- ALWAYS take notes on a piece of paper. With a pencil. You remember things much better when you write them down. If you want a digital copy, type them up later and use it as study time.
This is true. I took notes on paper whenever I could (except for those profs that talked SO fast it wasn't humanly possible to keep up). ALWAYS take notes on paper, but don't break your hand over it.
- ALWAYS use campus transportation, but don't be afraid to walk. If I had allowed myself to be scared of a new bus route or a new building, I would have been late to class several times, and I'd always be getting lost. And at MSU, walking is great because the campus is beautiful and big. You get exercise and sunshine all at the same time. And I also don't get lost as much now.
Eh... I walk a lot anyways because the buses don't always run on time or to the places I need to go. And now that I have a car I drive to about half my classes now. Campus transportation is OK, but it's not make or break.
- ALWAYS ask professors if you think something is wrong. I contested a grade for the first time in my life this semester. It was really scary, but since the class was based off of points, two points could eventually have been the difference between a 3.5 and a 4.0. So if you think something's wrong, ask. You might be right.
Still true, but honestly it doesn't happen that often. If you're worried about 1 or 2 points, just do the assignments and do them well, and do extra credit if it's available. That's more effective.
- ALWAYS do the assigned readings. They're mostly boring and dry, but I didn't read anything this semester or last, and while my grades didn't suffer noticeably, I bet my personal understanding of things being taught would have been a lot better.
This is a nice thought, but I don't think I've ever done an assigned reading for my COM classes. The ones that are really important they go over in class anyways. It's a good idea to skim them at least, especially when you get those guys who actually test on textbook material, but for the most part, it seems that profs don't really care
- ALWAYS find a study buddy. I had two study groups. One for German and one for Psychology. It really helped even if you did nothing else besides vent your frustration. Plus you have someone to sit with in class, take notes for if one of you couldn't make it, and eventually help each other focus on studying.
A truer thing has never been said. Shout out to the greatest group of all time: Not Fast, Just Furious. You know who you are.
- NEVER wait until the last minute to study for an exam. I did that this semester, and it did not go well. Fall semester I started studying for my tough exams weeks in advance, and I got help from friends where I could. Spring semester, exams kind of snuck up on me and before I knew it I had months' worth of information that I had to memorize overnight.
Or just don't study at all and go to sleep. If you don't know it at 11pm the day before, you're not gonna know it and you might as well not fall asleep on your scantron. Don't procrastinate. But if you do, then don't kill yourself trying to make up for it.
- NEVER procrastinate on giant papers. I had a 5 page paper that I had to write and I wrote it 2 days before it was due. Thankfully I did a good job on it (partially credited to a friend who proofread it for me). Just don't procrastinate OK?
OK so baby freshman me was scared of 5 page papers. I am currently sitting here waiting for a powerpoint to get finished by a group member and our presentation is in an hour. I've learned to write 4 page papers in 2 hours. It's something you learn.
- ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS listen to the Star Wars soundtrack when you're studying! It makes it 100% more awesome and if you have to study a long time, it helps. Try it.
I honestly only did this once...
OK so baby freshman Alison knew a few things, but here are some tips from a seasoned veteran:
- Red Bull
- Sleep
- Go to class
- Red Bull
- Drop classes you hate on day 1. They don't get better.
- Netflix is not your friend. Watch anyways.
- Treat yourself to something tasty at least once a week
- Coffee
- Don't take your laptop if you don't have to
- DO NOT start Grey's Anatomy in the middle of a semester
- Check your email
- Make friends with professors and TA's
- Exercise
- Coffee and Red Bull
I still have 75% of my year left to go, but it's going fast, and who knows if I'll have the mental capability of writing this in May so here you go.
Good luck to the baby freshmen starting in Fall 2019. It'll be here before you know it. I hope you learn things and I hope you enjoy college as much as I did. (I'm kind of over it at this point tbh)
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