23 things students wish they’d known sooner
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Seek support & use it
1. “Before you start school, set up your support system, e.g. who’s going to babysit or give you rides.”
—First-year student, College of the Desert, California
2. “You must have the support of those closest to you. Prioritize: Kids and family come first, school comes second, and a clean house comes last!”
—Second-year student, Cape Cod Community College, Massachusetts
3. “Make friends in your classes—people who are motivated, optimistic, and supportive.”
—Second-year student, Montgomery College, Maryland
4. “Keep yourself surrounded by people who have similar goals, who will encourage you, push you to do your best, and keep you on-track.”
—Name and school withheld
5. ”Make a friend right away. For me, that made the whole semester easier. It’s nice to have a friendly face, a study buddy, and an accountability partner. Even at 40, you can start again!”
—Second-year student, Wake Technical Community College, North Carolina
6. “Have at least one or two people that you can call when you feel overwhelmed who will help you put life back into perspective.”
—Fifth-year student, St. Edward’s University, Texas
7. “Your support system can help you study. The best way to retain information is to teach it to someone else.”
—Second-year student, Rappahannock Community College, Virginia
At school & in your community
8. “Ask everyone how you can get help—financial, academic, social. Ask teachers and other students for resources. There are so many ways you can get help, and many you wouldn’t know about without asking.”
—Third-year student, College of the Desert, California
9. “Get to the computer lab and library ASAP. Not only do they have excellent resources, but they are often good places to study.”
—Second-year student, Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts
10. “There is never a dumb question. Ask questions if you don’t understand something.”
—2015 graduate, College of the Desert, California
11. “If you need disability services, use it. Don’t feel ashamed. You are trying to better your life, not live like someone else.”
—Second-year student, Rochester Community and Technical College, Minnesota
12. “Set up a place outside of your normal routine to do your online class, not your kitchen or room. Try the library!”
—Third-year student, University of Wisconsin—Fond du Lac
13. “Take advantage of the free gym and psychological counseling. These resources will never be free to you again.”
—Name and school withheld
14. “Do not wait until you are struggling in a class to get tutoring.”
—Second-year student, Wake Technical Community College, North Carolina
The key to thriving
15. “Take a course that teaches you the correct way to write college papers. I hadn’t written a paper since 1979, and it was a life saver.”
—Second-year student, Mineral Area College, Missouri
16. “Grad school can be intimidating, but be confident in your abilities and remember that you were admitted for a reason.”
—Second-year graduate student, Emory University, Georgia
17. “Take a class that will make you happy. If you always wanted to learn the guitar or learn to paint, just do it; your mind, body, and soul will be happy you did.”
—Fourth-year student, Antelope Valley College, California
18. “Make extra time for yourself and your studies; it may take longer than anticipated. Cheer yourself on!”
—First-year student, Wake Technical Community College, North Carolina
19. “Keep a good balance of fun and make time for yourself, even if it is just a few minutes on Pinterest, a few minutes in the morning to drink coffee, or a monthly outing with people who lift your spirit.”
—Third-year student, Mineral Area College, Missouri
Looking ahead
20. “Internships will help you land a job after college. I’ve been through many interviews, and I wish I had more internships to show my experience.”
—Name and school withheld
21. “Go to the career center and get your résumé checked out. Go to seminars and see how to write a cover letter. Go to the career fairs and research the companies you’re planning on visiting.”
—Fourth-year student, California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo
22. “Plan how many places you want to apply to and then double it. It’s better to go somewhere subpar and transfer later than be stuck with a pile of rejection letters and no options.”
—Doctoral candidate, Emory University, Georgia
23. “Don’t stress out if you don’t have your post-grad plans figured out yet. It will all work out!”
—Second-year graduate student, University of California, Los Angeles
