What advice would have greatly benefited you going into freshman year?

For me, the best advice I wish I would have heard would have been to make a plan for everything! Just as you have to plan to pay for the education, you also need to have a plan to manage how you are going to achieve the goal of getting your degree. Planning how you are going to spend your time, from class time to the time that will be needed to do your assignments, will help to alleviate the feelings of being overwhelmed. Learning to manage your time wisely is crucial to helping you reach your educational goals as well as well as giving you a good base for when you work a professional job and have to manage time sensitive activities. Once you learn a timed pattern for studying that is successful, you can then see where you can afford to fit in other activities you like to do without sacrificing needed study or work time. I found that once I got my time management under control for school work and studying, it lead to a feeling of satisfaction and of being in control. Also, when planning or timing activities, be sure to include some time for yourself as well, so that you can have a healthy school life balance.

I wish I would have known to be more involved on campus.  I was so worried about making good grades, spending the right time studying, working part time.  I didn't make time to get more involved.  I had a good time with the circle of friends I did have, but I felt I was missing out.  I'm a rare one that got into a fraternity in my Junior year.  Once I joined, I also saw the benefits and bigger picture of the whole Greek system.  It made my circle of friends and influence much larger.  No matter if you join a sorority or fraternity,  or one of the many other types of groups on campus, there is a lot more to college than just grades.  These relationships last much longer after college.  In life it's not always about the courses you take, the grades you make or how hard you work.  A solid circle of influence and the right people to know is very important.  Those relationships helped me while and after my college years.

Trust me you will enjoy and get the most out of your college experience if you submerse yourself. 

<span style="background-color: transparent;">This would have helped me tremendously!! But I had to figure it out on my own. You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>

Hi Kendall,

As a very recent college graduate, I can attest to the

importance of being prepared before embarking on this new chapter in your life.

The previous comments do a great job of highlighting the importance of time

management and me-time. Without being too repetitive, I want to especially

emphasize the importance of self-care.

You will meet people in college who are 4.0 students, spending

all of their time studying, and at times overworking themselves. You will also

meet people in college who are social butterflies that love to party. A vast

majority of the people you meet, however, will be somewhere in the middle. I

was one of those people! I came from a low income family, so I had to work

every day after class in order to pay my bills. In addition to that I worked

with organizations that embodied my passion for giving back to the community.

Last, but not least, college can be STRESSFUL! It is important to take care of yourself, physically and mentally. After noticing the toll that stress was taking on my body, I started doing yoga twice a week. This, of course, added another item to my weekly itinerary. Working a part-time job, leading community organizations, exercising, and taking classes may not have resulted in a 4.0 GPA. It did result, however, in a well-rounded person. I gained the ability to manage my time effectively, and balance work and play, while focusing not just on school, but also on the things most important to me. When it came time to find a job, I heard praise from companies about my ability to embrace the many different aspects of life. I heard the word “well-rounded” or “holistic” candidate many times over.

The punchline: take care of yourself and find balance. College is about so much more than classes, it is about life. You will never get another chance to explore your interests and passions, and get to know yourself. That will come through after college when looking for jobs. Companies want to see human beings!