In the hype before your freshman year, you're going to hear a lot of advice from a lot of different people. You're going to read articles and hear stories giving "the best" advice. It's overwhelming and as you get closer to the first day of classes, you're probably beginning to tune out all the voices telling you how to live your life once you get to campus. That being said, there's definitely some advice that I wish I had taken more seriously my freshman year. As a rising junior, I know that freshman year is a transition: you gain a new independence and the possibilities are seemingly endless. If there's any advice you listen to, I hope it's this:
1. Make sure your professors know your name. Even if you didn't take the time at the end of your first class to formally introduce yourself to your professor, be sure to make yourself known by asking questions or participating whenever possible. It sounds like something that the more confident or extroverted students do, but it's worth the nervous energy. Classes are better, and more manageable, when a professor knows your name: you're not just a face in the class, but a student who is enthusiastic to learn, taking the time to put a foot in the door and kick-start the semester.
2. Take advantage of office hours. For some reason, office hours have always been a particularly daunting notion to me: it means walking through a maze of lecture halls and offices to meet with a professor who you've really only gotten to know from afar, for the most part. It can be nerve-racking and stress-inducing, but I can't begin to express the amount of trouble it saves you. Taking advantage of office hours helps you in a myriad of ways: you benefit from seeking extra help, which may help you study better in the long run, or improve your grade. You also let your professor know that you are genuinely interested in learning and are here to learn, and not just to thrive on Friday nights with friends.
3. Invest in a planner. They can be pricy, but well worth the investment. Keeping track of due dates, office hours, appointments, study labs, tutoring sessions, your class schedule, and even what time the food services close is important and you can't keep all that information in your head. Throughout high school, I whole-heartedly believed I could make it through each semester just memorizing deadlines. While I was successful in doing so, there were a few nights where I would find myself scrambling papers and projects together because I hadn't planned ahead. Planners take all that stress away.
4. Don't be afraid to try something new. Throughout your college years, you'll probably have the opportunity to attend a non-credited lecture with professionals, such as authors or professors from other universities, or the opportunity to try a class outside your field of study. These sorts of opportunities seem daunting, and may not even seem worthwhile, but trust me, every unique experience helps build you in ways you never thought possible. Even if you can't get a friend to go with you to a new lecture or to join a different class, be sure you try to step outside your comfort zone at least once throughout your college years.
5. Focus on your education, not just your degree. Ultimately, you're not just in school to get a degree, but to expand your knowledge and make the most of your education. Whether you're paying out of pocket, or embracing a full-ride scholarship, it's still a privilege to have access to higher education. A degree is just writing on paper, but knowledge is forever.
