Suggestions for successful frosh
By Nicholas Weiss
Being a freshman is tough, no question about it. You're thrust into a completely new alien world full of new challenges and responsibilities. But the following tips can help all incoming freshmen make the best of their transition into college:
1)Ã Be open--both literally and figuratively. Many Santa Clara residence halls, especially those with higher concentrations of freshmen, have an open-door policy. As the name implies, residents of these dorms are encouraged to keep their doors open while they are in their rooms. With the exception of the overly obnoxious, this is generally a good idea, as it allows passersby to stick their heads in and invite you to all sorts of events, whether they are on or off campus. In addition to open doors, you should keep open minds and be willing to try new things you might not otherwise--note that by this I mean amusement parks, sporting events and theme parties, not the assumed controlled substances.
2)Ã Be a good student. I promise this isn't a trick coming from teachers or parents. It actually is sound advice. It's kind of like how Shia LaBeouf got with Megan Fox after they fought giant alien robots together. Shared experiences bring people together and create a great basis for friendships or more. Yes, you heard it here: go to class and you have a 50/50 chance that Megan Fox, or at least that cute girl in your math class, will notice you. Don't just stop at class, though; try going to a few Office Hour sessions for certain classes as well. These serve as an opportunity to spend more time with your classmates, and have the added bonus of helping you pass that tough class.Ã By talking to your professors at these meetings, they can more conceivably become good friends, mentors, bosses or co-workers. An important caveat, however: don't hit on your teachers. That's really best left on the CW network, because in real life it just gets people in trouble.
3)Ã Be active.Ã In high school most people joined clubs for the sake of getting into college, but now that you are here you can spend the time actually enjoying your after school activities. Students receive weekly e-mails reminding them of what's going on around campus, and there are plenty of job or club fairs to explore specific opportunities. Devote a little time to checking some groups out because odds are, you won't be the only one there.Ã These types of groups will also look great to graduate schools and future employers. Besides, what do you have to lose?
Remember that college is a place like no other, full of experiences and people that will undoubtedly shape your future. So take advantage of this time, do all you can to make it worthwhile, and do not let fear stop you from trying new things or from taking positive and meaningful risks.
Nicholas Weiss is a junior psychology and philosophy double major.