University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

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.