College advice I wish I'd taken


Not all advice is welcome, and it often seems that everyone wants to give you their advice, even if you haven’t asked for it. That said, there are times when you look back at the advice you were given and wished that you had taken it at the time. Here are some examples of college advice that we wish we had taken.

It’s cool to do well

A lot of us will rebel during college and think of ourselves as punk and anti-establishment. We will leave the studying to the ‘nerds’ while we party and date and have a good time. It’s obvious now, out of the situation that grades are way more important, and that it’s possible to have fun and do well on tests. However, did you know that there are some perks to doing well! For example, at some schools you can get scholarships, grants, free trips and private parties. It pays to be smart!

College advice I wish I’d taken

Everyone is a future contact

Be nice to your classmates, as you never know when one of them is going to wind up finding a job opening that you would be perfect for. Your classmates may end up recommending you for freelance work, or reaching out and hooking you up with some amazing connections. Make sure you are willing to do the same for them too.

Show up and Speak Up

Sure, you do not have to go to lectures in the same way as you had to attend classes in High School, and maybe the lecturer won’t notice if one person out of 300 is not there, but remember that you are paying for these sessions. If you booked in for a $300 spa treatment, would you just not show up? Or would you make the absolute most of it? The lecturer will notice who is there, and who makes an effort to answer questions and these are the ones that get the focus of the class. Stand out for the right reasons and reap the rewards such as recommendations, references, and encouragement.

Remember that your professors are people

They may seem hard as nails and as if nothing bothers them, but every lecturer, however harsh they may seem, wants you to enjoy their class. Like all of us, they want to be respected and appreciated, so if they do something that means a lot to you, or even just takes a really good lecture, let them know. They will never get tired of being told that they are good at their job, just like the rest of us!

College advice I wish I’d taken

College is hard; it’s okay to ask for help

You have it drummed into you that college is the best time of your life, and that brings with it a lot of pressure that you just don’t need. If you find yourself feeling depressed or are struggling in some way, you may feel as though something is wrong with you – after all, shouldn’t this be the time of your life? Don’t be ashamed to ask for support. Speak to a lecturer you are close to or make the most of therapy. If you are worried you’re taking the wrong classes or even are in the wrong school, remember that you are not stuck, everything is fixable, and it’s okay to ask for help. After all, being happy is the most important thing.
Chances are, this advice will only resonate with you if you have already graduated, and those of you currently in college will ignore it all, just as I did. Don’t beat yourself up about it, we all have to learn our own lessons, and hindsight is 20/20.

Recommended For You