University of Northern Iowa Top Questions

Some advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior would definately be not to worry about what other people think about you and dont be too trusting with people you do not know. I would also advise myself to create better study habits and to start working on long term projects the day that you recieve the information, college projects are a lot more involved than the I-Search essay you had to do your senior year. Don't be afraid to make new friends, but remember that you are not a loser if you choose not to go out every night. Sometimes being alone is good so dont worry if you don't get asked out on a date or asked to go to the mall with your friends, there is plenty of time in your life for those things. Finally the last thing I would advise myself to do is not to rush your childhood, have fun and laugh as much as possible. Make your mistakes and learn from them. And always be open to advice, but know you do not have to take it if you do not want to.

If I was to go back in time to high school knowing what my first year of college was like, I would have multiple pieces of advice. First, I would prepare myself for the "work load," or in other words learn how to study! That was a skill that was not tought well at my high school. Second, I would tell myself to get involved! I was always involved in sports, but I did not volunteer enough or join enough clubs and organizations. Third, I would prepare myself for the independence. I was very independent in high school, but I was not grown up enough to succeed at the level that I would like here at UNI. After the first semester it took me a long time to build up that level of independence. Lastly, I would tell myself to think positive and enjoy the ride. College is only fun if you make it fun. It's about trying new things and having many new experiences. College is one of the biggest steps in our lifetime.

As a high school senior I felt college would be a breeze and that classes would be the same as they were at that time. However if I could back I would tell myself to alter that way of thinking because college is really tough and you need to pay attention, focus, and work hard. I would also tell myself to follow my dream instead of my parents and not let them choose what would be good for me. Following your dream is what college is about in hopes that you will become what you want to be one day. If I had known that as a senior it would have really changed what I ended up doing and might have even helped me to work a lot harder in my studies.

If I was able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that some college classes aren't a walk in the park like most high school classes were for me. During my high school years, I took advanced classes when I could, even some with dual college credit. Yes, they were more difficult than regular classes, but I still didn't have to try as hard as some people to receive and A in the course. Everything came almost naturally to me, and I never had to study very often. However, when arriving at college, I soon figured out that I was going to actually have to study for most of my classes. This was a difficult adjustment for me, something I'm still trying to master. It became even harder still when I came down with mono and other various infections, since the professors aren't as sympathetic as high school teachers. My professors still expected me to get my work done which is to be expected of a college university. If I could go back and tell my high school self one thing, it would be "be prepared".

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would look myself directly in the eye and say, 'Work hard Jonathan. Work hard and never settle for just enough. You have it in you to do great things with your life, I know because I have just started to scratch the surface of it. There will be times when you think you cannot work any harder or make a difference but it is at those moment when you must perserve. You will make an excellent teacher when you graduate but you must never get discouraged. Work for greatness and you will earn it. Also, I want you to know that it is okay to break out of your shell and dance like no one is watching. I will do great things someday."

If I could go back and give my advice about college while I was still in high school, I would first of all tell myself to take more dual credit courses. I have talked to alot of people here that are already in sophmore status because of the courses they took in high school that counted for credit. This means that they will be done with college a whole year before me and in the work force, which is outstanding to me. Also, dual credit courses are free. When I was in high school, i thought the classes I was taking wouldnt count towards my degree because they didn't interest me. You always need to fill in electives, and taking classes then would have easily saved me $1,000 dollars. My last bit of advice would be to get started right away on college, don't wait. I graduated early in February and this put me at a disadvantage by waiting about six months to start college. I couldn't remember very current things that I had learned simply because it had been so long. I could have gotten a jump start by starting as soon as I graduated.

Looking back, I would have plenty of helpful advice to give myself as a high school senior. I would advise myself to start becoming more independent before college with varoius tasks, such as preparing meals, doing laundry, and purchasing everything with my own money. Additionally, I would advise myself to create a budget, clip coupons, and moniter whether or not my purchases are necessary. A great way to save money is to take advantage of the grab-and-go dining services on campus. They are nice bec ause I can grab extra items when I get a meal there, and it just comes out of my dining plan. I would also advise myself to become more independent in other ways, such as learning to be away from family and friends. I made several trips home the first few months of college, but quickly realized I was wasting money on gas, missing out on campus activities and exploring my college town. I would advise myself to embrace the separation, though it may be difficult at first. Although I would have much more advice for myself as a high school senior, I feel this advice is some of the most important.

If I were able to go back and tell myself about college I would have a lot to say. I would tell myself not to worry about the work load, that the teachers are nicer than I expected, that if you ask the right people you can get the help you need. The main office is a great resource and there are always people available to help. I would tell myself that there is nothing to be afraid of straight out of high school, college is just the next step up and there are hand rails there to make sure I don't fall.

If I could travel back in time, I would tell myself to attend a college visit to the University of Northern Iowa sooner in the year and to choose a major so I would have more specific information on classes I would need to take. Entering college as an undecided major had its benefits, but I would have liked to come in knowing what I needed to accomplish to get my degree. Along the same lines, I would tell myself to take a few classes over the summer at a community college to prepare myself for the demand of college classes and to ease the financial burden a little. I remember being very stressed my first semester because my classes were so different from what I was used to in high school. I believe easing into it in this manner would have been wise. I would not, however, advise myself to delay going to UNI by attending a community college first, because if I wouldn't have started at the time I did, I may never have met my roommate, who was chosen randomly and who I am now living with for the third year in a row.

I would have told myself during my high school senior year to be more active in school. Especially with extracurricular activities and volunteer work. While studying harder in school to get a higher gpa for merit aid. I also would have applied for more scholarships and had a more focused mind at that time. Money magazine and scholarship books should have been my first priority to read over teen magazines.