University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

If I had such an opportunity I would recommend beginning the "growing-up" process sooner; namely the time and money management aspects of adulthood. In high school I relied greatly on my parents and the changes that I have undergone on campus have made interactions with them strained. On university campuses students taste the first drop of true freedom and begin making all of their own decisions regarding how they spend their time. I didn't do much of this in high school; I didn't flex my "independence muscles" as much as I now realize I should have. Suddenly I no longer rely on my parent?s input. This makes them uncomfortable and communication tense. Also, on campus I am responsible for paying for everything that is not part of my tuition, board, and meager meal plan. In the beginning I would whine and bother my parents to buy me food and other "necessary" items. I have had to accept the new, seemingly harsh, yet understandable development that my money from my job must not only cover extraneous purchases, which is what it did in high school, but also necessary ones like food and books.

I would advise myself to choose a college tailoring to my interests completely, not necessarily what my community views as a prestigious school or where friends are all going. As for college lifestyle, go out and try many things. Many events are free, so you aren't losing anything when you try something new. I have found many things I like to go to on campus with my friends, such as free movies, air guitar competitions, and lectures focusing on different subjects not covered in class.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and better prepare myself for college, I definitely would. Moving to Chapel Hill was a much more difficult transition than I had expected. I would most likely tell myself not to expect breaks, to do my best to stay ahead in class, and also to reach further than I though I could. I would tell myself to be more active in the clubs I was a part of and to make a better image of myself at my high school. I would do this by exceeding the expectations of my teachers, coaches, and other administrators. If I could return to my former self in high school, I would tell myself to give absolutely everything I have in everything that I do. I wish I could have been a stronger athlete, a firmer leader, and a more self-disciplined student. I feel that all of these things would have better prepared me for the significant changes between high school and college. I might also tell myself to pack less, seeing as I brought waaay too much stuff to school and do not have room for it all in my tiny room.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior I would simply say, "don't sweat the smalls stuff". In high school, we as students spend so much time focusing on little things including application deadlines, homework grades and varsity sport stats. We do all of these things to get into college. That is the goal. When you get to college people don't ask you where is your homework. They don't tell you every day when things are due and unless you're a collegic athlete they don't ask you about your sports stats. In college they ask you one thing: what do you want to do with your life. It is your job to figure out how to get there, to turn your things in on time, to do your homework and to keep track of all of the little things. It turns out that these little things just are the means to do what it is you really want- to follow your dreams and make realize your goals. I would tell myself, do what makes you happy, and most importantly "dont' sweat the small stuff".

Do not be afraid to be the only one from your hometown. People in the south are so hospitable and modern technology will keep you in touch with your friends from home. Your high school education and extracurriculars have prepared you well to take on everything college has to offer. Just remember to stay true to yourself and not to succomb to peer pressures on campus. There is so much more to do at UNC than party on the weekends; from movies at The Varsity to the theater and basketball, there is always something to do. I know people always say the time flies by but take every opportunity you are given and run with it. You are and always will be a Tar Heel.

Always be thinking about and preparing for the future! Hard work now will pay off and give you more options for college. Learn and practice good study habits now so you can stay on top of your school work later because it only gets more challenging! Be confident in yourself and your abilities! Don't be afraid to make new friends with people unlike any you've had before! Open your mind to diversity and you'll discover how extraordinary it is to experience every aspect of the university environment. Don't be afraid to talk to your professors. They are there to help you and guide you and believe it or not they'd like to be your friend as well! Seek out and explore all kinds of new opportunities. Play intramural sports, take a quilt making class, run for student government, or apply for a fun internship at the art museum. The possibilites are endless! Only in college is there such a plethora of new and engaging ideas and opportunities all at your fingertips and right outside your dormitory door! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to push yourself academically and otherwise!

I dropped out of school when I was a Junior due to financial need and being so far behind. If I was able to go back I would have to tell myself not to leave school and to do whatever I had to do to graduate. If I had known how long it would be till I recieved my GED, which I took last May and passed the first time I took the test, I would have stayed in school. I would tell myself that I would have a better chance of getting into my top choice school and a few others if I had stayed and graduated. Fortunately, I did get accepted into my first choice school, which was the harder of the four schools I applied to, the other four schools declined my entrance.

College is not high school. That's what makes it scary, difficult and most importantly great! It's the next step forward, so don't go into it expecting things to stay the same. College is a whole new world and you really have to dive head first into it in order to truly experience it. If you spend too long trying to gradually assimulate, you'll miss too much! The most important thing is to step out of your comfort zone. Join a club that you've never heard of. Go to the athletic events to cheer on your team. Talk to the person next to you in class (just not while the professors talking). College offers a world of opportunities so the only thing that could hold you back is yourself! Open your mind to new experiences and you won't regret it. In fact, they'll end up being the memories you fondly remember years from now!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to use my advisers and counselors to my advantage more often. They have extremely important resources that I failed to use during my transition to college. I would also tell myself to relax and be myself. College admissions officers just want you to be the best that YOU can be. There is no mold that you have to fit into. Also, I would tell myself to take advantage of the AP courses that I was taking. Through my AP courses, I feel as if I came to college extremely prepared. I would have told myself that these AP courses are extremely similar to the classes I would be taking at UNC. And finally, I would tell myself to not fret over the small things. Arguments that lead to ending of friendships don't really matter. College will open your eyes to new horizons, new people, new cultures, and new ways of forming relationships. There is no sense in wasting your time over a friendship or relationship that won't last. There are better things on the horizon. It'll all be OK.

If given the chance, I would remind myself that I'm about to embark on something that, although it will be "my life", is also only a small segment of the complete picture. These four years will fly by, and I feel like I've wasted a chunk of them already because I was unwilling to try new things and to step outside the boundaries I've placed around myself since high school. Live a little, learn a lot: those are the basic concepts of this environment. I wish I could have challenged myself from Day One to say "yes" more often, to try something new, and to take part in clubs and meetings and courses that might have seemed utterly useless from the start. Who cares? This is your chance to shine, to grow, and to flourish. Build off your passions, and suddenly every limit and boundary that has ever held you back? They'll all just melt away.