University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Looking back, I would have told myself to relax. I had a lot of anxiety about going to college, and I expect that is a pretty regular feeling for that period of transition. I have learned in my four years at school that it will all work out how it should. Let go, and watch as your life unfolds. This certainly does not mean don't apply yourself, or try your best in class. All it means is to not sweat the small stuff. You will have to face challenges on your own for the first time. There were many periods in school that I was absolutely too busy to get everything I wanted to accomplish done, but I did my best. That is all you can ever do. As long as you always give whatever you have to give that day, on that test, on that paper, in that discussion, you will succeed. Remember, college is about growing and finding yourself. You will make mistakes, and you will have rough times. But there will also be some of the happiest moments of your life. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. You certainly won't get these four years back.

If I knew then, what I knew now, I probably would still want to do everything I have done. The only thing I would want to tell myself is time management is the key to success. Even though the parents, advisors, old siblings all told me that time management is the key, I did not really understand what time management was until I failed at having good time management. I think that to make your college experience great is to succeed academically, develop/expand your social network, and be involved in opportunties that are only easily avaliable in college. The best way to be able to handle and do all these things is to manage your time in order to do everything.

The advice I would give is to go to college without setting strict expectations for oneself, such as the absolute sorority to join or academic major to go into. One should have ideas, but not be totally set on a strict plan. It is easy to be disappointed if not everything turns out the way one planned. Instead, if someone goes in to college with an open mind, they will be a lot happier and figure things out for themselves. Therefore, if a college senior thinks not everything is going to their life plan, it is okay because there are many options.

I would tell myself not to worry as much as I did. I would tell myself that college is what you make of it, that it will be much harder academically (but you'll figure it out), that I will move-on and make different friends, that there will be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of and I need to trust my instincts. I would also tell myself that the roommate situation always has a way of working out too. I would tell myself to get excited, to enjoy every moment, and to take the time to study and get involved with work that I love, because everything will work out.

Don't expect for everything to be perfect. Part of the learning and growing experience is going through uncomfortable and challenging times. Stay true to yourself and you will find happiness.

Don't be afraid to be open and talk to people in your class. Most people think that because it's a pretty big campus, you would never see the people you meet in class again; that's not true. It's good to have people to talk to in class so you can discuss topics covered in class and review homework. It makes class a lot more fun and engaging.

Don't be afraid of leaving home to go away to school. Don't worry about handling academics and athletics at the same time, it's very doable. Be proactive about earning money and applying for scholarships and grants because the out of state tuition and housing costs will kill you. Find a couple of friends that you can count on since you are far from home for the first time and can't rely on your family all the time. Make an effort to become more independent, don't rely on family as much, you will feel better about yourself. Enjoy college, it passes by quickly.

Don't be afraid to take risks. Don't let yourself get caught up in systems and do what you want to do and what you are passionate about. Don't forget that you truly enjoy educating yourself further and that you are pursuing your education to learn more about what you want to do and to learn more about the world. You are not going to university to learn how to make money. Don't be afraid to break out of your norm. You want to go to a diverse school so be sure to put yourself out there and experience the diversity. Never, ever, ever, be afraid to learn something new, or about someone new. Getting comfortable in a niche is nice and fun, but don't be afraid to make new friends as well. There is no such thing as too many friends. Take care of yourself. Don't let yourself go, but don't overwork yourself either. Maintain a healthy balance of work, play, exercise, and healthy foods in your system, in your life and you'll go far.

Standing face to face with myself as a high school senior, I would see a wide-eyed girl dressed head to toe in maize and blue, ready for a full day of site seeing in Ann Arbor. Instead of allowing her to aimlessely follow a tour guide around campus buildings- which would prove to be impossible to keep track of- I would take her to the Arb. This beautiful forested oasis, bordered by a chilly river, would become the definition of why she would love U of M. Sure the location and buildings may have been nice to see but, in the end, most big universities will provide the same general set-up. The real way to choose your school is to find a place within it that reveals its true atmosphere. After all, that's what is really going to make the difference when you inevitably experience the overwhelming transition from high school responsiblities to college responsibilities and need a place to escape. So on that day with myself, I would walk into the Arb through the archway of gaping trees, hang a hammock, and take a load off.

Don't worry about the future so much, just do your best.

If I could give my 12th grade self advice, I would tell myself to decide early on where my 'study area' is going to be and where my personal, relaxation space will be. I've found that although I enjoy being in my own room when I study and do work, I'm not nearly as focused on my work as opposed to when I do homework at the library or the student lounge in my dorm. I would also tell myself to set ground rules with my roommate early on. Nothing too strict, but things like who gets to vacuum and take out the trash and when, so I'm not stuck doing it all the time. Most importantly, I would tell myself to find and utilize all the resources offered by the university to help me succeed.

I would tell myself to relish the short years of college, as they pass all too quickly. To enjoy the camaraderie, the close friendships that are formed in tight-knit community. To spend less time stressed about how much I was doing, and spend more time with the people around me. I married a man I met at the University of Michigan, and we share fond memories of the wonderful place that is Ann Arbor. We recently went back to a Michigan - Purdue football game at 'The Big House', also known as Michigan Stadium. It was such a surreal experience, and I cherish every moment spent cheering the Wolverines on to victory and singing, 'Hail, hail to Michigan, the Leaders and best. Hail, hail to Michigan, the Champions of the West." Go blue, indeed.

I think that the biggest mistake I made during my freshman year here at the University of Michigan was not getting involved in more extra curricular activities. It is the easiest way to make new friends and find fun activities. There are many groups and clubs to join here, and I would recommend to myself as a high school senior to take advantage of the opportunities that are available. I had a very difficult time adjusting to college life during my first semester here, and I think it would have been much easier if I had been actively involved in clubs or sports. By joining a club that fits you interests, you can meet people who are interested in the same things as you, and possibly form life long friendships. This year, I have become more involved in volunteering and environmental issues on my campus. It has helped me to find a place to fit in here. I strongly believe that every college freshman should join at least one group they feel strongly about.

Yay you're going to Michigan! Get ready for the best and craziest years of your life. The work will be a lot like what you've done this past year, only more of it. Don't worry if everything seems a little too much at times - it's supposed to be like that. And you're going to have a really good time in college. Sober, drunk, stressed, relieved, dissapointed, thrilled, you're going to feel all these things almost every week, and you're going to love every minute of it. I know you wanted to be further away from home, but trust me, you're going to learn a lot about yourself here, and soon you'll see that you don't need to go very far to learn a lot. Get ready for a lot of fun and a lot of work. You're going to love it - trust me.

I would tell myself to enjoy myself and not worry so much about what I was going to do in the future and who I was going to become. There's no way I could have figured out the future so early on and ultimately, worrying about it so much may have inhibited my actual growth when I came here. In short, I would tell myself to start slow and just enjoy the ride!

High school self: Relax. Stop worrying about those folks who say college will be the best four years of your life. Life is long and wonderful. College is short and intense: don't waste it in front of a computer screen. If you hate business, please don't take business classes. You don't have to get drunk to act ridiculous. Do something great for your campus. There will be a lot of girls: don't get overwhelmed. If one girl overwhelms you, try to keep her. If it gets hard, leave her better than you found her. Be honest, take the fallout humbly. Don't forget where you come from. Don't forget your grandmother. She's waiting for your call. Call her. Now. And your mother and father. From now until the rest of your life, they'll always be waiting for your calls and holiday cards. Don't disappoint them. To yourself and others, you will be immensely more interesting: Don't be fooled. You'll look back laughing. Someday you'll laugh at college self, and serious work self, and maybe even old incontinent self. So relax. This isn't the part of life. Everyday is.

I would say to myself...apply to the University of Michigan immediately. Do not take time away from school to find yourself and take years to find out what it is you want to do. Finish your education while you are young. Apply for financial aid as early as possible. There is money out there to help you finance your education especially when your parents can't afford to. Your experience on campus will be one of the most rewarding in your life. You will meet many new friends from all over the world and you will have opportunities to study in other parts of the world. Living on campus will prove to be independently rewarding. Take this time to expose yourself to as much information as possible. Finish a Bachelor's degree and then reflect on your life and make future plans from there. The world will help those in need to follow there dreams..

I would tell myself to chill out. I stressed so much about college but really they prepared me for everything I needed to be able to do. I would try to enjoy learning more, and not think of it only as a means to a good job. I would also tell myself to do what I want, yes my parents guidence is always appreciated, but I picked my own path, and I wish I started exploring the major I knew I wanted earlier on. Less stress, more relaxed, and focused.

You will be in one of the top schools in the country. It is also one of the biggest and most diverse schools. You will definitely enjoy it. You will be challenged, and will have to put a lot of efforts as you expand your academic horizon. You will find endless opportunities to be active, reach out to the community, or just have some fun in a club sport team. Your mind will be opened in so many ways. But you will be overwhelmed. There are so many things to do, and so little time. You will want to take hundreds of classes, that you find interesting, and you will want to participate in dozens of student groups and extracurricular. Unfortunately you won't be able! It is best if you don't discover this the hard way. Stay focused on your degree; don't take all those random classes you so desperately want. With time you will know when you can take some of those extra classes of your interest. Choose one or two extracurricular. It will be hard choosing, but do it and whatever you chose, stick to it and give it your best. Enjoy college!

All realtors "location, location, location" is important when choosing a house. This saying can be applied to college as well. If the bustle of urban cities is your comfort spot then a college located cities like New York University might be best for you. If you can't feel comfortable at a particular college, then your uneasiness will affect your studying habits, social life, and G.P.A. When choosing a college, make sure they have the courses that you want to take. Most colleges have a vast variety of courses that are different from the norm (ie: Calculus, Chemistry, etc.) Therefore, don't be afraid to try new things! Also, stay in contact with your counselor so that all of the core classes required for graduation aren't pushed to the side. College is also a stepping stone to a student's independence. On those days where you feel like the world is just out to get you, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The experiences gained at any college are valuable when faced with real world situations (ie: job interviews, housing, etc) College is a great place, so enjoy it while you can!