University of Rhode Island Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior there are a few things I would i tell myself. But primarily I would tell myself to get involved in campus activities as early as possible. Something I sadly did not realize until later in my college career is that the people you mean who share your interests along the way make college so interesting. I would tell my high school senior self to find something you can do to help others as soon as you can then find out who on campus does those activities. Change lives and make friends every moment you can and life will build in value throughout your college endevours. That and of course never ever give up even when things seem impossible, sometimes a bad experience can be the best learning experience you could have ever had.

I spent a lot of time in high school worrying about what other people thought about me. I was constantly thinking about if what I was doing was "cool" enough or if I was fitting in. This is easily the biggest regret I have from my highschool years. Because I was so concerned with fitting in, I often gave in to peer pressure and did a lot of things that I wouldn't have done otherwise. Worse than that, I was not true to myself andwas often unhappy because of that. Many years later, I know realize that being true to myself is the most satisfying decision I've ever made. If I could give my high school self some advice, I would tell myself not to worry about what other people thought and to just be my awesome self!- you wont be friends with any of those people in 5 years anyway!

I would have worked harder in trying to find scholarships so I would not have so much in loans. I would have put more time into community service.

If i had to go back in time, i would tell myself to start strong in your first years of college. i believe that students fall off their academic performances due to the fact that they are in a new area and the classes are easy. college is not made for everyone but an education is the key to every oportunity that will be open towards you. stay strong and study .

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, my biggest advice would be not to stress out over the little things, and to start thinking more long term. High school was a very stressful time for me as it is for many high school students, and I feared that college would be worse. There were many times whe I contemplated choosing another path in life because I thought further schooling wouldn't even be worth it. I would love to be able to tell myself how much better it really gets, and focus on things that would really matter later on, such as saving up money, spending more time on applications, and applying for more scholarships.

I would not tell myself much but there are a few key things I would want to mention. Work harder is the first. Take more college credit classes/honor classes to get a head start on the college career. I would also tell myself to be more involved. Being involved is so important because you can discover new things about yourself and meet so many people. Don't be shy, and don't hold back. Be yourself and don't let anyone bring you down.

If I had to go back in time and give myself advice, it would have been to take my general education credits more seriously. For the first two or three semesters of college my GPA did not surpass a 2.6. Once I started taking classes more directed toward my major of kinesiology, I started making the Dean's List (GPA greater than 3.2). Once it came time to apply for graduate school (a doctorate of physical therapy program), my cumulative GPA was just above and 3.0. The grades I had recieved freshman and sophmore year were making it difficult for my application to stand out from other applicants. I was forced to take a year off and re-take some of my pre-req courses that I had recieved a less that ideal grade in, in order to acheive my dream of becoming a physical therapist. I would also tell myself to get invovled in campus activitys (e.g. sports/greek life) starting freshman year. The transition from highschool to college is easier when you make friends with people going through the same things you are.

First and foremost, if I could go back in time to when I was a high school student I would have told myself to apply for more scholarships and to save more of the money I made working. However, I think the most important thing I would tell myself is that I am more capable than I believe I am. I would have encouraged myself to study more and work harder because then I think that I would have been more confident in my abilities. I would also instruct myself to apply for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology rather than a Bachelor of Arts, because it would prepare me for a graduate school. If I had had more faith in my abilities going into college I would not be behind this semester and I would not have accidentally taken classes that I did not need. Other than that I feel that my past self does not need to know much more, everything else she will learn in time, and I do not want to take away from any of her lessons.

There aren't that many things that I could say to my pastself. If anything, I would tell the past me to work on scholarships. I would tell him, "just applying for five or six isn't enough, apply for twenty or thirty. Instead of spending time on fiction novels and tv and anime, spend that time working on scholarships so that you (I) have a higher chance of getting them." I would tell him to not waste time taking AP classes that do not apply to his future career, just because its easy. Furthermore, I would tell him that if he really want his highschool classes to effect him in college, then take the summer math courses that are availible, even if it costs a little bit of money. I would tell the past me to keep on accumulating experiences that can be benifical in the future like those with his teachers and guidance counselors because they can really help him when he needs them. I would tell him to accept help from his peers when they offer to tutor him and to not have pride that is harmful or shyness that can keep him from acheving great things.

College life is just that life. Live it to the fullest. Don’t be afraid to speak up in class and be wrong. Don’t be afraid to try out for that sport, and definitely don’t be afraid to take chances. You have always played the safe card and it has always lead you in the right direction. But living your life in college is just that, live your life. Make mistakes and learn from them. How can you say that you have learned if you never listen to your gut feeling or take your own advice? Always do the right thing because it’s the right thing that needs to be done, but don’t forget this is preparing you for the real world and sometimes there are going to be challenges and sometimes you might make mistakes but make them now. Drive with the top down sometime and don’t be afraid to follow your own heart, let it take you were you want to go. The road less traveled by will make all the difference. Take that road sometimes to find yourself, but remember you’re not lost if you know your way home.

If I could go back in time I'd start by saying and believing in three words: Erin, don't worry. I remember that thinking of where I was going to school next fall was so hard for me and the stress that came with it was not always necessary, Erin, don't worry. I wish I had not stressed so much or allowed the stress take me over in all aspects of my life. I enjoyed senior year to the fullest but it could have been enhanced if I didn't stress little things that appeared to be the big things at the time, Erin, don't worry. I realized this the moment I was walking up to get my diploma, nostalgia had hit me like a train and, although I was physically there, my mind was elsewhere. Highschool was a time of worrying over petty drama or worrying about exams but there were so many other happy memories and aspects of those four years that I wish I dwelled on. Now fastforward to walking through my residence hall doors on that hot August day, Erin don't worry.

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition from high school to college, I would tell my high school self not to stress the little things and enjoy what is taken for granted day to day. Stressing out for a project senior year of high school means absolutely nothing for your future, especially when you should have, at this point made up your mind what school you are going to attend for the next four years. Also, I would have told myself to buckle up because the enginering program (biomedical engineering) offered at the University of Rhode Island is one of the hardest undergraduate programs in the country. High school work was nothing in comparison to what they throw at you, your freshman year, and stress only makes matters a lot worse.

It's probably one of the most cliche pieces of advice, but I would tell myself not to hesitate to get involved. In high school, I was so afraid to join our theatre department because of stage fright and nerves from being around seasoned upper-classmen. I didn't join until the end of my sophomore year, and by the end of my high school career I knew it was the best decision I'd ever made. I acted in 7 shows, as well as helped design the set for two shows. By the end of my senior year, I had the best memories and the best friends I could've ever asked for. I spent my first semester of high school too afraid to get involved in theatre at college, despite my experience in high school. College just seemed so much more overwhelming to me. It took me until the very end of my second semester to get involved, and once again, I know it's one of the best choices I've ever made.

I would tell myself to not waste time, and do everything as fast as I can, a big problem I had as a freshmen was not being prepared for class, and that was because of my time management habbits. Another advice i would give myself is to not be afraid of meeting new people and socializing with others.

If I could go back and tell my high school senior self anything, I would encourage myself to take advantage of the experiences and opportunities that come to me. It is important to have an open mind when making life decisions, and that it is NOT important to know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. Life is all about experience, if you need to try something out to know whether or not you like it, then that's exactly what you should do. I remember being overwhelmed with making a decision about college, and therefore being very stressed out about my future, but after two years and transferring through three different school, I know that experience is what is important. You don't know whether something is right for you unless you try it. Not everyone knows absolutely everything, and almost NO ONE knows what they want to be at eighteen. Its okay to make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and grow.

Take risks. I know you would like to go to the local school with your best friend from high school, but don't. Take risks and try to expand your world-view. This is a giant opportunity to find out more about yourself and what you like. Don't be afraid to make new friends or change, because those things are part of life and should be embraced instead of feared. The worst thing in the world is to stay stagnant.

Dear Past Me, Focus on AP classes so that you come into college with credits built up already. This would be such a huge help just for the fact that you will not have to force all your classes together in a rushed type of manner. Additionally, try to really stay focused on those classes in high school that you have an interest in because then before you come into college and then have to decide a major you will already have your plans for the future picked out and ready to go. Lastly, volunteer more of your time, while you have more time to do so. Helping people is your passion and I wish I had more evidence to show the world just how much I want to make people's lives and this world a better place. Sincerely, Future You

Hey you, the one worried about completing all of your homework for this week, take a break real quick and listen to me for a second. I know you are stressed right now, but believe me, by next spring you will no longer be cursing all of this wretched work. These teachers, these crazy assignments, all of the hours you spend studying, they are all reasons for your rewarding success during your first few semesters in college. I know it is hard to believe, but one day you are going to be thankful for all of the nights you spent writing essays and doing lab reports, because once you get to college, your skills will be at a level that is way higher than that which is expected of you. With all of the knowledge you have gained in the past four years, you ought to be thanking many people in your life--your teachers and family of course--but most importantly, yourself. I just need you to know, most importantly, that all of your hard work is going to pay off. So please, keep studying, keep moving forward because this new and exciting experience is just around the corner.

I would take more advanced palcement classes or college level classes in order to have more credits before I statred college.

I would give myself a dose of humility. Being a smart-aleck with an answer for everything is a sure-fire way to miss out on a lot of learning experiences in and out of the classroom, and had I known that 10+ years ago, I wouldn't have had to learn so many valuable life lessons the hard way. I would tell my 17-year-old self that that corny old adage is true: "the more you know, the more you know you don't know." I would ask him, "how do you expect to gain knowledge when you're too busy trying to be heard over it to hear it?" And I would instruct him to keep his eyes and ears open and his mouth shut.