The courses that became my greatest surprise were my math courses this past year, specifically MATH243 and MATH241. Both classes met five days a week for 50 minutes, with lectures on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and discussions on Tuesday and Thursday. In my senior year of high school, I only had math twice a week, so adjusting to having a shorter class every single day was a big change. I also had never experienced discussion sections before college, so I did not realize how helpful they would be. Sometimes the TAs explained concepts in ways that made more sense to me than the professors did, and discussions became one of the most valuable parts of the course. I discovered pretty quickly that succeeding in college classes is not just about attending lectures, but also about using all the extra academic resources available. I think incoming students can experience similar surprises by being open-minded about classes they expect to dislike or struggle with and by fully taking advantage of office hours, discussions, and study groups instead of only relying on lectures.
One of my greatest successes in developing relationships with faculty members was the connection I formed with one of the main lecturers for my major-specific courses. He is notoriously known for being intimidating, so at first, I avoided interacting with him unless necessary. However, there was a situation where I had an issue in the course, and it became unavoidable for me to talk to him directly. Once I actually met with him, I realized he was much more understanding and helpful than how everyone depicted him. That experience made me realize that a lot of the fear students have toward professors comes from assumptions rather than actual interactions. Now I have a good relationship with a professor who will be prominent throughout my entire college experience, whom many students avoid because of his reputation. One of the biggest obstacles to building relationships with faculty is simply getting over the intimidation factor, especially in difficult or major-specific classes. I would recommend incoming students try to introduce themselves early, attend office hours even when they do not urgently need help, and remember that professors are usually more approachable than they seem. Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to make a large university feel much smaller and more supportive.
Adjusting to university life is not easy, and my relationships with other students have honestly been one of the biggest things that helped me get through it. Having friends in classes, clubs, and on my dorm floor made the campus feel a lot less overwhelming because there were always people going through the same struggles as me. Whether it was studying together, reminding each other about assignments, or just having people to talk to after a stressful week, those connections made college feel much more manageable. One of the biggest obstacles in building these relationships is that everyone is busy and adjusting at the same time, so it can feel awkward or difficult to put yourself out there at first. I think next year's freshmen should take advantage of clubs, study groups, and events early on, even if it feels uncomfortable. A lot of the friendships people make in college start simply from showing up consistently and being willing to talk to new people.
One aspect of university academic life I was least prepared for was how easy it was to get into the habit of skipping work and classes. For large lectures that do not take attendance, missing class once to study for a different class's test or even for a "mental health day" can quickly evolve into not going to class for a week, and then falling behind becomes overwhelming. In college, professors are not constantly reminding students about assignments or checking in when they miss class, so it is really easy to lose structure if you are not careful. I think prospective students and incoming freshmen should prepare by building good routines early and treating class like a job, even when attendance is optional. Using a planner, setting specific study times, and finding friends in classes who help keep you accountable can make a huge difference in staying on track.