Return to the College Advisor Home Page Return to the College Advisor Home Page Summertime is here and that means the welcome end of calculus and European History classes. For high school seniors, summer is also a time to savor each moment, before beginning life anew as a lowly college freshman. Certainly the last thing on your mind is contemplating which classes you’ll be taking in the fall or what mementos you should bring with you to college.
Going away to school will be one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking events of your life. For some students, adjusting to freshman life won’t be easy and for others it’ll be a walk in the park. However, if you keep in mind the following suggestions, you should find that easing into your new role as a college student will be much smoother than you had anticipated.
Packing
As a college student, be prepared to spend the next four years packing and unpacking. If nothing else, you’ll find that four years in college will teach you the fine art of suitcase management.
First and foremost, avoid packing the last 18 years of your life in hopes they will all fit in the family minivan. Sure you want to bring things to school that remind you of home, but keep in mind the more stuff you bring, the more work you and your family will face when it comes time to unload everything into your new dorm room. (Don’t forget the dreaded flights of stairs you’ll encounter! Never again will you climb as many stairs as when you’re in college.) Also consider that dorm rooms aren’t large enough to house all your most precious items, let alone those of your roommate.
The Essentials:
Nonessentials You may Want to Bring Anyway
Roommates: Friends or Foes
The idealist in all of us often approaches the notion of roommates with a bit of romanticism. You envision the two of you becoming the best of friends, sharing each other’s dreams and deepest secrets in the middle of the night while drinking herbal tea and listening to Enya. Then reality sets in: her living habits are worse than yours (and you thought you were a slob), he helps himself to your food without asking, and his/her quirky habits grate more intensely each day.
Living with a roommate takes a lot of adjusting, especially for those who’ve never before had to share space with anyone. The two most important words you should learn are respect and compromise. To exist in a harmonious and livable environment, both parties must practice mutual respect and be willing to compromise equally. Discuss with each other your likes and dislikes and establish guidelines to follow, such as who takes the first shower in the morning or how late the lights should be on at night.
In a collegiate living environment where you eat, sleep, study and party with the same group of people almost all the time, relationships can either flourish or flounder. It’s important to remember that "roommate" does not necessarily translate into "friend" and you should not feel an obligation to socialize with each other outside your dorm room. When you look back at your college years you’ll realize that your education was as much about socialization as it was about academics.
Time Management
Freshmen will soon discover that there aren’t enough hours in the day to study, practice sports, eat meals, and sleep. On occasion, you’ll sacrifice one for the other, opting to go to Thursday night’s kegger at Beta Beta Beta over studying for your Poly Sci exam.
Juggling a number of activities (academics) while maintaining your health (eating and sleeping) and sanity (partying) will take plenty of preparation and commitment on your part. Write down your schedule; you may find it helpful to write everything hour by hour. The void between classes is always a good time to run errands. Get all the less important tasks out of the way early so they don’t cut into more valuable time later in the day.
Especially during midterms and finals, students will often sacrifice a meal or a night’s rest just to squeeze in more time to cram for a test or start and finish the English paper that’s due in the morning. The last thing any student wants is to get sick in college. After all, you’re away from Mom and her miracle chicken soup. Avoid skipping meals even when you think you can’t spare a single minute, and take a nap during the one or two hour break between classes.
Studying 101
Finding the ideal time and location is key to practicing good and effective study habits. Surprisingly enough, you’ll discover that your dorm room may not be conducive to studying; hallmates like to drop by and chat, the telephone rings, and your television is within arm’s length from your desk. Your best bet is to hit your dormitory’s study lounge or the nearest library where you face fewer distractions.
Study groups offer a great alternative for students who don’t like to study alone. Study groups also allow students a forum in which to ask each other questions and discuss certain topics the professor may have briefly glossed over in class. Start your own study group if there isn’t already one by mentioning it to the class after the professor finishes his or her lecture. Study groups are especially helpful during midterms and finals when you’re faced with having to take comprehensive tests. You can rely on your fellow students to brief you on a particular subject you may have missed or misunderstood the first time. That way you won’t find yourself completely overwhelmed with reviewing a whole semester’s worth of information all by your lonesome.
Know Your Professor
Students often shy away from talking to professors, even those who keep generous office hours. These students are missing out on one of the most valuable parts of the "college experience." Approach your professors after class and introduce yourself. Ask them questions you may find uncomfortable asking in front of the class. Perhaps you disagree about something they mentioned during their lecture. Don’t be afraid to tell them, just be prepared to defend yourself intelligently.
College professors like students who take the initiative to stop by their offices. It is during these informal visits that professors can finally put a voice to the name and face. You certainly don’t want to go through four years of school without getting to know your professors, nor do you want them to recognize you only because you sat in the front row all semester. Maintaining a good relationship with your college professors also leads to favorable letters of recommendations for graduate schools or post-college employment.
Get Involved
Participating in extracurricular activities will definitely enrich your college experience because college is not just about studying and getting good grades. Get involved with intramural or club sports, college publications, a capella groups, or theater productions. You’ll meet tons of people and make good friends, however, pick and choose your activities carefully. You don’t want to run yourself scarce by committing your time to organizations that once seemed interesting but now you regret joining.
Making the Most of Freshman Year
Resources
Overwhelmed freshmen often forget there are people and services ready to help out whenever problems arise. In many cases, homesick freshmen will isolate themselves and simply wallow in their loneliness. Making frequent calls to family and friends back home and/or leaving campus to go home on weekends are sure signs you’re not dealing with the problem effectively. Instead, talk to your Residential Advisers; it’s their job to listen to and advise freshmen should such problems occur.
You also need to reach out for help if you find yourself struggling academically. First, go to the student center and inquire about obtaining help from a tutor. Seek your academic adviser for any helpful advice she can offer. Then, ask your professors for advice. Let them know of your difficulties, and assure them you’re working hard to catch up.
Commuter Students
Commuter students must work harder to get the traditional freshmen experience and not feel disconnected form the rest of their class and the college. Many just leave campus after their classes and go back to their jobs or their families; they don’t participate in campus events or meet many other students.
If you are a commuter student, try to become involved with all aspects of college. Eat in the dining hall. That way, you’ll get to know the other new students. Read the bulletin boards to find out about student activities and campus events. Use the library. It will help you concentrate on your studies, plus, it can be a popular meeting place. To make your day easier, rent a locker so you don’t have to carry everything around with you.
As you settle into your college life, keep in mind that you will form new habits, change, adapt, go out, stay in, etc. Let your conscience and good sense be your guides.
Reprinted from Solutions, Octameron Associates College Planning Newsletter. For subscription, phone: 783-836-5480