Biggest Surprises for College Freshman

Leaving home and heading off to college is fairly scary for even the more self sufficient teenagers because this experience brings on a whole different level of independence. There is no one there to wake you up in the morning (unless you have a really nice roommate); there is no one to hold your hand. Newbies on a college campus are going to have a good amount of eye opening moments and surprises during their first semester.

The first thing new students get excited over is being able to pick their own classes and class times. Now, students have the option of sleeping in if they wish, or sticking with their normal morning routine. What many students do not think of during the registration process is waking up. Since no one is there to wake them up in the morning, they need to be able to do so themselves.

College is not like high school in the aspect that your professors are not going to care if you are not in class. If you do not wake up or just feel like doing something else instead (shopping, video games, etc.), your professor is not going to wait to start class until you get there, or pause for a moment to call and see where you are. Some professors have attendance policies in which it is up to you to follow, while others may have no policy at all. Bottom line is that you can go to class, or you can stay in your dorm, it really does not matter to anyone except for maybe whoever is footing the bill.

Professors also could not care less if you fail to turn in an assignment. Many do not accept late assignments, so if you do not get your act together, you will be in for a rude awakening come midterm grades.

When you do not understand something, it is up to YOU to get help. Your professor is not going to hold your hand. If you ask for help, chances are, they will do the best they can to help you, or at least direct you to someone who can. Do not be afraid to ask for help...if you need a tutor, get one. You (or someone who cares about you) are paying for you to get an education which will lead to a good job; if you do not know anything you will not get the job. Go, learn, get help if necessary, and do well.