University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

College is definitely different than high school. Studying skills are essential and requires hours outside of class. Professors are willing to help you, but you have to be willing to work hard and study hard. Prioritizing is a must. Going to parties and hanging out with friends MUST be put on hold when you are behind in studying or when there is an exam coming up the following week. A social life is a good balance because without one there is a chance you won't have time to release stress, but you have to know how to balance it and not consume your life. It is also important to become involve on campus. Community service and joining organizations that meet your interest is also a good way to relieve stress. Internships are a very important factor especially when you are getting ready to graduate, so do as many as you can. Companies are looking more for experience than education. Plus it looks really good when applying for jobs. No matter what happens just do your best, study, and believe in God and the sky is the limit.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to make a weekly schedule to prepare for school. I would also tell myself to read in my free time and study a couple of weeks in advance for exams.

If I was able to jump in a time machine and give myself some advice, it would be to take a few dual credit courses in high school. It would have made things so much easier to come into college with some of those general requirements knocked out.

If life had a reset button, I would definitely make some changes. Then again, no I wouldn?t. Decisions are made and mistakes happen. If they didn?t life wouldn?t be nearly as interesting and no one would be learning from their experiences. If given the chance to give advice to myself this time last year. I wouldn?t say anything more than, ?Rebecca chill out!? Throughout high school I spent most of my time worrying about how each choice I made that day would affect college and the rest of my future. Now I realize that this lead to too much time worrying and not enough living. Transitioning from high school to college life was hard, but well worth it. My first semester of college has taught me that there is more to learning that sitting at a desk and reading chapter after chapter in a text book. Learning comes from group work, professors, and most importantly loving what you?re doing. Upon meeting my younger self, "I would simply say stop stressing over picking that right college and follow your heart because one day you will know that everything worked out." Mizzou was the perfect choice!

As I look back on myself mere months ago; excited, nervous?standing on the precipice of a grand new adventure in my life, there is much I wish I could say, and much I wish I could have done differently. I would tell what unforgettable experiences were to be forthcoming at Mizzou?reassuring my initially apprehensive self that I had made the right decision in going to such a large school. I would then explain the importance of what I will refer to as the ?magical month.? This is the first four weeks of school, and it is also the most important for instilling friendships that can last forever. During this month, the social barriers the normally exist are lifted and no one is too cool, too rich, too poor, too smart or too goofy to come together in a kind of supporting embrace as each goes through their own adjustments to living outside the protective wing of their parents. Having moved into a fraternity house during this month, I wish that I had taken more time to meet more people outside of Greek life, and thus broaden my circle of friendships and experiences.

Make your decision about where you MIGHT want to go early on and visit many schools to avoid stress about deadlines and receive the most financial aid possible. Also visiting many schools gives you the opportunity to experience many different feels of different campuses and ensures you that the one you choose is absolutely the right one for you!

I would tell myself that I should be open minded to new experiences and get to know other people outside of my group from high school. I know that it's easy to hang with the same people I've been hanging out with for the past couple of years, but I need to move on and meet new people and engage in new adventures. Also, I would say to leave the drama behind me. There will be times that I'm tempted to say certain things, but I should keep things to myself and not cause any trouble between friends. Lastly, I would say to get involved in campus life. There are so many things to do...and for free! College is an awesome time in your life and you need to enjoy it while you can!

If I were to go back to high school and give myself some advice, all I would say is, "Do what you do, and you'll do just fine" (Fink). I wouldn't want to tell myself anything too specific because it would ruin the ride. The best way to learn is to put yourself out there and just go for it. If I were to tell myself about the mistakes I have made so far, then I wouldn't be able to learn from those mistakes. Besides that, I would just say to take life one day at a time and enjoy the ride. Works Cited: Fink, Charlie. Do What You Do. Noah and the Whale. Mercury, 2007. MP3.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would say that being the center of the social scene isn't necessarily important and that it is okay to be a nerd and stay in your room and study the majority of the time. I would tell myself to pay more attention to what things are coming up and to study for a test 2 weeks in advance. I would utilized the writing lab more and put forth more effort.

Be cautious but don?t limit yourself. Try new things. Be open to new people and ideas. Don?t sacrifice your values or integrity. More can be gained from personal interaction than computer interaction. Take advantage of the new environment but don?t lose yourself in it. Realize you never know the impact you have in someone?s life; thus, try to make every interaction with someone positive. Thank all the people who have gotten you where you are. Live your life, don?t plan it or worry about it. Love your life or change it.

I would not have worried so much about going out of state for college. I feared it would be inhibiting to stay in Missouri, yet I have come to love it and I love being able to see my family every other month or so. It also makes sense to go where you get scholarship money, especially if you plan to go to graduate school, so apply to as many as possible, even if you don't think you qualify. I've earned a scholarship I didn't qualify for simply because no one else applied!

Assuming that I was able to go back to my high school senior year, I would tell myself to fill out more scholarships, grants, and loans; for then I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in now. I would remind myself that my father is not able to help me with my education at this time, and that my staying at my dream college all depended on how many scholarships, grants, and loans I received. I would also advise myself to take out enough in loans to cover my whole academic year.

Be selfish. You need to value yourself and your time more wisely. Keep a planner. Take neat notes. Get sleep whenever you can. Stick to your regular healthy eating schedule, stay healthy. Get regular exercise. Spend more time doing things that you are sincerely interested in, like field trips to observe and participate in working environments. Talk to the professors you like and ask them plenty of important questions. Learn about everything that is available to you. Don't worry about making friends so much, but do be careful about how you treat people. Respect the people who seem responsible, forget the others. Narrow your interests by trying things and deciding what you are compatible with. Remember to do your very best at everything you do, and do not ever hesitate to get help from the best sources available if you are having trouble completing an assignment. Always consider yourself first and spend time meditating on your feelings and impressions. Stay sharp and fit. Do something you love several times a week, and don't let yourself get blue or loose motivation, but do plan for adequate down time to recharge. Don't forget about the future.

Just breathe, the first year will fly by and all the uneasiness, about being away from home, living with people you have never met before and taking courses more difficult than those in the high school, will pass as you find yourself well into your second year. of studies. No matter how many times you get lost the first week, there will always be a friendly face to point you in the right direction. Always remember why you are attending college, to pursue the career of your dreams, and know you will get out of college as much as you put in. Put forth your best effort and worrying about grades will not be an issue because you know you are doing your best. Realize the professors are there to help you and guide you, not fail and intimidate you. Lastly, know you are only limited by yourself; do not be afraid to go out and explore! Meet new people, try out new clubs and never underestimate your abilities! Your college years will quickly become the best years of your life as they pave the way toward your future career and make your childhood dream, of veterinary medicine, a reality!

Don't let anyone make the decision for you. Even though that school has a well known name or is one of the best for your major, consider what will make you happiest. If you have serious doubts, listen to them. It's okay to go to a lesser known school or even a Community College if that is what makes you happy. Don't be pressured into going to "the best school," or getting "the best degree" just because others say you have to, because a) you are the one who will have to live with your choices at the end of the day, and b) they don't necessarily know what's best for you.

I would tell myself to not stress about fitting in and making friends. The incoming freshman class is in the same boat as you. They are all away from home and are all looking for people to hang out with and be friends. You will find people that like you and that you get along with. I would also tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Money really does become an issue. Any and every scholarhship will help to pay for school. I would also tell myself to get a job sooner. Giving up time to socialize might not seem like fun, but it is a good idea. Having a job gives you a sense of responsiblity and it also gives you something to do. I would tell myself to remember to relax and let things flow. The little things are not worth totally stressing about. Sit back and enjoy life every once in awhile.

Don't be so nervous about how the transition to college life is going to be. College life gives you the opportunity to be very independent and responsible, but its nothing to be scared of. College will only help you grow as a person, so go at it with all your might.

I knew that I didn't have a lot of close friends going to the same school as I was and I was very scared because I knew that I was not a very outgoing person. However, after being in college for a semester now, I wish I could go back and tell myself that I could--and had to--be able to open up and put myself out there and make friends. If I had been able to realize this then, I wouldn't have been nearly as worried about beginning the journey of college. The transition is difficult but it is not at all impossible. It takes effort but it is worth every bit. My experience so far has been wonderful and I would want myself to know that all it takes is a little push and everything will work out for the best.

The only real advice I would give myself is to have spent more time working on scholarship applications. I did not fully realized the financial strain college would put on me, and having any extra money for tuition would have been helpful. I am being much more proactive in applying for scholarships this year in an effort to lessen my loans and debt. I would have also told myself to learn better study skills; I have a tendency to cram the night before a test but because we have fewer tests with more information, it is much more helpful to learn it a little bit at a time. I would also have told myself to not stress as much about choosing the "right" college; I believe everyone ends up where they need to and college is what you make of it.

I would tell myself to not get too wrapped up in studying and grades for the first semester. Grades are definitely important, but the first semester should be fun too. A "B" will never be the end of the world.