The fall semester has officially begun, and I know most of us are excited to be back. Summer can be absolutely fantastic, but after a while, we all start to miss the people we meet here at school. Sure we don’t miss the classes or the work, and I’m sure more than once you wish you could just live here at school without having to be involved in the school part. Unfortunately, that’s not an option. We are all here for one thing: to gain an education. Sometimes that takes a lot of work, stress, and it’s not as easy as we would want it to be sometimes. So, on that note, I have some advice for all of you. I’ll start with the freshmen and work my way up to my senior class.
Freshmen:
Welcome to the University of New Haven! I know it can be daunting, especially since this is your first full week of college. Don’t be too overwhelmed, even if it is your first time away from home. It’s only the first week of classes, so don’t stress too much over it. If you want to have a good first year, then keep some of these tips in mind while you adjust yourself. The sooner you get yourself on the right track, the better your college experience will be. So, first, get yourself organized. Believe it, when those assignments start piling up, a planner will save your life. Pencil in when all of your assignments are due and when your big tests are. There is no need to be surprised. Second, get comfortable talking to your professors. Don’t be intimidated by them, because they are here to help you. Learn their office hours and use them for help when you need it. If you struggle, it’s up to you to realize that you need help. Third, use the library and the services they offer when you need extra help. And lastly, the one I really emphasize is join something. There is a great selection of clubs and organizations on this campus: everything from Greek life to intramural sports. There is no reason to stay in your dorm rooms all day. Get involved, meet new people, and make that resume look good. Best of luck this year!!!
Sophomores:
Welcome back sophomores. You’re back for your second year, and now maybe you feel as if your pros at the college experience. I’d like to think of sophomore year as a second chance at college. You’re still getting started, so if freshman year did not go as well as planned, it’s your chance to fix things. Take this year and continue to explore the university. Maybe last year you did not take full advantage of everything we have here. Do it this year. My advice to you is to take a step out of your comfort zone. It’s a new year, and it’s time to get out of the freshman routine. Join a new club, make some new friends, and improve your grades by visiting the library more often if you found that that was something you did not really do last year. For many of you, this is the year you truly get into your classes for your major. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Be aware; sophomores often get a case of the “sophomore slump.” Do not let yourself just slide by without much effort. This is no time to slack off. So, have a good year and make this year count just as much as last year did.
Juniors:
Juniors now it’s time to welcome you back to school for another year. At this point, you are half way through your college career. Freshman year seems like it was just yesterday, but in fact so much has changed for you already. This is the year that you really start looking ahead into your future. It is the year you think about internships and making contacts. Continue to stay involved on campus, but this year, take a step up. Being more involved and taking on more responsibilities really looks good on a resume. Start thinking about leadership positions or ways to improve organizations you are in. Additionally, update your resume. If you need help, contact the career center on campus. They will be your best friend when it comes to getting help finding jobs, internships, and writing resumes, thank you notes, and cover letters. If you haven’t considered it, think about studying abroad. There are some wonderful programs offered here at the university. Maybe it’s the one thing you need to make your college experience the best it can be. And lastly, choose your classes carefully. This is the time to really make sure you are staying on top of your grades and credits earned. You don’t want to fall behind. Good luck this year!
Seniors:
Seniors, can you believe that it is our last year here. Time has flown by, and now we are the graduating class. Come May, we will be walking on the field with diplomas in hand. The real world is just around the corner. It’s a scary idea. But before we let anticipation (or dread) of graduation get the best of us, remember that we still have 10 months as undergraduates to go. Let’s make the best of it. We’ve been here for four years, so by now, I’m pretty sure we can say we are pros at being in college. But remember that it’s not over yet. This year, enjoy your year. You won’t ever get this time back, so make the most of it. Continue to work hard, attend campus events, and be involved. This is the year to avoid senioritis. You don’t want to miss graduating on time, because of one class. The good skills you learned the last three years still apply. So whatever your plans are for this year, best of luck to all of you. Good luck making some big decisions, keep focused, have fun, and make some fantastic memories to last you a lifetime.
No matter what year you’re in, good luck this year. There is so much to look forward to. Make the most of it, and enjoy.
Welcome back everyone!
