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College Students’ Advice to Future Freshmen
By Veronica Spears, TheWorldJournal.com

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“If there was one thing you wish you had known in high school that you now know in college, what would it be?” When asked this question several college students had to pause and think, some couldn’t even answer it, but for those that did, the answer was: work.

“It’s a lot of work and I was expecting it, but not the amount and pressure I am receiving,” said Sarah Brown-Whale, a sophomore history major at Longwood University, in Farmville, Va., and a 2001 graduate of North Carroll High School.

“I wish I had known more of what to expect from classes. I was lucky and did concurrent enrollment my senior year because that definitely helped, but high school classes didn't really prepare me for college,” said Mowe Sheridan, a freshman elementary education major at University of Maryland College Park and a 2002 graduate of South Carroll High School.

Tiffany Langan, a junior biology major at Villa Julie College and 2000 graduate of North Carroll High School, said she had some trouble adjusting to the amount of reading she had to do for her classes.

Brittney Manvilla, a freshman biochemistry major at College Park and 2002 graduate of Westminster High School said she wished she had focused more on her work during her senior year, so she’s trying to make up for it now in college.

“Study hard and get into the practice of motivating yourself to do work. Don’t slack off at the end of high school because it’s hard to readjust to working a lot when you get into college,” said Tommy Riddle, a freshman political science major at McDaniel College and 2002 graduate of North Carroll High School.

Shirley Browner, an academic skills counselor and language skills specialist at the University of Maryland College Park’s Learning Assistance Service center recommends that students continue to take math in high school, even when the requirement is finished, because it is important in college as well.

Browner also added that students work at increasing their organization and time management skills because they will be very important in college as well.

But despite the heavy workload of college, a lot of students add that that the freedom and amounts of free time what make college fun.

Browner said getting involved on campus leads to a richer college experience and can pave the way for what students might want to do in future.

Langan is a member of the school’s volleyball team, Campus Crusades for Christ, Extreme Acts, a Christian club, Agnus Dei, a Catholic group, and gives tours as an Admissions Student Representative. Langan added that the one thing that disappoints her about her school is that people don’t get as involved in campus activities.

Manvilla joined Gymkana, a gymnastic troupe that pledges to live a drug-free lifestyle, which takes about 15 hours a week and includes 10-12 shows a year.

However, some students have had to cut back on their school activities because of other commitments, like a job.

“I work at Wal-Mart and mainly my focus is keeping my grades up right now so that I don’t lose my financial aid,” said Riddle.

Sheridan joined the marching band at her school and encourages students to try and pick an activity to get involved with during the first semester “even if it’s something small because you’ll meet a lot of people.”

With so many schools out there that range in size, location and costs, the entire college process can seem a little overwhelming.

Jen Brauer, the guidance department chairperson at South Carroll High School, said students have many resources available to them just in the high schools alone.

Students can go online and do college searches and are excused a few days every year to visit colleges. Brauer said 45-50 colleges, in addition to the military, visit the high schools every year, offering informative sessions during the school day, which students can be excused from class for.

Brauer stressed that it’s important for students to visit colleges. Langan agreed adding that it’s important to “visit college during a normal school day or stay in dorms [because] they tell you what it’s really like on campus.”

Langan said that students “look at a lot of different schools and pick the college that has what you want” since “everyone likes something different.”

Brown-Whale said students should not just look at the academic program at the school, but the school as a whole and the area around the school to see if it what students are really seeking.

But as Sheridan points out, in the end, college is what you make it.

“If you hide in your room all day and don't make friends it isn't very much fun, but if you schedule your time wisely and make sure you have free time to do whatever college is great,” said Sheridan.

© April 2, 2003

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