Maximize Your College Experience

It's a fact: College is a huge investment in every way. It's a major investment of money, time, and energy. It requires countless hours of hard work, reading, writing, reviewing, analyzing, critical thinking, cramming, Red Bulling, and bad eating. For some, it's a big party centered around sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Most of the time, those people eventually -but not always- realize that this isn't high school, no one is going to hold your hand, and push you to stay the course. In most colleges, they have zero problem failing you. There are no parent-teacher conferences, no principal visits, no desire to make sure you will stay in school. Why is that? Well, they could easily find someone else to take your place, and fill your seat. Don't believe me? Check Miami Dade College's graduation and retention percentages. It's not pretty. Is it their fault? By no means! MDC is a great college with solid professors, and good programs. They are, however, the second largest college in the country behind the University of Phoenix (let's not even get started down that road). Being that large, you are bound to have higher drop rates, and more trouble making sure students succeed. This discussion isn't about that though. My point is simply that no one will hold your hand and guide you through it. It's all on you. So, what can you do to maximize your college experience? How can you get the most out of college?

I have done some research and have found some keys to collegiate success. I hope these help some of you on your journey through academia.

1. Prioritize!!!

There is no bigger mistake that a person can make in college than not having their priorities in order. Let's just get this out of the way, because I can literally go on about this for 938 pages: College is not a party! People go to college to learn, and prepare themselves for the professional world. The main goal is to get the training and education necessary to succeed in the field you will eventually enter. It is not a 4 -6 or 7 for some- year excuse to go out every night and get hammered, sleep with Regina Random or Stevie Somebody. While you may think those things are important, in the long run, they can end up doing more harm than good. I don't think I need to go into detail about the dangers of excessive binge drinking, drinking and driving, or drinking and sexing. I'm sure you have heard it all before. Remember, you are paying (or borrowing money that will be repaid by you later on) to be in class, learning the skills necessary to be a success in life. Whether you are studying to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, chemist, speech pathologist, or librarian, your goal should be to become the best in that field. Don't settle for mediocrity in your career because you were too busy partying in college to actually learn anything. Stay on top of your degree track, keep your GPA as high as possible, don't procrastinate, do your own work, and make sure you don't sacrifice your school work for a couple of drinks with the guys. You have your whole life to party, but that assignment can only be turned in once. You can't undo a failing grade in a college transcript. Keep your priorities in check!

2. Learn How to Think...Critically

What does that even mean? Well, in college you are going to come across material and subjects that are new territory for you. These may come in the form of lower division, or very difficult level 4000 courses. Regardless, new material means you will have to actually take the time and LEARN the material.

First, you will have to learn a skill most of us have eluded for years: listen. I don't mean to hear things. I am referring to the practice of filtering the truly vital and distinguishing it from the unnecessary. I am referring to proper note taking (not scribbling every single word spoken by the professor). Learn to speed read through your books (there will be plenty of them), "identify the main points, concepts, and reasoning behind them".

If you don't understand a concept, or idea brought up in class, ask the T.A. or professor. Don't be afraid to speak up in class; raise your hand and ask your question. You will not be laughed at, or thought less of for not understanding. Chances are you aren't the only one with that question. Don't wait for someone else to ask it because they are probably waiting for you to ask. Most professors won't mind going over something again. After all, they get evaluated after each semester, and believe me, those evaluations actually mean something. I work at a college, and have seen bad evaluations lead to dismissal of professors. Take what you learned in the lectures, and expand on it. Learn how to think "critically". Ask yourself “What if” questions. Try to look at what you learned from other possible angles, not just the one that was presented to you by your professor or book. Draw your own conclusions, find different ways of looking at things. Always be able to back up your points, though. Do this, and not only will you impress your professors and build a good rapport with them, but you will take your though process to a new level and develop one of the most useful life skills that you can acquire in college.

Critical thinking often appears in research papers, liberal arts courses, group discussions, and essays. While we did a lot of these types of assignments in high school, the college professor will not give you the same grade you received in high school. Why? Your thought process and critical thinking should improve and mature as you progress through academia. You will have to put more into your papers than fluff and restated introductions. In the case of group discussions, you will hear from a variety of people, each with slightly different perspectives and thought processes. Sometimes, these classmates could blow your mind with their take on a subject. You want to be able to contribute to these discussions. Develop this skill, and it will aid you all your life.

3. Build Lasting and Quality Relationships

This one is quite overlooked in the era of the Social Network. We think that our 762 Facebook "friends", 241 Linked In "connections", and 458 Twitter "followers" form our network. While some of those connections may be very valuable and could pay off big time in our future, it's always a much safer bet to develop quality connections with people at school. What constitutes a quality relationship, though?

It's a simple idea: Make quality friends. Devote some time and energy to the development of lasting, beneficial, friendships. Get out there and connect with classmates. Once you start getting into your program courses (not so much with general education courses), you will begin to see the same faces over and over. Make friends with those faces! Listen to them, provide comfort and advice when necessary, help each other out without expecting a return. Share notes, help them get a job if you can, introduce them to your social circle. These relationships are the ones that can last for a lifetime. High School friends rarely stay friends. Those young relationships often deteriorate and fizzle out as you embark on different paths. It's sad, but so very true. The things that I believe helps maintain these college friendships are common life interests (career), similar fields (which could put you in constant contact), and maturity. The whole maturity thing actually does make a difference. Often times, we find that our middle and high school friends were our friends because we shared common interests in our youth, but as we grew in college, our interests and goals became very different. Now, I'm not saying to dump your high school buddies, I'm simply stating the what and why of it. I have seen this happen dozens of times, and it's usually for these reasons. Your best relationships are almost always created in college.

Join clubs and associations. Get involved in student government, support school athletics, join organizations. Not only does that allow you to become a contributor to the college, but it gives you another avenue to build relationships.

I haven't even gotten to professors yet! Build relationships with the faculty in your program. Chances are you will have the same professors often, so make sure they know who you are by name. Build a great rapport with them. If they have functions or events, attend them. Network with their people. Get noticed in your department for the right reasons. Those professors will one day become great recommendation letters for grad school or future employment. It won't be the case if you do not build relationships with them, though. A professor will not recommend a student who was a ghost in their classes. A professor will not recommend a nameless face. Make sure to build these vital relationships! You will be glad you did...

4. Take Interesting Classes

You don't have to limit yourself to classes in your major. That's what electives are for! Classes unrelated to your major, that offer great skills, and knowledge are great. Take a class on something you have always found interesting but never had the chance to learn about (like Greek Mythology, Latino Literature, French, or History of The Beatles).

In college, Steve Jobs took a calligraphy course. Weird right? Well, he says it ended up influencing the "typography of Apple". You never know what you may take from an outside the box type of course.

"By taking classes that interest you, not only will you learn interesting things about the classes and about yourself, you may find it helpful to you indirectly down the road".

5. Socialize

Being shy is not an option in college. Learning how to socialize is not only important in college, but it's extremely important life skill for your career. It can help you develop more than almost any other skill. What better place to learn these skills than in college?

Talk to your classmates. "By socializing in class, you can easily form study groups", have someone to share notes with in case you miss a class or didn't feel satisfied with your notes. And of course, you can develop quality relationships (you remember that, right?)

6. Gain Work Experience

Rather, gain good work experience. I know it's much easier to just work at American Eagle or Starbucks, but where will that get you? It may help you pay for things in the short term, but this is not the ideal job for college students. Again, it is the easiest job to find, but I recommend you go in a different direction.

Take the time to find a quality job or internship related to your field. This is very important, because it can help you figure out whether you really WANT to do that. Too often, a person spends thousands of dollars and 4 to 6 years of their lives on something they soon discover is not for them. That is completely tragic and possibly avoidable. Find jobs or internships in your field. If you want to be a lawyer, apply as a legal assistant, or law office receptionist. If you want to be a nurse, apply as a medical office front desk. If your career allows for internships (journalism, advertising, business, etc.), find one before someone else takes it. Who knows, they may love your work so much that they keep you on after your graduate as a full time, well paid employee. It could also help you "Build Quality Relationships"!

Trust me when I tell you that this is extremely important, and always everyone puts it off until after they graduate. By that time, you shouldn't be interning, but full time, and salaried. So many people fail to do this, and then wonder why they can't get that job they want. There will be plenty of graduates in your degree program. What separates you from them? Your work experience and connections.

7. Time Management!!

Why do today what you could put off until tomorrow? That's the typical person's mentality. Instead, don't put of until tomorrow, what can be accomplished today, that way you can stay ahead of everyone else tomorrow! Believe it or not, you have more activities to accomplish in college than beer pong, and flip cup! You have a ton of classwork.You have to learn, study,, think critically, build relationships, exercise, work, etc. That's a loaded schedule. Oh, and don't forget family time. Never neglect your family. Few things in life are more important than our families, yet they often fall behind friends, and fun. So, how can you manage your time? Create "to do" lists, create updates calendars using tools like Outlook and Google. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate. Go to class, study, do your work. Make time for friends, and a social life, but not at the expense of your school work. Remember, you have your whole life to have fun. Most people will only work from 9AM through 6PM, and they don't take their work home. That leaves weekends, and nights open for the rest of your life. Get through college with effective time management, and prioritizing properly. Read up on time management techniques, and USE THEM!!!

8. Have Fun!

I know I have sounded like Johnny No Fun throughout this entire rant of mine. The reason for that is that I want to stress the importance of success in your collegiate life, above all else. That success in the classroom can lead you to huge success (through financial success and life satisfaction). Don't sacrifice your grades for the parties. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun, though. I'm not going to say, "hey guys, go to the parties, the clubs, the midnight underwear runs, the games, the concerts, and drink beer with your buddies on Thursday night". That's not me, so I won't tell you that those things are awesome, and essential to the "life experience". I personally don't think they are, and can say that having done those things. I prefer going out to eat with my friends, and just cracking jokes, talking, eating, playing games, going to watch the Marlins or Dolphins, and watching movies and TV shows. That's me, though. Expand your social circle, try new foods, listen to different types of music, join clubs, and associations at school, volunteer for charitable events, help the homeless, visit a nursing home! Have fun and take pictures!

-Danny
www.cbt.edu
www.cbt.edu/facebook