University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

I explicitly remember being so excited to leave my hometown and experience something new before leaving for the University of Pittsburgh. A new city, new friends, a whole new environment. Teachers and peers always told us that college was an exciting experience and we needed to be prepared for what was to come. If I were able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have stressed the idea that college truly was an entirely different lifestyle. I would have chosen to take more challenging courses in high school and embarked upon more diverse opportunities. The transition from high school to college was difficult for me and mostly all of my friends, as expected. I do not think anyone is truly ready for this experience and one really just has to see for his or herself. I would definitely tell my high school self to work harder and learn more about the college course load and educational topics that I would be exposed to.

If I was able to go back three years to my senior year of high school, I would surely give myself a few wise words of advice. For a start, I would emphasize the importance of reaching out into the community. I did not realize how important and vital community service was until my sophomore year of college, so I wish I would have known to start one year earlier. At this time, I give back to my community on a weekly basis, so hopefully I can make up for that lost time! In addition, I would tell myself to remember to enjoy my time spent at school. During my freshmen year, I tended to spend excessive amounts of time studying and forgot what it was like to have fun, so I would remind myself to relax every once in a while. Lastly, I eventually learned that although my transition to college was fairly smooth, my parents found themselves lonely without me. Knowing this, I would have told myself to visit my mother and father more! Overall, I find much happiness in the college experience, and I greatly appreciate consideration for this scholarship to benefit my future.

I would advise my high school senior self to figure out what my learning style is before I leave for college. Not knowing my learning style before I came to college has really hindered my ability to be the student I know I can be. This uncertainty has left me feeling confused in some classes and being very unsure as to how I should take notes or study in order to remember the most information. My high school self would do well to talk to teachers to figure out and get help on develping an effective learning style..

College is for YOU. Remember that when you go, you must make sure that you are studying what makes you happy. The minute you do something that you dont have your heart into, you will not do it right. So my advice is to do YOU and no one else.

If I could address myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would mention is my younger self's need for help. Making the transition from high school to college was not difficult for me, but learning to deal with the psychological trauma left over from my childhood nearly ended my life. If I had the time and ability, I would advise my younger self to seek the help of the counseling center much sooner- learning to deal with the pain and rage left over from being abused would have made my college experience much more pleasant. After that, I would remind myself that even though high school was a difficult time for me, I no longer had to hinder myself on the expectations from that time period. At college I am free to be myself and need not fear anything other than failing my courses. In addition, I would also tell myself that it is perfectly fine to pursue a career field that does not make a great deal of money- what matters more is my peace of mind and sense of self.

Entering my second semester of college, I really wish I could go back to my senior year knowing what I know now. First of all, everything changes after graduation. I thought nothing would change with my family and friends, but I was completely wrong. No one disappears from your life ? things are just really different and everyone must make adjustments. Going to college is a huge transition that affects every part of your life. I wish I had known to make the most of every moment I had with my friends and family before college. Secondly, I wish I had been more prepared for how much work college really is. I didn?t have to try to do well in high school. In college you must quickly learn to balance the overwhelming amount of work with the newfound freedom of deciding how to spend your time ? especially when your friends are always available and asking you to join them. Most of all, I wish I had begun saving my money sooner. Looking back I wasted a lot of money on things I didn?t need ? money that could really come in handy now as I try to pay for school.

I would tell myself not to try and rush things. That having a set plan of what classes to take and when, them HAVING to be in that order was not true. I would tell myself to work harder at having a balance at work, school, and play, so as not to burn myself out. I would also say, that it's always smarter to wait to go to the first couple of classes before buying your books, to never sell them back to the bookstore, and that you can buy dorm/house products cheaply on craigslist and at the local grocery store. And any unused food can be sold to people on your floor for a small profit. Also, boys are a dime a dozen and to not get caught up in relationship drama or friend drama that would take away from the college experience. I would say seriously look at studying abroad and available scholarships and to remember that I have 2 sisters who've gone through this before me. Use them for advice and not feel like I have to do everything on my own.

College is more important than any schooling you have recieved thus far. It will require more out of you and in order to succeed your going to have to commit yourself as much as possible. This may include having to stay up all night to get a firm grasp on information that may seem trivial and also occasionally having to stay in when everyone else is going out to study. And if you put in enough effort everything will start to make sense sooner and in the future it will take less time. Whatever you do make sure that you don't fall behind in a subject, because it may cause you to fall behind in other subjects in the process of catching up. One of the most important things is to make sure that you are happy. Don't let the work of your classes get you too stressed out. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and make friends in school. Without those things you will make school much more stressful than it needs to be. So just remember, work hard in school and stay happy and college will be the best time of your life.

Dear Senior Me, Stop STRESSING OUT! Youre going to give yourself hypertension with all the worrying you do about college! I know its only a few months away, but I can assure you, everything WILL be alright. Here's a few things to remember: Don't let your guard down. you did wonderfully in high school but college is a different world. You cant coast by and get awesome grades. It's time to crack down and focus. Don't be afraid to ask for help either. Professors can be intimidating but they are there to help if you apply yourself. Don't wait until the last minute. Material covered on exams and projects is much more in depth, so you have to put in more time to earn the grades you want. MAKE FRIENDS! This can be the best experience of your life, and afterall, we all need someone to compliment our craziness. It's practically a year long slumber party, and after all the exams, you'll need the down time, so don't forget to enjoy yourself! Success in all aspects of life needs balance. Be yourself and strive for your dreams! Love, Your older self

I made one mistake after high school and that was staying in my hometown and attending the local university. If i could go back and talk to myself as a senior i would only have one piece of advice. I would tell myself "follow your gut instinct and don't let anyone influence your decisions. Yes, this town is your comfort zone but you're a strong independent person and its time to move onto a bigger pond." If i would have known what i know now, i wouldn't have waited a year and half to finally attend the university of my dreams. The best decision i ever made was switching universities, i just wish i would have done it sooner.

Congratulations, you made it into college! Applying was hard, but there is still so much to do. When packing, pack a little less. While there is room and you will make everything fit somehow, you really do not need as much "stuff" as you think you do. Pack what clothes you like, not what you think will make you fit in with everyone else. Now is the perfect time to branch out and talk to people that maybe you would not have approached in high school. Join clubs that give you something to look forward to when you are swamped with work. Time management is the most important skill you learned in high school. When you use it effectively you can cut stress in half. Form a schedule that really works for you. If you need to go to bed early- do it without worrying what other people will think. Don't think about what a "normal" college student does, you can decide that. Sometimes, you will learn very important things outside of the classroom so take advantage of that. Explore everything around you, talk to people and listen to their perspective, do the best work possible, and find opportunities.

If I could give my high school self advice about how to transition to college life it would be this: be adventurous, outgoing and try things that you haven't done before. As we get older and gain responsibilities we loose many chances to do something different. However, college is the perfect opportunity to gain new experiences. It is the juncture between adolescence and adulthood and as such is the last time in which we can define ourselves. So long as we only live once we should make the most of our opportunity. It is better to regret something you have done than something you have not done.

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would definitely tell myself to be strong and to be patient. Academically, I was well equipped for college. I had no worries and no concerns about the academic challenges about college. However, college has been much more than my classes. Nearly every aspect of my life changed dramatically in positive and in negative ways. In the end, I have learned that college is profound, not because of the classes you take, but because of everything else that you learn outside of your classrooms. College is a place where ones character is truly created. The rest of my life, in a holistic sense, will be positively impacted by the things that I have learned about my major, about myself, about others, and about the world. Knowing what I now know about college life and making the transition, I would tell myself to not fear failure. Be wise and mindful, but try things to gain experiences; everything does not have to have a purpose. Live outside of your comfort zone. Ask for help. Appreciate your family and your friends. And when you feel like giving up, remember where you've come from.

As I have not yet been able to make my college transition, I would advise my old self not to 'count my chickens before they're hatched.' As a senior, I was correct in thinking that I was qualified enough to get into a good school of my choice, but incorrect in my assumptions of how to pay for the phenomenally high and rising costs of a college education. I was deluded in thinking that if I got into a school, the school would help financially, ensuring that I would be able to enroll. If I could, I would go back and tell myself to be more proactive and realistic in my goals, as I have been this past year.

If I could go back in time, I would advise myself to apply for more scholarships, because all the money I saved up is not near enough for college expenses. I would remind myself of the shaky economy, and how financial hardships may possibly become greater than expected. I would also reassure myself that the transition from a small town high school to a large university really is not that bad, and that I would do quite well in the process. One thing I would tell myself to improve on is my study habits, because although I may have exceptional time managment skills, a bit more studying could help a big deal in the long run. In the end, I would tell myself to keep up with the work, do the readings, apply for more scholarships, and I will do quite well in the college atmosphere, because the transition is much easier than one would think.

As if I'm talking to myself: First and foremost, have patience, things will appear overwhelming such as the size of the classes. Remember that the professors and TA's are here to assist and help you. They want you to learn and get that A. Spend a significant amount of time on your studies and your work. Getting caught up in socail activities or spending too much time working on other things will only make the college experience that much harder. Having your priorities in order is key to success, when you prioritize the wrong things you will have a very difficult time succeeding. With that said, also don't put too much pressure on yourself, new challenges will continue to come up and the best thing to do is keep your head on straight and take everything in stride. Do your best in every class even if it seems pointless because things will pay off. Don't only keep an open mind but an inquiring mind as well, that searches for the proper understanding to different ideas and concepts. Having patience, focus, determination, and the correct mindset will set you up for a rewarding college experience. Goodluck!

Hello seventeen year old me! I want to offer you some advice for the future of your college career: Study harder, study more often, and use other students to study! These classes will be way more intense than anything you are use to. They happen in 18 weeks versus the 195 days you were use to. Having a part time job will be taxing. You will need to budget your time very well. Be sure to make friends; make a lot of friends. They will be your allies in the years to come. They will become your family, your support group, your moral compass and finally... your competition. Don't fear the competition, you will be stronger for it. And finally, don't buy your text books at the book store. They're much cheaper online. Good luck to you/me! Megan

- Always, ALWAYS, attend class, make sure you study the material, and pay more attention to campus social events and services. This will take you far. - Despite what it might seem like now, Pharmacy is not what you were meant to study. Switch to Geology as soon as you enter, because that will save a lot of money, time, credits, and frustration. Disregard what people say about this decision ("Will you find a job with this?" and such) and research viable career paths. They say this because they don't know much about the degree, so if you inform them of Geology's opportunities, they'll come around and offer support. - If you think that you're not going to do well in a class, drop it immediately and take something else. - Don't screw around and wait until the last possible minute for completing projects. This is bad and will lead to lots of stress. - Accept more opportunities that enrich your degree and resume. It will be beneficial in the end.

Take it from me, going through life without a college degree is very hard, every job that you apply for, requires some kind of college education. And trying to go to college later in life, it doesn't hurt, but why put yourself through that when you can get it done now, and get a good job with your degree, and not struggle, and have your degree to support you and when you have a family, your family. While everything is fresh in your mind, just do it. Your young enough to go for 2 or 3 majors. You can have a good life, and enjoy what you do. Don't procreate, that is one of our biggest down fall, we will let life go right by. I'm 46 and thinking about going back now that my youngest is about to enter her first year, and my husband whose 47 is going online to college, and he likes it sometimes. My advice is, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste", don't throw yours away.

Go to a school that you can afford and don't dick around as much. Your GPA matters; you want to go to grad school.