When you think about it, making the transition from high school to college is a year-long experience of "firsts." Some "firsts" for students include moving into their residence hall room and sharing a room with someone. Others involve having a lab or class just once, twice or three times a week and using a syllabus to figure out their homework assignments. There are also "firsts" with regard to meeting and getting to know new people or checking out organizations and activities in which student's want to become involved.
While encountering these new things can be exciting, there are times at which first time experiences can also become tiring or overwhelming. With this in mind, there are three things that UNL's Residence Life Staff recommends students do that will help them be better prepared to weather the challenges of the first year.
1. Meet and regularly talk with their Resident Assistant (RA). The RA remembers well what it was like to be a first-year student and appreciates what they are experiencing. RAs can answer or help find answers to all kinds of questions, big and small. Perhaps, most importantly, the RA can be a source that helps introduce and connect students with each other as well as to different organizations and activities on campus. When students have some kind of relationship with the RA, it's easier to ask them for their assistance/perspective when things aren't going well.
2. Be willing to explore and try new things. From meeting people to going to events and meetings, first-year students should give people as well as floor, hall and other campus activities a try. Even if they were involved in a similar organization or activity in high school, the workings of such groups are typically different at the college level. Exploring and trying new things can also pertain to asking for help. Sure a student wants to be independent and take care of business, but successful students recognize that sometimes you need to get a second opinion or a little advice.
3. Approach college as if it were a full-time job. With any job, you have to go to work and arrive on time every day. Students should think of lab, classes and exam review sessions in the same way. Attend each and every class, every day. Not only do students need to go to each class, but they also need to be prepared and this means doing the homework. Developing a schedule/routine for doing homework is critical. Even though classes don't meet every day, expect to do homework every day. Stay after class or meet with the professor during office hours if you don't understand the homework or something covered in class.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/6sx