When I started college as a freshman, I noticed that so many people on campus always seemed so confident in what they were doing. No one ever seemed like they didn't know what they were doing, yet, as time went by, I started to realize that many students act like they have it all together simply because they want to blend in with everyone else. But when you go to Facebook group pages, you see that they really are just as clueless as you are!
I have to admit, I was a bit cocky about being a college student at first. I did what I had to do and made sure I was organized and using all the helpful links out there but there were pieces of advice I had heard here and there that I decided to not take seriously because I wanted to feel like I knew what I was doing and I was doing just fine on my own.
However, looking back, I really wish someone had really stressed the importance of the following 5 tips for college students. Not only would it have helped so much, but it also would have saved me so much time.
1. See your counselor AND advisor every single semester!
If possible, try to see them before the semester starts when you are choosing your classes, or after but before the schedule adjustment deadline.
Don't be afraid to ask them as much as you possibly can and ask for their advice and opinions on your academic plans or on what specific courses to take.
You can even ask them questions about financial aid, how to handle stress, where to go for extra help, and how to balance your time with full-time school and a part-time job.
These guys always seem to know about the most useful sites for students, too. They can pull them up with a swift touch of a button (aka Google search) and your life is suddenly so much easier. I once had issues finding the class schedule availability online for a community college I needed to take a class at and my counselor was able to pull it up within seconds. I had even Googled a very similar search that they typed in, with maybe two words switched around, and they were brought directly to it!
I cannot stress it enough how important this tip is, which is why it is No. 1. I once took a course for nothing because I did not realize it was not required for my major (in my defense, the Degree Evaluation sheet can be somewhat confusing and unclear at times). Unfortunately, this semester I did not go in to see my counselor until the middle of the semester when it was much too late to drop the class, so I basically took it for nothing. (Well, not really for nothing because it was a very interesting and informative class that I can happily say I learned a lot of valuable and wise information from.) So, moral of the story here is, always double check your course schedule with your counselor well before the add/drop deadline.
Also, make sure you see your advisor about any major-related issues you may have as they would obviously be the only ones who can answer some of these questions for you. It is also good to build relationships with them as they can help you with more than just academic success, but also career choices, tips and steps.
2. Pick a major and stick with it.
Don't change your major unless you are 100% sure and you have looked into it enough. By that, I mean you should do your research on the classes you'll need to take and consider whether they are of interest to you. Also consider whether or not you are more passionate about that major than your current major, and think of the types of jobs or career paths you could take with that major versus your current major to evaluate whether or not it will take you down a road you want to be on.
3. Your professor makes a HUGE difference, so do your research, go to class, do the work and show that you care.
Since you're paying so much for tuition, you might as well get the most of your college experience by trying your best to get the top-notch professors. Quality professors can really enhance your college life.
A professor that didn't seem to really care about his students really affected me in a negative way. If they didn't care to help me learn or pass, I suddenly didn't care. I didn't care about their class, or about them. I would still try to do the work to my best ability, but I would resent it the entire time which would hinder the learning process. When you truly enjoy learning about something, you become more engaged, more active and more focused. You remember things better because it was information that you enjoyed learning about. It can be the most boring or confusing material, but a good professor could make teaching and learning it fun by just being engaged with his students and interested in their well-being.
Make sure you use sites like RateMyProfessor.com. The site allows you to review professors you've taken, similar to Yelp. It provides ratings and reviews of schools and professors. There is always plenty of useful information about the classes, the coursework, requirements and warnings, such as whether or not the professor allows laptops, or if it is mandatory for you to purchase the $100 book. (Quick side note: most professors are understanding that college students are not always financially equipped to afford the pricey, most updated versions of the required texts, so make sure you ask them, politely and professionally and in person, if it would be possible for you to find any of the texts online or maybe borrow theirs. Chances are, they will try to work with you because you took the time to ask them rather than assume or just not bother to buy them at all).
And if you have no other choice but to take that 1.9-rated proffessor, make the best of it! Don't let them stand in the way of your success. Go to office hours. Do the work. Show up to class on time. Do everything you would do with any other class, except with this class, make sure this professor KNOWS you are dedicated. Talk to them, get to know them. I've seen even the crankiest of professors light up when their favorite student came in to see them during office hours.
4. Take advantage of Study Abroad as a freshman/sophomore.
Seriously. Even if you hate traveling or get homesick easily, just do it. You might regret it if you don't and it's always good to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Most Study Abroad programs offer general ed courses so it is highly unlikely that you'll be able to do upper-division courses overseas. So, you might as well save yourself some time and go on a summer trip to Italy while you take your General Studies of Aids course to complete a general ed requirement.
The same goes to applying for scholarships! There are some scholarships that are awarded to juniors and seniors, but your chances are so much higher if you apply as a Freshman or Sophomore. And always remember to write a kick ass essay! That will always be key.
Don't sleep on these opportunities because I can promise you it will be much cheaper to Study Abroad than to try to find the time and funds to go after college. Especially since you will most likely be moving on to a full-time career that will only offer a certain amount of vacation time. Some Study Abroad programs can last up to a month!
5. Join academic clubs.
Preferably ones related to your field. You will not only be able to meet other people with similar interests or majors, but you will also be given opportunities to network yourself and develop skills that you can apply to your academic or everyday life. Also, don't forget to list the club(s) on your resume if it or they are related to the job you're applying for!
Also, stay in the loop of what's going on at ur school (events, activities, freebies) and ALWAYS take advantage of free events and goodies on campus -- I can guarantee you that they're giving out free pizza or coffee somewhere on campus at least once or twice a semester.
