10 Tips for College Freshman

Write them a letter
As you're approaching the final week of classes, write a very specific, heartfelt letter of praise to your professor about the class. Detail how this was the best class you had this semester (whether it really was or not), why it was so good, and what in particular you felt they did well. Thank them for their time and effort, without coming across like a brown noser, and it is almost guaranteed to get you preferential treatment, come grading time. I wish someone had explained this to me early on in my college career, because the two times I wrote letters like this to my Professors, I got higher grades than I had anticipated (not coincidentally, methinks).

the first three weeks
The first three weeks are typically the toughest, as it will take a while for your body and mind to re-adjust to a complete change in lifestyle/environment. Remember, you have been accustomized for the past 15 years to the same house, the same bed, the same food, the same everything. It will take a while for your body and mind to adjust. Do not worry, as it is natural to feel uncomfortable and nervous for the first few weeks. Most everybody is feeling this way too. It will pass with time. Just don't allow your fears to be compounded by dwelling on them in any way. As soon as you find yourself getting too wrapped up in fear and/or anxiety, call someone up, turn on the TV, IM people...get your mind off things. Make it feel like home again. Don't allow your mind to be victimized by negative thoughts. Your first week in particular might be intimidating, but just don't forget that it's natural to be a little uneasy about it, because in a matter of one day you've been thrown into a completely different environment from what you've been used to for years and years. It's no big deal though...it will pass in no time, I promise...just hang tough for three or four weeks and it will definitely pass.

The Jimmy rule
Do not, and I repeat: DO NOT take hard classes your first semester, and possibly not the second semester either. If you are not sure what the class is all about, you probably should not take it. Just for example: if you have to fill a History requirement, don't take Western Civilization because it sounds interesting, take the History class that you did the best in when you were in High School. So if you got a Hundred on every Civil war test you ever took in High School, take Civil War 101 in college. If you took spanish, don't try Italian or Latin to fill a language requirement. Look for the classes you are sure you know best, take your time researching all of them. Don't make the mistake I did by figuring we could pass any class without having to study that hard, because we were too cocky. I took Accounting, Economics and Psychology my first semester at Binghamton, as well as Computer classes at Nassau that I knew nothing about and I pretty much failed all of them. I also took calculus, because I figured I got an A in Algebra, so how hard could it be? Answer: much harder, I failed it! This brings me to my next tip..........

The "W"
If you fear you're going to fail a class, or if you even think there is a chance you will not get credit for it, (because I don't think anything less than a C is considered passing at most schools) ask the Professor for a W (which means withdrawal) or an I (incomplete) which means you have the opportunity to retake it the next semester, if you feel you can pass it with more time alloted. The pivotal part of this is finding out exactly when the last day is that you're allowed to get a W from the professor. Typically it is right before midterms. However, many professors are kind enough to give you much more time than just that. Thus, if you're not sure, ask them if you can have more time before deciding on whether to take the W or not. Don't be afraid to approach your professors as almost all of them will be very very nice and approachable. I don't recall having one that wasn't. I made a huge mistake of being too afraid to ask a professor for a "W", because it was way past deadline, so I failed the class, and later found out that just about any professor will give you a "W" the day before classes end, if you ask nicely enough.

Being able to skip class with no consequences is not a good thing
When I first got to Binghamton I didn't know that Thursday night was going to be the most popular night to go out to bars. At least it was just as popular as Friday night. But it made no difference to me, because I only had one class on Friday morning and then my day was done. However, I must have skipped that class twice a month for all four months that I took it. Consequently, I failed that class. Don't skip classes, just because you have nobody there to make you go. You have to force yourself to get to every single class. It's a much much easier schedule than High School, because you make it up yourself, so there is no reason why you should miss. You love to get your sleep and stay up late, so I would schedule all classes after 10am if I were you.

Join a gym
Working out energizes you, and joining the gym is a great way to meet people, stay in shape and keep your body energized. The "freshman 15" is no myth...especially for girls (sorry, but it's true). I would join a gym as soon as I arrived. Typically most colleges have a free facility, but a lot of them make you pay for it, too. It will also give you some structure and schedule, which will help translate into studying structure and schedules. Finally, it will help promote strong work habits with almost everything else you do.

Get there first
Whenever you find out is the first day you're allowed to check in, make sure you get there before your roommate(s). That way you will have first choice of the best bed or bedroom available.

10 things to do
There will most definitely be times when you're either bored, or completely unmotivated because of your binge drinking from the night before. It is at this time that it's imperative you consult with "the list." This is a list you must make of ten things to do which are all much more productive and conducive to virtue. When you're hung over, you typically don't feel like doing anything at all, except sleeping or watching TV. Therefore, the list should consist of very simple tasks that can easily be done, even on a hangover. I would start out with this: 1) Make the bed. 2) Go food shopping. 3) Cook something big and good enough for lots of leftovers, so that you can save time and money on food later. 4) Go for a walk. 5) Guzzle a huge pitcher of water, put visine in your eyes, take some aspirin, shower, brush your teeth (twice) and eat fruit. 6) Iron clothes as you watch TV, instead of just sitting there on the couch and watching TV. 7) Think about looking around for part time work...it's always nice to have a little extra cash in your pocket in college. You should think of the last 2 on your own to complete the list. Then it must be printed out in some capacity and kept on a specific pad that is within reach of wherever you have planted yourself during the recovery period from your hangover.