University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Take a deep breath. It really is not as bad as you think its going to be. All this worrying about being a little freshmen and what the girls will think of you is just a waste of time. Just be you. Put that smile on and don't wait for people to come to you, go out and make friends like you have been doing all throughout high school. However, make sure you don't mistake the college workload for the highschool workload. I am going to put this really bluntly but, compared to college, HIGH SCHOOL IS A JOKE. The work is harder, they expect more from you, and you need to step up to the plate. This shouldn't be too hard though if you just remember, you are a bright kid. Just don't get carried away with the party aspect of school. Only go out to reward yourself for academics, and don't fall into the wrong crowd. Make sure you don't forget your old friends either. College is all about balance. Schoolwork, family, friends, and funds. If you think about these now, you will master them by the time you receive that degree.

I would tell myself: Paige, do not room with your bestfriend. It will ruin your friendship. Also, it will limit the amount of friends you could be making if you roomed with someone you did not know. You and your bestfriend will both regret living in a tiny room together so please reconsider your roommate situation.

Remember that everything you learned in your old high school environment and "culture" was only just a subset of the outside world, and much of it doesn't apply as it does in college. In order to truly succeed, you have to understand that you make the community you are a part of, if you want to achieve your goals through a college education it requires strong personal growth, the ability to lead as well as follow, and to be passionate about everything you do. Work on your identity and motivation by being perceptive and experimental, and learn not just a specific trade or degree path, but how people interact and collaborate. Don't ever settle for a comfort zone, if you haven't had your established values and morals challenged during your time at college, you haven't tested the limits of your knowledge and willpower. In order to truly understand yourself and the people around you, experience must be created. "Constructive conflict" and argument will help refine and define what drives and motivates you, so stand up whenever you can, and when the pressure is on and you get knocked down, you find out what truly drives you.

Rid yourself of any expectations and be ready for whatever is thrown your way. I've seen a lot of students who came in to school thinking they would be on top of everything and had certain ideas of how they would handle all situations but when the time came, they weren't prepared for the unexpected. College is about new beginnings, new friends, and a new way of life. Picture how you want your life to look in four years and do whatever it takes to get yourself there. In college there is no one to lead you down a path so responsibilites lie completely on the shoulders of those who want to reach certain goals, and are more than likely capable if they put their heart and mind to it. Take the reigns of your life and lead it to your ideal destination but don't boycott your adventure if obstactles get in the way!

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would honestly tell myself to put academics first and retain the same study habits that I used to have. I honestly don't think much has changed for me besides the increased difficulty in coursework. There's not much I would change about my experience. I've seen people get wrapped up into the social aspect of college, but I still always remain true to what I want to get out of my college experience. I want to learn. I want to broaden my horizons and to further my education. I do not feel that there is anything I really needed to change. Any mistakes I have made I do not really see as mistakes, but just are part of the college experience and growing up.

First when you start college take all the core classes and make sure you know what you want to do before selecting a major. Also join as many student groups as possible and dont forget to have fun!

Do not stress out so much about the enormity of the choice that you are making. Yes, picking a college is a huge deal. Yes, it is a decision that will change your life forever. The important thing to remember is that nothing is set in stone. Plenty of people realize that they belong somewhere else and make adjustments as needed after their first semester. The only way to know what is right for you is to try the wrongs things first. You can't be afraid to make mistakes...that is how we learn. Every experience is valid and important and helps to shape us into the responsible, suiccessful adult that we will one day become. Seize the day!

First off, don't think you have to do everything by yourself. There are plenty of people, professors, teaching assistants, tutors, as well as fellow students, who are willing to help you if you need it. Second, get involved in something. Theres literally a club or group for everything you can imagine, and if there isn't, then you can start one yourself. If you don't want to join a club, make friends and just hang out; there are 25000 people on campus, I'm sure you'll get along with someone. Finally, don't get lazy. College isn't like high school, where you can slack off in a class and pull off a B. You actually have to work hard, and your goal is to really learn something that you can later use to do a real job. OK that's it, good luck!

There are so many things that I would tell my former self. I would have first told myself not to focus on my family problems too much. With all that was going on in my family, it was impossible to try to solve things by myself. The more I focused on my family, the less I focused on my academics. At that point in time, I would have told myself also to study harder for the SAT's. If I had gotten a better score, I would not have had to complete a summer program that was costly. I am now suffering in school financially because of that situation. The next thing I would have told my high school self was start practicing my study habits for college. I honestly believe that if I had started practicing how to study senior year, I would have had more success my Fall semester of college. With better study habits, I would know how to manage my time successfully. I would be able to stay on top of my schoolwork and have time for my extracurricular activities at Maryland- College Park. In all, I am trying to fix what could have been prevented.

Stop stressing. You'll be happy wherever you go, even if you don't get into your first choice and you can't afford your second. Though sometimes similar, college is very different from high school. You will have much more free time, so use it wisely: yes, an hour is enough time to go to the gym, so do not skip it. Get a job as soon as possible because your summer money will not last. You do not have to go out with the girls on your floor on a Tuesday night: you have work in the morning! Go to class and pay attention: that's the hardest part, but the most important. It is easy to forget that making friends takes effort when you see them everyday in high school, but don't forget in college. Be open to new friends and experiences, and do not burn any bridges, intentionally or accidentally. It is okay to each lunch by yourself: everyone does it. Learn the value of a nap. You might not think so, but you will always miss home, even if it is just for the clean laundry and home-cooked meal.