Has the time come for you to pack your bags and head to college? In a country where about 55 percent of all adults have a college education, there’s no doubt you’re headed in the right direction.
You’re probably feeling excited and anxious at the same time. Excited because going to college means freedom, and you can’t wait to experience all the fun. Anxious because you’re not sure whether you may not be sure whether you’ve chosen the right course or even the right college.
You shouldn’t brush off your feelings of anxiety quickly. The last thing you want is to make regrettable mistakes before you even set foot in a college classroom.
The good news is we’re here to ensure that doesn’t happen. If you continue reading, you’ll find a handy list of some of the common mistakes college freshmen make, along with what you can do to avoid them.
1. Pursuing the Wrong Course
A staggering 90%+ of working-class people feel they chose the wrong career path. The consequences of being in a career you don’t enjoy are well-documented. And while some people manage to switch careers later on in life, most remain stuck in their professions until retirement.
Pursuing the wrong college major is what will lead you to a career path you don’t like. Yet, as you can tell from these numbers, so many people do it.
Why does it happen, though?
You could argue that many college freshmen don’t have a clear idea of what career they want to pursue.
Some people pursue courses chosen by their parents or guardians. Others settle on courses based on their job outlook. And others take courses simply because of the associated prestige.
Of all the decisions you need to get right, it’s your choice of a college program. Consult with career advisors. Evaluate your passions and interests.
Ultimately, you should be super confident about your choice before you head to college. In the event that you start doubting your decision soon after joining college, it’s important that you be pragmatic about it. It’s easier to switch courses in the first year of college.
2. Assuming College Is All Fun and Games
Having the right mindset when starting college is key to achieving academic excellence. Some students, though, start out with a mindset of fun and parties. This is a mistake that can cost you both time and money.
If we’re being honest, college has its fair share of fun. If you’re living on-campus or off-campus but away from home, you’ll have freedom without bounds. Finally, Mom and Dad aren’t there to constantly remind you to study.
You’re now an adult with freedom of choice. Sadly, if you indulge in the fun and forget about your classes, it won’t be long before poor grades give you a rude wake-up call.
Time flies when you’re all about the fun, so if you don’t turn a new leaf and focus on your academics, you’ll lag behind and fail to graduate on time. Some colleges will give you the chance to retake classes you failed, but your workload will increase. It’s not uncommon for failing students to drop out of college altogether.
To improve your chances of graduating from college with honors, it helps to develop an academic mindset. No, we aren’t saying that you should not go out and have a good time.
Enjoy the fun, but put your classwork first. Engrave it in your mind that you’re going to college to acquire occupational knowledge and skills everything else comes second.
3. Not Putting Your Financial Ducks in a Row
U.S. student debt is soaring. 43 million borrowers owe about $1.7 trillion, which is an average of $54,000 per borrower.
There’s no simpler way to put it: college in the U.S. is expensive. The vast majority of learners (and their sponsors) cannot afford to pay out of pocket. This is why student loans are very popular.
When you’re joining college, education financing isn’t the first thing on your mind, especially if you have someone footing the bill. However, if you’re relying on student loans, it’s essential to get your finances in order before beginning your studies.
Failing to plan your finances will make your financial life more difficult later on. You’ll rack up debt, and as soon as you graduate, your lenders will start a relentless pursuit of what you owe them.
How light or heavy your student debt load is after college will largely depend on the financial choices you make at the start. Taking steps like getting a part-time job and using your income to start paying off your student loans will go a long way.
Don’t be a reckless spender in college. Fun and parties cost money, so if you over-indulge, your purse will feel the pinch, and the pinch may last for several years if you’re irresponsible.
You can also explore ways to reduce the cost of your college education.
For example, there are different types of scholarships you could qualify for. If you’re from a needy background, need based scholarships can come to your rescue. If you’re a gifted athlete, maybe you’ll secure an athletic scholarship.
4. Living Off-Campus Right Away
Off-campus living gives you more privacy and freedom, and depending on the property, the amenities can make your life more comfortable. Indeed, most college students desire to live off-campus.
Despite all these goodies, living off-campus right away can turn out to be a bad decision.
First off, it’s costlier than living on campus. If you’re trying to exercise prudent management of your finances, you’ll be sabotaging your efforts by living off-campus.
Second, it’s far easier to lose track of your classwork when you aren’t living on campus. There’s a wider array of activities that can distract you from your studies.
It’s advisable to start off your college life in the dorms and get in the groove of things. After about a year, and if you don’t fancy continuing to live in the college dorms, you can then find an off-campus apartment and start enjoying the benefits.
Also, living on campus for some time gives you the opportunity to make close friends. When the time comes to move off-campus, you won’t have a difficult time choosing a roommate.
5. Giving Into the Pressure to Adjust to College Life Quickly
As a college freshman, you’re eager to put your best foot forward and start on a high. You’re on a mission to achieve academic excellence, and you aren’t going to waste any time adjusting to your new environment.
That’s impressive. It shows you have the right mindset. However, adjusting to college life too quickly isn’t always a good thing.
For example, if you rush into making new friends, there’s a good chance you’ll make the wrong choices. By the time the first semester is coming to a close, don’t be surprised if none of those friends are no longer your friends.
It takes time to find friends with whom you’ve shared interests. As you start college, give yourself ample time to interact with your new collegemates, and in the process, you’ll find your true friends.
Similarly, don’t go all in on the coursework early. This might sound counterintuitive, but taking enough time to get familiar with your professor will help you make the right class selections. With a rush, you may select a class simply because you like the professor, only to realize later on (usually after it’s too late) that the class isn’t even beneficial to you.
Again, just take it easy. As long as you’re a focused student, everything will fall into place.
6. Choosing a Major Too Early
A good number of college programs, especially at the baccalaureate level, require learners to choose a major.
If you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, for example, you could major in marketing, accounting, human resources, finance, or international business.
Your major will define your career path, such that even if you’re a business graduate with a major in HR, it will be almost impossible to secure accounting jobs. With so much at stake, you’ve got to ensure you’re making the right choice.
A common mistake some college students make is settling on their majors too early. If it isn’t until the third year of your studies that you have to major, don’t make up your mind too soon.
It’s understandable if you have always wanted to be, say an accountant, so there’s no doubt that you have your major figured out. But things can change. You may go to business school and find out that marketing is more exciting.
There are foundational classes you might be encouraged to take when you have your eyes on a specific major, so switching to another major might not be so easy.
Take your time, get a feel of the different classes, and gradually develop your leaning toward your ideal major.
7. Not Taking Care of Your Health
A 2022 survey among U.S. college students revealed that 77 percent experience some form of psychological distress. 35 percent were battling anxiety, and 27 percent had depression.
Clearly, mental health is a big issue in American colleges. There are a number of reasons behind these astonishing numbers, but more often than not, it’s because students don’t take good care of their health.
As a young adult with no known health conditions, you aren’t very keen on protecting your health. You’ll find many college students eating junk food, drinking alcohol, watching movies all night, and engaging in other activities that don’t support good health.
You might be in perfect health right now, but the reality is as you grow older, your health will start to wane. As such, don’t make the mistake of ignoring your health when you go to college.
Engage in sporting activities to stay active. If your campus has a gym, make the most of it.
Be mindful of your mental and emotional health as well. Most people tend to ignore their mental health because many conditions don’t present any physical symptoms in the early stages.
If you’re always feeling restless, suffering panic attacks, or experiencing any signs that could point to a mental health condition, don’t hesitate to get help.
8. Forgetting About Your Family
About 40 percent of college students move away to attend college.
Of course, you love the idea of living hundreds of miles away from the watchful eyes of your parents. Moving to another state for college? Even better!
There’s nothing wrong with moving away for college. It’s an ideal opportunity to explore new locations and expand your horizons.
However, it can also test the strength of your family relations. Without the daily interactions of living in the same household, it can be difficult to keep in touch with your loved ones. If you weren’t very close to your loved ones from a young age, being away can worsen the ties.
At the end of the day, family is everything. When you’re done with college, you want them to come and celebrate with you on your graduation day.
Be intentional about maintaining your family relationships. With technology these days, it’s easy to keep in touch constantly and keep the love going.
Whenever time and funds allow, you can catch a bus back home and see how everyone is doing. You can also invite them over to your campus from time to time.
Let Going to College Be an Amazing Experience
Going to college is a big step that will shape your adult life. The goal is to graduate with honors, but whether that happens will depend on several decisions you’ll make before and during college. With this guide, you now know some of the mistakes you’ll need to avoid at all costs.
Keep tabs on our education section for more college tips and hacks.
