University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

I would tell myself to get on the computer and spend the whole summer working and applying for scholarships and grants. It is so incredibly expensive to go to college. Where I stand now, I am barely making it as it is. I can't get any more loans because I can't get a co-signer and of the few scholarships I do apply for, I don't win anything. Had I gotten on the ball earlier on, I would have possibly had a chance at some scholarships. However, being as busy as I am now, It's unrealistic to work the number of hours that I would need to work to pay for all my school expenses, while still keeping my grades up.

The very first thing that I would tell myself is to not take this amazing opportunity for granted. Brace yourself for a lot of work but a heck of a lot of fun. Keep your head on straight and remember this is where you can make your dreams come true. Be prepared to make mistakes, cry a lot, and get hurt, but remember this is the time of your life. So LIVE IT! Get ready for new friends and the disappearance of old ones, late nights and early mornings, and bad decisions with even better memories. And finally, remember to be yourself because you can only do this once. Have confidence because no one can do this better than you can.

Assuming I could go back in time knowing what I know now, my advice would be to study. I never applied myself in school, because I never thought I could attend college. Money was had to come by in my family. We lived just above the food stamp level, twenty dollars above, mom worked hard to make ends meet. Sometimes the youth pastor would give me extra money for school sports and pick me up from practice; mom did not have the money for extra gas. Times were hard for us so I studied and made the grades to get by in high school. I have the knowledge now that with little engorgement from friend at work I can go back to school, because there is financial help. Take lots of writing and math classes in high school, you will need those in college , for sure.

I will advice myself to apply for more scholarships.

Do not underestimate college. High school might be a piece of cake but college is a different story. No one will feed you so every action you do all depends on you. No professor will care if you are failing their class. It is your responsibility to keep track on your grades. Do not fall behind and be proactive because little mistakes can jeopardize your grades. Knowing your priorities and responsibility is a key to success.

Dear Erin of 2007,Much has happened in your life in these past five years…many things you would have never predicted or even thought to prepare for. That’s why I’m writing this letter with advice for your future.#1 Expect the unexpected.Right now you’re excited that you were directly admitted into the prestigious Merrill College of Journalism at UMD for the upcoming fall. However, in the next few months you’ll realize you don’t like journalism as a major. You’ll actually graduate in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in marketing. Always remember that there’s no way to know how you’ll feel about something until you try it. #2 Keep an open mind. Limiting yourself to preconceived notions of your path in life will only serve to narrow your vision of the broad horizon in front of you. For example, what you thought was only a convenient part-time college job at a local preschool actually revealed your life’s passion: working with children. You’ll even change your career path after college from business to education! Surprised? Life is about discovery; enjoy the journey.Sincerely,Erin of July 2012

Things do not always go as planned. Right now, you are basking in glory being a high school senior. You know what college you are going to next fall, you want to become a dentist when you grow up, and everything is going your way. However, once you step on campus, you will realize that your life will undergo major challenges. Having an open mind about your future is imperative because your thoughts and emotions are going to change with the classes you take and the experiences you encounter. After some consideration, you may even realize that dentistry is not the best fit for you and that you should try studying other majors instead. There will be several ups and downs along the way, switching from one major to another, but eventually, you will discover the career that is best for you. Do not rush to know exactly what you want to do with your life because this transition requires much time to solely think about your best interests while disregarding other factors. No matter what unexpected turn of events come your way, it is most important to learn how to turn your uncertainties and problems into opportunities and successes.

Tim, there are several things you need to work on if you’re going to succeed in college – both inside and outside of the classroom. First off: enough procrastinating – it will only add extra stress when your workload piles up. Part of doing this requires you to plan everything ahead of time, and execute. Pulling all-nighters is no way to go through college, you won’t make it. Also, study more for your exams – you won’t achieve up to your full potential if you keep on reviewing notes for an hour and calling it studying. Read the material, SparkNotes won’t work! Outside of the academic education you will receive, you will need to educate yourself on social issues. This starts with building up your self-confidence. The more confident you are in yourself, the better off you’ll be in social endeavors. This leads into point number two: don’t just live in a bubble – seek opportunities to meet new people and be the outgoing kid you were eons ago. Follow the two aforementioned suggestions, and you'll get the full college experience. You have uncapped potential, Tim, don’t sell yourself short.

If I could go back in time to when I was a High School Senior, I would tell myself that I need to work harder to get the grades desired for college. I would have made sure that I participated more in my classes instead of slacking a little. I would also try to figure out what exactly I wanted to go to college for instead of trying to figure that out now. I would have told myself that I could have gone to a University instead of a Community College if I would have applied myself more. Transitioning to College is fairly easy you just have to do the assignments on time and study for all tests. Participation means a lot to the teachers so make sure you ask questions. Never be afraid to ask a teacher for help, it is actually there job to answer them and help you. If you don't ask for help they won't know that you’re struggling. Doing assignments completely and handing them in on time makes all of the difference. Pay attention in all classes and chances are you will understand the assignments.

Dear Me, You've came this far and you're finally graduating!! Yes!!! As me from the future, I've already experienced college life and have only one piece of advice for you: YOLO. Well, I know you're scratching your head and wondering: what's YOLO? YOLO (You Only Live Once) is a popular catchphrase that Drake (the rapper) sang in his song, "The Motto", which has become the catchphrase for 2012. So what does YOLO have to do you? It's quite self-explanatory: live your life as if it's your last. Now, I don't mean be reckless, but treat YOLO as a modern carpe-diem. College is a another platform of your life where you can explore yourself and make a name for yourself. For most of your life, you've always wanted to try new clubs, sports and meet new people, but fear and public opinion have prevented you from pushing yourself beyond your boundaries. Even though you're scared about starting college, just remember YOLO. Join a Quidditch team, take a dance class, etc. I hope my advice will help you grow as a person by the time you graduate from college.