My freshman year has consisted of many surprises and subversions of expectations. There have been unprecedented highs and lows in the last ten months, and nothing about my highschool experience nor the things I had previously heard about college could have prepared me for what this year had in store for me. From gaining and losing both friends and financial aid, to struggling to find my footing and truly feel at home here, I would like to recount my experiences in order to prepare any incoming freshman for what the college experience is really like.
The first thing that took me by surprise was how different college classes can really be. I took some dual enrollment and AP classes in high school, and for a long time I felt that this prepared me sufficiently for what a college class would be like. And while I do think these classes in high school did help to ease me into college, the structure and expectations are in no way comparable to what I had been used to. This was truly revealed to me this semester, when I took ENST 200: Fundamentals of Soil Science. This course is a requirement for my major, and overall, the experience in this class has been extremely beneficial. I love the subject matter, and the lab for this course allowed me to meet two new friends in my major, who I am eager to spend the next four years with.
However, maintaining a high grade in the class has required real work and time spent studying. Highschool does not sufficiently prepare students to study, and so coming into this class I had to develop entirely new skills and strategies in order to pass. This is where I came to cherish my new friends. Not only was it nice to hang out with new people, but we could also spend time helping each other study for this class. I think being able to collaborate with others is one of the best strategies for success in college, as it provides a source of motivation and combines a wealth of knowledge on the subject that one person could not bring on their own.
Beyond the knowledge classes can provide, it is important to consider the relationships you can build with your professors. Especially professors who work in your department, as these are the lecturers and researchers you will be spending the next four years learning from. One thing that I regret this semester is not spending more time developing relationships with these professors, as now that scholarship season is in full swing, I’ve been scrambling to find those willing to provide letters of recommendation. This is something that I want to improve on next year by spending more time in office hours and possibly speaking more after classes. Doing this not only opens the door for new possibilities such as potential internships or letters of recommendation, but can also help to make you feel more connected to the field you will one day be working in.
This year I found myself the least prepared for the social differences between highschool and college. Growing up in a small town, there was a familiarity among everyone that ensured that even if you didn’t have friends in your classes, by high school you at the very least knew someone you were friendly enough with. I was lucky to have a decently sized and tight knit friend group, and having to split up so we could all pursue our education was challenging to say the least. Naively, I thought that I would be able to replicate this group quickly and essentially pick up where I left off just with new people. This of course was not the case, but through lots of trial and error I’ve been able to make a few extremely close friends, who I value highly.
My problem with college advice is how general it can be. Everyone is different, and everyone will encounter different problems that may require extremely tedious and complex solutions. However, if I were to give any piece of advice it would be to keep trying, and go in with the mindset that things are going to be so different from anything that you could have imagined. It is imperative that you push through these challenges and ask for help when needed. There are so many wonderful people - both students and faculty - on this campus that can help you through whatever you go through. So whether it be a friend, a professor, or just an interesting class, take advantage of the resources provided to you, and keep going through the challenges you will absolutely encounter.