University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh know before they start?

Andrea

My advice to myself as a high school senior would be to have fun, enjoy your senior year, and don't get so stressed out about school. You are striving to be the perfect 4.0 student but that just is not necessary in having a full life. It is important to do good in school but there are also lessons outside of school that you need to learn. Also, you should really be volunteering more because volunteer work is so instrumental in growing as a person. Positivity is the key to living a happy and full life. You should keep working hard so you can pay for college but money is not the most important thing in the world. Being a good daughter, friend, and Christian will always be more important than being rich. If you just start looking at things in a more positive light and stop sweating the small things, your life will get so much better. Enjoy every second of your senior year-go to all the football games and all the dances- because you will never get your senior year back!

Michael

Don't get caught up in the masses who are just going to school, getting good grades and hoping that it will all work out. You have to differentiate yourself if you truly want to be successful. Dream big. You have two circles in life, your income circle and dreams/goals circle. You have two options, shrink your dreams/goals cirlce to fit what your income is or find a way to grow your income circle to fit your dreams. Don't sacrifice your dreams and goals. You can impact the world don't let youself or anyone else tell you differently. You can have anything you want in life as long as you help enough people get what they want. The only difference between you and Bill Gates or other successfull people is thought process. Success is a skill set, learn it. Read books. Finally, your thoughts expand out into the world, whether you think you can or you can't - you're right.

Heather

Try to relax more. Save as much money as you can! Don't spend it on frivilous things, you'll need it in the future. Don't allow the extra work overwhelm you, just focus on getting it done and allow yourself to relax afterword.

Danielle

My best advice would be to take high school seriously. I was not a student who had to work hard to get good grades. When I came to college it took me more time to figure out what study habits were fit my ability to learn. I would also encourage students who are taking advanced classes to take the tests that will give them college credits, it advances you from the other incoming freshmen and will allow to schedule classes earlier than their peers. Another piece of advice would be to set goals and plans for what you wish to achieve in college: what program you are aiming for, what clubs/sports you want to be involved in, if you want to volunteer, option of studying abroad. By setting goals, it will make you more focused and able to achieve them. Also, have back-up options for majors if things change. It will save time and stress. So the moral of the story: be organized, plan ahead and set achievable goals. And be flexible with change.

Samantha

If I was allowed to go back to high school I would tell myself to not be so worried about what other people think about me. I wish I had more self-confidence. Stemming from my low self-esteem and desire to fit in I went to tanning beds. Little did I know when I was 19 I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Since my surgery I have thankfully been cancer free. I wish I could have been more comfortable and confident in my own skin instead of tanning just to fit in. I wish I would have realized the impact such decisions could make on my life. I would tell myself to be proud of who I am and confident in myself. Relying on other people’s opinions of you does not make you happy. My desire to be beautiful by tanning, to fit in, could have killed me. Sadly it took being diagnosed with melanoma at such a young age to realize this. I could have prevented myself from ever having to go through the horribleness of being told “you have cancer”.

Joshua

Instantly I could tell myself two areas in which i would improve my highschool self. First of all, I would say how much being involved in a school can open up opportunities and connections with others. In highschool I slowly decline in my involvment and chose to work. I would go back in a heart beat to be part of something bigger than myself. Next I would tell myself to take school more seriously. In Highschool I never really tried and received decent grades (3.1GPA). I came to college feeling overwhelmed by some students with how much knowledge they have gathered from High school. I beleive combining those two areas I could of been more prepared and succesful at the start of my collegiate career. I have needed to put an extreme amount of library hours and study courses to obtain my goals within my collegiate career. I started with a 2.2 GPA and each semester raised my GPA and currenlty hoping to get Deans List again in the Fall 2011 semester. Finally, having more knowledge and being highly involved has open many opportunites and leadership experiences I never could be thought possible before.

Samantha

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior would be to stick to my gut feelings. I had orginally started off as an Education major when I applied to Delaware County Community College. I ended up changing my major twice (Medical Assisant & Physical Therapy) and then finally decided to go back to Education. I would tell myself that even though the future courses and requirements seem overwhelming to stick with it. There is no sense in being in a major in which I do not feel passionate about. Sure, money is an important factor when picking a career, but I want to be happy. I will be happy being in the Education field working with students and guiding them through their school career. I love the feeling I get when I help others out. To sum everything up, when I start second guessing myself, stop and take a breath. It may be overwhelming and a little bit scary, but this is the major I was intended to be a part of.

Olivia

The advice that I would give myself is to not be afraid. Do not be afraid, and do not hold back. Experience life, make new friends, and keep yourself busy. In the long run you will be happier knowing that you spent less time worrying about insignificant things that cannot be changed anyways. Try to branch out. Be yourself and be happy. Do not ever give up on something you want. Nothing can stop you.

Bee

My advise that I would give to my high school self is that there are so much more to know than just high school knowledge. In college I learned so much yet there is still so much to know and learn and especially if I still have another 2-3 years to go. You couldn't imagine what they have. Anything you seek they have it, anything you want they have it. College is a very tremendous place to be. Though it is a lot of hardwork and a lot of studying, but it all pays off in the end. Now I know what college has to offer and teach, I regret nothing. When I first attended my first year of college as an Undergraduate student, I know I made the right choice. My advise to my high school self is, "Stare into life, and to never stop dreaming" -Bee.

alex

Stay focused on the school schedule and you will be fine. Use the library and resources available to get a better understanding of the course material. Meet with your advisor and let them know what your difficulties are and they will be glad to find you help. HAVE FUN