The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here—the start of your college journey. You’ve put the work in, perfected the Common App, written the essays, made your decisions, and here you are… ready to begin your year as a newly minted college freshman. Whether you’ve already moved in or are still busy with last-minute dorm shopping, you’re preparing to step into a new environment with new friends, new faculty, new schedules, and, most importantly, your newfound independence.
You don’t get many chances to make a first impression, so it’s important to get it right. Here are some key resources and tips to help you transition smoothly into college life.
Career Planning and Academic Advising
Clear, informed career planning and academic / extracurricular advising.
TIPS FOR THE CLASS OF 2028
1.) Carve out a strong fall schedule. Pick courses that help you check off core requirements. Then, make sure you go to class, attend office hours regularly, arrive early, and actively participate in class. 8am classes are common for freshmen, but that’s likely still better than your high school’s start time. Arrive ready to learn and engage.
2.) Socialize, engage and find your people. Get to know your roommate, your dormmates, and the students in your classes. Listen more than you talk, and ask thoughtful, insightful, supportive questions. Most people love talking about themselves and sharing, if you can find the right topic. Active listening helps build deeper and stronger relationships!
- Sometimes peer students have great resources they post online. For example, I like Northeastern University’s interviews with students about what they wish they did as freshmen.
3.) Build your network of academic advisors. This might include your assigned advisor, peer students, RA, TA and faculty.
- For example, are you interested in political science or law? The American Political Science Association has a massive list of resources and networking opportunities for undergraduates.
4.) Engage with faculty. Connect with professors in your department(s) of interest who are teaching classes you want to take and conducting research in your preferred field. See if you want to attend field conferences and academic symposia (many are on campus) –then add your new contacts to your network, and add the conferences to your resume. Expanding your network of faculty in your corner will help you:
- Determine the faculty you want to learn from and the courses where you’ll thrive,
- Build a research foundation,
- Forge relationships and eventually obtain strong letters of recommendation for jobs, summer internships, research opportunities, and possibly graduate school later on.
5.) Start joining then start leading. You likely relayed to your college that you’re capable of becoming a leader on campus in some part of your admissions application or essays. Now prove it. Attend the undergraduate club fair, go to at least five initial club meetings then join two clubs. Find your preferred on-campus volunteering outlet and sign up —you’ll make friends with peers who also care about others (that’s good for obvious reasons) plus gain resume entries and build connections at your college.
6.)Become the master of your schedule. You’re an adult, which means you get to plan when you study, where you study, when you sleep, who you hang out with and when, and what you eat and drink. Here’s the downside: that’s a lot of adult decision-making thrown your way in a hurry. Determine how you want to balance your time and track your to-dos, ideally before you even arrive on campus.
7.) Remember why you’re there. Take a quick peek at your college’s tuition and fees for the upcoming year before you go and check out these three TTA blog posts, “The Rising Cost of College Tuition,” “Is College Worth It?,” and “Where Do Billionaires Go to College?”. Spoiler alter: It’s pricey no matter what. Focus on why you’re there and how hard you worked to study there, then prioritize what’s most important to you in your college career.
COLLEGE IS THE REWARD
Here’s to a productive and rewarding freshman year! Remember, there might be times you feel overwhelmed; colleges are in the business of over-providing on opportunities, clubs, courses, food, etc. Seek help when and where you need it, forge connections where you can, and pick a few on-campus activities that help you truly branch out.
As Judd Apatow says, “College is the reward for surviving high school.” You’re going to love it!
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