Here is some advice that the our class of Fall 1998 has forincoming freshmen. Much of it's just plain good advice no matterwhat level of student!
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The most important lesson that I have learned at SFA is that youneed to be patient and nice with people in your dorm, classes, andbasically anywhere on campus. This is important because although youmay be sick and tired of the person down the hall, you never knowwhat they are going through. They could be homesick, stressing outover grades, or fighting with their boyfriend/girlfriend. It'sunderstandable that you might have arguments(especially with yourroommate). However, always keep in mind that coming to college willtake time for people to ajust to. Some may adjust quicker thanothers.
Some advice that I would give to incoming freshman would be:
1. Go to class!!!!
2. Take good notes!!!
3. If you have questions about anything, go and talk to theprofessor during office hours. That's what they are there for!!!
4. Do not study for tests the day before, write a paper the daybefore, or read a book at the last second. It's not high school!!!
5. If you know that you are not a morning person, do not take an8:00a.m. class. You won't go!!!
6. Get involved----in something!!!
7. Take naps so you won't fall asleep while studying!!!
8. Don't get drunk the night before a test----it screws with yourhead!!!
9. Try really hard to get along with your roommate. Life will bea lot more plesant!!!
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One thing that I have learned at SFA is that it is important tokeep an open communication line between you and your roommate. Andto give each other space. Some advice I would give to incomingfreshmen is to talk to everyone you meet. And try to meet one newperson each day. The hardest thing of all is remembering their namesso try to remember each persons name you meet. If you don't you'llfeel real stupid when you don't know theirs and they know yours.
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The most important thing I feel I have learned, and I think thatevery freshman learns once they enter college, is that college is notlike high school at all. You have to give it more time and attentionin order for you to be successful at it. Some advice I could give toupcoming freshmen is that it takes more than the night before tostudy and do well on a test; if you're not a morning person, thenDON'T register for anything before 10 AM; and the only thing thatdoesn't separate college from high school is the food - it'shorrible!!!
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The most important lesson that I have learned is that you have to concentrate on the tasks at hand. You need to study when you should really study, you don't need to party every night, and that youshould really go to class. For incoming Freshmen, I asy this, go toclass, study, party when you have time, and listen to yourrprofessors, they know what they're talking about.
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The most important lesson that I have learned is that if you dontstudy it is impossible to make good grades unless it is in Tennis orLab. I have also learned that you shouldnt go to parties onweeknights expecially when you have 4 classes the next day. Also theprofessors are there to help you, all you have to do is ask. Onepoint of advice that I would suggest for freshman is that Thursdaynight is ticket night in East College Cafeteria so go to Walmart andbuy a roll of the multiple colored tickets so you wont starve.
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There are a couple important things all incoming freshman shouldknow. First of all, don't go out EVERY night. Not only do yourgrades fall, but you feel terrible all the time. Second, no matterhow tired you are from the night before, GO TO CLASS!! Even justsitting there you are bound to get something. And last of all, don'tbuy anything from anybody selling stuff door to door. Especially thephone cards........they don't work!!!
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The most important thing that I learned at SFA this semester isthat not all people are alike. I learned that it takes all kinds ofpeople to make up this world. It gives the place a little bit ofvariety. Ialso learned that I can actually be nice to people andhave them be nice back. Some advie I would give to incoming freshmenwould be to always count yoursocks before and after you do yourwashing, know the library as well asyou can, being shy does not getyou very far in life, and never think that you are too good for Wal -Mart.
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I feel the most important lesson I have learned during thissemester is that Smoking is expensive. I never realised how much itall added up till I totaled it up one day. My advise to all freshmanis to quit smoking while you can and save money for dates and food.
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The most important thing I learned was living with a total strangeis extremely hard, and you have to learn to compromise. Also you needto remember you came to school to learn, not to party. For incomingfreshmen, don't take a lot of hours your first semester, let yourselfget used to living here.
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The most important lesson that I learned this semester is thatcollege is what you make of it. I know people here that don't givethe college and the people here a chance and they hate it here. Foradvice to incoming students don't focus on the stories and advice ofothers because what applies to them might not to you. Do what youwant to do and you can't go wrong!
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I would advise freshmen to at least just go to class. I havelearned that it is necessary to to go class even if you don't thinkthat it would hurt anything.
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The most important lesson that I learned since I have been atcollege is that it isn't like highschool. Everything is different. It is like doing what I normally did as well as doing what my mom didfor me. I really took everything for granted that my mom did, butnow I realized how much she helped. The only advice I would give toincoming freshmen is that they shouldn't take things lightly. Go toclass and pay attention.
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