We asked several hundred current and former students what advice they had to offer new students. The responses were tremendous and fell into these main categories:

Balance
Be Yourself
Accept the Challenges
Experiment
Get Involved
Surround Yourself with the Right People
Practical Advice

Balance

• College is meeting new people and partying and class and studying. With one of those components missing you are not getting the total college experience! -AD, UW-Stout, WI
• Completely avoid or carefully use alcohol. It is more important to be comfortable with yourself and your own and not to depend on alcohol or other drugs to create a relaxed atmosphere and conversation piece. -MLH, Penn State, PA
• Everything in moderation! -KT, McHenry College, IL
• Find a balance between academics, campus involvement, physical activity and the social aspects of college. -SC, Univ of NE
• Find a good balance between studying, getting involved in extracurricular activities, social life, and building your faith. -MH, Augustana College, SD
• Have fun but don't let your grades slip during your first year or you will have to work your butt off for the rest of college to get your GPA where you know you could/should be. -AS, UW-River Falls, WI
• If you like to have fun at night, then study as much as possible during the day. It will give you 4 years of fun instead of 4 months. -BF, UW-River Falls, WI
• If you want to function optimally, get enough sleep each night. -PT, St. Louis University, MO
• It is okay to turn down a social activity with your friends if you have too much already to do. If your friends love you, they'll respect and understand your decision. -PT, St. Louis University, MO
• Just because you're a freshman, doesn't mean that you have to ACT like a freshman! Many a good student get lost in the not-so-academic extra-curricular activities. This is the year of sink or swim. Don't let "the bottle" sink you. -MC, UW-River Falls, WI
• Know your breaking points with commitments, friends etc. -JS, Univ of the Pacific, CA
• Learn to balance work and play. -EA, McHenry County College, IL
• Learn to say no. The things you get involved with in college (activities, relationships, jobs, whatever) are SO much more rewarding when you limit your involvement to JUST the ones you really truly care about. -AR, Dickinson College, PA
• Make sure to manage your time wisely!! There are many fun things to do with new people and focusing on your education needs to take precedence. -KT, McHenry County College, IL
• Never forget where you came from. Despite all of your new knowledge and experiences, remain comfortable coming home again. -VH., UW-River Falls, WI
• Set reasonable limits. -PT, St. Louis University, MO
• There is more to college than beer. -TF, UW-River Falls, WI
• You have a lifetime to sleep, don't fritter away great opportunities by snoozing until 11AM or napping all afternoon. Life is too short to bother nursing a hang-over -- avoid it in the first place! -DD Univ of MO

Be Yourself

• It is ok to be yourself. When you get to college you are anxious to fit in, to feel you have a place in your new surroundings. Wanting to belong can sometimes make you be someone that you are not in order to fit in. Being yourself and doing the things that you enjoy most will lead you to those that are most like you. Being true to yourself will give you your place on campus. -MG
• Just one person can make a difference. -HL, UW-River Falls, WI
• Make the most of this fresh start. Nobody knows you or cares what you did in high school so start being who you WANT to be. Don't let your parents decide things for you (classes, clubs, etc...). It is YOUR life so start living it and controlling your direction. -KM, McMurry University, TX
• Remember to keep a large perspective. When I came to college I began to question all of my decisions to the point that I would wonder if I was ruining my whole life by eating granola instead of rice crispies. This quote helps me: "Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to love them. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without ever noticing it, live your way into the answer..." Rainer Maria Rilke, -MB, University of Denver, CO
• Think about LIFE, and your values, and what you want our of life, and how you treat people, and think about what ONE thing you want to prioritize over everything else. -JF, UW-River Falls, WI

Accept the Challenges

• A lot of students take the easy road though college. They find out which teachers are the easiest and choose their classes based on that. Make choices bases on what looks exciting. Passing a class in a subject that interests you and going through some tough work to do so, is very rewarding. -DM, Cal State Univ-Sacramento, CA
• College is not Grade 13! You need to apply yourself differently than you did in high school and learn new time management and self management skills to be successful academically. -SB, VA Commonwealth Univ
• College is very different, both socially and academically, from high school. Gone are the days when you can expect to breeze through a final exam just because you did okay during the semester. -JT, Trinity University, TX
• College life will not be predictable, and as much as you hope it will go a certain way, it won't most of the time. However, you must make the best of every situation or at least learn from it. -AW, UW-River Falls, WI
• Focus on the task at hand. If you are going to go to class, spend the 50 minutes really concentrating on the lecture, then later you'll be free to do other things. -RB, UW-Madison, WI
• I would advise students to not give up. If you don't like it at first, that's okay. It will most likely get a lot better! , -KH, UW-Stout, WI
• No task is really impossible if you exercise discipline, hard work, and keep your determination. -KB, Hardin Simmons University, TX
• Remember that there have been all sorts of sacrifices made to get you there--your work in school up to that point, your parents' extra money helping you out, the well-wishes of so many along the way. You've only got this one chance, this one time, and you have to make all your work up to that point worth it. Enjoy it for all that it is. -JG, Elizabethtown College, PA
• Stay focused, study hard and communicate with your professors!, -RG, UW-Stout, WI
• You get what you put in. If you put a minimal effort into college, you will get minimal results. If you put your heart and soul into college, the possibilities are endless. -MC, UW-River Falls, WI
• You have to take an active role in achieving your goals and getting what you want and deserve out of life. -KJ, St. Louis Univ, MO

Experiment

• Be adventurous and explore life! College is an opportunity to fill your life with new experiences and it will help you grow and learn about yourself and the world around you. It is an exciting time but it can be a dangerous one, too, so be safe! Learn to handle the ups and downs! -PS, Sonoma State University, CA
• Be open-minded. Try new things. Listen to different music. Try a new food you wouldn't normally eat. Introduce yourself to someone you would not normally talk to, someone that is different than you. -HL, UW-River Falls, WI
• Do everything you possibly can do in college, don't let anyone stop you, and most importantly don't worry about what people think of you!, -MS
• Do not be afraid of change. Every change happens for a reason. -KD, UW-River Falls, WI
• Do not take the easy path. Challenge yourself. Try new adventures and activities. Learn from everyone. Read interesting books just for pleasure, even though you think you are reading enough for your classes. - VH., UW-River Falls, WI
• Do not to be afraid of the unknown. Embrace differences and diversity. It lets us experience so much more of what the world is and in turn allows us to see who we are. -AW, UW-River Falls, WI
• Don't be afraid to live life and experience different things that you have interests in. Just because you go to one meeting, event, whatever does not mean you are committed. -LR, UW-River Falls, WI
• Don't limit yourself! Broaden your horizons!. College is one of the best opportunities you will ever have to meet thousands of awesome people! -AS, UW-River Falls, WI
• Don't lock yourself into one major right away. You may go into college thinking you want to major in one thing, but a class, a professor or an experience in your life might change your whole outlook. Take this time to travel, teach, learn about yourself and what it means to be part of the human experience. -SM, Gettysburg College, PA
• Don't major in something just because it will lead to a great job. If you don't love what you are studying you will likely not love the job either! Revel in this opportunity to try out new subjects, meet people who have different experiences than your own, and get out of your comfort zone. It is on the edge that you learn the most about yourself! -Ms, Dickinson College, PA
• I wish someone had told me to take a variety of classes in different majors before spending all of my time in a degree plan I changed eventually anyway. -MS, U of MN - Twin Cities
• If you are a non-native English speaker don't just hang out with your buddies because you will not catch on to the language as fast - not to mention learning more about the US culture and traditions. -TK, Univ of IN
• It is ok not to have a concrete plan for your future. Being an undecided major is one of the best things you can be. It allows you to explore the bigger world before choosing a field. -KK, UW-River Falls, WI
• It is okay to not know what you want to do in life when you enter college. Part of the college experience is to discover more about yourself. -SB, VA Commonwealth Univ
• Join as many things as you can just for the sake of meeting new people. The more friends you have, the more fun college is. -MS,
• Try new things and challenge yourself. The more you put into your college experience, the more you will get in return. -JB, UW-River Falls, WI
• Try new things! I wish someone would have told me all of the opportunities there are for students and to get involved. LM, Hendrix College, AK
• You go to college to get an education, not just a degree. This only becomes more true as I spend more time in school and meet more people and continue to learn more, both in and out of classes... -JH, UW-Madison, WI
• You WILL make mistakes! Things will be bad sometimes, you will be confused, and you will NOT know what the heck you are doing... and that's ok. In fact, that's the good stuff that really carves you into a more complete person for later....when you'll probably go through it all over again! -CW, University of Denver, CO

Get Involved

• Attend as many Orientation events as possible. I understand that some can be cheesy and annoying, very summer camp like feeling. But looking back, orientation makes students feel so comfortable at school, and many times college and life long friends will be made at those planned events. -JB, Dickinson College
• Attend orientation events. It would have been helpful during any type of orientation activity if students AND staff would just say "bear with us, no matter how corny, you WILL get something beneficial out of all this". I skipped alot of the activities and wish I would of attended them. -JB, Western IL Univ
• Enjoy college and get involved as much as you can. Everyday walk around with a smile on your face no matter how bad your day is. People will notice you. -BW, Central FL University
• Get involved as much as you can on campus. The more connected you feel to the university the more likely you are to not feel like just another person in the crowd. -MP, Oakland Univ, MI
• Get involved right away. Starting now is easier than starting in 2 or 3 years. -RD, Wisconsin
• Get involved!!! Whether its sports, intramurals, student activities, student government, social clubs, whatever, just get involved. Try something new. If you don't like it you can quit and try something else. Just get involved in campus life. It is the best opportunity to meet people and form bonds with other students, staff, and the school itself. -KM, McMurry University, TX
• GET INVOLVED. There is something for everyone, a club or a group; and if you think there is not, make it and people will follow and join in. -KJ, St. Louis Univ, MO
• GET INVOLVED..........it's a great way to meet new friends and learn beyond the class room. -JM, UW-River Falls, WI
• Leave the TV & VCR at home. Get out of your room and be an extrovert. -LS, UW-River Falls, WI
• Live on campus and stay there through the first few weekends. Get yourself acclimated to the campus and acquainted with other students by getting involved. -FH, UW-River Falls, WI
• Live on campus if at all possible! I regret not living on campus my first year at Rice and it was undoubtedly one of the toughest periods of my life. -FC, Rice University, TX
• Make a genuine effort to get to know lots of people around you and take an active role in making quality new friends for yourself.. -ML, University of Queensland, Australia
• Make as many friends and contacts that you possibly can. I met the greatest people at college, and I feel they will be friends for life. -AN, UW-Stout, WI
• STAY ON WEEKENDS! I went home every weekend my freshmen year, and college was ok. I stayed every weekend my sophomore year, and college was awesome, both socially and academically. -JF, UW-River Falls, WI
• Suck it up and get involved! My GPA jumped a whole point after I got involved with different associations and I got a lot more excited to be at school. It really brought me out of my shell. -JM, UW-River Falls, WI
• Unless there is a death in the family, do not go home in the first month of school. No matter how much you think you may hate it, stay there for a month. Learning to appreciate a new place is almost like learning a new language, immersion is the way to go. If you go home every weekend, how do you know if you hate it? You haven't even experienced it! -SK, Dickinson College, PA
• You will get more out of college if you get involved in campus organizations. It DOES matter what you do in your spare time! These experiences not only broaden your horizon, but could be responsible for pointing you in the right direction for your career. -BB, UW-River Falls, WI

Surround Yourself with the Right People

• Don't just listen to your advisor. Talk to other students that have taken the classes you signed up for to get their opinion on the content. -TK, Univ of IN
• Don't be afraid to ask questions! -CY, UW-River Falls, WI
• Get to know your instructors and go to office hours! -JB, Univ of CA-Berkeley
• Never forget that you have a choice-everyday! We are at the point in our lives that we don't have to be subjected to classes, roommates, or professors that make our lives miserable. We pay to go to college and we are making our own path. Find the help that you need to make it the most pleasant experience it can be! -TK,
• Remember that people, especially friends, are what makes life fun and enjoyable. JB, Wisconsin
• Surround yourself with positive people because who you spend time with is who you will end up becoming similar to. -DT, Univ of VA
• The folks you tried so desperately to get away from turn out to be your best source of information and support when you are away, and it isn't long before you want to see them. -KB, Hardin Simmons University, TX
• There are many folks waiting in the wings to lend a hand. Give them a chance to make things better for you! -LM., Univ of Rochester, NY
• Try to meet as many people as possible during the first few weeks of school, and find one professor that you like. They will be able to help you grow personally, and professionally. -JJ, UW-River Falls, WI
• Work on your RELATIONSHIPS and dedicate time to care for those relationships -- including those back home. Don't let college life become an excuse to ignore important family members -- parents and grandparents are on borrowed time in our lives! -DD Univ of MO

Practical Advice

• Always try to sit in the front of the classroom. -TW, UW-River Falls, WI
• If you don't already have a daily planner, buy one and use it!!, -ST, UW-Madison, WI
• If you have a big project or paper, break it down to smaller workable pieces. It's the way to fight the stress and the habit of procrastination. -PT, St. Louis University, MO
• Use small spongy ear plugs, because sometimes your roommate or neighbors won't realize how loud they are, and earplugs will fix that problem, -AN, Univ of Denver, CO

©2000, 2001 Stone Soup Seminars
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