College is the time when a person goes from being a kid to a young adult. This is also the time when a person is on his or her own but also needs to learn how to be responsible at the same time. But as time goes by, we students have learned the hard way that it’s extremely easy to let that freedom get to our heads and go a bit overboard causing us to screw something up. Studies have shown that students who’d never had a problem doing homework find themselves failing tests when there’s no one around to motivate them to attend class. People who’d always managed to have a thriving social life discover they’re constantly bored and alone. Depending on how you make of it, it can be a fun time or the worst experience of your life, and the best ways to enjoy, as well as, be successful in your freshman year is to remember a few key things. Meet new people, go to the library, don’t go crazy during the week, go to class, and get involved in a club.
Meeting new people is probably the most important step and one of the easiest in order to have a successful first year at college. Whether or not you’re living in a dorm or living with your parents, there are a lot of ways to meet different people or people that are similar to you. You can start by talking to those who sit around you. Without even knowing it you have made a friend who will probably remain being a friend in that class, and if the two of you realize you have a lot in common then there is a possibility that you guys will stay in contact when the semester is over.
“Upon hearing the word library, many college students associate that word with, that’s the last place I’m going to go” but, what we don’t realize is that it’s very important to reconsider that thought. Trying to study i...
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... think about all the information you’ll be missing and how much more work you have to put into in order for you to be on track with everyone else. The main reason why you’re in college in the first place is because you want to get an education so purposely missing class defeats the purpose. Just don’t miss class, it’s that simple.
Get involved. Don't get overwhelmed by all the school work, get out and discover things about your college and the students that go there. College is easier if you have friends to share the experiences with you. Join an organization or club. Try to pick a club that requires dedication and a sense of community. These are two great ways to meet new people and become involved in your college.
In conclusion, follow these tips to have a successful freshman year of college and to make sure you exceed expectations. Work hard and stay focused.
Throughout the length of schooling, students go through various changes. In their first year of school, children are required to make the transition from being at home for the entire day to being in school for a number of hours a day. These transition periods happen many times through the schooling years, but the most drastic changes occur during the transition from high school to college, where students weather numerous lifestyle changes. While each individual student goes on their own journey, certain themes remain common between different students. Studies are done to look at these themes identifying the numerous differences and similarities.
Colombo explains that “Beginning college can be disconcerting experience” (Colombo, p.1). That there will be more peer pressure from your peers and an increase expectations that you have never faced during your high school days. “In the dorms you may find yourself among people whose backgrounds make them seem foreign and unapproachable” (Colombo, p.1). Colombo also states “If you commute, you may be struggling against a feeling of isolation that you’ve never faced before” (Colombo, p. 1).
Coming to college as an adult, we have many expectations and preconceptions of what college will or will not be. The expectations we have can influence our college life for the better or the worse. My experience since starting college has been an interesting one. People have misconceptions about college because they do not know what to expect. After doing some research, I have concluded that there are three major factors that are often misunderstood about college life. The first is the financial aspect of college. Second, is the relationship between the professors and students. Third is time management. These three factors play an important role in why people are afraid to go down the path to college.
Students entering college for the first time become concerned with their college life. The students are on their own once they enter college. There are no parents or guardians telling them when to do homework, when to go to bed, or how to eat healthy. These students are now responsible for how they are going to succeed in school and meet their own needs. From the beginning, these students wonder what their experience is going to be like and are they going to handle the demands of college?
In college, professors will treat their students as adults and nobody is going to force someone to go to class. Professors also don’t tell students exactly what will be on a test. It is up to the student to determine what information from the following chapter(s) could be on the test and to study it. If a student. In college, students are dismissed by the professor. For example, if a student completed a test, they don’t have to wait for everyone else to complete the test, they are free to leave. In high school however, going to class is mandatory and it is very structured. If a student doesn’t show up, the school will call and inform a guardian their child missed class. Students in high school, are pampered. Teachers will extend due dates, prepare students for exactly what will be on an upcoming test, and remind the students of upcoming tests and quizzes. Also in high school, classes are dismissed by a bell or a clock. However, on the first day of school teachers commonly say, “The bell doesn’t dismiss you, I do.” The bell indicates that students are able to leave class at that
High schools are by far more built for students,scheduled and disciplined. The students are often times are forced to go so they are very opposed to school. The schedule is the same each day and the student is expected to have excellent attendance and faces disciplinary action if attendance protocol is not met. College is a very different story, the approach of colleges towards structure and attendance is much more relaxed. You can not go to class and it will be up to you on what you start to lack on. If you fall behind in a class because you have poor attendance they consider it unfortunate and expect the student to find a way to catch up on work. The teachers will not force you to join the class as a matter of fact they don’t care at all. The students may have a different schedule for each day of the week and they are expected to be able to handle their day to day work accordingly. The difference between a senior in high school and a freshman in college is the responsibility one has to carry once they reach
Many first-year college students face problems as they enter a new educational environment that is very different than that of high school. However, the common problem is that many first-year students become stressed. For many students, college is supposed to be the most fun time of their life; however, their fun can be restricted if it is limited by stress and other mental illnesses. According to the National Health Ministries (2006), stress is caused by “greater academic demands,” the feeling of being independent from family, “financial responsibility,” homesickness, being exposed to meeting new people, peer pressure, “awareness of one’s own sexual identity,” and the abuse of drugs and alcohol (p. 2). However, the causes of first year students’ stress mainly include academic demand, parents, finances, and peer pressure.
College students who have the opportunity to attend a university rather than a community college will find that the process of making friends is an easier one. Making friends while being in college has many factors strung a lot with it. Universities present a bigger opportunity of creating lasting friendships by providing more of a social life with dorm room living, greater social events and lounges for students to hangout at all through the day. The process of making a friend is a very unique one, and it does not come easy to everyone. In all reality, attending a university over a community college is the better approach when wanting to be socially active and meeting a variety of friends.
When I began college I had a small group of friends, but when I was trying to introduce myself to new people it came as a surprise to them that my parents did not attend college. After the conversations ended, I felt uncomfortable with how to act or think because I had a feeling of misplacement when talking with my fellow peers. As a byproduct of the change in college culture, it will create a “friendlier” environment for the first generation. Students need to feel safe, rather than out of place.
As a first year student, college is an excellent opportunity to discover one’s own sense of identity and interact with a diverse range of people. Unfortunately, everyone will experience moments of confusion, loneliness, or even disengagement during their college years, which may cause a lack of interest for campus involvement. Through many studies, there are several theories that determine the parallelism between a student’s growth and their involvement interest, which also provides helpful methods for first year students to overcome challenges during this time. As Luckyday mentors this gives us insight to how to carefully approach different situations from mentees while forming a lasting impact on their transition from high school to college.
College is a collection of diverse people, new experiences, and learning how to be an adult. While it is completely different from anything I have ever done before, I feel like I have adjusted well and am getting into the swing of being a college student. The transition from high school to college is difficult and I have faced some challenges including, learning good study habits and accepting who I am as a student, time management skills and putting myself into new situations where I can meet new people. While these have been difficult for me to encounter, they have taught me valuable lessons about myself and who I can and want to be.
Most students are introduced to a whole new world when coming to college. For many, it is the first time they are on their own. College is a very different culture than high school. It takes time for most students to get acclimated to the college lifestyle. During a college student’s years at college they will partake in situations they never dealt with before. Most have never been to parties that last till about 4am with all the alcohol they can drink. A lot are also not used to having to share a bedroom with one or more persons, the heavy work load in the classrooms, and for some actually paying school tuition. The day to day college life is different for majority of first time college students.
Some college students regret not socializing more and meeting new friends. Some tends to stick on their own cliques and are afraid or uncomfortable to meet new people.
I would have to say that I’m a pretty funny person & make friends fairly easily. But sometimes i can over think the smallest situations. As I said above by the first two weeks I felt like I had known everyone. The biggest advice to incoming freshman is not to be afraid to make new friends, always be open to try new things & get involved as much as you can.
Though it's different in many ways from high school, there is still pressure at college to "fit in" and to be liked by others. There is often peer pressure to do things you wouldn't normally do "because this is college" and you are trying to meet new friends. While a trip to Wal-Mart at 3am or staying up late with friends while trying to eat your weight in cookie dough maybe fun new things to try, driving while blindfolded because of a sorority dare or trying cocaine "because this is college" and definitely not good choices. Listen to your common sense.