I saw a great list of college advice and I wanted to give away some of mine. I've thought a lot about this as an instructor (to a basically a welcome to college class) (and as a recent grad) here's the best I got/ things I don't see on every college advice list:
1) BE YOU. IF YOU MEANS PARTYING AT COLLEGE THAT'S OK. IF YOU MEANS STAYING IN YOUR DORM AND HAVING ONE REALLY CLOSE FRIEND (me) THAT'S OK. BUT OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, BE SAFE. I was not a party person but this is the first thing I tell my students. Always go to a party with a group, a group you trust, never abandon anyone in that group. If you're going to do something dumb, be smart about it. I don't advocate drinking til your blitzed or doing drugs, but be prepared to call for help if you or a friend needs it.
2) Join something. Anything. Meet more people. Open up. Try a small part time job. Extra money and good friends.
3) Eat at more dorms than the one directly near you, sometimes that dorm isn't the best food and sometimes it's stupid expensive.
4) TALK TO THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CLASS. Even if it's just the girl in ethics class you always sit next to and you laugh about how Professor what'shisname is wearing a weird shirt today. That girl gave me notes when I missed. Or the girl in my french class freshmen year that I grouped up with every day. I ran into her two years later and we just sat and talked for half an hour and it was honestly great. You may get lucky and get a Marissa out of it (who I'm not going to tag because there will be too many notifications I'm sure). Who gives me pep talks and comforts me when I'm having an emotional breakdown, and we almost lived together, and I know I can always bounce ideas off her. Be open to new people and experiences.
5) JUST GO TO CLASS. You are paying for it. Oh my god. Please. You can skip every now and then, but if you think you can go. Just go. Skipping calculus as much as I did is why I got a D+ when I honestly could have had a much higher grade. Take notes while you're there. Stay engaged and don't be on your phone. Every class that I disengaged in on my laptop texting or whatever was 10 times harder than just paying attention. So please, do that.
6) Take classes you want, but don't be afraid to drop them. My two hardest classes to date have been my favorite. (Russian history and an essay writing class about the U.S.-Mexican War) On the dropping thing. Live without regret. If this class is too hard or you just can't get into it, take the Withdrawal. It's ok to have a few.
7) For the love of god, do not procrastinate. I know you will. But try your hardest. Don't be me, who pulled up the computer to work on her class site and made this essay of a post.
