University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

I would tell myself to remember that this is a transition period. There will be hiccups, sad days, challenging courses, etc. What you must focus on, is to roll with the punches. With any large transition in life, there will be some hard days, and also some good days. The key part is to know it will get better. It takes time to get used to a new schedule and a new way of life, but it will improve. It is inevitable. I would also tell myself to not focus so much on the letter grade you receive, but to focus on the information you are learning. The knowledge you will gain will help you so much more than a grade letter in your future. Do not take for granted the classes you are taking, and do not think negatively about any of them either. Just remember, every day that you show up to class and sit in that chair, you are learning. For this stage in life, that is your main goal. The world is your oyster, so start making a pearl.

Do you recall that time when dad said your life is an investment. Well it turns out that is the most valuable advice you will ever hear. It comes down to one big idea, you will get out of life what you put in. Honestly if you just think that becoming a dentist like you dream is just going to happen, then I know sports authority would love to keep you selling shoe's till your 50. Karan, buddy, I am not saying that life is all work and no play, thats like throwing your entire 401K into goldman and sachs, its stupid. Life is an investment, a balanced investment. You have a goal keep it in mind, but keep your path to that goal open, invest in other people, new interests, new opportunities, fall in love with learning. But realize that balancing balls to the wall work ethic and caffinated 4 year old play time will be difficult, and near impossible sometimes but it will sure be a life worth living. You have one life, invest it well, and don't forget, dad's still right.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life, I would definitely encourage myself to read more, study harder and attend class on a consistent basis. During my senior year of high school, I was a single parent and a working mom. I was determined to achieve, but did not put forth as much effort as I could have. I would study when required, but I never had a set study time. I graduated from high school with a GPA of 90.59, Rank: 11 out of 161 students. However, had I truly put forth the effort, my grades would have been higher and my transition into the college life would have been sooner. I enrolled in Rutledge College in 1988, majoring in what is now called Computer Technology. I graduated in 1990 and decided that I needed to go back for my Bachelor's Degree. So, I am currently enrolled in the University Transfer program at Durham Tech, majoring in Sociology. College life has truly opened my eyes to the importance of being consistent and persistent in my education endeavor.

I was a part of a college-prep program in high school that promised to prepare me for all the obstacles I may face and give me a glimpse of what is expected of me when starting college. The program taught me test taking strategies as well as introduced me to resources. However, one of the things I would tell myself is that, no matter what anyone says or how they prepare me for college, time and experience is the best teacher of all time. You don’t become better by getting an “A” on a test, it’s the path to getting that “A” grade that sticks with you. It’s unfortunate that at the end of the day, more people seek the grade than understand the path to getting there which is why I really would like to emphasize this. I share this because one of the biggest problems that caused a lot of anxiety going through college is questioning whether what I was doing was right or not. I hope to reassure the younger me that time and experience is the way in which I will best mature as a student and person in college.

My first year in college was going smoothly for me until half way through the year when I realized that I had no passion for architecture. The thought of changing majors terrified me because I had never considered any other major. If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would advise myself to open up and explore other majors. I would say that while it is scary to consider changing your major, it is much easier and efficient to change sooner rather than later. Now going into my second year at the University of Washington, I am planning to major in civil and environmental engineering, a subject that both excites and scares me. The work load is daunting but I have passion for environmental issues that make the courses bearable. Looking back that passion was there in high school, I just hadn't recognized it because I was so focused on architecture, something safe, something I had a plan for. Engineering is a risk for me. It's challenging and terrifying and it'll take me longer to graduate, but I'm okay with that. I only wish I'd known that sooner.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself that college is a lot harder than you think. I would need to be dedicated to my work and know that there will be tough times and I just have to go through it. I also want to tell myself to keep staying humble because being true to yourself will make people respect you even more. I still am humble but now I’m starting to see the benefits of it while before I thought I had to be the same as everyone else. I also want to tell myself to keep on with your study habits because once you’re in college those study habits will help like being punctual and completing tasks ahead of time to make room for other work. Lastly, I just want to tell myself to just stay happy and everything will turn out just right.

Hello self, Right now, you're filling out applications for college and imagining what next year will be like. Well let me tell you, college is everything you expect and more. But before you go on dreaming your entire senior year away, my number one advice to you is enjoy high school while it lasts. Take all the busy work the teachers give you and use it to perfect your work ethic. Complete every single task given to you to practice juggling different responsibilities at the same time. Join every single club you can to expand your network. Face every challenge knowing you can do it and you have support behind you. Accept all the help your teachers give you because once in college, the teachers don't come to you. You have to plan accordingly to them. So therefore, thank your teachers for everything and appreciate all the work they do for you. Last but not least, enjoy your time at home because once you move out, you won't have your family around 24/7. Other than that, enjoy high school and I can't wait for you to learn everything that you do in college! Sincerely, You :)

Making the switch from high school to college means a lot more freedom. No one will tell you to go to class, to wake up if you oversleep, or to clean your room. While this may sound freeing and amazing, it means the responsibility rests on you. Don't assume you know the information and can skip the homework! I don't care what you major in - this will never end well. Take your time declaring a major. Explore a variety of classes and really think about what you can do with that major in the future. It's tempting to declare something because it's easy, or you already have the pre-requisites, but don't be afraid to change it if you decide it's no longer the right fit. Finally, don't get caught up with working. Yes, loans are a big deal, but you need to give yourself time to enjoy being a student and living away from home. Being concerned with homework and a paycheck can make that hard sometimes. Remember to schedule "me time." Most of all, have fun!

At the daunting age of 23, I find my life is truly just beginning to come into its own. Though I look back on a winding trail full of ups and downs I find it has all worked to not only shape me into who I am, but has lead me to where I am today for a purpose. As I look into the future I begin to see the women I want to become and believe that College have proved instrumental in empowering me to realize that dream. The opportunity for education at a God-centered university provides not only a strong knowledge base from which to launch the next chapter of my life, but also the opportunity to grow in my faith with it. I am not sure where my life will be years from now, but I know I could not be better prepared than having attended the University.

Make sure to enjoy every moment of your transition to the real world. College is an absolutely amazing opportunity to grow and learn more about the world as well as yourself. Be sure to get involved early on campus, because before you know it, you'll be a senior looking for jobs and will truly regret not capitalizing on the opportunities that you had passed on. Be sure to push yourself to be better in your classes as well so you can make yourself the best you can be. It's easy to be distracted by all the parties and social activities, but remember why you are here. That being said, go out when you can and make friends. Be curious! Explore your campus and the surrounding areas. The last bit of advice is to remember how far you have come, but also, how far you have to go. You're very young and have so much to learn about the world. Good luck!