Letters to Freshmen

Do not expect anything. It is easy to assume that you will continue as you did in high school. College is not the same, and to treat it as such would be a wasted opportunity. College is a place that one rewards those who invest themselves in the experience. To make the most out of MSU, let me say this: if you only come to class and do the work to make a passing grade, then you are cheating yourself. Always try to outdo yourself, make class and intellectual challenge. Purse your curiosity in all your classes, and you will earn more than simple a “B” or an “A.”

Conversely, however, do not shirk of responsibility. Exceptionally few people are going to get by with no work or studying. Help yourself and impress your professor by truly working hard.

Don’t seek friends; seek experiences. Looking for a certain type of person who you think will be a match is a fruitless effort. Being receptive to anyone, everyone allow for great friendships to be formed.

College is what you make of it. Easy as that.

You are officially in college. Welcome the world of big dreams and goals. Expect a lot of activities to choose from. I highly recommend on joining a club that holds your interest. Don’t expect everything to be as it is in the movies. After a while, the food won’t seem as great. You will meet awesome people, and great instructors. More than anything, you’re going to be a part of someone’s life changing, as they will for you. Do not ever, and I mean really ever, slack. Don’t sell yourself short and don’t let anyone alter your goals and dreams because what’s life without imagination.

College is a lot harder than you expect. I never had to study in High Schools and that really bit me in the butt here. Study! Study! Study!

For your commuters, do not take an early 8:00am class if you are not a morning person. Not only will you skip that class but also the ones that follow. Go to class! No matter how tired or lazy you are.

College maybe challenging but it’s an awesome place to be. There are tons of people to meet and so many things to do. Enjoy it while it lasts. Because like High School, you only have four years!

Good luck!

College will be one of the most exciting times of your life. You will be mostly independent for the first time in your life. Even though the first few weeks will be great, but soon you will miss a lot more than you thought.

The best thing to do is to keep a good balance between college and home. Try being involved in several activities to make new friends because soon old ones will fade. Class ill seem easier than high school at first but will soon get much harder. Most importantly try your best and everything will fall in place.

As you come into college for your first year you’ll find that you experience all kinds of emotions and situations. How the year goes is up to how you deal with all of those things.

One bad thing about the first semester of college, at least for me, was the studying. I never really had to study much in high school, but I learned very quickly that if you don’t study you’ll get buried. So make sure you come into college with a plan on how you’re going to study and hat method of studying works best for you.

There are a lot of good things that come from your first year of college as well. One of the greatest is the new relationships you will develop. I personally have made a lot of new friends, most of them just in the first semester. So, when you come in make sure you are open and receptive because if you are I think you’ll be amazed by the number of friends you will gain. Above all else, but relax and enjoy college!

You guys are going to see and learn things that you never imagined. That idea you have in your head about college is like? It’s wrong: it’s even better. You’re going to see and meet people you would have never otherwise, learn about them, how they see things. It’s incredible, to say the least.

You’re going to stay up late playing board games like old Princess game, watch bad comedy movies, complain about the GEP book assignment and before you know its midterms!

So on that, I now part you with some wisdom: don’t blow off your midterms. You’ll be struggling for the rest of the semester. I’m serious, I was an A+ student in high school and now I’m sailing along with a C average.

Well, come to think of it, I think that somebody to me that at the start of the semester too. So if you don’t heed my advice, you’ll see by the end of the semester.

Live and learn.

PS: They’re serious about actually showing up for class, guys. Teachers give us nerds who actually show up more help, not to mention cake.

Everything will begin to change. This is your time to become more independent and find out more about yourself. Explore. Find out what makes you happy. Meet new friends and be yourself. Study hard and GO TO CLASS. It is almost impossible to fail a class if you attend it each session. Go beyond yourself and separate time for the weekend parties and study time. Also know when you have to tell yourself to stop and get some sleep. I warn you that your sleep will be reduced in half if you have a good college life.

Most importantly, make sure every moment isn’t wasted. DO go to college is a privilege; so, don’t screw it up and make it the best.

Your first semester will be awesome. Don’t let all your free time get the best of you, stay on top of your work. If you fall behind in the beginning it’s tough to get back on top. Do all the reading you’re supposed to and do 100%on every assignment even if it isn’t much. Get to know your teacher because if they know you, and know you’re trying in their class they will help you. Also go to class, it’s a simple thing but so important. If you miss one class you may feel so behind and that’s because you are. So go to class, start strong, finish strong and enjoy yourself.

It is at the end of my first semester of college and I wish I knew then what I know now about time management. In college is it so easy to become distracted by everything else that is going on and to push off your school work.

It is easy to fall in the habit of not starting your work until late at night or skipping some classes because you were out the night before. I had no idea how much those simple things could affect my academic performance.

I also wish that I would have taken advantage of some of the helpful resources we have on campus, like the Bear Claw or staying after class to talk to a teacher. Asking for help does not mean that you’ve failed and that was something that took me a semester to learn.

Good luck with your first semester! I hope everything goes well for you and you can learn from some of my mistakes.

The first semester of college is so much fun. I part that I liked the most was going to class when I wanted to; nobody ever forces you to go to class which this could be bad also. Things that I would change about my first semester are; I wouldn’t have scheduled two 8 o’clock classes. Also, don’t slack off after Thanksgiving break because it turns out to be an awful idea. Overall, you’ll figure out what’s best for you after a week and you’ll be just fine. Plus, I’m pretty sure that you’ll have a great time here. Also, Halloween night is the best night possible so don’t skip out on all of the fun.

Every year a new group of students just like you come in to school like they are nervous and anxious, which is quite understandable.  But, you have to enjoy it while it’s here. This semester went by faster than any other one in my life. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities. Some of the things to avoid, drinking has never been so easily assessable from your peers, don’t wait until the last minute to study because it always comes back to it you and finally, learn from your mistakes and don’t let the same ones haunt you all year.

Some advice that I have is to get involved as soon as you can. I joined a fraternity and loved it; if that’s not for you, make sure you do something. Make sure you go to all your classes; it’s hard to pass them if you aren’t there. I wish you luck in all of your endeavors next year at college and make good choices.

If I knew what I know now I would live on campus even if you’re local. Since I was from this area, I lived at my parent’s house. It seemed like going to college was just another public school. Also you don’t meet as many new people when you live off campus.

Now for everyone, go to your classes every day, and make contact with your professors. The more they know you the most they will engage you in your classes. Many teachers also boost you with bonuses for attendance.

Finally, try to figure your major out fast. I haven’t figured mine out yet so I’m taking random classes that I probably don’t need.

Don’t push off studying until the last minute and don’t’ forget about your grades. It’s easy to assume you know test material just because you go to class and do homework. But doing a little extra review each day or so will help immensely.

The first half of the semester I didn’t really pay too much attention to the grades I was getting. I assumed because I went to call and did the homework I was fine. Then midterms grades turned my attitude around and now I’ve been studying like crazy for the past 2 months or so because I need to turn my grades around. Now I don’t have as much time to hang out with friends and do fun things, instead I study. So learn how to time manage, it will pay off and you won’t be so stressed around test and exam times.

As a first time college student there are some things that I wish I would have known. First off, I wish I would have looking into getting a roommate that was more like me. I decided that I would just get a random one and hope it works out, but of course it didn’t.  Just spend a little time searching for a roommate that has similar interests on the roommate click program Missouri State has set up. This will make transition to college a lot easier, believe me, it’s worth it.

Also, show up to class every day. It really has an effect on your grade and who knows you could get extra credit that day.

Hmmm.. Things to expect during your first semester of college? I would say CHANGE is everything! You have more freedom but be careful about it, think before you act. You are NOT invincible. With that freedom you will experience many changes socially, financially, and personally. Choose your peers wisely, you don’t’ want to get caught up in nasty situations. Make sure you don’t spend your money on pointless things. Personal changes, well those you have to go through calmly. Lastly, something I wish I would have done sooner? Get involved! You don’t have to join every organization or go to every event, but make an effort to join a few and go to numerous events.

Good Luck!

PS: GO TO CLASS AND STUDY!

Congratulations on your decision to attend MSU. It is an awesome place to go to school. The teachers and professors are extremely knowledgeable and in my experience have been very helpful and willing to work with you to ensure you get the best grade possible.

If you’re anything like me, I couldn’t wait to start college, but there are a few things I had known. There first one is the balance between school work and partying. There is always a party to be found and the biggest challenge is managing those so your academics don’t suffer.  Let’s face it, its college, it’s the time to have fun, but it’s also a time to prepare for the rest of your life and you do that by making good choices.

Another thing I wish I had known was the importance of studying. I rarely studied and my grades reflect that. The bottom line is your grades will reflect the effort you put into the class, because the professors won’t carry you like they did in high school.

I wish you the best of luck in your first semester, have fun, and I hope you take these things to heart.

My senior year of high school I debated with myself about which school was the place for me. I know now that I found the perfect place for me. This school is an amazing place; don’t waste one moment of your freshman year. In finding the perfect place, I also found how hard it can be.  I study more than I ever imagined. I live in the library and yet I find myself struggling because my semester didn’t start with me spending my time in the library. I lacked the time management I needed to achieve my goal of a 3.5 GPA. I went out 2 times a week no matter the number of test I had that week or papers I had due. Just know that there is a balance in the work and fun you have. Get involved, make friends, have fun but in the end you know why you are here.

Best of luck in the year ahead of you.

As the end of my semester is only days away, I am left here to reflect on the job that I did. I did have the time of my life and learned a lot, but there is much that I wish I did differently. One thing is take college more seriously in general. You are paying to be here, and you are now part of the 2% of people in the world in the running for a college degree. Hold on to that opportunity and run with it.  Another thing I would say is always put school first and do not get caught up in the social life, all though still important. I would have to say that the most joyful part of this semester for me has been meeting my new friends. Be outgoing, and put in effort to make new friends. College opens up a lot of new opportunities to be the person you want to be. If don’t right, college is an all around wonderful experience. Never take it for granted.

My first semester in college was a true learning experience. I learned that is NEVER a good idea to skip class, and you should always keep track of your assignments due. I recommend putting all of your assignments in your phone at the beginning of the semester to make sure you don’t miss any. I learned it is always a good idea to get involved. This keeps you from getting too stressed out from school and work, and can be entertaining. I’m commuting so it was a little more difficult for me to get involved, but it is well work it once you do. Try to keep your head up! And have fun!

College is a blessing when you think about the possibilities you are receiving. You could start a legacy because you are the first one to go to college or even continue once because you are the first or second. But even though college is such a gift there are a few things I need to tell you about.

I’ll start with the bad and end with the good. Partying, even though it sounds fun can end up bad for you. Some get addicted to the lifestyle of partying with friends. But if you do become addicted it can be rough on your grades and sleep. Another issue is the class work, this isn’t high school anymore. The teachers give you twenty pages to read and an assignment due on the same day. Now picture having five classes with all the same assignment. Make sure you keep up with your work; you do not want to be kicked out of college for a bad GPA. But college isn’t all bad. You have the privilege to meet all types of people. Possibly have the time to see some parties.

But my big advice is to become involved in the school and study.

College is supposed to be the best years of your life. It is fun but difficult at the same time. The best thing about Missouri State is that there is a plethora of opportunities to get involved and meet new people. Here you find that you can be friends with people that have different backgrounds and different perspectives of life. Even though college is fun, it doesn’t come without challenges. The best way to do well is go to class and manage your time. It’s good to have fun and once it gets into messing with your grades, then it can be a problem. The biggest lesson that I’ve learned this past semester is talking to your professors. Majority of them have your best interest at heart and want you to succeed. Also, choose your friends wisely, remember the values your parents taught you, learn time management, and GO TO CLASS. With these simple things, you are sure to succeed.

Have a great first year.

Your first semester of school is usually the most exciting and independent part of your life. You will have to do everything on your own and make your own decisions. The important things to remember are just because you are on your own, does not mean you should go wild. It is important to maintain your schedule. This means being on time, turning things in when they’re due, knowing when test are so you can study for them and staying healthy. This is a lot to do at one time, but is very important to take control of. Another piece of advice would be to get engaged. Go out to the things happening out on campus, open your door to new opportunities, hang out with old friends but always try to make new ones. I have met some new people this semester, but I know that our friendships will last a life time. So try hard and study harder but the first semester you will remember forever!

Congratulations for being accepted into the wonderful school of Missouri State University. You have definitely made a great choice. When I first arrived at MSU in the fall, I was a bit nervous, like any typical first-year college student. However, I quickly fell in love with the university. My first tip is to get involved! I thought I wouldn’t have the time to join activities or organizations because my academics are so important to me. But seriously, getting involved with even just a few of the hundreds of organizations offered really helps with the transition period. Also, don’t skip classes unless it is an emergency. You may seem temped, but it won’t be worth it. Finally, don’t let classes or anything else overwhelm you! College is supposed to be the time of your life, and it will be over before you know. So take advantage of this time and just have fun with it. Good luck with your first semester and I hope you enjoy MSU as much as I do!

Hello and welcome to college! This first semester will be the most eye-opening experience you’ll ever experience. Meeting new people and building relationships are crucial and I encourage you to do so. Not only will you find friendships but also see different perspectives of others. In classes, make sure you talk to your professors. It will definitely make an impact on how they see you. Manage your time wisely and give at least 2 days advance to start studying for tests. Cramming does not work unless you’re a genius with a lot of luck. Spending just an hour a day makes a HUGE difference in the end= and you’d get a higher score anyways.

Join some clubs! It’s a great way to meet people and see what similarities or passions you share with each other.

I know weekend here at MSU start on Thursdays, but don’t forget you have class the next morning bright and early. A little fun is crucial but don’t jeopardize your grades for that little bit of fun.

Think before you do things and have a great first semester!

Everyone says each stage of your life is the best, for me college by far has been the best part of my life. I have only been here for a short time, but I have learned so much. The most important thing I learned is study from the start. My first 3 weeks here were rough, and trust me now that is finals, I’m paying for it. Another thing along with that, those who are good students are not normally over looked, try your best! On the social level, don’t be shy. Every single freshman is in the same position, just as nervous. It does not matter where you came from; everyone is looking to make new friends. I used to be really shy in high school and only trusted my best friend. Coming here the biggest thing I have learned is to trust myself. Realize that you’re a great person and you have a place here, but no one can help you get there but yourself. Make choices that are right for you, find your passion.