Four former Palo Alto Communications majors now at the University of Texas at Austin have survived the transition and are eager to offer advice to those who want to follow in their footsteps.

Celena Flores, Lauren Cevallos, Dennis Weaver and Dustin Mitchell each offered their insights into what it takes to be a UT student.

As far as advice, they all seemed to be on the same page. “Start the semester strong and stay strong,” said Lauren Cevallos.

Another great piece of advice is to “read, read, read,” said Celena Flores. “Balance your school work, and you’ll get time for your social life.”

Dustin Mitchell said, “The classes are pretty in-depth, and some are much more demanding than the classes taught at Palo Alto, but if you’ve had any of Dr. Richter’s classes, then I’m sure you’ll be OK.”

According to Dennis Weaver, we have much to learn about the survival skills needed for a big university. He said organization is the key point.

“You are going to need to raise up your work ethic, have great organization skills, pull long hours and most importantly, do not procrastinate,” said Weaver.

Life on campus is a whirlwind of different people and activities, Weaver continued. “It was easy to stand out at Palo Alto because of the family size, unlike here at UT where there are 50,000 undergraduates,” he said.

Austin, Texas, is a unique city with an open-minded culture about life, so it can be a surprise to someone arriving in Austin for the first time, according to Flores. “The culture here is so different. It’s more open to different ideas and everyone just accepts a free mind more than any other place I’ve been,” she said.

The other students have a different perspective on Austin, but they are still enjoying their time on campus. “People in Austin are weird. San Antonio is cool. There are many hippies and hobos, but overall my experience is good,” Weaver said.

Mitchell said, “All in all, things are great here, but I’m still missing Palo Alto.” No matter how far you have come to achieving your dreams, home will always have a special place in your heart is what it seems.

As far as the UT campus, a couple of the students said it was overwhelming at first. “When you get here, don’t get wrapped up in all the new faces and all there is to do. Balance your school work, and you’ll get time for your social life,” Flores said.

Mitchell said, “The campus was pretty overwhelming at first, but just like anything else, you get used to it. I was able to find my way around pretty good after about a week or so.”

Many of the first fears of being at a big university involve the fear of being unprepared, but according to our peers, we are not alone. “There are no breathers and everything comes quick,” said Weaver. “Expect to be doing projects every other day and quizzes every day.”

Cevallos said you need to stay grounded. “It’s easy to let intimidation hinder your success, but the best defense is to maintain a good sense of who you are and your potential,” she said.

The positive side of it all is how amazing it can be after all of the stress has disappeared. “What can I say but it is great, awesome, spectacular! And do not forget hard. This school is a pusher! Late nights and hours of studying and reading,” said Flores.

Cevallos has made time for University Democrats, Texas Student Television show “Austin Underground,” Public Relations Student Society of America and Tower Public Relations. Weaver is involved in the youth group “Hope, Student, Life.”

The one thing all the students have in common is how much they miss Palo Alto.

“I really miss the atmosphere, and the people were cool,” said Mitchell. Flores said, “I miss the leisure of PAC and the teachers.” Cevallos misses having an impact on Palo Alto. “I could make a significant difference on campus,” she said. Weaver really enjoyed Palo Alto’s close-knit classes. “I miss the family size of the classes and the population,” he said.

Though they are missing Palo Alto, these students are aware that they are on the right path, and they are thankful for the sturdy foundation they received at Palo Alto.