Standard advice perhaps, but still very good advice

Parent Cafe
1

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/30/755801847/congratulations-youre-in-college-now-what

Highlights:

  1. Go to college on purpose.
  2. Pick your classes wisely and map out your path.
  3. Make a connection with a faculty or staff member.
  4. Go to your professors' office hours.
  5. Find a group of friends who support you.
  6. Be your own advocate — remember, you are the customer!

I think 2-3-4 are really key.

2

For those who are undecided between several different majors (or whose intended major has another admission gateway that is difficult to pass, requiring consideration of a backup major), this means choosing courses to work toward all of the majors of interest so that you will not be behind in whichever major you choose.

3

@ucbalumnus yes it can mean that, for sure. My kid made a list of required and pre-req classes for 4+ potential majors (and one pre-professional program with specific class requirements) and tried to kill as many birds with each stone, as it were, as she could, while also exploring classes of interest to her.

Fortunately there was a lot of overlap, and though she didn’t take even “intro to” her eventual major until her second year of college, she had no trouble completing her major on time. In fact, early. But she didn’t have gen-eds to reckon with - that helps.

4

This is so underutilized. I would add TA’s office hours if you have a TA. Don’t wait until right before a test. As a former TA, we loved it when undergrads would come in to ask questions. You tend to only get two types of students, the top and bottom students. Also, if you do #4, you also do #3.