Congratulations to Elizabeth from the University of Akron who participated in our freshman year survival tips contest; she’s won this round of “Best Freshman Tip” and will be receiving a one-hour career coaching session with TAP president – me!

In addition to Elizabeth’s tip, we got great response from students. We’ve posted a few below. As a reminder, we will be selecting another winner in December. So keep the tips coming!

Be flexible and learn to adapt. If you come into the year with a specific mind-set and intend to stick to precisely that, you’re going to have a terrible year. Learn as you go and change your approaches. You’re not going to stay the same person but the change you will experience will be for the better.

- Kate from University of Akron

Don’t get too attached to maintaining a friendship that otherwise isn’t working out. Freshman year is a time to meet new people and find your group, and holding on longer only prevents you from meeting your real friends who matter.

- Lisa from University of Pennsylvania

Get to know your professors. If you visit them during their office hours, they will most likely invest more time in you. When it comes down to grades at the end of the semester and you are on the borderline, a professor will likely give you the benefit of the doubt if you sought out help from him or her. Professors also talk amongst themselves. A good reference from one professor to another will make for a delightful college experience.

- Noelle from University of Akron

Learn how to power nap. 30 minute naps between classes can get you through yet another day.

- Akshay from Stanford University

One of the best things I did for myself freshman year was set a four year plan; after talking to my advisors, I sat down and scheduled out my four years at Akron. When my plan was altered somehow, for example when I did not get into a class, I would sit down and edit the plan; I always wanted to know what was ahead. I also set short and long-term goals to keep myself motivated, because I learned that to succeed you need to stay motivated and interested in what you are doing. Also, get a planner; it will save your life, when you start getting involved and deep into the semester it is awesome to know what needs to be done every day. With that, get involved, enjoying and succeeding in college is best achieved when you have people around to support, encourage, motivate, and excite you. Lastly, be in control of your college experience, make sure you are doing what you want to, and not following the crowd, be yourself, study, but always remember to have fun, it only lasts four (or five) years.

- Elizabeth from University of Akron

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