<p>thank you all, this is a boatload of good advice.</p>
<p>Oh, and did any of you have a personality (attitude) change from middle school to freshman year, and how were you treated for it?</p>
<p>don’t freak out and try to be confident. even if you’re shy do try to talk. if it’s really hard then try to start off with a few words per day. do small things like raise your hand in class, and go up from there. as someone who started out pretty intimidated, I learned that the best thing you can do is put yourself out there, even just a bit 
don’t try to be obnoxious or offensive to seek attention, just talk to people.</p>
<p>do get involved in clubs and ECs early. it’s a good way to meet people and get accustomed with the hs environment more quickly. it also lets you find out what ECs you actually like early on. I didn’t continue most of the ECs I started in my 1st year of hs, but I did learn about what I liked and wanted to do. don’t try to focus on colleges when starting ECs as a freshmen, just try to find what you like (and some pretty good, genuine ECs will come to you 
)</p>
<p>like someone else said, keep your GPA up. as in 4.0 up. freshmen year is definitely harder than middle school, but the teachers know that so they try to tone things done just a bit. it’s by far the most lenient year in hs so definitely do well and don’t get lazy (trust me, you’ll have plenty of time for that with the sophomore slump and senioritis…).</p>
<p>Take it slow the first couple of days and get the lay of the land. I know during my freshman year I got involved in a crowd that I thought was really cool then, but now looking back as a Senior I’m sort of embarrassed about the people I hung out with and the things I said to some people. DO NOT be a nuisance on the school bus or in the hallway, and try to keep out of upperclassmen’s way. Nobody likes the annoying freshman. And do what you think is right!! Don’t be a rat or anything, but if someone’s doing something morally wrong, don’t feel obligated to participate. High schools have so many different cliques and groups of people, there’s always someone else you can hang out with, so don’t be scared to move to a new group of friends if the ones you’re with aren’t really who you thought they were.</p>
<p>At some point during high school, chances are you’ll end up at a party. If you do decide to drink or do drugs (your decision), be aware of the consequences and HAVE A PLAN BEFOREHAND. Either make sure you have a designated driver or can stay the night wherever the party is. And realize that if you decide to participate in drinking and drugs and stuff, you have no right to ***** if you get caught, because it’s your decision. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE, YOU CANNOT BE THERE. As much as you think that nobody cares if you were there, nobody saw you, no one noticed you, people WILL talk, and if you have any leadership positions or are in any clubs or play any sports, be prepared to have to have a really uncomfortable discussion with school authorities. One of the best analogies I ever heard about it was ‘The Glass House’. I’m assuming that you’re going to be a leader in high school and be really successful kid since you’re already on this website, which means you’re looking at the future. Good for you! But if you’re going to be someone who stands out as a good person, a good leader, or a good athlete, you need to realize that people will pay attention to the things you do. If you’re at a party, people will know, and they get to decide what to do with that information. They could very easily decide to tell the school. </p>
<p>I know I’m being really redundant, but this is unbelievably important, because if you screw up and someone takes a picture of you drinking or the cops find you with a cup in your hand while they’re busting up a party you will be royally effed.</p>
<p>Good luck! Stay safe, get good grades, and realize that if you’re going to be a leader, you have to set a good example ALL THE TIME, not just at school. :)</p>
<p>Don’t wear the lanyard around your neck. </p>
<p>talk to professors, and as someone mentioned earlier, talk to sophomores and juniors. There’s much more learning that happens outside of class than inside.</p>
<p>work hard. it’s easy to let your GPA slip. making up for freshman year GPA won’t be fun. At times, you’ll be very uncomfortable. Get used to it.
Don’t sleep in class.</p>
<p>Also, as a rule, don’t be a jerk.</p>
<p>1.) Don’t slack off hw. you’ll get better grades.
2.) Don’t walk so slow in hallway. And watch those corners. I can’t even begin to describe how many time I almost ran into someone in the freshmen wing at my school.
3.) Don’t diss people. High School is tough for everyone. It is best to keep open minds and let that new kid sit at your table at lunch.
4.) Try different classes, don’t just follow general path or simply strive for all AP.
5.) It get harder sophomore year but trust me you’ll be like laser focus during your junior year.
6.) Attend a sporting event, even if you’re not much of a sport fan. No question just do it once.
7.) None of that I’m better/smarter than seniors crap. Trust me they will literally send you packing.
8.) Start looking for part time job. It a good idea and you can start making money earlier than most students.
9.) Don’t be scare to ask teachers for help and talk to principals and security guards. Trust me I was impressed to find that the security was friendly but also effective in handling situations. They’re well trained. Of course this may not be true for your school but if you think you go to a pleasant school it wouldn’t hurt to chat up some adults.
10.) Gym… Make sure that freaking lock is %100 lock. I got my clothes stolen and receive a D just for that stupid stuff. Of course this is like if your school make you buy gym clothes. Also gym teachers may offer to keep your phone for you. Take that offer. It doesn’t matter if you have a flip phone, keep it secured in that office.
11.) Don’t fall into the crowd, stand out. Cliches make school harder by creating lines and divides. Me and my friends found it better if we like make friends with everyone from group of people and it work.</p>
<p>This had been a posted from a senior ;]</p>
<p>Don’t take freshman year lightly. “Oh it’s freshman year, the public university I want to go to doesn’t look at it too heavily, time to party”</p>
<p>I think you should maintain a balance between academics, EC, and social life. That is what college likes to see. Don’t get lazy. Give everything your best effort, and it’s okay if you fail (not literally). That’s part of the process - failing to see what you did wrong and how to improve it.</p>
<p>Join clubs and be involved. Not like 10-20 clubs, more like a select 2 or 3 that you stick with throughout high school and are very active in. Join the freshman team of a sport. </p>
<p>Don’t be snobby or rude. Be chill, easy going, laid back. Make the most of your guidance counselors (if you have any questions, at all!). They’re there to help you, so go consult them for advice.</p>
<p>These tips will take you far.</p>
<h1>47: Hah I don’t think university won’t even be on most of their minds.</h1>
<p>I forgot to add- don’t be a show-off. People really hate that.</p>
<p>Be humble. No matter how great you think you are, there will be at least 1 kid at your high school–whether in your freshman class or in an older class–that’s smarter than you. There’ll be another who’s more artistic, another who’s more sociable, another who’s more athletic, etc. You want to befriend these people, not annoy them by acting like you’re something great.</p>
<p>Don’t be a tryhard; nobody likes a tryhard. At my high school, an A-, A, and A+ were all worth the same number of GPA points, meaning that getting 89.5% in a class ultimately meant the same as 110%. Unless your school calculates GPA on a 100-point scale (and if that’s the case, I’m sorry), don’t stress about not getting 100% on all your tests. In fact, don’t even stress if you don’t get A’s on everything. It’s only the final grade that counts.</p>
<p>Instead, take the extra 3 hours you would have spent studying geometry and hang out with friends. Join a club or team or two (might I recommend mock trial?) and relax. Yeah, high school’s important. Freshman year grades do carry some weight. But don’t be a tryhard. Don’t be arrogant. And please, by all means necessary, don’t be an arrogant tryhard.</p>
<p>The one thing that made my freshman year amazing: Do things completely out of your comfort zone. DON’T chicken out. Try things you would have never thought you would do before. Push the limits. And DON’T CARE about what people think. </p>
<p>I know everyone always says don’t care about other people’s thoughts. I always used to roll my eyes, until last year, when I really found out what people were talking about. Who says that you can’t be that popular kid who placed top 5 in their regional math competition? I was! Have friends from all across the board. If that cute sophomore football player invites you to the sophomore Halloween party, GO FOR IT. Stereotypical CCers always care about grades, but they’re missing out on the high school experience. You are capable of balancing it, trust me, I have. Make the most out of these four years, and make crazy memories that you’ll look back on the rest of your life.</p>
<p>1) Join some clubs. I really wish I had known about this website and asked the same questions you are when I was a freshmen. Joining 2-3 clubs and sticking with them throughout high school really helps for college. I thought most clubs were a waste of time/not fun and I’m realizing how wrong I was now.</p>
<p>2) Plan for college, but don’t obsess over it. As stated already, no one likes the know-it-all freshman who thinks he’s already in the Ivy League and smarter/richer than everyone. However, you need to “plan” for college by keeping your GPA up, joining clubs, doing some service work, and generally getting involved. Just don’t let school rule your life.</p>
<p>3) Upperclassmen can be jerks, don’t humor them. They were once your age and the same hazing/bullying happened to them. A lot of seniors stop trying during their last year so they use their extra free time to mess around and try to get the most out of the high school experience. Just remember that they’ll be gone soon enough.</p>
<p>4) Don’t suck up to anyone, but also don’t act like a frightened bunny rabbit whenever someone older than you tries to engage you in conversation. Just act normal, and don’t change yourself to fit in or shy away from people. When you’re 40, those juniors will be 42 and age differences won’t even matter.</p>
<p>5) Chill. High school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’ll go by very quickly. Have fun while your there.</p>
<p>I’m a rising senior.</p>
<p>Dont underestimate the importance of freshman. A bad gap freshman year can ruin your chances when you apply as a junior</p>
<p>oh, and try to fill in credit requirements early on. for example, if your hs requires you to take 3 arts classes, than try to take them freshmen and sophomore year, so you’ll be free to take what you want later on.</p>
<p>Do:
- Stay on top of your schoolwork. Freshman year will probably be the easiest academic year, and it will only get harder from there. Take your classes seriously and you will be fine.
- Get involved in clubs and sports. It will give you foundation to build upon for your sophomore, junior, and senior year.
- Enjoy your freshman year. High school is a time that you will never experience again. I remember being so nervous my freshman year but it turned out to be a lot of fun. The last three years have gone by in a flash and I wish I could have some of my high school time back.</p>
<p>Don’t:
- Be obnoxious and snobby. Upperclassmen don’t like it when freshmen think they are big shots.
- Stop in the middle of the hallway and block the walking paths. It’s really annoying and you will probably get yelled at a few times.
- Worry too much about college. Don’t stress about what will look good on college applications. That being said, you may want to start thinking about what you want from college and what type of college environment fits you (i.e. big, small, rural, urban, etc.). It will definitely help you out when it comes time to visit colleges and apply to them.</p>
<p>Have fun! Don’t stress out too much about college at this stage… The best thing is to do what you love, do what you’re passionate about and when the time comes to showcase your interest in college apps, you’ll have it all ready! Socially… be open to others and make friends, but don’t do things that you don’t feel comfortable with just to gain more friends. you can do it!</p>
<p>You should get out and meet people the FIRST week. If you wait, you will have a tougher time having a social life. You should also find if any ECs might interest you, keep your grades at A’s and B’s. Also, spend your summers studying for standardized tests, not the school year.</p>
<p>Become the baddest bully in your school. Then, people will fear you. Then, you will be able to cut the lines to the bathroom, lunch-lines, and assembly.</p>
<p>Clubs are great, I had just moved to the area I went to high school in 2 years before and hadn’t really established many good friendships. Clubs helped with that, especially theatre. If you think you might have ANY interest in Theatre try it out, even if you don’t think you’re a good actor. Do NOT join clubs just to impress colleges, there will be enough clubs that you are actually interested in.</p>
<p>Go to athletic events. Even if you aren’t a sports person, athletics are a major part of the social scene at most high schools, and it will help you meet people and make you feel like part of the school community. You should go to arts events too, even though there will be less people there probably. </p>
<p>The way to get your teacher to like you is not to blurt out the answer to every question or try to converse with them after every class. What you do is complete your assignments on time, and display genuine interest during class. </p>
<p>When I was a freshman, I thought going to tutoring meant you were dumb. Absolutely not true. If you struggle through a class, then try to move on to the next level of that class, it will be 10 times worse. Go to tutoring if you feel like you need it. Teachers will look positively on that as well.</p>
<p>Just study your ass off. If you go to a decent school with decent people, there isn’t a great need to go out of your way and socialize. If you have a Facebook and IM (Skype, Oovoo or whatever), you will be connected and you will have channels to make friends through. I wish I made less of an effort to be sociable and more of an effort to work hard because as a rising senior, I can definitely say that a lot of my social life fell into place quite well and without much effort on my end. Grades will obviously matter more in the long run. Hate to say it, but the friends who may be so important to you today will more likely than not become more acquaintances as you grow older. Many older people completely fall out of touch with their childhood friends because they don’t use the internet as a primary medium of communication as we do. </p>
<p>So yeah, enjoy your friends but academics really do come first. If you try to enjoy your work, you will and your high school life will be awesome.</p>
<p>someone might have already said this, but don’t think you can just coast through freshman year classes you don’t think you’ll ever need! No matter what you think you love and hate, i promise you that at least one of these will radically change by the time you graduate. i learned this the hard way, and now i’m really kicking myself for treating freshman year as a joke because i was so convinced i was going to be an actor. so what if i didn’t do my math homework? i was running lines! WRONG ATTITUDE. Use high school as a time to explore everything. You can run lines <em>and</em> do your math homework. Going out of my theatre comfort zone and taking business/math/science classes instead of just drowning myself in theatre was the best thing i could have ever done. I’m applying to college now for something completely opposite of theatre. You never know what your passion is going to be in 3 years when you’re applying to college. If there’s a research opportunity your bio teacher opens up to the class, but you’re a humanities person, ASK HER ABOUT IT. If it completely bores you, then don’t apply. But, you never know, it could spark something in you that you never knew was there. I have a friend who was all about the math, but now she’s a drum major in band <em>and</em> taking BC Calc. Just because she decided to branch out and take advantage of high school’s opportunities.
You could very well have the same interests throughout high school and already know your path/purpose. But, you can’t read the future. If there’s something you hear about that is even the slightest bit interestig to you, find out more. You could end up going down a completely different road, like me, or just add to your interests to live a broader life, like my band/math genius friend.</p>
<p>Do:
-Get involved with clubs/EC’s early. If you play sports, this is especially great for making friends with people and upperclassmen.
-Do your homework thoroughly and to the best of your ability every night.
-Pay attention in class. Ask questions when you need to.
-Coinciding with what I said above, asking questions is also good for making connections with teachers. Make good impressions with your teachers.
-Participate in class
-Maintain your social life.</p>
<p>Don’t:
-Be a try-hard. Nobody likes try-hards.
-Be cocky
-Go in over your head. Do what you can manage without going insane
-Worry about people’s approval. There will always be people who don’t like you, there’s no reason to have to try and make everybody happy
-Sweat it! Freshman year can be great as long as you work hard and always find some time for yourself</p>