University of New Mexico-Main Campus Top Questions

Never let the confidence of high school make you think that college will be easy. College is the most mentally challenging aspect of any persons life. Yes it's easy to give it up but I can garuntee that as soon as you do you'll wish you never made that choice. Now for the first semester always, always, always ask the students AND the staff about a teacher before signing up. Immediately set up a pattern of study and don't spend all your free time with your friends unless your work is done.

The advice i would give myself would be to study harder, so that I would not have to take so many low level classes. I would also tell myself to look into more ways to pay for school. Finally I would tell myself to get better grades to make it easier to pay for school.

I would tell myself to take the opportunity to take risks and not be afraid. I would continue to say: I know you are trying to decide whether or not you should stay in New Mexico. Decide to go somewhere else. Friends and family are here in New Mexico, but going to some place completely new will force you to form new friendships that will very possibly be more valuable than keeping old high school friends. It is also important to remember to try have fun with your time in college, whether it is through taking fun classes or going out with friends on the weekend. If you decide to stay in Albuquerque anyway, then be sure you remember in the back of your mind to have fun no matter what or who comes your way. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from being who you are or letting them get you down. You are given the opportuniy to have the time of your life in college: take it!

That in order to graduate in four years one must take the max amount of credit hours,18, and not fail anything. Also, C- is considered failing at UNM. Many students straight out of college don't know these things and they are important.

If I could return to my senior year and give advice to my younger self I would teach myself how to properly manage time and retain information. Rather than cramming last minute for a test in which I would later forget everything I would show myself how to work hard to be a better student.

I would tell myself to study hard. That the only thing that matters in high school is you're grades and the academic experience, not boys and magazines. I would tell myself to prepare harder, because once you get out of high school, the fun and games stops. I would tell myself to save every penny I earned so that I could go to the out of state college that I dreamed of. I would tell myself to not take family for granted, to love and respect your parents. I would tell myself that nothing is impossible, even if everyone else says it is. I would tell myself to go for everything I always wanted, make my dreams come true, and not be afraid. But most of all, I would tell myself that life is life, and I can't control what happens. To always count my blessings and be glad that I have food in my belly, and a roof over my head. That even if I don't get what I want, that what I'll end up with will be just as great, if not better.

Pulling out Excalibur As a senior in High School, I didn’t have the energy to go to college, as I was not yet diagnosed with Narcolepsy. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder, later to be diagnosed with Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder. I can see myself then, sleeping in class due to medical reasons beyond my control. I was called lazy and unmotivated by friends and family. I told myself then that anything is possible, such as going to a University, a dream of mine, vivid in its manifestation. Having Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic attacks were a natural occurrence for me. My advice to myself as a seventeen year old would be to not to give up, to find out what caused this unexplainable fatigue, to realize my full potential academically, to pull the sword from the stone. I pulled the sword from the stone, Excalibur in hand, the sword of knowledge and academia one year ago. You choose when to ignite your inner firework and light up the sky with the brilliance of who you are. You choose when to pull out Excalibur; the only tool you need is your own desire to discover your inner fire.

I would tell myself not to get discouraged and to keep my head up, life is full of ups and downs. Always follow your dreams regardless of what other people say or do. Thirst for knowledge and never stop educating yourself. Believe in yourself even when it seems like no one else will. Life is about taking risks and being happy.

The biggest piece of advice i would give myself is to set high standards for yourself and work hard to meet those standards. Be open to meeting new people and make new friends, you feel less homesick when you have friends. Do all assignments and do not be scared to ask your professors questions. Use all the rosources available to you, it will make the transition easier than having to figure out everything on your own. Get involved with the university in someway, it will help you meet new people with the same interest as you.

Make sure that you make friends right away, it becomes harder and harder the further in you get. Also try to get over high school, it's over and you can't go back. Keep some friends but don't hang on too hard to them, allow yourself to go somewhere new and meet new people.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is to apply for more scholarships because the financial aid that is promised by the school and the lottery scholarship given to every student that graduates from a state high school then attends a state college is not enough to cover tuition and books. I would tell myself that it is important to apply for as many scholarships as I could because that is how I am going to put myself through college. I would also advise myself to break out of my shell and not be as shy around people as I had been. The people that I meet in college are wonderful friends and these meetings come about from being less shy.

Dear Me, You are finally ready to move into a life full of responsibility, achievement, and yes, at times, even disappointment. It is not going to be as easy as you think. There will be times when you are excessively overwhelmed with life in general. You are going to have to deal with school work, finals, a job, bills, and serious life responsibilities. You should not give up. You will have family and friends that will stand behind you every step of the way. You will get opportunities of a lifetime and do NOT just let them pass by. Make sure you start saving money just in case emergencies happen unexpectedly. Stay focused in school and rememberthat Chemisty is going to be difficult, so study hard so that you can maintain a high GPA. Apply for internships and believe in yourself. Stay away from distractions because your happiness will come from self-dependence. You are going to accomplish great things throughout your college life. Don't sweat the small stuff and when you get the chance, apply for scholarships. Life is difficult, but no need to worry. You will, believe it or not, live to tell about it. Sincerely, Alyssa

Dear Deena, Do not worry. Yes, college is different... but there is much to do. Focus on your school work, strive to be the best, take an occasional breather. Most importantly, don't let people bring you down. Don't let anyone pressure you into another degree; listen to your heart. There are so many opportunities available and there is no sense in closing doors behind you. Each new door opens when you approach it, so don't be intimidated by it. College isn’t just about the career and the money. That diploma is an inspiration to achieve anything in life. Yes, it represents all the hard work, sleepless nights, morning migraines, etc. Yet, that diploma also represents hope. Hope for ourselves, for our country, for each other, but most importantly hope for our children. Set educational goals that are not just obtaining a degree; inspire a new generation to achieve their educational ambitions. This isn't just you going to school, this is you setting an example for generations to come. Just remember... no pressure.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would give myself advice about the transition and college life. First, I would tell myself that studying is your number one priority, and that there is no homework to help reflect my grade if I do not do as well as I wanted to on a test. Secondly, I would tell myself that college is very competitive due to the fact that a lot of people are going for the same major and try my hardest. Thirdly, I would probably tell myself that there are great study groups and learning centers to help better understand things when I am stuck or having a difficult time. Last but not least I would tell myself not to worry about what others may think of me, and to pull through because their opinion does not matter what matters is the fact that I want to help children and become a pediatric nurse.

I am glad I got involved in a sorority as it helped both my professional and personal life. Grades were heavily emphasized as was getting involved in the Greek life so it was a nice balance. I would keep all that the same but my struggle today is waiting so long to obtain my master's degree. Any advice I could give to myself or any others would be to go straight through if you think you are going to continue with graduate school.

The things that i have gotten out of college experience is meeting a bunch of new people from different parts of the world and learning new things from them also being in a different environment where you do not always no everyone and your teachers sometimes do not always know your name. It had been valueable to attend because it's a new experience where you d not only discover what you want to do with the rest of your life but also learning who you are as a person.

So far, my college experience has done anything and everything it could to prepare me for the "real-world." Having my own apartment, my own car, and paying off all the bills that come with these perks is something that high-schoolers cannot experience. Moving out of my hometown and leaving my family behind is another experience that have gained from attending college. But what really makes college different from the real-world? This is what I believe I have found the answer to. Although I do work and make enough money to make ends meet with the bills and such, I think the thing that makes the college experience unlike the real-world is that we still have some room to make mistakes. Although our parents might not agree with our decision to move away, they will always be there to catch us when we fall so that when we do make it out on our own, we will not make the same mistakes twice. This experience has been valuable to me in more ways than one; I am gaining responsibility for my actions, and also I am learning more than what a college course can teach me.

So far in my college career I have gained a much greater understanding of what it takes to recieve an invaluable education that will prepare me for my future career. A truely worthwhile, rewarding education requires constant focus, determination , and an ability to have an open mind. It is crucial to be capable of finding the best ways around the inevitable obstacles that come your way, and also recognize them as an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. I have come to understand that an education is not going to be an easy straight path that is all laid out in front of you. You have to find your own way as you go, subsequently becoming the person you're truely meant to be.

I’ve always believed in being grateful for the life and opportunities that we are given, and exercising them to the fullest. By this I mean, never taking anything for granted, and being the best you, that you can be. Like so many young adults out there, I had the odds against me. I had the typical bad story: both of my parents had substance abuse issues, my mother has a mental disability, and I myself take full responsibility for not graduating high school. In twelve days I will start my junior year of college at California State University Sacramento. My college experience has shown me that I can be the best me. My education is my future, and my future has a purpose of helping people with a degree in social work. I am so grateful to be in school and I will never again let the past interfere with this one opportunity called, life, that we are given. Education leads to opportunities, and these opportunities lead you to the tools for meaningfully exercising our lives to the fullest.

My college experience has taught me to become independent. I have learned to have time mangagement and everything that I do will have consequences, either good or bad. I have to work extremely hard in everything I do because nothing will come easily. Everything I have I must earn and the satisfaction after completing a task is the best feeling in the world. It has been very valuable to attend college because it gives you a sense of pride and responsibility. College is a time for students to take control of their lives and to make their own path to what they want to acheive. When I have to make sacrifices in order to complete a task for school, it helps me feel proud because I know that I am taking control of my life. Having responsibility is a positive thing because it allows me to plan ahead and appreciate the steps I must take in order to reach a goal. College is my dream and I would not change anything about my experience. I am the first person in my family to attend college, and by completing my first semester I am even more driven to succeed.