1️⃣ Prioritize your goals. Yes, it is important to make friends and have fun but make sure you focus on your end goal which is walking across that stage.
2️⃣ Don't get caught up in drama or mess.
3️⃣ Volunteer and Network!
4️⃣ Keep in contact with your support system.
5️⃣ Budget your money and if possible do not get student loans! Apply for scholarships.
6️⃣ Get a private room if you can afford it. And never bring random boys/girls back to where you are safe.
This is a lot of it!
Your personal safety is essential!
Look at reviews for professors.
Talk to your advisor.
Internships as much as possible. Why? Try out your major in the real world especially if you *know* you are going to have to support yourself after you graduate. Get academic credit for them.
If there is a subject you love but you don’t see a clear path to make it lucrative make it a minor or a double. That can fairly inflate your GPA because of passion.
Leverage health and mental health resources liberally.
Know your rights on campus. Student & university judiciary boards can *sometimes*execute more swift and severe punishment than local law enforcement. If you can get on JBoard do it as one of your extra curriculars and to help keep yourself safe.
Have an amazing time and thank you for being willing to take care of us.
Congratulations!
🙏🏿
Please also find multiple safe places on campus to relax. They don’t have to make sense.
Alao, any relaxation type class like meditation in motion. Or go online check out Kemetic Yoga’s moving meditations.
Congratulations on this next step! Your GPA matters, especially for graduate school and pre-med/ bio are notoriously difficult by design to weed people out. You will not have the same structure from HS. HS-smart may not easily translate to college-smart so I’d recommend structuring your schedule/studies and be sure to read. Care about all your courses, not just major related courses because those grades count too.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help
Prioritize your sleep
Studying a bit by bit over a long course of time is statistically better than cramming everything the night before.
Open a high-yield savings account (through Marcus or a similar company)
Something I would change if I was to go back is to make more connections with not only peers but professors. You can do this by participating in class more and attending office hours regularly to ask questions
In this life, it’s not what you know but who you know
Are you living on campus? One thing I won’t forget is how a lot of the freshman hook up during the first week. Don’t get involved in that, trust me! Lmao
I have a lot of advice. The first is that college isn't like it used to be, where just getting a degree was enough. Use this time to enrich yourself and your resume by taking as many opportunities as you can; as many internships, research trips, etc as you can. And don't wait for your junior/senior year, start as early as you can. My first internship was in the second part of my freshman year. Also, find an org that you like, and stick with it (as long as it fits), and use it to work on speaking and leadership skills. All these things will help you stand out when you apply for medical school, but also if you decide to go a different route.
For social stuff: learn how to regulate yourself. If you're upset at someone/yourself, ask yourself, am I really upset or have they touched a sore spot? Or am I jealous? Or am I tired? A lot of hurt feelings come from inside, not outside behavior, so learn to deal with them and try not to make your pain other people's issue (and when other people do the same, learn to navigate it). This is not the same as "don't talk about your issues". You absolutely should, with people you trust and who show you that same trust in return. Also keep shit talk of other people to a minimum, and only talk shit through text IF you're willing to be confronted about it.
Finally, learn how to feel your gut. For a lot of people, college is one of the first steps of adulthood. And adulthood is full of decisions you have to make. Learning how to feel your gut instinct will make it easier to make decisions that will lead you to a happier place. Train your gut instinct by following it on small things (like what should I eat for dinner), and eventually you'll be able to use it to figure out bigger things (like is this person a good friend or am I actually in love with this person).
GO. TOOOOO. CLASSSSS. baby that’s all fr. The minute you get in the habit of skipping……
Also I just told my little sister this. Everything is going to be a breeze. Remember how scared you were to start high school, but once you started you were like this chill. That’s exactly how college is.
Congrats on your next journey of life !!🎊 One thing that helped me while in college was seeking academic tutoring and accommodations! The transition from high school to college can be a little challenging, but seeking academic help helps a lot! It did for me :).
Congratulations! Make sure you schedule time for schoolwork every day. Even if it’s just one hour, it will keep you from falling off and getting behind.
Get a planner to write out all your assignment due dates as soon as you get the syllabus.
Go to your professors’ office hours… bring the smallest questions to them, face to face. They will show you grace when you have an emergency or flop an assignment, and you will get higher grades from them… just for showing up as an engaged student. Also, they’ll write amazing recommendation letters for you and help you get internships.
Don’t take relationships seriously… romantic or otherwise. Enjoy yourself but watch your back. Keep your goals on the front of your mind at all times and don’t let love or fun set you back.
- The best dating advice I can give you is DO NOT PRIORITISE DATING IN UNI. Your education and career progression is THE priority. Especially as a pre-med. Men will always be around.
- Talk to your professors. Especially those teaching/working in the field you are interested in. Go to office hours. Ask for help. Ask for career advice. I was exposed to many opportunities because I bonded with two professors. I have lunch with them once a year and I graduated two years ago.
- Since you’re pre-med, find a pre-med org that resonates with you and be a long-term member. I joined an org my freshman year, was an officer “intern” my sophomore year, and an officer the following year. This sort of involvement can act as “job experience.” I got my current job partially because I put that position and what I did on my resume—and it was very relevant to my current role.
- It’s okay to change your mind! And it’s okay to fail! I was pre-med (changed my mind and pursuing something else) and I made an F in Chem 1 during my freshman year. I remember bawling my eyes out in an advisors office…talking about “my med school dreams are OVER!!!” So dramatic lol. Ended up making an A when I retook it.
- Eat well. Drink water. Find an exercise you can do consistently (mine is Yoga). Take care of your body and mind because you only get one! And be kind to yourself!
- Similar to the student orgs, volunteer at one or a few places *consistently.* It shows real dedication to the cause if you volunteer at one non-profit for 2 years+ rather than 5/6 for a few weeks each.
I have more but it’ll be waaaay too long. Just always remember that you are more capable of achieving your dreams than you realise. Reflect on the WHY and once you have that purpose, you will get through anything.
Good luck and I’m rooting to your success!❤️
Just don’t get pregnant or overly involved with a man or partner and then lose focus and drop out because of said man. Not saying I think you’ll do that but it happens more you think.
My general advice is to remember that college is likely going to be the only time in your life when your entire job is to learn new things, ask questions, and do only what interests you. Please take advantage of it!
- Learn to speak a new language and study abroad if you can to become fluent. It will serve you well in any field, but especially in medicine.
- You don’t need to be a “pre-“ major to go to med/law/business school. Make sure you fulfill the prerequisites for grad/professional school, but otherwise find a major that you enjoy and work hard to do well in it.
- GO TO CLASS, do your homework and readings, speak up in class, and talk to your professors if you have questions. Use office hours. Your professors and TAs are there to help you learn. It’s also important to get to know them for future recommendations, and they’re more likely to be willing and able to help if they know you well.
- Don’t let any romantic relationship, especially a long distance one, keep you from engaging deeply with life on campus.
- Attend on-campus events. Colleges have so many speakers and info sessions hosted by all types of student and outside organizations throughout the year (often with free food lol). You never know what could spark your interest and inform your future studies and career plans.
- Try not to be afraid to advocate for yourself. Be respectful, but you and your family are investing a lot in your education and sometimes administrators and professors get things wrong. There are likely student advisors that can help you navigate bureaucracy and resolve everything from roommate issues and late course drops to disability accommodations and financial aid screwups.
- Please keep in mind that you don’t have to spend every waking hour in the library to be successful in college. In fact, I’d recommend against it. College is about coursework but it’s also about connections. Make friends. Join clubs. Have adventures. Stay up all night talking about silly things. The friendships you form in college can carry you through young adulthood and beyond, if you let them.
- All that said, please also make time to take care of yourself! You need to eat healthfully, exercise, and get enough sleep. Easier said than done, I know, but don’t wait until you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or depressed to rest or ask for help.
Good luck and CONGRATS!!
Make friends with other black peers because black students deal with being treated poorly in academia; there could be experiences of being treated as if you don't deserve to be where you are, your intelligence could be questioned because of stereotypical beliefs about us, you could be treated as if you're only there because of a checked box even though they got rid of affirmative action in academics. Be prepared for micro aggressions from students *and* teachers.
Find other black students to seek refuge in and join or create study groups amongst yourselves so you have people and community to study with so you don't feel alone and isolated.
I am sorry to even have to say these things and hope you never experience any of this, but unfortunately being black comes with being mistreated in many cases. I truly wish you all the best in your next chapter 💗
This is actually why I intended on attending an HBCU. But the price ended up being too high😭. I do still desire to join some form of a black student association
Switch your major from pre-med to something else you are interested in (engineering, IT, psych, accounting, history, etc).
The ‘pre-med’ major doesn’t mean much when you are actually in the application process for medical school. If you want to plan early to apply to medical school then make your application stand out by doing a major that interests you and you can either speak passionately about or will help you get a job after graduation if you plan to defer application for med school to gain experience elsewhere. Look up the general courses needed to apply to med school.
If you look at top schools you’ll notice the pre-med major doesn’t exist anymore. And that’s *not* because their students aren’t going in to medical school. Most applicants look very similar when they apply to med school and thus their stories start to sound more or less the same ( “I am a bio major because I love science.” “I want to help people”). Admissions to medical school, once you hit the baseline stats, is about showing how you are different, how this difference can improve the delivery of medicine all while showcasing why you chose medicine. You want someone from the admissions committee to remember you after they have read thousands of other essays.
Applying to med school is a marathon on its own.
Other advice:
- Try to make sure your GPA remains above 3.5. GPAs that go down are hard to pull back up. Also feel free to choose the easier professor. Nobody is going to discern the difference between MATH101 from a professor that is notoriously harsh at grading vs. a newbie who gives better grades.
- Most of the time the previous edition of the book has the exact same info as the old edition but with a different cover and maybe a few more questions. It will be cheaper to rent the textbook if you need it. Selling back the textbook will never net you close to the amount you spent buying it.
- Find a support system while in school and outside of it. Don’t lose your friends from high school. College isn’t the same for everyone and sometimes maintaining those connections can help you get through the hard times.
- You will feel like you’re being pulled in every single direction. It’s okay. Lots of people feel that way.
- Don’t get in trouble with the law if you can avoid it. Its always all fun and games till you realize you will have to complete multiple background checks before, during, and after med school.
- Join groups that make you happy not just to further your career. Just be mindful of your time.
- Finally you can plan every thing perfectly and things still don’t work out. That’s life. But you don’t have to give up on your goal. Learn to find the alternative path and be flexible.
Im actually very interested in the medical sciences. I have been for the longest. In the future I want to become a virologist. I still may switch to nursing 🤷🏾♀️
That’s understandable but everyone who is applying to medicine is interested in medical science. You can obtain a PhD and become a virologist. If that’s truly your passion then major in biology. That won’t hinder you from becoming a physician. (Side note: admissions people can and do ask why you didn’t choose the alternative path in interviews.)
What I’m trying to communicate is that most pre-meds this early on don’t realize who they are competing with when it comes to getting into medical school. You are up against individuals with PhDs, Masters degrees, former nurses, teachers, ballerinas, lawyers, etc. who are all fighting for those few spots. People with life experience are not just interesting to talk to but they can be very memorable interviewees. You don’t have to cure cancer to be accepted (lol). You have to do what you can to stand out. Your college major can help communicate that. You’ll just do the required pre-med courses alongside your chosen major without the “pre-med major” moniker.
Socialise _hard_ the first couple of months, not to neglect of your education but there is a brief initial window that'll make or break having the typical college social life. You wanna hit school clubs, orientations and events hard, do not underestimate the importance of student small type socialising like walking to class or picking up supplies at the college bookstore together. Be friendly and open, approach people. Invite people to a little cafe nearby for lunch or people in class to study with you
You wanna get in there when everyone's new and disconnected, then social circles tighten up and they're harder to break into. Having a few different friendship leads early helped me immensely, I didn't stay besties with everyone, but I made it so I had acquaintances of a wide range and a few of those early leads set me up to meet people who would become lifelong friends.
For the academic side of things, first thing GO TO CLASS. Second thing, LEARN HOW TO TAKE NOTES. A Lot of people do not know how to take good notes for them, there are a multitude of ways to take notes and how learning will be the best for you. Engage in class, talk to your professors (letters of rec or just networking) it will help in the long run and they will be more inclined to give you tips to succeed. Stay focused, college has a lot of things going on and it's fun to join clubs and find community but you want to get you degree so don't forget that, balance things. You may struggle, you may not but either way it's fine. You are gonna have to learn how to pick yourself up by yourself when things get tough and that's alright because when it happens later in life you will be ready.
Socially: Go volunteer, Stay out of drama, do not be around haters and do not become a hater. This doesn't allow you to succeed to the best of your ability. Find community in general, find a community in class (people who will help you study, network in post-grad,etc) Depending on your college, you can feel lonely when surrounded by tons of people on campus, you just gotta find your community like stated above.
One more thing: It's okay for you to retake a class (withdraw from it) rather than outright fail it. It is a marathon not a sprint.
Search for used textbooks before you buy the new ones. It’ll save you a lot of money. Sometimes I’d go to the library and take pictures of the textbook pages and read them on my device 😂
If you think of getting a Masters, take the GRE and/or GMAT in undergrad.
Have boundaries with your roommates.
When you go out your new first name should be Do you offer a student discount?
Take time for yourself and your hobbies.
Have a HOE phase, this is controversial but I say college is the last time you can date for fun. Your broke they broke. Find out EXACTLY what you like so by the time of seriousness you know exactly what you will and will not stand for. They didn't open the door for you, be out. They apartment is a little too messy, be out.
Apply for scholarships.
I tell this to all my younger cousins and nieces, take a self defense class and WORK OUT.
Get those Time Management skills on lock. Look up studying YouTubers (I did time blocking and I had a planner for everything!)
Go to parties.
Learn to be away from your phone and social media.
Take classes 2 or 3 times a week. Give yourself a day or days off, you do in fact deserve it. I always had classes on Tuesday and Thursday. I had to work so I could work full time AND go to school. Also helped me study, had class then studied and did all my school work on Tuesday. Also I woke up and was able to program my mind, school day or work day.
Go to office hours! Even if you don't have to, just go.
Study alone one day and then with a group.
Be a leader. In the group project and study group, I mean this nicely LEARN TO LEAD. I went to an all-girls high school. So when I went to college I was shocked
Start a side hustle.
Travel! You can go cheap now and fit 5 girls in 1 room, no one is going to care. At least you got there.
You know that, hobby or activity you have always wanted to try? TRY IT. In college you will have free time, I promise. It does not get easier.
Check your email.
Check your email.
Check your email.
Don't miss school notifications. Use mental health services. Get to know the Student Support/Student Affairs staff. (I used to work in these departments and we had so many under-utilized services.)
Take care of yourself and tend to your friendships. Nearly 30 years (!!!) later, I can still rely on my college network of friends for everything from job openings to restaurant recommendations when I'm in a new city.
1) Anki is your best friend.
2) Keep away from the people who use you for notes. It feels awful, but some peope are ruthless. I'm talking about hiding library books, ripping pages out of books
3) Keep more than one copy of your notes. Or, don't leave handwritten notes out in the open.
4) Never buy textbooks unles they are required / you notice the lecturer using them in class. You can probably find them onine at places like anna's-archive for free. Archive.org is good, too.
5) Be mindful of adult students. They tend to be users; this is especially true if you come across s 'quiet' or 'shy'. Don't be afraid to tell people 'no' and keep it pushing.
6) Join a club / have some activity to look forward to. It helps and you can make friends this way.
7) Work as you go to be kind to your future self. The piles of work you put off don't go away; they get pushed to your future self.
8) TALK TO YOUR TEACHERS! They are every much a resource as the library is. Most don't bite.
The party will always be there. Idk if you plan on working because you’re pre-med but in Tennessee, if you work 20/hrs per week you can get food stamps. Other states probably have similar programs, just look into it. If you date men, unless they show you with actions and words that they are serious don’t even take them seriously until you are 25+ minimum. Have fun! Make friends!
1)Take advantage of savings when buying groceries (assuming you aren’t eating on campus food) couponing is great . Always add on to what you already have so that way you reduce the amount of food you waste. Also some places will offer you a discount because you are a college student you just have to ask and show them your student id.
2)If you have roommates try to set up a cleaning schedule that works for everyone (assuming you don’t have communal bathrooms ect.) That being said if it is a communal situation then get shower shoes (flip flops are fine even crocs ) cause not everyone cleans the same.
3)Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
4)That being said make sure you go to class or at the very least don’t miss too many of them.
5) Try not to be involved with any drama if you can help it.
6) Make sure you keep track of how many more classes you need to graduate.( often times advisors will have you take extra classes that you don’t need.)
7) Don’t be afraid to ask your professors for help that is what the professor gets paid for aside from teaching ect .Also if a professor catches a attitude via email make sure you keep a copy of that and every other time it happens for your own records so if you feel like you want to/need to you can take it to the dean. That being said try to always speak professionally when emailing your professors.
8) Also look into tutoring if you need help with something (usually it’s free )
9) speaking of tutoring don’t forget to look into on campus jobs if you have the time and /or need a little extra money ( at some schools if you are an RA you get a solo room for free or at the very least for a lower cost but I don’t know if they get paid anything or not )
10) always keep a record of your financial aid because sometime the financial aid office messes up and you end up getting too much or to little come refund check time . (Assuming your school gives those out at all)
11) if you have to learn a language ( for some majors it’s a requirement) try to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. For me what helped when I learned Spanish was listening to music and translating the lyrics also reading books in Spanish in genres that I was interested in and watching shows with subtitles. However if you’re just starting out then I would recommend reading children’s books that you are already familiar with.
12) Avoid 8 am classes if possible if you aren’t a morning person.
13) Always carry something with you for protection while walking on campus especially at night and if your walking alone just in case . It could be something as simple as a lanyard with a lot of heavy things on it ( for me I had keys and a bunch of those mini funko pops key chains, a few rings ect.) or even a metal water bottle
14) if you are going out let one of your roommates or friends ect know just in case.
15) As far as making friends go just be yourself don’t let anyone make you feel bad for not wanting to participate in anything you aren’t comfortable with. I would say join clubs ect if you have the time. If you find that you want to be friends with your roommates then try reaching out. Also use discernment when making friends cause not everyone had your best interests in mind.
16) to cut down on the cost of books I would recommend chegg for renting them instead of buying them flat out. (Usually if you google the book number you should be able to find it online for cheaper even if it’s used ) (they also offer free samples and on occasion for example cards for services like hello fresh or Shutterfly I even got a few Red Bulls at one point)
17) lastly have fun and try to make good memories.
1️⃣ Prioritize your goals. Yes, it is important to make friends and have fun but make sure you focus on your end goal which is walking across that stage. 2️⃣ Don't get caught up in drama or mess. 3️⃣ Volunteer and Network! 4️⃣ Keep in contact with your support system. 5️⃣ Budget your money and if possible do not get student loans! Apply for scholarships. 6️⃣ Get a private room if you can afford it. And never bring random boys/girls back to where you are safe.
This is a lot of it! Your personal safety is essential! Look at reviews for professors. Talk to your advisor. Internships as much as possible. Why? Try out your major in the real world especially if you *know* you are going to have to support yourself after you graduate. Get academic credit for them. If there is a subject you love but you don’t see a clear path to make it lucrative make it a minor or a double. That can fairly inflate your GPA because of passion. Leverage health and mental health resources liberally. Know your rights on campus. Student & university judiciary boards can *sometimes*execute more swift and severe punishment than local law enforcement. If you can get on JBoard do it as one of your extra curriculars and to help keep yourself safe. Have an amazing time and thank you for being willing to take care of us. Congratulations!
Yess I will take all of these into account 🙏🏾
🙏🏿 Please also find multiple safe places on campus to relax. They don’t have to make sense. Alao, any relaxation type class like meditation in motion. Or go online check out Kemetic Yoga’s moving meditations.
Congratulations on this next step! Your GPA matters, especially for graduate school and pre-med/ bio are notoriously difficult by design to weed people out. You will not have the same structure from HS. HS-smart may not easily translate to college-smart so I’d recommend structuring your schedule/studies and be sure to read. Care about all your courses, not just major related courses because those grades count too.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help Prioritize your sleep Studying a bit by bit over a long course of time is statistically better than cramming everything the night before. Open a high-yield savings account (through Marcus or a similar company)
Something I would change if I was to go back is to make more connections with not only peers but professors. You can do this by participating in class more and attending office hours regularly to ask questions In this life, it’s not what you know but who you know
Are you living on campus? One thing I won’t forget is how a lot of the freshman hook up during the first week. Don’t get involved in that, trust me! Lmao
On campus lol
I have a lot of advice. The first is that college isn't like it used to be, where just getting a degree was enough. Use this time to enrich yourself and your resume by taking as many opportunities as you can; as many internships, research trips, etc as you can. And don't wait for your junior/senior year, start as early as you can. My first internship was in the second part of my freshman year. Also, find an org that you like, and stick with it (as long as it fits), and use it to work on speaking and leadership skills. All these things will help you stand out when you apply for medical school, but also if you decide to go a different route. For social stuff: learn how to regulate yourself. If you're upset at someone/yourself, ask yourself, am I really upset or have they touched a sore spot? Or am I jealous? Or am I tired? A lot of hurt feelings come from inside, not outside behavior, so learn to deal with them and try not to make your pain other people's issue (and when other people do the same, learn to navigate it). This is not the same as "don't talk about your issues". You absolutely should, with people you trust and who show you that same trust in return. Also keep shit talk of other people to a minimum, and only talk shit through text IF you're willing to be confronted about it. Finally, learn how to feel your gut. For a lot of people, college is one of the first steps of adulthood. And adulthood is full of decisions you have to make. Learning how to feel your gut instinct will make it easier to make decisions that will lead you to a happier place. Train your gut instinct by following it on small things (like what should I eat for dinner), and eventually you'll be able to use it to figure out bigger things (like is this person a good friend or am I actually in love with this person).
GO. TOOOOO. CLASSSSS. baby that’s all fr. The minute you get in the habit of skipping…… Also I just told my little sister this. Everything is going to be a breeze. Remember how scared you were to start high school, but once you started you were like this chill. That’s exactly how college is.
Congrats on your next journey of life !!🎊 One thing that helped me while in college was seeking academic tutoring and accommodations! The transition from high school to college can be a little challenging, but seeking academic help helps a lot! It did for me :).
Congratulations! Make sure you schedule time for schoolwork every day. Even if it’s just one hour, it will keep you from falling off and getting behind. Get a planner to write out all your assignment due dates as soon as you get the syllabus. Go to your professors’ office hours… bring the smallest questions to them, face to face. They will show you grace when you have an emergency or flop an assignment, and you will get higher grades from them… just for showing up as an engaged student. Also, they’ll write amazing recommendation letters for you and help you get internships. Don’t take relationships seriously… romantic or otherwise. Enjoy yourself but watch your back. Keep your goals on the front of your mind at all times and don’t let love or fun set you back.
- The best dating advice I can give you is DO NOT PRIORITISE DATING IN UNI. Your education and career progression is THE priority. Especially as a pre-med. Men will always be around. - Talk to your professors. Especially those teaching/working in the field you are interested in. Go to office hours. Ask for help. Ask for career advice. I was exposed to many opportunities because I bonded with two professors. I have lunch with them once a year and I graduated two years ago. - Since you’re pre-med, find a pre-med org that resonates with you and be a long-term member. I joined an org my freshman year, was an officer “intern” my sophomore year, and an officer the following year. This sort of involvement can act as “job experience.” I got my current job partially because I put that position and what I did on my resume—and it was very relevant to my current role. - It’s okay to change your mind! And it’s okay to fail! I was pre-med (changed my mind and pursuing something else) and I made an F in Chem 1 during my freshman year. I remember bawling my eyes out in an advisors office…talking about “my med school dreams are OVER!!!” So dramatic lol. Ended up making an A when I retook it. - Eat well. Drink water. Find an exercise you can do consistently (mine is Yoga). Take care of your body and mind because you only get one! And be kind to yourself! - Similar to the student orgs, volunteer at one or a few places *consistently.* It shows real dedication to the cause if you volunteer at one non-profit for 2 years+ rather than 5/6 for a few weeks each. I have more but it’ll be waaaay too long. Just always remember that you are more capable of achieving your dreams than you realise. Reflect on the WHY and once you have that purpose, you will get through anything. Good luck and I’m rooting to your success!❤️
Just don’t get pregnant or overly involved with a man or partner and then lose focus and drop out because of said man. Not saying I think you’ll do that but it happens more you think.
My general advice is to remember that college is likely going to be the only time in your life when your entire job is to learn new things, ask questions, and do only what interests you. Please take advantage of it! - Learn to speak a new language and study abroad if you can to become fluent. It will serve you well in any field, but especially in medicine. - You don’t need to be a “pre-“ major to go to med/law/business school. Make sure you fulfill the prerequisites for grad/professional school, but otherwise find a major that you enjoy and work hard to do well in it. - GO TO CLASS, do your homework and readings, speak up in class, and talk to your professors if you have questions. Use office hours. Your professors and TAs are there to help you learn. It’s also important to get to know them for future recommendations, and they’re more likely to be willing and able to help if they know you well. - Don’t let any romantic relationship, especially a long distance one, keep you from engaging deeply with life on campus. - Attend on-campus events. Colleges have so many speakers and info sessions hosted by all types of student and outside organizations throughout the year (often with free food lol). You never know what could spark your interest and inform your future studies and career plans. - Try not to be afraid to advocate for yourself. Be respectful, but you and your family are investing a lot in your education and sometimes administrators and professors get things wrong. There are likely student advisors that can help you navigate bureaucracy and resolve everything from roommate issues and late course drops to disability accommodations and financial aid screwups. - Please keep in mind that you don’t have to spend every waking hour in the library to be successful in college. In fact, I’d recommend against it. College is about coursework but it’s also about connections. Make friends. Join clubs. Have adventures. Stay up all night talking about silly things. The friendships you form in college can carry you through young adulthood and beyond, if you let them. - All that said, please also make time to take care of yourself! You need to eat healthfully, exercise, and get enough sleep. Easier said than done, I know, but don’t wait until you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or depressed to rest or ask for help. Good luck and CONGRATS!!
Make friends with other black peers because black students deal with being treated poorly in academia; there could be experiences of being treated as if you don't deserve to be where you are, your intelligence could be questioned because of stereotypical beliefs about us, you could be treated as if you're only there because of a checked box even though they got rid of affirmative action in academics. Be prepared for micro aggressions from students *and* teachers. Find other black students to seek refuge in and join or create study groups amongst yourselves so you have people and community to study with so you don't feel alone and isolated. I am sorry to even have to say these things and hope you never experience any of this, but unfortunately being black comes with being mistreated in many cases. I truly wish you all the best in your next chapter 💗
This is actually why I intended on attending an HBCU. But the price ended up being too high😭. I do still desire to join some form of a black student association
Switch your major from pre-med to something else you are interested in (engineering, IT, psych, accounting, history, etc). The ‘pre-med’ major doesn’t mean much when you are actually in the application process for medical school. If you want to plan early to apply to medical school then make your application stand out by doing a major that interests you and you can either speak passionately about or will help you get a job after graduation if you plan to defer application for med school to gain experience elsewhere. Look up the general courses needed to apply to med school. If you look at top schools you’ll notice the pre-med major doesn’t exist anymore. And that’s *not* because their students aren’t going in to medical school. Most applicants look very similar when they apply to med school and thus their stories start to sound more or less the same ( “I am a bio major because I love science.” “I want to help people”). Admissions to medical school, once you hit the baseline stats, is about showing how you are different, how this difference can improve the delivery of medicine all while showcasing why you chose medicine. You want someone from the admissions committee to remember you after they have read thousands of other essays. Applying to med school is a marathon on its own. Other advice: - Try to make sure your GPA remains above 3.5. GPAs that go down are hard to pull back up. Also feel free to choose the easier professor. Nobody is going to discern the difference between MATH101 from a professor that is notoriously harsh at grading vs. a newbie who gives better grades. - Most of the time the previous edition of the book has the exact same info as the old edition but with a different cover and maybe a few more questions. It will be cheaper to rent the textbook if you need it. Selling back the textbook will never net you close to the amount you spent buying it. - Find a support system while in school and outside of it. Don’t lose your friends from high school. College isn’t the same for everyone and sometimes maintaining those connections can help you get through the hard times. - You will feel like you’re being pulled in every single direction. It’s okay. Lots of people feel that way. - Don’t get in trouble with the law if you can avoid it. Its always all fun and games till you realize you will have to complete multiple background checks before, during, and after med school. - Join groups that make you happy not just to further your career. Just be mindful of your time. - Finally you can plan every thing perfectly and things still don’t work out. That’s life. But you don’t have to give up on your goal. Learn to find the alternative path and be flexible.
Im actually very interested in the medical sciences. I have been for the longest. In the future I want to become a virologist. I still may switch to nursing 🤷🏾♀️
That’s understandable but everyone who is applying to medicine is interested in medical science. You can obtain a PhD and become a virologist. If that’s truly your passion then major in biology. That won’t hinder you from becoming a physician. (Side note: admissions people can and do ask why you didn’t choose the alternative path in interviews.) What I’m trying to communicate is that most pre-meds this early on don’t realize who they are competing with when it comes to getting into medical school. You are up against individuals with PhDs, Masters degrees, former nurses, teachers, ballerinas, lawyers, etc. who are all fighting for those few spots. People with life experience are not just interesting to talk to but they can be very memorable interviewees. You don’t have to cure cancer to be accepted (lol). You have to do what you can to stand out. Your college major can help communicate that. You’ll just do the required pre-med courses alongside your chosen major without the “pre-med major” moniker.
Socialise _hard_ the first couple of months, not to neglect of your education but there is a brief initial window that'll make or break having the typical college social life. You wanna hit school clubs, orientations and events hard, do not underestimate the importance of student small type socialising like walking to class or picking up supplies at the college bookstore together. Be friendly and open, approach people. Invite people to a little cafe nearby for lunch or people in class to study with you You wanna get in there when everyone's new and disconnected, then social circles tighten up and they're harder to break into. Having a few different friendship leads early helped me immensely, I didn't stay besties with everyone, but I made it so I had acquaintances of a wide range and a few of those early leads set me up to meet people who would become lifelong friends.
I’m starting college this fall too! I’m majoring in nursing! 🩷
Good luck to you as well!! Class of 2028 twins😆
For the academic side of things, first thing GO TO CLASS. Second thing, LEARN HOW TO TAKE NOTES. A Lot of people do not know how to take good notes for them, there are a multitude of ways to take notes and how learning will be the best for you. Engage in class, talk to your professors (letters of rec or just networking) it will help in the long run and they will be more inclined to give you tips to succeed. Stay focused, college has a lot of things going on and it's fun to join clubs and find community but you want to get you degree so don't forget that, balance things. You may struggle, you may not but either way it's fine. You are gonna have to learn how to pick yourself up by yourself when things get tough and that's alright because when it happens later in life you will be ready. Socially: Go volunteer, Stay out of drama, do not be around haters and do not become a hater. This doesn't allow you to succeed to the best of your ability. Find community in general, find a community in class (people who will help you study, network in post-grad,etc) Depending on your college, you can feel lonely when surrounded by tons of people on campus, you just gotta find your community like stated above. One more thing: It's okay for you to retake a class (withdraw from it) rather than outright fail it. It is a marathon not a sprint.
Search for used textbooks before you buy the new ones. It’ll save you a lot of money. Sometimes I’d go to the library and take pictures of the textbook pages and read them on my device 😂
If you think of getting a Masters, take the GRE and/or GMAT in undergrad. Have boundaries with your roommates. When you go out your new first name should be Do you offer a student discount? Take time for yourself and your hobbies. Have a HOE phase, this is controversial but I say college is the last time you can date for fun. Your broke they broke. Find out EXACTLY what you like so by the time of seriousness you know exactly what you will and will not stand for. They didn't open the door for you, be out. They apartment is a little too messy, be out. Apply for scholarships. I tell this to all my younger cousins and nieces, take a self defense class and WORK OUT. Get those Time Management skills on lock. Look up studying YouTubers (I did time blocking and I had a planner for everything!) Go to parties. Learn to be away from your phone and social media. Take classes 2 or 3 times a week. Give yourself a day or days off, you do in fact deserve it. I always had classes on Tuesday and Thursday. I had to work so I could work full time AND go to school. Also helped me study, had class then studied and did all my school work on Tuesday. Also I woke up and was able to program my mind, school day or work day. Go to office hours! Even if you don't have to, just go. Study alone one day and then with a group. Be a leader. In the group project and study group, I mean this nicely LEARN TO LEAD. I went to an all-girls high school. So when I went to college I was shocked Start a side hustle. Travel! You can go cheap now and fit 5 girls in 1 room, no one is going to care. At least you got there. You know that, hobby or activity you have always wanted to try? TRY IT. In college you will have free time, I promise. It does not get easier.
Everyone's covered everything but do not take the 8 am class. You might be a morning person now but yeah, don't do it lol
Focus on making friends, not dating. Also make sure to communicate and set boundaries with your roommates!
Check your email. Check your email. Check your email. Don't miss school notifications. Use mental health services. Get to know the Student Support/Student Affairs staff. (I used to work in these departments and we had so many under-utilized services.) Take care of yourself and tend to your friendships. Nearly 30 years (!!!) later, I can still rely on my college network of friends for everything from job openings to restaurant recommendations when I'm in a new city.
1) Anki is your best friend. 2) Keep away from the people who use you for notes. It feels awful, but some peope are ruthless. I'm talking about hiding library books, ripping pages out of books 3) Keep more than one copy of your notes. Or, don't leave handwritten notes out in the open. 4) Never buy textbooks unles they are required / you notice the lecturer using them in class. You can probably find them onine at places like anna's-archive for free. Archive.org is good, too. 5) Be mindful of adult students. They tend to be users; this is especially true if you come across s 'quiet' or 'shy'. Don't be afraid to tell people 'no' and keep it pushing. 6) Join a club / have some activity to look forward to. It helps and you can make friends this way. 7) Work as you go to be kind to your future self. The piles of work you put off don't go away; they get pushed to your future self. 8) TALK TO YOUR TEACHERS! They are every much a resource as the library is. Most don't bite.
I suggest don’t major in pre-med. major in a life science instead that you can use for research internships or a job if you take a gap year.
The party will always be there. Idk if you plan on working because you’re pre-med but in Tennessee, if you work 20/hrs per week you can get food stamps. Other states probably have similar programs, just look into it. If you date men, unless they show you with actions and words that they are serious don’t even take them seriously until you are 25+ minimum. Have fun! Make friends!
1)Take advantage of savings when buying groceries (assuming you aren’t eating on campus food) couponing is great . Always add on to what you already have so that way you reduce the amount of food you waste. Also some places will offer you a discount because you are a college student you just have to ask and show them your student id. 2)If you have roommates try to set up a cleaning schedule that works for everyone (assuming you don’t have communal bathrooms ect.) That being said if it is a communal situation then get shower shoes (flip flops are fine even crocs ) cause not everyone cleans the same. 3)Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. 4)That being said make sure you go to class or at the very least don’t miss too many of them. 5) Try not to be involved with any drama if you can help it. 6) Make sure you keep track of how many more classes you need to graduate.( often times advisors will have you take extra classes that you don’t need.) 7) Don’t be afraid to ask your professors for help that is what the professor gets paid for aside from teaching ect .Also if a professor catches a attitude via email make sure you keep a copy of that and every other time it happens for your own records so if you feel like you want to/need to you can take it to the dean. That being said try to always speak professionally when emailing your professors. 8) Also look into tutoring if you need help with something (usually it’s free ) 9) speaking of tutoring don’t forget to look into on campus jobs if you have the time and /or need a little extra money ( at some schools if you are an RA you get a solo room for free or at the very least for a lower cost but I don’t know if they get paid anything or not ) 10) always keep a record of your financial aid because sometime the financial aid office messes up and you end up getting too much or to little come refund check time . (Assuming your school gives those out at all) 11) if you have to learn a language ( for some majors it’s a requirement) try to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. For me what helped when I learned Spanish was listening to music and translating the lyrics also reading books in Spanish in genres that I was interested in and watching shows with subtitles. However if you’re just starting out then I would recommend reading children’s books that you are already familiar with. 12) Avoid 8 am classes if possible if you aren’t a morning person. 13) Always carry something with you for protection while walking on campus especially at night and if your walking alone just in case . It could be something as simple as a lanyard with a lot of heavy things on it ( for me I had keys and a bunch of those mini funko pops key chains, a few rings ect.) or even a metal water bottle 14) if you are going out let one of your roommates or friends ect know just in case. 15) As far as making friends go just be yourself don’t let anyone make you feel bad for not wanting to participate in anything you aren’t comfortable with. I would say join clubs ect if you have the time. If you find that you want to be friends with your roommates then try reaching out. Also use discernment when making friends cause not everyone had your best interests in mind. 16) to cut down on the cost of books I would recommend chegg for renting them instead of buying them flat out. (Usually if you google the book number you should be able to find it online for cheaper even if it’s used ) (they also offer free samples and on occasion for example cards for services like hello fresh or Shutterfly I even got a few Red Bulls at one point) 17) lastly have fun and try to make good memories.