So as time moves on and I grow out of student life, my younger family members are just beginning theirs. Some are only a year or two in. Some are just starting their freshman year, some just starting high school.
When I look back into my life, and think about things a little too much, and how old I feel, I think back to high school. And how I didn't miss it at all. Yeah, there were good times, and there were good friends, and good experiences. But none of it compared to college. I always heard from older people that college "is the best four years of your life".
And in a way it's true.
Of course we're all different. Some of us loved high school and are sad to leave. I suppose I was sad to leave, but if given the choice, I'd never go back. Because college was just so much better and because I was able to find myself more as a person. Maybe not find, but create, if you will. I tell myself that "oh, in college I'll just meet a few new friends, study, get my degree, graduate, and get a job". And I was right, but so wrong at the same time. College is so much more than that and if I were to go back to the beginning of freshman year, I'd tell myself so much. But for now I can only offer these 5 overall tips.
1. Take Advantage of your social life
Probably my favorite aspect of college. When you're in high school, you are, for a lack of a better term, stuck with the same people in the same class for four years. However, in college, depending on how large your university is, chances are you'll meet someone different every day. You'll meet different kinds of people from different parts of the world, and you'll see the world differently because of it.
Make friends with people you like, people from different states, people from different countries. When you meet people and learn about how large the world is, you'll see just how much is out there. And you'll see how different we all are from each other, in such a good way. Make friends with people who help you realize new parts of yourself and who help you grow as a person and vice versa.
And of course there's the fun! The late night (though you won't get much done) type of study parties with pizza and other snacks you know are bad for you. There are those occasional crazy parties that may or may not interest you, and whether or not they interest you are completely fine. And those on campus events you don't really care for (like posing for your school's sponsored Valentine's Day post card photos), but since you'll be with your friends you'll have a laughing-fit inducing type of good time.
2. Study hard. And Study again.
Because that's the real purpose of college, right? All is fun and games, until you have to wake up the next morning for your 8am exam that's worth 40% of your final grade - and can't make up if you sleep through it. College isn't like high school where doing homework will get you by. In college, homework is only worth at most 20-30% of your total grade. The purpose of homework is to help you study for the exam. So even if it isn't worth as much to your grade, do it anyways. Every point can count, but more importantly, most of the time, what is in the homework is for your exam - which is the biggest chunk of your grade.
Use whatever method you need. There is no one way to study, find the way that works best for you. And if you need help, - ASK FOR IT. Many students - especially honors students, often learn the hard way that if you need help, don't be shy or too prideful to ask for it. Ask questions during class, go to office hours, form study groups, do what you need to do to learn what you need to learn. Because your GPA counts. It counts for your scholarships or financial aid, it counts for your academic standing, and it counts when you graduate. (How strictly it counts depends on your major, but remember, that it will count nonetheless.) College is a blast, but it won't be a blast being the only one of your friends to not graduate because of grades. Whether your parents or whoever is helping you pay for school - whether you are paying for school yourself, do yourself and them a favor and do the best you can.
2a. Do study abroad if you can!
Of course study abroad includes project work. But that's just a small part of it in my opinion. You may be working on your project like a full time job, 9-5 M-F while you're in a different state or country, but off time is your time ;)
When applying for study abroad I advise to apply to for the project and not the location, but do as you will. In any case you'll be working on a project that can impact an community and be able to apply hands on what you have learned in the classroom. You'll be able to face language/cultural barriers, prep for report writing and presentation giving, and all the typical things the classroom can give you, but in a totally different setting.
Not only will traveling make a huge impact on your growth and add something to brag about in your resume, there's also nothing like living in a different state or country for 10-14 weeks and living like the locals there. That means you'll be able to learn how to adapt to a different way of life - even if temporarily, and gain confidence in yourself and learn how to handle yourself better. You'll be miles and miles away from your comfort zone (either home or your very familiar campus) and learn to work with it. And you can possibly gain friends you wouldn't have otherwise, both within your place of study, or within your school group.
I cannot recommend enough to do a study abroad.
(If you want to see more on my study abroad in Thailand, check out my previous post.)
3. Join more extracurricular activities
Because even though GPA and grades count, leadership roles and things you do outside the classroom also count. Academics show your ability to learn what you need to know in your field. ECAs show that you are than just smart. They show your interests and that you can take on leadership roles, and that you can do more than just study.
Depending on what tasks or roles you take on, it can show that you have good people skills, organizational skills, budgeting skills, etc. If there isn't a club you like per say, try to start one. It shows initiative and leadership potential to future employers. Not only that but it will help with your communication skills and your ability to lead groups of people.
If that's not enough of a reason for you, join for fun. Have fun and make friends that have the same interests. Sports, arts, academic clubs, trying out social Greek life (or community service based Greek like me! :D), whatever you want. That's the great thing about college - it's about what you want.
4. Prepare for the future
Internships. Internships. Internships.
Probably one of the words you'll hear most often when it comes to resume boosting and work experience. And more often than not, it's true. Being a freshman, your chances at a summer internship are pretty slim. But it doesn't mean that you can't start early during your spring semester to look for volunteer opportunities or part time job opportunities during the school year.
Come the winter/early spring of your sophomore year will you have a better chance of getting an internship for the following summer. You know that work/volunteer experience you did the spring of your freshman year? That's something that will help set you apart from the other applicants all aiming for the same spot as an intern.
Now more than ever internships are becoming more and more competitive. I can speak for the Engineering field that many paid internships want prior internship experience for that one paid internship. So if you need to, start small. Work for free. Take on a project a Professor needs help on (even if you have to work with intimidating looking equipment that breaks down a lot). Ask around. You'll need letters of recommendation anyways! And when the opportunity arises for a paid internship that will boost your resume, go for it!
And even if you think you won't qualify for the internship? Apply anyways. You never know if you never try. Don't be afraid to take risks. Because you never really know what you're capable of until you try it.
5. Live in the present
The one thing I know everyone will tell you is true is that college goes by really fast. Too fast, in fact. So enjoy every bit of it. Enjoy being with your friends. Enjoy studying what interests you. Enjoy only having to worry about school and not about bills, or health insurance, or whatever adult life includes. Enjoy that the people at your campus Dunkin' Donuts knows your order by heart. Enjoy the fact that your friends will all live within walking distance of each other and it's so easy to see each other on a weekly if not daily basis.
Enjoy it while you can because this experience is a gift, and enjoy it until there's nothing left of it.
These are the things I'd tell my younger college freshman self. If it can help you younger folk have a better college experience, great! If not, hope you enjoyed the read.
“I've learned one thing, and that's to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember the time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due on Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does...”
o-o-o-o-o-o
Have an amazing day!
-Chelle
