Surviving (and Thriving) during your First Year of College
Dietrich Titleist
I. Introduction: A. So you finally made it! After twelve-plus years of formal schooling, you’ve finally earned that last academic credit, put on the cap and gown, and walked across the stage to pick up that prized piece of parchment. Congratulations! But only one short summer stands between you and your first year as a college freshman. Now is the time for you to look ahead and make a plan for how to not only survive, but also thrive, while getting your undergraduate degree.
II. Putting Your Best Foot Forward: A. The first mistake and most common mistake college freshmen make is letting the freedom provided by a college-atmosphere go straight to their heads. Yes indeed, fun and parties are a big part of college life—or at least, it can be. But your first job will be to learn how much fun you can have and still keep that GPA high. Don’t make the fatal mistake of messing up your GPA your freshmen year and then have to spend the rest of your time in college trying to make up for that first mistake.
III. Academic Advice: A. Scheduling: 1. Taking Your Hardest Classes First:
It might be a good idea for you to schedule the required classes that you know are going to give you the most trouble first. For example, if you struggle with math, then get your math requirement out of the way your first semester at college while the math you studied in high school is still fresh in your mind. You do NOT want to be taking Calculus during your senior year, desperate for that one measly math credit that will keep you from graduating on time.
2. Taking Early Classes: Some freshmen try to fill up their schedule with late classes so they can sleep in. This is a mistake. You should try to take early classes for several reasons. First, they usually have lfewerstudents in them (always a good thing). Second, it will keep you “living responsibly,” going to bed at a decent hour and feeling healthier. Third, having early classes frees up the rest of your day for fun activities, more studying, or working at a job. Early classes are especially valuable in the springtime weather.
IV. Getting Cultured:
A. Attendance (should be) Mandatory: While you’re in school, you should go to as many theater, orchestra, and choral performances as possible. You should attend political debates and hear visiting professors speak on various controversial issues. You’ll never have the time to do as much after you enter the real world—and you’ll never be able to attend them so cheaply ever again.
B. Heading Overseas: You’ll also never be able to travel in a foreign country as freely or cheaply as you can during your college years. So be sure to investigate your college’s foreign study programs or at least consider taking a few buddies and heading out across Europe, Asia, Africa, or any other place you’ve always wanted to see.
V. Social Advice: A. It’s a Whole New World:
For most of you, college is going to be an entirely new world from high school. No one will know your background or dating history or embarrassing failures, so now is the time to try to take some risk with your life. Try to fix whatever it is you feel you messed up (or were constrained by) in high school. Do something you never had the nerve to do before. Audition for the campus choir; try out for an intramural team; take up rock-climbing. Try something new every week.
VI. What NOT to do while in College: A. What’s “Cool” in High School Isn’t “Cool” Anymore: While being a “slacker” and skipping class might have had the whiff of coolness about in high school, it does not have that same reputation in college. People are paying for their education in college, and they don’t respect those who don’t take their education seriously. As long as you aren’t just “kissing up” to your professor, it’s actually cool to be smart. So work hard in every class you take.

Read the passage on the left to answer the following questions:
23) Who is the intended audience for this article?
A) college deans and administrators
B) parents of recent high school graduates
C) recent high school graduates headed to college
D) the principals and teachers of a large high school

24) If this article had a heading for a section entitled Successfully Interacting with Professors, what would you expect to see in that section?
A) advice on how to trick, cheat, and deceive professors
B) stories about the most ornery and challenging professors on campus
C) advice for how to find out what tutoring services are available on campus
D) advice for how a college freshman can get along with professors in a positive way