University of Tulsa Top Questions

I would tell myself to not pick a major right away, to take my basics first and then decide what I want to do. Also I would tell myself to not be afraid to go out and have some fun and to be more friendly. I would also tell myself to make sure that academics come first

Even though your classes are easy and you don't really have to try to ace them, study. Start forming that habit now - it will save your life the first semster. Practice your instrument more - the competition is fierce at TU. Apply for more scholarships and start saving more money. You're going to pay for college yourself, and it's not fun having to pay off loan interest every few months. So put a little of every pay check in that savings account. It will pay for books and the fees that scholarships don't cover. Most of all, don't worry about having your entire life planned out. No one else in college knows what they're doing, either.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would definetly say that a smaller college would benefit me. I spent two years at the University of Colorado at Boulder and I just could not focus on learning what I needed to in such huge classes. Being able to know who your professor is and only having a small amout of other people in your class is extremely benificial to learning. I would also tell myself to balance running out with putting more effort into my studies. I run track and cross country for the university and I put my grades in the backseat, which I regret now. Another thing that I wish I would have done was to involve myself in more on campus activites outside of running and met more people through different outlets. It's so much easier to meet people in the dorms and through other freshman events than it is after freshman year.

If I could give any advice to my younger self, it would be to enjoy life. I had the best semesters when I did nott stress about grades or my social standing. When you live every day to the fullest with the goal of better understanding youself, life becomes amazing. College is a social transformation with a few important classes thrown in, not four years of learning hell. I went on a limb and talked to Omanis, Brazilians, and Indians; these people from halfway across the world are now some of my dearest friends. In the classroom, I stopped stressing out about who the smartest student was and about my grades; now, I have a beautiful GPA and feel smarter than ever. When you stop comparing yourself to others and relax, life unfolds in a very beautiful way. Also, your number ten school may give you the best college experience. So, do not worry if Harvard rejects you. They are the real loser!

I wish I could go farther back than that. I didn't take High School seriously enough. I was depressed for my first few years in Tulsa, having recently moved from my home town of 12 years. I didn't pay attention in class, and I didn't give my high school education the respect it deserves. I realize now that I could have done so much better, and could have entered college with a better understanding of where I want to go in life. I'm better now, of course. I've fallen into place as a Computer Science major, and I do very well in my classes, and have fun with them. I'm much more involved in leadership roles as well. But I lack the financial support I need to not leave college with a lot of debt. My advice to my senior self would be: "Get it together. This is the last chance you get to do well and ensure better financial aid. You are going to love college so much, it would be a shame if you had financial issues looming overhead the whole time."

If I was able to go back in time and give my high school senior self any advise about college life and the transition to college the advice I would give myself would be to actually take classes that will not be "blow off" classes the last year. I got so lazy considering I only took one normal class as a high school and it has reflected in my first year of college. Going into senior year you get "senioritis" yes, just get over it and actually learn and make good study habits. Another piece of advice I would give to myself is to make the most of your time with your family and friends. College life is difficult and it is like being thrown into the big world by yourself, but if you just take care of yourself, and remember where you came from, and keep in touch it will make the transition easier. One last thing is to have a great senior year and make lots of memories.

I would tell myself to take different classes than the ones I chose in high school. I also would tell myself to apply for more outside scholarships because within the school, tuition waivers are unstackable. Be prepared for the ethnic diversity, there will be times where you feel like the minority even in your hometown. Plan out your college career before you get there.

Having experienced two full years of college, the main thing I would emphasize to my past self is that it is okay to fail sometimes. This was the one thing that I struggled with when entering college. In high school I was always accustomed to doing well in basically all subjects, so when I transitioned to university and realized that this was not always the case, I went through a phase of major frustration. I developed an inferiority complex when I saw others excelling in the same subjects with which I was struggling. This gave me intense anxiety, which only led to me continuing to struggle. Thankfully I had a decent support system to guide me, but at the time I was miserable. So to the high school senior Zeinab Hassan, I just want you to know that not everyone gets it on the first try. Different things come easily for different people and just because you struggle a little on a subject, it does not mean that you are a failure. It just means that you have to make the commitment and put in the extra work for a better outcome, you will see the results.

I would tell myself to enjoy my year more and don't rush too much into wanting to go to college so fast. once you leave you can never go back. You leave your friends and family which isn't easy at all, and you miss them way more then you would ever expect. Enjoy the little things in life because you'll realize what you had when you go to college. Take advantage of your resources, I know it's more easier to be lazy and get the minimum done but you should try to go above and beyond.

I would tell myself to really look at all the options for school. Don't just settle because you think you"re not smart enough. Also take all the oppertunities that are given to you and sont forget to follow your dreams. Don't think that no one is there to help you and that you have to do it alone. Listen to the advice from your parents, they've done this before and succedded.