The Do’s and Don’ts of College

While I have officially been out of school for over a year now, I often find myself reflecting on my four years of College. Opportunities I wish I would have done and the parts of College I am glad I did not partake in.

I am the oldest of three, so there were many unknowns heading into my first semester. I did not have anyone to ask questions, and the last time a lot of my family was in College was years ago.
So, as a 2020 college graduate, here are some of my opinions on what you should and should not do in College.

DO: Try new things.

I think this one is a given. College is the perfect opportunity to venture out of your comfort zone and try new things. Whether it’s haircuts, style change, or new hobbies. The possibilities are endless.

DO NOT: Get involved in drama.

This might be more of a niche statement, depending on where you attend College. However, I have noticed that the smaller the university, the more likely it is for friendship groups to form. It is almost like High School bleeds into College. Just try not to get involved. It is so unnecessary. We are all supposed to be adults, and petty drama is unneeded.

DO: Try to take a class outside of your major.

Like trying new things, try to find new classes that might not be for your major. For example, I took some classes that had nothing to do with business but topics I thought could be interesting. It helped make learning more fun and kept me interested in studying.

DO NOT: Procrastinate

Another given but take it as a recent graduate and the queen of procrastination. Slacking off can be okay, but it is just going to bite you in the ass most of the time. In addition, it can create unnecessary stress and might even cause your grades to slip. Instead, treat your classes as a full-time job, get organized, and create a schedule.

DO: Study

I cannot emphasize this enough. One of my regrets is not prioritizing studying more, I thought minimal studying would suffice for classes, but I quickly realized that my studying habits were garbage. There are many resources on the internet that highlight how to create great study tips, and I highly recommend doing your research on how to make better study habits.

DO NOT: Be peer pressured.

While College is a great place to try new things, it does not mean you need to be peer pressured into something you know you do not want to do. Know your limits and who you are surrounding yourself with. Just because others are doing it and it might seem like the “cool” thing to do, does not mean you should.

DO: Get Involved

Another regret of mine is not getting involved in more activities throughout campus. I was always too shy or anxious to put myself out there. I highly recommend joining at least one organization in College. It does not necessarily have to be something pertaining to your major. But joining different organizations is a great way to make new friends and find new interests.

DO NOT: Go home every weekend.

I did this my first two years of College, and it’s something I wish I had not. I missed out on a lot of fun opportunities. But, of course, if you must go home and you feel it’s best, then do it. There is no shame in it.

DO: Have fun!!

My most important piece of advice. While College is somewhere, we go to continue our education. It is also an environment where we get to discover who we are. College can be daunting and overwhelming, but I promise there will be many fond memories to look back on if you let yourself have fun.

The list could go on and on, but I think I covered the basics. I remember being so nervous moving into my dorm Freshmen year, and I cannot believe how much I had changed and grown over those past four years. Most days, I am glad to be done with university, but I miss my friends, the carefreeness of it all, and discovering who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. I am still trying to figure it all out as we genuinely never stop growing and learning.

If you could give any tips to incoming college students, what would you say? Do you have any regrets? What was your favorite part?

Thanks for reading!!

Megan

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