Suggestions for College Freshmen

Suggestions for College Freshmen (First Year) Students

• advice for freshmen

• suggestions for freshmen

• tips for freshmen

• college life

Besides excitement, Every new student must have many questions to ask about the college life. The following are a few useful tips for you.

1. Learn how to save money .

You know, buy used textbooks when you can, find out what's on special at your local watering hole, go to matinees or cheap Tuesday night movies, discover the pleasures of thrift-store-shopping, that kind of thing. You can still have a good social life on a small budget; you just have to be smart about it.

2. Learn how to use a library.

I know, you grew up with the internet and are planning on doing all your research with Google. Sorry, my friend, it doesn't work that way. And libraries are

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actually trickier than they look. It took me a good three years to fully appreciate and use what was all there. So do yourself a favor and sign up for a library orientation course -- it will be worth it.

3. Don't feel bad about taking some time to figure out who you are, where you're at, and where you want to go.

A wrong turn isn't the end of the world, nor is it the end of life.

4. Don’t chase coolness at the expense of real relationships.

It might seem like getting into the right frat/sorority and hanging out with the “cool people” is a huge deal, but realize that none of this will matter at all in four short years. The people that are concerned with social circles are insecure. They feel a need to validate themselves with an outside authority. Have the confidence to validate yourself and people will love you for it.

5. Don’t be one dimensional; it is important to find balance and avoid extremes.

There is a lot more to success than having the best grades and there is a lot more to having a great time than partying nonstop. Don’t let an obsession with either keep you from getting the most out of college. By being one dimensional, you cut yourself off from meeting people who think differently than you. If you obsess over grades, you won’t realize that there are a lot of really smart people who don’t get good grades. Success is built on more than following the

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professor’s instructions. If all you do is party, at the end of college when the party ends, you’ll see that many of your “friends” were only there for the good times, and that without stimulants you have few lasting relationships.

Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet interesting people and discover what really makes you happy.

6. Think creatively. Use academic advising well

. In partnership with your academic advisor, you will work to create an academic plan that explores all of your interests and satisfies all of your intellectual goals.

7. Get Organized. In high school , the teachers tended to lead you through all the homework and due dates.

In college, the professors post the assignments -- often for the entire semester -- and expect you to be prepared. Buy an organizer, a PDA, a big wall calendar -- whatever it takes for you to know when assignments are due.

8. Don't feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major.

It doesn't matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they're doing with their lives -- believe me, they don't -- college is the time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and

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what you want to be. It's not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.

Take responsibility for yourself and your actions.

9. Don't look to place the blame on others for your mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an adult means taking responsibility for everything that happens to you.

10. Be prepared to feel overwhelmed.

There's a lot going in your life right now. Expect to have moments where it seems a bit too much. As one student says, be prepared to feel completely unprepared. The trick is knowing that you're not the only one feeling that way.

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