Freshmen: calm, cool, confused
So youíre a freshman. Optimistic?
Scared? What are your expectations?
When I was a freshman (a number of years
ago), straight out of high school, I was excited and frightened at the
same time. I was excited because I felt that I was in the big leagues
now and I was truly an adult. Plus, I had been influenced by movies
where people were living the fun, ideal "college life" -- lots of partying.
But I was scared because I didnít know what to expect. Would college
life be more difficult than I was anticipating?
The reality is that to succeed, you have
to work hard. Thatís expected, but freshmen underestimate the amount
of studying or the degree of difficulty they will be facing. Most are overwhelmed.
I certainly was. Sure, I had some easy classes, but for the most
part I was unprepared. Admittedly, Iíve never been the most studious
person. My priorities arenít always what they should be.
A large percentage of freshman are put
on probation for low grades.
Most pull through, but some are actually
disqualified from the university.
The way it works is, anytime as an undergraduate
your GPA falls below 2.0, you are put on probation. You will be removed
from probation when your GPA in all college work attempted and your cumulative
GPA is 2.0 or higher.
If you remain on academic probation for
more than two consecutive semesters, you may be disqualified, with some
exceptions.
The best thing to do, in my opinion, would
be to go to a community college for a few years, then transfer to a four-year
university. That way the transition is easier. You are able to adjust
to college-level classes and save a lot of money. How can you lose?
But of course, I had no intention of going
to a community college. I wanted to go straight to a university.
If I had to do things over again, I would have done them differently.
If you work, which many students do, itís
even more difficult. Time is taken away from studying. Iíve worked
ever since high school; back then, it was out of choice, but now, itís
a necessity. I wish I had that time working to devote to school instead.
Iím sure I would do better if I did. But thatís impossible for many
students today. Many are self-sufficient and canít rely on their
parents for funds. I rely mainly on work and loans.
OK, even if you are getting good grades
and are getting by in the money department, donít expect to graduate in
four years. People who carry a huge load in units every semester
(including summer and winter) might, but most people I know didnít graduate
in less than five years.
Many students enter universities unsure
of their majors, and many change to another later on (as in my case), extending
their stay. Of course, itís important to be sure of your major; thatís
what youíll be doing for the rest of your life. But try to decide
as soon as you can before you waste any more money.
All of that aside, college is a wonderful
experience. Youíll meet lots of different people and have a lot of
fun.
Iíve certainly learned a lot (it would
be sad if I hadnít by now) and had some unforgettable professors.
All in all, I think that Cal State Long Beach is a great school.
So, welcome to the beginning of an unforgettable
experience. Just keep your head on your shoulders and youíll be fine.
Maya Yamane is a print journalism major. |
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