Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are either all set to begin college or getting ready to dive into higher education. This is such an exciting time, and having been through orientation, the campus tour, and likely a day or three of activities specifically designed to get you pumped for the Fall Semester, you are feeling certain that you can do this!
You can do this! Many have gone before you, and many will come after you, but this is your time, so make the most of it!
While your college likely has a host of unwritten rules and traditions that you will learn along the way, there are some universal lessons that aren’t in our student handbooks.
If I could go back to the first semester of my freshman year, there are five things that I would want myself to know.
1) Don’t Buy the Textbook!
My first semester in college, I spent $600 on textbooks. The experience of the campus bookstore, which had been condensed into a trailer that year due to construction, was similar to cinematic depictions of opening bell at the stock market or a Chinese subway car at rush-hour. Navigating the chaos was like trying to get a good seat on Easter Sunday without the hats and three piece suits.
When the smoke had cleared, I walked out dazed and holding the most expensive 30 pounds I have ever touched.
It was a very costly learning experience.
Now I know about used books, textbook rentals, and ebooks. Last semester I was able to purchase my math book for $9 (seriously) by passing on getting the newest edition. Some publishers will even sell you spiral bound photocopies of a textbook at a super reduced rate.
My advice to you is wait until you get the syllabus and have heard from the professor concerning the textbooks. Most educators today are in your corner concerning the cost of textbooks and will give you some cost effective options.
2) Community College is College!
There was, and still remains, a running joke in my town that our local community college is the 13th grade. This joke is stigmatizing and based in an unfounded belief that the education quality is better at a private university. This is a myth.
Community college is a cost-effective alternative to taking the plunge into a four-year institution. Your first 60 credits will vary from place to place, but chances are 48 of them will be general electives that very fluidly transfer.
In New Jersey there is actually a law governing the transfer of credits if you have a two-year degree and want to transfer into a four year school.
If you know you want to go to college, but are unsure about a major, consider taking classes at a local two-year college. It will not only save you money, but will also expose you to many new opportunities and experiences.
Take a tour and talk with a counselor, you have nothing to lose.
3) It’s OK to Ask For help!
College is not easy. While some classes will be a breeze (hooray for gym), some will challenge your ability to understand and apply information. When you run into these classes, do not be afraid or ashamed to seek out extra-help.
Go to tutoring, ask your professor questions, or connect with classmates to form a study group. You are paying too much money to fail (or drop) that class. Worse than that, you are paying too much money to pass, but come out not having actually learned anything.
Likewise, if you are having a hard time emotionally, or are facing a crisis, reach out to a counselor. There are people on campus who want to help you to thrive emotionally.
4) Apply Yourself!
College is about more than getting a job. College is your opportunity to learn how to think critically. It is your opportunity to become well versed in what is going in the world around you. This is a chance to gain a thorough understanding of your worldview and the worldviews that shape our society.
Although some of them may seem unnecessary, every general elective requirement that your university has in place is there for a purpose. I encourage you to not simply memorize the material to pass a test. Make the most of the opportunity and learn the material in a way that allows you to apply it to your life.
In my own journey, I have clearly seen the information from those electives circle back around. Math for liberal arts focused on consumer mathematics- understanding interest rates, how loan companies determine what you can afford to pay ect. Sociology gave me a better framework for evaluating social issues, and world history set the Bible in context.
You really will get out of each class, what you put into it. So apply yourself and reap a return on the investment. Afterall, you are paying to be there.
5) #TeamNoSleep always loses!
I am a serial procrastinator. In college I learned that I am also really bad at saying “no.” I spent many a night writing papers IN THE HALLWAY because I came in at 3am and remembered I had an assignment due at 8am. I also slept through a final freshman year (thankfully, with just enough time to finish, Ryan kicked the back of my chair to wake me).
None of this is good, and all of it could have been avoided. If you do your homework when it is assigned, and go to sleep when you feel tired, you won’t play into the stereotype of pulling all nighters.
Realistically, this is unnecessary. I have learned that when I manage my time wisely, and take classes seriously, I have more time for the fun part of college. I have also learned that when you go to class, pay attention, and take notes, I do not have to cram before an exam because I have learned the material.
The concept of college students burning the midnight oil, or writing papers when the deadline is down to the wire, is one that we have seen in television and movies for most of our lives. Don’t make this your reality. Manage your time and set boundaries around your fun. This will keep you from missing out the things that are most important.
College is a fun and exciting time. It is an opportunity to learn and to grow intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. Our prayer here at Quest Yam, is that you will make the most of the experience. Whether you are living on campus, taking classes online, or commuting to community college, we are here to help you through the experience.
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AUTHOR: CRYSTAL BROCKINGTON
Crystal Brockington is a Young Adult Leader at Christ Church and a student at Dallas Baptist University (Online!). She enjoys writing, singing, and playing with other people’s children. Follow her shenanigans on social media @CTBrockington
