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Amanda
Student
Cumming, Iowa
1
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Most important things to prepare for collage?
Grade and School Activities
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Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
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California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Amanda heading to college for the first time can be daunting, and that's true whether you're attending a public four-year university or a prestigious Ivy League school. You have to get the lay of the land, make friends, and figure out how to do well in your courses all within a few weeks.
ORIENTATION
Most colleges will have you attend a first-year orientation the summer before your first semester. These are almost always mandatory, but even if it’s not, don’t skip it! These are necessary if you want to properly prepare for college as a freshman. Orientations will sometimes help you with course selection, class placement, campus tours, housing selection, and more. You might even meet your future best friends during this experience. If you’re not sure what will be covered in your college orientation, reach out to your admissions department ahead of time. Note that some will be done in a day, while others may take place over the course of a long weekend. You might not have to declare a major just yet, but you definitely do have to pick your first semester of classes to prepare for college! Your school will likely dictate some courses you’re required to take this year, like College English 101, but you generally do have some wiggle room when it comes to your other General Education classes.
FRESHMAN CLASSES
Think about your courses carefully, but don’t wait too long. If you delay, you’ll find the best classes and time slots are snapped up quickly. If you’re struggling with course selection, think about your passions, choose classes close or related to your potential major, and talk with your advisor might not have to declare a major just yet, but you definitely do have to pick your first semester of classes to prepare for college! Your school will likely dictate some courses you’re required to take this year, like College English 101, but you generally do have some wiggle room when it comes to your other General Education classes.If you’re struggling with course selection, think about your passions, choose classes close or related to your potential major, and talk with your advisor.
SCHOLARSHIPS
It's important to note that you should not stop searching for scholarships after high school but continue to look for them throughout your college years. Not only can scholarships be used to offset tuition costs, but many can also be applied to any institution, regardless of whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. To find scholarships, you can look for ones offered through your university, government organizations, private organizations, community businesses, religious institutions, or use scholarship databases such as Niche, Cappex, Fastweb, RaiseMe, Scholarships.com, and more. Be sure to read the requirements carefully to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before applying. It is also important to read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of each scholarship you apply for.
STUDY HABITS
While I cannot remember if I have had significantly more homework in college than high school, besides volumes of more reading, I can say that I have had to study a lot more and have had to adhere to a stricter homework and study schedule. Since most college classes only meet once or twice a week and professors usually chug along in the textbooks without retrospection except for pre-exam review sessions, it is momentously critical that you study on your own in college and thoroughly review notes. This caught me off-guard. I wish someone had warned me before my college career began. While I managed to perform well, there was a definite learning curve, and I believe your first semester will require more studying with more advanced courses. Begin college ready to study and to read more.
ORIENTATION
Most colleges will have you attend a first-year orientation the summer before your first semester. These are almost always mandatory, but even if it’s not, don’t skip it! These are necessary if you want to properly prepare for college as a freshman. Orientations will sometimes help you with course selection, class placement, campus tours, housing selection, and more. You might even meet your future best friends during this experience. If you’re not sure what will be covered in your college orientation, reach out to your admissions department ahead of time. Note that some will be done in a day, while others may take place over the course of a long weekend. You might not have to declare a major just yet, but you definitely do have to pick your first semester of classes to prepare for college! Your school will likely dictate some courses you’re required to take this year, like College English 101, but you generally do have some wiggle room when it comes to your other General Education classes.
FRESHMAN CLASSES
Think about your courses carefully, but don’t wait too long. If you delay, you’ll find the best classes and time slots are snapped up quickly. If you’re struggling with course selection, think about your passions, choose classes close or related to your potential major, and talk with your advisor might not have to declare a major just yet, but you definitely do have to pick your first semester of classes to prepare for college! Your school will likely dictate some courses you’re required to take this year, like College English 101, but you generally do have some wiggle room when it comes to your other General Education classes.If you’re struggling with course selection, think about your passions, choose classes close or related to your potential major, and talk with your advisor.
SCHOLARSHIPS
It's important to note that you should not stop searching for scholarships after high school but continue to look for them throughout your college years. Not only can scholarships be used to offset tuition costs, but many can also be applied to any institution, regardless of whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student. To find scholarships, you can look for ones offered through your university, government organizations, private organizations, community businesses, religious institutions, or use scholarship databases such as Niche, Cappex, Fastweb, RaiseMe, Scholarships.com, and more. Be sure to read the requirements carefully to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before applying. It is also important to read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of each scholarship you apply for.
STUDY HABITS
While I cannot remember if I have had significantly more homework in college than high school, besides volumes of more reading, I can say that I have had to study a lot more and have had to adhere to a stricter homework and study schedule. Since most college classes only meet once or twice a week and professors usually chug along in the textbooks without retrospection except for pre-exam review sessions, it is momentously critical that you study on your own in college and thoroughly review notes. This caught me off-guard. I wish someone had warned me before my college career began. While I managed to perform well, there was a definite learning curve, and I believe your first semester will require more studying with more advanced courses. Begin college ready to study and to read more.