Eli Clarke, Associate Director of counseling, private high school, Washington DC
Ask any college grad-- there is a more to college life than just earning good grades. For new freshmen, living on-campus brings rewards and creates challenges. Now that you’ve picked a great school, how can you get the most out of it?
There are some important reasons to be concerned about learning to make the most of your college experience. According to the American College Testing Program, only 51.6% of students who attend four-year colleges and universities complete their bachelor’s degree in five years or less. Furthermore, 32.7% of freshman do not return sophomore year to the same institution. While some may transfer, a large percentage simply drop out.
That translates to a lot of unhappy college students. While part of the problem is that some students choose their college poorly, another factor is that some students have difficulty making good decisions about their personal and academic lives, leading to stress and unhappiness at college.
Here are some ideas for you (or for your son or daughter) that might help make the transition a happier one for all concerned.
Get involved!
One of the biggest reasons that students drop out or transfer is that they feel lonely and isolated, yet most colleges do their best to make it easy for students to find friends. Whatever your interests, there is probably a club, team, or organization that addresses it—even if you’re not a joiner. Anime, Bible Study, Intramurals—whatever your interest, finding other people who share it will help you build a network of friends and acquaintances. And don’t be afraid to try something new—you never know what you might end up enjoying.
Learn to manage your time.
The old saying “work hard, play hard” is something that many students should take to heart. In high school, most of your learning is very structured. In college, you are expected to do a lot of your learning outside of class. Make sure to leave plenty of time in your schedule for the outside reading, research, and other work that you will be expected to do. (One rule of thumb is to schedule 2 hours outside of class for every hour you spend in class.) And be wise when scheduling social events. If you would like to go out with your friends on a certain night but have a test the next day, you should weigh your options and the consequences of your decisions.
Stay healthy.
Late nights, junk food, lots of caffeine—all typical parts of college life, right? But without enough sleep and proper nutrition, you’ll have more trouble with class and be more likely to catch colds, flu, or one of the other germs floating around your residence hall.
Yet it’s really pretty easy to be healthy. Choose some fruits, vegetables, and/or juice at the cafeteria or dining hall. Avoid dehydration by drinking some extra water. Take a walk, play touch football, or do something else fun to stay active. And if you’re having trouble getting enough sleep at night, schedule a nap now and then.
Get organized and study smart.
Many students get frustrated when they cannot find their class notes, lost somewhere in the black hole of their dorm room. If your locker always looked like a trash dump in high school, now is the time to get organized. Try to develop a system that fits your own personal style. Not everyone approaches organization in the same way. If you can locate the things you need, then you will be off to a good start.
In addition to being organized, a successful college student honestly evaluates how, when, and where to study. Whether it’s your room in the morning, the library in the afternoon, or a coffee shop at midnight, find the times and places where you are least distracted and can make the most of your study time. If you don’t, then it’s just time wasted.
Get to know your instructors.
One of the biggest mistakes freshmen make is not asking for help when they need it. They believe that if they tell their professor or teaching assistant that they are having trouble, the instructor will think worse of them.
In fact, the opposite is often true. When you ask a professor for help, that prof knows you are serious about studying. If you never come to talk to your instructor, but are doing poorly, then the instructor may assume that you just don’t care. Make an appointment to talk to your instructor as soon as you start to slip; he or she will probably have some good ideas for improving your grades.
Take advantage of support and services.
Colleges and universities have many great services for their students. Aside from talking to your prof, you can probably find tutors and advisors on any academic questions. There are usually also counselors and health services to help you with personal problems and questions. From career counseling to term papers, there is almost always someone to help you when you need it most. That’s why the services exist in the first place.
Take hold of your personal finances.
Many new college students are challenged by new responsibilities with their checking accounts and credit cards. It’s easy to run into trouble, but don’ t forget that you are building a credit history along with your academic record. Bouncing checks and running into credit card problems can hurt your future credit ratings. A monthly budget, prepaid credit cards, and a regular review of expenses may sound boring, but they can help you avoid stress and unhappiness both now and in the future.
Take advantage of new opportunities.
Chances are, there will be great things to do at your college—often inexpensively. How about enjoying the excitement of a football or basketball game? (Or go cheer on a sport that is new to you—smaller teams really appreciate the support.) Is there a museum on campus? Check it out. Many colleges offer outstanding performances from touring musicians, comedians, theatrical troupes, and the like, not to mention homegrown talent from student productions and shows. And don’t forget the surrounding community—what is it like? Get to know the city or town.
This is a great time to try something new; many people look back and find that they really discovered their greatest interests while in college. You can sit at home and watch television anytime, but your college years offer great opportunities that may never be repeated. Do your best to make them count.
