University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Knowing then what I know now would have made my path to education a lot more straight forward instead of the curved avenue of chaos it is now. I grew up being told I would never go to college and that I would inevitably end up in the shoes of a factory worker or another close ended job. Having beaten the dead horse of "college is too expensive and you will never go", my parents convinced me that no matter what I did I would end up with a future I did not want so I did not take my senior year of high school seriously, nor did I take into consideration what I would like to have as a career. What I learned from the time of my high school graduation and now is that what my parents told me was not true, people have the oppurtunity to go to school despite financial hardship. I would tell my younger self to stay invested in school and to take the AP classes I was offered because someday they WOULD matter! Basically I would want her to know there is always a chance at soemthing more, especially education.

The one thing I would stress more than anything else is the importance of AP classes and AP credits. I came into my freshman year with 0 credits while people like my roommate came in with 28 credits. Coming in with AP credits not only saves you valuable time and money but can also save your GPA by allowing you to skip out on the CORE classes at the University of Maryland. I would also advise incoming freshman to get as involved in the campus as possible because otherwise you really do not feel at home.

If I went back into time, I would tell myself not to get married before I finished college. I would tell myself the world is gigantic, their are so many ways to live your life and to explain how the world works, I shouldn't have to feel like I need to fit into the life my parents lived; a life, that brought me to get married at age 21. I would tell myself that I was talented in music and art and that I should seriously pursue it and be confident in my talents. I would remind myself not to be afraid of what hypothetical experiences would come from following that dream. Following a dream means making choices that align with that dream, as long as your open to opportunities, good things can happen! A dream is something you are passionate about, when your passionate, you are in the moment, and you act with yourheart. How can good things not happen when you live like that? I would tell myself to go to a college that accomodated what passions I want to develop, I would ask myself how can this college inspire me?

There are two things I would have told my past self. First, I would have told myself to take harder classes and set a better foundation for my college career. Secondly, take things one step at a time. As a high school senior I loved school. I was in Honors English and was good in most subjects. The one thing I failed to apply myself to was Math. In school I had a teacher who gave me a B for just showing up for class. Needless to say; when I decided to go to college I didn’t do well in the Math area of my compass test. If I could go back in time and tell my high school senior self-something it would be, “If you try you can do it; ask good questions and take good notes, you can learn Math. It is not as hard as it looks.” College is all about time management and working toward the big picture. With hard work, dedication, and a proper mind set anything is possible.

Everyone wishes they could go back in time and change a specific situation. Going back to my senior year of high school would significantly change how my first year of college was carried out. I would tell myself to take more AP classes rather than taking easier classes to limit my stress levels. During my fall semester, I had to withdraw from a course. Luckily, I came in with three AP credits so having to drop a three-credit course did not impact me negatively. Nonetheless, had I come in with more, I would still hold an advantage over my peers. The most important thing I could tell myself, aside from academic advice, is that I should have sought medical help for my depression. Not doing so made the transition unbearable. My first semester was dreadful—my attitude, academic standing, and overall personality significantly changed. By not dealing with my depression sooner, I created a negative environment around myself, which prevented me from excelling academically. This limited the opportunities that were available to me. The first year of college shouldn’t be about fighting a battle with oneself, but rather being able to learn more about oneself and becoming independent.

Everyones idea of success differs. In high school I believed transition to a four year university was the only acceptable option after high school because this was the "norm". This mindset measured my concept of success. When I had to attend a community college before trasferring to a four year university I felt like I was accepting a small defeat. If I could go back I'd tell myself to choose the path that works best for me personally. I would reassure myself that the decision I made to attend a community college may not be everyones ideal choice, but it was the best choice for me. "Not only will attending a community college save you tons of money, but it will also prepare you for the transition to a four year university", I'd tell my high school self, "And upon receiving your two year associates degree you will feel an overwhelming sense of acheivement. Its not a failure, Its the smartest desicion you'll make." I'm now moving on to UMD and I've never felt more prepared. When thinking about college decisions measure success by your own standards-don't let anyone define it for you.

College is a fun, exciting place, with lots to offer. There are a myriad of classes, clubs, and people to interact with. Everything you do, or don’t do will affect what you get out of your experience. It is important to take the time to explore your options, and make the best decisions depending on where you are headed, and who you want to become.If I could do it all over again, I would pick my ideal job, or post graduation plan, and work backwards. If you know that you want to apply to a certain graduate school, or job, learn about the qualifications that you need to succeed in that application process. Is the company your targeting big on leadership, and community service? What kind of academic experiences do they expect their candidates to have?Armed with these kinds of informational facts, construct a game plan and that will ensure your reach your goal. This will maximize what you truly get out of college, and focus your experiences into what will help you down the line. You can always make changes along the way, but this is a great place to start.Good luck future self!

The advice that I would give myself in high school would be to try harder in classes, decide on a career to pursue, and strive to do your best in everything. In high school, I was a goof ball and did not put enough effort into my studies. I already knew that I would end up going to a community college so I wasn't so driven in getting good grades. Now knowing that community college is not providing enough classes for their students, I am determined in getting the classes I need to transfer. During my senior year in high school, my teachers would talk about scholarships to apply for and careers to study in college. At the time, I didn't pay much attention about scholarships and college. Reflecting on my decision in high school, I should have listened to my teachers. Entering community college, I now understand what career I want to pursue. Throughout my high school education, I was an average student and wasn't worry about doing my best. Now in college, I want to strive to do my best and understand that education is the key to success.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be much more active in seaching for financial aid. My first two years of college, I was forced to take on loans because I wasn't nearly as active as I could have been in searching for scholarships, and that's something I desperately regret. I wish I could be one of those people who graduates debt free, but because I didn't step up, I won't be able to (unless some miracle occurs). While graduating with debt isn't the end of the world, it is definitely a burden I could do without, and everyday I wish I could go back in time and apply for more scholarships. You lose nothing by applying, but by not applying, you lose the hope and reassurance that scholarships bring. That's something I wish my high school self would have understood better.

What I would tell my high school self is to be better prepared for college. I was the first one in my family to actually go to college, so I had to complete the process by myself with no help. When I finally got accepted I had no idea about things like scholarships, meal plans or financial aid that I was caught completly caught off guard. So I had to find a job and spent most of my college life either going to class or working to support myself. If I had been more informed I could have found helpful scholarships so I could get involved in college life instead of working most of the time.