Best Advice for College Students

Whether you are just starting, graduating or taking a gap year from college, this blogpost will be relevant to your personal growth.

Roommates: Roommates could make or break your college experience, so it is important that you set some ground rules from the very start. Do not wait until things become bad before you have the critical conversations. Trust me on this, communication is key and being passive aggressive never works.

Some of the things you should talk about are:
1. Can you use my stuff.
2. How should we keep the space clean (what is my definition and your definition of clean)
3. When do you normally go to bed, so that I can moderate my noise
4. If you share a bathroom, talk about you class schedules, so you can coordinate when to shower etc
5. How should we coordinate paying bills
6. How should I approach you when you offend me
7. Bathroom cleaning schedule
8. Can we share food and groceries

Join a Club and Go to Events: Making friends could be very easy or hard depending on your personality. Joining a club that you are interested in and going to events are the best way to meet people.

Take as Many Introductory Classes as Possible: I wish someone had told me this when I just started college. It is very easy to get caught up in what we think we want to do and only take classes in those areas. Take as many introductory classes as possible in different fields to discover what’s out there and you will be surprised where it may lead you.

Do Study Abroad: This was one of the best college experiences I had. If your school offers a study abroad program, take advantage of it. They are usually scholarships that cover the full cost.

Seat In the front of the Class: I use to love seating in the back until I started seating in the front. Seating in front makes you focus, participate and pay attention. If you are taking the time to go to class you might as well make it worth it. Also, professors easily remember you, which works in your favor when it comes to getting letters of recommendation. (In addition to your grades of course)

Put yourself on a Budget: It is very easy to over spend in college. The little things like daily coffee adds up. Having a budget makes you more cognizant of your spendings. One thing which worked for me was having two bank accounts. One of them was for spending and once it was out of money I just watched the skies until my next pay check. I only used the money in the other bank account in extreme emergencies.

Buy lots of Comfy Clothes: Most people don’t really dress up to class unless you are extra like me. Buy clothes that you can easily get in and out of because you will probably be in a hurry most of the time.

Don’t be Afraid to be Alone: This statement has so much power and you will realize it as you go through life. Don’t be afraid to be the only person who stays in to study on a Friday night. Don’t be afraid to be the only person who dresses extra af because it make you feel good. Don’t be afraid to be ask a question if you are the only one who doesn’t get it (Make use of that tuition money). Don’t be afraid to be the only one pursuing a specific path. This one particularly resonates with me because I was one of the few people in my grad program who wasn’t interested in programming and I thought I wasn’t going to get a job because I was alone. (Well, I did get a job). The list could go on, but what I am trying to say is do not be afraid to be your authentic self.

Buy, Rent and Sell Text Books: I rarely went to the campus bookstore unless it was for a book that I could only get there because the books were usually overpriced. I normally got my books from Amazon (usually used books) or rented them from Chegg. If it’s a book which you will only use once, rent it. Also, sell your books back on Amazon or to other students.

Go to a Football Game: If you go to a big 10 school, buy tickets and go to a football game. Embed in that school pride. Also, if you want to make money buy seasonal tickets and sell some of the tickets for games you are not interested in. It is very easy to make your money back, especially when you sell your tickets for your school’s top rivalry game. For example University Michigan vs Michigan State. (Go Blue!!)

Diversify your Friend Groups: It very easy to make friends with only people who look like you especially if you are in a school which isn’t very diverse because it is familiar, comfortable and they get your struggles. Life and growth only happens when you are uncomfortable and you may not get this opportunity anywhere else.

Take a Dance or an Acting Class: If you are a super introvert, taking these type of classes will help you break out of your shell a little bit and they may help you find your voice.

Have Balanced Fun: Don’t bury yourself in your books but also don’t bury yourself in the parties. Find a balance and make the most out of your college experience.

Good luck!