Tips for a Successful First Year of College
Advice for Getting on Track for College Graduation and a Career
Nov 7, 2009
Starting college is a major life step for all students. However, there is a large change in the school environment between high school and college. Certain habits and strategies can help build a plan for a successful college career.
Choosing a College Major
Deciding on a college major can be an intimidating part of college. The major that a student chooses dictates class schedules, internship opportunities, and even some aspects of a student's social life.
Exploring different majors during a student's first year is often encouraged if a student is undecided on a field of study. However, in order to avoid spending extra money on summer classes or extra years of school, take general education classes in areas of interest to explore majors, but also fulfill various institutional requirements.
Build Good Study Habits
Good study habits helps students to build a good cumulative grade point average (GPA) which opens opportunities for scholarships, internships, and many other incentives in college and when applying for a job.
If a student is having difficulty studying, Washington and Lee University has tips for students seeking help. First, visiting a school's academic advising or tutoring services office to get help will benefit a student's studying routine. Professionals in these offices may also offer advice on scheduling for classes and choosing a major.
Second, Washington and Lee recommends looking at the webpages of professors who are teaching classes in a student's prospective area. This gives students a feel for what will be taught in various courses and how demanding a professor, or entire department, can be.
Students should pay extra close attention to GPAs during the earlier semesters of a college career. Grades earned during the first few semesters can either boost or hurt a student's opportunities in the future. Bad grades in classes now can mean having to retake the same courses later on.
Get to Know Important Faculty and Staff
Students can find out lots of information by getting to know important faculty and staff members on campus. Students should introduce themselves to their academic advisor, resident assistant, and the department chair of their major field sometime during the first semester.
These faculty and staff members are often full of information about the school, internships, and many other opportunities both on and off campus. Sometimes, faculty and staff may know things that students or other individuals may not have access to, such as information about conferences, internships, and graduate schools.
Building a solid foundation during the first year of college is extremely important for all students. By establishing good academic habits and getting well-acquainted with the campus, students will begin to gather the necessary information for a successful first year.
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