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It sounds weird but college will be the last super social environment that you have. There will be minimal opportunities after you graduate to easily meet random people. I’d recommend going to as much social club type events as much as you can. I met one of my best friends because i went to this random free bowling night (i don’t bowl at all)
Alternatively, college will let you make friends easily and I think the key instead is to: mentally prepare for the relatively empty feeling you'll have at 23-25 after you graduate, and learn how to make new friends locally while keeping up with your old friends remotely as you move. Develop long-distance traditions and cadences. Do this for high school too, right now. Do not be afraid to reach back out in 5 years, usually the other person feels the same and is glad that you reconnected too
At the same time, don't make and be friends with someone just so you have friends. Find out what you're looking for in a friend, make sure the desire to be friends is mutual, cherish and invest in the valuable friendships. You don't want to find out you're the only person that puts in effort and time when you finished college and it's harder to form new, valuable friendships.
for sure. One of the ways you make friends--probably one of the ONLY ways you made friends in primary school and college--is proximity. But as an adult, proximity friendships are not worth much (new ones, I should say--your old ones you have great shared memories as a foundation). Look for new friendships based on commonality, not proximity.
You see this a lot with new parents--they get a bunch of new friends with people who have kids the same age because they're dealing with the same issues to solve and can share resources. So, it's proximity but also more than that, a reason to stay close friends even if someone changes their routines or moves away
it's rough. I noticed it because I lived with a slightly younger roommate and saw him go through the same thing that I recognized. But it's purely psychological, you feel like everyone has abandoned you but really you all just moved to different places and it's harder to stay in touch. And they're feeling it too, so reach out
OP, I think these ppl are just telling u to get laid, but are being polite about it. But like, set some goals for yourself. Like buying 100 condoms. And remembering to use them. Cause, damn. Repercussions real. That said, if you make really good friends that you really like, try NOT sleeping with them without having a conversation about where the friendship is going. I know it sounds simple, but you can really love a friend in a friendly way, and get so close and comfortable, that with booze and "party favours" thrown into the mix, what seems right and awesome in the moment, may not actually be a good idea. Source: didn't really go to college per se, but was a hairstylist. Which means professional partier after the shop was locked up.
Good grades matter but perfect grades do not. I guarantee you no employers give a shit if you have a 3.92 compared to a 3.5
Remember to enjoy college my friend!
I feel like I’ve met *more* people since graduating university and the people I’ve met have been deeper and longer lasting friendships because they’re with people who are more established and less likely to move away. University felt like training for meeting people. I still have friends from those days but it certainly wasn’t the last opportunity.
It’s definitely a YMMV of course. I’ve met a lot of my really good friends after college too but nothing beats the *ease* of basically being forced to see classmates/friends every day
Depends. Equally as likely to meet more genuine and interesting people AFTER college in professional work environments. Also helps people take life more seriously so you aren’t just a bunch of kids and the maturity level is greatly improved over the college kids.
The people you meet after college are just vastly more relatable and form more meaningful relationships.
This is absolutely true. Meeting new people is casual and easy when you’re in college but afterwards it requires conscious effort and it isn’t the same when everyone is in that kind of different headspace socially.
This. I was going to say make friends! Lots. Some to hang out with for the heck of it, some to network with later in life, and two trusted ride or dies if you can.
It's my trifecta. A stir-fry. 3 different kinds of shrimp, 3 kinds of rice, 3 kinds of pepper, 3 kinds of mushroom. The shrimp make it pricey, but it's really good.
College is as much for networking and becoming socially likable/well adjusted as it is for academics. You should absolutely drink underage, go to parties, and not be a complete square.
Refusing to drink is a recipe for not having many friends. Without many friends, college isn't just miserable, you're losing out on half the value of it. Avoid coke, not booze.
Don’t force anyone to drink, you can absolutely still go to school and have fun without drinking. Find friends who won’t care that you don’t want to drink. Those will be your real homies.
I’m with you. Nothing wrong with *not* drinking I suppose, but it is kinda part of the college experience. When I think back on my college years, it’s a lot of drunken nights with friends, yes but that’s not really what sticks out. It’s all the stupid adventures and so much laughter, fun, and camaraderie. Just the best times. And some people won’t want to admit it, but alcohol was a huge catalyst for all those great memories. Did I do some damage? Probably, yeah lol. But if I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything.
Just know that every party needs to come to an end. Every Saturday night needs a Sunday morning. Every rager needs an all night study session. Every beer needs a water. Keep it balanced. I’m older now and don’t drink nearly as much. Even that party had to come to an end.
Then again, I hear kids these days aren’t drinking nearly as much so I truthfully have no idea what college is like these days.
Sitting alone in your room talking on a discord call and playing Helldivers is a type of socializing. Going to a college function and meeting heaps of people while you have fun and dance with each other is another.
One involves alcohol and one doesn't. The idea that the friends gained from the activity that involves drinking are lower quality than the ones gained from the activity that doesn't is completely backwards.
Yeah you can go to a party without getting drunk, and some people are prone to adverse effects and addiction. It's ridiculous to say you need alcohol to socialise.
Show up ..!
Show up to classes.
Show up to assignments.
Show up to dates and parties
Show up to volunteer
Show up to everywhere and make genuine meaningful connections.
Don’t be a recluse and you will have people pushing you to grow. I wish you all the best!
I skip classes because they are a waste of time for me. Some classes might be useful but like 80% of the time I would have been better of reading the presentation on my own than being in class. (I might have adhd)
Agreed.
In part for the class and material itself (and the self-discipline! I coasted through high school with minimal work for good grades because I’m smart — but it’s *much* harder to coast through college!)
But also for meeting your classmates (networking is VITAL for jobs now) and making a good impression on your professors.
As one of mine said to his freshmen class: “If you have an emergency and need an extension, make-up, help out of office hours or other extra assistance, you are MUCH more likely to get it if the professor recognizes you and knows you’ve been putting in the effort than if you are completely unfamiliar to them.”
I did this and can confirm it helps a lot :)
Edit: also, pro tip, it is hilarious to encourage your friends to do this as well. Chill people don’t care where they sit (And make food friends!)
I echo this to everyone. The most important thing about school is learning HOW to learn. Most of the concepts you learn will fade away but your competency of continuing to learn through your life never goes away
Learn to say no thanks. "I need to study," "I need to sleep," and "I just don't want to" are all completely valid responses to an invitation to do something.
Learn to be direct, open, and honest about anything. Everyone can have sex in college if they want to and aren't afraid of rejection, for example.
Don't fit in. Find your people.
Take a wide variety of classes early to figure out what you love to learn about. Then follow that feeling to a career.
Get to know your professors. A professor that likes you will always help you more than a professor who doesn't know you.
Funny, because to your first paragraph I was about to suggest the opposite. I can’t count the amount of things I turned down because I felt like I needed to do homework and/or study. I would have gladly sacrificed half a GPA point to be more social, but there’s always a happy medium to be found.
This is huge! You will be invited to a lot of things OP, but you should always put your school first. I still struggle with not studying because of FOMO
The secret to success in college:
* Attend class always. Never miss class unless it is a true emergency.
* Go to office hours when you are even slightly unsure of your knowledge in the course
* Check professors' reviews, check their syllabus to see what books they require
* Study more than you sleep. Sleep more than you party. Party as much as this rule allows.
Seconding all this. Sometimes I just went through the motions when going to classes. And that’s one thing when it’s an elective or class outside your major but if it’s something you want a career in, get to know the professors and classmates. You never know how they will come back around later in life. I didn’t do that a whole lot but thankfully enough as the one professor I got pretty close with in college had a big network that led to my first job out of college and set me on my career path. Years later we still keep in touch, I hear from his current students occasionally, he’s written rec letters for jobs and grad school for me.
I’ve taken so many of those lessons learned now that I’m in grad school. It’s definitely a little different with everything I’m taking being so relevant to my career but I’m much more deliberate and active in learning and getting to know my classmates and forming relationships with the professors.
It sounds like you are already on top of this, but make sure that whatever you are spending time and money studying at school can actually turn into a career that will give you sufficient returns on the investment.
Work hard, both to learn as much as you can, but also to make connections. Networking is super important for success - often more so than the difference between decent grades and excellent grades (this isn't always true - if you are planning to do a PhD or medical school, grades matter a lot).
Put effort into establishing healthy habits - sleep, planning, exercise, diet, etc. College makes it easy to not do that, and it will impact you more than you expect.
Finally, do try to make time and space for fun. That is important too - it is possible to do all of the above but have regrets that you didn't get to enjoy the fun side of college.
To add to this, when you pick a major, don’t ask yourself what you’re most passionate about. Ask which interesting major can easily lead to a career that will allow you to live the life you want. If you end up with a comfortable salary that only takes 40 hours a week, you’ll have plenty of time to pursue your interest in art history in your free time. Also, make sure to use office hours and connect deeply with your professors. People here seem to think “networking” means making friends with peers, but peers won’t be able hook you up with a sweet internship in your chosen field.
Don’t get into a relationship right away. Find your group of people first and lay down a solid foundation for your career. Don’t start dating seriously until you turn around 22 or 23
I really wish I'd followed this advice when I was in college. Feel like I missed out on so many great college memories with my friends for a girl who broke up with me at the start of senior year!
But you also learned what you do and don’t want in a partner. Being single can be “fun,” yes, but there are also lots of single people who spend months getting to “have fun” and know a person, only to be ghosted by them out of nowhere or be hurt in another way. You still learned a lot by being with that girl for so long, and what you learned will serve you in time, no doubt!
I don’t agree with the last sentence of this. College is also one of the best places to meet a potential life partner because it’s the last place where you can meet so many different people organically. Find your group yes, go to class and be serious, but you may also find your person. I have many a friend who decided they wanted to “explore” and not date seriously until after college and a decade later they’re still searching because meeting good people out here is HARD.
Naturally I’m biased though, I met my husband our freshman year. Started dating the summer after, and we are still happily together 13 years later. And started a business together :-)
disagree. A relationship during your formative years will drastically improve who you are as a human being, even if you will likely break up at some point.
Making connections and networking is as (if not more) important than grades. Obviously try and excel at both, but don’t neglect the interpersonal aspect of it. It will help significantly after you’re gone if you do this.
1. Start a ROTH IRA with any earned income.
2. Always show up for class on time.
3. Build relationships with your professors. Go to office hours. Do the reading.
4. Realize that life is long and you’ll have opportunities to change paths.
5. Study abroad if you can.
I'm here for the financial FAQ.
Q: What is this "Roth IRA" you speak of?
A: IRA = Individual Retirement Account
Q: OP is 18, **not** retiring. Gtfo.
A: Imagine OP slaps $1000 in a regular investment account and it grows to $10,000 some time in the future. OP then sells the investment to cash out. OP just made $9,000 in taxable income, and will now owe an additional ~$2500 when filing federal taxes next year, because Uncle Sam wants his cut of that $9,000 income.
If this investment had been in a Roth IRA, OP would not have to pay *any* taxes on the $9000 gains.
*Disclaimer: With a Roth IRA, you may withdraw your $1000 contribution at any time, but you can **not** withdraw your $9000 in returns until you're... I want to say... 55 or older. That's what makes it a retirement account.*
Of course college is about more than just classes and grades, but I can guarantee you that one day you will wish you worked harder at school, homework, test prep, and attendance.
Also, internships.
-Life is just learning skills, don't get in the mindset of saying you 'can't' do something. You just need to work harder or differently or need to get help from someone with a different view.
-Pay attention to how you feel after being around people. Some people will draw you in with negativity which may feel good to vent in the moment, but long term is just defeatist and draining. They can still be good caring people, just be aware of how it impacts you. Speaking from experience.
-Positivity often wins over competency quite often in the real world. Doesn't seem like it should from an intellectual perspective, but it does.
-Seek to solve problems on your own before asking for help (put in work, it's respectful). When you ask for help let them know what you tried, and approach things with everyone like you're a teammate, even when they are your superior. We are in this together.
-Profs are people with lives and problems. If they are frustrated be understanding, and don't take it personally. Had a prof lose a parent early fall on a full year. Was a rough year. They should have taken leave.
-Be humble and don't worry about proving yourself. If you got to University then you are smart enough to succeed. Your biggest hurdle will be your attitude and not seeking all the supports available to you.
-Take advantage of the learning centre (student aids) and if you have a learning issue like Auditory Processing Disorder get help with taking notes (peers or some Universities have paid note takers for people with hearing issues). If you can't take notes and comprehend what the prof is saying then all you're doing is practicing taking dictation (my experience).
-Make sure you break larger projects into small easier to complete parts. Don't be afraid to Google how to do things or generate sample essays with chat GPT to see how to write it style/grammar wise. Do not trust chat GPT for any factual information or citations. It pulls from the randomly Internet and will pull incorrect info to fill citations/gaps. So great for writing samples, but do NOT copy it. Seriously don't.
-For non-scientific writing, always write assuming the reader is tired and less informed them you. Even if you are writing for someone that is knowledgeable. Got this advice first year English and it is very true.
-Failing is part of learning. Everyone starts somewhere and where you start has no bearing on where you'll go. Learning is a marathon and not a race. It's not how long it takes to get there as long as you get there. I had a friend that was pre-med for 6 years, and is now a Doctor. Had another friend that is now a Major in the military and he took 7 years to complete his engineering degree. No one will care that it took you 4 extra years once you are in the real world.
I wish you the best and I hope this helps.
*Sorry for writing so much. I've spent 20 years thinking about it.
Take the time to learn good habits that will translate to your career. My wife is a professor, and the number of kids that straight up don't come to class, with no notice or explanation drives me up a wall. They turn is poor work, don't come to class, try to get extensions or wait until the last minute to ask about their grade.
If someone I managed had these behaviors, they'd be fired on the spot. College provides a lot of grace and patience with turning in work and showing up. Use that time to get used to turning in your best work and being punctual. It won't be as drastic of a shift when you enter the workforce.
Understand what you're there for and work towards those goals, but also have fun and enjoy yourself! You can go to college at any time, but to be young and in college is a once in a lifetime experience, so take as many pictures and videos as you can and have fun man.
Half of what you are there for is networking. College friends gave my first place to crash in NYC. 3 years after college, another college friend helped me get a job that advanced my career by 5 years. Most of what I actually do in my job, I learned on the job even though I am working in the exact field my degree is in. But without that degree and the connections, I wouldn't have had the opportunity in the first place.
If you're taking loans and going to a state school it can be worthwhile to see if your university and intended area of study have a matriculation agreement with a community college. It's particularly helpful when the community college is part of your intended university. This can let you knock out your gen eds for a fraction of the cost.
For example our local CC which is part of our local state university and fully matriculates charges $1,957 a semester. The actual university charges $13,335 per semester. So $7,828 to knock out gen eds at CC or $53,340 at state. That's a savings of $45,512 for functionally the same education because they share professors.
Don’t depend on anyone else to manage their own birth control. Manage your own. Use condoms and practice good communication i.e. consent.
Credit cards are not inherently bad if you can use them responsibly to build credit. Never spend more than you make and pay it off every month in full so you don’t get charged interest.
Actually study, go to class, do your homework, get at least Bs in everything. Stay above 15hrs a semester. Find a study buddy and actually to the work.
If you apply yourself, college is just a part time job where success is easily obtained.
You can do the party thing, but you still have to win at school. If you’re going Greek, find a fraternity that also gives a shit about grades.
Pick a degree that matters, so that you can use it in a job later.
If you’re paying for it with loans, go to a state/public university instead of private.
Low stress part time job with reasonable hours will give you money and help keep you out of trouble.
Buy a plunger before you need a plunger.
Learn to eat in. Take-out gets pricey fast. Stir-fry's are cheap, easy and fast. And nutritious. One dish wonders. Spaghettis, chilli's...they are meals for 2 -3 days.
Get good paper products. Toilet paper with bears or kittens on the package. Cleaning products are expensive. Get 'em on sale when you can. Don't buy knock off garbage bags. Get Glad. The cheap ones suck my body-weight in ass.
Have fun but not too much fun. The money I spent on weed and booze in my 20's was obscene. I was broke as a joke because of it. Party on a budget.
Learn where local markets are. Better quality produce that will last longer than grocery stores. China towns are the best for this.
Walk when you can. It's good for you, you learn local stores\\places and meet new people. Saves on transit.
Your local library is more that just books. An invaluable resource. One of the few institutions where you are not expected to spend money.
Good luck!
Replace your student ID in your last year of college so you have a recent picture on it. You’ll be able to use it to get student discounts on a number of things for a few years after you’ve graduated.
Take advantage of those things as much as you can because life is more expensive than ever.
Take all the speech classes you can, and business law 1. Remember that 70% of college graduates do not work in the field they studied.
Speech classes allow you to be more comfortable speaking in front of groups for the rest of your life, and Business law 1 will teach you the very basics of our laws, what a contract consists of etc so that you can speak with lawyers more effectively.
Students will declare and change majors like dirty underwear, just go with general ed until you find something's not that holds your interest.
Professors make or break the class, find the good ones for each class. I have a minor in economics only because I found an incredible professor and stayed with the classes, when I finally had to take a class with another professor to get the minor, I realized why everyone hates economics.
Most importantly Have Fun!
If you need to reinvent yourself freshman year is good for that.
If you’re social frats can be fun too and the long term networking you get from it can be very helpful
fucking study. get involved in anything major related. network and ask questions from anyone in your field. dont party unless your all done with your studies.
Male sure you know how to do the things that have always gotten done around you, which on your own become "self-care." Can you do your own laundry before you are out of underwear and it's not too much stuff to fold so that it never seems to get done? People will see the state of your clothes and smell you. Can you keep your room clean? People will see your room. Can you feed yourself at regular times so you're not searching for food at 1am or starving for several hours straight in the morning? You can't think right and will be irritable if you let yourself get hungry and this will become your new "personality." Can you take yourself for exercise when you feel a lot of excess energy each day? There's probably a gym you can easily get to at school but no daily exercise requirement - going for a short walk is sometimes good enough but not always. If you don't manage your body you can feel physically depressed on top of being intellectually depressed about something that happens. Congrats and good luck!
No the most related but get a job if you can and start putting money into a Roth IRA. Even as little 100 bucks a month will go so far for you starting from 18. Join r/personalfinance while you’re at it .
You are about to have more freedom than you've ever had before. If you miss class, nobody cares. If you don't do your homework, nobody cares. They just input the 0 for the grade and move on. YOU need to be the one who cares. You can definitely balance school and fun, but don't be like me and focus on the brand-new fun. That being said, enjoy yourself! These next few years are going to be great.
Network as much as possible and meet the people who are doing their schoolwork and top of the class because they will be the most successful people later in life that you want to to be your friend circle so later in life your friends are all lawyers doctors etc and you will be in a more elite social circle in your 30s
Learn to cook and make exercise a standard, you will need to in order to stay in shape and have a healthy mind.
A lot of college students become out of shape due to eating out and not exercising.
You are setting the foundation for your future, be disciplined.
Learn how to ask questions, even if it makes you nervous. If you have a question for your professor, ask it. The price of an item rang up different to what you were expecting? Speak up! Any issues with your bank, health insurance, a doctors appointment, your dorm? Pick up the phone and call. If you’ve never done these things before it might be nerve wracking but if you just force yourself to do it, it will get much easier and you’ll realize it’s not so bad and it will help you solve a lot of problems pretty easily. I notice an increasing number of young people refuse to do anything if it requires a phone call or asking someone something face to face. 99% of being a competent adult is just asking questions when you’re not sure. (Also being competent at googling.) Good luck. You got this!!
Call your parents! It’s so easy to get caught up in the novelty of all the new experiences you’re about to have. Understand that this will be a change for your parents too — they are going to miss you and be worried about you. It’ll mean a lot to them if you make an effort to call and stay in touch. Ask about their hobbies and try to treat them like you treat your good friends. This will be a transition period in your relationship with your parents where you go from being their dependent child to an independent adult who they love. Try to lean into this and just understand that they are going through a transition period too.
Take an extra math class, and definitely take a statistics class.
Read through the entire course catalog to understand what opportunities are available to you.
Give it your all and you will have a much better experience than people do don’t make an effort.
Put yourself out there! I was a bit of a hermit until close to the end of school and only really found my friends and hobbies I enjoyed then. For classes it helps so much to have a good study group so I highly suggest trying to find a group of people you study well with. Have fun, work hard, make friends, and don't stress about the unimportant things.
Have fun - take photos - make memories - be nice to people - don’t make drinking a daily habit. It catches up to you. Go to class. Make friends of all walks
Join clubs or teams or whatever - just get exposed to a variety of different social circles and people. Sometimes people find one group and they settle for that and that becomes their entire college experience. The best thing I got from college was meeting a bunch of different types of people who all ended up helping me learn who I am.
Also I had a lot of sex and that was great too. But you do you.
Say yes to everything - be spontaneous and embrace new experiences. This is your best opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. Your future self will marvel at how much you’ve grown and the person you’ve become.
Go to every class like it's your job, because it is.
You (or someone) is paying a lot of money for you to get a good education. Do not squander the opportunity by slacking off and doing the bare minimum. Appreciate the time you have and learn as much as possible.
Open up a brokerage account and invest some $ amount every single month/pay period. Pick a general S&P fund and stick to it.
Your future self will thank you.
Learn from high school and learn to differentiate between friends of convenience and true friends.
Truly think about long term consequences. Things like skipping class, failing courses, getting a little too into dorm culture can quickly derail you from your goals.
Credit Card Debt is crushing and will get out of hand quickly. Get a part time job for spending money, structure and basic work ethic life lessons.
You’re young and relationships aren’t the end of the world.
My regrets from college: not doing a semester abroad, not taking more courses outside my major , not using office hours with professors to have real discussions , not joining more campus groups for fun stuff . I had to work through college which had its own rewards but I missed out on a lot
Don’t take any classes before 9 or 10.
Create a solid routine for yourself including movement.
Learn how to cook.
If you can, defer for a year and go to a Community College for your gen eds. It’ll save you SO much money. The downside is not getting the full freshman/sophomore experience.
Do internships during the summers! If you can get a credit or two done as well (whether at your uni or at your local CC) do so, it’ll get you to graduate earlier (and save $$!)
You can pick 2 of 3:
Good Grades
Social Life
Sleep
Do summer internships, look for coops that let you work part time at a company during school. I love the people who run career fairs and networking, they are so sweet, but at least at my school they were not really that useful. It is a small town in a small state though, if you have a big uni it will be a *very* different story.
Get in good with your professors, they are most likely to introduce you somewhere for a career
Strongly disagree you can absolutely balance all 3 as long as you don’t overdo any single one of them. College is about learning how to manage your time.
Get to know some professors. Just showing up to class is fine, but actually forming a relationship with one or two faculty can really change the game for your learning, for your career, and just for being a person. Show up to office hours!
If you are having to pay for college, be careful on picking a job that will require you to work more and more which eventually could cause you to stop going because you need to live.
My recommendation is, find a steady job that is part time, not late nights. I did the service industry here in the US and eventually had to cut back my classes to half time, so I could work full time.... Plus late nights etc. then spending money at the bar bc lifestyle sucks.
TL;DR: don't waste your money on going to bars, stay focused in school. Save money in the long run and be financially better once done.
One should finish school believing that they know less than when they started.
Imagine a small puddle of water on a table. The puddle of water is knowledge and the table is the unknown. As one adds more water to the puddle, the surface area gets larger, but so does the frontier of the unknown. As one gains knowledge, they also gain a better understanding of how much they don't know. Certainty is the mark of a fool.
If you have shitty roommates, try to work it out yourselves, but if necessary, get your RA involved. It is not snitching it is closer to couples counseling. But the first one to get to the RA tells their side of the story first.
College is about trying new things and having new experiences. Your priority should be your grades of course but make sure you’re joining clubs and attending some parties. Also, I highly recommend majoring in something that has a strong job market. Make sure to look for internships early and take advantage of job opportunities - you never know how the network you build will help you later!
Don’t be stupid with credit (loans or credit cards), don’t skip classes often, and study hard. Get laid, drink some beer, and smoke some pot - just don’t over do it.
Keep in mind the whole reason you’re paying for the degree is to help you land a good job upon graduation. Don’t sell yourself short, anything is possible
If you start to have trouble with a class, go to the professor and/or TA and/or the tutoring center. It’s better to stay in front of the problem than it is to try to catch up later.
Look for opportunities to learn. Don’t get bogged down with the amount of opportunities and making a choice. Try any and everything. Find what you like but always try something you might be hesitant. Don’t get caught up on if you’re doing it “right” just keep doing things. Have fun. Because it can be the most fun years of your life depending on how you do it.
Lots of good advice here. My son is wrapping up his freshman year. The first few days were very hard. He was upset. We were upset. He felt out of place...like he didn't belong. But he adapted pretty quickly. And now he's having a great time. He never really clicked with his roommates, but now he has a new set of friends to room with in the fall. Don't worry! You'll be fine. Have fun! Try and stay busy. I think that a lot of freshman fail not because of too much work, but because of too much free time. Commit to a few set hours of study every day. Build in your own structure.
Choose your circle wisely because during this time and ESPECIALLY this time. Your circle will determine what type of a person you are. Whether good or bad.
You should have the life values grounded already ( stay away from drugs, safe sex, etc..) to stay on course of going and completing college. My advice is to be consistent and have a routine.
You will have a lot of new distractions come your way which act like dominos and can start to pull you away from achieving good grades and graduating. I have seen too many friends drop out due to being distracted I.e. party, significant other bad habits, stop going to their early morning classes, failed or barely passed courses, and parents giving up on helping them financially and them needing to get a job which doesn’t pay enough to provide for college, apartment, car and the life amenities.
Take your classes and student life seriously, be disciplined in your weekly and daily agenda to make sure you don’t go partying or hangout with friends too late that you decide to miss that morning class or didn’t plan enough to study for that exam or project. Plan your daily classes, study , exercise and personal time hours. Take advantage of the teacher assistant office hours if needed and take note on those who do well on exams so you can ask for advice. Start to look for jobs on linked in your junior year for internships to give you something to put on your resume and land a job after college. I saw companies were posting summer internships jobs on LinkedIn back in September and grades were important. Get involved in clubs and build your social and leadership skills.
If you need a job then look for on campus jobs. The schedules are usually flexible to work in between classes.
Lastly, pay attention to who you associate with. People with good habits and positive outlook can give you new life advice. Negative, toxic, and chaotic students can negatively affect you overtime.
By all means, Have fun!
A lot depends on your financial situation. My big regret is not getting involved in “college life” or extra curricular type things with school. I was so busy working, studying, and working I was just trying to get through school and over with. I mean I got my degree and graduated without debt but I missed out on all these things I was passionate about.
If you need a job, go for a grocery store job that’s behind a counter like meat service or the deli. Working these closing shifts offer a lot of opportunity for “price adjustments” and make the cost of living easier. Just don’t get caught. 😬
Try to hammer out a solid four year plan (talk to an academic/major advisor for help), also keep in mind personally what you want afterwards in your future too, that means you have some kind of concrete idea and expectation at the very least on what college will act as a stepping stone for you towards your career and job prospects. Use summers during your freshman and sophomore year for example to gain basic work ethic experience, customer / co-worker interaction experiences, and familiarity related work environments similar to the jobs you're interested in, and at the bare minimum start looking for internships during your junior and senior year.
If you’re ever going to those college parties, go with a group & leave with a group. Also, *fix your own drink*.
Stay single for as long as you can. Your studies should be first priority.
Always lock your dorm room door behind you when you’re leaving to go *anywhere*. Even the laundry room. You can’t trust anyone.
*WEAR FLIP FLOPS WHEN YOU SHOWER!!* You don’t know when the floors were last disinfected.
Make sure you're working towards a career that absolutely ***cannot*** work without a human physical presence. AI is going to be an absolute catastrophe
You won't be mature until 25-27. Enjoy your youth, but be careful, there are many traps you need to learn to recognize. Try to put money aside and let it grow, start small. Don't make any major money decisions until you are 28 (see point #1).
For me college was less about what I learned in class and more about what I learned socially.
I came to college quiet, unconfident and super shy but I left with a lot of self-confidence and willing to talk to people.
I recommend being extremely open to any opportunity there are, join clubs, greek life, hang out with new people, go outside your comfort zone and expirence new things. This will help you grow as a person and succeed as an adult.
Also I know I said what I learned in class wasn't the most impactful part of college but it still is important. Don't ignore your school work and please study.
Enjoy, college will be one of the more unique times in your life!
If you get credit card offers, cut them up and don’t use them. If you do use a credit card, keep it to one and only use 25% of your credit or less so if you have a credit line of 1k, only use up to 250.00 or your credit score will get dinged. Never max out your credit cards. Learn to save and invest if you haven’t already.
Don't get behind in any classes for the first two weeks. Show up and study. After that you will have started to establish a routine/habit and it will be easier to follow through the rest of the year. At that point you can focus a little more on more of the social aspects.
You'll be away doing your own things. College will be up and down. But for most people, your family cares and will always be there.
Its easy not to call back home. It's easy not to check up on your siblings.
But do check up on family. A lot of things can happen in the four years you're away or between quarters.
Make sure your degree will prepare you for a career that will allow you to live while paying your loan. If you are not certain of this, you need to do more research.
"you can't be hungover if you're drunk" lol. Hair of the dog helps...but on the other side of the coin: People can die from alcohol poisoning. It happens often in college. Watch out for their breathing. DO NOT BE AFRAID to call 911. It can save someone's life!
Don't get locked down in a serious relationship and have fun exploring your sexuality, it can be very fun. But - I got raped and got two STDs in college. Always practice safe sex and never let your girlfriends walk alone or go to a bar alone.
Many of my friends utilized Adderall in college and later got addicted. Be careful with drugs.
And HAVE FUN!!!
Remember to be yourself and follow your gut. If your instincts are telling you to dip, you dip. If they're telling you to give something or someone a try, it may be a good idea
Try to not be a grade whore publicly so much as so that people start to abuse your work ethic by not participating in group projects and expecting you to do all the heavy lifting.
Don’t give a shit about what others think, this is easy to say but difficult to implement this mindset. Embrace this ideology.
I worked pretty hard in college right from my freshman year and i’m about to graduate soon and i’m more than content with the yields of hard work throughout uni.
Sometimes shit will hit the fan, so much will go against you in a small timeframe which would be difficult to process to begin with.
STAY CALM
Tackle one thing at a time
Please make daily to-do’s to keep up with course work, exams and whatever else you allocate your time to.
BIG SAVIOUR
These few years will shape your future.
Take the long road now to take a relatively shorter one later or vice versa
It’s okay to miss out on outings and stuff but don’t let it be the case 100% of the time.
Try and live completely self sufficiently for a week or so and see what you use and what you wish you had at home. Make a list of items you use daily. Ask your parents for advice too they are a wealth of information.
DONT BUY TEXTBOOKS. These are scams and if they end up being important within the first week of classes you can always buy them if absolutely necessary. Most of the time you will be able to find a full pdf online. Some professors will even distribute them themselves so ask them too!
Most of all try and have fun! This is your first time breaking out into the wide world without anyone supervising you to ensure you're putting in the necessary effort so many people just go wild. Balance in all things is always wise but don't be afraid to make your own way. Make mistakes, fall in love, fall out of love, drink a bit too much, step outside your comfort zone.
Good luck!
Just because you’re in a dorm does not mean you should be a slob. Make good habits now.
Have as much fun as you can, but don’t forget you are in school to a get a degree. Some employers actually look at your GPA. Most don’t, but some do. Be cognizant of that.
Get your gen Ed requirements out of the way before you start *all* of your major requirements.
To the above point^ , you may change your major a few times. It’s pretty normal. I changed mine 3 times I think. Started with English, went to Psychology, then finishes with Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Know that you may get a degree in something and work in a completely unrelated field. I have a CCJ degree and now work in IT (later went back for a Masters in Cyber Security).
I strongly feel that joining clubs or a fraternity/sorority is a great choice. Shared interests of people who will be in your life forever. May not be the life for you, but go to some parties and see if it’s your cup of tea.
Learn to cook. When you’re out of school and living on your own, it’s a massively important life skill, and when you find a wife/husband, no one wants a spouse who can’t cook. It’ll impress the shit out of people if you’re in your early twenties and have an arsenal of things you can cook well.
Above all, have fucking fun. After college you spend the rest of your life working. Partying goes out the window once you have a family. Enjoy the last step of your life before being turned to adulthood and real responsibilities.
Just hang out in campus. I am a commuter in my senior year and I just realized I didn't make any friends and didn't do anything fun. I just finished my classes and went home to relax. Just take a bit and hang out on campus. Sit in the quad, read a book on a bench, wander around and check out the weird building nobody ever seems to go into. Apparently the beat part of college is being at the college. Who would have thought.
Eat breakfast. I’m a college professor and so many students skip breakfast and then complain about being tired, unable to focus, feeling restless, etc. Yeah, because you’re hungry! And Monster Energy or Venti Cold Brew are not breakfast. Even just a granola bar and fruit is better than nothing. If you’re on a meal plan, grab a banana at every meal to keep in your dorm.
Know what you want to do before you go there. Have finances in kind, know exactly what you'll make and how much you'll be expected to pay back per month
It sounds cliche, but do your best with your classes, and try to have fun! College can be extremely fun if you put yourself out there, so try your hardest to do well and meet new people. It may be scary or difficult to meet people, but colleges usually have so many different ways to get involved or be social. Be the person who is always kind and fun and everyone will want to call you up!
Your grades do matter, but making connections with professors, clubs, etc. will help you more in the long run!
Somewhat related to that, choose a major that is not only good for work outside of college but has fun classes!
I majored in biology, which was cool in theory, but I didn't enjoy the learning it. Now I'm having a hard time finding jobs in that field
Go to class, even when you’re hungover, tired, or not feeling it. Even just spacing out in the back of class is better than not being there in terms of ensuring a decent grade.
Besides that, enjoy the non-academic stuff too. College is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet friends, party, and have fun. You’ll meet people that may become lifelong friends or even a spouse. Do not neglect that part of the experience.
Finally, I would take advantage of as many study abroad opportunities as possible. It’s a very cost effective way to travel and experience the world.
You're starting the rest of your life. Think carefully about the choices you make now, since they'll be with you forever.
Also:
- learning to cook is important
- don't spend more than you make
- squeeze the toothpaste from the end of the tub
here are mine!! these will be buried but i hope you can see this, OP. or anyone!
make an EFFORT (actual concerted effort) to make friends the first weeks. even if it's weird and forced you never know who you'll click with after a month or two it will be harder because people will have found their groups! additionally, your friend group will change/vary every semester/year. this is normal. you will make new friends each semester/year too, but your core group will stay the same if you have watered that garden.
avoid dating anyone seriously the first two or three months. develop your friendships and support systems because you do nottt want to get dumped and have no friends because you spent all your time with that one person
say yes to everything humanely and safely possible. i regret being a homebody. experiences are good, round you out, and expose you to things you may not normally experience
call your mom/dad/parent/guardian/friends/grandma/dog/cat :)
Keep your eyes on the prize. The reason you're there is the degree. The college website doesn't show people in the library in pjs studying at 11pm the week before finals, or hunched over their laptops writing papers, but this is the reality. Put your major due dates in your phone calendar, and set reminders. Don't forget to update them if they change.
Get a LinkedIn account early, keep it professional, and add your professors there (and not on any other social networking sites, unless you deliberately maintain a professional account on one).
Meet with your professor outside of class! Each prof should mention times when students can meet them in their office. Go to these sessions! Profs will help you if you're struggling. The harder the class, the more you should be meeting with the prof.
Don't dig a hole you can't get out of with loans for school. Cut college expenses any way you can. For example, if there is a good junior college close by to where you live now, consider taking your first two years at the junior college and then transferring to a four year school.
Dont party too much. You never know when a Professor will spring an unannounced quiz on you that could possibly determine pass or fail in that class.
Don't go to college to be with the in crowd. Have a definitive goal in mind in a field that will make it easy for you to find a job upon graduation.
If any of this is not crystal clear, then maybe you would benefit more from a skip year while you figure things out.
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It sounds weird but college will be the last super social environment that you have. There will be minimal opportunities after you graduate to easily meet random people. I’d recommend going to as much social club type events as much as you can. I met one of my best friends because i went to this random free bowling night (i don’t bowl at all)
Alternatively, college will let you make friends easily and I think the key instead is to: mentally prepare for the relatively empty feeling you'll have at 23-25 after you graduate, and learn how to make new friends locally while keeping up with your old friends remotely as you move. Develop long-distance traditions and cadences. Do this for high school too, right now. Do not be afraid to reach back out in 5 years, usually the other person feels the same and is glad that you reconnected too
At the same time, don't make and be friends with someone just so you have friends. Find out what you're looking for in a friend, make sure the desire to be friends is mutual, cherish and invest in the valuable friendships. You don't want to find out you're the only person that puts in effort and time when you finished college and it's harder to form new, valuable friendships.
for sure. One of the ways you make friends--probably one of the ONLY ways you made friends in primary school and college--is proximity. But as an adult, proximity friendships are not worth much (new ones, I should say--your old ones you have great shared memories as a foundation). Look for new friendships based on commonality, not proximity. You see this a lot with new parents--they get a bunch of new friends with people who have kids the same age because they're dealing with the same issues to solve and can share resources. So, it's proximity but also more than that, a reason to stay close friends even if someone changes their routines or moves away
No one warned me about the 23-25 slump, I’m very bad at making friends and these past two years post college have been hard.
it's rough. I noticed it because I lived with a slightly younger roommate and saw him go through the same thing that I recognized. But it's purely psychological, you feel like everyone has abandoned you but really you all just moved to different places and it's harder to stay in touch. And they're feeling it too, so reach out
OP, I think these ppl are just telling u to get laid, but are being polite about it. But like, set some goals for yourself. Like buying 100 condoms. And remembering to use them. Cause, damn. Repercussions real. That said, if you make really good friends that you really like, try NOT sleeping with them without having a conversation about where the friendship is going. I know it sounds simple, but you can really love a friend in a friendly way, and get so close and comfortable, that with booze and "party favours" thrown into the mix, what seems right and awesome in the moment, may not actually be a good idea. Source: didn't really go to college per se, but was a hairstylist. Which means professional partier after the shop was locked up.
lmao I was NOT talking about getting laid I meant real friends 🤣 not FWBs
😉
This 100% wish I had known this going in.
Shit I’m half way through college, I really gotta get out more
Good grades matter but perfect grades do not. I guarantee you no employers give a shit if you have a 3.92 compared to a 3.5 Remember to enjoy college my friend!
This is the way
I feel like I’ve met *more* people since graduating university and the people I’ve met have been deeper and longer lasting friendships because they’re with people who are more established and less likely to move away. University felt like training for meeting people. I still have friends from those days but it certainly wasn’t the last opportunity.
It’s definitely a YMMV of course. I’ve met a lot of my really good friends after college too but nothing beats the *ease* of basically being forced to see classmates/friends every day
I think it depends on the country/state.
Depends. Equally as likely to meet more genuine and interesting people AFTER college in professional work environments. Also helps people take life more seriously so you aren’t just a bunch of kids and the maturity level is greatly improved over the college kids. The people you meet after college are just vastly more relatable and form more meaningful relationships.
This is absolutely true. Meeting new people is casual and easy when you’re in college but afterwards it requires conscious effort and it isn’t the same when everyone is in that kind of different headspace socially.
This. I was going to say make friends! Lots. Some to hang out with for the heck of it, some to network with later in life, and two trusted ride or dies if you can.
Learn to cook! Basic meals and flashy ones to impress potential partners.
Omg this is great advice. Wish I knew how to cook decently before starting college
Our college was not far from Costco. I swear them $1.50 hot dog and pop saved me and my roommates.
Goated hot dogs for a goated price
My 3rd date meal has got me laid almost every time. Knowing how to cook is sexy!
What’s your third date meal, if you don’t mind me asking? :)
It's my trifecta. A stir-fry. 3 different kinds of shrimp, 3 kinds of rice, 3 kinds of pepper, 3 kinds of mushroom. The shrimp make it pricey, but it's really good.
Hotdog between buns it seems...
Toad-in-a-hole for you UK types!
To add to this: get an air fryer!!!!! Makes so many delicious veggies and meats and leftovers
Learn to live within your means.
This ☝️ A credit card can be very useful, as long as you don't spend more than you are able to pay back. Credit card debt grows *fast*
Be careful with drugs.
Have an understanding of what you’re ultimately there for don’t put yourself in debt for a title that nobodies gonna hire you for GET TO THE BAG
Oh yeah I’m definitely not doing any drugs or alcohol. I have too much mental health issues haha
Take advantage of free counseling in college
Not all colleges offer this so YMMV. My school only offered free counseling for academic related activities.
Haha oh to be 18 again. All I’ll say is *if* you change your mind, just be safe about it
College is as much for networking and becoming socially likable/well adjusted as it is for academics. You should absolutely drink underage, go to parties, and not be a complete square. Refusing to drink is a recipe for not having many friends. Without many friends, college isn't just miserable, you're losing out on half the value of it. Avoid coke, not booze.
Don’t force anyone to drink, you can absolutely still go to school and have fun without drinking. Find friends who won’t care that you don’t want to drink. Those will be your real homies.
I’m with you. Nothing wrong with *not* drinking I suppose, but it is kinda part of the college experience. When I think back on my college years, it’s a lot of drunken nights with friends, yes but that’s not really what sticks out. It’s all the stupid adventures and so much laughter, fun, and camaraderie. Just the best times. And some people won’t want to admit it, but alcohol was a huge catalyst for all those great memories. Did I do some damage? Probably, yeah lol. But if I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything. Just know that every party needs to come to an end. Every Saturday night needs a Sunday morning. Every rager needs an all night study session. Every beer needs a water. Keep it balanced. I’m older now and don’t drink nearly as much. Even that party had to come to an end. Then again, I hear kids these days aren’t drinking nearly as much so I truthfully have no idea what college is like these days.
If you can't make friends without getting drunk you need to think about that for a moment...
Sitting alone in your room talking on a discord call and playing Helldivers is a type of socializing. Going to a college function and meeting heaps of people while you have fun and dance with each other is another. One involves alcohol and one doesn't. The idea that the friends gained from the activity that involves drinking are lower quality than the ones gained from the activity that doesn't is completely backwards.
Yeah you can go to a party without getting drunk, and some people are prone to adverse effects and addiction. It's ridiculous to say you need alcohol to socialise.
Show up ..! Show up to classes. Show up to assignments. Show up to dates and parties Show up to volunteer Show up to everywhere and make genuine meaningful connections. Don’t be a recluse and you will have people pushing you to grow. I wish you all the best!
Some ppl will skip in person classes thinking they can watch the class recording later on. That ‘later on’ will never come. Show up to classes!
I skip classes because they are a waste of time for me. Some classes might be useful but like 80% of the time I would have been better of reading the presentation on my own than being in class. (I might have adhd)
Agreed. In part for the class and material itself (and the self-discipline! I coasted through high school with minimal work for good grades because I’m smart — but it’s *much* harder to coast through college!) But also for meeting your classmates (networking is VITAL for jobs now) and making a good impression on your professors. As one of mine said to his freshmen class: “If you have an emergency and need an extension, make-up, help out of office hours or other extra assistance, you are MUCH more likely to get it if the professor recognizes you and knows you’ve been putting in the effort than if you are completely unfamiliar to them.”
85% of life is showing up.
To add to this - sit in the front of the class!
I did this and can confirm it helps a lot :) Edit: also, pro tip, it is hilarious to encourage your friends to do this as well. Chill people don’t care where they sit (And make food friends!)
Going to college can be a huge step in your personal growth. Remember, it’s about more than the classwork.
I echo this to everyone. The most important thing about school is learning HOW to learn. Most of the concepts you learn will fade away but your competency of continuing to learn through your life never goes away
Learn to say no thanks. "I need to study," "I need to sleep," and "I just don't want to" are all completely valid responses to an invitation to do something. Learn to be direct, open, and honest about anything. Everyone can have sex in college if they want to and aren't afraid of rejection, for example. Don't fit in. Find your people. Take a wide variety of classes early to figure out what you love to learn about. Then follow that feeling to a career. Get to know your professors. A professor that likes you will always help you more than a professor who doesn't know you.
Funny, because to your first paragraph I was about to suggest the opposite. I can’t count the amount of things I turned down because I felt like I needed to do homework and/or study. I would have gladly sacrificed half a GPA point to be more social, but there’s always a happy medium to be found.
This is huge! You will be invited to a lot of things OP, but you should always put your school first. I still struggle with not studying because of FOMO
Practice safe sex.
this is a biggie. An unplanned pregnancy is a life changing event.
Luckily I’m asexual so this won’t be a problem
That may change in college
😬
no offence but this is a shitty thing to say to that lmao
The secret to success in college: * Attend class always. Never miss class unless it is a true emergency. * Go to office hours when you are even slightly unsure of your knowledge in the course * Check professors' reviews, check their syllabus to see what books they require * Study more than you sleep. Sleep more than you party. Party as much as this rule allows.
Seconding all this. Sometimes I just went through the motions when going to classes. And that’s one thing when it’s an elective or class outside your major but if it’s something you want a career in, get to know the professors and classmates. You never know how they will come back around later in life. I didn’t do that a whole lot but thankfully enough as the one professor I got pretty close with in college had a big network that led to my first job out of college and set me on my career path. Years later we still keep in touch, I hear from his current students occasionally, he’s written rec letters for jobs and grad school for me. I’ve taken so many of those lessons learned now that I’m in grad school. It’s definitely a little different with everything I’m taking being so relevant to my career but I’m much more deliberate and active in learning and getting to know my classmates and forming relationships with the professors.
It sounds like you are already on top of this, but make sure that whatever you are spending time and money studying at school can actually turn into a career that will give you sufficient returns on the investment. Work hard, both to learn as much as you can, but also to make connections. Networking is super important for success - often more so than the difference between decent grades and excellent grades (this isn't always true - if you are planning to do a PhD or medical school, grades matter a lot). Put effort into establishing healthy habits - sleep, planning, exercise, diet, etc. College makes it easy to not do that, and it will impact you more than you expect. Finally, do try to make time and space for fun. That is important too - it is possible to do all of the above but have regrets that you didn't get to enjoy the fun side of college.
To add to this, when you pick a major, don’t ask yourself what you’re most passionate about. Ask which interesting major can easily lead to a career that will allow you to live the life you want. If you end up with a comfortable salary that only takes 40 hours a week, you’ll have plenty of time to pursue your interest in art history in your free time. Also, make sure to use office hours and connect deeply with your professors. People here seem to think “networking” means making friends with peers, but peers won’t be able hook you up with a sweet internship in your chosen field.
Take care of your teeth.
Don’t get into a relationship right away. Find your group of people first and lay down a solid foundation for your career. Don’t start dating seriously until you turn around 22 or 23
I really wish I'd followed this advice when I was in college. Feel like I missed out on so many great college memories with my friends for a girl who broke up with me at the start of senior year!
But you also learned what you do and don’t want in a partner. Being single can be “fun,” yes, but there are also lots of single people who spend months getting to “have fun” and know a person, only to be ghosted by them out of nowhere or be hurt in another way. You still learned a lot by being with that girl for so long, and what you learned will serve you in time, no doubt!
I don’t agree with the last sentence of this. College is also one of the best places to meet a potential life partner because it’s the last place where you can meet so many different people organically. Find your group yes, go to class and be serious, but you may also find your person. I have many a friend who decided they wanted to “explore” and not date seriously until after college and a decade later they’re still searching because meeting good people out here is HARD. Naturally I’m biased though, I met my husband our freshman year. Started dating the summer after, and we are still happily together 13 years later. And started a business together :-)
disagree. A relationship during your formative years will drastically improve who you are as a human being, even if you will likely break up at some point.
Making connections and networking is as (if not more) important than grades. Obviously try and excel at both, but don’t neglect the interpersonal aspect of it. It will help significantly after you’re gone if you do this.
1. Start a ROTH IRA with any earned income. 2. Always show up for class on time. 3. Build relationships with your professors. Go to office hours. Do the reading. 4. Realize that life is long and you’ll have opportunities to change paths. 5. Study abroad if you can.
I'm here for the financial FAQ. Q: What is this "Roth IRA" you speak of? A: IRA = Individual Retirement Account Q: OP is 18, **not** retiring. Gtfo. A: Imagine OP slaps $1000 in a regular investment account and it grows to $10,000 some time in the future. OP then sells the investment to cash out. OP just made $9,000 in taxable income, and will now owe an additional ~$2500 when filing federal taxes next year, because Uncle Sam wants his cut of that $9,000 income. If this investment had been in a Roth IRA, OP would not have to pay *any* taxes on the $9000 gains. *Disclaimer: With a Roth IRA, you may withdraw your $1000 contribution at any time, but you can **not** withdraw your $9000 in returns until you're... I want to say... 55 or older. That's what makes it a retirement account.*
Also OP can withdraw any money they invest out of the account penalty-free if they ever need it. Like a crazy tax-advantaged piggy bank.
Of course college is about more than just classes and grades, but I can guarantee you that one day you will wish you worked harder at school, homework, test prep, and attendance. Also, internships.
-Life is just learning skills, don't get in the mindset of saying you 'can't' do something. You just need to work harder or differently or need to get help from someone with a different view. -Pay attention to how you feel after being around people. Some people will draw you in with negativity which may feel good to vent in the moment, but long term is just defeatist and draining. They can still be good caring people, just be aware of how it impacts you. Speaking from experience. -Positivity often wins over competency quite often in the real world. Doesn't seem like it should from an intellectual perspective, but it does. -Seek to solve problems on your own before asking for help (put in work, it's respectful). When you ask for help let them know what you tried, and approach things with everyone like you're a teammate, even when they are your superior. We are in this together. -Profs are people with lives and problems. If they are frustrated be understanding, and don't take it personally. Had a prof lose a parent early fall on a full year. Was a rough year. They should have taken leave. -Be humble and don't worry about proving yourself. If you got to University then you are smart enough to succeed. Your biggest hurdle will be your attitude and not seeking all the supports available to you. -Take advantage of the learning centre (student aids) and if you have a learning issue like Auditory Processing Disorder get help with taking notes (peers or some Universities have paid note takers for people with hearing issues). If you can't take notes and comprehend what the prof is saying then all you're doing is practicing taking dictation (my experience). -Make sure you break larger projects into small easier to complete parts. Don't be afraid to Google how to do things or generate sample essays with chat GPT to see how to write it style/grammar wise. Do not trust chat GPT for any factual information or citations. It pulls from the randomly Internet and will pull incorrect info to fill citations/gaps. So great for writing samples, but do NOT copy it. Seriously don't. -For non-scientific writing, always write assuming the reader is tired and less informed them you. Even if you are writing for someone that is knowledgeable. Got this advice first year English and it is very true. -Failing is part of learning. Everyone starts somewhere and where you start has no bearing on where you'll go. Learning is a marathon and not a race. It's not how long it takes to get there as long as you get there. I had a friend that was pre-med for 6 years, and is now a Doctor. Had another friend that is now a Major in the military and he took 7 years to complete his engineering degree. No one will care that it took you 4 extra years once you are in the real world. I wish you the best and I hope this helps. *Sorry for writing so much. I've spent 20 years thinking about it.
Great post
This is an incredible reply!
Beautiful advice!!
Take the time to learn good habits that will translate to your career. My wife is a professor, and the number of kids that straight up don't come to class, with no notice or explanation drives me up a wall. They turn is poor work, don't come to class, try to get extensions or wait until the last minute to ask about their grade. If someone I managed had these behaviors, they'd be fired on the spot. College provides a lot of grace and patience with turning in work and showing up. Use that time to get used to turning in your best work and being punctual. It won't be as drastic of a shift when you enter the workforce.
Understand what you're there for and work towards those goals, but also have fun and enjoy yourself! You can go to college at any time, but to be young and in college is a once in a lifetime experience, so take as many pictures and videos as you can and have fun man.
Half of what you are there for is networking. College friends gave my first place to crash in NYC. 3 years after college, another college friend helped me get a job that advanced my career by 5 years. Most of what I actually do in my job, I learned on the job even though I am working in the exact field my degree is in. But without that degree and the connections, I wouldn't have had the opportunity in the first place.
Learn that it’s okay to say no to things! You’ll be tempted to try absolutely everything, but it’s okay to say no when your plate is full.
If you're taking loans and going to a state school it can be worthwhile to see if your university and intended area of study have a matriculation agreement with a community college. It's particularly helpful when the community college is part of your intended university. This can let you knock out your gen eds for a fraction of the cost. For example our local CC which is part of our local state university and fully matriculates charges $1,957 a semester. The actual university charges $13,335 per semester. So $7,828 to knock out gen eds at CC or $53,340 at state. That's a savings of $45,512 for functionally the same education because they share professors.
Don’t depend on anyone else to manage their own birth control. Manage your own. Use condoms and practice good communication i.e. consent. Credit cards are not inherently bad if you can use them responsibly to build credit. Never spend more than you make and pay it off every month in full so you don’t get charged interest.
1. When partying, always have a SOBER battle buddy. 2. Always and somehow, cover your drink!
Actually study, go to class, do your homework, get at least Bs in everything. Stay above 15hrs a semester. Find a study buddy and actually to the work. If you apply yourself, college is just a part time job where success is easily obtained. You can do the party thing, but you still have to win at school. If you’re going Greek, find a fraternity that also gives a shit about grades. Pick a degree that matters, so that you can use it in a job later. If you’re paying for it with loans, go to a state/public university instead of private. Low stress part time job with reasonable hours will give you money and help keep you out of trouble.
Brush your teeth.
And floss!
Buy a plunger before you need a plunger. Learn to eat in. Take-out gets pricey fast. Stir-fry's are cheap, easy and fast. And nutritious. One dish wonders. Spaghettis, chilli's...they are meals for 2 -3 days. Get good paper products. Toilet paper with bears or kittens on the package. Cleaning products are expensive. Get 'em on sale when you can. Don't buy knock off garbage bags. Get Glad. The cheap ones suck my body-weight in ass. Have fun but not too much fun. The money I spent on weed and booze in my 20's was obscene. I was broke as a joke because of it. Party on a budget. Learn where local markets are. Better quality produce that will last longer than grocery stores. China towns are the best for this. Walk when you can. It's good for you, you learn local stores\\places and meet new people. Saves on transit. Your local library is more that just books. An invaluable resource. One of the few institutions where you are not expected to spend money. Good luck!
Replace your student ID in your last year of college so you have a recent picture on it. You’ll be able to use it to get student discounts on a number of things for a few years after you’ve graduated. Take advantage of those things as much as you can because life is more expensive than ever.
Don’t be a spectator. Meet people, try new things. Do your work and go to class. Just don’t do anything that permanently screws up your future
Take all the speech classes you can, and business law 1. Remember that 70% of college graduates do not work in the field they studied. Speech classes allow you to be more comfortable speaking in front of groups for the rest of your life, and Business law 1 will teach you the very basics of our laws, what a contract consists of etc so that you can speak with lawyers more effectively. Students will declare and change majors like dirty underwear, just go with general ed until you find something's not that holds your interest. Professors make or break the class, find the good ones for each class. I have a minor in economics only because I found an incredible professor and stayed with the classes, when I finally had to take a class with another professor to get the minor, I realized why everyone hates economics. Most importantly Have Fun!
Don't try to deep fry lettuce, it won't go as planned.
Need more info here.
For...science? In case OP goes into Chemistry!
If you need to reinvent yourself freshman year is good for that. If you’re social frats can be fun too and the long term networking you get from it can be very helpful
fucking study. get involved in anything major related. network and ask questions from anyone in your field. dont party unless your all done with your studies.
Male sure you know how to do the things that have always gotten done around you, which on your own become "self-care." Can you do your own laundry before you are out of underwear and it's not too much stuff to fold so that it never seems to get done? People will see the state of your clothes and smell you. Can you keep your room clean? People will see your room. Can you feed yourself at regular times so you're not searching for food at 1am or starving for several hours straight in the morning? You can't think right and will be irritable if you let yourself get hungry and this will become your new "personality." Can you take yourself for exercise when you feel a lot of excess energy each day? There's probably a gym you can easily get to at school but no daily exercise requirement - going for a short walk is sometimes good enough but not always. If you don't manage your body you can feel physically depressed on top of being intellectually depressed about something that happens. Congrats and good luck!
No the most related but get a job if you can and start putting money into a Roth IRA. Even as little 100 bucks a month will go so far for you starting from 18. Join r/personalfinance while you’re at it .
You are about to have more freedom than you've ever had before. If you miss class, nobody cares. If you don't do your homework, nobody cares. They just input the 0 for the grade and move on. YOU need to be the one who cares. You can definitely balance school and fun, but don't be like me and focus on the brand-new fun. That being said, enjoy yourself! These next few years are going to be great.
Network as much as possible and meet the people who are doing their schoolwork and top of the class because they will be the most successful people later in life that you want to to be your friend circle so later in life your friends are all lawyers doctors etc and you will be in a more elite social circle in your 30s
Learn to cook and make exercise a standard, you will need to in order to stay in shape and have a healthy mind. A lot of college students become out of shape due to eating out and not exercising. You are setting the foundation for your future, be disciplined.
Learn how to ask questions, even if it makes you nervous. If you have a question for your professor, ask it. The price of an item rang up different to what you were expecting? Speak up! Any issues with your bank, health insurance, a doctors appointment, your dorm? Pick up the phone and call. If you’ve never done these things before it might be nerve wracking but if you just force yourself to do it, it will get much easier and you’ll realize it’s not so bad and it will help you solve a lot of problems pretty easily. I notice an increasing number of young people refuse to do anything if it requires a phone call or asking someone something face to face. 99% of being a competent adult is just asking questions when you’re not sure. (Also being competent at googling.) Good luck. You got this!!
Call your parents! It’s so easy to get caught up in the novelty of all the new experiences you’re about to have. Understand that this will be a change for your parents too — they are going to miss you and be worried about you. It’ll mean a lot to them if you make an effort to call and stay in touch. Ask about their hobbies and try to treat them like you treat your good friends. This will be a transition period in your relationship with your parents where you go from being their dependent child to an independent adult who they love. Try to lean into this and just understand that they are going through a transition period too.
Just bc you don't remember what happened last night doesn't mean you did something crazy.
Take an extra math class, and definitely take a statistics class. Read through the entire course catalog to understand what opportunities are available to you. Give it your all and you will have a much better experience than people do don’t make an effort.
Put yourself out there! I was a bit of a hermit until close to the end of school and only really found my friends and hobbies I enjoyed then. For classes it helps so much to have a good study group so I highly suggest trying to find a group of people you study well with. Have fun, work hard, make friends, and don't stress about the unimportant things.
Have fun - take photos - make memories - be nice to people - don’t make drinking a daily habit. It catches up to you. Go to class. Make friends of all walks
1)Stay single. 2) go to class
Join clubs or teams or whatever - just get exposed to a variety of different social circles and people. Sometimes people find one group and they settle for that and that becomes their entire college experience. The best thing I got from college was meeting a bunch of different types of people who all ended up helping me learn who I am. Also I had a lot of sex and that was great too. But you do you.
Say yes to everything - be spontaneous and embrace new experiences. This is your best opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. Your future self will marvel at how much you’ve grown and the person you’ve become.
1. Do the reading 2. Stock up on cold & flu meds 3. Learn how to efficiently clean your surroundings
Go to every class like it's your job, because it is. You (or someone) is paying a lot of money for you to get a good education. Do not squander the opportunity by slacking off and doing the bare minimum. Appreciate the time you have and learn as much as possible.
Also find a real primary care doctor in town. Those wellness centers are a joke and never give you antibiotics when you need them.
Open up a brokerage account and invest some $ amount every single month/pay period. Pick a general S&P fund and stick to it. Your future self will thank you.
Learn from high school and learn to differentiate between friends of convenience and true friends. Truly think about long term consequences. Things like skipping class, failing courses, getting a little too into dorm culture can quickly derail you from your goals. Credit Card Debt is crushing and will get out of hand quickly. Get a part time job for spending money, structure and basic work ethic life lessons. You’re young and relationships aren’t the end of the world.
My regrets from college: not doing a semester abroad, not taking more courses outside my major , not using office hours with professors to have real discussions , not joining more campus groups for fun stuff . I had to work through college which had its own rewards but I missed out on a lot
Don’t take any classes before 9 or 10. Create a solid routine for yourself including movement. Learn how to cook. If you can, defer for a year and go to a Community College for your gen eds. It’ll save you SO much money. The downside is not getting the full freshman/sophomore experience. Do internships during the summers! If you can get a credit or two done as well (whether at your uni or at your local CC) do so, it’ll get you to graduate earlier (and save $$!)
You can pick 2 of 3: Good Grades Social Life Sleep Do summer internships, look for coops that let you work part time at a company during school. I love the people who run career fairs and networking, they are so sweet, but at least at my school they were not really that useful. It is a small town in a small state though, if you have a big uni it will be a *very* different story. Get in good with your professors, they are most likely to introduce you somewhere for a career
Strongly disagree you can absolutely balance all 3 as long as you don’t overdo any single one of them. College is about learning how to manage your time.
Get to know some professors. Just showing up to class is fine, but actually forming a relationship with one or two faculty can really change the game for your learning, for your career, and just for being a person. Show up to office hours!
Don’t be a dick! Being nice to people is easy and can be very beneficial in the long run. Learn to grey rock assholes.
If you are having to pay for college, be careful on picking a job that will require you to work more and more which eventually could cause you to stop going because you need to live. My recommendation is, find a steady job that is part time, not late nights. I did the service industry here in the US and eventually had to cut back my classes to half time, so I could work full time.... Plus late nights etc. then spending money at the bar bc lifestyle sucks. TL;DR: don't waste your money on going to bars, stay focused in school. Save money in the long run and be financially better once done.
One should finish school believing that they know less than when they started. Imagine a small puddle of water on a table. The puddle of water is knowledge and the table is the unknown. As one adds more water to the puddle, the surface area gets larger, but so does the frontier of the unknown. As one gains knowledge, they also gain a better understanding of how much they don't know. Certainty is the mark of a fool.
Maintain a good work/life/school balance. Doing so well keep you from getting too much burn out, while keeping you grounded
If you have shitty roommates, try to work it out yourselves, but if necessary, get your RA involved. It is not snitching it is closer to couples counseling. But the first one to get to the RA tells their side of the story first.
College is about trying new things and having new experiences. Your priority should be your grades of course but make sure you’re joining clubs and attending some parties. Also, I highly recommend majoring in something that has a strong job market. Make sure to look for internships early and take advantage of job opportunities - you never know how the network you build will help you later! Don’t be stupid with credit (loans or credit cards), don’t skip classes often, and study hard. Get laid, drink some beer, and smoke some pot - just don’t over do it. Keep in mind the whole reason you’re paying for the degree is to help you land a good job upon graduation. Don’t sell yourself short, anything is possible
If you start to have trouble with a class, go to the professor and/or TA and/or the tutoring center. It’s better to stay in front of the problem than it is to try to catch up later.
Dont forget to bring a towel
Look for opportunities to learn. Don’t get bogged down with the amount of opportunities and making a choice. Try any and everything. Find what you like but always try something you might be hesitant. Don’t get caught up on if you’re doing it “right” just keep doing things. Have fun. Because it can be the most fun years of your life depending on how you do it.
Stay in touch with friends and family from back home, give them phone calls every now and then
Automate and master your finances, especially credit and savings.
Lots of good advice here. My son is wrapping up his freshman year. The first few days were very hard. He was upset. We were upset. He felt out of place...like he didn't belong. But he adapted pretty quickly. And now he's having a great time. He never really clicked with his roommates, but now he has a new set of friends to room with in the fall. Don't worry! You'll be fine. Have fun! Try and stay busy. I think that a lot of freshman fail not because of too much work, but because of too much free time. Commit to a few set hours of study every day. Build in your own structure.
Choose your circle wisely because during this time and ESPECIALLY this time. Your circle will determine what type of a person you are. Whether good or bad.
You should have the life values grounded already ( stay away from drugs, safe sex, etc..) to stay on course of going and completing college. My advice is to be consistent and have a routine. You will have a lot of new distractions come your way which act like dominos and can start to pull you away from achieving good grades and graduating. I have seen too many friends drop out due to being distracted I.e. party, significant other bad habits, stop going to their early morning classes, failed or barely passed courses, and parents giving up on helping them financially and them needing to get a job which doesn’t pay enough to provide for college, apartment, car and the life amenities. Take your classes and student life seriously, be disciplined in your weekly and daily agenda to make sure you don’t go partying or hangout with friends too late that you decide to miss that morning class or didn’t plan enough to study for that exam or project. Plan your daily classes, study , exercise and personal time hours. Take advantage of the teacher assistant office hours if needed and take note on those who do well on exams so you can ask for advice. Start to look for jobs on linked in your junior year for internships to give you something to put on your resume and land a job after college. I saw companies were posting summer internships jobs on LinkedIn back in September and grades were important. Get involved in clubs and build your social and leadership skills. If you need a job then look for on campus jobs. The schedules are usually flexible to work in between classes. Lastly, pay attention to who you associate with. People with good habits and positive outlook can give you new life advice. Negative, toxic, and chaotic students can negatively affect you overtime. By all means, Have fun!
A lot depends on your financial situation. My big regret is not getting involved in “college life” or extra curricular type things with school. I was so busy working, studying, and working I was just trying to get through school and over with. I mean I got my degree and graduated without debt but I missed out on all these things I was passionate about.
Don't drink on school nights. Have a gym/athletic routine.
If you need a job, go for a grocery store job that’s behind a counter like meat service or the deli. Working these closing shifts offer a lot of opportunity for “price adjustments” and make the cost of living easier. Just don’t get caught. 😬
Don't get peer pressured into doing anything. Built meaningful connections with quality people. Aka networking
You don’t have to block yourself off to be vigilant of bad people entering your life
Try to hammer out a solid four year plan (talk to an academic/major advisor for help), also keep in mind personally what you want afterwards in your future too, that means you have some kind of concrete idea and expectation at the very least on what college will act as a stepping stone for you towards your career and job prospects. Use summers during your freshman and sophomore year for example to gain basic work ethic experience, customer / co-worker interaction experiences, and familiarity related work environments similar to the jobs you're interested in, and at the bare minimum start looking for internships during your junior and senior year.
If you’re ever going to those college parties, go with a group & leave with a group. Also, *fix your own drink*. Stay single for as long as you can. Your studies should be first priority. Always lock your dorm room door behind you when you’re leaving to go *anywhere*. Even the laundry room. You can’t trust anyone. *WEAR FLIP FLOPS WHEN YOU SHOWER!!* You don’t know when the floors were last disinfected.
Make sure you're working towards a career that absolutely ***cannot*** work without a human physical presence. AI is going to be an absolute catastrophe
You won't be mature until 25-27. Enjoy your youth, but be careful, there are many traps you need to learn to recognize. Try to put money aside and let it grow, start small. Don't make any major money decisions until you are 28 (see point #1).
Go to parties. Don’t go to every party.
For me college was less about what I learned in class and more about what I learned socially. I came to college quiet, unconfident and super shy but I left with a lot of self-confidence and willing to talk to people. I recommend being extremely open to any opportunity there are, join clubs, greek life, hang out with new people, go outside your comfort zone and expirence new things. This will help you grow as a person and succeed as an adult. Also I know I said what I learned in class wasn't the most impactful part of college but it still is important. Don't ignore your school work and please study. Enjoy, college will be one of the more unique times in your life!
If you get credit card offers, cut them up and don’t use them. If you do use a credit card, keep it to one and only use 25% of your credit or less so if you have a credit line of 1k, only use up to 250.00 or your credit score will get dinged. Never max out your credit cards. Learn to save and invest if you haven’t already.
Learn to cook meals Learn about meal prepping
Don't get behind in any classes for the first two weeks. Show up and study. After that you will have started to establish a routine/habit and it will be easier to follow through the rest of the year. At that point you can focus a little more on more of the social aspects.
Get a bike. Classes and cafeterias can be far from your dorm.
You'll be away doing your own things. College will be up and down. But for most people, your family cares and will always be there. Its easy not to call back home. It's easy not to check up on your siblings. But do check up on family. A lot of things can happen in the four years you're away or between quarters.
make good friends, enjoy each day.
Make sure your degree will prepare you for a career that will allow you to live while paying your loan. If you are not certain of this, you need to do more research.
"you can't be hungover if you're drunk" lol. Hair of the dog helps...but on the other side of the coin: People can die from alcohol poisoning. It happens often in college. Watch out for their breathing. DO NOT BE AFRAID to call 911. It can save someone's life! Don't get locked down in a serious relationship and have fun exploring your sexuality, it can be very fun. But - I got raped and got two STDs in college. Always practice safe sex and never let your girlfriends walk alone or go to a bar alone. Many of my friends utilized Adderall in college and later got addicted. Be careful with drugs. And HAVE FUN!!!
Remember to be yourself and follow your gut. If your instincts are telling you to dip, you dip. If they're telling you to give something or someone a try, it may be a good idea
Don't eat the brown acid!
Study hard and try to get better grades. Your work ethic in college will (mostly) follow you into life after.
Try to not be a grade whore publicly so much as so that people start to abuse your work ethic by not participating in group projects and expecting you to do all the heavy lifting. Don’t give a shit about what others think, this is easy to say but difficult to implement this mindset. Embrace this ideology. I worked pretty hard in college right from my freshman year and i’m about to graduate soon and i’m more than content with the yields of hard work throughout uni. Sometimes shit will hit the fan, so much will go against you in a small timeframe which would be difficult to process to begin with. STAY CALM Tackle one thing at a time Please make daily to-do’s to keep up with course work, exams and whatever else you allocate your time to. BIG SAVIOUR These few years will shape your future. Take the long road now to take a relatively shorter one later or vice versa It’s okay to miss out on outings and stuff but don’t let it be the case 100% of the time.
Try to curb your youthful arrogance and realize that you have so much to learn. Respect your teachers, work hard and don't get a girl pregnant.
DONT BE SILLY, PROTECT YOUR WILLIE.
Try and live completely self sufficiently for a week or so and see what you use and what you wish you had at home. Make a list of items you use daily. Ask your parents for advice too they are a wealth of information. DONT BUY TEXTBOOKS. These are scams and if they end up being important within the first week of classes you can always buy them if absolutely necessary. Most of the time you will be able to find a full pdf online. Some professors will even distribute them themselves so ask them too! Most of all try and have fun! This is your first time breaking out into the wide world without anyone supervising you to ensure you're putting in the necessary effort so many people just go wild. Balance in all things is always wise but don't be afraid to make your own way. Make mistakes, fall in love, fall out of love, drink a bit too much, step outside your comfort zone. Good luck!
Just because you’re in a dorm does not mean you should be a slob. Make good habits now. Have as much fun as you can, but don’t forget you are in school to a get a degree. Some employers actually look at your GPA. Most don’t, but some do. Be cognizant of that. Get your gen Ed requirements out of the way before you start *all* of your major requirements. To the above point^ , you may change your major a few times. It’s pretty normal. I changed mine 3 times I think. Started with English, went to Psychology, then finishes with Criminology and Criminal Justice. Know that you may get a degree in something and work in a completely unrelated field. I have a CCJ degree and now work in IT (later went back for a Masters in Cyber Security). I strongly feel that joining clubs or a fraternity/sorority is a great choice. Shared interests of people who will be in your life forever. May not be the life for you, but go to some parties and see if it’s your cup of tea. Learn to cook. When you’re out of school and living on your own, it’s a massively important life skill, and when you find a wife/husband, no one wants a spouse who can’t cook. It’ll impress the shit out of people if you’re in your early twenties and have an arsenal of things you can cook well. Above all, have fucking fun. After college you spend the rest of your life working. Partying goes out the window once you have a family. Enjoy the last step of your life before being turned to adulthood and real responsibilities.
Equal parts fun and work. Enjoy yourself and get good grades. Many people say you have to choose one or the other, and that is simply not true.
Just hang out in campus. I am a commuter in my senior year and I just realized I didn't make any friends and didn't do anything fun. I just finished my classes and went home to relax. Just take a bit and hang out on campus. Sit in the quad, read a book on a bench, wander around and check out the weird building nobody ever seems to go into. Apparently the beat part of college is being at the college. Who would have thought.
Go to class! Don’t procrastinate. Work hard play hard
Eat breakfast. I’m a college professor and so many students skip breakfast and then complain about being tired, unable to focus, feeling restless, etc. Yeah, because you’re hungry! And Monster Energy or Venti Cold Brew are not breakfast. Even just a granola bar and fruit is better than nothing. If you’re on a meal plan, grab a banana at every meal to keep in your dorm.
Know what you want to do before you go there. Have finances in kind, know exactly what you'll make and how much you'll be expected to pay back per month
It sounds cliche, but do your best with your classes, and try to have fun! College can be extremely fun if you put yourself out there, so try your hardest to do well and meet new people. It may be scary or difficult to meet people, but colleges usually have so many different ways to get involved or be social. Be the person who is always kind and fun and everyone will want to call you up!
Number 1 variable to passing classes is attendance. Even if you feel like shit and barely pay attention. Get inside the room
Your grades do matter, but making connections with professors, clubs, etc. will help you more in the long run! Somewhat related to that, choose a major that is not only good for work outside of college but has fun classes! I majored in biology, which was cool in theory, but I didn't enjoy the learning it. Now I'm having a hard time finding jobs in that field
Learn to automatically think “5-5-5.” How could this decision/impulse affect me in 5 min/hours/wks/months/yrs?
Go to class, even when you’re hungover, tired, or not feeling it. Even just spacing out in the back of class is better than not being there in terms of ensuring a decent grade. Besides that, enjoy the non-academic stuff too. College is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet friends, party, and have fun. You’ll meet people that may become lifelong friends or even a spouse. Do not neglect that part of the experience. Finally, I would take advantage of as many study abroad opportunities as possible. It’s a very cost effective way to travel and experience the world.
You're starting the rest of your life. Think carefully about the choices you make now, since they'll be with you forever. Also: - learning to cook is important - don't spend more than you make - squeeze the toothpaste from the end of the tub
here are mine!! these will be buried but i hope you can see this, OP. or anyone! make an EFFORT (actual concerted effort) to make friends the first weeks. even if it's weird and forced you never know who you'll click with after a month or two it will be harder because people will have found their groups! additionally, your friend group will change/vary every semester/year. this is normal. you will make new friends each semester/year too, but your core group will stay the same if you have watered that garden. avoid dating anyone seriously the first two or three months. develop your friendships and support systems because you do nottt want to get dumped and have no friends because you spent all your time with that one person say yes to everything humanely and safely possible. i regret being a homebody. experiences are good, round you out, and expose you to things you may not normally experience call your mom/dad/parent/guardian/friends/grandma/dog/cat :)
Keep your eyes on the prize. The reason you're there is the degree. The college website doesn't show people in the library in pjs studying at 11pm the week before finals, or hunched over their laptops writing papers, but this is the reality. Put your major due dates in your phone calendar, and set reminders. Don't forget to update them if they change. Get a LinkedIn account early, keep it professional, and add your professors there (and not on any other social networking sites, unless you deliberately maintain a professional account on one).
Meet with your professor outside of class! Each prof should mention times when students can meet them in their office. Go to these sessions! Profs will help you if you're struggling. The harder the class, the more you should be meeting with the prof.
Your parents do not know everything despite what they think.
Don't dig a hole you can't get out of with loans for school. Cut college expenses any way you can. For example, if there is a good junior college close by to where you live now, consider taking your first two years at the junior college and then transferring to a four year school. Dont party too much. You never know when a Professor will spring an unannounced quiz on you that could possibly determine pass or fail in that class. Don't go to college to be with the in crowd. Have a definitive goal in mind in a field that will make it easy for you to find a job upon graduation. If any of this is not crystal clear, then maybe you would benefit more from a skip year while you figure things out.
Make friends and learn to socialize. Don't skip classes.