University of North Carolina at Greensboro Top Questions

In the recent months at UNCG I have learned something that I wish I would have learned my first year in college, not my sixth. I have learned that in order to succeed at any school, there must be a goal in mind. Not only does the goal need to be in your mind, it also needs to be in your heart. I know that sounds cliche and a little bit cheesy but I believe it to be true. Saying to yourself, "I'm going to be a doctor" and having that goal in your mind is good, but not enough. You must have the goal in your heart. The goal must be the thing that drives you. The thing that says to you "You can make it to your 8 oclock class!" There must exist within you a passion to achieve your goal. If this is not the case you may still reach your goal, but it will have been in vain. It's like climbing a mountain and reaching the summit without any desire to be there. You climbed in vain. The goal must be in your heart.

I would go back and convince myself to stay on campus instead of being a commuter student. I would tell myself to set aside plenty of time to study, and I would get a head start on reading most of my text books. And lastly, I would tell myself to be more open during those first few days of classes so I might have made more friends.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself that I need to know how to manage time, money, grades, and taking advantage of scholarships and college courses. Time is the most important thing in College for it takes a considerable amount of time to study and read. Managing money is important because money does not come by easily. The money use in school is either from grants, scholarship, or loans. When it comes to loan, the money must be paid back in full including interest. Not only that, the grades matter as well; this is where scholarship and grants may help pay for college if the GPA is maintain well. As a senior in high school, I should have look into more scholarship and apply to it so that I would not have to loan so much money now for college. Also, I would have taken the advantage of taking more college courses by doing duel enrollments, which may have helped me earn some college credits by spending less money.

You really going to have to buckle down and figure out your goals you would like to achieve and how does college fit in with them. You have to have a balance between work and pleasure. You can go partying and hang out with friends just make sure you don?t have a test the next day or anything due. Scheduleing is important, look up the buildings so you may be able to put enough time to walk from class to class. Get to know what college has to offer you, what events fit you, what kind of money do you need for like washing clothes and get to know the area. VERY IMPORTANT dont forget to file for FASA, and apply for as many scholarship as you can. The money is going to help with books because even if the college offers a discount for students doesnt mean that its going to help a whole lot. College has the recreation centers that has a many facilities and group exercise classes which there is something for everyone to enjoy. More importantly, most of the services are FREE! That is one of the numerous benefits of having a college id card.

I experience a classic internal struggle when I ask myself this question. On one hand, I believe I am right where I am supposed to be and my life 's events happened just as they should, so I wouldn't change anything. On the other hand, I would tell myself to slow down, relax, and take a year off to travel to genuinely get to know myself. I would strongly advise myself as an eighteen year old to avoid partying and alcohol, because it only causes trouble! I would stress the fact that nothing good has ever happened to me by staying out all night and drinking bud light! I would advise myself to go to a college close to home. I now know how important it is to have a family support system close by to keep you focused and strong, as I began my college career at a school four hours away from my parents before transferring home to UNCG. I would advise myself to become invested in creating meaningful friendships with other females, because I have learned how crucial it is to have girlfriends for support. I have learned these lessons through experience and I am grateful.

I would tell myself to be more friendly with everyone you come in contact with at school and participate in more extracurricular activites. It is so much more fun to come home and hang out with a big group of friends to catch up on things versus not having anything to come home to. I would tell myself to be aware of the things I want to accompish because if I had known that I wanted to go to UNCG and be a Nurse then maybe I would look more into the classes I needed to be taking now. Most importantly, I would tell myself to apply for every scholarship that is available to me because people should learn to use their resources. I would tell myself to take every opportunity that comes available to me because experience is the key to life. I would tell myself that when you go to college, don't forget about your family at home who constantly misses you and your voice. I would tell myself to focus on your goals, that is why you are at school.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high schoo senior knowing all about college I know now, I would tell myself to learn how to study. College classes are difficult, and to succeed, it is essential to learn how to study. I would also tell myself to get more involved in campus events, clubs, and social groups. They make college much more enjoyable, and they are a great way to meet new people and lifelong friends. If I coul go back in time, I would tell myself to attend every class; you never know what you will miss by being absent just one day. Missing class can be th difference between a B or C in a class, or an A. All of these facts are important to know when preparing for college. If I had known these when preparing, I would have had more of an idea of what college was about, and how to succeed.

Jordan, take your time and enjoy right now. Don't look into the future and try to predict what will happen. But don't look into the past and regret what happened either. Concentrate on now. Keep in focus what is really important and prioritize your life. Literally, write it down and look at it daily. Remember why you are here and what it took to get your here. Don't let your parents down, but more importantly, don't yourself down. Get help when you need it - please don't wait until the situation feels hopeless. Read your syllabus and assignments throughly and keep up with the reading and writing. Don't be afraid to go to your advisor or others if you feel lost. It's okay to ask questions. Remember you are going to have to push a bit harder than you have in time's past. But it will be worth it. And you will look back and say, "Those were some of the greatest years of my life. " Have fun and stay focused. Don't forget why you are here and what it took to get you here. You are a winner!

Look. There's nothing wrong with taking your time, but you have to realize that if you change majors mid-stream then you'll pay for it at the end. Pick one and stick with it, so you can finish up quickly. Always work a 15-hour job while you're in school. It'll feel great to be able to afford random pizza or movies, and not having to rely on your parents will improve your self esteem. Also, be the one with a car. It'll make you a lot of friends, and the opportunity to build relationships by always being in-demand. Live on campus for a semester to see what it's like, even if you decide to move out or back home. It's worth the experience. Don't rely on your parents. Whenever it's humanly possible, make/do/buy what you need for yourself. It's tempting to bring your laundry home, but consider this practice for real life. Your parents' respect, and the car or place to live it'll buy you once you're finished, is more valuable than the $1.25 you'll pay for a rinse cicle.

I would tell myself don't buy books before you go to the class, study a lot with lecture notes and the book, and living on campus is not necessary.

Focus on your schoolwork and keep all of your deadlines organized so that you won't forget them. Stay determined.

Dear High School Self, Go to school initially and finish the first time through if possible. Going to school for a semester and taking a break may seem like a good idea at the time, but it will only prolong your journey to obtaining your degree. You don't have to know what you want to get a degree in as soon as you begin school, but do some research and meet with your advisor - that is what they are for. Transition by being prepared for the unexpected. Ask for help if you need it or don't know what to do next. Your ability to gain your degree should be taken seriously and although you may feel invicible at times, life is unpredictable and it will be hard. If you have to delay school for a semester or two, go back. Save your money and make it count toward bettering your life by learning something you love. Smile about the funny things you are going to encounter and speak eliquently to everyone you come into contact with. Make impressions on your teachers and advisors - good impressions that is. Concentrate and take a deep breath. Never stop learning, MC

If I could go back and tell myself what I know now about college I would tell myself to take things slow and apply for everything early. I realized that the earlier the application for scholarships and colleges the better the chance of getting it. Also everything is much less stressful if you turn in everything early instead of last minute. I would also tell myself to wait until second semester of freshmen year to have a job; instead of going into college not knowing what I am doing and trying to work. It is best to get accommodated to college before you try to jump into everything else.

If I traveled back in time a few months, to when I was a senior, I would tell myself to loosen up outside of class a little, to show a lot more people that I am a great friend and that I am fun to be around. I would advise myself to go in for tutoring whenever possible and to get to know the professors, because they have office hours for a reason, to help students. There is a gym on campus that is free for students to use. I would tell my senior self to take advantage of the free gym equipment and excercise classes that are available instead of using them only once as I did in my first semester at school. Your dorm room is not there for you to lock yourself in, you need to get out and experience college life the best you can. Go on more bus rides around Greensboro so that you can see where things are located. Study hard and know your surroundings, you are about to relocate to a different city. Everyone is not friendly, and some have absolutly no intentions on being so. Keep your eyes open and be happy.

If I went back into my senior year in high school, I would have put alot of thought into my choice of which college I was going to attend, instead of going with a community college.My experienc e at GTCC is an overall great one but i wish that i would have went to an university so that i could enjoy the college life like all of my friends are now.I would have given myself the advice to put much thought into the whole choice making when it came to my deciding on what college would have been best for me.I would have talked more to my counselors so that i could have gained more information about the different universities that were out there for me to attend.And I would have took the opportunity to have visited several differetn colleges.

As a high school senior, transitioning into college would be a lot easier if you start making good study habits and time management strategies in order to be better prepared for college. College is as hard as you make it seeing that you can take your time and study everyday which will prevent you from craming before a test or you can set aside certain days or times to study for classes. In high school group work may have not always been fun but in college it helps to make study groups with people in your hardest classes so you will have extra help with work. College makes you become a more responsible person since professors don't remind you of assignments and it's your responsibility to check your email daily for new updates. Keeping in mind that you want to succeed, allow yourself to take school seriously and know how to balance a social life with school life.

Dear Abby, Don't wait! That's what everyone is telling you. Your about to be a new mother and your just finishing up High School. It seems so stressful and like you have so much on your plate to even think about college. It's almost time for graduation, your belly looks like a watermelon, and your so nervous about so many new opportunities that are about to enter your life. College is an opportunity that will change your life forever. So don't wait! Listen to everyone else and get it done as soon as possible. The more you put it off the harder it is going to be. So enrich your life with just one important decision and you will not regret it. GO TO COLLEGE NOW!

The transition from high school to college is a big change. Not only do you have a new surrounding but you have to take care of yourself. I would give myself advice on how to make it. Not only should I ask other people advice when I get there, I should also listen to that advice. I will make sure i bring a recipe book from my mom with me (who doesn't like a home cooked meal). I would encourage myself to make a variety of new friends. The friends would help me with homework, stress, fun, and everyday life. For the most part how I have handled my self has been great, but of course knowing as much as I can before the big change is always great.

There are so many things that concern an incoming freshman of any college. Your living situations, academics, freedoms, environment, and activities all have the opportunity to change dramatically. As for myself, I wanted to get away from friends in high school and experience a place where I knew no one. My choice made the first semester of school challege, but also exciting adventure. I was never tied down and able to insert myself in new situations that i had never experienced. Looking back, I would tell myself to be open to everything and anything because the outcomes are infinite. Never keep the mind set that a certain aspect of your life won't be challenged and will remain concrete as you enter into the first semester of school. Moreover, I would tell myself to look into the different religious affiliations, academics, and clubs that interest me rather than who will give me the most money to attend their school. In addition, whatever choice you make does not have to be right the first time around. If you're not happy with an outcome of a choice you've made, specifically a school, you can alway adapt your decisions. RELAX & ENJOY!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school senior self, I would tell her about the many university merit scholarships available to high school seniors who have maintained an excellent academic average, and who have been actively involved in student organizations. Not having the full support of my two parents to go to college, I was not fully informed about all of the scholarships available ,such as this one, that provide students the opportunity to go to school and realize their dream of one day becoming a professional. I would also tell myself to inform my sisters, who too aspire to go to college, but due to the rough economic time worry constantly about how to afford it, too focus hard on their studies and to never give up because with hard work and effort anything is possible. I would further tell myself that I will do well in college if I focus hard on my studies, build relationships with my professors, and look for research opportunities. I would tell myself to not be afraid to apply for the honors college and that: ?you, I, will do great.?