University of Maryland-Baltimore County Top Questions

After completing high school alot of students feel like they can slack off if even just a little bit, from thier studies. You've worked hard for four years, made it through SAT's and got accepted into a university so you feel like the pressure's off.. .But now is the time to really grind it out. Staying focused without your parent's constant push is tough, but if you allow yourself to slack by taking time off, carrying only a few credits, submitting to distractions, all the hard work you put in these past four years will have begins to stagnate on the back burner. The sooner and more successfully you finish college the sooner you can enjoy the fruits of all your efforts. You've tilled and fertilized the land, planted the seed, cultivated it into a strong beautiful tree...now is when your fruit will grow. Not devoting adequate study time, skipping classes, or partying is like shielding your leaves from the sun. Full steam ahead!

In my opinion, I was pretty prepared when I was in the process of making the transition from high school to college. The only advice I would give myself is to stay focused on my goals and try to finish school as soon as possible, fun will come later.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior there are so many things I warn myself of. One of the most important things I would tell myself would be to never give up or get discouraged no matter how hard things get. My very first semester at college I would have given anything to have been fair warned of the difference between the high school and college. And if I had known what I know now about the college I am attending I would have never gone there in the first place.

Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to do my absolute best in my classes all of the time. Even though I did well in school, I did not do my best. In college, I need to remember to do my best because these grades and what I learn in class will carry me for the rest of my life. I could have been in the habit of doing my best if I had started in high school.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself in High School, I would tell myself to complete college before High School Graduation. I started College, as a Junior in High School. I finished my Freshman year of College as a Senior in High School, but would have liked to complete more. In this world, everything is so competitive, so try to get the upper-hand on education. Collge is also more affordable when you are still in High School, not many students participate in this Parallel enrollment because they do not know about it. This program is a great opportunity to get ahead in your education, I wish I had spent more time in it. With the same goal of getting ahead in education, I would tell myself (at a younger age) to have become more involved with College Life, and Communtiy organizations. Not only does community service feel great and help others, but many Colleges use it as a merit system for scholarships.

I would tell myself to make sure that I am managing my time wisely in everything I do and to not procrastinate or wait till the last minute to study or start assignments. Over the years, I have learned how important time management is and how learning to use your time effectively not only makes things easier for you but it can improve your chances of performing better in the class. I would also tell myself to try and make as many friends in my classes as possible because it is a great way to meet new people, and working with others who are also ambitious as yourself can do nothing but help you.

I feel that the media and popular American culture, more often than not, over-exaggerate the transition from high school to college, in terms of moving out and living on your own. High school students are often shown rooming with mental unstable roommates and having horrible experiences in their new homes, and had I the chance to go back in time to talk to my high school self, I would definitely tell myself that there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Moving out of my home has been the most liberating experience of my life thus far. The independence that moving into a dorm gives a person, not just physically but psychologically, is astoundingly freeing. Once you move out of home, a new sense of responsibility and maturity come over you, as you realize that there?s no one here to baby you anymore: this reaction is almost like pure instinct. Moving out of home is the first step to becoming a part of the real world, but thankfully it?s not like being tossed out into the street: it?s the perfect stepping stone to adulthood.

For you who have yet to attend a University, the word "college" may hold only a vague meaning as a next place to go... a final stop on the road that is your academic career. You don?t give much thought to how much more involved you will be in your own life, because you've never had to think so intensely about it. You?re used to decisions being narrowly planned and approved with a guardian's signature. But in college there are no road signs telling you what to do, or where to go. All the choices are suddenly yours, and you find yourself having to answer the questions that really matter. Making a mistake can cost many months and thousands of dollars to fix, and every mistake will be entirely your fault. So my advice to you, is to focus on getting it right the first time. Understand that nothing you?ve done up to this point has held as much importance, or demanded as much introspection. It's not a simple matter of staying within the lines. You have to know where you want to go, and keep your eyes forward, always looking toward your destination.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself about what to look for in college, I would suggest only one thing. My main advice would've been to take school work more seriously. Throughout my highschool years, I was always satisfied with my academics at an adequate level and never did more than what was required or what my full potential was. I was continuously distracted and unmotivated and during my senior year, my second semester was basically my vacation from all academic work. I only did the bare necessity for my assignments and did not realize how these horrible habits would affect me later on. Not only am I struggling to find ways to manage time, but I'm also forced to endeavor new study techniques that require more time and patience which I was not too familiar with back in high school. College is no joke and if I had put the time and effort into realizing that the habits that I do during the present time would affect me in the future back then, I might've been able to reach further into my goal than where I stand now.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to apply for as many scholarships as humanly possible. I spent the spring semester of my senior year taking classes at the local community college, doing just what I needed to do to get by with decent grades. After being accepted to colleges throughout the fall, I did not see any need to complete all of my school assignments - let alone, apply for scholarships. In the summer before college, I realized that it was necessary for me to take out a student loan to pay for school. My first semester of college has not been difficult, at least in an academic sense. However, financially, I cannot spend money while at school because I am saving to be able to attend the university next year. If I could go back in time, I would do everything in my power to ease myself from the burden of student loan debt.

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would have worried less about the pushing myself too hard. I always told my self ,"next semester will be easier", "college has to better than this". The truth is you are always learning and you hardly have time to breath, but it's all worth it. I would have taken more demanding classes and taken advantage of the time I had and the resources available to me. The years we spend in school whether it be college or before then, are some of the most imortant times of our life. The are the times in which we grow and learn who we really are. We should enjoy them while taking them seriously.

Research every school. Think about exactly what you want to be and visit the campus to determine if you like it. Meet with an advisor at the school and talk to them about your goals and dreams. Ask about clubs and sports. Talk to a financial aid advisor to determine what you need to be prepared for.

If I could confront myself as a high school senior with the knowledge and experience that I have now as a sophomore in college, I am certain our conversation would not be an amiable one. Highschool was never exceedingly challenging, I had copious amounts of free time, and my main focus was on running for the track team. I would tell myself that life as I know it is going to change drastically, and soon. I would stress that it is time to finally grow up. Foremost, I would explain that education is no longer free. My parents are doing me an enormous favor by paying for college. It would be extremely disrespectful to waste their money by not putting forth 100 percent effort. Time management will now be crucial with college, work, and a division one track team to balance. Since I am a walk-on for the team, track can no longer come first. School and work are the priorities. I must study in the majority of my free time because it will be exams with the most weight, not all the little assignments. I would welcome myself to the world of independence and positive decision-making.

I have never had the kind of life that an average child would possibly have, but my life as a high school senior was quiet challenging because I lost both of my parents during my senior year . If I could go back in time to advise myself, then I would advise myself to be strong and hopeful, to refuse peer pressure and thus be determined. If I could go back in time to advise myself I would equally advise myself to be more responsible for my actions, because in college you have to take responsibility for the things that you do. In my high school senior year, I was a leader of about three clubs but did not show a good example for my followers, thus I would have advised myself to be more enthusiastic and could have presented myself as a good leader. You, Chisom Ebinama be hopeful, be determined, be more responsible, neglect peer pressure, be strong and whatever you do remember that Education is a key that can unlock somany barriers.

If I could go back and do it over, I would tell myself that the most important part of selecting a college is the quality of the instructors over EVERYTHING else, and that those professors can be found in-state at a reasonable cost. I would also let myself know that if I really wasn't sure what I wanted to study, getting my associates in general studies at a community college and then transferring to a four year college/univesity would be one of the smartest and most economical decisions I could make. By doing so, I would have given myself the opportunity to really figure out what I wanted to do without wasting time, and still be able to get the same prestigious degree as the rest of my peers at a fraction of the cost.

If I were to go back and tell myself that college was this stressful, I would have made a few changes in highschool. I made a lot of different new friends, that I now dont talk to anymore. As a freshman I was always worried about going to college, and I gave myself two choices. One was to become a cheerleader, become more independent, and become a member of several different clubs, (along with having an outstanding gpa) or be apart of a program for high academic students and dedicate my life to just simply school. It may seem important now to have friends, and be popular, but in the end choosing school and dedicating your life to it can help out in the end. I would tell myself to take that amazing opportunity and be apart of that higher academic program, and become a leader of a club. In doing this, it would help me control stress from school along with guiding others into my path.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would have much advice to give. One word of advice would be that do not take college lightly and study harder than you have ever before. Also to join many organizations as possible because it will help you connect with the college and you will be introduced to many different people who can help you when you need it. Another word of advice would be to take advantage of all the opportunities that counselors and mentor?s offer you and become close with all your professors by attending their office hours. By doing so you will make a strong relationship with your professors and be able to ask them for recommendations.

Work hard now to get a strong foundation in all your core subjects. Practice your mathematics skills, read voraciously for that will help you in every subject as well as in your practical life. You will reap what you sow. Every small decision or mistake has far reaching consequences which will impact you and your family as well as your future. True, sometimes you cannot change circumstances but you do not want to end up with regrets. Life can be hard but it can also be forgiving. However, never procrastinate. Carpe diem.

"I wish I knew what I know now/ when I was younger": That lyric surely applies to the beginning of my college experience. The one thing I've realized I can do without now that I couldn't in high school is friends. As a high school student, I spent most of my time talking to friends, whether it be whispering in the back of the classroom while the teacher was explaining the lesson, talking on the phone after school, or hanging out on the weekends. I'm sure there were times when my school work didn't get done until the last minute because I was too busy having fun. As a college student, I put all of my effort into my work, for the sake of my future. When other college students may be out with their friends or at parties, I'm at the library studying or in my room working on homework. I do have friends in my dorm, and I've stayed close to many of my friends from high school, but I'm able to prioritize my time. My work is coming first, and I have the grades (and pride) to show for it.

I would tell myself to be prepared for having to rely on myself more than I ever had to before. In my first year I went to school at UMass Amherst... far from my home in Maryland... because I was eager for that independence and experience and did not think anything of it. That first year was extremely hard for me and depression struck me hard. There were no parents there to monitor whether I was going to classes or not. I had to rely on myself, which was hard to do in the state I was in... emotionally and literally. When all your brain wants you to do is sleep and escape reality, itwould come in handy to have someone like a guardian who can come in your room and make sure you are up. When one is living on campus, though, especially far from anyone who has any responsibility for you, one has to grow up fast - or sink. I sank that first year, grades-wise and health-wise . Then I transferred, I brightened and handled my depression better , and learned self-discipline. I would have told myself to be prepared to act as my own parent.