It’s that time of year again, when extra-long twin bed sheets and egg crates are flying off the shelves at Target. Apple and Dell has probably seen an increase in revenue over the past couple of weeks. Eighteen-year-olds are saying goodbye to old friends and a life they once knew.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, we are entering those months when students are making that transition from high school to being college students.
I remember when it was my turn to go forth into the land of adulthood. I was dropped off at Calhoun Hall at the University of Cincinnati. I had my clothes, bedding, toiletries, and boom box (yes, this was pre-iPod). I didn’t have my own computer so I had to find a computer lab to email my girlfriend-now-wife. The campus seemed as big as its own small country.
But what I was equipped with was the knowledge that the best years of my life were here, and that what I did and how I did it would dictate the rest of my life. That, along with the motivating pressure of being a first generation college student, is what propelled me for the next five years.
But for those of you who are entering college, it is your turn to find your motivation and seize vast opportunities that college offers you. Even if you are not fortunate enough to attend the University of Cincinnati (smile) you have such an incredible journey to look forward to. And no matter what your school is, your major, what fraternity or sorority you may join… here are a few things that I think may help you achieve success in college:
Prepare your toolkit – you are in for some long days ahead of you, where it will seem as if there are 30 hours in a day and it STILL won’t be enough. Some items that you can keep on your person or in your dorm room/apartment that will make your life easier are: a good umbrella, a planner, hand sanitizer, a combination lock, a lanyard for your keys, and a reliable alarm clock.
Get involved – depending on the size of your institution, there will most likely be a student group that is devoted to your personal interest; and if such a group does not exist, just start one! Developing leadership, networking, and social skills is what will set you apart from your competition. My recommendation is to join each of three different types of groups: social/spirit, cultural, and political/service. And remember not to be a passive member – really get involved, because the experienced gained is invaluable.
Study abroad – with today’s economy being global, it is important to have some experiential learning in another country. Not only do you have the opportunity to gain course credit but you can travel to countries where the language, customs and culture is completely different than yours. A friend of mine from college studied a full year in Japan. Upon applying for jobs, the interviewer wanted to hear more about his international experience than anything else. An added perk – most of the time you can use your financial aid to pay for the trip!
Develop school spirit – one easy way to make your college experience dull is to be apathetic. Showing pride in your school will not only make your time there more enjoyable, but it will also form an emotional connection with you, current students and alumni who share the same passion for your college. This is one of the most important reasons you should choose very carefully your college – because you are going to be spending way too much time and money not to be proud of it.
Make safety a priority – too often are college students making risky decisions when it comes to their personal safety. For example, you can imagine how dangerous it would be to walk down a dark street on campus by yourself at 3 a.m. Additionally, it is not the brightest idea the leave your textbooks and iPod in the front seat of your car, only to be broken into. Making smart choices doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun.
Sit in the front of the class – some of you will have classes that have 50 people in it. Some of you might have 500 people in it. Regardless of the size, it is important that you are proactive with your learning, and one way is to sit in the front of the class. By doing so, you will always be able to clearly hear the professor. Additionally, you will find yourself directly in professor’s eyesight, and that shows then your initiative to learn (this could go a long way if you ever need help before or after class).
3-to-1 Rule – this was introduced to me during my freshman year at an orientation to help students prepare of the rigors of college study. What it means is that for every credit hour of class you have, you should be spending at least three times that number in studying outside of the class room. So if you are taking 15 credit hours per week, you need to study 45 hours per week. That is a total of 60 hours a week devoted to your studies. You may ask, “will I have time for anything else?!” The answer is, and will always be “Yes!” If you take a full week of 168 hours (7 days x 24 hours), you’ll be left with 108 hours after studying. Providing you get 8 hours of sleep per night (56 hours), you will still have 52 hours remaining per week, or almost 7.5 hours per day. That leaves plenty of time for working, extracurricular and personal time.
No comments:
Post a Comment