2008 Woodie Awards
Upperclassmen ease freshmen worries
By: Sasha Knox
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Features
Many students find themselves lost their first year of college. Trying to find, let alone maneuver through, buildings such as Holt Hall can make freshman year even more confusing.
But new students shouldn't worry, some upper-division students have a few tips to make the college transition easier.
By making their way through college and creating their own footprints on campus, these seasoned students know what to do through trial and error.
Picking classes can be a headache to say the least, senior Camillea Antoine said. It's hard to juggle everything as a freshmen - roommate issues, family problems and a work schedule.
She warns against taking more than 12 units the first semester because having less class allows for easier adjustment to the routine.
Learning how to manage time can also be a challenge, senior Erica Ramirez said. She knows all too well the side effects of procrastination and thinks creating a weekly plan is best.
Planning hours to study and sticking to them as if they were classes help give grades a boost, she said.
"Be realistic with your lifestyle," Ramirez said. "If you're not a morning person, don't get morning classes."
Other students think seeking out knowledgeable professors and positive advisers is the most important thing to think about when going into a new semester.
To stay away from grueling schedules, senior Zi Kuang recommends using Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com, and making sure the classes students pick are necessary for either their major or general education track.
"Picking my schedule made me smarter and more beautiful," Kuang said. "Because I have more time for beauty sleep."
While schedules and classes may be hard to decide at first, talking to an adviser early is a sure way to stay on top of things.
It's things outside the classroom that students should be most aware of.
"Go party as often as you can," Kuang said. "At your first party, go as wild and crazy as you can without killing yourself to test your limit. Then never party that hard again."
While Kuang thinks partying may be a freshman's biggest distraction, Ramirez thinks the love bug is to blame.
"Love interferes with your goals," Ramirez said. "You should find yourself before moving into a relationship."
While relationships are often the preferred activity outside school, Antoine thinks some other programs might provide a better alternative.
"Get into as many extracurricular activities as possible to connect to a social network, make new friends and gain new experiences," Antoine said.
A list of student activities and organizations is available at www.csuchico.edu/sac/
Sasha Knox can be reached at
sknox@theorion.com
But new students shouldn't worry, some upper-division students have a few tips to make the college transition easier.
By making their way through college and creating their own footprints on campus, these seasoned students know what to do through trial and error.
Picking classes can be a headache to say the least, senior Camillea Antoine said. It's hard to juggle everything as a freshmen - roommate issues, family problems and a work schedule.
She warns against taking more than 12 units the first semester because having less class allows for easier adjustment to the routine.
Learning how to manage time can also be a challenge, senior Erica Ramirez said. She knows all too well the side effects of procrastination and thinks creating a weekly plan is best.
Planning hours to study and sticking to them as if they were classes help give grades a boost, she said.
"Be realistic with your lifestyle," Ramirez said. "If you're not a morning person, don't get morning classes."
Other students think seeking out knowledgeable professors and positive advisers is the most important thing to think about when going into a new semester.
To stay away from grueling schedules, senior Zi Kuang recommends using Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com, and making sure the classes students pick are necessary for either their major or general education track.
"Picking my schedule made me smarter and more beautiful," Kuang said. "Because I have more time for beauty sleep."
While schedules and classes may be hard to decide at first, talking to an adviser early is a sure way to stay on top of things.
It's things outside the classroom that students should be most aware of.
"Go party as often as you can," Kuang said. "At your first party, go as wild and crazy as you can without killing yourself to test your limit. Then never party that hard again."
While Kuang thinks partying may be a freshman's biggest distraction, Ramirez thinks the love bug is to blame.
"Love interferes with your goals," Ramirez said. "You should find yourself before moving into a relationship."
While relationships are often the preferred activity outside school, Antoine thinks some other programs might provide a better alternative.
"Get into as many extracurricular activities as possible to connect to a social network, make new friends and gain new experiences," Antoine said.
A list of student activities and organizations is available at www.csuchico.edu/sac/
Sasha Knox can be reached at
sknox@theorion.com
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