My expectations for college were a lot more dreadful than reality. Before starting classes this semester I was very anxious to see how well I would adjust to college. I was constantly stressed about whether I would be able to keep up in all my classes. But after the first two weeks, I was pleasantly surprised to find out all of my classes were fairly calm. All of the expectations discussed in class syllabuses were reasonable and the homework load was not overwhelming.
Specifically, the class I was the most uncertain about was Biology. Up until this year, the most recent biology class I took was in freshman year. I had not retained anything so I had no prior knowledge going into it. I thought I would fall behind because of this but that was not the case. I think a big reason why I was able to do well in the class was due to the recorded lectures. I could always go back and rewatch all the videos to make sure I understood all the concepts. Another really helpful resource was GSS which are student led study sessions. All in all, I think what made my classes so much more stress free was the easily accessible resources made available to students.
I found that the structures of my classes were also very beneficial. I expected my classes to be relatively similar to the ones I took in highschool but in reality there were glaring differences. The assignments due dates and exams were given at a much faster rate. I found this helpful because information was still fresh in my brain. I did not have to go too far back or relearn too many concepts to prepare for exams. Something else that was unanticipated was classes' ability to drop grades. When some of my professors mentioned being able to drop the lowest grades on exams and homework assignments, I felt considerably less pressure. Additionally, all of my teachers this semester are very understanding and considerate on due dates and assignment work.
In terms of expectations for CPSG100 I did not expect to learn so much about logical fallacies and the scientific method. I thought we would learn more about specific strategies in how we can reduce climate change. Learning about past climate trends was also unexpected for me. Before the semester started I was preparing to learn about climate change and its effects on our future, not our past. Though I do now understand the importance of understanding climate trends that happened in our history. I also did not expect outside-of-classroom activities to be so frequent. It was surprising to see how many opportunities were offered outside the class. Especially the metro scavenger hunt which was less curriculum based and more for the purpose for getting familiar with transportation. I thought this field trip was immensely useful. The reality of life on campus was also very eye opening. I thought I would really struggle with homesickness and missing my friends and family. Another concern included my transition of having my own room to sharing it with someone new. Really, I was all around worried I would not be able to feel settled in the new space. Turns out, though I did struggle with homesickness the first couple days, it quickly eased. Transitioning from living in my house to a shared dorm was also not as daunting. My roommate and I got along great and sharing a room is not much different then having my own. Something I still struggle with are my midnight munchies. Back at home I would be able to sneak downstairs and make myself something to eat which is much more of a hassle in the dorms.
I was also very decently taken aback by all the perks that come with living on campus, I was not made aware of the non-academic luxuries that were automatically given to us. For instance, the free HBO and amazon prime trial. Wifi on campus is also relatively decent. Food on campus is also impressive. I was not expecting the dining hall food to be so diverse and well cooked. There was a lot more walking on campus than I anticipated.
As for advice I would give to future SGC students to ease them into college life, I would tell them to go easy on themselves. Their expectations of university life are almost always much worse than what they are in reality. On the other hand, if someone were to find this to be untrue and found themselves struggling, I would tell them to give it time. Transitioning to college can look different on everyone. If they see friends thriving from the get go, they should not feel bad comparing themselves. They will get in routine and get in the hang of things eventually.