20 Pieces of REAL Advice for College Freshmen
by Marcia Robinson Tuesday, August 07, 2012
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In a few weeks, summer will end and thousands of new college freshmen will file onto college campuses and populate college residence halls. Most college students will enter college with tons of advice from parents, teachers and college counselors. With all the advice out there, it is hard for college students to separate the advice that will lead to long term success.
If you are a new college freshman or know one, let me share with you my 20 favorite tips with real advice. These tips are not just based on my own college experience or that of my kids, but are the result of 13 years in higher education, working with college students.
Not all of these tips will apply to every new college student. Usually I advice students to select 5 to 10 that will fit on a note card or 8 x 11 sheet of paper. Keep these 5 to 10 accessible and work on them one at a time.
Real Tips for College Freshmen
1. You don't have as much free time as you think you do! If you find you have time to burn; something is wrong. There is something you should be doing and you probably need to get help figuring out how to manage your time.
2. Keep in mind that you write your resume every day, with every action and every choice you make. If you haven't done it; it can't end up in your resume when you get ready to apply for internships, jobs, scholarships or grad schools.
3. Begin good career habits early! Find your campus career center in the first semester and follow @HBCUCareerCntr on Twitter for tweet-sized, relevant career, major, job search and internship information.
4. Do some personal exploration to learn more about who you are. Don't leave college without knowing your V.I.S.A. (Values, Interests, Skills and Abilities)
5. Plan to participate in at least one Internship, Study Abroad, Alternative Spring Break, Volunteer or Campus Leadership experience the summer after freshman year.
6. No matter how big the class will be; a professor can still know you by name, if you participate in class, ask questions or go to office hours.
7. Find them and use these study-resources on campus - Academic Advising office, First-Year Experience Program and/or Writing Center.
8. College freshman year is FULL of decision-making points. Take responsibility for your own actions and learn how to make decisions.
9. Find wise people to have conversations with and ask questions.
10. Keep connected with your off-campus support group. All those people who helped get you to college are still available for you. Don't keep challenges to yourself.
11. Don't be worried if you change your major. Most college students do. However, the smart thing to do is to get advice on how to do it.
12. Don't jump into career decisions. Think more about what you want to DO when you graduate, instead of what you want to BE. The career direction you ultimately choose might not even exist now.
13. Watch your social media habits. Keep your reputation online positive. Like never before, YOU are responsible for your own brand. A good name is a good thing to have, easy thing to lose and the hardest thing to get back.
14. Do all you can to develop your teamwork skills, your communication skills and your ability to analyze situations.
15. Expect to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Whether you are living on campus or living at home; The college freshman year will bring a lot of changes.
16. Make good choices about how to spend your money.
17. Make good choices about the food you eat. Being sick at school is no joke.
18. Read your syllabus and know when things are due. Mid-terms will come before you know it.
19. Time management MUST become a priority. Use tools like day-planner, stop watch on your telephone or alarm to keep you focused on priorities.
20. "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are." Keep this as one of the mantras you try to live by as you discover your way through college.
If you are a new college freshman or know one, let me share with you my 20 favorite tips with real advice. These tips are not just based on my own college experience or that of my kids, but are the result of 13 years in higher education, working with college students.
Not all of these tips will apply to every new college student. Usually I advice students to select 5 to 10 that will fit on a note card or 8 x 11 sheet of paper. Keep these 5 to 10 accessible and work on them one at a time.
Real Tips for College Freshmen
1. You don't have as much free time as you think you do! If you find you have time to burn; something is wrong. There is something you should be doing and you probably need to get help figuring out how to manage your time.
2. Keep in mind that you write your resume every day, with every action and every choice you make. If you haven't done it; it can't end up in your resume when you get ready to apply for internships, jobs, scholarships or grad schools.
3. Begin good career habits early! Find your campus career center in the first semester and follow @HBCUCareerCntr on Twitter for tweet-sized, relevant career, major, job search and internship information.
4. Do some personal exploration to learn more about who you are. Don't leave college without knowing your V.I.S.A. (Values, Interests, Skills and Abilities)
5. Plan to participate in at least one Internship, Study Abroad, Alternative Spring Break, Volunteer or Campus Leadership experience the summer after freshman year.
6. No matter how big the class will be; a professor can still know you by name, if you participate in class, ask questions or go to office hours.
7. Find them and use these study-resources on campus - Academic Advising office, First-Year Experience Program and/or Writing Center.
8. College freshman year is FULL of decision-making points. Take responsibility for your own actions and learn how to make decisions.
9. Find wise people to have conversations with and ask questions.
10. Keep connected with your off-campus support group. All those people who helped get you to college are still available for you. Don't keep challenges to yourself.
11. Don't be worried if you change your major. Most college students do. However, the smart thing to do is to get advice on how to do it.
12. Don't jump into career decisions. Think more about what you want to DO when you graduate, instead of what you want to BE. The career direction you ultimately choose might not even exist now.
13. Watch your social media habits. Keep your reputation online positive. Like never before, YOU are responsible for your own brand. A good name is a good thing to have, easy thing to lose and the hardest thing to get back.
14. Do all you can to develop your teamwork skills, your communication skills and your ability to analyze situations.
15. Expect to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Whether you are living on campus or living at home; The college freshman year will bring a lot of changes.
16. Make good choices about how to spend your money.
17. Make good choices about the food you eat. Being sick at school is no joke.
18. Read your syllabus and know when things are due. Mid-terms will come before you know it.
19. Time management MUST become a priority. Use tools like day-planner, stop watch on your telephone or alarm to keep you focused on priorities.
20. "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are." Keep this as one of the mantras you try to live by as you discover your way through college.
