College isn’t exactly like high school academically…in fact it’s not really at all. But you’re smart enough to figure it out, and these tips can help!

My first time being in class in college felt a little like being dropped in a forest and being told to find my way out. Except the map I had required excessive reading and also could be changed at any given minute. I realized later that it was because I was approaching my college classes like my high school ones, which was a rookie mistake. Below I’ve listed a series of tips I used to find my footing academically!

1. Go easy on yourself

This one sounds straightforward, and it’s honestly the advice you’re going to get from a lot of different people, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Your first semester of college is for finding your footing in every regard. If you get a B in one class, it is absolutely not the end of the world  – not only do you have seven semesters to make it up, but you can always P/D/F a class if necessary. P/D/F is a system in which you can have a “P” for pass, “D” for a D grade, or “F” for fail on your transcript instead of the grade itself. This means the class does not factor into your overall GPA. Just be careful – certain majors and minors have requirements when it comes to P/D/Fing. Bottom line for this – one bad grade your first semester will not prevent you from getting a job or getting into grad school. 

2. Battling imposter syndrome

This could honestly be its own article. Coming to a school like Columbia means constantly feeling like everyone around you is smarter, cooler, and more put together than you are. There were a couple things that helped me fight through this feeling, especially in the beginning. The first is to remember that you also got into the school! Sometimes it feels like a fluke, but there is a reason the admissions officers thought you were qualified and that speaks volumes. Second, it’s helpful to remember that no one else has it figured out either. I remember talking to three separate people who I felt knew so much more than me, just to find out they were as confused as I was. Have these conversations!! You can only work through these feelings if you don’t feel alone. The third and final thing is to give yourself time. You can’t expect yourself to do just as much as you did in high school right away – think about the first month of your freshman year of high school. Things take time, and within the next year, you’ll look back on that time and think about how much you’ve grown. 

3. Less classes are more

There is ABSOLUTELY no need to take more than four, maybeeee five classes your first semester. Take it from someone who took 6 – you’re going to be stressed out for no reason, and look back in wonder as to why you did that. Take fewer classes, and invest your time into the ones you do. You’ll feel more stable and confident for every class you take next. 

4. Try different things (and some Gen-Eds)

Freshman year is the time to explore with classes. Take a class in a major you’ve always been interested in and never considered. Take a class that has nothing to do with what you’re going to study. Genuinely explore all routes available to you – you never know what could happen! This is also a good way to knock out some general education requirements. Take a language class you never would have otherwise, and make your life easier for the future while you’re at it! 

5. Plan out your path

That being said, if you’re like me, it can be helpful to know all the things that you have to fulfill. I made a spreadsheet my freshman year of all of my general education and major requirements, and it’s been a helpful tracker ever since. An important note is that I didn’t decide exactly what class I would take for the next eight semesters, but rather what I had to check off generally. This isn’t the strategy for everyone, but I know it gives me peace – so if you’re that type of person, do the work now and you’ll thank yourself for the next four years. 

6. Read the syllabus

Now into actual classes. Take your time to read the syllabus at the start of the semester, and note important deadlines. College classes are different in that most of the time, you have around four grades or less that make up the class. This means these four things matter. Read the syllabus, get an understanding of the class, and note when you will have to turn things in.  This will also make it easier for you to plan your assignments later on in the semester, rather than realizing you have an essay due at 11:59pm that day (speaking from experience). The syllabus is also a good way to be prepared for your first day. Some professors don’t allow technology, others have things due before the first day. You want to be ready for anything, and that requires using the roadmap of the class! 

7. Rely on the classes that are meant to ease you in 

Freshman core classes exist to ease the transition from high school to college. UW, FYW, FroSci, and more are structured to teach you how to operate in a college environment. Take advantage of these classes and these professors. Ask questions and note what works and doesn’t. This is especially important when it comes to college writing. The structure of writing differs from the 5-paragraph standard high school essay, and you’re given guidance on how to handle that, so take it!

8. Participate in your classes

This might be slightly controversial depending on your personality, but one of the best pieces of advice I can give is to participate. Many classes have a participation grade, and this is one of the easiest ways to guarantee that 10-15% of your grade will be an A. Raise your hand and engage – you’ll always get more out of that! (Special plug for Barnard students – if speaking in class scares you, visit a Speaking Fellow for advice!)  

Remember: YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON. You are smart and capable, and are going to figure everything out! Go in excited to learn, and I promise you will love it even more than you thought you could. 

Image via Bwarchives