Your guide to acing the first year of College
Perhaps you were class president in high school. Or perhaps you were a member of the honor society. You could have graduated in the top percentile of your class; perhaps you were even valedictorian. Maybe your were in the state board or the International Baccalaureate program. Actually, it doesn't really matter what you did in high school as you make the transition to college. High school success (or lack of it) doesn't automatically apply to college.
You start college with a clean academic slate, along with a lot of independence and a myriad of critical decisions as you begin the transition into adulthood. The decisions that you make and the actions you take during this first year of college will have a major impact on the rest of your college experience.
The first few weeks on campus are extremely critical for all new students. It is during this time that you make critical decisions that will have an effect on the rest of your life. Some of these 25 tips are critical during your first weeks, while the others are meant for longer-term guidance and survival. Whatever you do, be sure to be yourself and try to enjoy your college experience as much as possible. Expect to feel some stress and homesickness, but don't let these issues wear you down.
- Go to all orientations. Do you really need to go on yet another campus tour? Yes. The faster you learn your way around campus -- and around all the red tape -- the more at ease you'll feel and the better prepared you'll be when issues arise.
- Get to know your roommate and others in your hostel. The people you live with, most of whom are going through similar experiences and emotions, are your main safety net -- not only this year, but for all your years. You may change roommates after the first year or you may stay roommates for all three years -- just take the time to get to know your fellow first-year students.
- 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 year -- 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.
- Find the ideal place for you to study. It may be your room or a cozy corner of the library, but find a place that works best for you to get your work done -- while avoiding as many distractions as possible.
- Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8:30 am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you'll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc.
- Become an expert on course requirements and due dates. Professors spend hours and hours preparing course syllabi and calendars so that you will know exactly what is expected of you -- and when. One of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor: "I didn't know it was due today."
- Meet with your professors. I can assure you there are only upsides to getting to know your professors, especially if later in the year you run into some snags. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students -- take advantage of that time.
- Be good to yourself. Studying on four hours of sleep and an empty stomach or junk-food diet is a waste of time. Avoid food and drink containing caffeine just before or just after studying.
- Seek a balance. College life is a mixture of social and academic happenings. Don't tip the balance too far in either direction. One student smartly said "study hard so you could play hard."
- Get involved on campus. A big problem for a lot of new students is a combination of homesickness and a feeling of not quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a select group -- and be careful not to go overboard -- of student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You'll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your college.
- Strive for good marks. Another obvious one here, right? Remember the words of the opening paragraph; while good marks could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college -- and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them.
- Take advantage of the study resources on campus. Just about all colleges have learning labs and tutors available. If you're having some troubles, these resources are another tool available to you. Another idea: form study groups.
- Make time for you. Be sure you set aside some time and activities that help you relax and take the stress out of your day or week. Whether it's enlisting yoga techniques, watching your favorite television shows, or writing in a journal, be good to yourself.
- 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 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. 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.
- Make connections with students in your classes. One of my best students said his technique in the first week of classes was to meet at least one new person in each of his classes. It expanded his network of friends -- and was a crucial resource at times when he had to miss a class.
- Find the Career Services Office. Regardless of whether you are entering college as undeclared or have your entire future mapped out, seek out the wonderful professionals in your college's career services office and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.
- Don't procrastinate; prioritize your life. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get a good grade, but that kind of stuff will not work for you in college. Give yourself deadlines -- and stick to them.
- Stay healthy/Eat Right. A lot of problems first-year students face can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time that led to a downward spiraling effect. Get enough sleep, take your vitamins, and eat right. If you haven't heard the jokes about college food, you soon will. And without mom or dad there to serve you a balanced meal, you may be tempted to go for those extra fries or cookies. Stay healthy and avoid the dreaded extra "Freshman" pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.
- Learn to cope with homesickness. It's only natural that there will be times when you miss your family, even if you were one of those kids who couldn't wait to get away. Find a way to deal with those feelings, such as making a phone call or sending some email home.
- Stay on campus as much as possible. Whether it's homesickness, a job, or a boyfriend or girlfriend from home, try not to leave campus too soon or too often. The more time you spend on getting to know the campus and your new friends, the more you'll feel at home at school. And why not take advantage of all the cultural and social events that happen on campus?
- Seek professional help when you need it. Delhi University have health and counseling centers. If you're sick or feeling isolated or depressed, please take advantage of the many services these offices provide students. You don't have to face these issues by yourself.
- Keep track of your money. If you've never had to create a budget, now is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your money - and as best you can, avoid all those credit card solicitations you'll soon be receiving. The average credit card debt of college grads is staggering.
- Don't cut corners. College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you'll learn very little. Even worse, don't cheat on term papers or tests.
- 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.
Tips for the first day of college
- The night before your first day, get all your supplies together. Preparing for the next day is essential. Get your books, notebooks, class schedule, and anything else you need together and ready to go. (insider tip: you will in fact need a notebook for at least one class on the first day. Although most of your friends will say that the first day is nothing more than roll taking, there is always one professor that will begin the course on that very first day.) This will save you while you rush across campus.
- Try your best not to look like a FRESHMAN. Sadly, even if you try this will still be pretty obvious. However, don't walk around with your nose in a school map. Plan out where your classes and buildings are in the days before class. (this may not be possible for those that cannot make until the day of classes.) By looking like a freshman, it actually can add anxiety because upper classman will, I can guarantee it, make a joke at your expense.
- This is the most important: Don't freak out! College is just like high school, just a few more seats in a class. If you find yourself running across campus, then stop and take a breather. (Here's a insider tip: you can be late to college courses on the first day. Even the upper level classes allow a few minutes for those dragging in.) So don't work yourself into a frenzy if you are a couple minutes late.
- Second important: If you do come into the class late, collect yourself and look before just rushing to the first available seat. Come into the room as if you don't realize you are late. Look around for the best seat and then make your way to it. This tips is important because if you rush into class and whisk into the first seat you will make a lot of noise, which will bring a lot of unwanted attention your direction. By collecting yourself and taking a few seconds you can slide quietly into a seat.
- This is the most fun tip: At the end of the day, find someone either you already know from high school or a new classmate you befriended in class, and unwind because the second day brings new excitement.
What a lot of people don't realize going into the first day of classes in college is that you really have about two to three days of firsts. That intial first day of being on campus with everyone is a bit overwhelming and, in fact, frustrating. The second and sometimes third day are also very overwhelming because most college students are on a rotating schedule. This means that the classes are completely different two of the five days a week. So Monday, is your first day of official classes, but Tuesday is practically like Monday all over again. That's why Tip #5 is important. By relaxing after the first official day, you get a little more comfortable in your surroundings, plus you can laugh about the frantic day your friends had.
In case you are wondering what to wear, these fashion tips might be handy:
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And wanna get conversant with the DU lingo, this might be of some help:
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All the best and have a great year!!! |
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