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.