University of Nevada-Reno Top Questions

Do not underestimate the up-coming demands on your schedule. With the right time management techniques, you can handle anything college throws at you. Daily to-do lists are super useful but prioritization is KEY. Do what you least enjoy FIRST. Just do it! Not only will this save you from the trap of procrastination, it will keep your stress levels from soaring. Tackling the difficult stuff at the beginning of a homework session provides you with a sense of achievement. Nothing drains your mental capacities like procrastination. It is impossible to perform well when you are under the weight of avoidance; but if you conquer that dreaded task, you free up energy to apply to other work. Once you feel that boost of accomplishment, all other assignments seem to flow easily.

From elementary school to middle school to high school, I never thought the transition to college would be so difficult. Coming from a family of three sisters, I have a close bond with each one of them and not having them around all the time was the most difficult transition. Going back in time, I would tell myself to not be so nervous about finally being on my own and venturing away from relying on my parents for everything. Having a twin sister, I immediately had a best friend. Leaving to a city that is 8 hours away, I now know she is only a call away and no matter what I can always rely on her. I would tell myself I ned to budget my money and not splurge it. I need to focus on school and only hangout with friends when I have all my school work done. The transition to college is the first step to being on my own but I know my family will alwyas be a phone call away.

Knowing what I know now, I would have definitely told myself to choose a different school and to do more research on what really goes on at each college campus. I didn't want to go to Christian college because I didn't want to have to do bible study as a class and they were also too expensive. But I would definitely tell myself to find a school that had outreach programs for people who don't want to party and want to focus on living a life of purity.

One would think that if I could go back in time and talk to my senior high school self, I would say something inspiring and amazing that would motivate me to no ends. As tempting as it sounds to help past me to be a better student and have a better transition into college, I would not do it. This may not be believable but I can tell you why I would not tell past me anything. It is cliché to say everything happens for a reason and in my case this is partly true, because we all know giving your past self some future advice would help immensely. This is the real reason I wouldn’t give past me advice about the future. In high school I wasn’t the coolest and I wasn’t a nerd, if you will, but I was floating there in my own world. It took me failing at college and joining the United States Marine Corps to find myself. If I were to have change my first attempt at college I would not be have joined the Marines that made me the man I am today. Life forms the person we are.

If I could go back in time and advise my high school self, I would tell her to put forth her best effort in everything she does. I would remind her to appreciate her time with her friends and family, and to take nothing for granted. I would remind her the importance of asking for help when needed, and the important of never giving up on herself. I would remind her of all the people that are rooting for her to succeed and believe in her. I would tell her she shouldn't be nervous about college, it'll be the best experience of her life. I would tell her that she will miss her friends from home, but she will meet new amazing ones. Most importantly, I would tell her to focus on school and remind her of the goals she has for herself. I would make sure she knows that her future depends on how she does, and that her number one priority should always be her health and happiness. I would tell her not to be scared of what the future has in store for her, her future is beautiful.

Whatever you do, just calm down and breathe. College at first may be overwhelming and stressful, but once you get the hang of it, you will be successful. Yes, ditching class is a lot easier in college, but that just means more responsibility for yourself. Go to class because every class you attend will help. Second, the test are worth more than the ones in high school. Dont procrastinate and study for them the day before, study little by little everyday. Your brain will take in more information and wont be overwhlemed by all the information you try to crame in one night. Oh, and try to get to know your professors. They may be intimidating at first, but they are nice and willingto help you. Enough about school, lets talk about the social aspect of college. Remember, be social. College will be one of your best years, and its your time to experiement and find who you are. Do what you want and find yourself and the friends you will have forever. Last, dont get discouraged by others and dont let them judge you. Be who you want to be and just be you.

After attending the University of Nevada, Reno for a semester I have come to realize that there is a lot of advice I would have liked to have given myself before school started. The primary thing I would have told myself was to be aware of how fast time goes by in college, meaning to make sure to get my work done earlier as opposed to last minute, because the quality of the work will be a lot better and will result in overall happier grades. Next, I would have told myself to focus on my mind more than my body, to devote more time to studying over working out. More studying would have allowed me to feel a lot more confident in learning the material, even if my grades were still good. The last thing I would have told myself is to not stress so much about how I will perform. The first semester of college is a lot like high school, and the material and tests, as well as work load, are not much different than that of a high school senior. I would have told myself to make sure to have a little more fun.

It’s amazing how fast my first semester of college flew by. Just a few short months ago I thought that everything would be different now that I am in college—perhaps I’d be more organized, more school-spirited, make more friends... The list is endless. I did not realize just how actively I needed to pursue these goals in order to achieve them. If I could tell my high school self anything, I would urge her not to be complacent, but rather to put her entire, wholehearted effort into making the most out of her college career. Want to be more organized? Set a study schedule and stick to it. Want to have more school-spirit? Go to as many school-sponsored events as possible. Want more friends? Talk to other people in lectures, join different organizations, and spend a semester in the dorms. I wish I could go back to my high school self and tell her that just because you’re a college student does not magically give you an amazing social and academic life. To obtain these things, you must step out of your comfort zone.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would say, "Try everything!" That is uniformly the advice that I would give. I am talking about trying the clubs, trying the contests, trying the food, trying the events, the social groups, the courses, and even trying the readings. Yes, even those. I can't tell myself how many course readings I skipped to play World of Warcraft. I have since had to go back a reread Camus, Frank Miller, Balzac, Finney-Boyle, Sherman Alexi, and so many other authors. I can't believe all of the things I skipped! I could have gotten into anime sooner, fixed my essays at the writing center, studied abroad, or learned how to actually dance! I could have actually learned about modern art instead of drinking in the back row. I could have done summer internships instead of hanging out with alcoholics. I could have discovered a passion for social justice instead of spending six years worth of time and resources on food and the pursuit of sex. I learned a lot of life lessons at UNR, but I missed out on knowledge. Try everything.

Don't give up, Kim. I know it's hard, listening to all these different people everyday telling you you won't make it in the collegeite jazz world. They're all telling you to find something more useful, and I know sometimes their words may be convincing, but listen to me. It is all worth it. Every struggle and speed bump you've encountered (and trust me, you will continue encountering) is well worth it and I assure you, you'll learn and grow from them all. You will find a healthy balance of knowing what to shoot for and what to wait for. Keep up your dreams and be really excited to get to continue your education, I'm telling you, you're gunna love it. Stay strong, - Kimmy Rubio

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would tell her to apply for scholarships and to enjoy high school while she can. I would explain to my younger self how difficult it is paying off tuition, how fast money flies from "our" bank account because there is always something that needs to be paid for. Paying for college will not be impossible, but she should spend the time she currently has wisely to better her future. I would want her to also know that even though she is having a rough time with "our" ex-boyfriend, he should not be the one to bring down her happiness and focus. Senior year of high school is one of the best years of a young one's life and I would like her to focus more on colorguard, her friends, family and having fun. I would want her to not worry so much about money and just enjoy her young life, to actually spend that $50 for show tickets to prom with her best friends. We only live once, only one time-flying life.

There are a few things I would pass on to my past self. One would be advising myself to pick a major and stick with it. Everyone switches their major, it's what happens in college. But I stand by the idea that I would tell myself, "pick an area of study that interests you, and stick with it". I always had plans for graduate school, I had a hard time focusing on one area. Another would be advising myself to seek out and use the resources available to me as a student. Counselors are there FOR the students. They WANT to help individuals in need; it's why they're in the profession. There is no shame in admitting ignorance and reaching out for the guidance of those who know better and wish to help. Lastly, I would tell myself to plan ahead. Be smart with assets and money and save. Being a full time student while working a part time job is hard work. Time management is key, and learning to juggle all the responsibilities in a given day is a helpful skill.

I would have studied harder during my bachelor degree. I did not know the importance of mathematics in pursuing various fields of professions that time

I would tell myself to work as hard as you can in the academic realm and build a stable GPA while classes are easier in the first year. Enjoy the time in high school, because it just gets harder from there- faster schedule, heavier workload. Learn good study skills and organizational habits- it will be very helpful. Do not be afraid to talk to professors- they do not bite, even if they seem a bit intimidating at first. Most of all, have as much fun as you can and explore different topics of study because you may not have that chance at any other part in your career/life.

I would tell myself to join a club or clubs in the first year of college instead of in the later years of college life. It is a great way to meet new people with different personalities and interests. Clubs help people learn new skills that they could apply to their own career. I joined a club in my third year of college and while it is a great experience now, I wish I would have joined the club in my first year of college; I could have met more people and been more active by learning more that I could have applied to my career. Clubs keep you involved and engaged with your college and could lead to great job or career opportunities in the future, which is why I would tell my past self to join a club or clubs as early as possible.

Start dreaming! Throughout my entire life no one asked me about my dreams, let alone told me I could. I would ask myself, “What are your goals in life? What are your dreams? Yell out your desires, your aspirations, the hope held within the future only you control!” If I were to go back in time, there is nothing I would change about my mentality other than to pull back the curtains of insecurities, shyness, and self image and rip them from hiding my window of opportunity. The only one stopping you from anything achievable is yourself. No matter how big your dreams, there never will be a limit to blunt them, or obstacle impossible to circumnavigate. Don’t listen to your parents, your best friends, your teachers, your role models; listen only to yourself and personally choose the only path given to us in this life time. Forge your own future, not one someone else has planned for you. There is nothing more important in this world than dreaming, because when everything is ripped from you and nothing is left, your dreams will pull you back from the brink and show the world just how resilient you truly are!

Oh, how I remember what it felt like to be a high school senior. When the world was at my fingertips and the lurking thoughts of college swam around in my brain constantly. Yet, being in college now, I realize it changes people, including myself. I would talk to myself as a high school senior and tell myself that time passes by quickly and soon everything will change. This change will be frightening, but it's the next step in your life. You also can't always have control over everything. Life is going to lead you down paths that you could never imagine, and all you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. People will also try to tell you what to do and what is right for you, but ultimately only you know in your heart what you should do. When you pick your major, pick it because that's what you want and not because that is what people expect out of you. You can't deny the person you are, so quit running from it and accept yourself now instead of later. College is a new journey, so enjoy every second.

About a week ago my friend described me, "She sits quietly while everyone talks and then she secretly wins." I have always been quiet, you can learn a lot from being quiet. This is why when I read Bill Gates speach "The Rules of Life" it seemed to be like a lot of common sense to me. However, the last rule - Rule No. 14 - really stuck out to me. "Enjoy this while you can... someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid..." I feel like I never got to be a teenager. I always acted like an adult, but I wasn't one. I didn't realize that "the best years of my life" were happening. I wish I got a chance to feel my heart pump a little harder instead of forcing myself to grow up. I wish I made strong bonds with my friends and made mistakes over and over again. I wish I wasn't so afraid to live and feel the freedom of being young. Instead I played it safe and stayed quiet.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself multiple pieces of advice. First and foremost, I would tell her to relax and enjoy her final year of high school. Also, I would tell her to spend more time applying for financial aid. I would advise her to search for scholarships early on, and to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. Next, I would tell her to go out often with friends and make memories that she can look back upon in her college years. Finally, I would tell her to put herself first when necessary, and not get too wrapped up in certain issues. If my high school senior self were to follow my advice, I would have more good memories and less stress as I make the transition into college life.

Hello high school senior David, myself, I have a few quick tips for you before heading off to college. These tips are meant to guide, assist, and inform you about aspects of college that will help you succeed! First, do not stress about money, the financial aid office is taking its time to assure you that you will receive the maximum amount of financial aid. Second, you do not have to go to every party. I understand that parties are fun, but you have a bright future ahead of you and that book is not going to read itself. Third, do marching band your sophomore year, you’re going to meet a very special person there. Fourth, have fun and join some clubs. Clubs open up the opportunity for achievement, work, and free weekly meals. Fifth, the transition is hard, this summer before college is going to be the hardest. With that in mind, spend time with your family, you’re going to miss them a lot more than you know. Lastly, have fun, live fast, and never forget the assignment due dates. All in all, you’re going to have a blast and everything is going to be okay!