What advice do you wish you'd gotten when you started college?

I teach a class that helps first-time college students adjust to college life, and am not sure what all information I should cover. My class has both non-traditional and traditional students. Any suggestions welcome- I'm open to talking about anything in the class.What advice do you wish you'd gotten when you started college?
Things you must do before graduating college:





1. Live on campus in the dorms


2. Study abroad for one semester


3. Join a student organization


4. Attend a popular sporting event on campus and cheer for your college team (if you have athletics on campus)


5. Visit the historical/significant places on campus that make your college unique





Advice:





1. Get good grades as a freshman! If you don't you will spend the next four years trying to overcome them.


2. Utilize your academic advisor!!


3. You are supposed to miss home, miss your family and question whether or not you made the right decision to attend your institution.


4. Don't worry. About 80% of college students change their major.


5. Before you give up and just stop attending class look into the withdrawl and incomplete options for courses. Again...if you get an ';F'; you will be kicking yourself for years.


6. All college students have personal issues. Visit your counseling services. You aren't crazy! They are there to help!!


7. Your campus Health Services has REAL doctors. Utilize them.What advice do you wish you'd gotten when you started college?
Wow- do I have a long list of answers on this one. But the biggest one I'd mention is about expectations. It is so important that you know what to expect from college- most people see it as a big party, a time of incomparable social activity. But the sad truth is that 99 percent of the people you meet in college, just like in the ';real world';, are not going to be people you necessarily want to associate with. Being surrounded with people sharing the same current experiences as you does not guarantee that you will make countless connections, and to expect this is simply unrealistic. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing- it just means that you need to be that much more comfortable with yourself and unafraid to be who you are, even when you're not recieving the affirmation of being part of ';a group.'; The key is to know this ahead of time, remember that when it comes to friendships, quality is always worth more than quantity, and make sure to keep your eye out for the one percent of people with whom you can actually form genuine friendships and relationships with.
I taught lots of freshman students for years and my one big piece of advice was this:


Don't try to do everything right away: Don't join every cool, college group you can. You've got 4 years to do SO many things. Take the time to get used to the whole new experience and then dive in the next semester/year. Like someone above said, if you do well your freshman year, you won't be making up for it for the next 3 years.
i was told this.. but time management is definitely a key thing to know.

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