University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

As cliché as it sounds, the only advice I would give to myself as a high school senior is to be yourself and do what you do. Going into college I had the mentality of trying to please my parents and everyone else around me. I spent too much time trying to picture and act like the person everyone wanted me to be. Eventually it became very tiring that I was trying to be someone I am not. I decided that I would rather be happy with what I do and who I am than to live an unhappy life of trying to prove I am worthy. However, defying what society defines a norm has its consequence. As scary as it is to lose relationships that you thought could never be broken, but sometimes it is better to know who will always be there for you no matter what. Although it was a rough journey to go through, it was an invaluable experience that made me a stronger person. However, the most important thing is that, today, I can truly say that I have an amazing family and friends. There is no rush, but know that people support you.

Going back in back in time is something that is only posible in memory. I was raised by nuns on a catholic school in Puerto Rico, Hogares Rafaela Ibarra. Looking back I learned that life is about the oportunities that come with it. I started to go to the University in Bayamon,Puerto Rico and things became harder because I needed to work two jobs to be able to take care of myself. Looking back, the best advice I would give myself is that, if I would have focus on time management, set goal in the middle of obstacles and never give up things would have been different. After highschool, it was a time of mixed feeling and uncertain expectations. I have learned that with proper preparation and the right frame of mind, you can launch your professional career with confidence and a bright outlook on the future. After all, making the transition from collegian to full-time employee goes hand -in-hand with maturing into responsible adulthood. That is something to anticipate with confidence and personal conviction. Once you accomplish your dreams and your degree in college we are open to make a difference in life and our community.

Freedom is not only a right but also a responsibility. A prevalent issue high school graduates deal with as they enter campus life is finding a good balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and their social lives. Of course, college is a time to try new things and make life-long relationships, but do not forget that you are spending a considerable amount of money and time to obtain an education so don’t take that for granted. With all that in mind, I would recommend associating with all types of people. UMD is a wonderful place to explore and do just that since not only is it so large, but it also is home to a large number of extracurricular groups, sports teams, sororities…the list is endless. Campus diversity was a big deciding factor for me, so take advantage of it. There are also countless employment, internship, and networking opportunities made available to undergraduates in every department so don’t ever hesitate to get a jump-start on resume building and finding a career path. In any case, try not to get too overwhelmed and know that the staff and professors are there for you if you need anything.

I would tell myself to go to the school that fits my personality best, not one that has the best USA ranking, or the pretty campus, or the nice sports team. At the end of the day, all dorms look the same, all games end, and all campus common areas get dirty. What matters is when you wake up, are you proud of your school, are you proud of your faculty, do you have a connection with the people there that will last. Most of all, do you think that your GPA reflects the work you put in, and does the school have a vested interest in your sucess beyond reporting their retention rate? I wish I had made the decision on which college to go to with my heart, instead of comparing numbers, becuase I could have been a student, and not just a student number. If I had to tell myself one thing, it would be go where your voice is heard, and make a path that fit your feet, and not just millions of others.

If I could give advice to my high school self regarding college, I would tell myself to meet as many people as I could. Professors, business owners, and role models, are able to give advice and provide you with resources to help me further my social, academic, and career plans. Other students can inform me of their firsthand experiences about college life, their majors, and activities that they are involved in, that I may also strike as interesting. I will be able to collaborate with fellow colleagues to study for test and enjoy leisure activities. I would also advise that routines that may have been an advantage in high school may be a setback in college; therefore, be open to change in time management. Normal patterns of daily life may alter in college so be prepared to adjust to new sleeping patterns, class times, and work habits. Lastly, I’d advise myself to explore every aspect of campus. Learn what my campus has to offer including recreational activities, fairs, concerts, sporting games, parties, clubs, and organizations. Explore the many academic aids and support that are available including library resources, office hours, and the writing center.

Don't hold yourself back and stick to your high school self. Try new things and don't be afraid to push yoursel out of your comfort zone. You never know who you might meet or what you will learn about yourself.

You are a bright student coming from a small high sschool, do not let the new size of this university overwhelm you. Manage your time wisely and do not give yourself to much of a workload.

I would tell myself not to be naive, that at our age people are selfish and are only looking for their own interest and how to satisfy others expectations of them. My heart was broken a million times my freshman year through betrayals by people I thought I could trust. I wish I knew from the start to not focus on trusting others and being a caring person but instead focused on something that would better myself, such as my studies, internships, start up companies. If I could talk to my high school self, I would strongly encourage to be stronger and wiser person and to use my time wisely, as for the parties, boys, sororities, and friends will always be there, but our youth and time to discover who you are, will not.

The advice I would give to my former self is the following: "I think we both know that when I use to be you I underestimated my potential and was rather apathetic about life, consequently I never established higher goals until recently. However as life went on I eventually realize what my true potential is but I look back in retrospect with regret for not realizing it sooner. I want to tell you now that you do have a true potential if you work hard and learn to appreciate learning Philosophy. Since I am the temporal extension of yourself stretching foward in time, I see what you do not see so do not take my advice in vain. Please try to set your goals beyond your current standards and start believing that you'll reach it. I know that right now your not going to the best college, but you can always get better grades and transfer to an even better university to fulfill your future dreams. Be thorough with all your actions and decisions, I promise you that you will not regret it because had I done it earlier the future would look very different."

Don't underestimated the need to apply for scholarships, and keep on task with your high school work it will greatly impact your college finacial aid package. Work hard and don't be afraid to apply to privates schools they give allot of finacial aid. get your head in the game know exactly what you want to do before applying to schools, otherwise you will change your major multiple times. your a smart kid so don't worry about how hard school will be just come prepared, and makesure you get a headstart on how to properly study. try to find a job on campus in research, they are allot less stressful then retail. don't be afraid to fail, try your hardest and you will always be a winner. don't be afraid of upperlevel classes they arn't that bad, they just require allot of work. 18 credits is allot epecially if your doing lab or studio classes, there is no rush spread you work load out. don't forget college is fun, but you you will still need to maximize every break.