Advice for Incoming Students

Thinking About College Incoming Students Advice for Incoming Students Why SU? "I still don’t believe I’m starting college..Journal entry from student, class of 2003 " So begins a 1999 journal entry of an incoming first-year student. The journal entry reflects a mix of emotions that range from excitement to fear. Coming to Syracuse University presents students with many new experiences and challenges. SummerStart exists, in part, because the transition from high school to college is a complex coming of age. By introducing students to the university environment during the relatively sleepy summer days of Syracuse it is our hope that the anxieties, misconceptions and academic rough-edges can be quelled, cleared and smoothed prior to the Fall semester. As the 1999 SummerStart drew to a close I asked my seminar students to compose a "Top Ten List" of what every incoming first-year student should know about Syracuse University. Here are statements several students included in their top ten lists at the close of the 1999 SummerStart program: Students should know locations of all buildings. [How to] use the library. Become familiar with Schine Student Center. Have information on Health Center. Have information on judicial system. Financial aid information. Meals (surviving dining hall experience). Utilizing academic consultants. Know the resources on campus. Make a good name for yourself. Learn to use the computers and computer clusters. Take a tour of campus. Find a job (work study). Meet with your counselor on a regular basis. Know your financial aid package. Bring money with you. Socialize and make connections. There is a lot of work. This is not high-school anymore, grow up. Say "goodbye" to good food. Study the campus map. Get used to less hours of sleep. Be prepared to meet thousand`s of students. Time management is something you will have to juggle with better than you ever did before. Don’t freak out if you don’t know your major. Keep track of your expenses and be wise. Don’t skip classes. No Borders, No Boundaries has good hard core shows. Professors don’t just throw A’s at you. Don’t party on weekdays. Buy an organizer. Stay off of drugs though you might be tempted. Bring warm clothes. Bring calling cards. Come with a positive attitude and an open mind. here are a lot of hills, get into shape before you come. Know as much about your home college as possible. It’s not all about you. Syracuse is not the Bahamas. Trying is not enough. Stand for something. Socialize with students AND FACULTY. Don’t become discouraged, be diligent. Get enough rest. You are going to learn to become independent. I hope that some of these comments help you in your academic planning. Please pass the wisdom on if you have siblings or friends who are considering college in their future plans. Do what you can to heed the advice above. by Christopher Weiss, M.A., M.Ed., Academic Counselor