IHS GRADUATE ADVICE “WHAT I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED COLLEGE”

We asked 10 IHS Graduates to give advice to graduating IHS seniors about what to expect their freshmen year in college.

ROOMMATES Meet your roommate before if possible If you are rooming with someone you know from Indianola, set some ground rules before you leave. Get to know people on your floor right away. These are the people you will hang out with and its fun to go to other people’s rooms so you aren’t stuck in your room all the time.

FRIENDS Most of us haven’t made a new friend since elementary school. Coming to college you may not meet your best friends for life in the first week like they do in the movies. Sometimes it takes just waiting until you meet the right group of people and other times it takes stepping out of your comfort zone It’s fine hanging out with Indianola People while trying to get comfortable with college but please make new friends. You won’t regret it! Try not to go home too often. Weekends are when you make friends at college and you will miss stuff

REGISTERING FOR CLASSES Be sure to go to orientation in the summer and look for classes online before you go so you know what you can take. A lot of advisors just recommend the standard schedule, but be willing to explore the classes offered on your own. Lots of the time, there are more than one way to fill a requirement. Like my friend is taking food chemistry instead of regular chemistry and it is more interesting for her and not as difficult.

CLASSES *Don’t buy your textbooks until a few days after classes start. Chances are you might not need them and you can save a lot of money. *Read your syllabus. Some professors have assignments due before class and a lot of assignments throughout the semester are only listed in the syllabus and never mentioned in class

PROFESSORS *Go to professor’s office during office hours for help and get to know your professor. They are actually nice and helpful.

*Make at least one acquaintance in each class during the first week of school. Then you always have someone to ask questions and to sit with *Go to the library. Its actually a cool place to study. *Late night cramming doesn’t work. Know how to study

Know how to cite APA and MLA

*Spend good money on your bed. Buy a good mattress pad and sheets. It’s worth it!

YOU HAVE MORE EXTRA TIME IN COLLEGE SO GET A JOB BECAUSE IT IS NICE TO HAVE EXTRA MONEY. GET A JOB ON CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH YOUR SCHEDULE AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR TO WORK

Check your daily…this is how professors and everyone on campus communicates. Don’t give your out to just anyone because you will get a ton of useless s if you do!

No matter where you go to school you will need raingear! (umbrella, rain boots, raincoat)

FRESHMEN 15 IS A REAL THING! EAT WELL, GET PLENTY OF SLEEP AND EXERCISE. ALSO AVOID LATE NIGHT FOOR RUNS! PIZZA ISN’T GREAT FOR YOU AFTER 9 PM!

GET INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES IN COLLEGE. IT CAN BE THE GREEK SYSTEM, CLUBS, INTRAMURALS….GET INVOLVED!!!!!

HOMESICK!!! YOU WILL MISS HOME….ESPECIALLY YOUR PETS! BUT IT GETS EASIER CALL HOME….YOUR PARENTS APPRECIATE IT AND IT IS NICE TO TALK TO THEM. SEND LETTERS TO FAMILY BECAUSE THEY MIGHT SEND YOU MONEY YOUR PARENTS WILL LIKE YOU MORE WHEN YOU ARE LIVING AWAY SO BE PATIENT NOW