Zachary
Make sure to read ahead before you go to class. Also when choosing a school look at what they offer. Broaden your scope of schools to choose. There are so many jobs out there and so many majors that you want to learn as much as you can. Look into the Major requirements and focus on those. Get to know a great advisor because they can save your college life. Get to know as many people as you can because everyone wants to meet you. Procrastination is a choice you have but it's not the best choice. Organize yourself every day of every week. Learn as much as you can because this is the time to do it. It might seem that life is passing you by but it isn't. Stay focused on the ultimate goal. Keep an open mind of subjects and people. Don't overload with things you need to learn, instead view it as a want to learn. Find a personal hobbie that makes you relax. Laundry is always going to be tough on your schedule. Always find time to clean. And try to make your bed in the morning.
Susan
Going into college is like a culture shock. Having large lecture classes instead of 30 students will be an adjustment, because you don't get the attention like in high school. Also to try and plan out what to take every semester, so that the class load won't be overwelming. To stay on top of everything in each class and work ahead by reading in the text about the lecture coming up. Studying for tests shouldn't be an overnight or 2 night process like in high school. It would take a week and hours to understand the information. Not falling behind is a huge challenge and must be in practice the first day/week of school. Try making more friends by being more outgoing, that way study groups can be formed and being able to talk to students and ask for help. Lastly, forming relationships with professors that you enjoyed, especially in the field of your major. Being able to talk to your professor and asking for help on things that you don't understand early on in the semester, that way you have connections for letters of recommendations, which will be good for your future career.
Alexandra
I would first tell my self that I had screwed myself my freshman year by being a procrastinator, and that I needed to stay on top of myself from here on. I needed to start working on projects and assignments the day they were assingned, not the night before. O, and one last thing... GO TO CLASS!
Arnika
Dearest Arnika,
Right now, the University of New Mexico seems like the "University Near Mom," but you'll soon realize that its the best choice you could have made. And though its a daunting major, give nuclear engineering a chance. You are a lot smarter than you think you are. Please stop being so GPA-centric. Really. I beg of you. Remember, the knowledge you aquire is more important than the grade you recieve. Don't be mad that mom and dad wont let you go to prom. They are trying to protect you. The random breathalizer screenings, the hailstorm and the guys that lit fireworks INSIDE the gymnasium made prom terrible. And don't let your friends make fun of you for living at home instead of getting an apartment. You'll come to appreciate not having to pay for gas, food, heating, electricity or rent. And mom still isn't ready to let go, so please be patient with her . Please remember that college is so much better than highschool. And above all, remember to thank Mrs. Keeney for teaching you how to write a full blown essay in under 40 minutes. Its a lifesaver in college.
Cynthia
If I could go back in time and talk to myself I would most definitely inform myself of the organizational skills needed to be successful in college. One of the things I have found necessary to succeed in my courses and still have a good time is organization. Time in college is not the same as in high school and the dependency on ones parents completely changes. I would tell myself to start preparing to make the transition from full dependency on parents to only a partial dependency. I would also let myself know that stress will be a factor in college but that if I manage my time wisely then I should be just fine and will ensure a successful time in college.
Alicia
I would go back and tell myself that it is okay to ask for help on school work. I spent my high school career taking AP and Honors classes, all the while never asking for help because it made me feel like I was dumb for not understanding the material. When I transitioned to college, I tried to continue what I had done in high school. It took me a year of frustration with my grades to finally figure out that it was okay to stop, take a breath, and go to tutoring for help. During my sophomore year, started asking for help on homework and also began forming study groups with peers. It was pretty neat going into tests and actually knowing and understanding the material. So, if I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself to take advantage of the tutoring on campus and that it is alright to ask for help.
Rachel
"No matter what you do, even the best made plans can change," is something I would say to myself as a high school senior. In my first semester as a college student I have realized that what is important is not always what I have planned, but rather how to deal with what life throws at me. Class schedules, roommate relationships, and how to interact with professors and peers are not things that are easily planned. Especially when interacting with other people, it is best to have patience, a positive attitude, and a strong sense of what you feel is right. In college, you have to stand up for yourself, whether that means taking an active role in your class, talking to a roommate about a problem, or finding activities in which you want to participate. You are expected to be able to say what you need and to get with relatively little help. It is not that people do not care, just that you are an adult and ultimately responsible for yourself.
Jennifer
In high school, I was an overachiever, hell-bent to make a difference in this world. There was one lurking question in my young mind, a question that creeps up on nearly every individual in the world; what would I be when I grew up? I pondered. I stressed. It's amazing I didn't burst into flames; internal combustion from the many neurons rushing this question in my brain. My ultimate solution was that I'd be going to college anyway and I'd just wait for something to strike. I'd fall into a career, just like my mom always told me she had. It didn't quite happen that way. I fell into a degree, the time coming in the semester to claim a major, credit hours I'd accumulated choosing for me. I can look back and wish that I'd told myself to relax, to learn myself, to focus on what made me happy and follow that, not to follow silly course hours. I'm not able to go back, but I can tell myself today that it's okay to try again. Life unfolds, but now I'm the one leveling my own path.
Maureen
I would tell myself that world is not going to end and to make a plan for the future. To take a positive attitude on my education and to not let other choices dissuade me from finishing on time. That even though supporting yourself is important that choosing to finish your education is a much better choice in the long run. It is a huge mistake to choose to spend more time on the job that gets you through school, instead of studying for an education that will provides a career. By concentrating more on the job, you can become overwhelmed and tend to give up on school. Then after a number of years you are stuck working that "job", where you could have had a well paying career that would support a good lifestlye. That career could have stimulated your life and your potential for personal fulfillment. A college education is the best move, and to take advatage of it early in life is far better than trying to achieve a degree twenty years later, after you realize you that the nowhere job has taken you just there, "Nowhere"!
Michael
I made the mistake of going straight to college out of high school without knowing what I wanted to study or do once I had a college degree. As a result, I attended for three semesters, lost interest, and then dropped out. The years I spent working and living before returning to the Univesity of New Mexico allowed me to see more of the world and become mature enough to know what I want from life. So, if I could talk to my high school self, I would say to take time off before heading to college. Travel, see the world, and get to know yourself first before investing thousands of dollars in a college education. That way, once you do go to college, you'll know what you want and get the most out of your education.
Tamara
I would say:
Listen up Tamara, college isn't like High School, the teachers expect you to do your work, be self reliant and do what you know needs to be done. You also need to remember that you have 1 assignment for grading in college that you did for every 20 in High School. Have fun, learn your way around campus, but don't forget this is a whole new ballgame. Talk to people make friends and don't be afraid to join in the extracurricular activities, suprisingly they will assist you in making better grades, because you will meet people who are taking the same classes you are or who have taken them in the past and will help you study on issues you are not sure of.
Don't forget to stop and look around, it's not all about the classroom learning, it's about the social learning and friends made for a lifetime.
lawrence
if i had the oppertunity to go back in time and talk to my self about the transition to college i would tell myself to start learning time managment now. College is a time of freedom where you are allowed to make decisions on your own but it is also a time when you must learn to manage your time and have priorities. There are many demands in college and it is extremly important that all of these demands are managed correctly because if not things such as grades or money could become issues. time managment is an important thing to add to your skill set.
Mari
If I could go back to myself as a High School senior, the first thing I would tell myself is,
- Stay in school. I didn?t get my GED until I was 29.
I would say Mari, your future and your childrens? future depend on you becoming educated. You will learn fundamentals that will help you become a better person and mother.
- You will see the many types of people the world is made up of
- Go to school, make the effort
- Ask for help
- Get involved
- Stick to your hearts? dream
- Stay away from those who foster negativity. Thinking the teacher is too hard or unfair only stops you from learning. You can talk to the professors like esteemed peers; you?re an adult now.
- It?s ok to question and try new things
- Be prepared to work, know that the amount of work is worth the time.
- Realize your personal value - that education increases it exponentially - that value will never diminish.
- Learn the campus
- Build a relationship with an advisement counselor
- Make appointments, don?t rely on walk-in
- Go above and beyond-it?s worth it.
- Remember what you?re there for
Kourtney
Be flexible! Do not be afraid of the experience. Even though it is always a little nerve-racking coming to a new place, embrace it and really try to get involved. Even though you are shy, do not be afraid to meet knew people and be yourself. Still be on your guard, because not everyone is a nice person, but meet people different than yourself and have fun. Since it is college you are going to have to work hard, and though you are used to doing really well in college, do not be ashamed or angry if you do not do as well your first year in college. It is more difficult but you can do it, and you will make life long memories if you just open yourself up to it. Good Luck!
Rita
When I was a senior, a community college offered a dual-credit program for high school and college credit. I completed 2 classes my senior year, and if I could go back in time I would have taken more classes. I've been smooth sailing through college because of the 6 extra credits I earned, so I can only imagine how ahead I'd be if I had taken more. At the time, I was too busy enjoying my senior year to stop and think about the future!
I also didn't pay much attention in my twelfth grade English class; big mistake! Luckily, through hard work and excellent professors, my writing skills have improved drastically. The last thing I would do differently if given the chance is look for more extra curricular activities. There were plenty of clubs and activates I could have participated in. Although I was a dedicated member of the newspaper team, I wish I would have been a little more involved my senior year. I think if I would have been more productive then, I would probably be involved in more extra curricular activities than I am now.
Nicole
Hey there soon to be graduate!
We've always been blunt, so here's the advice I wish I'd had,
1. Save your money! You work hard, so let your money work for you. Trim your budget and save your pennies. When the truly "must have" experiences, not things, come along, you'll be very grateful you did.
2. Make your own coffee. I strongly recommend the Kona blend from Trader Joe's. It's magnificent.
3. Talk to more people and talk more to the people you know. That's the only way you'll get to know people better.
Last, and most importantly:
4. Be you. It works well for you. You know what you have to do to get where you want to go. You may not always know the best way to get there, but that's not what matters. What matters is that you get there, and any way you do that is going to be the right way-- even if it's not the best or most efficient. Don't ever lose sight of that.
Peace and best wishes,
Your college counterpart
Erin
Making the transition from high school to college can be hard and frustrating at times. You have worked throughout your whole school life to get to this point. My biggest advice is to stay focused and relax. It is true that college is harder than high school, but it is still manageable. The biggest difference between high school and college is that there is no room to slack off in college. College is like that one class in high school that you couldnt coast through and you had to really apply yourself, that is every class in college. Some good tips to getting through college are as follows ; First, Sit at the front of every class, this way you wont get distracted and you can hear everything the professor is saying clearly. Second, do all your homework, never skip an assignment, those are easy points. Third, take advantage of the tutoring offered to you, they can really help you get high test scores. The biggest thing to remember is to stay focused. Dont get caught up in the partying and you will be fine in college. Follow these tips and you will be successful.
Robert
The advice I would give is to just go for it. When I was a senior, I had the chance to go to a school out of city with almost a full ride. Not wanting to leave my girlfriend, I chose to stay in Albuquerque and attend the community college. While the community college offered a good education and a great price, I should have taken the chance I was given to pursue my bachelor's degree. In the end, my girlfriend and I broke up and I stayed at the community college. While this course of action lead me in many exciting directions, I am now back in school ten years later pursuing a bachelor's degree. So my advice is go for it. Pursue every avenue that interests you, and do not let the need to feel comfortable dictate your life. Incidentally, this is also the advice I will give my two children.
Deborah
Your time in University is precious. Do not take this time for granted. There are limitless possibilities and you will get so much more out of school if you take advantage of all the resources that you have available to you. Concentrate on satisfying your core requirements. Schedule your time so that your life is as balanced as possible. There should be time to study and do research as well as time to eat healthful foods and exercise regularly. Keep a calendar so that you are aware of deadlines and test dates. Join clubs or organizations that relate to your major or field of interest and get involved with your school's community. Be open to what is happening around you. Be the change you would like to see in the world. Do not quit until you have satisfied all requirements to graduate. Taking a little time off can turn into years and limit your career choices and life goals. I made that mistake and now as a 46-year-old woman I am struggling to pay the mortgage and finish my degree. Make your education your number one priority. It is so worth it.
Hannah
If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school student, I would say, "You're going to be so happy at UNM! You will have so many opportunities that you might not get at a smaller school." I would recommend introducing myself to more faculty members earlier, and I would have said to move straight into the dorms instead of living off-campus for the first semester. The campus is beautiful with the many different types of trees and even a pond in the center of the campus. It is extremely safe, convenient, and resources like free tutoring and a huge capacity for study space in the multiple libraries provide diverse locations that suit everyone's taste. There are resources for chances like study abroad and being politically and environmentally aware and involved on campus. UNM also has so many different kinds of people that you'll never feel awkward or left out for any reason. Being involved is the most important thing because without being exposed to all the different choices, you'll never discover the groups and people who are capable of helping with your future. Take advantage of what you have right away!!!