Nine tips to help new students navigate the college experience

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Nine tips to help new students navigate the college experience

Scott Nonemaker stands outside at Utica College campus.

By Scott Nonemaker, Dean of Students

Some people look forward to beautiful, sunny, 80-degree days. Others want to see the season’s first snowfall.

I look forward to the first day of classes for our new students. I always appreciate the excitement and energy that they bring to campus.

It’s cliché to say, but the campus really does come alive. Not only is there an excited energy, but there is also a nervous energy. This is a brand-new experience for many. It’s the nervous energy that gives me reason to write this essay. I want to share a few tips that may help ease students into their new identity as a college student.

Ask questions. If it’s on your mind, ask someone. The only way you will learn is to have some of those nagging questions answered. Your focus should be on your education. If you have questions that are distracting, you need to resolve them so you can concentrate.

Get to know your faculty. Faculty can be an amazing resource. Once you build a good rapport with your professors, it will be easier to ask questions, focus on your studies and perhaps make a new friend/mentor along the way.

Talk with your classmates. Talking with classmates will help relieve some of the “mystery” of your college experience. It is likely that your classmates have similar concerns. Starting the conversation can be the hardest part, but the benefits will outweigh the few moments of discomfort.

Pace yourself. Things will come at you pretty fast in your first few weeks. Make sure you take some time for self-care. There is a lot of work to do, but you’ll be more successful if you balance your academics with some time for yourself and your friends.

Hit the books. College is not easy. The best thing you can do is schedule your time and build some self-discipline. A rule of thumb in college is to spend three hours of time studying for every hour in class. This may sound like a lot, but the time is well spent when you see the results.

Explore your college. Learn everything you can about what your college has to offer. The resources on campus are designed to assist you; your college will provide you access to health and counseling services, entertainment, career development, tutoring services, exercise facilities and more. Use them all.

Spend time on campus. If you live on campus, wait a few weeks before you go home. Homesickness is normal, but if you give in to the urge to go home too soon, it will slow your adjustment to college life. Use the time on campus to learn your resources, develop friendships and go to activities. The more time you spend on campus, the more comfortable you will be with your new home.

Get involved. College is the place to figure out who you are. There are all kinds of clubs and organizations you can join: academic, social, service organizations and Greek life. Once you’re involved, you will learn about other things that interest you. Before long, you may even start your own club or become a leader in your favorite group. Your involvement will help keep you balanced and will also look great on your resume.

My final tip is to have fun. This is your experience. Make it fun. College is a place to learn inside and outside the classroom. Your studies should be on things that excite you and pique your interest. Your involvement should be things that are fun and give your mind a break from your studies. Make friends, attend events, smile a lot and laugh even more. Your college experience will go by fast, so make sure you have fun too.

This guest essay originally appeared in the Observer-Dispatch on September 9, 2021