TIPS FOR FRESHMAN 

• I Wish Someone Had Told Me
• Registration and Advisement
• Dorms - Do's and Don'ts

I Wish Someone Had Told Me .....

• Class attendance really does correlate with your grade. Go To Class!
• Communication is key - especially when dealing with roommates and professors.
• Be on time to class. Walking in late distracts both the professor and other students.
• Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help.
• College is not a contest. You don't have to compete with anyone else for your grade. Learn at your own pace and don't feel inferior if you don't understand something the first time around.
• The bureaucracy of higher education is overwhelming. Stay clam, ask questions, and be sure you know the name of the person you are talking to.
• Support Systems are essential for survival. Make friends. Talk to everyone.
• Expect to feel lonely, frightened, and isolated. Remember, you are not the only person experiencing these emotions and it all gets better with time.
• Read what you are given! Read your mail!
• Don't take policy advice from other students, check with offices on campus.
• Join in all the activities you can.
• Don't be intimidated by the faculty and staff. Your tuition dollars pay the salaries of university and college personnel. You are the customer; they work for you, so ask questions.
• Your college catalog is your bible. You have to open it in order to reap the benefits of what is inside.
• Get a copy of your school's code of ethics ( honor code). A simple mistake could cost your degree.
• Maintain a positive attitude, be a good listener, stick to your own convictions, and strive past your dreams.

REGISTRATION AND ADVISEMENT

• Academic advisement is critical! See your advisor on a regular basis to make sure you are on track with your academic program, courses, etc.
• Pay attention to deadlines! If you miss one, it could cost you not just money, but grades as well (ex. drop/add, fee payment, course withdrawal).
• If your school offers phone registration, use it. In person registration usually means long lines and high frustration levels.
• Be sure to have university or college representatives sign every form dealing with course selection, dropping classes etc.
• You may need to defend a course selection when you apply for graduation or you may need to prove you dropped a class.
• Save every grade report. Computers have been known to lose grades, courses, credits, etc.
• Periodically ask for an unofficial copy of your transcript.
• Be sure your records match the registrar's.
• Select classes based on your own academic capabilities. For example, if science is not your forte, don't take biology and chemistry in the same semester.
• Be very careful registering for writing classes during shorter summer semesters. The same holds true for classes requiring large amounts of reading.
• Read the course catalog carefully. As a rule, freshmen should not register for a senior or graduate level class (usually 4000+level). Typically, freshmen are the last students to register, so Plan an alternate schedule prior to registration, your first choice classes may be filled.

DORMS-DO'S AND DON'TS

• Resident Assistants are a valuable resource. Be sure to maintain open communication with your RA.
• You must leave the building when a fire bell rings.
• Clean up after yourself. Avoid roommate problems and bug infestation.
• Many schools offer "specialty floors". Reserve your room early and be honest about special requests.

1. Quiet study floors.
2. Upperclassmen floors.
3. Health and wellness floors.
4. Chemically sensitive floors.
5. Multicultural floors.

• Get involved in residence life. Almost every school sponsors some type of residence hall government and community activities.
• Lock your doors - even when you are in your room! Better safe than sorry.
• Pay attention to fee deadlines. Non-payment of housing fees can result in you living in your car.
• If your school allows cooking in the room: Check to see which appliances are permitted for dorm use.

1. Dorm size refrigerator.
2. Microwave.
3. Toaster Oven.
4. Hot plates are rarely allowed!
5. All appliances must have enclosed coils.
6. Never leave your food unattended.
7. Store leftovers quickly and properly.
8. Take out the trash every day!
9. Remember, some schools do provide community cooking facilities, but you may need to clean the area before and after you cook.

DEALING WITH DIVERSITY

• Realize that every college and university has its own culture which includes language.traditions, and taboos.
• There are five steps to culture shock As a freshman, you may experience some or all of the following phases. You may experience these phases in any order, and some phases may repeat or overlap.
• Phase one- Fascination with the new environment.
• Phase two- Severe homesickness.
• Phase three- Find fault with new surroundings; build stereotypes.
• Phase four- Find humor in your adjustment.
• Phase five- Embrace the new culture; you will miss it when you go.
• In order to become more comfortable with the college or university environment:
• Learn the jargon of higher education.
• Realize your own preconceptions and perceptions.
• Actively try to make friends.
• Look for common ground.
• Look for individuals, not stereotypes.

STAYING HEALTHY

• Beware of fast food and candy bars. Most freshmen gain weight in the first semester.
• Gallons of coffee and Jolt cola are not the way to survive finals.
• Sleep and study in small shifts.
• Exercise often during exam weeks.
• Pasta, peanut butter, non-sugar cereals, yogurt, and fresh fruit will provide natural and sustained energy.
• Check in with your school's health services office. More often than not, it offers:
• Free emergency treatment
• Low cost OB/GYN exams
• Free condoms
• Low cost dental cleaning and x-rays
• Low cost or free medications
• Free AIDS testing
• Low cost lab work
• Appreciate Music - it helps everyone to relax.