University of Minnesota-Crookston Top Questions

Don't be worried about making friends, you will over time.

The main concept I would tell my high school self is the key to success in college is to be organized and prepared. Even though I took college classes at a local community college as a junior and senior in high school rathter than attending the local high school, I was not as prepared as I could have been for college. Because I could manage my job and the subjects I took at the community college without a lot of difficulty, I did not plan my days efficiently. However, my first semester at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, I had a flight lab that entailed 20 hours a week of lab time. This, along with work and my other classes enlightened me to the fact that I needed to plan not only my day, but my entire week in order to get assignments done. I would tell my high school self to get as much done ahead of time as possible. If you know a paper is due at the end of the semester, try to get it done well before the day it is due. Also review notes each day so you are not "cramming" for tests.

The biggest advice I would give to my high school self is let go!! Enjoy your life! Go to the community college for the first or second semester and then move to Winona for the full college experience. Become involved with intramural sports. Go to dances and parties! Don't listen to everyone around you saying that 'God will tell you what to do with your life'. YOU are the ONLY person that can choose your path. Consider what your passions are and make the decision from there. Ask for help with your severe anxiety disorder so you can make rational decisions not based in fear. Go to Cancun or somewhere fun for spring break and maybe try getting drunk once! Continue to focus on your classes and absorb as much information as possible! It is okay if you do not receive an A in every class as long as you understand the information. And finally, get rid of the boyfriend, he is worthless and will only hold you back!!

Take your time, find out what you want to do and pursue it with a passion. Don't get discouraged by anything or anyone that gets in your way. If things get difficult along the way, just remember it is worth the struggles to do what you want to do and anything worth doing is going to take hard work and dedication to achieve. Seek the help of classmates, instructors, parents, friends, advisors, and anyone else willing to help you along. Disregard anything told to you by those that only have negative things to say about anything you are doing or attempting to accomplish and keep going strong with what you are doing.

If I were to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be more outgoing. I was somewhat reclusive in the first semester that I was in college. This led me to not have very many friends, and caused me to feel lonely at times. Luckily, I became more outgoing my second semester, and made many more friends. I would definitely advise any high school senior to put themselves into uncomfortable situations so that they can experience more and meet more people.

Dear Highschool me, This is a new adventure for you, but don't let that frighten you. Always remember that your true friends in highschool will always be there; youll find out who those are. Get out there and make some more friends! They truely do become the sisters/brothers you never had and the lifelong friend you will never forget. Furthering your education is the reason your are going, but don't make that your whole life. You personal and social life is just as important; have a healthy balance. Always be there for your classmates, because you never know when you'll need the favor returned. This whole journey is to find who you truely are (if you havn't already) and better yourself for the future. Don't follow a career choice just because the you feel family & community pressure. Do what you want to do in life, whether it be a doctor or farmer, because nobody's happiness is more important than your own. The world can't go round without all kinds of kinds. Follow your heart and whatever you do, do it with all your passion.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to go to college right away; to get it done while you are young and free. It is a lot easier to do when you don't have other responsibilities weighing on you. And don't just go; take advantage of the time, use it well and actually learn. Finish your degree; trying to finish college while working and raising children is not easy. Get your education done right away so when you have a family you can enjoy as much time with them as possible. I remind myself that it is extremely hard to make a decent living without a college degree and point out that worrying about how you are going to pay your bills is a horrible feeling. It doesn't matter how much money you make; but you need to be able to pay your bills and not have that anxiety all the time as it is very hard on you and affects all aspects of your life.

Slow down and enjoy your college years. Join every club and intramural that interests you. Make new friends. Only go to the community college for one year and then move to a bigger college and live on campus. Study abroad if you have the opportunity. Sign up for work studies. Find study groups and become friends with those in the same program as you. It is okay to change your mind partway through about your degree but stick with it and finish college while you are still young. Take more language classes. Become a tutor. Let go of the past and move forward knowing that each experience will shape you into the beautiful person you will become!

The biggest advice I would give myself is fill out more scholarships. My senior year I didn't really fill out any and i should of. I could of saved a lot of money filling out applications. I also would tell myself that everything would be okay. I had trouble leaving my family at first and I wish I would of known what that really would of been like at first. I also would tell myself to make sure I get involved. I should of joined more clubs when I first arrived on campus. So I would tell myself to make sure I do that. The biggest thing I think I would tell myself is to save money. I was lucky enough to have enough money this year but I am strugguling. I should have saved better over the course of my fall semester so the biggest thing I would say is to save my money.

Listen Dava, college is a lot more important than you think. I know it seems as if though it wouldn't be a bad idea to live off your parents until you're 30, but oh trust me girl, that isn't the case. Follow your dreams, your passion, and pursue it with utmost excellence. Be a better person than what you think you are even capable of; and do not try to please anyone other than yourself. Prove to yourself that you are worthy of scholarships, good company, and a bright future. If there is one thing you must learn how to do ASAP is to network. Being successful does not always derive from ones skills or intelligence. It often comes from the people you surround yourself with, what they can do for you, and their connections to other people and companies that will greatly benefit you. And last but definitely not least, don't be afraid to come out of this box your parents have set around you. You are so much greater than that. Find yourself and be free; only you have the power to unleash the beauties of your life. And remember, its okay to cry.

Going to class is very important, and playing sports will keep you focused.

I would tell myself to enroll in job corps and stay with it to get a solid trade. then save up money to attend college. That you need time and dedication to devote to your studies.

Try harder for scholarships because your not going to get as many as you think and you wont get as many grants as you need. Also, don't worry so much about going to college so far away from home because the community in Crookston is amazing and so pleasant and inviting you have to be a part of it to believe it.

Going back in time, there are several things that I would tell myself about college. The first being to put myself entirely into my studies. When I was in high school, I never really thought about how expensive college was. Knowing now all the expenses for tuition an books and how time consuming it is, I really would have put even the littlest bit more effert into my studies to know that I was getting the most knowledge I could out of tmy education. I also would have took more time in high school to research more about careers and different degrees. Even today, I love that I chose to take up a career in Animal Science Pre-Vet, but I never realized that there are many more options to choose from that still deal with all types of animals. Lastely, I would tell myself to never give up. In high school I knew I was not very good at test taking. When I took my ACT I did not get the score I was hoping for to get into a good college. I never gave up and am so proud that I am now attending a 4-year University.

If I were able to go back and talk to younger Olivia, I would tell her to definetly tour UMC before she enrolled and decided firmly to go there. I would tell her that she should tour a lot of different campuses and apply to more than two colleges. Past Olivia should also be aware that when she goes to UMC she won't get the quality of an education that she is paying for, and that she needs to push herself to stay ahead in class and will have to teach herself through a lot of the classes. Most importantly I would tell her two things. First, that it's okay to struggle and to not understand what she's doing; there are plenty of people willing to help her if she asks. Second, I would tell her not to worry so much. Where there is struggle, there is growth. At times she'll feel lost and alone, but once she realizes how great she's doing, everything won't seem so bad.

If I could go back an be a highschool senior I would tell myself that no matter your home situton or if you have a dissablity you can do it. In high school I was in special Ed I was not going to college beacuse I thought it was to hard. I gave it a shot anyway. I thougth I was going to all alone no one was going to help me and I was going to fail out my first sememester. I thought wrong. Professors are there to help you learn and expand your knowledge not fail you. I got a lot of help actually thoughtout my college carrer. Since being in school I relized that there are so many people here to help not let you fall and get lost.

If I could go back in time to my senior year and let myself know what to expect, I would probably slap myself across the face and scream at myself to stop being lazy and get a job. College is not only making new friendships, it involves a lot of studying and having the money to pay for the classes. If I knew the actual cost of it, I would of have started working at a earlier age and save all the money possible. I wouldn't have to ask my family for money to pay for college, I would have had enough saved up to pay for my own books, supplies and of course the classes. Sadly, I thought financial aide would pay for everything, boy was I badly informed. I would make a whole slide show for me to convince my seventeen year old self to why saving money for college is a good thing. If I really want my dreams to come true I’m going to need the money to pay for my future. At the end it will all be worth it. It is surely a lesson learned.

The advice I would give myself is to make sure to get involved with everything UMC has to offer! By participating in clubs and activities, you will be more likely to build lifelong friendships. I would also advise that I make sure to balance my homework load with my social time. By making sure school is put first, I am getting myself one step closer to achieving my goal of a 4 year degree!

Life will always be changing. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Just go and do. You get to choose what you will be, where you will be, who you will be. Choose wisely. It has been said that if you take the sum average of the five people you spend the most time with, the result will be you. Who are you spending time with? Believe you can and then you will. It’s not so complicated, really. And don’t be so hard on yourself. You do have something to offer the world, and the minute you talk yourself out of that, is the minute in which you no longer do have anything to offer. So speak truth to yourself. And speak truth to others. Never withhold love and forgiveness. Look for the best intention. Shelf bad thoughts. Ask the questions. Touch souls. Be honest. Always help, always be in awe, and always give thanks. Your life is shorter than you think, so live it now.

its time to get my degree even if its through thick and thin, and get ready for life. With God all things are possible. let the fun begin