for college students by college students
a:
CAMPUS CONNECTON/ ON THE COVER
Ready For College?
A seasoned sophomore extends must-read advice to freshmen.
By Seth Samuels
ollege is a handful — there's
no doubt about it. I don't
care where you go and who
you go with; the college
experience is a time-tested, eye-opening,
adventurous and, quite simply, incredible
journey.
From surviving Welcome Week par-
ties to midterm exams to roommates to
pledging to academic declarations, well,
there's a lot of surviving to do.
Some contend today's educational
system has changed so much we should
take an extracurricular break between
high school and college, allowing our
minds to absorb those last four years of
adolescent adjustment and prepare for
four years of collegiate craziness.
But at the same time, once those col-
lege years arrive, some great things
happen at the same time; and this isn't
usually exclusive to a few.
Our minds open up to the possibilities
that abound with academics and extra-
curriculars; our bodies open up to a new,
more mature figure ("Freshman 15" is
only temporary), and we meet a bunch
of new people who actually live outside
of Southeastern Michigan.
These and other elements balance out
the tough stuff, making freshman year a
truly unique (and relatively short) expe-
rience. So much so that David Schoem,
a University of Michigan sociology pro-
fessor, wrote a book about it.
In the preface of College Knowledge
for the Jewish Student: 101 Tips
(University of Michigan Press), he
talks about this major transition and the
importance of making it as smooth as
possible, noting "it's critical that each
individual Jewish student who enters
college come intellectually, emotionally
and spiritually prepared for the academic
and social experiences that await."
The first chapter elaborates on this
theme of self-preparation by outlining
some basic tips, such as maintaining
both a sense of optimism and a feeling
of balance (which is crucial with all of
that free time you will have).
He goes on to say: "College is a quali-
tatively different experience than high
school, and students' expectations need
to be set appropriately." This ushers in
the middle chapters, which feature more
college-centric lessons, from getting
to know faculty and utilizing the study
resources offered at school, to engaging
in Israel trips and other activities through
Jewish organizations on campus.
My best example of this is U-M's
Hillel. While my cousin was already
involved and I knew some people there
prior to the beginning of school, I made
it a priority every Shabbat. Not only did
I have a whole new network of friends
opened up to me, but Hillel also filled
that home-away-from-home spot that
few places on campuses can fill. And to
think all I had to do was walk over there.
All of this is made available for students
to take advantage of and this is the exact
differentiating quality that Schoem
describes. (See Tips For Freshman.)
C
Seasoned U-M sophomore Seth Samuels pictured last year with all
his Michigan gear ready for his freshman dorm room
Tips For Freshmen
• Room 312 of a building is on the
third floor.
• Treat professors like close
friends.
• Go to Hillel at least twice and
introduce yourself at least six
times.
• Try and stay somewhat
organized — it will help.
• Don't get caught up in the
competitiveness — and don't
lose sight of it either.
• Someone will be smarter than
you; the difference is in who
takes advantage of
opportunities.
• It's never too early (or too late)
to think about careers.
• If not now, when? (U-M Hillel's
mantra)
• You can never meet enough
people.
• Thank your parents.
Pre-College Goals
Having said that, let's rewind a bit to
the not-so-long-ago end of high school
before talking about why that statement
is true.
As soon as graduation concludes and
senioritis is just a thing of the past, each
week is filled with a combination of
graduation parties, roommate announce-
ments and class schedule comparisons.
All of the grad parties are reminders of
the bar/bat mitzvah cycle, so enjoy them
— it may be the last time you see some
people you just had lunch with every day
in years past.
Aside from that revelation, there's a
relaxing feeling of satisfaction know-
ing that high school is complete, mixed
with a somewhat unsettling anticipation
of what's to come. For me, this was an
opportunity to savor that satisfaction
of completion, just as I had done each
year prior, but also an opportunity to do
something that wasn't necessarily new
but never too deeply explored — goal-
setting. And I mean legitimate ones.
As opposed to committing to a new
hairstyle or finding a locker meeting
place for whatever went on between
classes, this is an opportunity to deter-
mine what kind of persona you want to
take on at college. Quite frankly, I could
write nothing more and you'd know all
there is to figure out about college if all
you committed to was some personal
improvement. It really is that much of
what it means to go to college.
READY FOR COLLEGE on page 32
August 26 • 2010
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