Five Tips for the First Time College Student

As a staff member of a large, successful community college, particularly through my work in enrollment and assessment, I've seen it all. New and prospective college students can be prepared and ready for anything, or entirely unprepared with a 'deer in the headlights' glaze in their eyes. Starting college is like starting a new job, except a new job doesn't (usually) demand that you fork over large sums of money, go into debt, and purchase almost all of your own office supplies, for starters.

I've written up five suggestions for the first time college student, the regular person trying to get their degree and get ahead in life, who only has so much time and money to work with, and doesn't need any more stress in their life. Some of these suggestions may not apply to your specific case, or they may already be known to you, and if that's so, then congratulations, you're already ahead. For everyone else, in no particular order:

First: Apply online. I know that might sound like a simple and basic suggestion, but believe me, it's an effective one. By submitting a carefully filled-out application for admission online, through the college's web site, you preemptively eliminate a whole swath of problems. Your online application is far less likely to be lost, misdirected, or damaged, and is already within the college's computer database, whereas a paper application has to be put into the system, which takes time, especially during the crunch before a semester begins. If there are questions or problems, your online application can be called up easily and quickly, for referral or alteration.