University of Wisconsin-Madison Top Questions

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would tell myself to take more AP and college credit classes. I would say this because I think having those few extra credits from high school would’ve put me a little ahead of my fellow students. Plus, those harder classes would’ve helped me prepare for the hard and fast paced classes at UW-Madison. I feel like I would’ve had a smoother transition from high school to college if I would’ve just challenged myself a little bit more in high school. Another thing that I would tell myself if I could go back in time would be that I should’ve applied for more scholarships and I should’ve started applying for them sooner. When I was in high school I started my scholarship applications pretty late so I missed lots of deadlines or I didn’t have enough to fill out all of the applications that I wanted.

Step outside of your comfort zone and try new things and meet new people.

The advice I would give to myself would be to stay on top of the ball and have fun in college. When you stay on top of the ball, you are in the sense prioritizing yourself so that you can indeed have a good college experience. You can only live college once. Generally speaking, I wasn't the type that always had fun because I was too "business like". Then I realized that the time I will be in college will not be forever, so I wanted to have memorable moments so that I indeed can tell someone what the Wisconsin experience is all about. When it comes down to having fun in college, it doesn't have to mean getting drunk. You can have fun at a party and not have any alcohol. Fun can be going out to eat with some friends, watching movies with floor-mates, or playing a sport that you love.

Study hard and see your work through even if it seems impossible.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to save money and slow down. The first realization I had when coming to college is that it is expensive. I have to pay for housing, books, and food which rounds up to more than five thousand dollars. I would make myself apply for scholarships if I could go back. It is stressful enough as it is now. I'm almost half way through my college year and the unbelievable fact hit me; I miss home. I miss spending nights with my friends, driving around town, and sleeping in. Most of all, I miss my family. I miss talking, laughing, and fighting with them. I would tell myself to stop trying to grow up and live life as it is. When you're in college, no one will tell you that "you shouldn't do this" or "be careful"; you're on your own. I would tell myself to listen to my mom more and to be grateful for her support (not to mention her cooking) and for my crazy yet lovable eight siblings.

Everyone starts college thinking that everything is going to be perfect: straight As, amazing social life, etc. That is as far from reality than it is going to get. As a matter of fact, while the movies make college look like all play, it is actually a lot of work. The best advice I can give is to go into college with a realistic view. If you go in thinking that you are going to conquer the world, you are only going to overwhelm and stress yourself out. Take things one at a time, Rome wasn't built in a day. Set goals and follow them. Make sure to join clubs to make new friends and be social. Don't be intimidated by the large class sizes, sit in the front and pay attention. Go to office hours to get to know professors. And whatever you do, DO NOT stay up too late. Get plenty of sleep or else you will end up looking like a zombie!!

It is hard for any first time college student to be completely prepared for one of life's hardest and most abrupt transitions. If I could go back in time to when I was a high school senior and give myself some advice, one valuable lesson I would include is finding the balance between working hard in school and having a fun social life. As a student, the most important thing to remember is that you are attending college to get a degree, and your education should always come first. However, there are a lot of distractions that can get in the way of studying or attending classes. It is exciting to be on a campus full of students your own age and meet thousands of new people from all walks of life. Because of this, at any time of day there are new activities to try and new people to meet. It is important to remember that school work takes precedence over all other activities and if you need to forgo a basketball game for a night of studying, it is a necessary choice. Balancing school with fun will make any college experience successful and rewarding.

If I could advise my high school senior self in the ways of college life, I wouldn't need to remind her to work hard and study often. I've always enjoyed and been very good at school. What I struggle with, however, is direction! Fresh out of high school, with so many interests and so many opportunities, I didn't know where to start. I hesitated and lost momentum. If I could tell my high school self anything, I would say pick something and run with it! Don't be afraid of making the wrong choice, or making a mistake. Set a goal and run towards it, you never know where it may take you. The future is always unknown, but that is no excuse to be fearful or timid of it. I've finally chosen my major and I'm determined to reach my goal! What happens after that is all part of the adventure!

I'd tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible because anything helps when trying to afford college. Also I'd let myself know that it's better to buy books online and used because the book stores sell them for as much as they can and only buy back if the book is still in use; whereas, you can sell them back online to other people who are in need of the books.

If i could go back in time as a high school student and talk to myself then I would tell myself to finish high school instead of taking the GED. I would also tell myself about each college and instead of going through the hassel of transfering credits and changing schools I would stick to Edmonds Community College. I would also tell myself to just relax and ease into college life instead of rushing to make friends, that I need to focus on grades and getting my homework done. Thats the advice I would give myself if I could go back in time and talk to myself.