Dear new NEC students,
Whether you’re a transfer or a freshman, coming to a new college is a challenge. Meeting other students and taking new courses can be incredibly stressful. Everything is new and different, but coming from both a transfer student and a graduating senior, I know that you can do this. It may seem like it’s so far away or even impossible and you may be overwhelmed with classes, extra curriculars, sports, and part-time jobs.
But as a senior, here are a few survival tips that helped me with my time at NEC and can (hopefully) help you too.
1.) Keep a planner with you – I know this sounds like something a nagging parent would say, but keeping a planner seriously helped me. My brain couldn’t keep track of my To-Do List or all of my due dates so keeping a planner on hand helped make sure I was on time with all my assignments and events throughout my time in college and kept me from being late on anything (most smartphones also have planners as well!)
2.) Get plenty of sleep and make sure you don’t skip meals – Again, sounding like a nagging parent, but skipping on sleep and food is probably one of the worst things you can do for your mental and physical help. Not sleeping can ruin your focus and make it harder to retain information. Staying healthy by getting proper sleep and eating full meals is good for you overall.
3.) Go to Class… ON TIME. – Don’t be one of those students that interrupts a class when coming in late. That hushed “Sorry…sorry, excuse me, sorry I’m late…” is very embarrassing. Believe it or not, teachers care about you being in class. They want to make sure you succeed and know you put a lot of time (and money) into your degree. Coming to class on time not only benefits the rest of the students who have to hear you interrupting class, but it also makes the teacher notice that you’re putting in the effort.
4.) Don’t be afraid to try new things, just be safe – They say your college years are the craziest, and they aren’t lying. You get this newfound freedom that you didn’t have before, and sometimes you don’t know what to do with it, so you go a bit too crazy. Don’t be afraid to leave your dorm room and go to the parties that res life puts on. If there’s a game night at Simon or free wings and drinks served in the college pub, take the time to go. Maybe you’ll meet new friends!
Just be safe. Don’t be that college student that horror stories are told about. Being able to remember your time at college is one of the best memories you can keep.
5.) Put Effort into your work – Lastly, put effort into your work. NEC offers awards to students who put the effort into their classwork and life on campus, and sometimes those awards provide scholarships and will definitely look good on resumes.
Getting good grades also makes you feel better about yourself. Knowing that the work you’re doing matters can make you feel accomplished, but your family and teachers will also be proud of you.
Hopefully this survival guide will help any and all who come to NEC in the future. These tips certainly helped me during my time at NEC and I probably wouldn’t have graduated if it wasn’t for everything that I did to better myself as a student.
Good luck to all incoming students and make sure to get some sleep before your first day of classes!
