Most of these points are great. I do , however, take a bit of an issue with two of them. First and foremost " Meet often with a guidance counselor or advisor ". Both from my child's experience and multiple stories of friends with kids in college , I would rather say be wary of the advice guidance counselors give. Especially, the non-faculty, full time staff advisors. They work for school, not for students. They often are careless about checking the requirements a student needs, steer students towards classes that are less popular and hence need bodies, and don't help with graduating on time by providing useless cheer "it's ok to take your time" (on someone else's dime). The second advice I disagree with is seek out mental health services (even when not urgently needed) . No psych counseling is way, way better than subpar counseling. Talk to your friends, call your family, see a religious leader if you are a religious person. Do try to stay away from college mental health services. Best of luck to all!
I think many counselors, particularly the lower quality hires of the past few years, are on this side of useless, but then students can check with parents, peers. I'd rather this than no counsel at all, since most students know next to nothing about the path.
I have worked with amazing college mental health workers, and had horror shows with $300 hr/healthcare/private therapists.
I see your points for sure, but I think going it alone is not the best way for this generation. They have had too much trauma combined with too much snowflake culture.
If we tell this generation they are all traumatized and need therapy, I am afraid it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Most people deal with life hardships without therapists. Not alone, for sure, but relying on friends, family, etc. - not professionals I think more people need to hear "There is nothing wrong with you! You can do it!". I see lots of young people who are not snow-flake-y at all.
Totally agree. Lost my voice saying this the last 20 years. I would agree with this sentiment, but I think too much has changed, add Covid/Social Media and this generation might actually need more counsel, combined with some old school get over yourself.
Good advice. I did pretty much none of this in college, cutting half my classes, doing the assignments the day and night before exams, and rarely talking to professors, except the one who lived in my apartment building. I got my A.B. degree from Columbia in 1970, but with a 2.75 GPA, which doesn't do much for job or graduate school applications. My nominal major was Economics; however my real major was Band.
Ten years later, I was in the MBA program at Union college, and followed pretty much all of this advice, resulting in a 4.0 GPA through my doctoral comprehensive exams, as well as thoroughly understanding all of the course materials. If a book didn't work for me (e.g. Multivariate Analysis), I'd ask the professor for another recommendation and read that from cover to cover.
I give my students the opportunity to get extra-credit in my classes. The extra/credit assignment is titled “Meet Your Professor.” They have to come talk to me for 15-20 minutes. This is my favorite part of teaching. Some of the students end up staying and chatting for an hour.
Very helpful - I forwarded to two kids who I've been mentoring who are starting college this month (both first in family).
I would add two more:
1. Meet your professors. Figure out when their office hours are, and pay them a visit. Tell them a bit about your background and why you're excited to be taking their class. Very very few students EVER meet their professors and lose out on building potentially long-term relationships.
2. If there is some type of student writing center (often staffed by juniors or seniors) that exists to help students strengthen their written work, check it out! Ideally do this while you are writing your first essay or paper. It can be incredibly illuminating to work alongside someone who can elaborate much more deeply on the overall writing tips in this essay. The peer relationship helps a lot. Don't of this service as remedial, think of it as a secret weapon!
I should probably add (for myself and others): read the instructions / curriculum / essay. Then read again before opining. Being thorough is a virtue. It’s not humility or perfectionism. It’s just being thorough.
All good points, but I would fine-tune the "limiting extra-curriculars" a bit.
While I went on to earn my B.A. from SDSU, and even taught at Point Loma Nazarene University for 7 years in addition to my main career, I dropped out of college my first semester. The reason is I was in a new town, living off campus, only 17, and very lonely. I was pulling all A's when I dropped out, yet as I got the department chair and dean to sign my withdrawal forms, none asked me why.
When I went back to college 1 1/2 years later, I made sure to join ROTC and one other club. That way, I had new friends and a place to hang out between classes. I felt like I belonged, and had a great experience.
If students can live on campus in dorms, I think that helps, too - particuilarly freshmen away from home for the first time. My middle child commuted to UCSD and felt isolated on campus. When she transferred to Humboldt, she was able to get a dorm room - and loved the experience.
Since we know from surveys that many black and Latino students, particularly on majority white campuses, struggle fit in socially, I'd argue that a dorm room or at least one club can help them fit in.
Most of these points are great. I do , however, take a bit of an issue with two of them. First and foremost " Meet often with a guidance counselor or advisor ". Both from my child's experience and multiple stories of friends with kids in college , I would rather say be wary of the advice guidance counselors give. Especially, the non-faculty, full time staff advisors. They work for school, not for students. They often are careless about checking the requirements a student needs, steer students towards classes that are less popular and hence need bodies, and don't help with graduating on time by providing useless cheer "it's ok to take your time" (on someone else's dime). The second advice I disagree with is seek out mental health services (even when not urgently needed) . No psych counseling is way, way better than subpar counseling. Talk to your friends, call your family, see a religious leader if you are a religious person. Do try to stay away from college mental health services. Best of luck to all!
I think many counselors, particularly the lower quality hires of the past few years, are on this side of useless, but then students can check with parents, peers. I'd rather this than no counsel at all, since most students know next to nothing about the path.
I have worked with amazing college mental health workers, and had horror shows with $300 hr/healthcare/private therapists.
I see your points for sure, but I think going it alone is not the best way for this generation. They have had too much trauma combined with too much snowflake culture.
If we tell this generation they are all traumatized and need therapy, I am afraid it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Most people deal with life hardships without therapists. Not alone, for sure, but relying on friends, family, etc. - not professionals I think more people need to hear "There is nothing wrong with you! You can do it!". I see lots of young people who are not snow-flake-y at all.
Totally agree. Lost my voice saying this the last 20 years. I would agree with this sentiment, but I think too much has changed, add Covid/Social Media and this generation might actually need more counsel, combined with some old school get over yourself.
I cannot "like" your comment because my "like" button is broken on substack (no idea how to fix it) but I think we are on the same page :)
Good advice. I did pretty much none of this in college, cutting half my classes, doing the assignments the day and night before exams, and rarely talking to professors, except the one who lived in my apartment building. I got my A.B. degree from Columbia in 1970, but with a 2.75 GPA, which doesn't do much for job or graduate school applications. My nominal major was Economics; however my real major was Band.
Ten years later, I was in the MBA program at Union college, and followed pretty much all of this advice, resulting in a 4.0 GPA through my doctoral comprehensive exams, as well as thoroughly understanding all of the course materials. If a book didn't work for me (e.g. Multivariate Analysis), I'd ask the professor for another recommendation and read that from cover to cover.
I give my students the opportunity to get extra-credit in my classes. The extra/credit assignment is titled “Meet Your Professor.” They have to come talk to me for 15-20 minutes. This is my favorite part of teaching. Some of the students end up staying and chatting for an hour.
Attend the library induction programs.
Very helpful - I forwarded to two kids who I've been mentoring who are starting college this month (both first in family).
I would add two more:
1. Meet your professors. Figure out when their office hours are, and pay them a visit. Tell them a bit about your background and why you're excited to be taking their class. Very very few students EVER meet their professors and lose out on building potentially long-term relationships.
2. If there is some type of student writing center (often staffed by juniors or seniors) that exists to help students strengthen their written work, check it out! Ideally do this while you are writing your first essay or paper. It can be incredibly illuminating to work alongside someone who can elaborate much more deeply on the overall writing tips in this essay. The peer relationship helps a lot. Don't of this service as remedial, think of it as a secret weapon!
I included your first point under the heading "Get to Know Your Professors."
Thanks for reading.
I should probably add (for myself and others): read the instructions / curriculum / essay. Then read again before opining. Being thorough is a virtue. It’s not humility or perfectionism. It’s just being thorough.
All good points, but I would fine-tune the "limiting extra-curriculars" a bit.
While I went on to earn my B.A. from SDSU, and even taught at Point Loma Nazarene University for 7 years in addition to my main career, I dropped out of college my first semester. The reason is I was in a new town, living off campus, only 17, and very lonely. I was pulling all A's when I dropped out, yet as I got the department chair and dean to sign my withdrawal forms, none asked me why.
When I went back to college 1 1/2 years later, I made sure to join ROTC and one other club. That way, I had new friends and a place to hang out between classes. I felt like I belonged, and had a great experience.
If students can live on campus in dorms, I think that helps, too - particuilarly freshmen away from home for the first time. My middle child commuted to UCSD and felt isolated on campus. When she transferred to Humboldt, she was able to get a dorm room - and loved the experience.
Since we know from surveys that many black and Latino students, particularly on majority white campuses, struggle fit in socially, I'd argue that a dorm room or at least one club can help them fit in.
I am going to share this with my undergraduates