high school is that many of the studies done in college is independently motivated. This is a crucial advice for high students because back then, teachers would be on each student?s tail making sure they got their assignments and studies done on time, however, that is not the case in college. This is because many of the studies done in college are based on a lecture and discussion style. In addition, the pace that the professors go is extremely fast because they need to get a whole subject covered within a semester, which is half the time a high school student would learn in. All in all, studying habits and time management must be adjusted to a higher level when transitioning from a high school life to a college life.

I cannot believe how fast two and a half years of college have flown by for me. If I were to meet myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to let opportunities to slip away. While I am involved in things, there are so many things I would like to do and so many classes I want to take that it's hard to believe I will be graduating in just three more semesters. I would also tell myself that college is about academics but it is also about growing up, becoming independent and having fun. Sometimes I feel like I forget that grades are important but they aren't everything.