Meet People. Never be afraid to meet people in those first few weeks, and never close yourself off from an introduction. Remember, the more faces you recognize, the more comfortable you’ll begin to feel at your new school. Don’t settle for the few people you may have met during freshman orientation, or the people you’ll meet sitting next to you during those first few days of classes. Be brave and always be on guard to meet a new friend. When you’re waiting in line at the bookstore that first week, to pay more for books than you ever could have imagined, strike up a conversation with the person waiting in front of you and introduce yourself. These new acquaintances, which can be countless, will be invaluable to you, so that wherever you are—in the library, the cafeteria, or freshman English class—your chances of knowing someone are worlds greater, and finding a friendly face much easier.

During your first few weeks of school, meeting new people should be your priority. One of the best pieces of advice my mother gave me before she headed back home, was to leave my dorm room door open and visit my neighbors. I remember that first day my roommate and I went up and down the hallway and introduced ourselves to the twenty-plus girls living on our floor. The next day the two of us and several of our hall-mates went to dinner together and a few of us eventually became really close friends. The door stopper my mother bought me came in really handy, and every time I was around I propped my door open, so that my neighbors felt free to come in and chat. Over the course of a few weeks, our room became a sort of “hang-out,” a gathering place for the girls on our floor. It was great—to have such good friends nearby, and available for a quick chat or to run and grab lunch together. These were the friends that I never wound up sharing a class with, and quite possibly would have never grown to know had I not taken that first step to introduce myself

Mary Christine Cirincione

Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service

Joseph Arthur Renwick Mechanical Engineering Cornell University

    If a freshman lives in the dormitories during his/her first year, the initial shock of so many new names, faces, and strangers can be overwhelming. As an inherently-introverted engineering major, I wanted to stay safe in my little room where I knew everybody...me and my high school friend. Group mixers were poorly attended, and it seemed that others shared the same attitude; the first week went by without many introductions. But after a couple weeks, people started warming up to each other and making new friends. Before long, I knew everyone in my hall, their field of study, what classes they were taking, and even made study groups for upcoming quizzes and tests. The difference between the first week and the following weeks wasn't a change in courage or my level of introversion; it was a realization that everyone was in the same boat. For the most part, nobody really knew anybody else in the dorms, and everyone felt like they were the outsider. My advice to incoming freshmen living in the dormitories is to understand that everyone is a stranger to everyone else, and the quickest way of making friends and finding study groups is some good old-fashioned self-introductions. Realize that most of your neighbors are smart, likable people, but you'll never discover this until you exchange handshakes and names.

Jeffrey Gibson Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of West Florida

    The hardest part of college was the courses that felt like they "didn't matter". I went to a liberal arts college and had to take courses like Western Civilization, Art Appreciation, and many more that I felt was a waste of time. My freshmen year I signed up for classes because of when they met. I avoided 8 a.m. courses and Friday afternoon courses. I had some pretty lousy teachers for many of my liberal art classes my first year. I dreaded them and felt like I was being cheated of a beneficial education. Once I became more aware of the professors at school, I began doing research on some of the professors. I talked with friends and got an idea of the professors I would like. We are all different learners and it is important to find professors that you can relate to. I need an energetic, discussion-filled environment, more than lecture in order for me to enjoy a class. Well I found those my professors my sophomore year and what an attitude change about liberal arts classes. I often would find out what other courses they taught. I began looking at the instruction value rather than the schedule value. I believe it is important to let the University know which professors you benefitted from the most. Find out all your options before clicking on a course. The professor can totally change your ideas about the subject and can have an exponential benefit to you. You are paying a lot for this education, don't waste that money on courses like I did writing out the fifty states in alphabetical order to pass time. Find people who have taken the courses and hear what they have to say about the class. Doing your research may sound like a lot of work, but trust me, you'll be thankful the week before the final when you feel confident about your knowledge.

David John Pietzman

Masters, Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning

Harding University

    One of the greatest keys to academic success is learning to study while living in a dorm situation. Dorms can be very distracting. There are so many things to do, friends to talk to and laziness to be had. Still learning to isolate time to study will help greatly you’re your classes. The best way to do this is to separate the space where you live from the space where you study. Since the dorm room is where you watch TV, relax and basically do anything except study, it can be very hard to focus there. The best way to avoid the distractions is to leave them. Find somewhere away from your dorm room to study. The library, a shady place in the grass to lay and read, or a quite table at a coffee house are all examples of places to go and study. Finding a separate space to study can help you focus while you are there and feel more compelled to use your time efficiently. In addition once your studying is complete, your can more fully enjoy the laziness in your dorm room!!!

Jessica Lynn Taylor Master of Arts in World History East Tennessee State University

Personal Freedom in High School vs. Personal Freedom in College - advice for undergraduates in making the transition

For most students of the public school system, high school is mandatory and free (unless you attended a private school or alternative school system). Realize that college is voluntary and expensive. Not everyone gets to attend college, so realize the privilege you have of this opportunity and save adequately for your expenses.

In high school, your time is usually structured by other people (faculty, counselors, coaches, parents/guardians, and principles). In college, you manage your own time. The farther you go, the more independent you become and this independence takes getting used to. Do not be embarrassed if you struggle with time management throughout your career, but be willing to recognize the problem and make the necessary corrections through mentors, tutors, counselors, workshops, and courses designed to help you on your time management skills.

Participating in extracurricular activities in high school usually require consent by not only you but your parents/guardians and teachers. In college, you must decide regularly whether or not to participate in extracurricular activities. Remember that a college education is more than just studying really hard. It requires social networking, learning experiences, opportunities for service, etc. To be able to have these additional opportunities you need to meet socially with people you are like you. People that take their academics seriously but also enjoy the times to play. Every brain needs a break occasionally. Use you extracurricular activities in the following manner: to establish an emotional support system for your studies, to develop the leadership characteristics necessary to pair with your intellectual capacities, to discover professional, service, and academic opportunities, and to provide the stress relief needed during your career.
In high school, you needed money usually only for special events and occasional purchases. (If you were one of those students who worked during your high school career for any reason while balancing your studies, give yourself a pat on the back!) In college, you need money to meet basic necessities: food, clothing, shelter, books, transportation, etc. Manage your money wisely! To cut food costs: keep a stash of low-budget healthy study snacks in your room, cook meals together with friends to cut down on costs, and take advantage of campus events with free food. To cut academic costs: buy books at the best price, apply for every scholarship you are eligible for, collect free supplies when they are available as give-aways such as pens, highlighters, and paper. To cut transportation costs: walk or bike, carpool, or take public transportation, use student discounts for airfare, and go home only when necessary.

During your high school years you can count parents/guardians and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and guide you in setting your priorities. But in college, you must balance your responsibilities personally and set your own priorities. Keep in mind that paired with this new found freedom comes the introduction to moral dilemmas and ethical decisions you have not had to face previously. There are people available to help you, but you must initiate the communication. The guiding principle in high school was that you were usually told what to do and corrected if your behavior was out of line. There is a new guiding principle in college: you are old enough to take responsibility for what you do and don’t do and to face the good or bad consequences as a result.

College is exciting and challenging. Enjoy the experience as a unique opportunity not afforded to most people in the world. Feel fortunate, do your very best, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and enjoy the rewards of your labors.

Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma

College Classes vs. High School Classes:

Each day in high school you proceed directly from one class to another. In college, you often have hours between classes with class times varying throughout the day and evening. Realize that the afternoon classes fill the most quickly. Recognize if you are a “morning person,” an “afternoon person,” or an “evening person.” Some people can easily be sharp and alert at given times of the day, while others really struggle or get sleepy. If you love your afternoon nap, then maybe take more classes at night after you’ve rested. Choosing the right times to be in class and study is half the battle of college. Register/enroll for classes as early as possible to get the best selection of times/offerings. Make schedules in advance well before your enrollment period begins. In high school your courses were selected for you for most of your career, while in college, you get to choose more of your courses in consultation with an academic counselor.

Beware of the temptation to take 3-4 heavy courses together at once. I would not combine sciences, mathematics, engineering, English, social sciences, accounting, and history in the same semester as you may have done in high school with 7-10 periods throughout the year. Also, do not be fooled by art, music, dance, and theater classes as being “easy.” Some can be as equally demanding as any other course and may require a different sort of commitment to physical work/exertion, memorization of classical periods/lines of a script/choreography, a keen eye and refined ear toward details of a given artistic piece.

In high school you spent on average of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week in class. That’s a 30 hour week. In college, you spend only 12-16 hours in class. You use the remaining time to study. I never believed my counselors who gave me the “rule of thumb” that every credit-hour spent in class should also be spent in an hour of study time during the week, but it is true, especially if you want to keep your GPA high. When you enroll, schedules tend to look lighter than they really are. Do the work continuously, avoid cramming because it is exhausting and not as productive, and schedule review sessions throughout the semester. Know what is needed to be turned in, read, or worked upon each week of the semester and spread out the work to avoid being overwhelmed by 3-5 papers at once.

In the public school system, high school classes generally span over 36 weeks out of the 52 week year (giving you the summer off). In college, the academic is generally fall and spring semester lasting 16 weeks long including your final exam week. (See, you already are dealing with the “schedule cramming” of colleges. Why pile “study cramming” on top of that? Avoid this type of stress!)

Teachers in high school generally take attendance, as you are usually compelled by state law to be there. In college, professors generally do not take roll; you don’t have to be there. You pay for the right and opportunity to be there. What you do with the right is up to you. Despite not taking roll, professors are also still likely to know if you attended class that day. They know who the “regulars” are and who is invested in the class. Be the invested student. Classes in high school are generally small with less than 35 students, while classes in college can average 60 – 600 students in a lecture hall. (Now you can see why attendance wouldn’t be taken for 600 people…you would use up too much class time doing so.)

In high school you are guided through the graduation process. In college, you are expected to know what it takes to get your degree. Accomplishing this is on your initiative. Graduation requirements are complex and different majors can makes changes over the years to degree plans and requirements. Get a copy of the academic catalog and read it cover to cover! This is the “rulebook” colleges must play by and it is amended only every few years in most institutions. It allows for institutionally uniformity and fairness to students. Reading the “rulebook” sounds nerdy and time-consuming, I know, but it will do many things for you: 1) prevent you from missing an opportunity to get classes to double-count (in your major and as a general education curriculum requirements), 2) allow you to avoid missed requirements, 3) get an understanding of the transfer credit and residency requirements if you changed institutions, 4) GPA thresholds for academic honors, 5) grading rules for incomplete and repeated courses (you cannot prevent unexpected interruptions in your career, but you can know how to handle a disrupted degree if something should happen to you or a family member), and 6) requirements for entrance into a college/school or major.

Arm yourself with knowledge of these rules and differences. Knowledge is power!

Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma

Speaking the language: “College vs. University?,” “Department vs. Major vs. School?,” “Professor vs. Dr.?,”

Sometimes half the battle of keeping yourself organized is knowing the environment you’ve entered a bit better. This helped me to organize my ideas about what my academic career was about. It also helped me feel a part of something bigger than myself. This can feel very magnificent and rewarding. Help yourself understand the “language and culture of higher education.” Here are a few lessons:

Universities are like universes! They are universal in being an institution that provides a large variety of areas and units of study, usually containing several colleges. My university for example contains a College of Business, College of Law, College of Art, etc. Colleges are like collages, combining several smaller departments together who are similar to each other. Realize that many colleges see themselves as quite independent from the “mother university” with their own goals and rankings. Most universities tend to house their “liberal arts” areas together. But this can vary according to the mission and resources of the institution.

Liberal arts contain the classical educational curriculum, much of which you’ve previously studies at some level. College allows you to take these areas to a richer, deeper level, exploring what hasn’t been explored. Usually subjects such as Humanities, Physical/Life Sciences, and Social Sciences are contained in a liberal arts college. Humanities are an analytical/critical study of the human condition containing departments of Languages (Spanish, Latin, German, etc.), Rhetoric/Letters (English, Classics, Literature, Religion, History, and Philosophy). Physical/Life Sciences are primarily used to explore and measure the physical world we inhabit and its properties. Those departments include: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Medicine, Pharmacology, Meteorology, Geology, Mathematics, Statistics, etc. Social Sciences are concerned with the social lives/behavior of individuals and groups. Social Sciences are often included in liberal arts colleges as well such as: Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Communications, Political Science, Geography, Cultural/Ethnic Studies, etc.

Of course there are more colleges including engineering, journalism, law, art, dance, education, dentistry, medicine, nursing, computer science/technology, etc.

Think of your studies as a hierarchy:

You take a CLASS as part of CURRICULUM within an ACADEMIC DEGREE PLAN for a MAJOR OF STUDY housed within an ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT as part of a COLLEGE/SCHOOL within a UNIVERSITY. A detailed example would include: a student taking Introduction to Sociology to satisfy the requirements of her curriculum of courses required for her sociology major within her department of sociology as a part of a college of humanities and sciences, within her university.

Now onto the more interpersonal parts of academic life: what to call your faculty members. Different faculty require different credentials to be able to teach and conduct research within a college or university. Yes, it is true they are all professors, but not all of them are doctors. Check the syllabus to see how they identify their academic credentials and what titles they use. Some of your professors will be graduate students who have not finished their graduate master’s or doctoral degrees yet. While I’m sure they will be flattered by the title of “Dr.” they haven’t earned this title yet. Use “Prof.” for them.

Of course, in graduate school, especially if you are going into academic work as a professor one day yourself, it is expected that you greet your faculty members by their first name. You are among their academic peers and colleagues now. It’s weird to think that you are approaching their level of intellectual abilities, but you are! Peers call each other by their first names and you are entering a community of peers. It takes some getting used to, but this will prove your confidence in yourself as a graduate student and future faculty member.

Tiffany Sanford Jenson PhD, Sociology University of Oklahoma

A Note on Dorms

    My freshman year, I got randomly placed in The Social Dorm. Upon hearing of this, I was initially overjoyed, because all I thought was, "The Dorm Without Private Bathrooms, Meaning I Don't Have To Clean a Toilet." Well, I suppose every silver lining has a cloud... "Social" was the euphemism I would hear many times that year, most noted in the spring, when I had been living there for almost a full academic year and high school juniors were being led around on campus tours. "And to your left you'll see our most SOCIAL freshman dorm!" I was tempted to stick my head out my window and yell back a response something along the lines of, "I strongly feel that a more truthful adjective could be found to replace yours!" Except I would have narrowed that down to one word which I would not want to shout to the parents of the prospective students. Though my bitterness may have stemmed more from the tour guide waking me up every Saturday afternoon than from actual dorm hatred. But to be honest, I did experience many different instances of "social" that year.

    The range and variety were endless. I can offer up a handful of examples, but it would only be scraping the op of the Petri dish. There was, usually between the hours of 2am and 4am, weekday or weekend, "EEEIEIEIIEIEIEIEIEIIE!!!!! giggle giggle EIEEEEEIEIIIEEEE!!!!" amplified by the echo provided by long hallways, a la prison. There was loud, pulsing music played at all hours, in total disregard for the never-enforced quiet hours, and I considered it to be a good day when the music was not in the form of drunken karaoke (a surprisingly common occurrence). Even when my dormmates were sober, they were piled into too-small rooms, laughing and blasting music or TVs, and generally using their rooms for the opposite of what I used mine for- avoiding people who went out every night and then piled into your room to giggle.

    Now, I liked to socialize, but compared to my floormates, I was the hermit on the mountain. The initial awkwardness of the first weeks of college, where you are bound to any and every other freshman by your common desire to not seem like the token leper, taught me that I had nothing in common with all but about 2 people on a floor of approximately 200. I had made every effort. I had initially piled into rooms and struck up conversations and went to meals with people I didn't know, and the more I spent time with them... well, the less I wanted to spend time with them. I used my room for study and sleep and not much else.

    My roommate left halfway through the year, and I had my own room. It was magical. I could socialize as much as I wanted to outside my dorm, but once I came back to my room, I could relax, recover, and write that 15-page research paper without interruption. There was just one fly in the ointment- I began to feel guilty that I was spending so much time behind a closed door, studying by myself, when it seemed like everyone around me was constantly making friends, connections, and being a normal, well-adjusted college student. I knew I was exaggerating. I knew that, at any given moment, others were toiling away in silence like I was. But toiling away in silence does not, by its very nature, call much attention to itself, so it went unnoticed. Whereas the group of girls trying to piece together what they did last night was VERY hard to miss.

    You may wonder who I would feel guilty to, and I suppose that was myself. I thought that I was limiting myself by not practicing social skills that may be more important in the real world than the book learning I was doing instead. This was something I had always struggled with- getting enough of a balance of social and academic training. My resolution was this- I should not feel forced to interact with people. If I simply "didn't click with them" (or secretly wished they'd all drop out and leave...), why force myself to suffer? When I was feeling like the world around me was getting ready to party, I would leave my room and find places where I was surrounded by other solitary studiers, like the library or a bookstore. This stopped my anxiety that I was missing out on something, and reassured me that there were, in fact, others who studied and stayed in during the week. And the amazing friends I met- NOT in my dorm- allowed me a more positive social experience.

Isabella Maria Janusz International Relations Georgetown University

    I think most entering freshman are concerned about their roommate and housing situation. Going random or potluck makes this worry especially daunting. After a few days of living with my roommate, who began as a complete stranger, I started to realize that everything was working out better than I had imagined. Of course, little things she did bothered me every now and then, as with anyone that you're living with. But, I think the most important key in having a successful housing experience is being understanding and easy-going. You have to acknowledge that both you and your roommate will do things that bother each other at some point. The crucial part is not letting tiny annoyances get in the way of what could become a very lasting friendship and bond.

Alexandra Ernst

Biology, Philosophy

Vanderbilt University

I think it is really important for all students to keep their heads straight in their freshman year.

There will be some “cool” kids in any environment your will be in, that are always partying and bragging about how wasted they were at the awesome party they have hosted a night before their final exam, and they are still drunk….etc… (You get the picture)

You always have to remember that those people usually end up with bad grades, re-taking classes, or the worst, dropping out the college, hence wasting thousands of dollars for nothing instead of the quality education which could have lead them to a great job (and hopefully a great life thereafter.)

No matter how people around you make fun of you for studying hard for your exams when they are partying, or calling you a geek for keeping your 4.00GPA, you have to remember that your hard work DOES pay off at the end. (Believe me!!) And there always be some “Really cool” students that are as dedicated as you are, and are glad to be study buddies of yours.

So, surround yourself with right crowd (you will have fun with them, just not “I was wasted and did something stupid and got kicked out the college” fun) and study hard because it will pay of at the end!

Hitomi Abe

Masters, Mathematics

Drake University

    If you get the chance, apply early admission (different from Early Decision). With early admission, you have at least 2 chances to get in to the university you are applying to. If you find that you have been deferred from the early application pool, my suggestion is to keep your profile active. What I mean by this is that you should sign up to take the SAT II in (a) topic(s) that you feel well versed in. For example, I am bilingual and am a math/science brain, so when I found out that I had originally been deferred from my school of choice, I signed up for the Spanish, math II, and biology SAT II's. scoring well on these really helped me out because I ended up getting in during the second round of the application pools! If you have already taken SAT II's, the SAT, and/or the ACT, try and get new recommendation letters from teachers, your guidance counselors, a coach, or an alumni of the university. You can also update your profile by emailing a counselor/ Dean of the university and updating them about recent achievements that you've accomplished, or by merely conversing with them and asking if there's anything else you can do to better your chances of being approved for admission. This way, you'll stay fresh in their minds. Don't get too overbearing in the information you send, but definitely be sure to let them know of your continuing high interest in the school.

    When you get to college, don't let anyone tell you that you aren't capable of doing something. You are bound to hear the Dean, a counselor, or a professor tell you that although you were used to getting good grades in high school, "college is a completely different ballpark." It is true that college is different from high school- you have to really take self-responsibility in order to succeed. But if you were a hard-working determined, goal-oriented student in high school, chances are you'll continue to set similar goals for yourself in college. It is more difficult to get the 4.0 you may be used to, but being successful in your classes is definitely achievable. The most important thing to do is to introduce yourself to all of your professors and to take advantage of office hours. That is what saved me in my biology class. In college, many professors grade on a curve, and if they see that you're a hard worker and that you make an effort to maintain open lines of communication with them, you'll have a much better chance of doing well in their class; it separates the A's from B's and the B's from C's. (A professor will be much more inclined to bump you up to an A from an 88 if he/she knows you and recognizes your name than if you're just another faceless student in his/her class). So don't get discouraged- as clichéd as it may sound, if you believe you are capable and truly apply yourself you can accomplish almost anything.

Paola Annoni Biology Georgetown University

    You will learn that college is very different from your high school career. For me, I thought high school was a breeze with absolutely no curve balls. College was different and difficult. Throughout college, I've learned that attitude is everything. When professors start piling work upon work or when you're pulled by organizations and friends, you start to be spread too thin and feeling as if you're not completely committed to any on thing. On the other hand, you might be the type of person to devote yourself to just one activity whether its studying or committing yourself to an organization. Either way, you'll start to feel like something is missing whether its your devotion, social life or whatever else. Dwight L. Moody once said "Character is what you are in the dark". In these times, your character will be developing and although you may feel stressed and drained, take these times as learning opportunities. Try to keep a positive attitudes in these times of lows and know that something better will be waiting for you at the other end whether that's a lesson learned or even an award.

Hannah Lee

Carnegie Mellon University

    When I first arrived at Cornell as a freshman, I didn't know many people and wasn't very sure what extracurricular activities the university had to offer. However, no freshman at any university should be discouraged by feeling like a "small fish in a big pond" because, although it may seem a bit cliché, there is in fact something at every college to spark everyone's interests. After a few weeks, I discovered that college students have a wide variety of interests; all that was left for me to do was to choose which club, group, or team I wanted to be a part of. This can be a somewhat difficult decision because there are so many to choose from.

    My best advice for choosing a club, group or team to be a part of is to think about what interested you in high school. For me, I found that many of the things I liked to do in high school are still some of my favorite things to do in college. However, it is very important to expand your horizons and look to try something new as well. It is a great idea to join clubs or try new sports that your high school may not have offered, such as ultimate Frisbee or Tae Kwon Do.  

    One of the worst mistakes a college student can make is not to get involved in any fun activities outside of the classroom. A college student's class and exam schedule can be very stressful and hectic; perhaps the best way to lower stress levels and enjoy your time at school is to take part in extracurricular activities. Pick something you like, try something new, or form an entirely new club with your friends. Doing so will lead to making new friends and also make college life much more enjoyable.

Ryan T. Standifer

Cornell University

Preparing for your first year

Your first year in college can be intimidating. High school and college are two totally different animals. As a freshman in college, your fears, anticipations and assumptions can get the best of you. However, talk to a sophomore. They strut around campus like they own the place. Why? The second year is always easier because you realize college can be a pretty cool place. All your fears, anticipations and assumptions have been tamed by your first year of experience. To make your first year less stressful, here are a few things you can do in preparation.

1. Register for classes early. This sounds pretty simple, however, many fail to do this and get stuck with classes they don’t really want.
2. Meet with your faculty advisor. Ask questions… even if a question sounds silly. Would you rather ask a silly question and be relieved of the stress of not knowing, or continue bearing the anxiety associated with the unknown?
3. Get your books early. Rent or buy them used if possible.
4. Know where you are going and how to get there. A campus can be a very intimidating place. But if you have a good idea of where you are going, your first day will be a lot less stressful.
5. Attend a college orientation. This experience can provide you with so much valuable information and give you confidence for tackling college.
6. Prepare for your first day. Get a good night’s sleep the night before, a good breakfast in the morning and have all books, notebooks, pens, etc. ready for your classes.
7. Make friends. Be nice to people. A lot of people you encounter on your first day are sharing this experience with you. It’s their first day too. You will tend to stick together, relieved to know that you’re not the only one who can’t find the “Polsky building.”
8. Ask questions. If you have a question, chances are someone else does too. If you ask it, you just might be your classmates’ hero.
9. Don’t sweat it! Remember, next year you will be the sophomore strutting around campus like you own the place!
 

Carissa K. Goodlet Master of Educational Administration Youngstown State University

To all students, in particular to incoming college freshman, below you'll find some tips that I wish I'd had before beginning my freshman year at Georgetown University

1) Its OK to be scared - in fact, it's good to be scared. You're about to embark upon an incredible journey that will once be looked upon as "the time of your life." You're going to feel out of your 'comfort zone' more than once, especially at the beginning - that's good! Take chances, do things you wouldn't normally do, have fun! However, always remember to stay true to yourself.

2) Don't procrastinate. While in high school, you may have gotten away with cramming the night before an exam, it's a little different in college. Exams tend to occur less frequently (hence, are full of more information) and constitute a very significant portion of your final grade. If you wait until the last minute to study, you'll be pulling all nighters.

3) At the same time, don't get too far ahead. While it's fantastic to be well organized (organization is going to save you) and work ahead, keep in mind that while most professors give out syllabi, few stick to it perfectly. Flexibility is key, and if you try to do too much work in advance, you may just be making extra work for yourself.

4) Organize. Everything. Make schedules for yourself - you're in charge now and no one will be there to remind you of your commitments. I'm a huge advocate of making lists; if I don't write something down, chances are I'll forget to do it. Plus, crossing a task off of a list is very refreshing! On another note, organize your things. Living in a dorm can be cramped - think about what you bring with you and choose the more compact options. Make the most of the space you have - think about under-the-bed storage, etc.

5) Choosing a roommate. First of all, I highly recommend having a roommate your first year in college. However, when filling out your 'roommate selection questionnaire', there are a few things that I'd recommend keeping in mind. First of all, your roommate does not have to be your best friend. While it's very important that the two of you get along, can communicate well and respect each other, it's not so important that you spend all your time with this person. So when filling out your questionnaire, don't concentrate entirely on finding a person who likes to do the same things you like to do, but rather on finding someone who lives the same way you do. For example - what temperature does he or she like to keep the room? what time does he or she go to sleep on a typical weeknight? what kind of music does he or she listen to? While these things may seem trivial, it's the little things that seem to cause the greatest problems.

6) Finally, and in my opinion, the greatest piece of advice that I can give, take a seminar class. I was fortunate enough to have this experience my freshman year and it was fantastic. Some of your classes in college are going to have hundreds of students in them - not exactly the optimal situation for one-on-one interaction with the professor. Seminar classes are typically smaller and discussion based. You'll get to know your professor very well, as well as become great friends with your classmates. Seminars are also great places for you to practice 'getting out of your comfort zone' as they force you to speak up in class.

I hope this helps, and good luck! These next few years are going to fly by, so make the most of it!

Christina Maria Belsito

Georgetown University

I know freshman year may seem a bit intimidating at first. Learning a new place or just the fact of figuring out which school to attend can seem overwhelming. It’s as if starting “fresh” out of high school & need to start things new. Keep in mind what might be good for you in the case of if you want to start slow at a junior college for the first two years or begin straight out at a four year university. I for one started out at a two year college receiving my Associates degree allowing myself to begin to get the initial feel of college life & discover what area of study I found the most interest in. Then I finished my last two years at the university for my BBA knowing I felt completely comfortable with the path I had chosen. Whichever routes you decide to take do not be afraid to explore all opportunities college life as to offer. If one area of study seems to be something you do not quite feel comfortable doing, try to take a few elective courses with some variety that might interest you better. You need to discover what you enjoy doing now instead of two or three years down the road & realize you don’t feel satisfied.

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Find the road you want to take & travel it!

Rest, relax, & remember to take one day at a time!

Energize your mind through practice & determination!

See friends & family everyday, they help you thru all the trials & tribulations!

Help those around you, they will return the favor when you need it most!

Make plans for the future & be prepared for all to come!

After freshman year is over you are one step closer to your destination!

Never, ever give up, it only gets better!

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Keep these fun & helpful tips in mind for a first & great FRESHMAN year!!

Good luck!!

Natalie Kay Webb

McKendree University