University of Iowa Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of Iowa know before they start?

Gustavo

I would tell myself to apply for scholarships like no other. The transition is very hard on you at first, but in due time, you will have the best time of your life. Dont't worry about what people say in high school, just focus on yourself. Focus on your grades, focus on scholarships, focus on work, but most importantly, focus on your friends and family. You will soon come to realize how quickly you are growing up as soon as you wave bye to your family, and some goodbyes to your friends. Make the most out of high school.

Fatima

I would tell myself to start the process of self love, because getting a bad grade isn't the end of the world. A bad grade does not determine your self worth and putting your mental health at the bottom of the priority list for academic marks is only ever detrimental. Your mental health should be at the top of that list. I would also tell myself that fitting in with the "cool kids" won't get you anywhere in the real world. We all become different people and we all change after highschool. Do not try to conform yourself into a person you don't recognize, stay true to your feelings and personality. Shine, shine, shine, as best as you can.

Samantha

We all worry about who we are going to be in high school, and many times we do not really see who how that effects us once our adult life officially begins. While going into college, I believed that each person I encountered would still treat me terribly, much like what happened in high school. Unfortunately, with thinking such as this I was unable to truly break free from who I was as a high shooler and did not get comfortable in my new environment until the second semester of my freshman year. I started to talk to people more and believe in myself as more than just the person that everyone bullied previously. Throughout my transition into college life, I truly realized that this time was an opportunity to become who I really was and who I wanted to be, not what others wanted me to be. My advice is to simply break free from the mold that society has placed upon your shoulders thus far, and to truly realize your potential on that first day of your new beginning instead of watiting.

Megan

Hey High School Megan, It's me. You're about to start college and I know how excited you are to move on the next chapter. Home is good and high school is great, but we both know how much you love a challenge. A few small words of wisdom to get you started; always bring an extra pen, keep water and granola bars handy at all times, and buy a voice recorder. You will thank me later, I promise. But the biggest piece of advice I can give you may not seem very important. Be yourself. Not everyone will like it, not everyone will like YOU. What is important, however, is that you like who you are. It is way too early to forget your morals and throw away everthing you are passionate about to follow the crowd. And when have you ever wanted to follow the crowd? Last time I checked, you wanted to lead it. All my love, College Megan

Jon

Be prepared!! It's not just about finishing school, and getting the degree. Yes, that is the ultimate goal but more importantly you're in college to become a better, more well-rounded individual. Focus on your education and yourself equally. Try new things, get out of your comfort zone!! It's very important to embrace the actuivities that involve meeting new people, and doing things with people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds! Most importantly: Enjoy it, savor every moment, and always keep an open mind.

Matt

Joining the Hawkeye Marching Band is the best choice you could have made for starting school. The amount of quality friends you will make will open up doors throughout your entire college career, like joining a music fraternity, attending social gatherings, and making artistic friends that are involved in all sorts of different lifestyles. Also, don't sacrifice your studying time for a social life. B's are good, A's are better. Make sure to make time for studying and for friends. And the most important thing, get to know your professors. You will meet a lot of interesting people that have followed similar or totally different lifestyles, and they all will teach you something, whether it is related to class or not. Some of these people can help you more than you will ever know with career goals and figuring out who you are as a person. And lastly, don't be afraid to take risks. Only those who dare to fail greatly will ever achieve greatly.

Van

I thought life was going to be smooth sailing. We all have so much potential, and we are all told that we are special, but it's hard for us to locate our niche. The truth is life is a lot like evolution. We have a track, and there are plenty of advantages to being you, so the you you are is the best you you could be. The choices we make can be eye opening, but that doesn't mean they have to be made. I know this seems like one big, over exaggerated lecture, but the truth is the future is expensive. You definitely don't know what is best, and the amount of effort you put forth is directly linked to the success you will receive in the future. It seems kind of silly to worry about finances and future well-being when you are about two-ninths through your life, especially when you are working towards being put in the ground, but ,and I know this is over used, but it is about the journey, not the destination. Since I was you, I know it's going to be tough, but your future is grand.

Chris

Don't sweat the small stuff. I worried about everything when I was younger. Getting good grades, staying out of any trouble or worrying about what I said that could be misconstrued. Looking back, I would tell myself to relax. Stressing myself out over getting an A wasn't worth it. I would tell myself to take a breath and realize a B isn't too bad. I also would tell myself not to worry about what others think. My dad used to always tell me to "consider the source" when someone said something I didn't like. I never really got it until I became an adult. Now, when someone has something negative to say about me or my work, I decide how it affects me. If I respect them and their opinion, I'll take their comment as constructive criticism and try to learn from it. If not, I let it roll of my back. This attitude has caused me to mellow out. I feel I am a stronger boss because of it. I don't let every little thing get to me. I focus on what is needed of me and how to get it done.

Edward

I would tell myself to find a course that is useful. i would also say no matter what happens in life that just keep head down and keep working on it

Stephen

Hey Stephen, in high school you never studied and got by with decent grades. Unfortunately in college it doesn't work that way, studying is the key to success in the class room. Also remember how you were always nervous making new friends and being open and yourself. It is time to throw your shyness aside. The number of people here who are nervous, shy, and lacking confidence just like you are is way too high. The key to being noticed in college is to have self confidence, now I am not saying let's get cocky. I am saying that it is time to accept the fact that you have a lot to offer to the world and it is time to begin in our contributions. We know we want to change the world but in high school you said you'd wait until college to start and in college you got too distracted. If you want to change the world for the better, then you sit down, buckle up and get to work! We only have one life to live here and wasting four years in college is not an option. It's time to get going!