So this is my first day of college, does anyone have any advice for me??

Question

My first class starts at 9:30, I am really nervous. Tell me about your college experiances. ^_^

Answer 1

Don't let the hard work get to you. If you are stumped on something, always feel free to ask for help.

Answer 2

Find the time that your mind is at its best and use it to study the difficult stuff. If it's first thing in the morning, get up an hour or two early to study before class. This will also give you a psychological advantage as well that will last through the whole day.

If you have a pile of books in front of you and don't know where to start, start with the most interesting-looking material and work your way through it like that. If you're not interested in something, you will spend half your energy trying to concentrate and you won't take it in properly.

Never cheat or plagiarize, and don't leave papers or computer stuff around that others may find and copy. *You* could end up getting blamed if two similar essays turn up. Colleges are paranoid about plagiarism these days, with good reason.

Do some sport, to keep fit and make friends.

Work hard, play hard, eat a balanced natural diet, don't sleep around, stay off the drink and drugs and be nice to your family.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Answer 3

I am glad you took the step to go to college. Nothing frightening or strange about college. All other students are like you seeking knowledge. Nothing to be nervous about.
However, to feel great and on top of your class, you must try to do the following: Always be prepared for class. That is, read whatever topic you will be studying a day before the class; do all home works or assignments; Sit infront of the class; pay attention to your instructor; ask questions. You will be able to ask question because you read the lesson before the class.

If you follow my advice, you will feel confident in class and you are sure to improve your grade at the end of your course.

Thank you.
Instructor at BCCC.

Answer 4

Oh boy, this takes me back.

1) Be certain you know exactly where your classes will be held. This becomes more important the larger and more spread out your campus is.

2) Get the names of profs right. Nothing ticks them off like having their names mispronounced.

3) Ask returning students if they have had your profs. If so, ask them what that prof likes...parroting back whatever he/she says, paraphrasing it, or thinking for yourself. This alone can mean as much as a full letter grade difference.

4) Listen very attentively to your profs during the first week of classes with them. Try to get a sense as to whether they're teaching from the textbook or giving you the benefit of a wider experience. If the former, then read, read, read that textbook. You've got a prof who's probably got tenure and who's marking time 'til retirement. That's usually an easy "A" if you know the textbook well.

5) DON'T be afraid to ask questions. Just make darn sure they sound intelligent, as if you'd been paying attention and merely wanted more data for clarification.

6) Never, but NEVER, show a bigger vocabulary in their field than your profs have. This makes them feel insecure and they don't like that any more than you would.

7) Make friends at all grade levels. BUT, stay away from those who seem to spend most of their time in the student center. They're probably not very good students and unless you WANT to do their work for them, it's a good idea to avoid that area for the most part.

8) Join some organization, but unless it's a tradition in your family, stay away from the frats and sororities. No matter which, they all share one thing in common, a deep-seated feeling of, "I'm better than anyone because I'm a Greek.". Usually they're dead wrong and unless you feel that you will need the connections they might provide in your future career choices, avoid them.

9) If you get a prof you really like, become an assistant and hopefully, a friend. Especially if you're planning on majoring in a highly competitive field. They have connections. If they're friendly to you, then YOU start out with connections. Be worthy of them!

10) DO NOT USE DRUGS, ALCOHOL OR PROMISCUITY IN AN ATTEMPT TO ADVANCE YOUR POPULARITY! It may work but only with those you've heretofore only encountered on tv shows like COPS! and America's Most Wanted.

11) Have fun! With any luck these will be some of the best memories of your life. Try to remember that as you go through your college years.

12) God bless! And if you're a believer, May the Holy Spirit be your mentor and may you have the smarts to listen to Him!

Answer 5

Follow your instincts. If something doesn't feel right then change the situation. Whether it be at a party, your roommate or your new friends. Also don't get caught up in all the partying. While you are there to have fun your first priority is school. Those fours years fly by. It feels like I just graduated high school and I have 1 1/2 left of undergrad.

Answer 6

:D I was pretty nervous too on my first day in college. Because majority of the people there were taller than me & everyone's taller than me.

Luckily the feeling wears out & I soon started chatting around with people. Else taking a notebook & any of your fav. book keeps your mind off being bored in between.

Stay alert & collect all class schedules & summarized study notes. Other than that take care, don't try so hard to fit in.
But don't be afraid to venture off to know friends & the buildings - library, cafe & etc. So you'll know if there's a good environment for you to get your resources & eat. :D

Good luck & enjoy! ^__^

Answer 7

When I went to college, I had never had any other relative who had, nor any close friends. I had never even visited a college before. (Not counting being in the same town; I mean the actual college buildings.) So I was about as non-compos on campus as anyone. We just laughed about it and soon found our way around.

If there's a peer counseling or peer tutoring office, where students volunteer to help one another, go there and talk about what makes you nervous. You'll get over it quickly.

Answer 8

Cultural shock, since I went from a high school graduating class of 15 in rural NE Ohio to a Freshman Class of 20,000 at Ohio State University. However, one advantage I had was that I knew how to spell! It didn't help me a lot that the Freshman English placement testing put me in a special Second Quarter level English class, and I was in over my head!

Answer 9

Good luck!

I hope you end up getting along with your roomates. I've had several great ones and one terrible one. The terrible one ruined the entire semester...

I know you'll probably be a bit homesick at first, but after a month or so you get used to being on your own. Remember to ask your family for care packages! Getting mail becomes the highlight of your day.

Answer 10

Let me offer a few choice bits from my experience -- I went to college when I was 17, immediately after school; then dropped out and eventually caim back, 18 years later...:

1.) Pay attention.

2.) The teacher has something that BELONGS to you -- namely, your education. Make sure you get your money's worth (or your parents', if they're footing the bill).

3.) The only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

4.) You're an adult now -- don't be afraid of the teacher, or the process of going to school. You're there because you CHOOSE to be, not because you have to.

Answer 11

Meet and make friends quickly.There are lots of other people who are new just like you, and they are looking to make friends. Just remember one thing about college, it's fun to go to parties and do fun stuff with your friends, but make no mistake about why you are there! You are there to study and make good grades! People who can't make it are almost always weeded out the first semester. Study, study, study! If it is too noisy in your dorm, go to the library and study! I messed up in college, and let people and partying distract me too much. Now I feel guilty, like I wasted my parent's money, and I wish every day that I had done well in school and gotten my degree.