College Preparation: What to Expect Freshman Year
By Michele Blandino
For most young adults, the prospect of leaving home to attend college is both exciting and scary. In addition to having to learn how to navigate the school's campus, there are classes to take, new friends to make and a whole new culture to absorb. And, unfortunately, because many students come to college knowing more about the social opportunities than they do about the expected workload, they quickly become overwhelmed.
To help you (or your future college student) become better prepared for what lies ahead, here are some things you should know.
Don't Skip Orientation
Most colleges offer a Freshman Orientation during the summer months. While it will likely take you away from your summer job or other summer plans, be assured attending the orientation will be time well spent. In addition to receiving a tour of the campus, you will be given information regarding the various activities, social groups and other organizations you can join. You will also be provided with important information regarding the various services and resources that are available to you while you are on campus such as academic advisors, medical facilities and tutoring programs. Attending orientation will also give you an opportunity to meet some of your classmates and increase the likelihood that you will encounter a friendly face during your first few days on campus.
Scheduling
Not only do college students decide - sometimes with the help of an advisor - which courses to take, they also decide when they will take those courses. Therefore, if you know you will have trouble getting up for an early morning class, you can increase your chance of achieving success by trying to schedule your classes for later in the morning or in the afternoon. Similarly, if you think you will have trouble maintaining your focus for long periods of time, you can try to schedule your courses so that there are breaks in between.
Meet Your Advisor
Your academic advisor is there to help you. Take advantage of this. Many college students mistakenly believe they can handle their course selection and other matters on their own and in the process, end up missing out on some key advice or other guidance.
Stay on Task
Unlike when you were in high school, your college professors will not remind you to keep up with your reading or to do your assignments. Generally, a syllabus is passed out on the first day of class which outlines the reading assignments and other work that is expected to be completed during the course of the semester. That will be the only reminder you will receive; the rest is up to you. If you fall behind, you will find it nearly impossible to catch up, so it is recommended that you keep up with all of your assignments. Additionally, if some of your classmates form a study group, ask if you can join - this will help ensure that you won't fall behind.
For More Information:
To learn more about what to expect your freshman year, you can visit one of these web sites. You can also check out the web site for the college you will be attending; many have sections devoted exclusively to their incoming students.