University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

I would tell myself to be prepared for the world. I wouldn't say things to confuse myself,or to scare myself, but I would just explain that this is a part of your life where you get the chance to see how it feels to grow in the world without mom and dad to be there to help as much as they did in your past. College is nothing like high school. You don't have mom and dad there to make sure you are up and ready for school on-time. You also don't have the high school teacher's there with you who helped you by demonstrating things over and over just for you to get a better understanding of your work. I would tell myself to be prepared for whatever life has to give you, because there some tough situations out there, just don't give up on yourself at anything.

Be dilligent in all that you do. Make friends but only do so with individuals who can support you in the midst of your weak moments. Take heed to the wisdom that your instructors, colleagues and classmates give you. Accept fear willingly, for fear is not a precursor to failure but a motivator for greatness. Be ambitious beyond all else, remember the goal for this moment in your life and keep a firm grasp upon it.

So you grew up in the suburbs. Being black doesn't mean acting like the characters you see on tv. You don't have to sag your pants and throw the "n" word around like dollars in a strip club to fit it. You are black. Being who you are is being black. You don't have to put on an act.

The advice that I would give myself would be to never be afraid to ask questions and learn the importance of time management. Asking questions is a great way to get answers and meet new people. Everyone pretty much feels the same way you do when they enter college - afraid and reluctant to step out of their "safe box." Asking questions will help you to meet new people and help yourself as well as others. Time management is the most important thing that I would stress. I am a full-time student, I work 2 jobs, and I am apart of 5 organizations. I rely on my planner to guide me through my weeks at school. If you do not learn the importance of time management, you could find yourself missing deadlines, falling behind on assignments, and losing much needed sleep. Asking questions and time management are the keys to unlocking the doors of success while in college.

Given the means to speak with my younger self, the only avowal I could give worthy of the effort is this: “Do not be tempted by the words of your parents. Do not live at home, commuting thirty miles to and from U of M in the interest of saving money. On paper, it is a marvelous proposition: the comfort of home, a promised freedom to go out when you choose to, and saving thousands of dollars. If you believe your parents lie, your freshman experience will be five a.m. mornings, hour-long commutes, sheer lonelines as you trudge through throngs of your classmates, and withdrawals from campus upon class ending. The bitter grip of depression will overcome you; you will soon throw yourself into comfort food and just as soon throw up those treats multiple times a day, every day. You won’t opt for therapy until January, and by then, when you discover you have bulimia, most of your throat will have already eroded. Even with therapy, by March, you will attempt suicide. Your body will survive; your mind will endure, but only having relinquished your youth. The message is simple: whatever it takes, live on campus.”

Dear High School Senior Me, I have some important advice that will help you make the high school to college transition. Time management is going to be a major adjustment for you. Now I know you're used to having everything structured for you, but college won't be like that. You will need to make a set schedule for yourself and follow it to the "T", otherwise, you will struggle. Another thing you need to watch out for is properly preparing for your classes. I know high school was a breeze for you, and you rarely had to study, but college will be completely different. Make sure you spend a suffiecient amount of time studying for all of your classes. Trust me when I say it will help you a great deal in being successful in all of your classes, and in acheiving your goals. Also, do not try to take 18 credits your first semester. That's too much for a freshman. Last but certainly not least, don't lose yourself in the excitement of extra-curricular activities. You will need to find that balance between getting your work done and having fun. Sincerely, 20 Year-Old Me

Appreciate the ease of life you currently have. Soon, you will have to completely take care of yourself, a task that will prove much more difficult and less exciting than it sounds. Simply upkeeping the cleanliness of your dorm and maintaining a constant stash of snacks and drinks in your room will surprise you with its ironic complexity. For now, keep working hard, but allow yourself time to hang out with the friends you may only see annually at best after graduation, the closest confidants that you will have to resort to conversing with only by telephone or skype. Most importantly, bask in the warmth and welcoming feeling of your home and family because very likely you will never truly live there again. Your parents will become bystanders instead of active participants and your comfortable bed a much desired vacation. Watch TV, lounge by the pool, take long drives, and simply loiter around as frequently as possible. The lesson that I have gained from college that most emanates in my mind is to never take for granted these two things: leisure and loved ones. You will certainly become busy, and you will miss these two things more than anything else.

If I were able to give my high school senior self advice I would tell them to listen to my parents seriously. I would warn them that college life is full of distractions and opportunities to make bad decisions. That the trendy term "FOMO" (Fear of Missing Out) should not exist because missing one night of seeing your friends make fools of themselves is less important than a good grade on your chemistry exam. I would tell her that joining a sorority was the best decision and that it is allowed to keep friends from other sororities. Going out because of a boy you like is really not as important as it may seem and next semester there will be a new boy. I would remind her that if you like a boy don't dismiss it because you think having a boyfriend in college is stupid. There are always going to be more nights to be social and make bad decisions, but there is only one chance to take an exam. When you decide that going out sounds better than studying and you fail an exam or class that it is ok and never to stop believeing in you.

Girtha you will not believe what potential you have. What experiences you is going to embark on. Please, I suggest that you get as much information on college now. Or if you don’t have the information takes your time and figure out what you truly want to do with your life and career. One of the advices I would give is to do internships into the fields you love like fashion. Do that and see what area you would like to get a degree in. Then from there ask for help from your High School Advisor because they really want to see you succeed. You have to believe in yourself and know that things always work out for the best. No matter what keep pushing to pursue your dreams. Even if you don’t know what to do they will work out and you will see. Whenever there is darkness there is light. You are struggling on what you truly want to do with your life but that dream is in fashion. Get going and take risks. Don’t be afraid. You can do this. I have faith in you.

When I was a high school senior, I really felt the need to get away from my hometown. I had already spent thirteen years going to school with the same classmates day after day after day. I wanted a change. Since entering college, I wish I had not been so eager to get away from my childhood. I would tell my senior self to really work towards solidifying the relationships I had with my high school friends. College brings with it new friends and new relationships; but it's also important to stay in touch with the friends who created your childhood memories. I would also tell myself to not focus so much on schoolwork. Yes, grades are important. Getting a perfect 4.0, however, is not the most important thing. You can only live life once, so make the most of it while you can. I would tell myself to always remember to take a moment and just relax, step away from the textbooks, and enjoy life.

Save your money and don't blow it on stupid stuff. Also, if you have roommate problems bring them up right away so you don't get stuck putting up with them all semester and resenting your roommate for stuff she doesn't even know she's doing. And STUDY, you really do need to do the readings and practice questions if you want to succeed in college.

My advice to my past self would be to not be afraid of approaching people. When I first went to college, I did my best to explore the opportunities available to me, but my only regrets were the times where I decided to hold back on talking to someone “intimidating” (whether it was about a club or even talking to a cute girl). College is the time to find yourself; you need to maximize every moment of that experience. If you want to try something, you need to meet people who can help make that happen. Almost every time that I approached an “intimidating” person, good things have happened. By gathering the courage to do so, I eventually was able to join a highly selective business club, gain acceptance into a fraternity, and, most importantly, I have met people who I will be friends with for life. With confidence comes an important social skill—the ability to meet new people. I would advise my past self to talk to and meet as many new people as possible in college. By doing so, I have learned that a person can locate incredible opportunities, build lifelong friendships, and truly find themselves.

Looking back on myself as an entering freshman, there is a lot of practical advice I could give. The most important piece of advice, however, would be the fact that it's easier than you think to not be influenced by peer pressure. As a college student that made an early decision not to drink alcohol, I thought it would be an extremely difficult challenge to have fun on campus while refraining from drinking. When I arrived on campus, I realized that there are many on-campus events and other ways to have fun without consuming alcohol. More importantly, I realized that not everybody drinks. Because of this, I would tell my younger self to stay true to who you really are, and never to give into the pressures of others for the sole reason of feeling excluded from the majority. I am happy with my decision to not drink while in college, and am proud to report that as a second semester sophomore, I have still not consumed alcohol on campus.

I would tell myself to learn how to a stronger reader. Learn to critically read and hone some kind of system to take notes as you read. I would also strenthen my study skills. Enjoy yourself, work hard but take time to enjoy the experience.

If I could send a letter back to my high school self, I would prepare myself for the difficulties of transition to college. It doesn't matter how independant you want to think you are, it is a learning experience. You will not only learn how to be responsible for yourself in simple ways, but also in complex ways as well. I have learned the everyday tasks of being sure to get to class on time by managing the bus schedules. I have learned to do laundry, seperating the whites from the darks. So my whites, stay white. And my darks stay dark. I work a job and maintain a budget. I grocery shop for small staples, and find the good dinning halls for the good food that doesn't taste like "cafeteria" food. I had been under the weather and had to seek care and visit the local CVS. And no matter how old you are you still miss family and the comforts of home. To my high school self, you will love college life, the football games, and meeting new people. You will also miss home, so text often, and call mom when you can.

I would reassure myself that switching from a very small private school to a very large public school is going to be a great new experience. Although you won't get along with your roommate, you will make a lot of new and fun friends across the hall. Be prepared for a lot of reading and studying on the weekends! The hard work will pay off eventually! Don't be afraid to meet new people and try new things. You will sign up for many volunteer opportunites and each one will be just as rewarding as the next. You will learn to grow more as a person and become more independant. Don't be afraid to go to parties and refuse a drink. There are other great people you will meet that don't drink either. Don't be worried! You'll have a great time and a rewarding experince!

Hey, Sarah. You might think it's kind of scary to live on your own, but don't worry. Warren isn't as far from Ann Arbor as it seems at first, and even though it'll hurt to see your family's van pull away, you're going to meet some amazing people on the very first day to help you put together your Homesick Collage. It balances out. Make sure you talk to new people whenever you get the opportunity, because sometimes they're incredible and otherwise you'll just be jealous when Sheppy knows absolutely everyone on campus and you don't. Still, don't put off your coursework! It's only daunting if you stare at it like it's going to eat you. Also, anime club may seem like a good idea at the time, but honestly, save yourself the trouble. You're too lazy to go and they screen boring shows anyway. Don't put off finding a good job, and work hard once you're there! It won't be the cafeteria forever. Above all, never turn down midnight pizza with the gang. It's always worth it.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take hold of the opportunities I have before me and not to let go. There are many distractions that college life can create to interfere with student studies. It is so important that you focus on your school work, while still allowing yourself some "me" time. Everything in moderation, and balance is the key to success. I would also tell myself to take advantage of all the resources the school has to offer in order to maximise your experience.

Dearest Amanda, I know you see college as a place where you can flee from your past and your parents for the first time. Try to recall, college is also a place to investigate your interests and learn what you are good at. College is a place, where if you are proactive and creative, you can make anything possible. Hardships you have faced will not just disappear because you have relocated. ADD will still cause you to have trouble taking notes, prioritizing, and staying organized. Plan ahead, review your assignments before you submit them, and get extra help at the counseling center and/or the tutoring center. Get to know your professors, attend class, and complete your assignments. You are intelligent, caring, funny and a hard-worker. Make decisions you are proud of and treat yourself well. If you do, you can excel at any endeavor. Eat your vegetables, exercise, and get 8 hours of sleep. Although you will make mistakes, do not be too hard on yourself and learn from those mistakes. Remember, your parents will always be there for you, even if they get frustrated. Finally, try not to party too much. Alcohol is not worth the calories.

My advice would be to keep my eye on the prize -- the ultimate prize is to become a brighter, well rounded and educated person. I would remind myself of how rewarding it is to learn and to teach. I would also advise myself to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities and resources available through our colleges and make sure to enjoy and take in the true essence of college life.