University of Oregon Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to search more on what I wanted to do. To take my time and not worry about what others thought about my decision for a major. Now I am doing what I want to do and with out doubt or worry about my music major. I would also say to myself to save money and search for more scholarships and apply to them. I used to be a procrastinator. I would have said to move quicker because many opportunities are going to be once in a life time and that time is precious. I used to be so stressed about college and worried that if I don't get into a college that my life would be over. I would say that it's going to be okay, community college is not bad. It's a college with many possibilities as any college.

Try to get as many scholarships as possible, they'll be incredibly helpful when you get to school. Make sure to really focus on your school work, especially in your first term as there are a lot of distractions.

I would tell myself that college requires an intensive amount of effort, and even though it is fun, it is only fun if I put in all the effort. I would also tell myself that only I know what is really best for myself, and not to let other people interfere in my career.

nothing

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself little advice. I believe that the best part about going to college is the process of becoming an independent young adult: taking what I have learned prior and applying it to what I can make of myself as an adult. I found plenty of well-received advice from peers, parents, and teachers that informed me about college, but the best advice I believe I could give myself is just to experience it for myself because that's what becoming an adult is all about.

I would tell myself "take a seminar on how to study or something!!" It wasn't until this winter term ended that I realized I recevied no direction from my high school teachers about how to study. I came into college with great grades, thinking it would be just as easy as high school. Boy, was I wrong. "Learn good study habits, because Mrs. Hillman wasn't lying when she told you college would be more difficult than you ever could imagine."

If I could give my high school senior self some advice I would tell myself to relax, have an open mind, and explore myself more. I came to Oregon to explore a new place, I am originally from Oklahoma and it was a very hard transition for me. I believe that had I known what I do now, that I could have been more successful in my endeavors. I would give myself the advice to study abroad early in my academic career when I could and needed to escape to another country and have another new experience. Telling myself that I needed to keep an open mind while exploring the next stage of my life would have been very helpful, as well. Now, I understand how the university works and am established with a strong support system, I would have relaxed a lot more and just enjoyed the beginning of college career and the evolution of myself as a student and an adult. College life is an experience, no matter what expectations one has, so the most important thing I would have told myself is to take it slow, learn as much as possible, and enjoy myself, no matter what.

Destynie, No matter what happens stay in school do not put it off for 7 years. I know you can accomplish this and have a much better life for you and your children. Sincerely, Yourself

When I first arrived here, I thought I was going to be an economics or business major. I was a shy, quiet, and depressed person with few friends. I studied "heady" subjects like political science, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. A short year turned everything around. I took a freshman seminar with a wonderfully engaging, manic, and witty poetry professor named George Moore who played bass for Allen Ginsberg's band and taught us of Arthur Rimbaud. He wanted us to be ourselves no matter the cost -- no, he forced it. Even those who resisted initially eventually broke down and we transformed ourselves from largely lost and nervous freshman into, by the end of class, a confident pack of brothers and sisters slinging poetry in the auditorium. That class changed my life. It was after that I became hungry for the arts and started to draw, act, dance, sing and play music. I then declared a Theater Arts major and auditioned for two major plays. I sometimes look back on even just that short year and marvel how different a person I could be now. I love my friends, I love my classes, I love my professors.

I have been shown a side of myself I didn't know was there five years ago. I started my college experience at Lane Community College. Armed with a ninth grade education and an uncageable desire for a richer life I passed a goverment test wich qualified me to recieve federal student aid. 112 credits later , and here I am a senior at the U of O. The journey has been filled with challenges, triumphs, and new understandings. I have perservered through a great deal, and as I find myself closer to graduation I can't help but to feel a blanket like surealness. the self confidence I have gained through my college experience is the most vaulable gain I have made. My time in college has taught me that I can do anything I put my efforts into. I have a new, brighter, child like sense of the endless possiblities the world has to offer; wether to accept the calling challenge is my choice, and I have chose to see this challenge through all the way to a P.H.D.

My graduate school experience helped me focus my academic and career interests, while providing me with many opportunities to critically engage with the material I studied. My adviser and professors created curricula that combined interesting and compelling readings with lively discussions, and always included a component of independent research so that students could contribute to the learning environment, and learn from each other. I am very glad that I pursued a master's degree, as it set me on a career and research path that I otherwise would not have found, and the rigorous training I underwent in the process prepared me very well for my continuing doctoral studies.

The University of Oregon has given me the opportunity to succeed. Every High School Senior has their list; it’s a list of dream colleges. My list was short and Oregon was towards the middle of that list. It wasn’t until my father was diagnosed with cancer that Oregon was bumped to the top. I was sure that Business was going to be my best bet for a career in this job market. I met regularly with advisors, and described how Oregon and Business were not my first choice and how I had settled, their advice was to find my passion, and they would do everything in their power to work out the details. I eventually did find my passion in Health Policy and my advisors came through on their word to work out the details. Within a month of graduation I was able to find my dream career in Health Care delivery, a job I had thought only other Universities on my list would have allowed me to get. I was sure I would resent the decision to settle for Oregon for the rest of my life, to my surprise today, I can’t imagine going anywhere else.

College has changed me into a more independent person, both in my personal and academic lives. I don't need parents to tell me to clean or cook, I can manage those tasks myself, and I don't need assignments to tell me to learn, that is something I can do by myself. College has been, and I hope will continue to be, the best time of my life.

For me college was not about discovering what I wanted to do - it was about discovering who I wanted to be. I always knew what I wanted to do, and I appreciate the skills my professors have given me to help me accomplish that goal, but I think what I have become while I have been at college is what I will value most in my college experience. College is teaching me to speak for myself but listen to others. I’m learning how to serve the community and care about the world. I’m discovering whom to lead and whom to follow. I’m finding out when to concede and when to compromise. I am not everything I want to be, but I have a much better sense of who I am and where I’m headed. I've made great friends in college and had fun, but some days are difficult and stressful. Still, I've appreciated every single one of those days in my college experience because they've all helped become the person I am. I like her, I'm proud of her, and I know my school can be proud of her too. I

For a few years now, I've known that I want to go into Robotics and decided to achieve that dream by going into the Computer Science field at Weber State University. I've completed one semester thus far, and will be starting my next in the beginning of January 2011. Although I've only been through one semester of college this far, I feel like I have gotten a fairly good amount of experience out of it. The first semester was a little tough, I did not know what to expect. A big part of my major is math, and the first math class I took at Weber put into perspective the effort I am personally going to need to put into math courses in the future. Going to school has helped to show me how competitive the real world actually is. It's helped me to develop not only as a student but as a young adult. The classes are helping me gain experiance that I will be able to use when I get into the "real" world, and into a job revolved around my field of study.

Many people have goals. Some have achieved those goals, making them achievers. Others have maximized their achievements, and fulfilled their dreams. An accomplishment my dream of becoming a physical therapist is why I can see past the late night studies and countless nights of research with outlines, rough drafts, and proofreading sessions. Graduating college has given me an opportunity to pursue a goal that will one day become a fulfilled dream. My college experience has been all on-line. Attending school in this type of environment can be a challenge. It requires excellent time management skills, prioritzing, and lots of research. I wouldn't trade it for much though. My college experience has allowed me to spend valuable hours with my daughter, doing the little things that count with her, such as cooking and helping with homework. So the question of what I have gotten out of my college experience and why has it been valuable to attend. Well, I have yet to reap the benefits of a completed college degree, but I am enjoying the challenges and benefits that come along with attending.

I have learned that I am a self starter and that I am capable of making good decisions. I have joined a sorority whose philanthropic goal is for cancer research. I have selected friends and study routines that have empowered my ability to choose my area of interest: international studies. I am driven to make positive choices because I want to continue to grow and to learn. I want to work towards a successful future so that I can make knowledgable and positive impact in my life's work.

I have learned how to tackle the problems that we face everyday and to be more responsible. Being an internaional student I was heartbroken when I started my college career because my friends would not believe that I could achieve higher education. However, my parents always motivated me, believed in me, and sent me to the US to achieve the higher education. Being a new student in college I was scared to cope up with other brillient students who spoke english fluently. However, my college experience turned out to be my best experience with the assistance from my teachers and through my utter hardwork. Probably the best part that I have gotten out of my college experience is that how easy the study can be if a person studies on a regular basis, goes to the class regularly, and never procrastinates the assigned work. Also, I loved the experience I had in my college with my teachers. Every teacher I had just loved me and recommended me for several awards. I know that if I work hard, I can achieve anything. And I have proved that to myself by transferring with an electrical engineering major with a 4.0 GPA.

The University of Oregon has been a catalyst to much personal growth. Over the past year and a half, I have grown as a daughter, friend, student, critical thinker, and world citizen because of my time at Oregon. Oregon's academic environment is one of optimism and progress and the curriculum is challenging and forward thinking. At the U of O, I have the academic support to write a paper on the Cambodian genocide for an honors thesis or create a video about a local farmer struggling to make ends meet. Professors make sure our focus is not on the five blocks of campus, rather the world beyond--the ever-changing world our lesson plans help us explore and inspire us to change. The most valuable thing I've gained from my time at Oregon is an open mind. Because the student body is so rich in diversity with people of different backgrounds, religions, lifestyles, sexual orientation and life philosophies, I have found myself more attentive to thoughts differing from my own. I've learned tolerance--the key to peace and compassion. No amount of tuition dollars can be placed on these incredible life lessons.

What I have gained from my college experience so far is the ability to connect with people on many different levels. The University of Oregon has been such a friendly campus and has given me the chance to learn about so many different people. The academics here are competitive and have given me the discipline to succeed each and every day. The University of Oregon is beautiful and brings the best out of every season of the year. I have learned so much about my self and about the world during my time at the University of Oregon and I still have 2 and a half years left here. I love the University of Oregon.