University of Portland Top Questions

Make sure to apply early and make your application stand out. Double check spelling, topic choice, and have somebody re-read your application. Search early for textbooks and don't be afraid to rent or buy used. Pack only as much as you can fit into your dorm room and coordinate packing with your roommate. Make sure to remember a backpack! (I forgot one, but luckily made a friend before school started during orientation and she gave me an extra one she brought.) Ensure that you manage your time wisely and don't be afraid to ask advice from upperclassmen living near you, teachers or faculty, or your resident assistant's in the dorm. Get into the community to learn and do service. Stay connected with your old friends. Make a "stress reduction" kit. Include fun movies, games, or whatever allows you to destress. And most of all make lots of friends and enjoy the little time you have in college. Learn from your triumphs and mistakes and always remain a child at heart.

Just because your instructor doesn't take roll and honestly doesn't know you exist or care if you are there, you should not miss class to sleep in or pick up extra shifts at work or do homework for another class. Your tuition refund check is not to be spent on DVDs or clothes or books unrelated to class. Drinking will lead to all those things they told you about in middle school even though you think you are the exception. You are not the exception. Your high school is so small and you have known a lot of your classmates since kindergarten, college will be big and scary at times and you will feel alone. Don't wait to ask for help, help is everywhere.

If I were to go back in time and talk to my senior-self, I would tell her to push harder - to try out for the dance team instead of chicken out, to stick with the lacrosse club, to make more of an effort creating new friendships. It's great to feel comfortable, especially in a new scary environment, but it's even more important to step out of that comfort zone. That's when you grow. I loved every minute of my freshman year of college, but I know I could have had more fun and could have grown more as a student and as a person. I wish I would have taken more steps.

Congratulations! You have possibly reached the most critical time in your life, the time where you try to relearn the person you were as a child, where you try to discover the person you have become, and where you try to grow into the person you wish to become. I know you have worked hard to get this far along your academic career, but, I hope, you know that learning goes beyond those school doors. Although grades are important in getting you a decent job or into medical schools, know that the things you memorize will only provide you momentary satifaction. To live a happy, fulfilling life, seek to analyze all that you learn in and out of school, determine their relevance it to you, and incorportate the truths you have come to know into your life. Let your love for others drive you to do great things, but do not forget that taking care of yourself is equally important. Stay courageous, humble and truthful. Most importantly, do not be afraid to dream big, so reach for the moon. If you fall, you may land on a shooting star. Trust. You'll get to where you need to go.

College is about finding yourself and making mistakes. If I could go back in time I would tell myself to take more risks. My shyness and small town persona was a barrier against letting myself try new things and I regret not making as many friends. I wish I could reassure my past self. Although I regret not branching out and letting myself take risks, my first year of college has continued to shape who I am today. I have learned more about what I believe in and now I know that mistakes are not always negative - we learn from them. Mistakes shape us and mold us into better versions of ourselves, and that is one of the biggest lessons college has taught me so far; mistakes only make me less of a person if I do not learn from them. In order to be succesful I have to learn what not to do first. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not be afraid to fail, because it's the failures that turn into successes.

I would tell myself to be more financially prepared and really look into scholarships and financial aid so I wouldn't have the loans I have now. I would have myself sit down and budget for everything, and not wait until the last minute to do so. I would also tell myself not to worry about high school drama. Everything that seemed so important then is not at all important now. The drama goes away and the friends who are really your friends are still around, the rest don't really matter.

As a high school senior, I was unsure of what lay ahead of me. I had made this crazy decision to go to a Catholic out-of-state private institution, which was the complete opposite of what I had been preparing for. I felt anxious about how I would be received and whether I would be able to handle living amongst my peers. However, with the knowledge I've gained from my freshman year, I would simply tell myself to relax. I would tell myself to try to find my textbooks early on so that I don't have to stress about it while I'm moving (and stay away from looseleaf textbooks!). I would tell myself that although living amongst my peers may be rough at times, the people that I will meet will always be there for me when I need it. Also, I would remind myself to always be open to new experiences and not to fear going to a teacher's office hours - especially when I need it. All in all, it would simply be a matter of reassuring myself that college is just like high school - except with more responsibility.

Don't bring so much stuff to college! Honestly, the biggest problems I had all year were related to disorganization and stress because I was too busy to clean and organize my dorm room. My roommate and I were both convinced we would need the contents of our entire lives at our fingertips, and we were so wrong. Half the fun of college is relying on your newfound friends for help, and what better way to meet new people and to bond than with a few laughs over a borrowed item? Additionally, I would tell myself to be more relaxed from the beginning. I'm a naturally upbeat and friendly person, but I don't think I really allowed myself to relax and let that show for the first few months, causing me to miss out on some prime social situations. College is where you truly discover who you want to be; I know it sounds cliche, but it's true! Just going with the flow, developing your own ideas, and sharing them with others is the best way to decide where you're going in life.

As a college senior, I was troubled by lonliness, finacial woes, and big dreams. I wanted to attend a school in New York more than anything. If I could talk to my high school self again, the very first thing I would address is my fear of leaving home. I would tell myself the transition is much easier than you could imagine. Those big dreams of New York would need to be addressed too. I would tell myself to set realistic goals; to look into schools that are more attainable. I would especially suggest the University of Portland. I would tell my high school senior self that at the University of Portland I would find what I was looking for in education: a dedicated staff, fascinating material, small classes sizes, and a wonderful student body. At that school I would escape the lonliness I felt as a high school senior. Finally, I would tell myself to apply,apply, apply to all the scholarships I can, because time just gets more valuable later on; and maybe even get a job. That way, money would not be the obstacle it is today.

The transition to college is a hard one because you leave your friends, family, and your own space behind however, you gain much more than you think you ever will. College is a time to break out free of groups and stereotypes and just enjoy spending time with new people. College life can be crazy as you try to juggle a job, school, participating in clubs, but everything will work out. Do not be afraid to try new things because you are a completely new independent person and nobody decides your fate except for yourself. Shoot for the stars!