| College? | | | | back-track and avoid frustrating situations where you |
| Been there, done that and have a B.A. an M.A. and a | | | | will need an answer when someone asks you, "Who |
| Ph.D. to prove it. What did I learn along the way? | | | | on earth told you that?" |
| Plenty. And so will you, but, hopefully, not the hard way. | | | | Attend orientation. |
| So, as you dive in and begin to swim through your first | | | | Whether its required by your university or not, make |
| semester, here are some "life preserving" tips. | | | | sure to attend orientation. It's a great way to learn |
| When choosing a college, be sure to: | | | | about student organizations, classes to take/avoid, |
| -Visit the Web site. Web sites provide detailed | | | | where things are on campus, and meet new people. |
| descriptions about the college's history, location, and | | | | Most orientations are run by current students who can |
| areas of interest, student body, student services, and | | | | give you a more holistic view of the university than a |
| contact information. If you have questions about a | | | | college handbook can. |
| particular university, their Web site should be the first | | | | Perform a campus walk-through the day before |
| place you visit. | | | | classes start. |
| -Find professors who specialize in your field of | | | | Locate each building you have class in (in the order of |
| interests. It is important to find knowledgeable mentors | | | | your classes), to make sure you can find where you |
| to help you apply your interests to potential majors and | | | | need to go. Keep track of how long it takes you to |
| careers. Each university boasts a talented array of | | | | get to each class, so that you can schedule enough |
| professors in a variety of fields. Find a field you may | | | | walking time and avoid being late on your first day. |
| be interested in pursuing, and locate a professor with | | | | The class that broke the camel's back. |
| similar interests. | | | | Don't overload yourself your first semester. Too often |
| -Find a college within your means - there's a big | | | | students will overload themselves their first semester |
| financial difference between in-state and out-of-state | | | | and find themselves struggling to get through. For |
| tuition. If you are interested in applying to out-of-state | | | | many students, college life is a big adjustment. Don't |
| schools, make sure that you will be able to afford their | | | | compound the adjustment by overwhelming yourself |
| increased tuition. If you receive any scholarship money, | | | | with too many hours of coursework. Twelve |
| make sure that you will be permitted to use it to cover | | | | semester hours is ample enough for anyone their first |
| out-of-state tuition. Starting out at a community or | | | | semester. Yes, twelve credit hours will even keep the |
| technical college and then transferring to a four-year | | | | high school straight "A" honor student busy. When |
| university may also save you thousands of dollars in | | | | starting out, be easy on yourself. Give yourself time to |
| student fees. | | | | adapt. Consider taking three "hard" courses and one |
| -Take the male-to-female ratio into account. Every | | | | "easy" one just for fun. Early one, try to strike a |
| university keeps records about their student population. | | | | balance in your academic life. |
| If going to a college that has a balanced | | | | Don't overload yourself by working too many hours. |
| male-to-female ratio is important to you, make sure to | | | | If at all possible, try to keep work to a minimum during |
| look at their student profile records. | | | | your first semester. This is to give you time to adapt |
| When Choosing Where to Live, Be Sure to: | | | | to college life. If you must work, try to keep your hours |
| -Determine what kind of climate you prefer to live in. | | | | to a minimum. Ten to fifteen hours a week is plenty |
| Humidity, rain, snow, and sunshine often influence | | | | for a first semester full time student. If you find that |
| people differently. If you hate the cold, make sure you | | | | you can work more, you can always increase your |
| research climate! | | | | hours. Many colleges offer a work/study program for |
| -Do you have transportation? | | | | qualified students. Qualification is determined by |
| -Are you interested in living in a fraternity/sorority | | | | financial need. The great thing about a work/study job |
| house? | | | | is that they will often work around your schedule. |
| -Does your college provide on-campus housing? | | | | Usually there is a center on campus that serves as a |
| -Are there plentiful apartments close to campus? | | | | clearinghouse for on-campus jobs. Also many students |
| The early bird gets the worm. | | | | with on-campus jobs find that they have time to study |
| Many college admission offices process applications in | | | | during the slow times on the job. |
| the order in which they are received. Once the | | | | Get acquainted with campus and the surrounding area |
| semester's allocated number of students is met, the | | | | before school starts. |
| remaining applicants are put on a waiting list. | | | | Prior to starting classes you should explore your new |
| So what does that mean to you? The earlier you | | | | surroundings. Find out where your classes will be held. |
| apply, the better. | | | | Locate the area post office and the nearest ATM |
| Also, prior to sending your application to the university, | | | | machines. Find out where you can park, or where the |
| carefully check the application for completeness. An | | | | nearest bus stop is and obtain a copy of the bus |
| incomplete application will not be processed, and cause | | | | schedule. Get a campus map and explore the campus |
| unnecessary delays. | | | | to find where you can make copies, purchase books, |
| Request a college handbook. | | | | and buy tickets to campus events. Exploring your |
| All colleges have a student handbook that is updated | | | | surroundings ahead of time will reduce frustration and |
| on a regular basis. The handbook contains important | | | | stress. |
| information about schools and programs within the | | | | Talk with students. |
| college, university rules and regulations, deadlines, | | | | One of the best ways to learn the ropes at a |
| course descriptions, faculty, and how to apply for | | | | university is to talk with other students who have |
| graduation. The handbook is the student's bible and | | | | attended the university. Just hanging out in the halls of |
| should be read carefully. It's also a good idea to save a | | | | the school you wish to attend and asking questions |
| copy of the handbook for future reference. | | | | can give you a good feel for what is going on. Don?t |
| Be Aware that you may also need to apply to a | | | | be afraid to ask who the best professors are to take. |
| school within the college. | | | | And make sure to also ask which professor should be |
| This especially applies to transfer students. Often | | | | avoided. Almost always there will be a few names |
| schools within a college (e.g., Business, | | | | who will crop-up over and over again. Most students |
| Communications) will have their own requirements and | | | | are glad to offer assistance and advice. |
| deadlines for acceptance. Failing to meet the school's | | | | Talk to professors. |
| application deadline can delay you getting accepted | | | | If you are having trouble registering for the classes |
| into the school of your choice. This may prevent you | | | | that you want to take because they are full, consider |
| from taking the required classes that you need and | | | | talking directly with the professor that is teaching the |
| can potentially delay your graduation. If you do miss | | | | course. By sharing why you wish to take the course |
| the deadline one option many schools offer is for you | | | | and its importance to you, professors will often put you |
| to enroll in the school as a special student. This allows | | | | on a waiting list for the class. It is rare that every |
| you to take classes within the school for credit. Make | | | | student who has applied for the course will actually |
| sure to get good grades, as the school will weigh your | | | | take the class. Therefore, if you are on a waiting list |
| grades in as a factor for admitting you to the following | | | | your chances of being added to the course are |
| semester. | | | | increased. |
| Register for classes early. | | | | Attend class the first day. |
| Once you are accepted to the university you will need | | | | If you were unable to register for a class because of it |
| to register for classes. Do this as soon as possible. To | | | | being full, and you were unable to talk directly to the |
| see the classes that are offered each semester you | | | | professor, often if you attend the class on the first |
| will need to request a class schedule. The earlier you | | | | day, you have a good chance of being added to the |
| register for classes the better your chance of getting | | | | class. After role is called on the first day, the professor |
| those classes. Each course at the university has a | | | | will usually ask, "Is there anyone who would like to drop |
| maximum capacity. Once the capacity is reached, no | | | | or add this class?" Being present the first day of class |
| additional students are allowed to register for that | | | | is sometimes all it takes to get the class you want. |
| class until another student drops that course from his | | | | Read before you go to class. |
| or her schedule. In the past few years, many colleges | | | | In high school, most teachers teach students what the |
| have added systems where you can register by | | | | book says. In college, professors expect you to do the |
| phone. Some have added systems that allow students | | | | reading ahead of time, and will expand upon the |
| to register online. Avoid long lines by taking advantage | | | | reading in class. If you do not read before class, you |
| of these services. When looking through the course | | | | may not be able to keep up during class! |
| schedule you will see the names of the professors | | | | Do a little each day. Look at your syllabus as soon as |
| that are teaching the class. When the schedule says | | | | you get it. |
| that "staff" is teaching the course, more than likely, an | | | | Mark down all the important due dates in a calendar. |
| adjunct or graduate student will be the instructor. | | | | Plan ahead! Do not wait until the day before something |
| Apply for financial aid. | | | | is due. Split up projects, and work on them in pieces, |
| For all colleges there are a number of grants, loans | | | | rather than doing the whole thing all at once. |
| and scholarships given to students based on financial | | | | Avoid cramming. |
| need as well as other considerations such as | | | | Your attention span is only 90 minutes long. Studying in |
| academic standing, ethnic origin, area of study, etc. In | | | | small increments over a longer period of time has |
| order to be considered for financial aid you will need to | | | | been proven to be more effective than running long |
| complete and send in a new financial aid packet or | | | | study sessions the night before an exam. This is |
| re-apply. These packets can be obtained by request | | | | because increasing breaks increases productivity and |
| from the college's financial aid department. If you are | | | | retention. |
| unsure about whether or not you will qualify for | | | | Remember the first month rule. |
| financial aid, you may wish to speak to a financial aid | | | | If you can survive the first month, chances are you are |
| advisor. Prompt submission of these forms to the | | | | going to be just fine. When waiting in long lines and filing |
| necessary agency is important. Financial aid | | | | out scores of seemingly endless paperwork, try to find |
| applications have strict deadlines. | | | | the humor in it. Things will get better! |
| Do not rely on financial aid being on time. | | | | Join student organizations. |
| As hard as financial aid offices try to process all the | | | | Joining student organizations allows you to meet |
| necessary paperwork, there are still often kinks in the | | | | people whom you would not normally meet people |
| awarding and distribution of financial aid. Therefore, if | | | | living in different dorms, majoring in different subjects |
| you are a financial aid recipient, you will want to make | | | | than you, etc. Student Organizations expand your |
| sure that you have enough money to live on for at | | | | horizons by allowing you to meet new people, try new |
| least a few months without funds from financial aid. | | | | things, and gives you a sense of purpose outside of |
| Also, be aware that universities who award financial | | | | the classroom. |
| aid often give tuition deferments to students whose | | | | Beware of the freshman 15. |
| aid is not on time. Many institutions provide emergency | | | | Beware of the freshman 15 by being aware of what |
| loans for students who are having severe financial | | | | you eat. Dining halls provide an unlimited amount of |
| problems. Do yourself a favor, and find out about the | | | | food, but that doesn't mean you have to eat it all! Be |
| special programs that are offered through the financial | | | | mindful not only of what you are eating, but while you |
| aid department. | | | | are eating. Avoid eating in front of the T.V. and focus |
| Seek alternative forms of financial aid. | | | | solely on your food. When you pay attention to what |
| Many colleges and universities have a financial aid | | | | and how you are eating, you tend to eat less. |
| resource center. Financial aid officers usually operate | | | | Walk to class! |
| these centers. These centers hold a multitude of | | | | Get your exercise in by walking rather than driving or |
| books, files, videotapes, pamphlets, and flyers that | | | | taking the bus. |
| contain valuable information on financial aid, as well as | | | | Take advantage of the school's gym. |
| giving a wide range of potential financial resources. | | | | In addition to free use of exercise equipment, many |
| Avoid the shuffle. | | | | schools offer group exercise classes with instruction. |
| When corresponding via a letter, e-mail, or by | | | | Join an intramural sports team, it's a great way to |
| telephone, keep a detailed record of the date, whom | | | | meet new people, get exercise, and participate in |
| you talked with, what office they were in, and what | | | | something you enjoy. |
| their recommendations or comments were. It's a sad | | | | College can provide you with some of the best years |
| truth, but many times the advice given by the person | | | | of your life. Make sure not to get bogged down with |
| on the other end of the line is no longer accurate or | | | | the details, and go along for the ride. You'll be glad you |
| helpful. By keeping a detailed record, you will be able to | | | | did! |