Admission Advice > Improving Your Chances

Lessons From Freshman Year

By Don Rauf

How can you prepare for freshman year? We asked current college students to tell us the most important things they learned from the first-year experience and to share their tips on how to succeed.

"Don’t procrastinate. Get things done early. It’s too overwhelming when you wait until the last minute. Also, apply yourself in every class and on every project. Even if you don’t like the class or the project, learn it all."

"Take advantage of every opportunity you have to gain real-world experience in the field you’re interested in. Most schools have great alumni databases. You never know what connections you can make, and real-world experiences from internships and job shadowing look great on a resumé!"

"Attend class and be an active learner. It sounds pretty easy and like common sense, but—especially when living in the dorms—it is extremely easy to oversleep or get lazy. Take notes on the lectures and ask questions about what you do not understand. Don't be afraid to participate."

"The best part of getting to know your professor is that school becomes easier! I'm sure that students who have a strong relationship with their professors take more joy in subjects they are taking. . . These students get good grades and gain the opportunity to have a professional guide them through the undergrad jungle."

"I wish I had known that it's OK to explore different majors from what I had initially selected. . . . I've finally found my passion. Don't be afraid of changing your major. Choose what is right for your future, not anyone else’s."

"If you don’t have Facebook, it would be wise to activate an account. Facebook is a great tool to use before you leave for college. You can keep in touch with people you met during orientation or other college events. Facebook allows you to get a feel for your school and may make the social adjustment easier once you’re on campus. But remember: always be careful about the pictures and messages you post."

"Take a variety of classes. I chose a business major, but my favorite class was East Asian Philosophy. Also, get any kind of experience you can in the fields that interest you. The classroom experience and professional experience are two completely different things. Shadowing someone or doing an Internship is a great way to test out the professional experience. You wouldn’t buy a car before test driving it, so I suggest you don’t choose what you want to do for the rest of your life without knowing what it’s really like."

"Join a club and get involved. When I first got to college, I didn't fit in with my floor mates and I didn't feel connected to most of the freshman class. So I joined a club doing what I love—acting—and I've not only made close and loyal friendships, but also my network has expanded exponentially. I'm now involved in a great deal of community theater, too. So I found a place where I can fit in and have asafe haven and develop my professional and academic network."

"Avoid obsessive tendencies. I had to quit playing fantasy sports because I knew that I would not have enough time [for school work]. It’s better for some kids to simply leave their Xbox or World of Warcraft game at home if they know they can’t control themselves and turn it off."

"Never overextend yourself; know your limits and remain within them. I can tell you from personal experience that spreading yourself too thin takes away a lot of the enjoyment from your college career, not just in terms of social opportunities, but you also limit the energy you can devote to your school work and out-of-the-classroom experiences."