College is often the first taste of true independence for young adults. Here are three tips from Ms. Bracken on how to make the transition successful.
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Go to every orientation event. This is my number one piece of advice to my graduating seniors. Orientation is designed to get you comfortable navigating campus and making connections with new friends. In the first days of school, everyone is new and in the same boat, which means it is the ideal time to find your people. Yes, you will feel slightly overwhelmed, tired or maybe homesick at times. Push yourself now, because you’ll reap the benefits of doing so for the rest of the year. Orientation is a critical time for connection, so attend everything, talk to strangers, and immerse yourself in your new community. Don’t spend those early days on Snapchatting with your friends back home.
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Get to know your professors. One of the best things about Doane Stuart is the fact that our faculty truly get to know every student. This is something to continue in college. Go to your professors’ office hours and introduce yourself, especially if the class is a larger lecture. There’s a great Season 4 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 when Brandon Walsh, a new freshman at California University, goes to office hours for his sociology professor. He says, “I didn’t want to be another face in the crowd.” I often tell students to steal this simple, perfect line, if they aren’t sure of what to say. Having a rapport with a professor will make it easier to seek out advice if you do struggle or have questions. It also means a professor will think of you if he or she has a research or internship opportunity.
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Build good fiscal habits now. One of the unexpected challenges of college is learning to manage your money, especially when your budget might differ from your friends’. Understand the difference between a need and a want, and get comfortable “owning it” when something isn’t in your budget. Don’t be tempted to open credit cards and spend beyond your means – first year students are an easy target for credit card companies, who try to lure in 18-year-olds with the promise of freebies if they sign up for a card. Parents must have a clear and frank conversation about what, if any, spending money they’ll be providing to their child, and what expenses they are willing to cover.