College Reality for Incoming Freshman

Dear incoming freshman,

I have successfully finished my first year of college. Throughout my freshman year I wish I knew that studying is what mattered the most and not homework. It’s taking me a while to adapt to this change because in high school I was used to just doing homework for a good grade. Now in college homework is just for your own benefit. Doing homework is preparation for midterms and finals. Yes, the homework is counted as some percentage of your grade but not as much as the midterms and finals will be. Most of my professors have told me, “If you don’t pass the final, you don’t pass the class.” Sounds scary, but they are right because homework doesn’t proof if you have learned the material.

There are many things I wish I knew before starting my freshman year in college, like, how important it is to know how to analyze and not summarize, because they are two different things. I never really saw the differences because in high school I was never told the difference. Also, don’t think that an essay consist of only five paragraphs because in college you will be asked to write more than that. In high school many teachers aren’t picky about incorporating quotes into your essay, but in college the professors want to see plenty of that.

I came into college with a high school mindset, but the college academia is a higher goal setting experience. They expect you to achieve higher than what you are used to in high school. I also wish that high school would not let us pass with C’s because in college if you get a C or C- that isn’t passing. For most majors you are expected to get a C+ or better, and to maintain a 3.5 GPA. I don’t mean to frighten you incoming freshman, I just want to show you what the reality of college is. But for most classes the workload isn’t a lot you just have to get used to studying.

The most important thing that I would have liked to know was I’d have to wake up early to get good classes. When getting classes you have to wait until your signup date and wake up early because class submissions start at six a.m. On the Brightside you can save your classes before your signup date and just submit them the day of the date given to you. But one thing, don’t forget to add the classes early and on time because if you forget you will end up with terrible classes, time wise. Hopefully after reading this letter you will all have a better experience as freshman. I know many of you will make it through your first year in college. Congratulations in entering Cal State L.A.

Sincerely,

A freshman who made it through their first year