From Robin, who also happens to be a financial aid officer :)

Suggestions from the financial aid office:
1. Turn in your paperwork in early, (before the deadline) to ensure that it will be processed on time.
2. Answer ALL the questions on the forms.
3. Do not call the office more than once a week or even less often to check on the progress of your paperwork.
4. Be patient. Patience is a Virtue.

From Emily:

From Rebecca, at Depauw University:

From Heather, a Junior at LSU

• Always, always schedule as early as you possibly can...otherwise you get stuck with two and half hour breaks in the middle of the day (which sucks if you commute) or you don't get the classes you HAVE to have.
• Learn which people to cry in front of and which to catch attitudes with to get things done. A good rule: Professors don't respond to attitude well.
• It's okay to ask for directions if you're lost...
• If you get a credit card for "emergencies" use it for that, and that only.
• Skipping class is addictive and hazardous to your grade point average.
• Only buy the books your prof says you HAVE to have....if it's questionable, ask. Paying 60 bucks for a book you don't use and not being able to sell it back sucks!
• Get used to the fact that you will have no money for the next four years or so....free food is always a good thing, no matter the source..you'll be amazed at how far a dollar stretches when you have to.
• Don't take life too seriously...learn to laugh at the little things and things will be much easier.

From Suzi:

• Enjoy your time off in the middle of the day because you will definitely miss it once you start your 8-10 hour fixed-time career.
• Also, some of the greatest friendships and social encounters occur in college, so please have fun and cherish what you have. It goes by so fast, and if you don't take time to enjoy it, you'll soon be longing to return to the college social life (without the coursework!)

From Lisa:

My advice to incoming freshmen is GET INVOLVED! If you were shy in high school (like I was) have no fear! College is a completely different life! If you are involved, you will meet more people and studding until 4 am for a midterm will not seem as bad! College can be the best time of your life!

From Christie:

• Please take my advice!! Get all of the mandatory requirements done first!!! After 12 years of pre-college schooling, college can be very annoying at times. If it weren't for the fact that I got all of the requirements done first, I probably never would have made it through my sophomore year.
• Another bit of good advice: try to plan ahead. It's important to know what courses will count toward your degree and which ones won't...there's no use in taking a class and spending your money on it if it's not going to count towards your degree (unless it's a really interesting class that you're just dying to take...a de-stresser class).

Steven wrote:

• This is about roommates. From personal experience and tales from my best friend it is best not to room with your friend if you want to stay that way. I moved into with my new friend for the second semester and needless to say our friendship lasted as long as it took her to move in. It's one thing to hang with your friend and all their habits, it's another thing to have to live with them.
• GOOD LUCK, FRESHMAN. HAVE FUN THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!!

From Wuithiran:

When you buy textbooks, make sure you write your name on a certain page, so if it gets stolen, it can be tracked down by bookstores if the book is trying to be sold back. (Write on a page number you can remember, like my birthday is Feb.,'78, so I mark page 278) Every little bit helps.

From Glen:

• One rule of thumb is that you will accumulate a lot more stuff than what you came with so gettting rid of some of it before you leave is very helpful. For example, if you live at a college where it is cold in the winter and go home sometime after it warms up. Leave some clothes and other stuff home when you visit. It pays off big at the end of school.
• Storage. What a beautiful thing. My drive from Colorado to Ohio this year was so much easier because of storage. I think the best thing to do is leave a stash of clothes on both ends so that you pretty much never need to bring clothes or very few if that to school.
• This should be common knowledge but if not, keep all of your books for your major and of course keep all of your tests etc.
• A file cabinet. Let me tell you about what a lifesaver these things are. Receipts are the biggest thing. I keep all of my receipts. I can honestly tell you that I saved about 1000 dollars this year because I was actually able to return things. I also was overcharged by 260 dollars on my credit card and again my file cabinet helped me find the correct documents to prove that I was overcharged. My main areas I keep in my file cabinet are, receipts, coupons (good for college food late at night :)), and awards and honors that I receive. These will always come in handy for that job you are looking for.
• Finally, get a computer. It helps me in so many ways. Finances, homework, and being able to search the web on your own computer eliminates the lines at the college library or computer lab. On the computer note, Always back things up that you cannot replace easily. Example, word documents. Anything that can be lost on your computer will be lost. If you keep that in mind then you will always be safe.

From Renota, Freshman at Louisiana State:

• Get involved
• Visit your professors regularly
• Have fun!

From Rosanette, a recent graduate!

I have one suggestion for new students: DROP A COURSE BEFORE YOU FAIL IT. (And for some courses, we don't get credit for anything below a "C" so drop it if you're heading toward a D.) In high school we didn't have a choice, but in college we do. Keep the drop dates in the back of your mind and if you feel that you may pull up the grade, wait and see and drop at the last minute if you need to, but before you have a failing grade on your record. If it's required, take a lower level, preparatory class before trying the harder class again. Or, just be sure to get your reading done, and stay on top of it next time. Try study groups with fellow classmates, student tutoring sites, tutorials and talks with the prof. Persevere -- you can do it! But don't let an F (or D) show up on your transcript, or lower your gpa -- it's not worth it.

From John, a Senior at FSU:

• Don't whine! No one wants to hear about how broke you are, everyone is just as broke!
• Don't fool around, but if you do, condoms are much cheaper than raising a baby. And they can save your life. Always use one.
• Even though we are too young to drink LEGALLY, many of us still do. If you do, set a limit BEFORE you drink your first beer or whatever and don't go past it. Tell yourself "Three beers and I'm done." Don't drink the night before an exam. Never drink and drive a car.
• Stay away from drugs. My roommate lost his full-ride scholarship due to drugs.
• Do everything early. Financial aid paperwork, term papers, registration, everything. Get it out of the way. Never wait to the last minute to do anything.
• Study. Study. Study. College is fun, a lot of fun, but the whole point of it is to get an education.
• Budget your money. Get your parents to help you.
• Always say Thank You.

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