University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

I would have financially planned out my four years of education better. The stress of not being able to pay for each semester without a struggle is something I really wish I would have planned for better. I also would have told myself to research more on which schools specialized in medical degrees because Maryland may not have been my best option for that career path.

To myself: Get a job sooner! And work harder for the grades, regardless of the professors desire to teach and spread knowledge.

This question is appropriate in this time because I have been thinking heavily about my past and my future. I find that there are many “What if…” and “If only…” thoughts regarding my formative years. I am 22 years old, and even though I wish I did some things differently in high school, I love where I am at in life and I love excelling. As cliché as it may sound, I constantly wish that I could have known then what I know now about being more disciplined. Truthfully, as a high school student and a freshman at a 2-year college, I was apathetic about my grades. It was not until I moved from California to Maryland that I began to mature and truly crave success. Therefore, I worked for it and stunned myself with a newfound desire to succeed. If I could talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would say, “Strive to be your best in everything you do. Not THE best, but YOUR best. Stop worrying about boys, friends, and make-up. Those things are like the sprinkles on a cake, but first you have to work hard to make the cake itself.”

If I had the opportunity to talk to my high school self, the first thing I would do would be to tell her to calm down. That despite graduating late and despite having no idea what is going on: everything will be okay. After that, I would give her practical advice. I would tell her that the student adviser is your friend. She will tell you what scholarships to apply for! Secondly, I would tell her that at points the transition to college life might seem really hard and there are times where you'll be thrust out of your comfort zone. However, sometimes being outside your comfort zone is a good thing – you will learn about life and be forced to act extroverted. Because of this, you will make new, fun friends all the while learning things about yourself. Finally, I would remind her that this is college: not high school. I would make sure that she is acutely aware that the effort she needs to put forth needs to a be a bit more than that given on high school work. Finally, I would bid her farewell and wish her luck. I know she can do it!

College is like playing a video game with new controls and rules. Students have to adjust to the both in order to enjoy it. College requires certain experiences that need to be developed in high school. If I had a chance to talk to my high school senior self, I would use the time to push myself harder in academics and find ways to meet new people. I would tell myself to try harder to pass the AP Exams, to take the SAT one more time, and to apply for more scholarships. I would have relaxed more my first semester in college. I would tell myself to develop better study habits because I was at a great lost when I entered college. If I had developed more disciplined study habits back then, I would have done a lot better. Finally, I would tell myself to participate in more programs such as Freshman Connection to meet more people to avoid boredom. It is with regret that I did not learn to socialize with a variety of people rather than a select few. There are many things that I cannot erase, but I can use my experiences to better my future.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to not give up on fulfilling my dream of becoming a Forensic Serologist. I would tell myself that even though sometimes it will be harsh and make me want to quit, don't, because it will get better the more I keep continuing my education. I know that having a lot of homework is the worse than homework in high school but you will learn a lot more. You will learn more about yourself and how getting a higher education is worth all that homework and staying up until 2 o'clock in the morning. You will retain new information, have the greatest time taking science classes, and making new friends. You’ll understand more about living on your own and being prepared for it when the right time comes. Getting this education will help you in the long run. No more working temporary jobs, complaining about being unemployed, and no more struggle with money. You will make it with that Bachelor’s Degree and work under the best science lab in the United States. Amanda Morris this is what you want, go for it.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would blurt out is "Give it a minute!" Any extra moment you give to the decision-making process in college is bound to save you tons of regret. I am only going into my second semester of college, and I already reflect on so many things I should have done differently - and would have if only I had stopped for another second to weigh the consequences. Spending an extra $5 every few days at Starbucks could hinder your ability to rent next semester's textbooks. Partying with strangers could land you anywhere from jail to the hospital (maybe both). Choosing to spend the last weekend of school with your boyfriend instead of studying for your exams could be the difference between an A and a B. Look at what you are doing now and think about what you want to see yourself doing in situations. Establish your value system in your head and keep it central when making decisions. I wish I would have thought more about the choices I was making, but atleast now I know. You? Start thinking now!

During high school, there were many thoughts swimming in my head as to what institution of higher education would be most suitable to my aspirations meanwhile considering my financial and practical concerns. I was also considering travel time and how far I would be away from my home. Coming from a Latino family, these were all legitimate concerns given that I knew my parents and siblings would be directly affected by the decision I reached. Looking back however, I would tell myself not place so much emphasis on cost or what was most convenience, but instead pay attention to what my 'gut-instinct' was once walking on the campus. I would also tell myself to definitely choose a medium-sized school, one that does not exceed a 10,000-12,000 undergraduate capacity, given how impersonal an environment a large university creates. Rarely have I had the opportunity to interact or make friends in my large lecture classrooms thus far at UMD. This undoubtedly is stifling to learning given that when you feel unable to relate to peers, this makes learning that much more difficult as you are less inclined to communicate with others in an open and comfortable manner.

Throughout high school, I found myself worrying about what career I would end up in. I felt as if everyone but me knew exactly what they wanted to do, so I threw myself into doing all sorts of career assessments to try to figure out my dream career. What I didn't realize, however, is that there's a lot of flexibility when it comes to careers. If I could give advice to the high school version of myself, I'd tell myself not to stress too much over deciding on a career, because one way or another, things will work out. Even now, two years into college I'm not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure what specific career I want to go into, but the important thing is to work toward something I can attain and will enjoy. With this in mind, I'm pursuing a major in a field I'm interested in (Public Relations, to be exact), and will continue doing my best in whatever challenges come my way.

To My high school self:After experiencing college, I want to give you some advice. First, take AP exams seriously. You'll never know the benefits of earning college credit prior to starting college. Even if someone tries to tell you, you won't believe him/her. But trust me, having these credits means you can opt out of many core and introductory classes that teach the same material you already learned in your AP class! With these credits, you'll be able to choose more courses that truly interest you, whether they are for your major requirements, or your mere curiosity. Second, don't be so shy! I wish that I'd been less reserved and more willing to meet new people. Because my high school friends attend the same college, I neglected to create new ones. After realizing that interacting with different people would help me become a well-rounded and knowledgeable student, I opened myself up. It was definitely worthwhile to do so; I met great people and made lifelong friendships.These are only two of the many recommendations I'd like to give you, but I hope they prove to be beneficial!Sincerely,Your college self