Want some unsolicited advice?

Posted by Trudy Richards on 08/06/2013

Transitioning to college life can be rough, but here are a few pieces of advice that might ease the process.

Ask questions. If you are confused or need clarification, ask for it. You may have heard the old saying that it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but in the case of college assignments and financial aid, that could cause you some big problems. Asking questions early will save you time, frustration, and maybe even money.

Put your best foot forward, especially electronically. There will be lots of people in college who you may only comunicate with via computer. Showcase yourself in the best possible light by creating a simple and professional email address (maybe just your name) and save yayforwaffles@gmail.com for your friends. When you've worked so hard on a class project and need to attach it, save it as a pdf file or upload it to a cloud document server so that it shows up looking exactly the way you wanted it to look.

Have fun. Get involved in a service organization that piques your interest or find a part-time job in an area that meshes with your career goals. Take every chance you have to network. There is so much to do on a college campus and you can learn a lot from interacting with others. Get out there and find something you enjoy.

Don't have too much fun. Missed classes count, academic probation is a serious bummer, and GPAs take forever to bring up once they've fallen. Remember the old adage, everything in moderation.

And most important of all...

Be nice to people. This should be a no-brainer, but as someone who talks to people all the time, I can tell you that not everyone got the memo. Smile at people as you walk to class. Hold the door for someone who has their hands full. Thank others when they help you (bonus points if it's in writing). They'll think you're great and you'll feel great. It's a win-win.