| I wish someone had told me….
· GO TO CLASS
Class attendance really does correlate with your grades.
· BE ON TIME TO CLASS
Walking in late distracts both the professor and other students
· BE RESPONSIBLE WITH TIME MANAGEMENT
College is not high school, managing your time is key. Buy an agenda book and create a schedule each semester and stick to it.
· COMMUNICATION IS KEY: DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Interact with Faculty and staff. Remember to ask questions and stay calm in all situations.
· COLLEGE IS NOT A CONTEST
You don’t have to compete with anyone for your grade; learn at your own pace and don’t feel inferior if you don’t understand something the first time around.
· BE AWARE OF CAMPUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
· SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE ESSENTIAL
Make friends; talk to everyone
· EXPECT TO SOMETIMES FEEL LONELY
Remember you are not the only person experiencing these emotions, and it all gets better with time
· READ EVERYTHING
Read your mail! Don’t take policy advice from other students; check with offices on campus
· JOIN CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS
· USE YOUR COLLEGE CATALOG
You have to open it in order to reap the benefits of what is inside. Get a copy of your school’s code of ethics (Dean of Students Office). Remember a single mistake could cost you your degree
· MAINTAIN A POSTIVE ATTITUDE
Be a good listener, stick to your own convictions, and follow your dreams
ADJUSTING TO COLLEGE LIFE
There are five phases of college adjustment. As a first year student, you may experience some or all of the following phases; in any order, some phases may repeat or overlap:
Phase 1: Fascination with the new environment
Phase 2: Severe homesickness
Phase 3: Finding fault with new surroundings; building stereotypes
Phase 4: Finding humor in your adjustment
Phase 5: Embracing the new culture; it becomes your “normal” environment |