University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

The transition is the hardest part of being a college student. You're away from home for the first time and you know nobody. The best advice I can give is to not be afraid. Don't be afraid to ask a professor for help. Don't be afraid to try the new dish served at Blackhawk. Don't be afraid to go to a play or attend a sporting event. Don't be afraid to talk to people you have never met before. Don't be afraid to figure out who you really are. College is the time to figure out who you are. If you never try anything new, how would you know if you like it? The friends you make in college are ones that last a lifetime, and you may even meet your future husband or wife. Before you know it college will be over and you'll hit the real world where you won't have time to try new things. College is the time to stray from your comfort zone. It's a time to start over. Nobody knows your past, nothing is holding you down from who you really are. Just be you.

Try not to decide what you want to do with your life right away. It is too hard for anyone to know coming out of Highschool who they want to be, and what they want to do for the rest of their life. Enjoy and pay attention in your general ed classes; in the long run your gpa reflect the work you put in, in the early years. Work hard, but don't forget to make new friends, and have some fun!

The transition from high school to college was one of the biggest reality checks I had ever encountered. During high school, I most looked forward to seeing my friends, and driving to the nearest McDonalds for my lunch breaks. I was able to doodle in class, pass notes and giggle with my girlfriends; all while still passing classes with flying colors. College was the wake-up call that told me these luxuries could no longer happen. If I could go back and give myself some advice for my college career, I would start out by saying, "Don't worry so much about not making friends; these next few years will offer so much more. Unfortunately, you WILL need to learn how to cook for yourself now, and if you think you can finish all your homework during class... forget it. Also, you may want to study two days before an exam instead of two hours. Your academic world will seem to flip on you. You may have your moments of wanting to call Mom every day your first two weeks, but remember to push through and enjoy the little things. The fun and sleep you sacrifice will pay off."

My advice to myself would be don't be afraid to go to the same college as all of your siblings. It's okay to go and house with them because then they can help you with any financial needs. Also if you're not sure of any scholarships for the college go to their website and type in scholarships. They provide you with their campus scholarships. You'll want to also plan early because you won't get a lot of money for college. You're going to want to work hard and focus on writing for scholarships. Don't fret about going to the same college as your family, and apply for scholarships, they will become very helpful to you if you want to go full time.

I would tell myself to not be afraid to follow my gut instinct. I was terrified of making wrong choices in transitioning to college and in my academics because I knew that it would impact my future. Looking back, every big and small decision I've made in college so far has been in the best interest of my education and professional career. We all have to make sacrifices to reach our goals sometimes and going ahead with those sacrifices is what sets apart being an adult from being a teenager. I am very happy where I am in life right now and I have been more succesful in school, co-curricular activities, jobs, and my social life than I ever thought I would be. I would also tell myself to not be afraid of sticking up for your beliefs and that with hard work comes great rewards.

I would make sure to take a study-skills class the first year of school because I think that would've helped me to be an even better student. I try so hard, but have a hard time with studying so i think that would help others from the beginning, it will give them an even more successful college career!

Dear myself in senior year, So, you're off to college soon. It's going to be a huge transition, but it's apart of life. Live and learn. The biggest advice I could give to you is to not forget your family back home. Yes, college is super exciting; you meet a lot of new people and form new relationships- but don't forget about the ones who have been there your whole life. You may only be an hour and a half away, but you don't have a car. Family life may be somewhat difficult, but you have to learn to deal with it when you're away. It's hard to know that grandparents are getting sick and there's nothing you can do about it. You're not just twenty minutes away anymore. Try not to fret too much. Just keep in touch with them and go home every so often. Letters a great way to let them know you care. Your family understands that you wish you could be there. They know how you feel. Don't forget to call your parents and tell them you love them. -Katie

Seriously, shoot for the stars. Remember when you just went out for Cross Country, and because of your coaches, you were able to make it to state? Yeah, you can do that. Which means you can excel at pretty much anything you try. Please, don't just do things and be "good" at them. Be excellent! It's okay to be noticed. Now, as a college junior, you are on the journey of starting your own business and have mentors there to guide you. You knew there was more out there than going to class, and work, and back. So don't be afraid of going on journeys by yourself. You went to state as an individual and your family and friends were there to cheer you on. Now do everything in life that way. When you make it, they will be there to cheer you on there as well.

Dear Abbey,You’ve made it. Well, you will make it. Oshkosh is the best fit for you, trust your gut. The academics are perfectly challenging but the out of classroom opportunities are what will push you to be better. Freshman year you will produce a movie, sophomore year you will get to direct one! You’ll meet some interesting people who open your mind to new ideas. You’ll meet some horrible people, too. The good people are worth all the bad. I promise. You are smarter than some professors, but that’s okay. Allow their views to educate you. And make friends with the good ones. Always remember that whether you like them or not, most of the time they are good people and they have lots to teach you. It might not be about their subject, but it will be valuable never the less. Lastly, save your money. You’re going to need more than you planned.Love,Future Abbey

"Enjoy the remainder of your senior year," I would say to myself. Look around and thank the teachers that have gotten you this far, and enjoy the time you have with your high school friends. During your senior year, take the time to focus on how to study. As easy as it sounds, you will soon find out that you may have been ineffectively studying, or not needing to study at all. Learn how you learn and study best. The knowledge you discover about yourself may make the difference in your continued education. Also, step out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid to try something you would never have considered in high school. Be courageous and knock on your neighbors' doors- they may become your best lifelong friends. Involve yourself not only on campus, but also in the community. There are incredible opportunities that are waiting for you to discover; be brave and have the courage to branch out. I am forever grateful to have met the friends I did and become involved in everything I have involved in- thanks to a little courage to try something new and meet someone new!

I would give myself the adivce to study more in high school because studying in college is different than studing in high school. I would also tell myself to try new things in high school because in college there are many oppertunities to try new things such as new clubs or studying abroad. Another thing I would mention is to look more into scholarships and finacial aid because althought college may be fun and offer a lot of things to it students, it can be expensive at times and its important to what your money and use it wisely. I would tell myself to do not worry about the beginning of freshman year and trying to meet new friends and find everything. On the first day everyone is in the same boat trying to find their classes and meet new friends. Always make sure on the first day to meet everyone because you will never know who your best friends will be later in the future.

I would tell myself to pay more attention to the college related information sessions that are provided in high school. I decided to take a semester off, I missed my ACT test and now I'm behind a semester. I wish I would have gotten a better ACT score that would have helped me avoid taking a remedial math class. Its really important not to blow those things off, because there will be unforseen consquences that you will have to deal with later. Also, I wish I would have listened to my mom and saved more money for college so I didnt have to take college loans to pay for my tuition and housing. It really is important to apply for scholarships as well.

If I could go back and give myself advice for college while I was in high school, I would tell myself three things: one- get to know your professors, two- get involved on campus, and three- manage your free time wisely. Getting to know professors is extremely important because they are the greatest resource a college student has, and they are often the least used. Being involved in campus activities is a great way to make connections, meet new people, and get to know a new community. I joined Circle K International my freshman year, which is a volunteering organization on campus and I made lots of friends and got to know the city of Oshkosh. Lastly, managing free time wisely is important because although it is tempting to spend free time napping or relaxing, or even hanging with friends, it is beneficial to spend some of that time studying or catching up on work. In the long run, this will help any student stay ahead with their work, and could also help keep grades up with daily reviewing of class material. Knowing these three things would have been beneficial to me when I was beginning my college experience.

Be persistent! You are strong and smart! Whatever you do, try your best and do not give up! Don't be intimidated by the large campus, big town and all the people. It will be the biggest place you have ever seen. Make friends and study hard and you will do great. College may seem hard and you will feel overwhelmed and out of place. You are going to be homesick and miss your friends, Mom and Rhea. Don't quit! Know that those feelings will pass and you will succeed. Join clubs, socialize and be involved. You are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} in control of your future! College leads to so many other wonderful things in your life. You can never learn too much. Just remember that hard work, dedication and persistence always pay off in the end. You will make it. When you are my age you will look back on this time and be so proud of yourself and your accomplishments and no matter where life takes you that feeling can never be taken away. Good luck at college. I know that you will make a difference and do really great!

My advice to my younger high school self would be to make sure I have more balance between my academic, social, physical, and working life. In high school, I was serious about my academics. I am not one of those college students who can say they never studied in high school, because I did. My grades mattered to me. However, the first semester of my junior year, I quit volleyball and took my Certified Nursing Assistant course at the local technical school. After I completed that, I was hired at the county nursing home where I worked about 25 hours a week. Between studying to keep my grades up and working, I did not have much time for physical activities like working out or sports. Along wth that, I also didn't have much time to spend with my friends. My life was taken up with working to save money for college and keeping my grades up so I could get into college. If I could go back, I would make sure to cherish the high school activities that went on and would make my academic, social, physical, and working life more balanced.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice it would be simple. I would tell myself to learn study habits early. In high school it's pretty easy to not study and still pass. In college, however, you really do have to study to pass exams and quizzes. Study meaning studying throughout the section, not just the night before the exam. My Philosphy exams are all essays. Two questions, two essays, four paragraphs per essay. It's not easy to write that much without knowing the content. I wish I knew study tactics other than just making note cards. Note cards are great for studying vocabulary, but not so much for knowing deeper content. I wish that there were classes available in high school to learn how to study, instead of coming into college without having a clue.

If I could give my younger self advice about college life the advice would be not to worry. It seems like a scary monumnetal change and if you make a mistake it'll ruin your life. In actuallity everyone is trying to find their place at college and everyone makes mistakes. Be yourself and you'll find people that you hate, but you also make connections with people who you will end up changing your life for the better. I worried too much going into college;it was unneeded stress. I would just tell my youngerself to relax, not worry so much and concentrate on being yourself and the friends that will accept you for you will find you.

My advice to myself would be to concentrate, work very hard and dedicate myself to learn all I can. Demonstrate commitment to the knowledge and the learning process by presenting an excellent work ethic. Absorb all the informaion available and continue to strive to obtain as much education as possible before moving on to a career, family and life concerns. Once you've earned it, it can't be taken from you, so be proud of your achievments and maintain a standard of excellence in academic and community work. Make a sincere effort to obtain as well-rounded an education as possible, while striving for mastery in your chosen subject. Use the information you recieve to better yourself and your community. Observe the information you recieve in an objective way, and work to apply it to innovative ways to view your potential career, your life and even your leisure pusuits. Education is power, and a person who can become educated and use and apply that education to life, work and service is indeed a powerful force. Most importantly, you get from education what you put into it. Strive to take something useful from every class and experience. Learn and achieve!

I would tell myself to get involved! Yes, I joined the dance team, but that's all I did. I wish I would have been more out going and made more friends and interacted with people more. I had a bad roommate experience my freshman year of college, but I would tell my freshman self to not let that get the best of me. I would tell myself to make the most out of that situation, because eventually it will get better! Also, I wish I would have participated in more clubs, extra curriculars and intramural sports. They are great ways to meet new people and have fun at the same time. All in all, if I had the chance to talk to myself before my freshman year of college I would just tell myself to live in the moment and make the best out of every day that is given to you because you never know what could happen the following day.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is work as much as you can to be able to have money to help pay off college loans. I'd tell myself to enjoy high school while I can because even though I had more classes in high school they still don't amount to the four plus classes of homework I get in college. I also would tell myself to enjoy living with my parents and having them help out with food and clothing costs because a Ramen noodle diet can't compare to a homecooked meal. I would learn to appreciate being able to see my friends every day too because in college everyone's schedules are much more busy and it makes it difficult to be able to see friends.