University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

I would tell myself to never hold back. I feel like in high school I always tried to avoid enrolling in difficult classes so when I came to college I felt like I was being over worked and at first, and as if I would never survive. After overcoming many obstacles, I have earned a 3.5 cumulative GPA and I feel like this is truly due to the act that I began to engage in different ways to study and to learn. I wish I would have taken challenging classes in order to prepare myself for what was to come. I had such a wonderful experience in high school and I do not regret one single thing I was involved in, however, if I had the choice of traveling back in time I would have prepared myself much better so the work load would not have been such a shock once I got college. In high school we were preparing ourselves for college, while in college we are preparing ourselves for the real world, so work as hard as you can and do not be afraid of a challenge.

I would tell myself that even though having fun and putting school work off is a good idea at the time, it really isn't. Don't procrastinate on homework get it done right away! If you put it off then you will rush to get it done the night before and it will not be your best work and may hurt your overall grade. Also, don't be scared to say no to hanging out with your friends or saying no to working. Your friends will understand and work is not that important and it will end up comsuming all your time. Make sure you study the material you learned that day either right after class or later that night. It will help you remember the material for the upcoming exam. Don't stay up all night studying for an exam. You will be tired and won't do good on the exam because you will be too worried about sleeping. Even though they say getting involved is a good way to make friends, it is but meeting people in your dorm is a good way to make friends too. Be ready to learn and give everything your best.

You might think that college life is great and that there is no stress at all. But what about the transition from high school to college? Towards the beginning of senior year in high school, you have to spend time looking up colleges to see which one fits you best. You cannot choose the first college you search; it takes time looking for the right college. Applying for one college will not cut it. You should apply to many colleges so you have a chance to get into at least one of them. After sending in all of your college applications, it is time to start searching for scholarships. What you should do is look at many different websites and make a list of possible scholarships. Make sure to apply to as many scholarships as you can. Once you hear back from the colleges that have accepted you, it is time to take a few days or weeks to choose which school to attend. As you think about all of this, it does take a lot of time and work going from a high school senior to a college student.

If I could go back I would take studying way more serious. In high school I barely had to study for tests, or I would cram it in the class before a test and would call it good. In college that doesn't work, and because of my lack of study skills in high school I have found it hard to know what to study for tests. I would go back and tell myself to try harder, to study more, and take studying seriously. I would also tell myself to step outside my boundaries because at UW-OshkoshI have found myself to try things that step outside my comfort zone, but it has opened up a whole new world to me, and helped me be more aware and open to trying new things.

I wish I could teach my former self to approach learning with the same level of engagement that I have today. A large portion of my high school career was spent bored and unmotivated because I was not participating holistically. I neglected much of my classwork because I did not feel challenged and was not immediately entranced by the subjects. I would love the opportunity to return and convince the former me of the value of working hard in the areas that did not come naturally to me, instead of spending my time in high school concentrating exclusively on subjects in which I innately excelled. When I returned to school after eight years in the workforce, I keenly felt the real life value of learning. I enrolled in the Honors Program at my college and found myself enjoying the benefits of richly appreciating the subjects I was learning about. I began to identify connections between subjects I was less interested in at face value with subjects that I had always enjoyed. This ability to create personal interest in my studies enabled me to excel in college in the same areas where I fell short in high school.

I would tell myself that it would be easiest to go straight from graduating high school to attending college. The option of taking a year off to work or travel may seem appealing at the time, but it will only hinder your drive to continue your education. It is important not to overestimate your ability in college. At the time, taking a full course load may seem like the most ideal option, but taking all those courses and maybe a part-time job make for quite the impossible task. Don’t be afraid to drop courses that are stressing you out or do not interest you. Make sure you research your professors before signing up for their classes. The difference between passing the class and failing could quite possibly be because of the professor. If you’re not having a good connection with your professor or find yourself hating them, drop the class and enroll in a different one: you will do poorly if you hate your professor.

If I could go back in time during my senior year in high school, I would tell myself to go with my gut instincts and pursue a Masters degree in Psychology. I originally wanted to study Psychology since I've always enjoyed giving my friends advice and making them feel better about any problems they were going through however I decicded to study Information Technology and Networking because I like computers. What I know now that back then I did not, was that even though I like techology, I don't exactly quite understand computers as much as I thought I did. I changed my major to Psychology and feel much better about my life as a college student and I hope with my Pschology degree I can help out those who need counseling and can use my advice. I would also tell myself to always study and work hard as a college student because the college life is nothing like the high school life. The college life is tougher and more demanding but it's worth it because when I become a college graduate, I'll have a brighter future and a better life.

I beleive that a lot of my successes in life can be accredited to how I prepare. Going into something without a general background is very difficult for me. So when my transition from high school to college took place, I looked for many resources to help guide me in the right direction. One of my biggest and most valuable connections I was able to create was the upperclassmen that I meet during my first few weeks on campus. I constantly found myself using their previous knowledge to help guide me in the direction that I would want to go. The retention rate at my university isn't the best, so I knew that I would have to start on a good note with grades. By not doubting myself and using the wisdom provided by my self-appointed mentors, I have been able to get involved in volunteer programs and other groups such as Alpha Lambda Delta, all while maintaining a 3.862 GPA. One of the biggest things to remember is to create a schedule with a plan of action, and then follow through with it. With proper preparation and mentors, success is a lot more achievable.

If I could go back in time to speak to myself as a senior in high school I would give myself a few bits of advice. Firstly I would tell myself to not slack off and to apply for as many scholarships as early as possible. While at high school try to focus more on my studies to keep my grades up and to not stress out over all the little things. Secondly I would advise myself to be less nervous about moving on with my life, while it may seem overwhelming college is not all that different from high school and making friends is very easy to meet new and friendly people.

The one piece of advice that I would give to my high school self is that opportunity is what you make of it. I was so fortunate to the have the chance to further my education. However, what is even more important than the opportunity, is what I choose to do with it. I would tell my high school self to never take for granted any of the experiences that college offers. In order to make the most out of a college career, one must take the initiative. Good things don't come to those who wait, but to those who actively seek them. If I want my college experience to be everything I hoped it would be, I must take chances, step outside my comfort zone, and embrace the unfamiliar. I would tell my high school self to not be afraid of the future, because the future is full of endless opportunites.

The most important piece of advice i would tell myself is to take college courses during my high school career. I would aslo tell myself that everything has a way of working out for the better and to not worry so much. If i could go back in time, i would tell myself that Aims community college is a great place to start off coming from a small school and that deciding to attend Aims was a good decision, and i would tell myself to take full advantage of the work study program. I would also tell msyelf to read ahead in the classes that i struggle with like Mathematics. I would also tell myself to not take life so seriously and to have a fun college experience instead of worrying about money and other insignificant things. The advice i would give myself is this epcific quote from a UNC professor "you are doing exactly what you should be doing. The fear is only natural and will be forgotten as quickly as it came" -Jason (UNC staff member). This quote has helped me do things that i fear and i intend to reach my goal of becoming a teacher.

If I could go back to being a senior in high school, I would have to myself that you don't have to go FAR away from home to experience the college atmosphere. The college that is 10 minutes from your hometown is just as fun as the college 100 miles form your hometown, so if I would have known that, I would have gone to UW-Oshkosh in the first place instead of starting at UW-Milwaukee. Another point of advice I wish I would of known was that I should have went and toured more college campuses. I only toured one campus and that was the college I thought I wanted to go to until I got there and after a few weeks of going to school I knew I didn't want to be there. Even if I knew I wanted to go to UW-Milwaukee, I still wish I would of gone to visit other colleges to see what they were like.

Do not worry about class work the freshmen level classes are the same as AP courses in high school, not scary. Try and get as much done as possible. Try and find a club or department group you like because dorms have a large mix of people and statistaclly you are not going to like most of the people on your floor.

I would tell myself to learn how to study. In high school it is so easy to get by without studying. In college studying is not optional, it's a way of life. I have learned how to study since being here but I wish I would've had a better idea of how to. I would also tell myself to relax about college because it truly is fun and exciting even though everything is completely new. College is really the years to learn about yourself and what you want ot do with your life, and I'm having an amazing time figuring out what I want my life to be like in the future. I would lastly tell myself that it's not as important as you think to try and have everything figured out before you get to college. College is the time to really figure all of that out.

I would give myself the advice that education is everything. My first semester or two of college I spent most of my time either working or hanging out with friends. Neither are bad except for when they both become more important and take up more of your time than school does. I didn't do the best I could've done my first couple of semesters. It was like I forgot the whole reason I was going to college, since I put work and friends in front of my education. Remember the reason why you're going to college.; for an education so you'll be able to make a living and have a good career, not to work and hang out with your friends.

Dear Madeline: Greetings from 2013. I know for a fact that you're enjoying high school and getting ready to face college and the "real world". I know you're really stressed out and trying to squeeze everything possible into your applications and essays. That's really great, keep up the good work...it will pay off. But there's something I need you to do. While extra curriculars and fantastic grades are all well and good, you have to remember why you're getting an education. Ever since you were little, you've wanted to help people. So why wait? Put down the books and the applications for a while and go serve the community. Spend time with friends, family, neighbors, and those in need. It's important that you give back to those who have gotten you this far - it will make the entire college experience a lot more rewarding. Do courageous things, do compassionate things, do spontaneous things. In college you're going to realize that you have the world at your fingertips. Don't get there and wonder why you didn't reach out and grab it sooner!

I would tell myself: Your NOT ready for this! You need MORE life skills!! It’s a DIFFERENT jungle out there. Being academically prepared will only take you so far if you don’t have the life skills for such an independent living environment. Don’t rush!! Take three years and give yourself a mental break and time for self discovery. Move to a new place, get a full-time job, finance a car, rent an apartment, save money for college, and volunteer at a homeless shelter and psychiatrist’s office to talk with people about their life choices and experiences. You’ve only experienced one side of life, and you are lacking. The awareness it takes to be successful in the transition you are about to make will take some additional training in LIFE. And it’s better to take off the time now voluntarily, then life derail you to where you are forced into it and have to play catch up later. Forget about the norm, because sometimes you win by losing!!! So take the time, it will put you ahead later. Remember the tortoise and the hare: Slow and steady wins the race!!!

I would tell myself to be more outgoing, make connections, and not be so worried about what others think. I went to a college that was three hours away from my hometown and nobody else I knew was going there. The best way to meet people is to go out there and introduce yourself and try new things. I have some great friends, but I feel like I could have made stronger relationships quicker if I would have been more outgoing. Also, it is important to make connections, especially through networking. I wish that I would have started networking more my freshman year because it can drastically help gain real world experience during college. If I had networked more my freshman year I think I would have a greater chance of finding an internship and possibly a job. The final thing I would tell myself is to not care what others think so much, because people will judge each other no matter what. It is more important to be the person that you are proud of instead of the person that someone else is proud of. If I would have taken this to heart I would have been much happier.

I would tell myself not to be stressed with the change, but to embrace the new challenges ahead. Going away is a new, terrifying experience, but it's something that everyone needs to do to learn who they are as a person. Instead of being anxious or nervous about the situation, I would tell myself to learn as much as possible, to meet lots of different, enjoyable friends, and to understand the fact that the opportunity to attend College comes around once in a lifetime, and it's not something worth wasting.

If I could go back in time and give my high school senior self some advice it would be to relax. College is great and I am going to love it. I would tell myself that it is okay to change my mind and I will do that. I would say that there is no need to worry about making friends in college, it comes naturally. I would tell myself that when you are in college you will hardly think about high school becuase college is the best place to be and you will not need to look back, you will enjoy the life you have in college.