5 Tips to A Successful College Career

Freshmen 101: 5 Tips to A Successful College Career

It’s August…so that means back to school for millions of kids across the country. For the Class of 2018, this means the start of one of the most important journeys of your life also known as your freshmen year of College. The next 4 years will be filled with great memories, but also with great challenges. How you deal with those challenges will prepare you for life post-college. Here are 5 tips for incoming college freshmen:

1. Relationships – I cannot express enough the importance of relationships to you not only succeeding in college, but in your life after college. The expression, “Your network is your net-worth” so true. When it comes time to apply to medical school, law school, graduate school, or for an internship, you are going to need letters of recommendation. More specifically, you’re going to need letters of recommendation from people who can speak to your work ethic, aptitude, and more importantly, your character. When it comes to relationships, quality > quantity. You can learn something from everyone, including your peers, faculty, and staff members. Beyond that, you never what type of connections these individuals may have. Building a strong relationship and connection can create a plethora of opportunities for you both inside and outside of the classroom.

2. Ask for Help – Speaking from personal experience, this is an area that I struggled with during college and continue to struggle with today. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking help if you are in need. Too often, students put off seeking help until it’s too late. If you don’t know the answer to something or if you are in need, please seek immediate assistance. The sooner you make others aware of your need, the sooner a solution can be found.

3. Use Your Resources – Colleges and universities are equipped with a ton of resources to help students succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. Unfortunately, many students miss out on these opportunities because they either don’t know about them or choose not to utilize them. For example, if you’re having difficulties writing a paper for your English class, there are multiple avenues you can take to seek assistance. First and foremost, professors and instructors have office hours (these will be outlined on your course syllabus) – this is a great time to spend one-on-one time with the instructor to get academic help. Does your school have a Writing Studio? If yes, then visit during their hours of operation and get help with writing your paper. Career Services, Counseling Center, Tutoring services for Math and Science courses, and the Study Abroad office are just a few of the resources that colleges and universities offer to students.

4. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone – Motivational speaker Brian Tracy said, “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” If you apply this line of thinking to your collegiate career, I promise you will reap the benefits. It is amazing what can happen when we open our minds to new and different experiences. On a college campus, this can take many different forms. You can sign up for a class on a topic you’ve always been interested in, join a club, start your own club, listen to an on-campus speaker discuss a controversial topic or subject, and many other things. One of my biggest regrets from college is that I did not study abroad. This can be a life-changing experience – I encourage all college students to study abroad at some point during their undergraduate career.

5. Have Fun – College represents the best of both worlds. You have the freedoms and access of an adult without the adult responsibilities. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this period in your life. Remember why you are in school (to get an education), but don’t get so caught up in the end goal that you forget to enjoy the journey.

PRO Movement Basketball is dedicated and committed not only to helping kids realize their dream of playing college basketball. For more information, please contact a member of our staff:

Jarrett Christian – @PROMovement_1