As I’m roughly nine semesters into my college career, I can’t help but think of some very important lessons that I’ve learned over the last five years. These are some of the things I wish I had known back when I very first started.
1. Do not take an 8 a.m. class if it's not absolutely necessary.
This is a mistake I made in my very first semester. It’s easy to think, “Hey I had to get up earlier than that in high school, so 8 a.m. will really be like sleeping in.” But college is whole different ball game and is filled with many various obstacles that will prevent you from getting decent sleep for those lovely 8 a.m.’s.
2. Get involved with something on campus.
Getting involved is not only a great way to meet people, but by getting involved early on, you have more time to spend in those organizations. I didn’t join my sorority until last semester and now I’m here wishing I had more time. By getting involved early on, you allow yourself more time to develop amazing friendships and create memories that you will treasure forever.
3. Get your general education classes out of the way first.
It's tempting to want to take all the cool classes for your major right away. Especially if you think you know what you want to do post graduation. But many people, myself included, end up changing their mind once or twice. If you are taking general education courses, that gives you more of a safety net to change your mind.
4. Plan to meet with your academic adviser on a regular basis.
I wish I knew how important this was when I started college. Meeting with your adviser to make sure you are taking the correct classes and are on track to graduate is a major key to success in college. These people are here to help you succeed. They also could be helpful with finding a job post college since they likely have connections in your field. Plan to meet with your adviser at least once a semester.
5. Take advantage of free campus events.
College campus’s host a ton of different events all the time. And a lot of the time these events involve one of every college student's favorite things, free food! Look for flyers around your campus advertising these events, grab some friends and go. These events are also a great place to meet new people. You’ll likely be able to find events that match your interests and you could go and find some cool new friends that share your similar interests.
6. Don't be afraid to talk to strangers.
When you start your freshman year, it's easy to be scared in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces everywhere you go, but there’s so many other people in the exact same boat. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you in class or somebody sitting alone in the dining hall. You never know who could turn out to become one of your best friends. I met one of my very first friends in college because he came up to me in the dining hall and said, “Hey you’re really pretty. Can we best friends?" And sure enough we did. I’m not saying you have to go and be that extreme, but a simple, "Hey, how was your weekend?" or a compliment can go a long way.
