University of Maryland-University College Top Questions

To remain focus and take my high school eduaction more seriously. To be prepared for the college life you have to have disciplined and be committed. That getting good grades are important and imperative to being accepted into a good university. I would tell myself to learn how to make mature decisions and to keep the lines of communication open with your teachers and counselors. I would tell myself to apply for financial aid early so that I know how to prepare for financial obligations.

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as high school senior about to embark on college life, I would say the following: "Congratulations on making it to a new, exciting world! Be open-minded to the diversity of thoughts, ideas, and people that you are about to experience but never forget your personal values. It is imperative that you challenge the positions and opinions of others because it teaches you to think critically and builds character. Develop a strong support system around family and loved ones to encourage you when times become financially and mentally exhausting; to motivate you when you feel like quitting. When you are reading and studying, focus on understanding the material and concepts, rather than merely completing the assignments. True learning comes from applying your knowledge to real-life situations; therefore, take advantage of all opportunities you have to demonstrate your skills. No man or woman is an island. There will be times when you will need help; don't be too proud to ask for it. Likewise, encourage your peers and help them in areas that you are proficient. Finally and most importantly, enjoy the unique college experience your college experience!"

I have learned so much after graduating high school as a working mother/student. IIf I could go back in time I would tell myself, college is possible. I grew up in a family where high school was the max and most of my family members felt like just accomplishing a Diploma was success. I always felt their was more to life than that. I went through high school ignoring the idea of college because it seemed of no importance to those around me. Life meant working hard. Secretly I researched schools I would love to attend searching for my path in life. That's when the financial aspect of attending college added up did not seem possible to do at only 17. I started working in Banking and other entry level jobs, getting passed over for positions I felt I was more than capable of achieving. I knew college was the fix. I began to budget my finances to pay out of pocket for school. Now, being familiar with how colleges work, I have more resources such as Financial Aid, Grants, job reimbursement... I would have started my job sooner if only I knew, college was possible for me.

I would tell myself college life isnt any different than highschool, the only difference is there are more people in your class and you have to see them everyday because you live on campus, whereas to highschool you see them Monday-Friday from morning to afternoon then you go home.

Firstly, take school more seriously. I would say to keep all the notes I ever wrote down and rewrite them neatly and place them in a file for future reference. Label the sections of all my notes according to their subjects. These notes will aid me in the same problems, theories, formulas, essay questions, and stories in college. Secondly, to continue your studies earnestly, which ever subject you find interesting, at the library, especially the one in Downtown LA. They have resources and knowledge that don’t need “teacher” teaching. Above all, do what you want to do and practice it everyday, until you’re a professional. Whether it be in sports, theatre, computers, subjects majors, engineering, what ever it is do it, as long as it makes you happy. Lastly, the transition from high school to college is a huge emotional shakedown. But it’s going to be alright to feel scare, or worried; because that means you’re growing as a person. Taking a risk is how we learn and if we dedicate all our focus and sweat into education, then we know as a person, we can do anything.

I would tell myself to focus less on having a job and work harder to apply for more scholarships so that I could've attempted an on-campus University experience. If this didn't work out, I would still be pleased with myself because I have been able to save up some money and am returning to school to earn my MBA through UMD in College Park. This will cost a lot, however, at least I do not have a lot of money in loans thanks to UMUC's affordability. I still feel successful and will strive to work harder to become even more successful in life.

Concentrate on your studies no matter how many friends you have. Some of your friends will go on to be authors, nurses, and lawyers, but some of them will pass on. Think about what you would really like to do, not what people think that you should do. Don't waste time because time will not wait for no one. Take your SAT test and score high on it. I know it's hard raising a child during your high school years, but fight. Don't give up. You can do it. If you take general courses as soon as you get out of school you will be glad that you did because some people get lazy if they don't go to college right away. Always ask questions and never assume.

If I was able to go back and talk to my high school self, I would tell her that college was important and to work to acheive this goal. To conintue the learning at that point would have made it much simpler to achieve a degree. Being an adult now has made it harder to learn new things. It takes time to learn things and as an adult you have many more committments. Even though I worked and made decent money as a teen, now family and bills add up and without that degree I am stuck at a lower paying job. I would put all the informaion about paycheck and start deducting things such as rent, groceries, utilities, insurance and other expenses. Yes while living at home it seemed money was easily earned, but it is also easily spent as well. I would hope that the numbers alone would help to convince my high school self how important a degree truly is and that yes some debt will be accumulated, in the end the reward is much greater. The hard work will make it worth while in the long run.

Work fast, not hard. No goal is too hard to accomplish in college and in the real world. Take a look at what you are doing and if you find yourself scaling backward, think about what you accomplished to get to where you are. Making the transition into college can be a scary and overwhelming feeling, but at the same time just know that your life can become changed at that very moment instantly. Put the "i can't and i won't" in the back of your mind and come out with "I did and I will". Focus hard and make the best out of your college life.

I would tell myself myself you were meant to be a cyber- security major not a business major, or a art major or a nursing major. Don't take any breaks, stick it out no matter how hard it gets because once you take a break you will lose focus of the goal. I think that I would have taken more opportunities and tried to accept as many scholarships and grants as possible because paying for school out of pocket and looking for alternative ways to pay is difficult. But the most important thing I would say is never give up and always follow your dreams no matter how dark the tunnel is there is a light at the end.