University of North Texas Top Questions

I sometimes find myself thinking if I knew what I know today. When I was a high school senior, I thought college was not important if I'm capable of doing thing. I thought of those successful people without their college degrees in the magazines. But I had to ask myself, 'what is that thing? What do I want to do in the future?' I couldn't answer because I wanted to be everything; my dream changed everyday. Until I chose current major at the last minute of my college application, I had a hardest time ever in my life only because that I wasn't prepared for my future. I realized that I should have done a lot of research on my major and decide which university I would apply for. If I could go back in a high school senior year, I would make myself clear and mature for my future.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell my self to relax and not worry about all of the new things I will encounter. College life is fun, I will get to meet interesting people, and I will begin to learn about the very thing I'm passionate about. I would tell myself not to worry about class sizes or getting lost in the shuffle, because the class sizes are not as big as I imagined them to be, and professors do take the time to council students and encourage them on their educational journey. Mostly, though, I would tell myself to enjoy the journey.

Make sure that I can ballance my academic life vs. my social life. Grades are what matter at the end of the day and you can't let yourself get carried away and lose yourself that you screw up on everything in life.

Time management is the most important skill one will need when making the transition from high school senior to college freshman. In fact, it wil remain an important aspect throughout the college journey. Yes, the work will be more complex but, studying and paying attention are traits that are taught in high school. Unlike grade school, college is not structured. The scheduling is completely at the student's discretion. The new freedom is sometimes overwhelming. Often times, students run wild, party, and forget all about the work that needs to be done. If time is managed properly, not only will the work be completed but there will also be time remaining for some fun activities. Remember the old saying: Work hard then play hard.

Take more advanced classes in high school.

I would tell myself how everything works and what I should do when registering. I would explain the things I needed to do for my portfolio so that I could get into the program and to take all my art classes at the university. I would say to make sure to meet and network with as many people as I could and to get to know my teachers more. I would say relax and don't be so stressed out and try to have as much fun as I could but still be resposible and do what I needed in order to be successful. I would motivate myself and say that I am on the right track and to never give up!

College is so different from high school, be ready to work harder than you've ever thought you were going to work yet be ready to have fun like you never had the chance to. Be ready to finally make friends because others do think as you do and people will accept you as you are. You will find out things you thought you did not like you actually do, you will learn so many things as long as you keep your mind open. Apply yourself rigorously in all of your classes, maintain your gpa because many organizations and internships look at your average. Try to stick to a major and no hopping around from college to college because a lot of credits won't transfer. You can do this!

The advice that I would give myself is having better organizational skills and better time management.

I really think i was very prepared for college physically. However, i was not mentally and emotionally ready for all of the choices and decisions to be made when i started college. I wish i would have known how to study effectively, and to time manage my studying well. I also wish i was more prepared to live closely with others, living in a dorm i never expected to live this closely with strangers and i struggled with that in the begining. However, i think a large part of going to college, especially moving away to college is about growing, and learning about yourself and making grown up decisons. I just wish i would have known how much i hadn't grown up in highschool, i thought i was very mature, especially as a high school senior. Right now i am still learning about myself, and growing up to be more responsible and mature, im learning to embrace the growth.

It may not seem a skill at first, but being able to admit you need help before it is too late is probably the most important skill you will need to get through college. No one can succeed without help so there is no shame in asking for it. Universities have many resources to help students, resources you are already paying for so you may as well use them. If it feels like it is getting to be too much, reach out for help. You will get it and be a better student for it. Do not wait until you are failing every class and facing the possibility of academic probation. When you have an academic problem, find someone who can help you whether it is a friend, a professor or a tutor. If you are having personal problems, see a counselor. They say it takes a whole village a raise a child so it is with graduating a college student. Get the help you need to succeed.