What to expect as a freshman
If there is one question that is most often asked by incoming freshman, it is probably: “What can I expect freshman year?” From my own experience, I would have to say that the biggest hurdle I faced, when making the transition to college from home, was time management. One of the most important changes to note is that you will now be solely responsible for your education. Your classes might meet just once or twice a week, versus every day like in high school. Also, college professors won’t graciously remind you to turn in your homework or study for a big test. You are expected to take responsibility and do these things on your own. This is not to say that your professors are not helpful, as they can be one of your most valuable resources throughout the semester, but they will certainly not hold your hand.
I also had trouble wrapping my head around the idea of a syllabus. A syllabus is basically a “plan” for the class. It outlines what topics will be covered and lays out the due dates of all projects and exams. Be aware, that it is not uncommon to have only a few papers and a final exam, with each assignment representing a large chunk of your final grade. The key to being successful and not stressing out is to plan out a work schedule and stick to it. A 25 page research paper may seem like a colossal project, and if you wait until the last week to start it, it will be. Spending an hour each week researching and writing the paper makes the project much more manageable and less stressful. Be sure to check out my post on time and stress management for more ideas on how to keep your cool when deadlines are near!
The other thing that really caught me by surprise my freshman year is the sheer number of clubs and activities there are to choose from. Whatever you might be into, whether it be sports, academics, the arts….most likely there’s a club or activity on campus for you. Some of my best friends today were met during an especially ferocious season of intramural flag football. My only advice to you about this is to be careful that you leave enough time for school work.
For those of you who have been through freshman year, what kind of things were you surprised by?
Be prepared,
Tom
I think one of the things that really surprised me was all the cool new people I met. There was a real sense of solidarity among freshman. Everyone's in the same boat, new to college and a bit nervous about the experience. Some of my best friends were my dorm mates in my freshman year!
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I agree with Drew. You can always count on your freshman classmates for help. I'm 24, and I am still best friends with girls I met the first few weeks of school.
I was also excited to see a gym on campus. You can work out at school, for FREE!!!! How awesome is that!
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I'm going to be a freshman this year at Keene State. I am a little nervous, I don't really know what to expect from college professors. My highschool teachers were always really helpful. I'm afraid that I will get left behind in class. Are professors willing to work with students who might struggle in class?
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One thing I found helpful was introducing myself to each one of my college professors. That way if I ever needed help or had a question, I wasn't a complete stranger to them or just another face in the crowd. This worked great for me!
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Speaking from experience, college professors are more than happy to work with students who may struggle at times. Professors admire hard working students. You should also consider joining a study group of your peers. Studying with others can help reinforce the material in a relaxing environment.
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I got a job off campus for good $$$ 'cause my prof gave me a reference. All I did was check in once a week or so if I had questions.
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College really is overwhelming. I remember my year as a freshman. I just wanted to go home.
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The first day could be really boring and not so good, such experiences i have heard many times from my uncle.
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