College can be a great experience but it can also be difficult when you don’t know where to start. Being a college student myself, here are some things I have learned along the way that I hope will make your college experience a whole lot better.
1. Choosing a Major: One of the many big decisions you will make throughout college besides what you want to do with your life is choosing a major. One thing I have learned about choosing a major is to choose a course of study that you enjoy even if your parents don’t agree, unless they are paying for your college then that’s another story. College is a time when are establishing your independence, if you haven’t already so making a carefully thought out decision about your future is a good start. You will also spend a good portion of college taking classes in that major, so be sure you have an interest in it. If you choose a major only because it will lead to a lucrative career or because it is what your parents want, you will be miserable. Parents mean well and they only want what is best for you but with all due respect, they will not have to go to the job you might end up hating everyday for you, you will. Also, choosing a major solely because the field pays well should not be the only reason, because when all is said and done, money cannot buy happiness, especially if you despise the job that makes you that money. I tried this…twice, it doesn’t work. First, I majored in pre-pharmacy studies because pharmacists get paid pretty well but discovered that I hated the science classes, not to mention I would have to take heavy course loads of science classes every semester. Second, I tried majoring in business because business pays well but after taking three basic business course, I found the subject matter mind-numbingly boring, I dreaded going to class. Nothing can make your grades plunge quicker than taking a class you have no interest in. Lastly, changing a major well into your college career can be a pain (especially if they aren’t related, e.g. electrical engineering to English literature) and may extend your college stay longer than you would like.
2. Get involved: This is one of the most important because your college experience depends on what you actually made of your time spent there. I made the mistake of not getting involved until my junior year because I was shy, don’t do this. Friends will not come to you, you have to go to them. You don’t have to join 10 clubs to make friends, just 1 or 2 will do. Start by going to one of the meetings of your club of interest, someone will likely approach you and ask you about your interest in the club. One of the easiest is to join a club related to your major, if your are an engineering major, join a club for engineering students or if you are a sociology major, join the sociology club, etc. Most majors have their own clubs so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one. If you are the sorority or fraternity type, join one but make sure their interests and values line up with yours. If you are scared of going to a campus activity alone, ask a roommate to go if you have one and get along with them, I’m sure they will be happy to join you. Also, if you school has a mentor program where they pair new students with upperclassmen to show you opportunities you might not know about, look into joining. There are plenty of things to do on campus if you just look.
3. Get to know your professors: Professors are there to help you, make the most of your time in their class and go see them in their office hours if you need help. Professors were students once, so if you want advice ask them, chances are they have been where you have been. You never know until you try. Also, if you show initiative and an interest in their class besides just getting a good grade, they will more likely to give you a break when you need it or give more help when you need it. Building a relationship with your professors can lead to other great opportunities such as internships, assistantships (if you plan on going to grad school), independent study, presenting your research at professional conferences, and recommendations for grad school or professional school. This can open up a lot of doors, if you make the most of it. If you want advice on being successful in college from real college professors, check out any (or both) of these two books: Professors’ Guide to Getting Good Grades in College or The Secrets of College Success, they offer great advice on dealing with tough professors, choosing your classes, how to ace papers and exams, how to really read a syllabus, even secrets on how professors grade and more…
4. Talk with your academic advisor: I can’t tell you how helpful they can be, especially when choosing classes each semester or going over requirements for your major. If you are undeclared but are leaning towards a particular major, make an appointment with the advisor in that major, ask them what the requirements are or anything else you want to know about the major. If you have already declared a major but don’t make a habit of seeing your advisor, shame on you because you will never know if you are taking the classes you need and could be wasting valuable time and credit hours. They also let you know how many classes to take each semester in order to graduate on time, they can also let you know if certain classes require permission or have pre-requisites that may not be listed in the course catalog. Also when making an appointment with your advisor, make the appointment ahead of time, especially times when they are more likely to be full such as graduation or registration. If you don’t, it could be as long as two weeks before you can see them.
Here are some great books on making the most out of college that I highly recommend:
1. How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
2. How to Win at College by Cal Newport
3. How to Ace Your Way Through College–and Still Have a Life! by David Kennedy
4. Been There Should’ve Done That by Suzette Tyler