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Cleveland Plain Dealer
10 tips for
college freshmen from Northeast Ohio college professionals
By Karen Farkas
August 12, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the next few weeks thousands of wide-eyed college
freshmen will arrive on campus eager to begin the next stage of their
lives.
They will ditch curfews, parental supervision and the opinions of high
school classmates.
While social activities beckon, college officials said they need to
remember why they are in school - to get an education.
Here's 10 tips from academic advisors, counselors and student affairs
experts at public and private colleges in northeast Ohio.
1. Go to class
Put your behind in a seat and listen to your professor. Ignore that
inner voice saying "The class is recorded," "I learned that in high
school," "I can just read the book," "It's boring," "The
professor doesn't care if I go to class" and "All the notes are
posted on the web." The reason online classes haven't replaced
classroom instruction is because the what students gain from
interaction with professors and fellow students cannot be replicated.
2. Get to know faculty outside of the classroom
Faculty members have office hours for a reason. They want to meet you,
especially if you are in a large lecture class, as well as answer your
questions. They can be invaluable resources regarding majors and career
choices. Those in the business world pay a lot of money for access to
consultants. Yours are free, just down the hall.
3. Get a plan
You don't need to have chosen a major and determined your life's plan
by the first day of class. But you can't take random classes and hope
things work out -- especially with the high cost of college today. Find
your path. Don't wait until your junior or senior year to visit the
career center or meet with your adviser.
4. Treat college like you would experience a cruise or an all-inclusive
vacation.
On an all-inclusive vacation or cruise you want to get the most out of
your money. You go to shows, take excursions and sign up for
activities. You meet new people and make new friends. Treat college the
the same way. Attend campus events and activities. Put away the
smartphone and talk to fellow students. You've paid for it, or you'll
be paying for it for years - so engage as much as you can.
5. Manage your time
You're on your own and there is a lot more free time than in high
school. You will typically be in a classroom for 15 to 20 hours each
week. Write out a schedule online or on paper that includes class,
studying, socializing, working and laundry. And don't forget to
allocate time for sleep.
6. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Yes, you're on your own. You're an adult making your own choices. But
everybody needs help, and there is a whole campus full of resources,
support staff and faculty waiting to offer you support. Familiarize
yourself with campus resources before you need them. Then, ask for help
early before your issue grows larger and harder to solve. Don't let
pride get in the way.
7. Don't give in and give up
If homesickness or other stress have you flirting with the idea of
dropping out, step back and hit the pause button. Seek help to address
the underlying issues, stick it out and see if negative feelings can be
resolved in time. Even if it doesn't show, most students experience
homesickness and doubts, most often in the first semester. Hang in
there!
8. Redefine yourself
For good or bad, you will be with many people who do not know who you
were in high school. This is a chance to redefine yourself, establish
your reputation (in person and online) and continue to become the
person and professional you hope to be.
9. Begin thinking about your resume now.
Through four years of high school, you built a list of courses,
activities and interests to get to college. You now have four years to
shape your college experience to help you with your professional
career. The things you do in your first few years will open doors for
summer jobs, internships and connections for jobs later.
10. Make new friends - and try to get along with your roommate
While social media makes it easy to maintain connections to your high
school friends, now is the time to make new friends in class and social
activities. And living with a roommate can be challenging, even if you
thought you knew the person from online and other interaction. Many
students had their own room growing up so now is the time to
communicate.
Read this and other articles at the Cleveland Plain Dealer
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