University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Top Questions

I would have sought out the advice from my teachers and parents more, and relied on the fact they had some information to share about expectations and preparations. I was bombarded with information from so many colleges that I really didn't focus on some of the important issues like I do now being a college student. Though I believe that I made the right decision about where to go to college, I would have prepared more about how I would pay for college, and that means taking the time to apply for more scholarships. I think I would have talked more with friends who had already gone to college to find out more of the differences between high school and college. I would have been more prepared!

I would advise myself to make sure I knew how to study and say no to all the distractions that come with college. I also would tell myself to definetly be on top of any kind of scholarships that are available because the financial part of college will really shock you. I would also tell myself to not be a procrastinator because that will set you behind in everything that you are trying to get accomplished in college.

I would tell myselft to take studying more seriously and also to save financially and to open up a bank account.

If I were to be able to go back in time to talk to myself senior year, I would stress the importance of money, notetaking, study time, and time management. Being in college is far different from high school. In college you do not have your parents and teachers standing over you explaining every detail on how to do things if you don't understand it. You also must manage your time wisely and make time to study you don't have your instructor giving you extra time because you forgot to do the homework because you went out the night before. Money is one of the biggest issues of all. The one piece of advice about money I would give is save as much money as you can. Instead of going out to eat for 20 dollars with your friends, put that 20 dollars in your savings account to pay for books or some of your tuition. If you do these things it will be easier on you and not so stressful when things get bad.

As a high school senior, I had no idea regarding where I wanted to go to college, what I wanted to do, or how I was going to support myself. I was overwhelmed by the idea of making choices that might possibly dictate my future opportunities and happiness. If I could, I would advise myself: ?Don?t take initial decisions too seriously. Schools can change, majors can change? just dive in. Everything will work out. ?Utilize financial aid. Do not apply for multiple credit cards, and don?t work full-time; you?ll miss out on lots of great university opportunities. ?Similarly, get involved. Take risks. Make friends and explore interests- you never know where things will lead. ?If you declare a major, take electives outside of that major. Explore other fields, immerse yourself in diverse knowledge. ?Wherever college may lead, never lose yourself. Remember who you are, your friends and family, and what you believe. Be open to altering beliefs as needed, but don?t give them up to ?fit in? with peers, university administration or a potential employer. ?Most of all, take care of yourself, because there is only one you in the world.

College is a big place. It is something new, and it takes a little bit of getting used to, but don't be intimidated. Your college experience is only going to be as good as you make it. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Try new things. If you're interested in something, go try it out. Explore your interests. Your professors really do care and really do want to help you, so take advantage of that. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Go visit your professors in their office hours and try to get to know them, it will come in handy when you need letters of recommendation, which you will need a lot of. Make a lot of friends. As scary as it may be, talk to the people sitting next to you. They are probably just as nervous and afraid to make the first move to start talking as you are, so don't be afraid to make the first move. College can be an amazing experience, make the most of it. But above all else, remember what you are paying for, an education, so work hard.

I arrived at the University of Oklahoma, thinking I knew what it would take to be a successful college student. However, the expectations, guidelines, classmates, and instructors at a high school do not compare to those of a college campus. High school was a breeze. I ditched class when I could, I put off assignments until the day before they were due, and was dependent on my teachers and parents. My world was turned upside down when college began. I was treated as an adult and expected to make adult decisions. I carried on my bad habits of not attending class and procrastinating into college. I was overconfident in my abilites and nearly failed two courses. Based on my performance of my first semester of college, there is so much I would change about my senior year of high school. First I would tell myself to join clubs and become an officer. Leadership experience is imperative on a resume for the future. I would also tell myself to construct a flexible schedule to keep up with all of my responsibilities. Most importantly I would push myself to go to class each day and bond with my classmates.

If I could tell myself anything back when I was a senior in high school I would have said to apply for more scholarships. I would have told myself to relax a little more and enjoy my last year at high school. I would also tell myself to learn more about the financial aspect of school like buying books, groceries and cleaning supplies for my dorm, and buying a fridge and microwave for my dorm. I would tell myself it is a lot more expensive than it seems which would take me back to applying for more scholarships. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to visit the campus a lot more before to figure out where all my classes are going to be and to study more for the placement testing at enrollment. That is some advice I would give my younger self back in my senior year of high school.

I would take advantage of being involved in more clubs, civic activities and volunteer work.. And even though I had a 4.0 GPA I would have worked harder to get a higher ACT score. As it was I was right on the cusp of receiving academic and some local scholarships. The above mentioned items would have given me a better chance of receiving more monies for school. Just really did not realize how early preparation for college starts. I now have a younger sister who will be attending university in the fall and hopefully she has learned from my oversights. I think I transitioned pretty will into big university life, and would recommend to incoming students to use all the available resources and get involved in the activities university has to offer. Talk with your advisors when questions arise and never be to proud to ask for help. In high school gather up all available information for scholarships, financial aide, and if you excell in a sports, academics, or the arts, look for scholarships in those areas. Start early!!! Don't procrasitnate!! And find the school that fits your needs...and feels right to you.

If I knew what I know now as a high school senior, I would've advised myself to really think about why I wanted to go to the University of Oklahoma in the first place. I would list those reasons and decide how big an impact each would make on the direction of my life in 4-5 years. Sometimes family and money are not good enough reasons to hold yourself back from a place where you could truly reach your potential, be independent, and get out in the world. It's truly a shame that money has to be a deciding factor in making such important decisions regarding the discovery of what one is sincerely passionate about. However, my advice to myself would also be that I would need to make the most of my experience anywhere. I would've advised myself to try the university out first and if I truly could not thrive there, to transfer. I would've told myself that I could find something I'm passionate about if I made an effort and had an open mind.