10 Freshman Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Dr. Todd Lidh, Provost and Dean of Faculty at Lees-McRae College, says that even though first-year students might not have a lot of say in their class schedules, there’s no greater determining factor in college success than attendance. Good planning, he says, will help ensure students make it to class and stay on top of their educations.

“Don't let papers and projects and the like creep up and surprise you. Plan ahead, know what time you need to be ready for classes that may be back-to-back-to-back so that you are in charge of your schedule, not the other way around.”

If a class is simply too much for your schedule, it’s important to drop the class before the drop deadline, if possible. If you drop a class before the deadline, it won’t appear on your academic record and you won’t be responsible for paying for the class.

If you drop the class after that period, the class may be listed as a “W” or withdrawal on your transcripts. While this won’t affect your GPA, you may be responsible for paying for part or all of the tuition fee for that class. It can also affect your financial aid. If you neglect to drop or withdraw from the class, you’ll end up with a failing grade. Check in with your academic advisor to make sure you’re taking the best course of action.

Feeling awkward about asking for help is normal, but keep in mind that college campuses are full of people who want you to succeed. Professors have office hours because they want to help their students and get to know them. Writing and tutoring centers are designed to help students do well.

There are tons of facilities all around campus to help students with just about everything, like physical and mental health, academic and career advice, equipment rentals and IT help. You just need to know where to find them. Check your school’s website, go to the freshman “welcome week,” take a freshman seminar or talk with an academic advisor or your dorm’s resident assistant.

Schools usually provide guidelines that explain how many general education—or core—and major credits students need and what percentage of each need to be upper- and lower-division. If they’re available, take advantage of course and major planning sheets, which can help you plan your schedule for your entire college career.

Don’t put off signing up for required course until later in your college career. Courses required by lot of students can fill up fast, leaving you in the lurch.

Students should meet with an academic advisor to determine the minimum number of credits they need to take each term to meet their graduation goal. Start there, and once you get a feel for the workload, you can take more credits in the following semesters.

Balancing schedules with a variety of classes––and avoiding an academic monocrop, like three science classes with labs in a single term––can help students figure out an appropriate credit load.

Remember that dropping a class before the drop deadline is a better option than failing the class altogether. Just keep in mind that this can affect your financial aid, so careful planning is always a better option.

According to a 2016 report published by the Education Advisory Board, freshmen who declare their major in their first term and stick with it are slightly less likely to graduate. At most universities, students don’t have to declare their majors until the end of their sophomore year. Take advantage of this and try out a variety of classes in a variety of majors before you start on a set path.

Talking to academic advisors, professors in different departments and upper classmen can also be extremely valuable.

Contrary to what you might think, the same report by the Education Advisory Board found that switching majors up to the first semester of junior year doesn’t lead to delayed graduation. And 25% of students who switch after that point still graduate on time. Even if you do add an extra semester or two to your college career, it’s likely a better outcome than starting a career you hate.

Students who do get pretty far into their major before deciding to change paths can talk to an advisor to see what it would take to turn the old major into a minor. That way, all the time and effort put into that area of study won’t be for naught.

“Pace yourself,” says Dr. Lidh. “Have fun as a person, but make sure you are not compromising yourself as a student. Learning to say “no” is a terrific skill.” While it can be tempting to say yes to every new opportunity, know that you have at least four years to devote to your college experience. Do a little at a time so you can actually be awake enough to enjoy it.

Slotting out time early in the day to do homework can keep students from having to pull all-nighters and will help them feel well-rested and prepared for class the next day.

Try a brief, but refreshing, nap between––but not during––classes.

Exercising and joining athletic clubs that meet regularly can help students establish routines and fall asleep faster when it comes time for bed.

Sororities and fraternities aren’t for everyone, but freshman should try to explore different on-campus social opportunities. Joining athletic, academic or personal interest clubs can help you meet peers with similar interests.

A 2014 study of shift workers found that working in isolation can actually decrease cognition, which, for college students, is probably the opposite effect they’re hoping to get from such dedicated study. Putting together study groups with classmates can be the perfect combination of social and academic time.

Is it boring? Yes. Is it helpful? Absolutely. Students can make preliminary budgets before they start college, accounting for any tuition, fees and housing costs, and make estimates for expenses like food, school supplies and transportation. Whatever is left over in the budget can be earmarked for frivolous spending––or saving to pay off any loans.

Taking out a consistent amount of cash each month can also help with avoiding credit cards and not having the money to pay bills. Once the cash is gone, the spending stops.

There are a variety of apps, both free and paid, that can help students manage money, see where they are making unnecessary purchases and even help sock away some cash for later. Mint is a good one to start with.

When it comes to social media, there’s a fine line between sharing too much and not enough. Employers like to see that potential hires have social media accounts, but students should be wary about what can be seen by the public.

Make sure you understand exactly what certain privacy settings hide and be smart about not sharing photos of reckless behavior.

Read more about managing social media profiles in college.

Try to keep a balance when maintaining relationships back home and developing new bonds at school. Students may feel like they’re losing touch with old friends, but keep in mind that strong, long-term relationships aren’t too difficult to rekindle, and those friends are likely going through the same balancing act. Check in now and then with old friends and call home once in awhile to keep the lines of communication open.

“For many people, family is a vital reason they are in college in the first place,” says Dr. Lidh. “Maybe your dad helped you with your application? Your mom helped with your class schedule? Your grandmother talked about how to keep your Instagram obsession in check?”

“Only you can know what help and support you need from these folks, so take full advantage of their generosity, their advice, their love, their scolding. They want the best for you, and they want to know how they can help you succeed. So, stay connected.”