Every fall, millions of high school graduates head to college for the first time. Some of them are Addition Financial members (or the children of our members) and we spend a lot of time helping them prepare for the realities of college life.
Students who are attending large universities sometimes wonder what they can do to make the most of campus life. They want to know which college club to join and how they can find their place amongst thousands of other students. Here are six ways to flourish at a large university.
#1: Attend Mixers and Other Social Events When You Arrive
One of the things that can be overwhelming about attending a large university is that there are so many students. You might wonder how you’ll find the people who will be your friends.
One way to do it is to take advantage of the “getting to know you” events that most universities host at the beginning of a new school year. Mixers and socials (sometimes complete with name tags) offer the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to people, talk about your interests, and find people you like and want to get to know better.
#2: Sign Up for College Clubs
An advantage of attending a large university is that you are likely find a wide array of clubs and student organizations appealing to every interest. Some colleges have events with representatives from the various clubs, all of whom are eager to recruit new members.
If you’re not sure which clubs will appeal to you, consider auditing a few. You can go to a meeting or event and get a feel for the club. Then, join and participate in those that align most strongly with your interests or offer the best opportunities for socialization.
#3: Audit Classes Before Committing to Them
Large universities tend to offer a greater variety of classes and majors than small ones. When the time comes to choose your classes, remember that you don’t need to choose immediately. Most universities offer an audit period where students can attend any class and shop around for the ones they like best.
Auditing classes is a good way to discover new interests, too. If you’ve never studied astronomy or economics, you can check out a class and decide whether it’s right for you. You may even identify a potential major you hadn’t considered before.
#4: Learn Your Way Around
If you’re just starting at a large university, one of the best ways to ease into campus life is to learn your way around. It’s common for large colleges to have large campuses. Walking around and learning the locations of class buildings, libraries, and dorms is a good way to make yourself feel at home.
Some large colleges may provide maps to incoming students. If they don’t, you can still walk around on your own or with your roommates and figure out where things are. That way, when classes begin, you won’t need to waste time wondering where to go.
#5: Don’t Skip Section Meetings for Large Classes
Some 100-level courses at large schools may have hundreds of students in them. That can be a good thing if you need to borrow lecture notes, but it can be a bad thing when it comes to gaining a deep understanding of the course material or getting one-on-one time with the professor.
It’s common for large classes to split students into sections. These sections are often led by graduate students who can help you make sense of the subject you’re studying, answer questions, and even provide some guidance before exams. Your attendance at section meetings will be noted as well and may factor into your final grade.
#6: Get Involved in Student Sports
At a large university, sports teams can be quite competitive – and landing a space on the football or softball teams may be difficult unless you’re an ace. However, the good news is that you can still find ways to stay in shape and have fun.
Student sports clubs are less formal than the official college teams and, in many cases, are open for everybody to join. If you can’t make the cut for football, you can still find a touch football league or try out ultimate frisbee as an alternative. Most colleges also have fitness centers for students, so if team sports aren’t your thing you can still run on a treadmill, lift weights, or swim some laps to stay fit.
Heading to a large college or university can feel overwhelming for new students, particularly those who are coming from small high schools. The six tips on this list can help you find your place and flourish even when there are thousands of students in your graduating class.
To learn more about how Addition Financial’s Aspire Checking account can help make your college experience an enjoyable one, please click here now.
Posted on Oct 4, 2018
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