I’ve made some of these mistakes. People I know have made others. Try to avoid as many of these as you can when you start college.
Mistake: Not checking out where your classes are. When you choose classes, keep a map of your campus handy. Try to avoid classes on opposite ends of campus on the same day.
Bigger mistake: Not checking out where your classes are once you’ve signed up. Before the first day of class, do a test run like you did before you entered high school. Walk the route. Check where each classroom is. You don’t want to show up late the first day. Some buildings have wonky classroom numbering systems, so do the test run BEFORE the first day.
Mistake: Choosing classes by what people in your dorm suggest. What do they know? Even if someone you know took that class before, it may not be right for you. Hey, maybe they prefer papers to tests and you don’t. Maybe a class is just right for their major but not yours.
Mistake: Choosing classes by what the course catalogue suggests. They’re not always accurate. Professors change at the last minute. You might want to take a look at http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ . If there are two sections of a lab or discussion group, this website might just help you pick a winner. People love to complain, but it’s better than flipping a coin or choosing based on which section is later in the day.
Bigger mistake: Not conferring with an advisor. This was my biggest mistake in college. I chose courses based on what sounded good instead of what I needed to get into grad school. So find an advisor and get his or her advice. You don’t have to follow it, but you should know what your advisor has to say.
Mistake: Not joining a club right away. You might presume that you need a bit of time to settle in. Wrong. If you wait too long, people will have joined clubs, assigned roles, made friends – and you’ll be out of the loop. Join whichever clubs or groups seem like they might be even somewhat interesting. You can always drop out if they’re not what you expected, but it’s harder to drop in once everyone has formed a clique.
Mistake: Limiting yourself to one group of friends. I’m especially talking to girls here. Girls can be passionate, loyal friends – or girls can be catty and mean. If you don’t develop a few interests, join a few clubs, participate in some activity you enjoyed in high school (band, sports, community service), you’re relying too much on one group of kids. If they all get housing together next year and leave you out, you’ll feel bereft. Have more than one group of friends. Trust me.
Mistake: Not getting to know at least a couple of professors. You might not get to know any professors as a freshman. But by sophomore year, you should be getting to know a professor or two. They can be really helpful in planning classes, getting an internship, writing a recommendation for graduate school or a job. Make friends by dropping by a professor’s office during office hours to discuss something you found interesting in class or something you didn’t understand. Make friends by emailing questions to a professor. If your school encourages students and professors to share a meal, do that. Don’t be shy – if they didn’t like students, they wouldn’t be teaching.
Mistake: Not keeping your parents informed. If things are going badly, tell your parents. No one wants you to succeed as much as they do. They might just have an idea that could help. If things get worse and you’ve kept them in the loop, they won’t be shocked and angry. They may be able to intercede for you. If things are going well, tell them. They’ve worked very hard to get you where you are now. Let them have a little pride in your accomplishments. It’s a gracious way to say thanks.
Mistake: Not telling me how you’re doing. I’m able to help kids create a list of colleges they’d fit into because older kids let me know about how their schools are, what’s good and bad about them, whether they made a good choice. Knowing how you’re doing helps me to help high school kids. So if we’ve worked together, please do keep in touch. Sometimes kids need to or want to change schools. Let me know why you’re changing.
To those of you in college now and to those of you who’ve graduated recently or long ago: what are some of YOUR college mistakes? I’d love to help others avoid them, so add a comment to this blog and let me know.
Wendy Segal
High School 2 College 