University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

I would strongly suggest going to a different school. I chose Penn because of the pressure in my high school to go to a prestigious college for validation and because it was the only Ivy League school I got into. I did no research into the social life/academic advising at Penn, and I honestly was not a good fit for Penn. I would tell myself that, over the next four years, I was going to find myself as a person, and be able to validate myself because of the difficulties in my family I would go through, and so I should go to a school that was going to make my life easier and more exciting, where I could make lasting friends who thought like me.

It's okay to be lost and it's okay not to be the best in everything you do. High school offers a very structured education system: take these classes and you'll graduate, and room to ascend to the top of the class in regards to academics and extracurricular activities. I knew what I was doing. But now in college, in a place where it's supposedly time to figure the rest of your life out, there are so many high stake decisions to be made. Don't be afraid of them. No matter how impressive others might seem, they are still floundering as well. We're all lost and trying to figure ourselves out. At the same time, with thousands of other high achievers, there will always be someone who is more assertive than you, who has a more impressive resume, who just understands economics better. Don't be afraid of them either. College is a time to learn and explore and without someone like that around, how are you supposed to grow? To gain attributes you like about them? In college, everyone is finding themselves so don't be afraid because you are not alone.

My high school years were a dark time for me. I had grown up in a dysfunctional family, and the dysfunction was at its peak. I was living in a state of deep depression and anxiety. A lot of this anxiety was focused on what my future life would be like, and if things would ever get any better for me. While I wanted to go to college, I was so insecure and unsure of my own abilities that I doubted it was something that I had any chance of succeeding in. This insecurity led me to putting off college for four years while I worked miscellaneous jobs around my small home town. My advice to my younger self would be not to give up, and to trust that college is something that I can not only handle, but excel at. I would say that while attending college, I would meet people more accepting than I had imagined people could be, and that they would change my outlook of the world entirely. I would tell myself that there was a way out of the environment I was living in, and that there was hope for the future.

Understand that change is inevitable. We learn and we grow. Positive intensions are the only way to live life to the fullest, but they must be tempered with self-reflection. Take time to listen to what your self is telling you. Work hard and strive to achieve your goals but contantly make sure to check up on yourself. You must give yourself time to develop your dreams fully and be open to change from the original path you laid out for yourself. So be open. Step outside your comfort zone and know that there are many paths before you, and it is your privilege to choose. Finally, be appreciative. Recognize your privilege and the blessings life has given you. It is easy to smile at the world, but it is harder to admit that our ability to smile came from others than yourself. We are not islands in this life, but part of a community. Be grateful that you ahve those around you who can, and will, support you wherever and whatever you become you.

Starting college is an exciting time, while also a little overwhelming, so I would suggest first of all taking a deep breath because there's no need to be anxious about all of the things you have to do. Also, asking questions is important, preferably from an upperclassman, but advisors are also helpful. Don't be afraid to ask! People at your college or university are there to help you and act as a resource because they remember what it was like to be in your shoes. Coordinating with your roommate/s is wise as well even though it seeems weird to talk to someone new that possibly lives a few states or countries away, but it will make your move-in a lot smoother. Also, it will allow you to have an introduction before meeting each other on move-in day. I'd even say try to meet up with your roommate/s for coffee or something if possible. Another little tip is don't buy new books unless your professor says that it's absolutely necessary. Trust me you want to say as much money as possible, so buying used books or renting books is a great option!

I would tell the high school version of myself to not worry so much about what other people thing. High school can be so focused on image and getting the attention of certain groups and people. But in college, there's a community for everyone. So I would tell the high school version of myself to not see college as a chance to relive high school in a different status, but instead as a chance to explore a new life and new direction. The other advice I would give to my high school is to not waste time. College will be over before I know it, and it's never too early to think about careers, post-college plans and how to achieve my goals. College is an opportunity for everyone to find out what is unique about him or herself, and the sooner one discovers that, the sooner one knows his or her own strengths and offerings. The final advice I would instill upon my high school self is that it's ok to take risks whether it's socially, academically or professionally. And failure only makes us stronger.

College is undoubtedly an amazing experience, however it is very easy to get caught up in the excitment of it all and forget that the institution is a large part of your future. Besides the stimulating social aspect of college, it is easy to get caught up in the plethora of academic opportunities. Everyone tells you to try new things and explore your options, and with good reason--without trying new things how can you be sure of what you want to do in life? However, it is also important to remember that as fascinating as astromony is, or as much as you would love to take a course on the politics of third-world countries, there is an end goal to your education. Exploring different and varied fields is great but eventually you will have to pick something to focus the rest of your college years on. That is, while you should be enriching and expanding your intersts, you have to graduate at some point. Therefore, my greatest struggle in college, and advice to my high school self would be, balancing my personal intersts with my career goals.

I would tell myself not to be nervous about college. When I went in first semester, I was pretty scared about being on my own and in a whole new place. I would make sure I knew that there are so many opportunties at college. No matter what happens, you will find your place and you will succeed. It is also important to be open to new experiences, and not stress too much about school work. School work is a very important part of going to college, but the experience of college is also necessary to grow. Though it may seem scary now, being afraid will just hold you back from the potential success you could have at college. Basically, I would want my high school self to know that it is okay to have fun at college. School is important for success, but so is personal happiness.

Volunteer at a hospital as soon as possible. Take AP statistics, chemistry, biology, and physics! Take calculus BC! Apply to more scholarships! Do something really great for your resume after graduation. Do more research about the colleges you get accepted to, so you can make an informed decision. Become a member of HOSA so you get more medical experience before going to college. Think about how hard it’s going to be to leave home, and don’t assume that you’ll feel the same way all throughout college. Explore your hometown, because you might not be able to later. Read as many books as you can, because you might not have time to read for pleasure in college. Research more about the weather at each school so you won’t struggle with it too much. If you decide to go North, BUY WARMER CLOTHING. Think about what it might be like to leave Texas, and decide whether or not it’s something you really want to do. Become as involved as you can in your high school community, because you know they really need your help, and you’ll be too busy to help during the next four years.

I would tell myself to not try to take too many classes and join too many organizations at once, but to start out slow in order to make the transition process into college less stressful. I would advise myself to focus on making friends and building a community I'm comfortable in during my first semester of college to avoid isolating myself and compounding the stress. I should also have taken the time to adjust to my surroundings and understand the complicated changes I'm going through, allowing my identity and sense of self to unfold instead of being anxious about the changes. Another important piece of advice would be to not try to committ myself too early to any one major or academic and career path, but instead allow myself to explore my options and discover where my interests lie. This way I could have avoided taking unnecessary classes that I didn't enjoy simply to get a requirement I thought I needed out of the way. On a related note, I would advise myself to explore early on the vast number of internships available from the university as they can be an invaluable resource in future career selection.

There are a few regrets I have towards my first year in college. Things that I wish I could have done differently if I had the chance. If I could go back in time and speak to my younger self before I started attending college, I would tell myself how important it is to stay focus and work hard through the whole semester. Slacking off can become an easy habit in college, so I would advise myself to stay on top of completing any homework within a timely manner. If extra credit is available, take the time to do it because it can never hurt you. Apply for scholarships every chance you get. Doing so will prevent less stress when trying to figure out how you will pay for your education. Pick your teachers wisely because your teacher determines how well you understand the material. Choose to study for a test or quiz instead of going out with friends, it will be the better choice in the long run. Interact with classmates, it’s easier to be in class for an hour or two with acquaintances opposed to being all alone.

There will be times when you do not do well on tests or feel like you do not belong to the university or college you attend. But know that if you remain motivated and use all the available resources you have to your advantage, there is no way you can't succeed! College is a time when you are exploring and figuring out who you are as a person and what you want out of life; if your plans for you future change, that is okay! Take this time to figure out what you really want, not what your parents or others around you want you to be. College is filled with distractions, it is important to balance fun and work. Have a good time, meet new people, and explore the city or town your campus is in, but always remember that your academics are important and should always come first. Enjoy every second of college, make connections, and take advantage of all the resources and opportunities you have available to you, because before you know it your freshman year will be over, then your sophomor year, then you are walking across the stage, earning your degree!

I never knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life and I still don't know exactly where I'm headed. The thing is, most people don't have everything planned out, and if they do, their plan is so likely to change. I would give anything to tell my high school senior self not to worry so much about the future, that everything will fall into place as long as you work hard and focus on what you love to do. Ultimately, passion is what keeps you going, it's the fuel that propels you to make a difference in your field and in the world. Yes, college is more difficult and yes, sometimes it can be overwhelming, but you will make a support system of friends that will stand by your side and you will find what you love even if you haven't found yourself yet. College is about the journey, it's about networking, about learning to love yourself and what exactly you love to do. I would say: Don't worry, the journey ahead is difficult, but rewarding--enjoy the ride!

As a high-school student, I experienced a lot of frustration about my “mediocrity”. I wanted to excel at something, but could never find my “one thing” that separated me from the rest. And then my life was flipped upside down during my senior year. In September 2010, I was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In the blink of an eye, I went from my “normal” college application process and resenting my “normality”, to the ICU and longing for normality. I’m currently almost three years in remission, and having cancer made me understand things that I wish I understood beforehand. If I could tell my high-school self one thing, I would say to appreciate all of my blessings, despite how “average” they are. Normality is subjective. I didn’t understand that, until all I wanted was normality. In hindsight, I should have been thankful for my “average” life. Although I’m now in remission and I now understand how lucky it is to have even just a “normal” life, there are still thousands of people right now who crave normality and stability in their lives, and I was lucky to have all of my blessings, mediocrity included.

In high school I wasn’t a bad kid. I wasn’t particularly motivated and I wasn’t particularly driven, but I wasn’t a bad kid. I liked to be friendly, social and outgoing. Rather than focusing on my future, I was focusing on my present. I guess most people would advise themselves, if given the chance, to try harder and to focus more on what matters like school work and grades. If given the opportunity, this is not the advice I would give. No, the advice I would give myself would be so much simpler than that. I would sit myself down and ask myself, “Are you proud of what you have accomplished?” I don’t think it is necessary to tell myself what I could do or should have done different. Instead, I would rather I give myself the opportunity to think it through a little more. Maybe I would append that to the advice as well, “Take a moment and consider Marissa, really consider. Are you ‘accomplished’?”

I would definitely tell myself that being organized and on top of everything is one of the most important things you can do. Not just in college, but in life. You really need to have a positive outlook & attitude to succeed. You need to have that "I'm going to graduate" mentality in your mind at all times. Also, always be on time to class and take your assignments seriously. Budget your time out so you have plenty of time to study and actually absorb information. Don't be afraid to ask questions and never make assumptions ever. Having a budget and planning ahead is really important and also making a schedule so that you can manage work, school, personal time, family, etc. Also, if you're going to take loans only take out the minimum - what you REALLY need. Taking out more loans than necessary is foolish and will only cost you more money and stress than you want.

I would go back and tell myself to take your time and do things fully and to the best of my ablility. By this i mean to take classes more seriously and try my very hardest at every little and big thing that I will do in school. Every piece of paper that you do in school will affect your future indefinately. Its not worth skipping out on homework just to hang out with some friend for a little bit. the grades you get in high school are extremely important and will follow yhou onto college and can be seen by pretty much any college professor. So all in all STOP, slow down, take you time and do things the right way the first time because trust me if will pay off in the future.

Don't be afraid to work after high school instead of going straight into college. Find an entry-level position or internship in a field you're interested in, and work in that field for a while. This will help you learn if it's really the right profession for you! If you're not sure yet what field you might like to pursue, use this time to explore different areas. Be adventurous! Take that summer position leading horseback tours in Equador. Volunteer your time at an orphanage. Apply for the internship at the bank. Buy a study guide and attempt some Microsoft certifications. Join your community garden co-op and learn to grow your own food. Find out what you do and don't like spending your day doing, and what your time is worth to you. This experience will help you start to learn what direction you would like to go in a career, and you'll be earning money instead of spending it on tuition as an undeclared major college freshman. Plus, there's nothing like working a low-paying job for a year to motivate you to pursue a degree!

As a high school senior I knew I wanted to go to college, but I did not know what I wanted to pursue. I was indecisive and made a hasty decision to explore a degree/career in Biology and eventually attempt Medical School. In two weeks I had it all figured out; I would get my Biology degree from the College of Charleston and my medical school would be completed at the Medical University of South Carolina. I went through with this plan for two years at C of C just getting by with my grades, before I realized that I hated everything I was doing and was hemorrhaging money in the form of student loans, especially since I lost my $5,000 state scholarship after my second semester. I made the tough decision to leave C of C and pursue my already existant interest in the Automotive industry and am now in a two year Automotive Technology associates degree program. So if there was anything I could tell myself before I left high school, it would be to pursue what you enjoy and what you're good at and let it pay off for you in the long run.

Know yourself, and once you do, have the courage to be true to yourself. In the frenzy of orientation, remember that you will likely only make a handful of important friendships, and that popularity is only as important as it is fulfilling to you. Staying home on a Friday night is only missing out if you would actually enjoy going to a frat party. If hard work and intelligence are big parts of your self-identity, then work hard from the beginning of freshman year. There is time to explore and still get your work done.Lastly, grow. Whatever you are, or think you are, don’t let that set boundaries to who you become. Join the crew team even if you’ve never rowed before; do anything that strikes you as worthwhile. All the while, remember you’re still young and susceptible to peer pressure. If you’re aware of it, you will be less likely to adhere to it. Ultimately life is like any other path, the way seems obvious and inevitable. It isn’t. It’s a perpetual crossroads between that well-trodden path, and the un-trodden wilderness on either side. Step off the path.