Advice for New College Students

A new article from The Society Pages gives new college students advice from two experienced sociologists who have over 15 years of college teaching combined. Lisa Wade and Gwen Sharp’s advice ranges from academics to parties to social pressures – all experiences that new college students experience once getting to college. Below are some highlights from their article.

1. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get straight As from the get-go.

“Getting an A in course is a combination of effort, prior knowledge and experience, so being smart at college means learning a specific skill set.... Be patient with yourself.”

2. Sometimes studying hurts, and that’s a good thing.

“The mind is like a muscle – if you use it, it becomes stronger. You’re not really challenging and improving your mind until it hurts a little. You may find that learning can sometimes feel kind of like suffering. This is normal. It doesn’t mean that you’re not smart, it means that you’re getting even smarter.”

3. If you don’t like parties, there may be something you can do.

“Some schools have a much more dominant party culture than others. If you start to feel like your campus isn’t a good fit for you, there may be solutions—different dorms can have dramatically different atmospheres, for instance. A simple move across campus might help you find a community that you’re more comfortable in.”

4. Memorize the phrase “pluralistic ignorance.”

“Research shows that most college students misperceive their peers’ behaviors and attitudes. They think drug and alcohol use is higher than it is and that their peers are less concerned about it than they are. They also tend to think that everyone else might be having more fun. We suspect this is even worse now that everyone stalks each other on social networks.  Keep in mind the possibility that studying a lot, having other responsibilities, and not partying all the time is normal.”

5. Finally, take the time to make true friends.

“There’s a very strong correlation between happiness and being surrounded by friends you can really talk to.  In fact, both psychological and physical well-being are more strongly related to friendship than they are to romance.  So, hook up and form relationships if you want, but don’t prioritize sex and romance over friendship.  The latter is equally important to a happy, fulfilling life.”

Read the full article here.