When it comes to college and everything concerning it, the good in me wants to shed light on only the positive aspects of it all. The skills you will develop, memories you will make, and lifelong relationships you will establish are definitely priceless.
But for me not to enlighten you on the struggles and downsides of college would be flat out deceiving.
College is not all rainbows and butterflies, that’s for sure. And if you’re anything like most of us college students, it won’t take you long to realize that. You’ll begin to experience first-hand a lot of the mistakes freshmen make when first going off to college.
Don’t panic if or when these situations do arise though because, by the end of this article, you’ll be far more aware and a lot less susceptible to falling victim to making those same mistakes yourself.
With that said, listen (or read for this matter) closely and take note! Here are the most common mistakes freshmen make and how to avoid them.
1. Prioritize What Matters
This is one of the most important, if not the most important thing to keep in mind while you’re chasing that degree. It’s absolutely nothing worse than having the time of your life at a party, then suddenly realizing you had an assignment due at 11:59.
That wasn’t me being dramatic either. It’s happened a lot more than you may think. It’s easy to get caught up in the party lifestyle that accompanies the college experience, but it’s imperative that you remember what you’re there for. To get a degree. Always make sure you work hard before you play hard. Always.
2. Network Network Network
One of the big mistakes freshmen make is developing a routine and staying within the confinements of that routine their entire time in college. The talk to the same people, go to the same places and refuse to venture outside of their comfort zone.
As simple as it may sound, make sure you get out there and talk to people. Make connections. Establish relationships with people within your area of study.
Consider networking a skill that you should hone your freshman year and continue to exercise and develop as you mature into your later years of school. If you’re an extroverted person or someone who’s just a pure natural and meeting new people and making friendships, this step will be a breeze.
Either way, perfecting the art of networking will take you a LONG way in not just college, but life period. One of the connections you make may very well be the one to get you in the door of your first job after graduating.
3. Live Within Your Means
The “broke college student” saying is more than just a myth. Without proper money management, it can and has become a reality for plenty of students, and that’s one of the most crippling mistakes freshmen make.
Life does happen though, and we understand that. You might crack your phone screen, or you might suddenly pop a tire and need to buy a new one.
With that in mind, always plan and save accordingly. Whether you’re parking a job while in school or not, always do your best at being smart with the money you do have. Don’t go out to eat and all of a sudden forget the entire concept of saving money. Though it sounds cliché, it’s true; always save for a rainy day.
4. Registration 101
This tip includes a bundle of things. For one, always take advantage of ratemyprofessor.com when you’re sifting through which courses to take. It might sound crazy, but believe me when I say you’d much rather want an 8 a.m. class with a great professor over a class at noon with a terrible professor. Your smarts clearly have a lot to do with your grade, but your professor plays a big role as well, and you want to make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for failure from the jump.
Secondly, if you can, create a schedule that best fits your lifestyle. If you know you’re the type of person to burn out easily, don’t overload yourself and have too many classes in one day. Spread them out throughout the week and conquer them separately. And vice versa, if too many classes at separate times sounds overwhelming, knock them all out in one day. Do what’s best for you – nobody else.
One of the last mistakes freshmen make is probably one that’s slept on the most. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to campus a day before class starts and map out where your classes take place. You don’t want to be that guy that’s 20 minutes late on the first day because you couldn’t exactly find where the classroom was. Trust me.
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5. Enjoy Yourself
Like I said, college isn’t all fun; it involves a great deal of responsibility as well. But without a decent balance of the two, it can be quite easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed over the pressures of being successful. It’s a journey, but be sure to enjoy every step of the way! With all that hard work you’re putting in, you deserve some fun every now and then for crying out loud.
Just remember, while you’re trekking along on that journey, think back to this article and remember all of the most common mistakes freshmen make and how to combat them. If you forget a tip or two, come back and revisit us. We don’t bite. We’ll always be here for help!
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What mistakes did you make as a freshman? How did you overcome them? Let us know in the comments!
