Letters from Freshmen
Congratulations on your acceptance into the University of Scranton! You won’t regret coming here! College life is definitely different than high school and although the adjustment period may be difficult, it is very important that you not get distracted from your studies. I know that procrastination might get the best of you as it did for me, but you have to fight it. The first couple of weeks you will want to go out on weekends and enjoy new company, but remember that school work should come first. You should enjoy yourself, but make sure that you at least have a plan as to how you will get your first couple of assignments done. You do not want to start off on the wrong foot and have professors think that you are all play and no work.
Something that I cannot stress enough is GET ENOUGH SLEEP! Once your sleeping schedule is off, school work and early classes may be difficult to handle. You do not want your professor to look and see you falling asleep in their class, as they might think that it is a sign of disrespect towards them. Also, it will be hard to concentrate on your work when all you can think about is going to sleep. After your last class at the end of the day, I would advise that you take a short nap before you start working on your assignments.
Homesickness is something that might not hit you as soon as you step into your dorm, but most students do feel it at one point of their college career. For me, it took until after fall break. Upon coming back, it can be hard to deal with missing everyone back home, but know that you are not alone. Plenty of people around the school feel the same way but do not voice their opinions or feelings of homesickness publically. Someone who can definitely help you with the feeling is your RA. They have been here longer than you have and know how it feels. They can be the ear that you need to listen to you and they can also have some ideas on how to minimize the feeling. There are also counseling centers around campus that may come in handy
This campus is beautiful and there are always events going on around campus. Take advantage of as much as you can. Enjoy the company of new friends and take breaks from studying. Studying for a large amount of hours will result in not being able to retain all of the information that one tries to learn. Go out and see the city as there are events going on all over Scranton, not just in the University. Be careful and go out in groups, especially after dark. Enjoy yourself but know that only you are responsible for your actions. Your parents are no longer here to save you. You are in charge of your grades and your safety. Although the school does help a lot and try to keep you safe, there are some things that only you can control. You have made it this far, do not disappoint yourself by letting yourself get carried away with the college life. Have your fun, but be responsible! Take care and enjoy your freshman year! Good luck!
Let me first congratulate you. You’ve taken the first step into becoming an adult and you’ve chosen a very prestigious and well known school to help you.
I know that you must be very nervous and worried about entering college. You’re on your own now and this is nothing like High School. You will have deadlines and important dates to remember and long papers to do as well as challenging projects. Don’t be scared though, if you time things out and work hard you will succeed. You also have a lot of resources here at Scranton. First and foremost, you have your professors who set aside time to sit in their office waiting for students to come ask them questions. Second, you have the Weinberg Memorial Library. The library is filled with tools that can help you prosper. Librarians are always there to help you and be of assistance when you’re not sure what to do. Third, you have CTLE, the center for teaching and learning excellence. It offers student tutors to help you in any class your struggling in as well as the Writing Center. The Writing Center is where you can go to have a paper edited, critiqued or if you need help starting a paper. Here at Scranton you have so many resources that there’s no way you can fail, as long as you try your hardest.
Luckily, there’s more to college then just classes and homework. You have a whole new place to explore and learn about. You have the opportunity to make new friends and even learn more about whom you are. I’ve been where you are now, and I promise it’s never as bad as it seems.
Work you hardest and don’t skip class just because you don’t feel like going. Turn things in on time and don’t get on your teachers bad side. There are no ‘class clowns’, ‘drama queens’, or ‘most popular’ in college. It’s just students and professors. So be yourself, have fun, and don’t let college get to you. You’re on the right track and you’ve made someone very proud.
Dear Freshmen,
Welcome to college. You will find that college is a very overwhelming, exciting and fun experience with many opportunities to succeed and enjoy yourself. The only problem is that there are also many opportunities to slack off and put having fun in front of schoolwork. The biggest thing that most people have trouble with is time management. They have a hard time balancing their social lives and study time. It seems that freshman year students either spend all of their time in the library studying and never give themselves a break (and eventually burnout) or they completely blow off schoolwork and waste all of their time being social. However, there is a way to strike a balance. You need to be able to set time aside to do your school work. Never put things off to the last minute. Always try to get things done before they are due. This way, you will never have to worry about finishing papers and projects at the last time. Also, review class notes and materials daily. This way you won’t have to be pulling all-nighters every night before a test. It is also very helpful to make use of a planner and schedule all obligations and class times so that it is clear when you have to get studying done. This way, you will use your time wisely and thus have more time to spend with your friends.
CTLE is also a great program that you are very lucky to have. Do not hesitate to sign up for a tutor because it will help you. A tutor can help you modify your study habits and explain information that your teacher taught in a different way, making it clearer.
Another issue is making sure to keep your room clean. Do your laundry often and clean up as much as possible. If you put it off, it will build up until your room turns into a pig sty. You definitely do not want to be living in a dirty and messy room. Also, your roommate will not be happy either.
Most importantly, enjoy your time at the University of Scranton!
The first year of college can be quite challenging. A new school, new friends, and a completely different life style is hard to adjust to. To help ease some of your stress, I have gathered some tips in that I think you will find useful for your freshmen and future years here at the University of Scranton.
First of all, you will probably be instructed to write down all of your assignments in your agenda in your Freshmen Seminar class. I highly suggest doing this for your entire college career. It is extremely helpful and keeps you on top of your assignments. Other ways to keep on top of your work would be to read through your assigned chapters. I know the chapters in your textbooks can be dense and timely, but reading a few pages a night can fix this. I also suggest taking notes whenever you read anything for class. Having material in your own words helps you to understand it and makes studying easier.
When studying, try to make outlines of the material. Outlines are an elaborative way of encoding information into your brain and will help you understand it better. Flashcards are not as effective as outlines. Also, it is important to look ahead in your schedule. Planning ahead for a week of numerous exams and papers reduces the need for cramming. The best way to study for a test is to review sections of the material over a span of a few days. This helps you to remember it better than trying to cram it in all at once. Try doing something recreational, or relaxing after studying before bed. You don’t want to go to sleep thinking about your schoolwork. This just leads to a restless night. Sleep is important! Try getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.
Some other healthy tips include maintaining your diet. Make sure you are eating right. As tempting as those sugary treats in the cafeteria are, it is important for you to set limits. You don’t want to gain that freshman fifteen. Exercising regularly is also very important. Exercising does not only promote your physical health, but your mental health as well!
The transition of the workload from high school to college may be hard to adjust to. If at any point you are unclear about an assignment, don’t be shy to contact your professor. Take the time to stop by their offices. They are always happy to help you, and having connections with professors comes in handy for when you need future recommendations.
I hope that some of this advice proves to be useful for you. Freshmen year can be difficult, but doable! Just try your hardest and don’t be afraid to get help when you need it. Study hard and have fun! Good luck!
Dear freshman,
This is the beginning of one of the most important journeys of your life. I am happy to congratulate you on your acceptance to Scranton. The University of Scranton enables you to have one of the most rewarding journeys a college could provide. Because The U is so accommodating to the needs of the students, the transition away from home will not be hard but remember to bring a little bit of home with you on move-in day to remind you of all the things that make you comfortable. The University gives you the opportunity to grow into the best individual you can be and it will be one of the most exciting and rewarding times of your life!
The first and most important thing that you will hear over and over again is to STUDY! Even if you were an A student in high school, it takes a lot more then fifteen minutes a night to achieve that in college. Do not worry though, with the right study skills and time management it will not be a huge change. Don’t be afraid to meet with your advisor if you decide a class is not right for you, there are plenty of classes here to transfer into. On that note, do not be afraid to speak up in class. Just because you are in college does not mean you can’t ask questions and participate. The class sizes are small enough to get to know your teacher and classmates on a personal level. Be organized! Be kind to your roommate! On top of the transition of being away from home and the course load of college, it is good to come “home” to a supportive roommate. Remember, be respectful and keep the place clean!
Last but not least, do not let the party scene become your only scene. There is plenty of time to party in college but your graders freshman year will reflect you as a student for the entire four years. It is very important to be social and let loose on the weekends but don’t let it interfere with your future as a successful student. Don’t be afraid to be-friend an upperclassman, they’ve been through what you have are a great source of comfort and advice. Always remember your family is just one phone call away, but you are creating a new family here and before you know it you’ll be home sick at your real home and will be missing Scranton!
Dear new freshmen,
Congratulations on your acceptance into the University of Scranton! I think that you have made a very wise choice. I have thus far really enjoyed my experience at this school. It truly is a special school and a great place to spend your next four years. I cannot wait to possibly meet you in the future. Hopefully our paths will cross soon!
Let me start this off by saying to stop stressing now. I went into my first week of school a confused mess. I was very scared and extremely overwhelmed. You need to relax because you well adjust to your new situation very soon. It seems like everyone feels like they will fail at the beginning of school, at first. I was definitely one of these people. But soon enough I found my place at this school and have become very comfortable with everything. It seemed hard at first but as long as you stick it out and get everything you need to get done, done you will be more than fine here at Scranton.
College is never easy and no matter where you go you will face many challenges throughout your college years. But as long as you are willing to do the work and work hard to achieve the goals you set for yourself you will achieve everything you want and more. It is meant to challenge you and you will feel better with every challenge you overcome. I had many breakdowns the first month of school and I wish I had someone to tell me everything is going to be fine and that my freak-outs were stupid and pointless. I had no reason to be afraid of college and neither do you.
The first semester flies and you will be home with your family and friends before you know it. It may seem so far away but you are so busy that you do not even notice the time passing. I try to focus on one week at a time. I set my goals for the week every Sunday night and schedule my days according to what I have to do. This has yet to fail me and I feel like this is a very good way not to get too stressed out. I tend to stress easily so trying not to get stressed is very important to me. Also, try not to procrastinate. Easier said than done, I know, but this really will help you in college and really keeps away the stress of being swamped with work.
I really hope you enjoy your freshman year and really enjoy the University of Scranton. I hope the advice I have given to you can really help you achieve your goals and help you to succeed in college. Everyone here is really friendly and are more than willing to help so do not be afraid to ask questions!
You’ve made it to college! Can you believe it? Welcome to the University of Scranton where you’ll have the bet four or so years of you life. And trust me, these four years will go by extremely fast. My first semester flashed by before I even had the chance to blink. I can tell you about everything I’ve experienced but I feel like I would go on for days with an endless amount of stories and advice for you, most of which you probably won’t take into account until you’ve experienced it yourself, as I did. But let’s get started.
To begin with, I cannot stress enough the importance of studying. I wanted to talk about this first so you realize what a huge part this is in college. Yes, I know everyone says, “Study, study, study! It’s not like high school where you can breeze by!”. It really is the truth though. Going from a possibly easy senior year to your freshman year in college is one of the hardest transitions you’ll ever face. And trust me, I learned the hard way. Being a Psychology major and taking a Psychology class in high school, I thought I knew all the material and I did know a lot of it, but it was only the simple stuff. The Fundamentals of Psychology class went into a lot of detail on topics that I only scratched the surface of in high school. And that little knowledge showed its face on exams. Yes, after each exam you know more and more about how your teacher administers exams and you know what is more important based on what they emphasize in class but either way you need to get into a good studying habit. You need to actually read the book and try to associate the concepts and ideas into your every day life and not just skim through the words on the pages. And yet again, I learned that the hard way too. Even though it tool me a whole semester, I think I’ve found the best possible way for me, myself, to study and grasp the concepts. That’s what you need to focus on doing early on.
The second thing I want to bring up is don’t procrastinate! Not doing homework or giving things in on time is one of the worst things you could EVER do throughout your college career. Well besides not studying and doing your work HAHA. I’ve also had to learn this the hard way. Procrastinating will get you extremely behind in your classes even if its one assignment. If you’re like me, you’ll want to get everything done whether you procrastinate or not and it’ll screw you over in the long run, so I would advise to just try not to do it in general.
So I’ve pretty much told you to just get your work done and study. Although those are probably the most detrimental parts of college, there is one more that is more fun then serious. MEET PEOPLE! You’ve been surrounded with the same groups of people since kindergarten. Now’s your chance to put yourself out there and meet people from all over. The great thing about the University of Scranton is that the majority of the students here are from a select few states on the east coast of the United States. That means that you have the ability to experience different ways of life even if it’s only from a state away. And a major plus for my graduating class is that we have students from Ireland and the Pacific Islands! How cool is that?!
College is a time for you to grow and find out who you truly are and who you want to be. The transition may be hard but it’s definitely worth it. Your first semester will be hard but it will pay off in the long run. You’ll make life long friendships even if they live far from you. And you’ll make memories that will last you the rest of your lifetime (corny but true). So just as the Greenday lyric states “so make the best of this test and don’t ask why”. That’s exactly the attitude you need going into your freshman year.
Good luck freshman and have fun!
Dear freshmen,
First I would like to congratulate you, it is truly an honor to be apart of the Scranton family. College is a big transition and also a scary one but I promise you that during your first semester you will get adjusted quickly and will consider Scranton your knew home. One thing that you have to remember is everyone else is in the same position as you so you shouldn’t feel like you are the only one going through this. In college you are placed in an entirely new atmosphere and completely thrown out of your comfort zone but try not to get too stressed about everything. The best advice I can give you is to be prepared for the transition and don’t expect college to be the same as high school.
Academically the best advice I can give to you is not to procrastinate and manage your time. In college you are given so much freedom, you don’t have your parents hovering over you and telling you what to do and trust me it is easily to take advantage of that. It is important that you don’t leave everything till the last minute and make a daily schedule of things you have to do and when you’ll do them. Spacing out assignments will definitely leave you feeling less stressed because as you have probably heard so many times the workload in college is definitely a lot more than in high school.
Another academic tip is to use your breaks wisely. Since you only have classes for a few hours each day and class times are spread out you may have a huge time gap between two classes. Don’t use this time to nap or hangout with your friends. It is really important that you sit down and do work during this time because you will get a lot done and it will take away some of the work that you have to do after class.
Aside from academics you should really get involved on campus. Getting involved makes you feel like you are not focusing all your times on academics. Personally I am on the Scranton tennis team and it helped me make so many friends. Getting involved allows you to meet so many more people and you can get involved doing something that you love. Also being a part of a team or club really helps with time management and relieves a lot of stress.
Lastly I would like to remind you to not forget about your health. There are so many great options in the cafeteria but it is so easy to go for the unhealthy option. Remember that it is so important to take care of your body because nothing is worse then being sick and having to go to class.
College is a great experience so make sure that you are studying hard but also having fun. You will meet life long friends here and have so many great experience and opportunities so take advantage of them all. Have a great first year at Scranton
Best of Luck,
Welcome to the University of Scranton and to the Psychology major! This is an exciting and terrifying time for incoming freshmen, both socially and academically. You are basically free, no parents, a whole new environment, and a lot to take in at first. Hopefully this letter helps you get a handle on your current situation and deal with any problems you may face as efficiently and easily as possible.
One problem I faced coming into college was sleep. I could never get enough, regardless how much I got done during the daytime. Even if I wanted to I could never get to bed at a reasonable hour, whether I’m hanging out with my friends or just on my computer wasting time. Getting enough sleep is essential in college, as it helps you retain information you get while you’re awake. Not getting enough sleep before a test or big assignment can really hurt your chances of getting a good grade, regardless of the amount of hours you put into studying. Sleep is essential for your health; if you get proper sleep, you will succeed in college.
Another factor I had to deal with at first is finding friends. This simply requires you keep and open mind and be as open as you can be. The more reserved you are in your first few weeks of school, the harder it will be for you to find friends now or in the future. Another tip is to join clubs, sports teams, and/or campus events; you never know whom you will meet and potentially grow to become good friends with. One small bit of advice for when you’re in your room is leave the door open, it lets other people know they’re welcome and that you are open to meeting new people.
Finally, managing your time is huge freshman year, as it will shape how you do so for the rest of your time here at school. Take some time out of your day to go to the library if you have a substantial amount of work or studying to do, set some time apart to go to the gym, and spend some time alone or relaxing with friends. Relaxation time, while it may seem like a waste, is crucial to studying and working to the best of your ability. All work and no play will cause you to be unfocused during long blocks of study and homework time.
These tips should aid you in achieving your goal of being the best you can be in college. The beginning of freshman year is a little intimidating, but if you just relax and take it slow, you will be succeeding in college in no time. Just remember to get enough sleep, be open to new people, and manage your time according to your workload. If it becomes too much, there are plenty of people around campus, such as your teachers or RA’s, that are willing to help. Good luck and welcome again to the U!
Congratulations on your decision to attend the University of Scranton. You have made a great choice: you have chosen to attend an institution that will change you in more ways than you can imagine—if you let it. Yes, even I, a freshman nearing the end of his first semester at the U., can attest; a new, more open-minded, and perspicacious person is formed out of the independence and freedom of college. And while it’s fine to have fun every once and a while, you must not forget the main reason for which one comes to college in the first place: education—a maturing, both mentally and physically, of oneself. There will be times this semester when you are discouraged, and I say to you the following: don’t be. It takes a true, strong student to fight through self-created discouragement. Simply put: don’t let your doing badly, should you ever do so, on a couple of tests or assignments discourage you from wanting to learn or allow you to think pessimistically: there will always be another day. Never let the fire in you—your curiosity, that is—die. Top
My first semester at the University of Scranton has taught me a lot of things. It’s taught me to be responsible, to take my responsibilities into my own hands and be an adult. When you’re in college there’s no one there to encourage you to do your work or reprimand you when you don’t do it. It’s your grades that will be your reprimanding. No one is to blame, but you. But you don’t have to be put in this predicament. There are some tools to help you succeed, don’t procrastinate, use the library and your teachers for help and time management.
Procrastination is the biggest downfall of most college students. They believe that they can coast by and put their work off to the last minute. But good work takes time, you need to give yourself time to do your work and look back at it. Whether it’s studying, writing a paper or just doing regular homework; to do your best you need to give yourself time and stay on top of things. It’s not like high school anymore where your teacher will give you an extension, here you need to have things in on time or you’re going to fall behind. You don’t want to play catch up, and then you’re going to lose focus of all the new things that’s being taught in class.
The library and your teachers are your biggest aids; your teachers know the quality of work they want you to hand in. The library has seen most of the assignments that you have to do because of past students. Going to them for help doesn’t mean you’re cheating, they want to help you and it shows that you are interested in doing well. Students seem like their afraid of their teachers sometimes; it’s intimidating to go to your teacher for help because you don’t want to seem like you don’t know the material. But sometimes you just don’t, but your teachers are paid to help you, use them that’s what they’re there for. There’s no better source about what you should do your work around then your teachers. The people in the library are the nicest people, if you need any help finding a book or anything they will help you. If they can’t help you the library has a great source online for looking up the materials you need as well.
When I entered my first semester at the University of Scranton I was taught one thing about time management. It was either that I was going to spend my time socializing, chasing girls or doing my homework. You can pick two, if you try to do all three or chose the wrong two, then your time here at the U will be very short. I chose to do work and chase girls, but even with that you need to learn how to space your time out. If you’re too caught up doing one over the other you’re going to suffer. The majority of your time has to be focused on work; the weekends will always be there to have fun. This also goes along with procrastination; you need to give yourself enough time to do your work to the best of your ability. The best way I can put this is make yourself a schedule on what you want to do with your days, leave room to fill in spaces for work, exercise, time to yourself and other things you’d like to do with your day.
The first semester is your time to show what you can do away from home. Being so far away from home with no one to motivate you is very hard. It takes all the blame off other people and put’s it right on you, if you don’t succeed then you have no one else to blame, but yourself. But this doesn’t mean that you have to fail, the tools you need to succeed have been taught to you your entire life. College is about taking all those tools and building yourself a great foundation for yourself to succeed. All it takes is motivation, using your teachers and the library for your aids and finding time for your work and spacing out your other activities.
As you may have heard, college is a huge change from high school, and a huge development in most people’s lives. You’ll be away from your friends, your family, your parents, and sometimes it will feel like you’re all alone. But it’s ok! Your parents and friends are just a phone call away, and it’s easy to make new friends if you stay involved with activities on campus. Sometimes, you might feel overwhelmed with all the work you need to get done. I can’t even begin to tell you about how many times my friends and I have freaked out over upcoming exams, papers or projects we’ve had to work on and have had difficulty with. Just manage your time wisely, plan ahead and stay focused. Easier said than done, right? Not to worry, it comes easier with practice, like most things. Be sure to keep a planner with you at all times so you can keep track of all the different things that need to be done. In addition, don’t be afraid to try new things. Try joining a cool club and get involved in activities on campus. For example, if you’ve always wanted to try to learn how to sing but never really had the time, you could try joining choir! It’s important to study, but it’s also important to take a little break every now and again. Don’t be afraid to meet new people, either. Sometimes, especially in the first few weeks of the first semester, you may feel a bit lonely, because you’re away from all your friends and family and everything is new and scary. I remember a close friend explaining to me that it was ok to feel a little bit lost and lonely at first, because that’s how all of the freshman felt in the beginning of the semester! We were all in the same boat, but it became easier once we all got involved and met new people and tried new things. So with those things in mind, I wish you the best of luck and happiness in your freshman year! Stay safe, stay positive, stay you.
Welcome to the University of Scranton! In the next few weeks, you will be dealing with the transition for high school to college, and for some it may not be easy. I know for me, the study habits I had in high school did not cut it for the college work I have received here. So a few pointers I can give you for making your freshman year count are:
1) Do the readings: Here at the University, reading is very important. You will be teaching yourself most of the work through the reading you do. A semester is very short, so the professor will not have time to go through the whole book. In this case, you must stay on top of the readings because you must be your own teacher for the material that is not covered in class. From experience, it is best to pre-read a section before your professor starts to talk about it, so in class you already have some background knowledge and know what you have questions on.
2) Sleep: You must make sure you sleep. The work load might get heavy at certain points but that is why you must prioritize your time. Sleeping is very important, because it keeps you more focused on the next day of classes and you will interpret a lot more.
3) Be Outgoing: Be outgoing! Everyone is in the same spot you are. They may be shy, but everyone at the University is friendly, so when you are confronted with people, strike up a conversation. Being social will make your time at the University much more special! If you can spend every day with people you talk to and be friends with you will enjoy going to class and hanging out much more. Make sure you enjoy school because Scranton is a fun place to be!
I know many of you may be homesick already, and I was too!! I still to this day get upset when my family leaves after visiting me! But I promise, it does get easier. This is why you need to socialize, because the more friends you have, the easier it is to say good-bye to the most important people in or lives.
Good Luck!!
Dear freshmen,
As you get settled to your new life here at the U, there are some things you should keep in mind. It is okay to be homesick and to feel overwhelmed during the first semester. It is important to always remember that there are other people who feel the same way you do and that you are not alone during this process. Personally, I was fortunate to not experience the homesickness to the same extent as others did, but you will always miss some things about home. However, the most important thing to do is to get yourself involved in clubs or sports. They are a great way of meeting new people and keeping yourself busy. It is always nerve-racking to think about making new friends, but it does take time and you will make friends.
The next thing I would like to highlight is time management. You aren’t at home anymore and you basically have enough time now to do whatever you want when you aren’t in class or studying. Do not fall behind or get used to procrastinating within the first semester. Unfortunately there will be times where you feel stressed due to exams, but if you manage your time well and study in a way that actually helps then you will be fine. Be sure to address any studying issues you have and go to the CTLE or try different things since studying in college is not like studying in high school.
Overall, making friends and having to be away from home isn’t easy. I recommend that you try and stay on campus as much as possible and try to make friends rather than going home when there aren’t breaks. It really is worth it and it will get better. If you’re having a difficult time you can always talk to your RA or someone at counseling. There is always someone to help you. Best of luck!
To the Up and Coming Freshmen,
As I sit down to write this letter of advice to you, I realize how strange it is because I was in your shoes not too long ago. I still don’t know everything about college, but I hope that the little I have learned will help you out. You will probably be scared and nervous as you enter into this next phase of your life, but that is okay. What isn’t okay is letting your fear or nervousness keep you from trying new things or taking chances that come your way. After all, college is the time for you to figure out what you want to do in life; no one expects you to know as soon as you set foot on campus. And if you do know what you want to do, pursue it wholeheartedly. Keep your mind open, however, to other opportunities because you never know what they might teach you. I suppose that is my first piece of advice: keep your mind open and take advantage of all the opportunities offered here in college.
Well, I guess the advice I have for you is random and relevant to different areas of your college life. First is the roommate. First impressions are important, but they aren’t everything. Give your roommate the chance they deserve, and they will most likely do the same for you. Common courtesy goes a long way. You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but it is possible to be friends. Even if you don’t get along, that’s okay too. Just don’t let drama get out of hand and remember that there are simple ways to amend the problem, such as transferring to another room. You want to be in a comfortable, safe living environment, and getting along with your roommate will be important.
Next is the classes and coursework. The classes are a great size for getting to know the teacher and other students, so take advantage of this. Make friends, exchange numbers, ask questions, and form study groups. These are not just ways to help succeed in the classroom, but they will also help form friendships and a network of connections throughout the Scranton community. Study groups are helpful, and the library is a great resource. Use it! If the library is not for you, then try the new science center. I personally love getting one of the small rooms and being able to sit and concentrate on my work. Don’t go in thinking that the coursework will be too hard and that you won’t be able to cope before you even try. On the other hand, don’t go in expecting it to be so easy that you won’t have to study or try as hard. Some will have to work harder than others, and you may or may not be that person, but just know the challenge is worth it. Good grades are possible, and you can work hard enough to get them. The only way you can fail is to not try. It sound cliché, but it is true.
Miscellaneous advice that I can offer is to get involved with what interests you. If it interests you, even if it isn’t involved with your major, then do it. Have fun with your work because there is no reason why you can’t. Use your meal plan wisely both upstairs and down in the food court because unlimited is perfect for stocking up on snacks in your dorm room. If you do eat upstairs, don’t go at 6:30 unless you don’t mind a huge crowd waiting for food. Get an agenda to keep your assignments in and keep your desk organized. Have a system to get rid of stress in a healthy way; I like going to the gym and showering after a long day. Attend the activities that the university hosts because they are entertaining and you will have fun. Hang lights in your dorm if you want the room to feel homey. Make friends with people in your building, especially on your floor. Some of your lifelong friends may be there. Explore the city, take a shuttle to the mall, or go to the park for the day. Study hard, don’t forget to eat, and most importantly, have fun here at the university. This is where you will form the foundation of your future, so make sure it is a well-rounded one with no regrets. My last words to you are to remember that it’s not what we do that we regret most, but what we do not do. Don’t leave this campus after four years wishing you had done anything more, but go away knowing that you did everything you wanted and learned all that you could. Be safe and enjoy your time here. I know I am, and I wish you the best of luck here at Scranton!