For college students.

Student Lounge College Life
21

<p>Here’s my advice to incoming freshman. For those wondering, I’m currently a junior in college. If anyone has any further questions, you can always send me a private message! </p>

<p>1. Don’t take too many units at once:</p>

<p>No matter how hardworking of a student you may be, don’t load yourself with classes during your first semester of college. If you’re taking more than 12 units during your first semester, you’ll struggle. You will absolutely regret it! This happens at least once to every college student (and yes, I was one of them - I tried to take 17 units during my first semester of college), and it can cost you your grades in the end. It’s definitely not fun to recover from a bad semester! </p>

<p>Regardless of having perhaps been a violin-playing virtuoso who maintained a perfect GPA, founded clubs, saved the whales, and volunteered at hospitals from freshman to senior year in high school, let yourself adjust to the college environment first, then slowly increase your workload as time goes on. There isn’t a dire need to cram in as many classes as humanly possible into your first semester. Get familiar with a college workload, and definitely leave time to get to know your campus, take advantage of its services (e.g. counseling), and meet other students. You’re in a completely new surrounding! Take your work seriously, but have fun! College is a new phase in your life. Work hard and make the most of it!</p>

<p>2. Don’t take your new freedom for granted:</p>

<p>Most of the people I know, including myself, completely took the increased amount of personal freedom we gained during our first semester of college for granted. We totally screwed ourselves over in the end! If you’re living on campus, it might be very easy to engage in activities you wouldn’t have done in high school without your parents watching your every move. Even if you’re commuting, it’s still very easy to fall into unhealthy traps and behaviors. Be very wary of what you choose to do with others and with yourself. Not everyone you meet is worthy of your time and respect; even the nicest looking people can have toxic intentions. </p>

<p>I’m not saying you should be paranoid of everyone you meet, but you should keep your morals in mind. While you do emotionally grow up a lot during college, it’s always best not to sacrifice your personal values or to engage in risky behaviors just to “fit in” or to please others. While most students to experiment during their first year of college, whether it’s with alcohol, sex and hooking up, or even academic dishonesty, some truly fall into some ugly situations while other students move on, forgive themselves, and learn from it. Don’t become the former. You can really hurt yourself and even hurt your success in the end as both a student and as an individual. Trust me, I’ve been there along with thousands of other students. Follow your gut instincts and remember to be conscious of your true intentions. Take care of yourself and your health. Besides working hard, your health is what matters most!</p>

<p>3. Talk to your professors!</p>

<p>You want to stand out from the sea of students that your professors lecture to during the day. I may not be a professor, but I’m sure it’s not easy to teach a large class in which the crowd of students begins to blur together. Yet many professors do not know the names of their students (especially in big lecture-classes, e.g. Introduction to Psychology), because the students don’t take the time to talk to them or ask them questions about their progress in the course! Getting to know your professors is crucial, especially getting to know those who teach courses that pertain to your major. </p>

<p>My advice? Go to office hours. Keep in contact with them in person, by e-mail, etc. Whether they have set hours or whether you have to schedule an appointment, talk to them regularly. Even if it’s just to chat about something you found interesting in class that day, seize the opportunities. Many professors sit in their offices during their office hours waiting for students to come by, and unfortunately, most of the time, the students don’t show up at all! Professors love students who truly appreciate their education and enjoy their classes. You never know what sort of an impact a professor will have on you. I myself have been astounded at the intelligence and dedication of many of the professors I’ve had just by seeing and talking to them outside of my classes. </p>

<p>By going to office hours and getting to know your professors one-on-one, you will feel more comfortable in a large lecture class, and feel connected to your school. Getting to know your professors also allows you to have potential references for grad school or for future internships. In today’s struggling economy, this is so valuable. It’s called networking. Take advantage of your education. You’re in college for a reason: to learn.</p>

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<p>^All good advice, except “If you’re taking more than 12 units during your first semester, you’ll struggle.” This is just blatantly false. The amount of units in which you decide to enroll for the first semester should be determined on an individual level.</p>

23

<p>I thought 15 credits was a typical courseload? (Great advice tho!!)</p>

24

<p>@augustus1 You’re right, but it just boils down to not overestimating how much work you can handle. I think a lot of incoming freshman fall into that trap.</p>

25

<ol>
<li><p>High school really never does end. I came to college expecting to be rid of all the drama and immaturity from high school, but college has just as many, if not, more immature and stupid people than my high school did. The only difference is learning to finally deal with it and accept the fact that no matter how old you are, there will always be drama over trivialities and obnoxious people you cannot stand.</p></li>
<li><p>Seek genuine friendships. It’s nice to have a big group of people to hang out or go out with all the time. But when you’re upset and lonely and far away from your parents/friends back home, you’re going to want someone you can call up and go chat over it over a cup of Starbucks. Finding friends is easy, finding REAL friends is a challenge. But once you do find them, it’s all worth it. </p></li>
<li><p>Do not go about looking for a significant other at a party when everyone is just wasted and looking to hook up. I know numerous people who have met someone at a party that they really ended up liking and it did not work out. You won’t be doomed for failure if you’re looking for someone while you’re out, but just know that a hookup probably won’t amount to much else. </p></li>
<li><p>Try to get some sleep. You will value sleep much more in college.</p></li>
</ol>

26

<p>1) Don’t go wild. You’re on your own for the first time, maybe your parents are giving you enough money for you go to out several nights a week, but don’t let it get to your head. Before you know it you’re spending more than you have, your grades are slipping, you’re practically addicted to partying. I’m not saying don’t party, but keep it in check. You’ve got your entire life to have fun, don’t blow it all on partying in college only to end up working in retail management because your GPA sucked.</p>

<p>2) Try to keep yourself occupied. You’ll find that there’s a lot of free/unscheduled time in college, much more than in high school. Do something that fills it up. Join clubs, go to the gym, anything really. </p>

<p>3) Relax. Yeah there are times where your stress will be higher because of exams and whatnot, but overall I don’t think college should be stressful. If you study something you love, meet great people and just turn the volume of life down a little, it won’t be unnecessarily stressful. There’s some payoff to being such a diligent worker, don’t get me wrong, but it also comes with its downsides. But hey at least you’ll be able to afford all the blood pressure medication and therapy with your future six figure salary :wink: And no I’m not saying “slack off.” But don’t give yourself a coronary.</p>

27

<ol>
<li>Focus on your grades.</li>
<li>Don’t do anything you would regret later.</li>
<li>Get involved on Campus.</li>
</ol>

28

<ol>
<li><p>Start out taking easy/ reasonable classes your first semester. It sucks trying to recover a bad quarter/ semester.</p></li>
<li><p>Get involved on campus so that you meet other people and enjoy yourself more.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t stay up super late every night. You’ll be really tired after the first semester if you do.</p></li>
</ol>

29

<ol>
<li>You’re going to do it anyway, but try not to procrastinate. (Unless like me you have no problem with an all nighter and then being normal the next day)</li>
<li>USE your meal plan instead of going out to eat all the time.</li>
<li>Its fine if you don’t become best friends with your roomate. You only have to be able to tolerate him/her, not love him/her.</li>
<li>If you have a problem being up early then don’t take morning classes. People do this and then complain ALL semester long.</li>
<li>Wear what you want. I’ve been to numerous colleges in Florida and from what i’ve seen people DO wear sweatpants to class.</li>
<li>when you get what’s left of your financial aid(Net/Refund check) DON’T go and blow it all at the mall the same day. Save it up and slowly spend it over the semester.</li>
<li>DO NOT buy anything from the school book store. Everything in there is overpriced.</li>
<li>As RoxSox said, know your limits. DOn’t overload yourself with courses if you’re not sure you can do them.</li>
</ol>

<p>^Posted this back in like April and I stand by it. Now that i’ve finished my freshman year and am going into my sophmore year i’d like to add 1 more thing:</p>

<ol>
<li>Get yourself out there. Don’t spend most of your time in the dorm. Go to on campus events, join a few clubs, network with the people in your classes.</li>
</ol>