University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Top Questions

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and speak with myself as a high school senior, I would have much advice to give. The first thing would be not to be so nervous about leaving home . It is something new and different but many people are there to help with the transition. A second thing that I would advise myself to do would be to get involved in things, such as clubs and activities, that interest me, . They help you meet new people that share similar interests and also help in making the transition into college easier. I would also tell myself that it is important to take advantage of all the opportunities that come up. The next thing that I would advise myself on is in regards to academics. I would tell myself how important it is to set time slots for doing homework and how important it is to stick to them. There is a multitude of things to do on campus and if one does not stick to some type of homework schedule; things may never get done. My final piece of advice would be to be open to the many new experiences.

Going back to talk to my former high school senior self, I would say to not take so many AP classes and to just have fun in your senior year by going to more football games or basketball games or make the time to go see your friend in the leading role in the play. Taking a class for fun instead of an AP class would make your senior more enjoyable. Yes, you need to prepare for college and that is what you are trying to do but taking one less AP class will still prep you for your freshman year of college. Your first semester of college you will do great, you will be successful enough to make the Dean?s list! Another thing to do your senior year is hang out with your friends more often. Sara leaves for boot camp in late June and your other friends will become busy with other activities, so now during your senior year is the best time to hang out with them and stay very close. You and your friends are still very close that you will still keep in touch and be friends for a long while.

If I were to go back in time and tell or warn myself of what to do to prepare for college better i would simply tell myself to stick with what your gut tells you. Don't go for a job that would make you money if thats not what will make you happy. From experience I went straight to a university from high school and growing up with not allot of money and seeing the struggles my family went through i decided to do something in the medical field even though my life long dream was to do something in the arts field. I went to that university and hated it ended up coming home with severe depression and once I finally got myself better, I applied for The Art Institute and made my way down to Los Angeles, Ca to fulfill my dreams. Life is all about choices and in order to succeed you have to be passionate and love what you are doing. So the greatest choice in life is Happiness and Success or Money and Success. I chose Happiness

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would explain how much different college would be compared to high school to help make the transition easier. I would tell myself that the classes were going to take more effort than in high school, at least an hour for each subject compared to less than an hour a night for all my homework in high school. I would explain how important it is to pay attention during lectures, because tests usually come from lectures. I would tell myself that my GPA matters to keep my scholarships so I should keep it up. I would tell myself go to tutors if I don't understand something, and meet with my professors to get to know them better. I would also tell myself it's okay to have a personal life, but to not let that get in the way of school. I would also tell myself to make as many friends as possible. Finally, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I can, even when I get into college, because my loans won't pay for themselves.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school self not to stress about college so much. I would still encourage myself to work hard senior year to pass college level classes because it definately pays off in the future; however, I would stress not to worry so much about the transition to college life itself. Part of the whole college experience is that of starting out lost and overwhelmed along with the hundreds of other freshmen going through the same changes. It my be a little confusing at first, but do not be afraid to ask questions. Most people on campus are very friendly and willing to help out in any way possible and it doesn't take long to start making new friends and adjusting to life away from home. Also, get involved as much as possible. There is no better way to meet new people than to take a step out of your comfort zone and try something new for a change. Many times the things that appear frightening or challenging turn out to be quite enjoyable and worth the ride in the end. Finally, have fun and watch out for the squirrels!

I was not your typical high school senior. I was not excited or anxious to leave home like most of my peers. I was not depressed or sad by the fact that changes were occuring all around me, I was a fairly happy person. I was captain of varsity soccer, prom court candidate, cheerleader, friend, student and, at the time most importantly, there for someone who needed me the most. In the spring of senior year, my boyfriend was diagnosed with testicular cancer and could not attend college in the fall like the rest of our friends. Reality hit. In high school, it never occured to me that life was so fragile and serious. After finding out the news of my boyfriend's tragedy, I grew up fast. The summer months flew by as he endured chemotherapy, and I checked things off my list for school in the fall. So, as I answer this question about what advice I would give myself, I think back to the tragedy and how I handled myself, the situation and my first year of college. I draw a blank because my boyfriend's temporary setback allowed me to become a better person.

If I were given the opportunity to talk to my high school senior self, I would mainly give reassurance. As a senior, I worried about not only academic but also social challenges in college. I feared being unable to keep up with the courses and, as a consequence, receiving low grades. From experience, I would tell myself that you must work hard to achieve good grades, but it is also important to leave time for other things. Sleep and recreation are important to a healthy lifestyle. I would also tell myself to find a quiet place in the library in which to do homework. It is much easier to get work done outside of the dorm. Socially, I would tell myself not to worry. College is much different from high school in that you will find people who appreciate you despite differences. To quote Dr. Seuss: "Be what you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Everyone is just as willing as you to make a friend, so be yourself, be willing to step out of your comfort zone, work hard, and everything will fall into place.

If I were to go back in time and have a conversation with myself two years ago, I would have told myself to go in with an open mind and be ready to meet many new people. College was so different from high school in the fact that everyone is willing to meet new people and accept them for themselves. If someone is different from you or has different views, it's not a bad thing, in fact, most people embrace it. Hanging out with people who are just like you doesn't make for a very interesting conversation. While academics should be a priority, don't disregard the cultural education you get by simply interacting with the people around you. Odds are, you're school is full of people from all walks of life, and you should take advantage of the opportunity to broaden your knowledge of other worldviews and perspectives. In turn, they will also expand their cultural knowledge having interacted with you.

I feel like during my senior year I was ?blessed? with many obstacles to overcome, all of which are helping me to transition into the more independent college life. My senior year started off with my best friend getting into a terrible car accident. Through that, I learned how to manage my time going to the hospital, going to school, and playing varsity sports. I also learned how to give myself to help others. I had to be available to my friend in times that were not always convenient and was always willing to help. Later, my year brought a time period where many of my friends started to turn on me. I had to learn to take criticism of other people, meet new people, and I also learned how to talk to adults during this time. I feel that all of these aspects play a very large role in my transition into college. I had a lot of time for person growth during that year which many don?t have the opportunity to do until they are in a period of huge change in their lives. I am thankful now for everything that I learned my senior year.

Don't take 18 credits your first semester. I did, and did just fine, but I was so worn out by the time break started. Also, don't work too much because getting through school is the more important thing right now; you've got the whole rest of your life to get sick of going to work! Talk to the upperclassmen because they know a lot about the classes and can be as good as talking to an advisor for figuring out what classes to take when since they've already done it. They can also give you a lot of insight about what you will need in the future. The best advice I think I've gotten from an upperclassman was to save everything you do; you don't know what you'll be able to use once you get a little farther along and have to start making your portfolio.