Tips for College Freshman

Freshman year is a make or break year for many college students. Students open themselves to a completely new experience away from home. No longer is one's mother there to do the laundry and ask if the homework is finished.

College professors are not the same as high school teachers. College teachers do not offer additional days to finish homework and projects. College professors expect students to put forth the effort to complete projects successfully, and in a timely manner.

Freshman year is a wakeup for students, but it does not have to be a painful experience. Here are a couple tips to help make freshman year more enjoyable and rewarding.

Open the Dorm Room Door

Students often have a problem adjusting to life without their parents and best friends alongside them. In college, there are many new people from a broad range of backgrounds.

Having an open door implies you are accepting of people coming into the room to introduce themselves. A closed door suggests you want to be left alone and not bothered with. It is impossible to meet others when you confine yourself to a closed room. Keep the door open and offer the opportunity for others to come in and introduce themselves.

Meet Others on the Floor

Travel the dorm floor and meet others. If their door is open, simple knock on the door frame and tell them who you are. College freshman tend to be very open and enjoy having others come into their room and introduce themselves. Meeting others on the floor early on is a good way to generate friendships from the start.

Get to Know the Professors

Do not be one of those people rushing up to the professor after the first day of class and introduce yourself. It looks cheesy and can be a sign of the class suck-ups. Rather introduce yourself to the teacher a bit later in the week. Do not meet the professor in an attempt to get a higher grade. Build a genuine relationship with the professor. A relationship with the professor offers more than the possibility of a higher grade. A relationship with a professor can help you build a further interest in the subject, and the possibility of receiving help for class work outside of office hours. Professors are incredible people and the opportunity to build a relationship with a professor is almost priceless.

Join a Club or Sport

There are several benefits in joining a club or sport. Joining a sport gives you the opportunity to meet others and find a relief from the stress of class. Consider joining two clubs if you have the time.

Meet Your Academic Adviser

It is important to meet with the academic adviser early on to establish a solid starting point. You should meet with your academic adviser at least once a semester to make sure you're taking the right classes and staying on track for graduation.

Attend Class

With the freedom of college comes the ability to skip class. Students sometimes skip class because: they hate the professor, it is raining outside, or they do not want to wake up. Make sure you attend class or your course grades will drop.

Freshman year is a time of new people and experiences. Students often get lost in the college lifestyle and at times perform poorly in their academics and social lives. Introducing yourself to your professor and people in your dorms will help you feel at home and prevent the possibility of becoming overly homesick. Meeting your adviser and attending class will provide a solid footing for doing well in class. High school to college is a large transition, but one that should be smooth with the help of others.