University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

College will be hard to adjust to as this is the first time you are living away from home. You may not get along with everyone you meet; for example, your first roommate. But try not to let this upset you too much because there are plenty more students that you will get along with, so do not be afraid to go out and meet new people. School sponsered clubs and activities are a perfect way to meet people who share the same interest as you. Also, the school work will be hard. After all, that is the main reason for going to college. Do not get discouraged, you will find the best way of studying that works for you and you can make study groups to learn from others. McKeldin library is probably one of the best places to go to get some hard core studying done. Even if you have four exams one day after another, you WILL get through it and I promise you will be able to breathe at the end. Oh, and as for love, it comes and it goes, so do not let it stop you from becoming who you are meant to be.

If I could go back, I would tell my self not to stress so much. I spent nearly my entire senior year worrying about grades, money, social life--essentially everything that had to do with college. My stress, from my senior year to when I moved into the completely new world of college, prevented me from making the healthy and exciting transition that I had hoped for myself. The first weekend, I ended up going home because I was too overwhelmed and felt as though I couldn't make it in college, both academically and socially--or so my perfectionist self thought at the time. All the unneccessary stress leading up to college prevented me from enjoying myself the way an incoming college student should. College should be exciting, and if I could go back, I would tell myself that there is no need for the anxiety. Take a few breaths and enjoy yourself, because college doesn't last forever. I have learned now that I have to take one step at a time instead of taking a hundred at once. If I had known that back then, I perhaps would have had the college transition that every students deserves.

If I could go back I would encourage myelf to visit more colleges and appy for more scholarships. I only visited one college and that was the University of Maryland College Park. I'm proud to be a Terp and I'm so glad I was addmited; but I think it would have been a good idea to explore other options. The most stressful thing about my college experience thus far, has been trying to pay for it. I was not very motivated to apply for scholarships during my senior year and that is something I'd like to go back and change. I'd also tell myself to not worry about leaving home. I remeber being incredibly stressed sbout leaving for college, but I'm so glad I live on campus. I love college life and I'm having so much fun. There are so many wonderful opportunities to make friends and to learn. There are so many clubs and organizations on campus, I would remind my past self that I will have countless opportunities to try new things.

Knowing what I know now about college life I would tell myself two things: be YOU and cherish every moment you have. I believe it is difficult for college students to fully be able to be themselves because of pressures from their peers. Now, being 24 years old, I understand that it is okay to actually do what I want to do instead of doing what the group does. Additionally, I am now able to embrace who I am despite societal pressures, and it is extremely empowering. I wish I had known these things when I first began college, as it would have saved me many worries. My second pieces of advice, "cherish every moment you have", comes from the fact that my four years at UMD were amazing, and I didn't realize how wonderful they were until it was over and I could no longer enjoy all that college had to offer. I would strongly encourage incoming freshman to make the most out of their time, because four years slips by faster than you think. LOVE YOURSELF AND ENJOY LIFE!

Be aware that all the seemingly important things from high school such as the friends you have, who you date, and what you do on the weekends, are actually minute details in a much more important experience. Use high school and the things it offers to set yourself up for success in college. Take hard classes, such as AP classes, and learn good study techniques because if you have the ability to transfer credits into college you'll position yourself to be ahead of others, giving you more time to focus on other classes. And even if you are unable to get credit for these classes you'll bring to college something much more important, good study habits. Knowing how to study will facilitate you in being successful in all you classes because, unlike high school, the majority of your learning will happen outside the designated class time. If I was given the opportunity to speak with my past self before she went off to college I would plead with her to separate herself from the hype of high school in order to successfully prepare for college because by entering college prepared you’re much more likely to find success.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to pay more attention senior year. Like many other students facing their final year of high school I did not study as much as I usually did, and because of this my last semesters grades dropped, making me inelgible for many scholarships. Once I realized I did not have as competitive of a GPA as I once did, I stopped applying to scholarships because I just figured I wouldn't get them. I realize how much of a mistake this was now because as I apply for student loans I see the thousands of dollars of debt adding up before I have even obtained a job. This is scary because I do not know if these loans will affect my ability to get an apartment or get my life started after college. Scholarships are incredibly important, and I would make sure that my past self knew this. I would sit myself down, and make myself fill out scholarship applications until I fell asleep at my computer just so that I would not have to go through the difficulty that I have now of applying for so many student loans.

Don't beat yourself up. It's a new experience in a new country, and a new environment. There's no shortage of opportunities for multiple things like making friends, being mentored, and finding an activity to be part of. Don't isolate yourself. Be more adventurous then you perceive yourself to be, and just jump in. What's the worst that could happen? Work hard on your studies, but make time for yourself, and remember to stop every now and then and see the entirety of the forest. Don't get so bogged down that you only see the one tree. Relax. The world is not falling down around you. Relax.

Now that I am attending a 4-year University and have transitioned into college life, I have a few words of advice for my high school self. The first piece of advice I would give myself would be to study much harder in high school. High school is not a joke, and everything you do there will affect how you act in college. I feel as if I coasted through high school and didn't put in 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. My second piece of advice is to not worry about petty high school drama. The chances of you seeing anyone from high school is slim to none and after you graduate, nothing that you ever said or did to a peer will matter. College provides one with a fresh start. My last piece of advice would be to always read your textbook and develop a relationship with your teachers. This is great practice for when you are in college and are struggling with certain material. Your textbook will become your best friend and you also want your teacher to notice that you try hard and ask questions come exam time. Knowing this now, I work much harder than I ever did.

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to work harder and push myself to break bad habits then so I would be accustomed to working hard now. As a senior I breezed by with easy classes because I didn't work to overload myself with difficult classes. Now that I'm in college I realize that those more difficult classes could have prepared me for what I'm experiencing now. I needed to learn how to manage my time, I needed to learn how to write papers and effectively express my thoughts in an essay. More importantly I needed to experience the level of intensity and rigor that a college course has. If I could go back in time I would tell my high school senior self that the "senior-itis" excuse won't help me in a few months. I would tell myself that I should take those essays I need to do serious and fill out those scholarship applications that my mom yells about. Although I did well in my senior year, the simplest things that I could have done then could change my college experience now.

Dear shy and timid girl, Get out there! Don't be afraid to talk to new people and do new things! College students don't bite I promise! Everyone that I have met is so open and friendly. Turst me, they want to make new friends and try new things just as much as you do! The friends you meet here will end up being your family away from home. Plus the more friends you make, the more people you have to "compare answers" with for homework. Don't be afriad of anything! Join clubs, start a conversation with a complete stranger, ask questions in class, and most importantly believe in yourself because when you push yourself you can do anything you want! Love, You

I would tell myself to make sure I take the time to fill out all of my applications early and have them ready to submit. I would also say to make sure that I take only what I need to have with me during the initial check-in date. Anything else that I wish to have but do not urgently need can be collected when I visit home or shipped out by my family. Make sure not to hold off on any projects and start working on them as soon as possible even if you can only manage a little at a time. Remember school comes first, but don't become so wrapped up in your studies that you forget to make friends and participate in a club or two.

I am going to write this as though I am not talking to myself, but to a universal -you-, if that's alright. Hey, it's your last year of high school, and you have a lot on your plate. Scholarships, homework, after-school stuff, applications, SATs, friends and family. They all seem to eat away at your time, your energy, and your interests. Quick, take a second, and think back to where you were junior year of high school. College is a year or more away, you have to take SATs and ACTs, and some AP or IB classes, but the sheer mass of moving out of one stage of your life hasn't hit you yet. Remember that feeling, and understand that it becomes the same way your first year of college. You aren't collapsing under the pressure of schoolwork yet, but there is still plenty of work to be done. You have to get yourself out there, and get to know people. The hardest part is getting comfortable with your new place and the people that surround it. After that, after you have a new home, care about the people around you, because they're family.

Money is extremely important. Do not think that just because you have won a few scholarships that school is paid for. Throughout your life you will come to understand that because of the cost of education, making a decision about where to attend post-secondary school is not a decision that you can make based only on your opinion. You have to bring your family and their financial situation into the equation. Make sure your family can afford for you to attend the school that you choose, whether that be through scholarships, grants or as a last resort, loans. Keeping in mind all of these things will save you a lot of stress and worry in the long run. You will not have to be forced to face the copious amounts of adult decisions that you have been forced to face due to the decision you made when you chose to attend this school that you have fallen in love with and refuse to leave regardless of the hardships that have come along as baggage.

I would have told myself to take my academic life more seriously and to plan ahead for college. This is by taking the time to actually apply for scholarships so that every semester I would not have to struggle to pay off my tuition in order to register for classes for the following semester. I would tell my high school self to visit the career center starting my Junior year and get close with the financial aid advisor so that she could help me find scholarships that, at the time, did not require citizenship or permanent residence. This would pay out in the long run because in college I would just focus on school and not have to get a part-time job to pay for school.

The best thing you can do your freshman year is get involved. There is a whole world of new people and new experiences at UMD that are waiting for you. Do not be afraid. You will grow and learn so much as long as you push yourself to try harder, be better, and step outside of your comfort zone. Have fun! I know I don't need to tell you to be responsible, but remember that the schoolwork comes first and the adventure comes at a very close second. This is the best advice that I can give you because it will help you in so many ways. Follow this advice and you will build a network, make tons of friends, learn many new things, and truly get to know yourself. You can be great, just take the leap!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now, there are many things I would tell myself. First, I would tell myself to take as many AP classes as possible. Coming in to college and seeing my peers who already had anywhere from 6-30 credits, I was shocked. It was clear that these students had taken advantage of an oppurtunity to put themselves ahead, and that is something I wish I had taken advantage of. The second piece of advice I would give myself would be to be as proactive and engaged with my professors as possible. One major aspect about being a college student is that you have to take the initiative when it comes to your success. I learned that it was imparitive to reach out to professors when I needed help, or even simply to introduce myself so that they could connect a name to a face. Wether it is turning in assignments a week early and asking for revisions, or asking for next week's syllabus, professors deeply appreciate students who take initiative and it shows when grades come out.

Please do not be so tense all of the time about college. The people in your class are just like you. You got accepted for a reason. They will help you with the transition, they want you to succeed, they know you are nervous, just do not let it get to you and affect your GPA. Also, come out of your shell. I know you use it for protection, but taking risks is a part of college and its experience. Do not room with someone you know, you will only stick to them because that is within your comfort zone. Try rooming with someone random. This way you will be able to meet someone new, make a new possibly life long friend and gain new experiences. Remember to be open to campus activities. Being at such a large college, you should take advantage of all of the activities and organizations around you which will allow you to get a more well rounded experience and become a more open minded person. Do not worry about not knowing anyone at the event, they want you to come to their event they so hard planned on. Don't worry, eveything will be okay.

I would tell myself to be open and be prepared to make new friends. I would tell myself to not be closed minded and that college kids arent supposed to have strict routines. I would have told myself to not be so reliant on my boyfriend so that I could have made more relationships with friends. I would have also told myself to be open to all new possibilities and say yes to any opportunity that comes my way. I would tell myself to get close and make relationships with professors and academic advisors and always go to office hours that professors hold. Getting to know the professors well could help out in the future with job oppurtunties or recommendations. Last, I would say to experience as many things as possible; keep schoolwork a priority but also allow yourself to have a social life and be able to enjoy this once in a lifetime educational oppurtunity.

My advice to myself before starting college would be to take a break immediately after high school. After 12 years in school it would be refreshing to take a break for a year before committing to another 4 - 6 years of intense studying to pursue an undergraduate, and possibly masters degree. After high school many young people are burnt out. Some have no clue what they would like to study and need time to put thought into it; while others know exactly what they want, but need some time to rest and rejuvinate and experience new adventures. After high school, I would have loved the opportunity to travel throughout world or joined the Peace Corps. In the global workplace that we are currenty in, a world view would bring a fresh perspective to the classroom and share valuable insight. .

Laura, let go. Be a little more reckless with yourself, and a little less with other people. You’ll be fine – you always make the most of the situation. Whatever choice you make will be the right one, because you’ll mold it and change it and move it around until it is right. You are already closer to knowing yourself than many people will ever be, and while you might be patting yourself on the back for that, you should probably also go and thank mom and dad. They are more wonderful than you have the perspective to comprehend right now. Be nicer to mom. She’s about to spend a lot of years missing you, while you fly off on the wings she gave you to have all the adventures she never did. Call more often, and install Skype immediately. Work a little harder and play a little harder. Things are not that serious, and you are responsible for your own fulfillment. Right now, you spend way too much time trying not to look stupid. Go ahead and look stupid. Delete Facebook, and don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s. "Comparison is the thief of happiness."