Being a new college student is one of the scariest yet most exciting times of a person’s life; going off to a new school, a place where you will be treated like an adult, where you will get to meet and exchange thoughts with like minded students/professors… For many students this is the first time in their lives when they will live away from home, be responsible for their own budget etc…
Given such an immense undertaking it is understandable that many new students will make avoidable mistakes (picking the wrong meal plan, or making academic decisions based on a false sense of security…) and all things being equal I am certain that most of us, given the chance would want to go back in time and advise our younger selves against…
Well, this is your chance! The question I am asking here is simple, what is the one piece of advice that you would give to a college freshman?
Please leave your comments below and I will be sure to get them posted ASAP!
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What advice would you give to a new student?
Category: college advice
Tags: college advice, college freshmen, mentoring students, new students
12 Comments
Do not get a dorm room with your best friend; it always seems like a good idea at first, but rarely is.
I would recommend to limit your extracurricula activities to no more than 3-4 clubs or groups. Although joining clubs are a great way to meet fellow students, you do not want to overwhelm yourself with commitments to activities, especially if this is your first year in college.
Start shopping early for textbooks. The cheapest ones go first. Amazon Marketplace and Half.com are good but a price comparison site is the best way to go. Be carful of shipping and the location. Media mail can take 4 weeks if the book is coming cross country.
One piece of advice? If you are living in the dorms, bring a fan.
Other than that, READ the textbooks/chapters you are assigned for classes. It isn’t like high school where teachers go into detail during class and basically tell you what to expect on tests — most college professors only give a rough overview in class and expect you to read and learn through the textbook provided.
The most important thing a new student can do is manage their time. Many new students do not use their free time wisely. Free time should be used to create a weekly schedule, complete assignments and do to do research for each class. Students should plan how they will use their time to read class assignments and keep up. Its is important to hand in all assignments on time to earn the best grade. A student who manages their time is on his/her way to success.
Do not pick your major based on what you like to do. Pick it based on future money making potential. The thing is, if you want to be a history major, you will more than likely not make a whole lot in the future, limiting your potential retirement, travel, mates!!! Get a degree in something that pays and if you like history that much you can always do it on the side and even teach a course or two at community college! and for christ’s sake, don’t binge drink!
When you go into the bookstore to buy books, dont bring money, just your cell phone. Take pictures of all the books you need to buy, including the ISBN# on the side. Then go on ecampus, textbooksrus, http://www.wecomparebooks.com, etc and buy them there.
And binge drinking is ok, just in moderation. Think about it……
1. Consider your possible majors. Talk to faculty and current students
in that program. Do it before classes start, and if possible before committing to the school.
2. Do talk to your instructors (or TAs). This is not like high school. Going for help or discussion counts in your favor. Don’t rely entirely on formal or informal tutors.
3. If you are at all interested in STEM subjects (science,
technology/computers, engineering, mathematics), start them early. Most other majors, other than nursing, can be started late, but if you put off starting one of these for a year, you’re putting off graduation by a year.
4. Do try to form groups to do homework and talk about classwork, especially for difficult subjects.
Also, don’t put off getting your textbooks for technical subjects. Using Amazon, B&N, or other on-line book suppliers, you can wait for weeks. Don’t do it unless they guarantee quick delivery. You’ll be two months behind before you can start to catch up.
Finally, binge drink once and get it out of your system–if it doesn’t get your system out of you.
Great tips! Here are the top tips I would give students:
http://myusearchblog.com/myusearch-list-of-college-advice
but I think the most important one is:
Have fun: What other time in your life will you be around thousands of people your age and have the flexibility and free time of college? Don’t get me wrong, you need to make sure that you go to class and do what you need to do, but find some time to have fun.
Form or join study groups; these are great on a couple of levels, first you get to learn in a collaborative enironment and this will improve your study habits; secondly, this is a great way to make friends. If you do not want to join a real study geoup, or if you are shy, another great option is to join/create a study group online, a great site for virtual study groups is http://www.funnelbrain.com. Participation in study groups is one of the best predicters of success in college:
If you’re interested in going into business, study business. If you’re not, try out some other things to see what you like (even if it’s history). Sounds simple, and it is, but don’t feel compelled to lock yourself into a default career path right off the bat. Remember that the older you get, the less flexible you will become, in more ways than one!
The right thing to do is line yourself up with internships during your college years (particularly in the summer) to enhance your career prospects while taking the time to become well informed and sharpen your critical thinking skills by way of at least a less career-oriented minor or two.
Take notes in class – it will cut your study time in half. You’re already sitting in the classroom, so why not take notes? Professors usually base the bulk of their exams on their lectures, not the textbook. It was always my habit as a freshman / sophomore to re-read all the chapters before an exam since I have very good short term memory. To think how many hours I wasted on the weekend.
Tip: If you’re a fast note taker, write our the professor’s exact phrases from time to time. This will help you when you’re writing the essay component of the exam.