University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

If I could go back and give the high school version of myself some good advice, my words would simply be, "Relax." It sounds cliche`, but pick colleges based on your true feelings rather than by their reputations. In the end, whether or not you like your school will have a greater impact on your success than that school's national ranking. Also, chances are that you will end up somewhere. If you're not accepted to your favorite school, don't let it devestate you. There are reasons for everything and perhaps that one particular school wasn't the perfect fit for you. Lastly, your school and your GPA don't define you. Only you are capable of defining yourself. Don't let the stress of classes, applications, waiting for letters, or final exams dictate your memories from your senior year of high school. Focus on the things that really matter to you in your final year of high school as well as in applying to different colleges and you will undoubtedly end up in the right place.

The most important piece of advice I could tell myself would be to relax. During my first semester, I thought I had to make friends right away, figure out my major right away and basically figure out my life right away. But thinking that way just ended up stressing me out. When I took a step back, I could see that I didn't need to rush myself. I realized that I had been given an amazing opportunity to be able to study whatever I wanted, and I should take advantage of it. So, instead of focusing so much on the unknown future, I began focusing more on the present and on the things that interested me. In doing so, I was able to discover who I am. Once you know that, the future doesn't seem so scary.

1. Do not assume you will get along with your roommate even if you have similar interests. Living together is personal. 2. Be more open minded about required classes that don't sound enjoyable. When you start a class with a bad attitude, the class will be painful and miserable. 3. Get more sleep. The point of going to class is to learn the material and not teach yourself from the textbook because you were only half awake during class. If you understand what is happening in class, you will better understand your homework. 4. Call home more often. Your family misses you and you miss them - even if you are enjoying college. Also, breaks are more enjoyable when you are not disconnected from your family. One o'clock AM is not a good time to call home because non-college students are asleep. 5. Do what you love. If you don't like a class, stay away from the major. Pursue your dreams. Fill in the dots, "I've always wanted to learn/do/see..." because college is a great time to do it.

Now that I'm in my third year at UVA, I'm starting to see the impact of my first and second year. It's about that time for career-related internships, thinking about graduate school or law school, and what's kiling me is my GPA. Reflecting on what contributed to my low gpa, I would tell my high school self that the transition from high school to college is no joke! In high school you can get away with not completeing assignments, there are always opportunities for extra credit, and you don't think twice about the relationship between you and your teacher. My first year of college, I really had to get a grip on time management, self-discipline and the value of hard work.. You have to step out of your comfort zone, get to know professors who will be your greatest ally, and STUDY! Had I taken these things a little more seriously, perhaps it would have strengthened my grade point average. Learning to adapt in an extreme academic environment, there is cutting corners. Simply, you have to know when it is time to have fun and when its time to buckle down.

College is all about time management. The first time away from home, many are surprised at their new-found freedom. No one is there to tell them where to go to class, how to do homework, when to go to sleep, what to eat, etc. But just because you can do whatever you want doesn't mean everthing is good to do. Think ahead and stick to what you value. The most crucial advice is to find a balance between social and academic life. In a challenging environment where you are surrounded by same-minded and driven classmates, it is easy to slip behind if you're not putting in the time and effort. At the same time, it is just as important to develop a social life and to find a group of friends to confide your problems and having someone to turn to. You should still keep in contact with your friends from high school, but in a completely different setting, they would only be there to get together during holiday breaks. Therefore, make new friends who could potentially be life-long friends. College time will fly by fast! So enjoy and make the most of them!

It is very easy to get caught up in all the extracurriculars and socializing, but it is very important to go to class. In the engineering school at UVA, just going to class will raise your grades by a letter. Equally important is forming study groups, going to the professor with questions, and consulting the teaching assistant. When school is out I recommend taking summer classes for the more challenging subjects and january term classes for the more work-heavy classes, and also taking advantage of the internship programs laid out by the university or the companies that come to the job fair. Lastly, look at potential careers at your field and take classes that will prepare you - and talking to upper-classmen about classes and professors will pay off.

Don't sweat it. If I could give my high school senior self any advice it would be just that, don't sweat it. In high school I spent too much time worrying about GPAs, SATs and other acronyms while I missed out on enjoying time with my friends and family. I am a believer, now, that I ended up where I was supposed to end up. My further advice would be to not to fixate on a particular college and what is meant to be is meant to be. As for making the transition to college, my advice goes in accordance with "don't sweat it." Now that I am so far away from all my friends and family I would advise my one-year-younger self to appreciate the time with those at home. This makes life more enjoyable at home and also while away at college you can see how those thousands of miles away truly love you. My senior year I would tell myself that in order to fully enjoy college and make the transition having a stable foundation back in Massachusetts is necessary or you will be wandering between two quasi-homes.

Now that I'm in college, when I talk to my younger friends who are still in high school I often tell them things I wish I had known as a senior. I tell them to apply for scholarships once they have college applications out of the way. There are so many helpful websites these days that have you fill out profiles so they can give you recommended scholarships that fit your description. I tell them to get a part-time job once they've been accepted to a college. Teachers often lighten the workload for second-semester seniors, which allows for a lot of downtime. They can save up spending money for school, which comes in handy when the dining hall gets old. Also, they may be able to work a shift or two whenever they're home, and some extended breaks offer too much free time that could easily be spent earning a paycheck. Also, I tell them to try and meet as many different people as they can at school, students and faculty. People evolve in college, and surrounding oneself with different lifestyles can help one find where they belong.

As difficult as college may seem and although you might think you will not have any time to do anything other than study, go to class, and MAYBE get to socialize, do not fret and never limit yourself simply because you think you are not capable. As I look back on my first semester, I see that I truly did have the time to invest in the extra-curricular activities I wanted to do and could have invested more of my time into my studies while still enjoying my social life. Procrastination only causes stress, weight gain from late night snacking, and zits from a growing lack of hygiene; all of which nobody wants, especially you. As pressing as it may seem to watch the latest episode of "House" or "Grey's Anatomy," reading your chemistry book or volunteering your time at an actual hospital is exponentially more important; I promise. Also, no matter what you decide to do, make sure you love it. Never join something simply because "all your friends are doing it," and throw yourself out there; make new friends in those other clubs. Most importantly, never doubt yourself and give everything your all.

I would tell myself to be more open minded about people. Since coming to college, I have learned that people have there own situations and backgrounds and that it is not fair to over judge people for their flaws. Also I would tell myself to remember that college is more than getting a degree for a good job; it is a chance to explore different subjects, live on your own, meet new people and many more. College is more of education for life. On the academic side, I would tell myself to learn to study and focus more, because while there is more free time in college, it requires more diligence and self learning.