Ask HN: Advice for incoming freshman student at college
Hi HN. I’m a student getting ready to enter college (Virginia Tech) in 16 days, and I’m not sure what I should focus on, do, or get to make my college experience a good one. What advice do you all have?
16 comments
Some people are very savvy about course selection and credit/no-credit usage. These people optimize for GPA and end up having a much easier time getting into certain graduate schools (law school comes to mind).
Other people take classes based on what they're actually interested in, and feel bad about using credit/no-credit elections along the way.
If your post-college aspirations would benefit from a high GPA, consider being savvy about this stuff. Many of the kids I knew who went to top grad programs were not smarter than other kids; they were just more mercenary about it. It's not that they didn't want to learn for the sake of learning — they just realized that their ultimate goal was HLS or whatever, and so their college goal was 'optimize the chance of getting into HLS'.
Also, don't get hung up on first impressions. Some kids who rubbed me the wrong way at first ended up being decades-long friends.
Other people take classes based on what they're actually interested in, and feel bad about using credit/no-credit elections along the way.
If your post-college aspirations would benefit from a high GPA, consider being savvy about this stuff. Many of the kids I knew who went to top grad programs were not smarter than other kids; they were just more mercenary about it. It's not that they didn't want to learn for the sake of learning — they just realized that their ultimate goal was HLS or whatever, and so their college goal was 'optimize the chance of getting into HLS'.
Also, don't get hung up on first impressions. Some kids who rubbed me the wrong way at first ended up being decades-long friends.
One of the most helpful things I heard during my first few weeks in college was something like, you have to be uncomfortable in order to grow. College will put you in lots of uncomfortable situations. You should learn to identify that feeling and when you feel it acknowledge that you are uncomfortable because you are experiencing something new and it will make you a better person.
I think this its especially important if you are introverted at all. Your dorm will quickly become you safe nest and it will be hard to leave that space to do things with potential new friends. You have to recognize that you are uncomfortable leaving your dorm and acknowledge that the growth process is happening when you leave it.
I think this its especially important if you are introverted at all. Your dorm will quickly become you safe nest and it will be hard to leave that space to do things with potential new friends. You have to recognize that you are uncomfortable leaving your dorm and acknowledge that the growth process is happening when you leave it.
Professors like it when you talk to them. They set up "office hours," and are usually disappointed that more students don't drop by to chat.
That's an example of something else about college: there's lots of resources available, but you're not always aware that they're there. Maybe you find them reading the student newspaper, or in a page you might overlook in the course guide. Maybe there's fliers around campus, maybe you hear about it from another student. Maybe it's on the college's Twitter feed or web site. (U.C. Davis had a really terrific blog about the town and the community, with pages on every aspect of local life.) But there's definitely a ton of resources. (A placement office with career counseling, financial aid advice and academic counseling with support resources, free mental health counseling, various fitness programs...all kinds of stuff.)
Maybe my advice is: just be aware that there's additional resources you probably aren't aware of yet, so keep your ears open, and don't be afraid to ask around or go look for them.
That's an example of something else about college: there's lots of resources available, but you're not always aware that they're there. Maybe you find them reading the student newspaper, or in a page you might overlook in the course guide. Maybe there's fliers around campus, maybe you hear about it from another student. Maybe it's on the college's Twitter feed or web site. (U.C. Davis had a really terrific blog about the town and the community, with pages on every aspect of local life.) But there's definitely a ton of resources. (A placement office with career counseling, financial aid advice and academic counseling with support resources, free mental health counseling, various fitness programs...all kinds of stuff.)
Maybe my advice is: just be aware that there's additional resources you probably aren't aware of yet, so keep your ears open, and don't be afraid to ask around or go look for them.
Your mileage may vary:
- College is one of the best opportunities to meet people and make friends, especially since the freshman are all in the same boat and (in lots of cases) won't know anyone else going in.
- During the first few weeks of classes, I recommend setting up 15-minute 1-on-1's with your professors so that they can put a name to your face and you can get to know more about them.
- Although doing very little to no studying and getting good grades in high school was possible, it's a lot harder to make it work in college. The coursework is more challenging and the topics go into a lot more depth, so winging it will be a challenge and frankly, isn't worth it.
- I highly recommend signing up for classes in the morning (but depending on who you are, not too early). I signed up for a lot of morning classes, which meant that I was done with the day before lunch and could devote the afternoons to studying and getting work done.
- Looking back, I thought that high school woefully under-prepared me for essay writing in college. The five paragraph structure that's commonly taught in HS is a good starting point, but there's a lot more involved at the university level that isn't covered, unfortunately.
- If you're going to have a roommate (which you probably will), and you're not used to living in the same space as another person, please be mindful of boundaries, i.e. cleaning up after yourself, noise levels, not letting your messes ease onto their side of the room, etc. With that being said, this is a two-way street and they need to do the same.
- As a senior I took a class with a bunch of freshman, and a lot of them asked if they could use the restroom withing the first week. You do not need permission to go. You're an adult. I told one girl she didn't have to ask, and she said "Are you sure? But...". I'm sure!
- On a related note, the professors will treat you like an adult. This also means that unless there are specific circumstances they will not chase you if you're missing an assignment. They'll just mark it as a 0.
- Back when I used it, https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ was a fantastic resource, but be sure to look at a bunch of reviews and not let a few bad ones let you dismiss someone.
- College is one of the best opportunities to meet people and make friends, especially since the freshman are all in the same boat and (in lots of cases) won't know anyone else going in.
- During the first few weeks of classes, I recommend setting up 15-minute 1-on-1's with your professors so that they can put a name to your face and you can get to know more about them.
- Although doing very little to no studying and getting good grades in high school was possible, it's a lot harder to make it work in college. The coursework is more challenging and the topics go into a lot more depth, so winging it will be a challenge and frankly, isn't worth it.
- I highly recommend signing up for classes in the morning (but depending on who you are, not too early). I signed up for a lot of morning classes, which meant that I was done with the day before lunch and could devote the afternoons to studying and getting work done.
- Looking back, I thought that high school woefully under-prepared me for essay writing in college. The five paragraph structure that's commonly taught in HS is a good starting point, but there's a lot more involved at the university level that isn't covered, unfortunately.
- If you're going to have a roommate (which you probably will), and you're not used to living in the same space as another person, please be mindful of boundaries, i.e. cleaning up after yourself, noise levels, not letting your messes ease onto their side of the room, etc. With that being said, this is a two-way street and they need to do the same.
- As a senior I took a class with a bunch of freshman, and a lot of them asked if they could use the restroom withing the first week. You do not need permission to go. You're an adult. I told one girl she didn't have to ask, and she said "Are you sure? But...". I'm sure!
- On a related note, the professors will treat you like an adult. This also means that unless there are specific circumstances they will not chase you if you're missing an assignment. They'll just mark it as a 0.
- Back when I used it, https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ was a fantastic resource, but be sure to look at a bunch of reviews and not let a few bad ones let you dismiss someone.
>Although doing very little to no studying and getting good grades in high school was possible, it's a lot harder to make it work in college. The coursework is more challenging and the topics go into a lot more depth, so winging it will be a challenge and frankly, isn't worth it.
Even if you find yourself in a course where good grades are easy, you'll still get more out of the course by putting forth effort. Professors have lots of their own reasons for not making grading very stringent, but you needn't let it stop you from caring about a subject.
Even if you find yourself in a course where good grades are easy, you'll still get more out of the course by putting forth effort. Professors have lots of their own reasons for not making grading very stringent, but you needn't let it stop you from caring about a subject.
Obviously my experience from 30 years ago, in a different country, will be different to yours, so ymmv.
But my advice would be that you will get out as much as you put in.
Sure, you can go to class, do assignments, study hard and so on, and you should do those things.
But my most memorable, and possibly valuable, times at Uni for me were when I pushed the boat out. A group of friends and I spent 2 weeks in the lab for a Lisp assignment that should take half a day to complete. Instead of handing in a page of source code it was more like 30 pages. (we got penalised for that, but it was worth it.)
Instead of a "minimal" assignment, we took the requirement and each (individually) dreamed up a new feature - coded that, shared the idea, and then the others implemented it as well. We didn't share code with each other, it was an individual assignment, but we shared ideas and shared key knowledge.
Other times I went to lectures for classes I wasn't taking. I'd just sit in with friends doing those courses. (Easier to do in big classes than small ones.)
I took classes I didn't need just because they were interesting. (ultimately that worked out, I was able to drop a symester of a course that I didn't like.)
I found hidden resources - a fantastic tech library tucked away, a machine connected to a laser printer you could book, and pay per page (when most assignments were hand-written, or dot-matrix printed, a growing subset of our class handed in laser printed work.)
(aside, I didn't find it, someone else in my class did and I asked him. One way to find stuff is to notice who else is finding stuff and link up with them.)
I discovered a plotter and played with that. I wrote a program for the medical faculty. I actively looked for new, and different, things to try. (not every day, these are the edited highlights spread over 3 years.)
Most of my peers treated college like high school, and they got "more of the same." I treated it more like a playground - there are things to discover, opportunities around every corner - but it takes a willingness to explore, and ask. (most everything is open to you if you just observe, and ask. College likes curiosity, and appreciates initiative.)
You'll get out what you put in. Have fun. Be curious. And be bold.
PS don't do drug's :), that never ends well.
But my advice would be that you will get out as much as you put in.
Sure, you can go to class, do assignments, study hard and so on, and you should do those things.
But my most memorable, and possibly valuable, times at Uni for me were when I pushed the boat out. A group of friends and I spent 2 weeks in the lab for a Lisp assignment that should take half a day to complete. Instead of handing in a page of source code it was more like 30 pages. (we got penalised for that, but it was worth it.)
Instead of a "minimal" assignment, we took the requirement and each (individually) dreamed up a new feature - coded that, shared the idea, and then the others implemented it as well. We didn't share code with each other, it was an individual assignment, but we shared ideas and shared key knowledge.
Other times I went to lectures for classes I wasn't taking. I'd just sit in with friends doing those courses. (Easier to do in big classes than small ones.)
I took classes I didn't need just because they were interesting. (ultimately that worked out, I was able to drop a symester of a course that I didn't like.)
I found hidden resources - a fantastic tech library tucked away, a machine connected to a laser printer you could book, and pay per page (when most assignments were hand-written, or dot-matrix printed, a growing subset of our class handed in laser printed work.)
(aside, I didn't find it, someone else in my class did and I asked him. One way to find stuff is to notice who else is finding stuff and link up with them.)
I discovered a plotter and played with that. I wrote a program for the medical faculty. I actively looked for new, and different, things to try. (not every day, these are the edited highlights spread over 3 years.)
Most of my peers treated college like high school, and they got "more of the same." I treated it more like a playground - there are things to discover, opportunities around every corner - but it takes a willingness to explore, and ask. (most everything is open to you if you just observe, and ask. College likes curiosity, and appreciates initiative.)
You'll get out what you put in. Have fun. Be curious. And be bold.
PS don't do drug's :), that never ends well.
Congrats! Wow that's a broad one. I guess I'd at least suggest you keep a running list of your big questions or concerns in the main areas of your new life, keep it sorted by concern/interest level, and update it & re-sort when you can. From mundane dorm or roommate stuff to theory.
This will help you feel like you have more controlling interest in an independent life, which is important to start playing around with early.
It should also help you, over time, keep your world suitably subjective so you don't get overwhelmed by others' syllabi, others' schedules, others' rules and demands on you, etc. IOW it's a simple means of self-reflection in a world that may start to reveal more of its demands soon. In that world you'll need a strong and sticky interface with your own expectations, goals, or demands.
Good luck and I'm sure you'll do awesome.
This will help you feel like you have more controlling interest in an independent life, which is important to start playing around with early.
It should also help you, over time, keep your world suitably subjective so you don't get overwhelmed by others' syllabi, others' schedules, others' rules and demands on you, etc. IOW it's a simple means of self-reflection in a world that may start to reveal more of its demands soon. In that world you'll need a strong and sticky interface with your own expectations, goals, or demands.
Good luck and I'm sure you'll do awesome.
Colleges often make deals with local businesses. If you look around you may find that the student council, or student affairs, or somebody can hook you up with cheap movie tickets, coupons for pizza, etc.
At the college I attended I found that administrative guidelines were not as inflexible as they seemed on their face. I can't remember the number of times I was wait-listed for a class but was able to get in anyway because I showed up the first day and asked the professor if they could help me out. Generally my strategy to any bureaucratic problem I encountered was to work my way up the food chain until I found someone that was empowered to help me.
At the college I attended I found that administrative guidelines were not as inflexible as they seemed on their face. I can't remember the number of times I was wait-listed for a class but was able to get in anyway because I showed up the first day and asked the professor if they could help me out. Generally my strategy to any bureaucratic problem I encountered was to work my way up the food chain until I found someone that was empowered to help me.
> At the college I attended I found that administrative guidelines were not as inflexible as they seemed on their face.
This is a really big one. My college experience was probably very different to the American one, as the system here in Germany is just very different. But I spent quite a while just accepting failure in courses when working with the professor and faculty could have led to passes.
Most universities also have ways to help with financial problems, psychological issues and many other things, too many students hesitate to use them.
This is a really big one. My college experience was probably very different to the American one, as the system here in Germany is just very different. But I spent quite a while just accepting failure in courses when working with the professor and faculty could have led to passes.
Most universities also have ways to help with financial problems, psychological issues and many other things, too many students hesitate to use them.
A lot of people will go out of their way to help you, but they won't go out of their way to find someone to help; you have to make the first move so they know you're someone worth investing in.
If you fill your mind and waking moments with YouTube videos or tweets or podcasts, you won't have time to digest all the stuff you're trying to learn. If limiting that consumption is hard for you, then allocate a window when you catch up on news and waste time, and don't expand it. I recommend keeping your mind uncluttered in the morning, if possible.
If you fill your mind and waking moments with YouTube videos or tweets or podcasts, you won't have time to digest all the stuff you're trying to learn. If limiting that consumption is hard for you, then allocate a window when you catch up on news and waste time, and don't expand it. I recommend keeping your mind uncluttered in the morning, if possible.
Don't burn yourself out by trying to get straight A's in every course. Treat homework as a constrained optimization problem. Decide up front how much time you're going to put in each week, and then allocate your time in a way that maximizes GPA (with a bias toward the courses in your major). This will leave you some time for a life outside of academics.
Take advantage of the athletic facilities and available PE classes even if you're not on a real team. You'll be able to access top notch equipment and coaching at little or no extra cost.
Take advantage of the athletic facilities and available PE classes even if you're not on a real team. You'll be able to access top notch equipment and coaching at little or no extra cost.
Hit the gym, its important for mental clarity/stress relief and its too easy to gain the freshman 15. Learn to cook one crowd-pleaser meal, like chili. If I were to do it again I'd try to live with some like-minded people instead of getting a solo apartment asap.
Search for Cal Newport’s books and ignore most advice you receive here, including this one.
And, trust yourself.
And, trust yourself.
Cliche, but keep your door open. You'll probably make some lasting friends.
This is way too long. Sorry, decided to use it as a writing exercise. What do I wish someone told me. It’s a little ramble, maybe a little too philosophical, and I didn’t really edit as I would have wanted someone to just be real with me, not try to sterilize it too much.
So… here you go.
Start seriously thinking about who you are as a person. Congrats, you’re officially an adult, no longer just your parents’ kid.
College not being a requirement, but unless you’re one of the rare super early kids, you’re going to be a full adult in the eyes of the law soon if you aren’t already. Don’t forget that detail. But don’t fear it too much. Embrace it.
There’s a good chance that this will be your first real experience being an individual, and forming and joining entirely new social circles beyond the realm of childhood. This will likely have rough spots. You aren’t weird or unusual in that. You’re going to embarrass yourself. That’s ok. So will everyone else. Learn to laugh about it, we are all human.
Getting to know yourself early will help you make choices you will be happier with later on.
It isn’t an overnight process. It isn’t even one that really ends. But if you feel like you haven’t, start. With purpose.
Learn the campus. Walk around. Figure out where your classes are, where and how to get the essentials, how to move around with any public transit. Make campus your new city. Explore it. You’re going to be there for a few years (assuming you don’t transfer of course) so getting familiar is an investment.
As has already been said, leave your door open. Make opportunities for meeting people, don’t close them off. You won’t like everyone you meet. It’s just like the lotto. You gotta play to win. (The odds are better here.) Not very social? Someone else will be. That’s why you leave the door open. Eventually someone will just wander in.
Figure out the mail and package situation for wherever you are living. Very good chance it will be different from what you’re used to.
I’m old, so maybe you can use contactless payments now, but check the laundry room out. I’m assuming you are in a dorm or apartment and you won’t have your own laundry machine. Most places with a shared laundry room were coin operated back then. Find out, because you might need to find where to get quarters, and more than you might think.
Figure out your finances. Ok, here you are, but how are you going to eat? If meal plans are a thing in colleges still, and you have one of those, really take the time to understand it.
If you know what you are there for, get proactive. Start looking for research that interests you now. You likely can’t join the group yet, but you will want to know what groups exist, and what profs lead them.
Don’t assume your advisor will help. Don’t assume your advisor won’t help. Remember, you’re the adult now, you are going to have to advocate for yourself. Others doing so is a bonus, not a guarantee, but do not miss out on the potential bonus.
Check out what extra curricular groups exist. Maybe you have a hobby or want to pick one up, and there’s a group for that.
Try to get to know at least one classmate in every class. In your major that will be easier. These faces will become very familiar over the next few years. If you ever miss class, illness or otherwise, you will have another student to ask about what you missed. Or to study with, or share notes, ask questions. Nobody said you have to do this alone. (Except tests. Don’t help each other during tests. Professors don’t like that.)
Don’t forget the primary reason as to why you’re there. To learn. But don’t forget that that happens both during and outside of your classes.
See if you can find reviews of professors. Some courses are available from more than one. Your schedule may already be locked for this semester, but think about it for next semester.
Try something new. You have to take electives, but you get to choose how to fulfill the requirements. Get out of your comfort zone a little if you can. Try a language, or an art. Colleges offer so many more opportunities than can typically be found on your own.
Be realistic about your schedule in future quarters. You will get better at this as you go. You have a lot of freedom with it. Watch out for traps. Stacking a day in the week with classes so you can have fewer the other days, it works for some people, for some classes, but don’t treat this sort of maneuver lightly. Course corrections are hard. (Why did I do that. I didn’t have to use a pun there. I apologize.)
Remember that advice is from a different time, if not also a different place. Maybe parts of what I said don’t track for you. Good! You’re an individual, an adult. Make your own choices and decisions. And take care of yourself.
So… here you go.
Start seriously thinking about who you are as a person. Congrats, you’re officially an adult, no longer just your parents’ kid.
College not being a requirement, but unless you’re one of the rare super early kids, you’re going to be a full adult in the eyes of the law soon if you aren’t already. Don’t forget that detail. But don’t fear it too much. Embrace it.
There’s a good chance that this will be your first real experience being an individual, and forming and joining entirely new social circles beyond the realm of childhood. This will likely have rough spots. You aren’t weird or unusual in that. You’re going to embarrass yourself. That’s ok. So will everyone else. Learn to laugh about it, we are all human.
Getting to know yourself early will help you make choices you will be happier with later on.
It isn’t an overnight process. It isn’t even one that really ends. But if you feel like you haven’t, start. With purpose.
Learn the campus. Walk around. Figure out where your classes are, where and how to get the essentials, how to move around with any public transit. Make campus your new city. Explore it. You’re going to be there for a few years (assuming you don’t transfer of course) so getting familiar is an investment.
As has already been said, leave your door open. Make opportunities for meeting people, don’t close them off. You won’t like everyone you meet. It’s just like the lotto. You gotta play to win. (The odds are better here.) Not very social? Someone else will be. That’s why you leave the door open. Eventually someone will just wander in.
Figure out the mail and package situation for wherever you are living. Very good chance it will be different from what you’re used to.
I’m old, so maybe you can use contactless payments now, but check the laundry room out. I’m assuming you are in a dorm or apartment and you won’t have your own laundry machine. Most places with a shared laundry room were coin operated back then. Find out, because you might need to find where to get quarters, and more than you might think.
Figure out your finances. Ok, here you are, but how are you going to eat? If meal plans are a thing in colleges still, and you have one of those, really take the time to understand it.
If you know what you are there for, get proactive. Start looking for research that interests you now. You likely can’t join the group yet, but you will want to know what groups exist, and what profs lead them.
Don’t assume your advisor will help. Don’t assume your advisor won’t help. Remember, you’re the adult now, you are going to have to advocate for yourself. Others doing so is a bonus, not a guarantee, but do not miss out on the potential bonus.
Check out what extra curricular groups exist. Maybe you have a hobby or want to pick one up, and there’s a group for that.
Try to get to know at least one classmate in every class. In your major that will be easier. These faces will become very familiar over the next few years. If you ever miss class, illness or otherwise, you will have another student to ask about what you missed. Or to study with, or share notes, ask questions. Nobody said you have to do this alone. (Except tests. Don’t help each other during tests. Professors don’t like that.)
Don’t forget the primary reason as to why you’re there. To learn. But don’t forget that that happens both during and outside of your classes.
See if you can find reviews of professors. Some courses are available from more than one. Your schedule may already be locked for this semester, but think about it for next semester.
Try something new. You have to take electives, but you get to choose how to fulfill the requirements. Get out of your comfort zone a little if you can. Try a language, or an art. Colleges offer so many more opportunities than can typically be found on your own.
Be realistic about your schedule in future quarters. You will get better at this as you go. You have a lot of freedom with it. Watch out for traps. Stacking a day in the week with classes so you can have fewer the other days, it works for some people, for some classes, but don’t treat this sort of maneuver lightly. Course corrections are hard. (Why did I do that. I didn’t have to use a pun there. I apologize.)
Remember that advice is from a different time, if not also a different place. Maybe parts of what I said don’t track for you. Good! You’re an individual, an adult. Make your own choices and decisions. And take care of yourself.