University of Kansas Top Questions

Do not hold back. This is the train station of the rest of your life. Which ever train you board will make all the difference in the people you meet and the experiences you have. This is not the time to be timid there is a huge world out there for you to experience and you should not deny yourself that opportunity. There is nothing more tragic in this world than a wasted opportunity. So even if you do not know what you want in life take this chance to experience more than what you have and you will find what you are looking for.

Chill out. I worked myself super hard to get into an awesome college on the coast and then couldn't afford it. If I'd known I was just going to go to a state school (and that I already had basically a full ride because of the PSAT) I wouldn't have taken the ridiculous class and extra-curicular load that I did. I might've gone out with friends more often and gotten more sleep. Having a killer resume is good for the ivy leagues but isn't necessary for an undergrad program at a big state school...

If I was still a senior in High School, I would do a lot of things differently. I would have at the time taken college and my future a little more seriously. I went to a Community College my first year and I wasted a lot of time on classes that will not even go towards my major. I wish I would have known then the right classes to take so that I would not be so far behind. I also would have made a larger effort to apply for more scholarships. I made a lot of connections in High School with teachers and business people because I was very involved with a Leadership Studies Program, and I wish that I could have persude more into that. I am very pleased with my major and of course my University which is why im glad I am where I am today, but I wish I could have been more prepaired.

I would say "Applying for scholarships is the most important part of trying to get transitioned to college. If you just take the time to write and apply it could help in the long run and you won't have to stress too much about wherre the money from college is going to come from."

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself, be prepared to change for better or for worse within myself and within college. This is the moment in life where I will be able to find myself and who I want to become. College will be so extraordinary time in my life and make the best of it. I would say that I should be ready to grow up and mature into a young adult. To get ready to let go of the past and dependency, and take on the responsibility of a college student but also enjoy my time. Most of all, I would say, reflect over who I was as a high school senior and realize the person I was will develop into the person I want to be. No matter what I choose, or decisions I make throughout life, the people who mean the most will always be proud of who I am.

If I were a high school senior and knowing what I know now about college life, the advice I would give myself would be about social life more than academics. For academics, I would just plan out my classes best I could and not put too many difficult classes in one semester. As for social life, I would really take all opportunities your dorm provides to be social and meet people. I know I was shy and did not always attend functions, and now I wish I could go back and change that. You do not want to live with regrets. Take all opportunities to meet people and take chances and hang out with people you might not normally hang out with out. You might meet wonderful people and make life long friends. The most important piece of advice I would give to a high school senior is making sure you become involved at whatever college you go to and make it the best experience possible.

Do research on the schools you want to attend and make a plan on how you will be successful. Make sure you know what you want to study but be open to taking a variety of classes. Use your professors, they are one of your greatest assets on campus. Be involved when you can but don't be afraid to work hard and to challenge yourself.

Do an internship in college and learn to study early on!!

Apply to every college possible and apply for every scholarship you can. And no matter what anyone tells you, do what you want to do, not what they want you to do. It's your life and it's your education; if it's what you want, that's all that matters.

I would tell myself to put myself out there and get involved from day one. It is much easier to get involved in activities as a freshman when your classes are easier and everyone around you is transitioning than as an upperclassmen in all junior/senior level classes. I would also make sure that I knew how important attendance in classes really is, and that maintaining relationships with professors is key to getting reccomendation letters and internships. I also wish I had told myself to be more financially responsible. It is a good thing to have dreams (such as my dream to go to law school) but a lot of dreams are expensive! Another key thing I wish I had known coming into college was every feeling of doubt and insecurity I was having, others were having as well. The transition to being on your own is a difficult one, but everyone goes through it and I should have reached out to others in my lowest times.