Now is the time for every freshman to start asking themselves the age-old question: How do I survive college?For starters, remind yourself that it doesn’t matter what you did in high school. Whether you graduated top of your class or by the skin of your teeth, everyone starts with a clean slate; it’s what you do during your first semester in college that can make or break you.First and foremost, college is about higher education. If you want to party and work at McDonald’s all your life, you may as well pack your bags now and save yourself the trouble of writing those pesky freshman composition papers.But for those who want a higher education degree, it’s always good to be on your professors’ good sides. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind so that you won’t find yourself on the “D-list.”
• Go to class. It may sound simple now, but just wait for your first 8 a.m. class when you’ve been up the entire night before. Professors respect those who suck it up and go anyway.• Don’t skip class. Even though most professors allow three absences, save those absences for when you’re actually sick. If a professor sees you having coffee at the Mad Batter when you were supposed to be in class, it will not bode well for you. They have to go to every class and so should you.• Do your homework. Mom and dad aren’t here to hound you anymore. It’s up to you to handle it.• Go to your professors for help if you don’t understand the class material. They don’t bite. In fact, that’s what their office hours are for.• Write well. The average college student will write between five and ten papers each semester. If you suffer from writing anxiety, take your papers to the Writing Center for extra tutoring or editing. Every time you go, you’ll appear in the Writing Center’s database, and your teachers will be able to see how often you go. Extra hard work will take you far in life.• Be responsible. The harsh reality is no one cares if you flunk out of school. You’ll just be another statistic. It’s your responsibility to keep up with your work. Know when to have a good time and when to buckle down.• Be respectful. Leave the attitude at the door.• Do not plagiarize. Nothing will bump you down to the “D-list” faster than plagiarizing. Professors see it as their divine right to turn a student in for plagiarism. WCU does not take this offense lightly. Just ask the poor souls who no longer attend Western for that very same reason.
All in all, just use your head. You don’t have to brown-nose your teachers, but being a good student won’t hurt. Put your classes first before you do anything else, and you’ll succeed all four (or five) years of college with flying colors.
