University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

Dear Sam, One day, whether or not you were popular in high school isn't going to matter, and whether or not your mom let you go to that party last weekend is going to be irrelevant. Cherish the few friendships you make that you want to last. Work hard to be nice to everyone you meet because you never know the impact it may have on them. When you graduate high school, more likely than not, the college you attend will be larger than your high school and not everyone will know each other. No one will know your past, and the only thing that will matter at that point will be the relationships you worked hard for and the grades and achievements you have earned. Always persevere. At times giving up may seem like the only option, but I promise you that one day it will all be worth it. Always believe in yourself. Be the best person you know how to be, and even when life gets you down just know that everything happens for a reason. Although you may not understand that reason now, one day it will make sense. Love, Sam

The quickest thing that comes to mind would to be to tell myself to develop good study habits. I found high school very relaxed and easy (even with the heaviest courses available) so I never was required to develop good study habits, and upon arrival to campus it's been very detrimental to me and caused me much stress. I would tell myself that no matter what you think, raw talent or ability is not enough alone, and that you need to culture your focus and drive to be able to succeed--even one year's notice to myself as a senior would have been immensely helpful in alleviating the stress. To lighten the mood, I would also tell myself of all the wonderful friends I was going to make and just how much they would affect my life (keeping it ambiguous, of course, so as to not accidentally alter the future) and just how many awesome and unexpected adventures I would have, and how many extraordinary new things I would learn and discover, even though the university is right at home.

If I were to go back in time and speak to a high school version of myself, I would provide information that hopefully would alleviate some of the difficulties that college life brings. Adjusting to college life, practicing good time management, participating in community/university events, and networking would all be topics that I would like to discuss with a high school version of myself. Adjusting to college life can be difficult; each student behaves differently upon arriving at college. My advice would be to find a group of people that you enjoy spending time with, to find an organization that helps you to broaden your horizons and gain volunteering experience and to try and keep your senses and make practical decisions. Time management is key at college. There will be distractions and temptations in addition to heavy coursework and in-depth group projects. Practice good time management every day, it is a skill that will help you as you progress through life. Get involved in your community and university. This is a life-changing opportunity. Practice networking. The people you will meet and converse with may turn out to be your best friends and most trusted advisors.

Cindy, I want you to know that everything will be OK. Remember, they chose YOU to be part of their university. You are intelligent and deserve to be here. Now, while I know you will find your way, let me provide you some words of wisdom. Never forget your purpose during your undergraduate years. You are first and foremost a student. While it may be tempting to get involved in every committee and organize conferences every week to improve campus life, that is not your job. I understand this is your passion and there will be a time and place when you can devote your day to organizing and planning. However, learn to find the balance between excelling academically and serving the community. Another crucial point, take advantage of the opportunities available. Do not let fear hold you back. This is the time to study abroad, meet new people and push the boundaries! You are young and that will not always be true. 10 years from now, you want to look back and know you have no regrets. Lastly, I want you to run to the window, open it wide and scream I-L-L…I-N-I!

Dear Bianca, I am writing to you as a college sophomore. Having just completed my first year of college, I have some very important advice for you. My advice is not to tell you to strive for straight As or to stress about which college you will attend. Instead, my advice is to remember that you are not the grade you receive nor the college you attend. Your purpose in school is neither to receive straight As nor to receive a piece of paper in four years as proof of your time spent in classrooms. Instead, your purpose for school and college should be to obtain an education and truly learn. The knowledge you receive and skills you obtain by attending both high school and college will be far more important and beneficial to your life than any grade or letter can measure. You will be able to implement your knowledge limitlessly, and that is a secret they don't tell you. The investment you make in college is worth infinitely more if you Invest not only in a degree, but in an education. To do this, you must invest in yourself and the depth of knowledge. With love, Bianca

Hey Amanda, Well you are finally a senior. You are probably focused on your college stuff than your academics. Freaking out yet? Stressing over college deadlines, financial aid and anticipating college life? Maybe you already got some rejections? I am here to tell you to calm down. Where you go to will be just as good as any top school in the world. Remember it is not the school you attend but your experience and skills you build while you are there. College is a whole new world filled with literally everything you are afraid of. You have to depend on yourself; mum and dad are too far away to help. You have to be an adult. While you are still in high schoool: Focus on those AP courses; it will help (college credit. ahem). Talk to everybody; hang out with a few because you will not be seeing these people ever again and they can teach you something valuable. Facebook friend people; you have a shared connection. Take pictures; so you can look back and see the fun you had. Be more outspoken; you wasted high school being quiet. Stay calm. Be focused. Have fun.

I would tell myself to be a little more chill and more open to experiences besides those related to research and academics. So far I have had an amazing college experience with study abroad and many other highlights, but looking back I wish I would have been a little more social (although I wasn't anti-social by any means). Additionally, I would tell myself to jump at every single opportunity and not second guess myself so much since I have potentially missed out on some amazing opportunities by hesistating or thinking it out to much.

THe advice I would give myself is to use time wisely. During the summer before college, I would tell myself to do something valuable and productive whether it be working, volunteering, taking summer courses, or anything that stands out and teaches new skills. As a business student, acquiring new skills is very important as it makes you stand out among many qualified students. Being comfortable to talk about one's abilities is also important as it can prove to be very useful during the interview process. I would also tell myself not to be scared to talk to people and be more open-minded to the many different types of people I would meet. There are so many people in college that you would never thought you would be friends with and you ended up being great friends with them so keeping an open mind and being confident are both very important.

I would give myself many tips if I had the chance to go back and talk to my senior year self. First,, I would say don't stress out as much. I was use to getting A's in every class. When I got a C on my first chemisty test in college, I was extremely upset and considered changing my major and switching schools. In college, it is okay not to be perfect and it was something that took me a long time to understand. Second, I would tell myself to go to the meetings and seminars about studying, stress, healthy eating, and getting use to college. Being the first person in my family to attend college meant that I had no one giving me advice, and hearing from people who have been through it would have helped me a ton.

Knowing what I know now about college, I would tell my senior self that the college application process is just the hardest part. Yes, senioritis is still heavily prevalent, I would say, but managing to get passing grades in the first three years of high school is a testament to all your hard work. I would tell senior me to always go with her gut instinct, do what she thinks is the right thing to do even as people pull her in all different directions like a stubborn taffy. I would tell senior me to be aware of people from diverse backgrounds who might not agree with everything she believes, and take care not to judge them until after getting further acquainted with them. I would tell her that academics come first, but to never be afraid to put herself out there and try new things, and just have fun doing it. I would tell her that it's okay to call home, but that being with friends always fills the empty gap. I would tell her to expect nothing with a roommate. Finally, I would tell her to go forth with purpose: once at college, life truly begins.