Life doesn’t just happen to you, including at college. Grab every opportunity that comes, control your experience and education.
I remember my first days of college not so fondly. The following years weren’t bad, but I do look back and wish I had changed a few things. It’s no secret that college is important, and critical not to mess it up. But mess it up, I did, not completely, but enough for a listicle. So here it is, my list of mistakes.
1. Not Making Enough Connections
MAKE FRIENDS, LIKE A LOT OF THEM. I underestimated the number of connections you need to make to find your people at college. College is, well, it’s big. For every person you become good friends with, you will have to meet ten different people to find them.
I thought that if I just *existed* at college, those people who would become my closest friends would just find me, but as it turns out, you have to go looking. That means talking to every person you get the opportunity to. Whether that’s by getting coffee, exchanging phone numbers and social media, or going to clubs.
This is important because you don’t want to be lonely.
2. Skipping Class
For the love of everything holy, DO NOT skip class unless you are sick or absolutely have to. I have probably skipped about as many classes as I have actually attended, and my grades have certainly suffered a bit for it.
Sometimes I was certainly sick or had a doctor’s appointment, but a lot of times I skipped because I “just didn’t feel like going.” But it’s class, there will be days when you are tired, or you find the material boring. In fact, depending on the class, that might make up most of the days.
If you are running late to class, go late, don’t skip. If you don’t feel like participating, fine, don’t participate as much, but don’t skip. JUST DON’T SKIP.
One motivator for not skipping is the attendance policy that a lot of classes have, so check the syllabus for that. If the class is recorded, just remember you probably won’t watch it.
3. Not Using School Resources
This is a big one. A lot of schools have resources for students who are struggling. For instance, my university offered free mental health counselling that I didn’t use until I was a sophomore.
You might be surprised by all the things at your school that are there for you to use. Whether you are struggling physically, mentally, or financially, there might be resources for you.
If you’re not sure, it never hurts to ask. There were so many resources I didn’t even know about because they weren’t advertised.
4. Not Wanting to Come Off as “Too Annoying.”
Don’t be like me. Don’t be too afraid to ask, “Can I sit here?” I wasted way too much time being worried that I was pestering people. I wished so badly that it was still the norm to ask people simply, “Do you want to be my friend?”
It seemed to me that every friend group seemed to have miraculously fallen together, leaving me scrambling and feeling alone. The truth is that these people oftentimes just ask questions.
“Oh, you’re going to the dining hall, can I grab dinner with you?”
Someone is sitting next to you in a class, “Hi, my name is ______ what’s yours?”
“Can I borrow a pencil?”
Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a lot more difficult than it seems, especially if you get socially anxious (like me). But it is the kind of thing that will probably get easier, and it’s an important skill.
5. Spending Too Much Time in My Dorm Room
A dorm room is the smallest cube you will ever have the pleasure (or displeasure) of living in. I spent way too much time in mine.
It is difficult to meet new people and have new experiences when you stay in a box. Looking back, I should have gone to the library and done some homework there. I should have sat in the common areas, and maybe I would have made some new friends out there.
A college campus and the surrounding area can be full of sunshine and fun. A dorm room is the smallest part of the college experience, so leave yours.
6. Not Joining a Lot of Clubs
Clubs are helpful for so many things.
You can put them in your resumé. You can have new experiences and meet new people. They fill time and oftentimes can feel like a break from a heavy (and at times boring) class load.
I wish I had joined more clubs, especially as a freshman. It is probably one of my biggest college regrets.
7. Not Doing my Homework TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY
I feel like this one is fairly self-explanatory.
As a general rule, when doing anything in college, especially anything related to grades, DON’T PHONE IT IN.
Something as simple as homework, like reading a few pages or answering research questions, can give you a huge advantage in class. Being able to use what you have heard in lectures in practical work will help you in future assignments.
8. To Schedule or Not To Schedule
We all know those people who have every second of their days planned out. Their most used app is probably Google Calendar.
It raises an important question: to schedule or not to schedule?
Some people do best having every moment accounted for, planning time for homework, for friends, for everything. To some people, that might seem restrictive.
I still have not figured out the answer to the question, but here is what I have so far.
I put classes, appointments, and tasks in my calendar. I don’t like to do homework in the morning, and I like to get up around the same time each day. The free time I have in the afternoon is for anything “worky,” so homework mostly.
By giving you this as an example, I am attempting to demonstrate that your answer to the same question will be unique to you. The important thing is to figure it out in the first place and then stick with it.
Comment: Some representation of a calendar in the embed/photo.
9. Not Enjoying the Local Area
There will be cool things to do, whether you go to school in the middle of nowhere or a major city. DO THEM.
This is one that I have gotten better with over time, but when I was a freshman, I should have gone downtown more. I should’ve gone to more farmers’ markets, to the park, to more coffee shops.
As I said in number 5, I should have gone outside more.
This might be the first time you can explore a new place, whether with friends or on your own. In college, you’re an adult, with free will, so go to that cool event they’re hosting downtown.
10. Not Talking to My Professors
It might surprise you, but most professors actually want you to succeed.
If you need help, need an extension on an assignment, or need anything at all, it never hurts to ask. A lot of times, they will do more than you expected to help you out.
It is also great to talk to them even if you aren’t struggling with their class. Talk to them about the material and any curiosities you have, and build a rapport with them. Not only does it make a class feel more engaging, but it will also help you in the future.
Which is what college is about, giving yourself a leg up in your career path and make life long memories. So be strategic and open to the next step, which is college.
