When we asked Albertus students what advice they would give to those attending college for the first time, we got so many valuable tips that we would be remiss in not sharing them all. So here they are:
Connect. College is your home away from home, and feeling as if you belong there is priceless. Reach out: there is a whole school of great friendships just waiting to be made, and you never know where you might meet your future closest friends. From dorm life page to clubs and organizations, you’ll find ways to peruse your interests while developing an academic and personal support system.
Find a place to study other than your dorm room. Your room is cool. It has your Xbox, your television, your bed, and your roommate. There’s often a lot going on there and it’s usually not conducive to studying. Of course, we’re sure you’ll hit the books after one more game or a quick nap, but you may want to consider finding somewhere else to work like the library. It’s much easier to focus on work or fun (and sleep) if you have space dedicated to each. After all, you’ve heard the old adage, “don’t mix business with pleasure” — that applies to studying as well.
Don’t skip class. As a college student, you have a lot more freedom in deciding how to spend your day. If you’d rather sleep in or take a long leisurely lunch instead of going to class, no one is going to stop you from doing so. And while playing hooky does sound appealing, many college students learn the hard way that taking advantage of this freedom doesn’t end well. On the college level, class moves quickly. When you miss one session, you are actually missing out on hours of valuable instruction, and you will fall behind. Also, don’t forget that you’re paying for this instruction — or Mom and Dad are paying for it, and they probably won’t think that a day of playing “Call of Duty” instead of going to English class is time and money well spent.
Honesty is everything. Since you were little, you were probably told that lying is bad and cheating got you a slap on the wrist. For example if you were caught cheating on a test (“hypothetically” of course), you may have gotten a 0 on the test, detention, and a phone call to your parents. On the college level, however, academic honesty is treated very seriously, and being caught cheating, which includes plagiarizing, can lead to failing the class and actually being expelled from the college. Don’t risk it. And besides, when you cheat, you cheat yourself out of learning.
Take advantage of resources. One of the best aspects of the Albertus community is the amount of resources that it offers. If you need help with your studies, and everyone needs help sometimes, stop in to Academic Support Services. Do you need accommodations for a disability? Reach out to Accessibility Coordination Services. Are you having trouble with class websites or the school’s portal? Contact Technology Services. Have you been feeling under the weather? Get checked out at Health Services. And when you’re ready to go out and demonstrate all the hard work you’ve been doing, Career Services can help you find that perfect position. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.
Now you are really ready to go out there and make the most of your Albertus Magnus experience!