With the Fall semester starting up again, we need a reminder of what keeps us going. For those of us who are new to the college scene, this is a list of things most of us wish we knew from day one to get us from point A to graduation Cap. College isn't easy, especially at such an academically rigorous school as Stony Brook. It helps to point out the wisdom we gain with each year.
1. Get some sleep, food, and exercise.
Ok, so I know not everyone likes to exercise, but basically, take care of yourself! Your mental, spiritual, and physical health are just as important as school. Besides the basic life necessities, make sure you find a hobby, a friend group, a quiet space, or whatever you need to restore yourself in your free time.
2. Be reasonable.
Know your limits to avoid burnout. Try not to enroll in 6 more credits than you can handle and try to avoid letting one class take up all of your time. One way to measure how much time to spend on each class is 2-3 hours of outside work per credit. I tend to use that number as a cap, so that I can make sure I get to everything else and come back to the first class's work if I have time.
3. Prioritize.
Remember why you came to Stony Brook. Was it to get a degree to take you to graduate school? Was it to get connections that would lead to a great job? Well, prioritize your goal. When a club or friend or draining bf/gf are taking too much of your time, remember why you are here and focus on your goal. Keep those grades up and ace that internship. It doesn't mean you love them any less, it just means you also love and prioritize yourself as well.
4. Your calendar is your friend.
I mean your annual calendar, your weekly schedule, and your academic graduation calendar. One too many a friend has had to take several hard sciences in one semester because they weren't able to spread them out through their semesters. I have also known people who couldn't graduate on time because they accidentally missed a class. There is hope though: people graduate up to 2 years early with some savvy planning. In a sense, the earlier in your SBU career you aim to figure out your academic calendar for all of your semesters, the more chance you have of getting a reasonable one AND of graduating on time.
5. Be sincere.
Be you, from your sense of style, to your choice of recreation, to your career path. I know it might be hard to accept, but you don't have to be a doctor, engineer, or musician unless you choose to. You can choose what you pursue for any reason stemming from your interest in a certain major, your belief that it is a stable career, or your sense of adventure. You don't even have to be 100% sure this is what you want to do with your life. I always knew I would be pre-med, but I changed my major two times before I settled into something that encompassed my different interests. I would never have found Multidisciplinary Studies if I hadn't committed to starting anything. Many academic programs have long paths, and, if it something YOU choose, you can definitely do it!
