University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

I would give myself an advice of geting rid of senioritis as quickly as possible. Knowing that you need to be prepared for the fast-pace education along with other smart students, you would have to be prepared. So by getting rid of senioritis will be a big help because you won't be lazy to do homework.

As a high school senior I did not understand the term, "nothing comes easy." My job, school work, relationships, and family life seemed to flow naturally day by day. I thought I took things seriously and worked hard. I wish someone would have told me otherwise. I wish someone would have told me I honestly had not had a tough day ever and I needed to prepare for either disappointment or serious changes. My college career has already greatly strengthened me in the two short years I have been here. My family has had a tough time financially, and due to that and the diverse people I have befriended, I have learned not to take everything for granted. I am proud to say I have a loving family who I can always come home to and who will find a way to get me the best education. In high school I did not realize the dedication it took to be successful and be as lucky as me and my sisters have been. If I had the chance to go back in time I would tell myself, "life is tough, love and family can only get you so far."

Make sure you are ready to begin the work that college is going to be. Don't procrastinate and use your time wisely.

High school is dwindling down and you are entering a period in your life that will be the most fun and exciting time of your life. You are going to meet new friends, have new experiences, and experience another state's lifestyle. It is going to be a big change and you are going to have to take that all in at the same time as doing well in school. You will be tempted to go party and explore the city but don't let that get in the way of school. You will have to go to the library and spend hours on homework and studying. It won't be fun but this university is filled with lots of kids who know exactly what they want to do it and how they want to do it. You have to compete with them while staying social and having a good time. Join a fraternity becasue you will meet great friends and since you are from out of state you will not know many people here. Don't only hang with your fraternity brothers, branch out, meet new exciting people. Lastly, play zombie tag. Don't ask, you'll see.

I would tell myself that you need to really devoted alot of your time to studying sciences and actually pursue something that you love and enjoy. I am so glad now that I switched from pre-med to pre-law. I am actually enjoying classes and engaging in class rather then suffering like I was when I was pre-med. Do not worry about what your parents or friends think, because you are the one going to school and it is your future not theirs. I would tell myself to pursue what you want and go for it as soon as you know!

I would tell myself that college isn't what I'm expecting, that it's different than what I think it is. I would tell myself to have more fun, and to live and grow, and not just focus on school. I would tell myself that the grades and the prestige don't matter: it's the things that I do, the things that I feel, and the things that I learn that do.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to really be prepared. College isnt easy and there is a big difference from high school. You have to take responsibility for yourself and work so hard in and out of the classroom to succeed. Also, I would tell myself to value family. Being away now really has made me realize how thankful I am to have such a wonderful family and how much I really do miss spending time with them. Another peice of advice would be to SAVE MONEY! College is expensive and if you get very little financial aid assistance like I do, it is pretty costly. Savings wouldve been very helpful and would relieve a lot of stress later on.

Number 1: Know that professors are going to say all kinds of crazy things sometimes. Don't be intimidated by them- just because they're a professor and really good at something doesn't mean they know everything about everything. Write down a qoute (verbatim) every time a professor says something looney; and after a year, you won't be intimidated, and you'll have some good laughs too. Number 2: Don't give any money (even change) to the guys in the Hub. Do you really think that they all got injured and couldn't work? No. And all that stuff about trying to find a job? Those are lies too, because they come back here every year. THIS is their job, and by giving them twenty bucks (or even pocket change) you keep them in business. DO help people, because there are a lot of homeless people in Seattle, but join a group that knows who's sincerely in need and who's a con. Last: Just because your religion and politics may be in the minority doesn't mean you can't talk about them, but show judgement when and where it's the right place.

I would suggest that I gradually enter college life, especially the rigors of college classes. I was in the top 15 of my graduating class and I was very confident in my academic abilities, but there was an adjustment period, and I wish I would have been less worried about challenging myself from the get-go, and had instead taken classes that I was interested in. There is pleanty of time to worry about completeing the major requirements, and freshman year is a lot about discovery.

Be prepared to be immersed in a world of diversity like you've never experienced before. There are so many people from so many different countries and cultures, many who do not speak English as a primary language. Therefore there are many different opinions about certain matters concerning American culture, American views of society, and global views in general. Keep your eyes and ears open, simply be open-minded. As a valedictorian of the class of '08, you would think that classes here wouldn't be as hard as everyone says. But it all ends up being the case of the-big-fish-in-a-small-pond syndrome. There are people out there that exceed your IQ by twice as much, struggled twice as hard to get to this University, and paid far more than twice the amount you did. It is a place where you literally "find yourself" amongst tens of thousands of students. Your culture is your history, your past, your share of life experiences. No one can change that itself, although they can only add to your history. Be prepared to make your mark on the world amidst the trials and tribulations of a college student.