What I Wish I Knew Before College

You finished your college search and finally made it to what you were told would be the best four years of your life.

Among the stress of finishing homework and rushing to meet deadlines, it’s easy to forget some of the opportunities that college affords you.

Instead of trying to survive credit to credit, semester to semester, here are four tips to enhance your experience.

1. Go to Class & Talk to Professors

Take advantage of your teachers. After all, you’re paying them to teach you. This means showing up for even the 8:00 a.m. classes. Make sure your professor knows your name. If you fail a paper or an exam, meet with professors during office hours. They’ll appreciate and remember this, so when if comes down to the final grade, it may bump you up a grade or two. Don’t forget, your professors are a great way to network! Many were professionals at one time in their field, and they may have connections to help you land a job or an internship.

2. Get Involved

As freshman, everyone is trying to make friends. Keep your dorm room door open so people know it’s okay to wander inside and say hello. Join a club on a campus. Most schools have an involvement fair within the first weeks of school for groups like the school newspaper, the radio station or Greek life. It’s a great way to meet new people and start a new hobby. If you missed out on the first meetings, don’t worry; most clubs will happily accept new members at any time! Plus… meetings often have free food: great when your meal plan is running low.

3. Buying Textbooks

Do not buy books before the first class, or even before the first couple of sessions. You may not need some of them, even if they are listed on the syllabus. For those books you do need, don’t buy them from the bookstore. Used books online are your friend, especially if an older edition will work. Look into also renting books, especially the expensive ones! Also, professors sometimes put the book on hold in the library for students to use for free. In the long run, you can save a ton of money on books you may never read again. If you do buy them, don’t sell them back to the bookstore. You’ll get more cash back by selling them online.

4. The Career Center

The Career Center is your friend, so go visit before senior year! The more real-world experience you get during college, the more valuable you make yourself when applying for jobs. Your career adviser is there to help you find a student internship, write a resume and cover letter, and upon graduation, to find a job. Colleges have a dedicated network of job openings and alumni connections that are unique to your school. Take advantage of it, and land an internship before you graduate. If you apply early enough, you may be able to get one that’s paid and not just for credit. This is extremely helpful to test out whether or not you actually like the work you think you want. Sometimes you may find out that your “dream job” is not what you expected.

Remember your college experience will be what you make! Try to make it the best four years of your life, because time will pass quicker than you think.

Jessica Finger
New York, NY

Jessica Finger currently works for Noodle.org, an education company whose goal is to help you make informed decision about your education no matter where you are in the education lifecycle. Jessica is a graduate of Quinnipiac University, and outside of work likes reading, going to the theater and exploring the Internet. Follow her on Twitter: @jkfinger.