University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

You are going to change no matter where you go. Don't be afraid of trying new things because that's what you should do. This is the time when you'll find out who you are and what you want to do and if it goes against what your parents wanted you to do, so be it. Explore your potentual, take the classes that interest you and just have fun and don't stress out too much. And if you do stress out, go seek out help whether it's through friends or a professional. They're there to help you. Not everyone in your life is out to get you so stop being afraid and start being awesome.

I would strongly encourage myself to get involved on campus as soon as possible, and to remain open to new things. The University of Pittsburgh is the kind of place that truly allows students to discover and pursue their passions, even ones they might not have known about. When I got to college, I immediately joined the same kinds of activities I did in high school, which were music-based. However, during my sophomore year I opened myself up to new experiences and found a love for community service, leadership development, and mentoring. Though I still loved music, I remained in one music group (orchestra) and invested my time in other activities. Looking back, I would advise myself to come out of my shell more quickly, and to not be afraid to push my limits and grow as an individual and member of the Pittsburgh community.

You should be filling out your applications right now. Yes, at the beginning of the school year; those essays are going to need that long. You can't afford to go out of state, so don't even try. Volunteer more. Start working. Join more clubs. Take the SAT one more time. Socialize a bit. At least pretend that you're going to improve your work ethic. Hug mom more.

Taylor, Do not be afraid to explore subjects you wrote off in high school, especially the biological sciences. The teachers and experiences you had in high school tainted your view of them, and you shouldn't sell yourself short becuase of those past obstacles. Take biology classes, take chemistry classes; learn what you really love to learn and run with it. Also, don't let anyone tell you that there is a certain path to take to graduate or to get into the major that you want, or even to get the job you want. It's okay to not know what you want, and finding out what you do want is the most interesting part of the college experience, so embrace it, don't shy away from it because you are anxious about being "on track." Most importantly, never stop loving and appreciating yourself; it will get you through any and all other hardships you could encounter. Love, Taylor

Knowing what I know now about college, as a Junior, I would tell my high school senior self to get involved in campus activities and to not be afraid of doing something you've never tried. College is supposed to be a new exprience in which you make life-long friends, and experience life-changing events. It may seem like a scary concept to step outside of your confort zone but I can promise that it will be worth it in the end. You don't want to get to your senior year or even post-graduation and think "what if?" It's important to take advantage of the opportunities presented and make them your own. Finally, be yourself and remain humble. In college, it can be easy to get away from yourself. Freedom has the power to change people but you want to make sure you're changing for the better. College is just the beginning so make it something great to remember!

First, I would tell myself that you really need to take it slow and enjoy senior year with all the friends that I had. I would tell myself that you need to make sure that you make the effort to keep in touch with your closest friends because they are the ones you can go to about almost anything. I would tell myself to take a deep breath when you think something isn't going your way, and wanting to go home isn't the right choice and shouldn't be an option. You need to learn to take the time to sort things out and you'll realize that everything will work out in the end. You shouldn't go running home when it gets tough, this is the time to really begin to live your own life and learn to deal with problems and situations on your own. I would also tell myself to remember to stop for a minute and enjoy every second you have in college because you're here for four years and it goes by in the blink of an eye. Never take a single day for granted and just enjoy.

You're going to stress and worrry and that's fine, but just know it will work out and be ok. Just be true to yourself and do what you love.

My first piece of advice to my high school self as a college freshman is to stop and listen. I would love to go back to hear and remember some of the pre-game locker room speeches that my basketball coach told us girls before we went out onto that court. My coach inspired me to play with my whole heart and not play for myself, but rather be a leader and encourage my teammates and fans. The second piece of advice that I would offer to my high school self is to remember who your friends are. Those true friends will always have your back and you should not betray them for people who act like your friends. You need people to have your back and you will make new friends in college, but the ones that you have known since you were three years old are irreplaceable so do not let them out of your life. Finally, I would advise my high school self to take in every moment and write it down, because you will experience a vast amount of excitement, disappointment, hurt, and love in life. You do not want to miss or forget any moment.

The advice that I would give myself would be to develop an effective studying routine. I’ve learned in my first year of college that you have to be able to retain and recover the information you’re taught. In high school, I didn’t really study because the work was easy but now in college the work is much harder and when I try to study I find my method difficult. This is because I never practiced a method in high school, so in a sense I don’t really know the best way for myself to study. If I was able to go back and start a studying routine as a senior it would definitely help me and as a result improve my grades. I have learned that effective studying routines are the only way you will succeed at the college level and the earlier you develop this routine, the better you will be at the next level.

I would tell myself to always be open to opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills. I would tell myself to never pass up a chance to better myself out of fear of failure or rejection. I would tell myself to apply to as many scholarships as possible because they are worth more than I could ever imagine. I would tell myself to hold true to my beliefs and convictions no matter who is standing in opposition.

College is the beginning of your life - it's when you can start making your own choices. Listen to your heart, and follow it, no matter how bad an idea everyone else thinks it is. Being an adult is better than you can possibly imagine. Even parts that are awful are so much better than high school. Breathe deep, and know you're almost there, you're doing a great job, and it's going to get so much better.

Similar to most freshmen, my biggest fear was being alone in a new school. The number one advice addressing this fear was to get involved. This is great advice, but my recommendation is much more compelling: Take a Risk. Most freshmen do get involved, but I have seen firsthand that many retreat from more competitive and demanding activities, including joining sororities or applying for leadership positions. Well, I followed my own advice; I took a risk and it paid off! While visiting the University of Pittsburgh, I met several students who were “Pathfinders”- students who represented the school by running tours, giving presentations, and mingling with potential students. These Pathfinders were not only knowledgeable of the University’s resources, but also exhibited the camaraderie and school pride that I found essential in making my decision to attend PITT. I was eager to join this organization but heard it was very competitive. So, I initially decided to wait until sophomore year, but later, felt a surge of confidence and applied. After writing two essays, creating an infomercial, and completing several interviews, I found out I was accepted. So, never be afraid to take a risk; I’m grateful that I did.

If I could go back in time, I would have told myself that high school is important! When I was in High school I was too busy doing drugs and hating everyone I came in contact with. Maybe the real problem was I hated myself. I have suffered from depression most of my life and because of that I usually don’t attempt to apply myself, for I am afraid to fail. I never understood that my grades would be affecting me almost ten years later. I usually slept in class because I was too tired from staying out the night before. I’m still not quite sure how I managed to graduate. I am now a single mother working a dead end job, realizing how important an education is. I now aspire to be a Registered Nurse and I hope that I can inspire my daughter to want more out of life than I did.

Hello, high school self, I’m your college future. Trust me when I say it doesn’t turn out anything like you think it will. So you know that move that mom and dad have been threatening for years now, well guess what, it happened. Yup, right after you graduate you going to be up and moving out of this state. Yes, yes I know that you think you wont be going with them cause your going to go to 4 year college away from then. I’m sorry to be the one to burst that bubble but you don’t. your going to be going to community college for 2 and a half years. Yes I know that that sound like it sucks but trust me you get some pretty good perks out of it. You do move out of mom and dads place, and into the Florida house and live there for a year and a half. And finally you decide to go to Pitt, yes that school mom always talks about. My only advise is get out there and don’t be afraid of being in new situations. You will eventually find your place, you always do.

If I could go back in time, I would emphasize the importance of time management. I struggled with the course load at first and it took me a whole year to really adjust to it. It is important to make a weekly plan for assignments and get them done in a timely manner.

A friend once told me “the easiest way to make God laugh is to tell Him your plans.” Well I guess to Him college is 4 years of stand-up comedy. When I entered college I thought I had it all figured out. Yet, as the years went on things started to take on a different form— in both my academic and personal lives. What I thought I knew about myself and where I wanted to go in my life ended up being challenged. College is a time to learn who you are as a young woman. In the midst of classes, friends, and having a good time you will be faced with many different obstacles and presented with many great opportunities. There are times were you are going to want to give up and your near the point of just throwing in the towel. It is in that time that you begin to develop what is called character. It’s what defines you as a person and answers the ultimate question “who am I?” I’ll leave you with a few words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”

If I was to go back and talk to my high-school senior self, I would tell myself to listen to my mom. She knew exactly what major I should go into, but I didn't want to listen to her and went into one which made me struggle. Once I figured out that she was right in what I should study, my grades and GPA soared. It took me a year to realize what my mom realized a year before I did. Another piece of advice I would give is to do whatever you want (within reason) and don't hesitate. Take the classes that seem interesting to you because you'll regret it if you don't. If you want to study abroad, go. You'll definitely regret not being able to go to Europe by the time you graduated. Go out and make friends; that way you won't be stuck with the crappy roommates you had your junior and senior year. Stay with band, you won't regret it. Most of all, enjoy yourself. You only experience undergrad once, make it memorable. Make it fun. Most of all make it count. You won't regret anything.

don't be scared!!!