Cougar Mentor Program

Student Success Tips
 

Tips for Freshmen
I Wish Someone Had Told Me

• Class attendance really does correlate with your grade. Go to class.

• Communication is key especially when dealing with roommates and professors.

• Be on time to class. Walking in late distracts both the professor and other students.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

• College is not a contest. You don’t have to compete with anyone else for your grade. Learn at your own pace and don’t feel inferior if you don’t understand something the first time around.

• The bureaucracy of higher education is overwhelming. Stay calm, ask questions, and be sure you know the name of the person you are talking to.

• Support systems are essential for survival. Make friends. Talk to everyone.

• Expect to feel lonely, frightened, and isolated. But also remember you are not the only person experiencing these emotions and it all gets better with time.

• Read what you are given! Read your mail!

• Don’t take policy advice from other students, check with offices on campus.

• Join in all the activities that you can.

• Don’t be intimidated by the faculty and staff. Your tuition dollars pay the salaries of university and college personnel. You are the customer; they work for you, so ask questions.

• Your college catalog is your bible. You have to open it in order to reap the benefits of what is inside.

• Get a copy of your school’s code of ethics (honor code). A simple mistake could cost your degree.

• Maintain a positive attitude, be a good listener, stick to your own convictions, and strive past your dreams.