One. Don't change your major 100 times // I have seen a ton of my friends who have changed their major around so many times and it has put them back so much. It's because when you change your major that means you're starting all over. Some of the classes that you take won't count towards your new major. It's okay to not know what you want to do with your life, but try to narrow it down before jumping ship.
Two. Save your money // I can't believe how much money I wasted at Chipotle and Starbucks instead of using my meal swipes. I wonder how much of my money Taco Bell has because I was too lazy to cook. Save your money because you will need it for more important things down the road.
Three. Build up your resume // It's great if you're in college and working at some retail job to get by. However, internships and volunteer opportunities is what's really going to make your resume stand out. Take advantage of your summers and apply to as many internships as possible!
Four. Get involved // This sort of goes hand in hand with number three, but get involved with college activities. Greek life, clubs, organizations, all of those are great things to be apart of during your four years of college. If I'm being honest with myself, this is the one thing I wish I had done. Get involved, make new friends, and beef up that resume.
Five. Talk to your advisor // I never cared to get help from my advisor until I transferred to ODU. I wish I had done it a lot sooner, because I would have been a lot more proactive when it came to registering for classes and preparing to graduate. Your advisor is there to guide you through all of the confusing college questions you may have. Take the time to meet with them.
Six. Ratemyprofessors.com // This website has saved me more than once. Whenever you are planning out your new semester, take the time to research what other students are saying about the professors around campus. If math is your hardest subject you probably don't want an intense professor. This website has helped me to ensure that I get a teacher that I can handle and who can handle me.
Seven. Time organizatoin and procrastination // It's important to give yourself time to study and do your homework. I defintely am a procrastinator but as time went on I learned that if I have an essay due on Sunday that I should start it as soon as possible. That way, I'm not waiting until the last minute to do all of my assignments. Time organization is key to getting by in college.
Eight. Slugbooks.com // DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON TEXTBOOKS (*insert clapping hands emoji*)! There are so many websites like Slugbooks or Booktornado that compare prices on multiple websites for the textbook you need. Seriously guys, I don't understand how people spent close to a thousand dollars on textbooks. It just blew my mind. Also, see if your professor is even going to use the textbooks. Obviously for math and science you'll need it, but if you wait a couple classes and your professor hasn't mentioned the textbook once, you probably don't need it. Just use your best judegement.
Nine. Just do your damn homework // I will never know why I didn't do that one homework assignment that one time. It's crazy how homework assignments can bring you down a whole letter grade. I don't care if you have to stay up until two am (that's where time organization comes to play), but just do your damn homework.
Ten. It's okay to not know what you want from your degree // I might be super negative here, but a degree is just a piece of paper. Unless you're going to be a doctor or IT person, very rarely do people get a job in their field. It's okay to not know what you want from life, college, or even your degree. It's impossible to know where you want to be four years from now. Just focus on getting good grades, enjoy your time at college, and try out new experiences. Take your time in defining who you are and what you want in life.
I hope this helped all of you new or current college students. I didn't have the best college experience, but that doesn't mean that you won't have a better experience than me. College can be a really great place to learn who you are as a person and what you want to be in the future. Take pride in knowing that you're accomplishing something that will make you stand out from the rest. Good luck to everyone still in school and let me know what you've learned during your time at school!
xoxo, Michele
