Freshman Guide to North Carolina State University

If you are a high school graduate about to start your first year at NC State University in Raleigh, NC, you are going to be required to go to freshman orientation. They'll throw a lot of advice at you, half of which you will hear. Most of it is general information, pretty useful. But they don't tell you everything you need to know. Here's your real guide to your first year with the Wolfpack.

CLASS:

State is pretty big. And if you're not careful, you will become just a number to your professors. It's not that they don't care, it's just that there are so many people in their classes, they don't have time to make friends with everyone. You have to make the extra effort if you want to get to know your professors (and believe me, you do). Go to their office during the hours they say they are there. Introduce yourself, tell them that you're excited for their class (even if you're not). And this is a continual process. Talk to them after class, remind them what your name is. Once they recognize your face and name, you know you are in a good place. They will know that you are making an extra effort and will call on you more, help you out during class.

However, take into account that this doesn't mean they will help you with your grade. This isn't high school, where your 'cool' teachers boost you up past the grade you really earned. This is college. Professors aren't going to give you anything you did not earn on paper. Doesn't matter if you came to tutoring every day, talked to the professor, and did extra credit. You get the grade you earned from the test. No giveaways.

Learn to form study groups. Get the lab manual from your RA or someone else who has already taken the class. Ask old students what the professor usually tests on. Just try to know what to expect on the test before you actually take it.

Lecture halls are usually a heaping pile of temptation for freshmen. You realize that the teacher doesn't take attendance, much less notice if you sleep in the back row or just don't go altogether. DON'T FALL FOR IT. I've made the mistake of skipping too many lecture classes and it came back to bite me on test days. If you're new to lecture halls, sit in the front. Participate in class discussions. Act like it's a class of 30 rather than 300.

COLORS:

DON'T WEAR LIGHT BLUE. Ever. Red is your new favorite color. Get used to it.

GAMES:

Students get free tickets to football and basketball games when you enter into a raffle for them. Take advantage of that. If you are not already a huge Wolfpack fan, you will easily become one once you are a part of the big red wave at a game.

PARTYING:

It's college. There are LOTS of parties. You will end up going to one sometime. Just be smart about it. Always go with someone you know and trust. A sort of party-buddy. Keep an eye on your drink (if you choose to drink). And know that it is perfectly acceptable to not drink. Just tell people you are a DD (designated driver) and no one will give you a hard time.

DORMS:

Whether you're on a long hall or a suite-style dorm, get to know your neighbors as soon as possible. If they are not your usual crowd, show patience. You do not want to start conflict with them because those things tend to fester all year. Just try to make friends, don't play your music too loud at night, and always knock on the bathroom door.

You're going to love being a part of the Wolfpack. See you there!