A Sarcastic Note of Advice

Dear incoming freshman,

You’re about to join the Pride! Congrats, and we’re happy to have you. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the next four years here with Spirit the maroon lion cheering you on as our school mascot. I know what you’re thinking: a maroon lion named Spirit? Hey, it beats out Stanford University whose mascot is a tree. While you’re here you will hopefully learn and grow as individuals. You’ll be forced to take courses from all aspects of curriculum to make you a diverse candidate.

College Writing is one of those general education classes that everyone, and I do mean everyone, has to take. Even those lucky enough to have taken AP lit end up with College Writing on their list of courses spring semester. Now if you’re into writing papers about sports all semester you’re going to love this course. My professor was huge into sports, me not so much.

Overall, I’d rank the course somewhere between having a root canal and taking precalculus. It’s not that I hate writing I just hate having to take it. Creative writing, that’s up my alley but not so much research and sports. The prompts slowly got more painful. Like what student wants to write about whether college athletes should be paid, or if the internet is making us stupid? I, personally, had no desire to write either one of these prompts. Or research papers. Don’t make the mistake I did, where I started the seven page paper about two hours before it was due.

College writing is something where you get out what you  put into it. It’s not very difficult, just time consuming and dull. As long as you write a solid paper you’ll get a good mark in the class.

Information you need to know for first semester? Hmmm… My advice would be to study. Study a lot. I was one of those students in high school who never had to study. Coming into college I thought it would be so easy to skate by and pass all my exams and classes. I’ve never been so wrong. Over the course of this semester I’ve had to learn how to study and it is one of the most challenging things I have ever done.

I’ve also learned the importance of office hours. If you’ve got precalc go to them when you’ve got the take home exams. My professor would sit there and walk you through how to do the problems and get the right answer. It was great.

The tutoring office is another resource that I used weekly. It’s amazing and incredibly helpful, especially if you have chemistry with Dr. Smist. The tutors walk you through problems, re-explain concepts, and can answer most questions that you have.

There are going to be so many challenges that you’ll face coming into freshman year. Like roommates. Some of you will be lucky and hit it off with your roommates. Others, like myself, will absolutely not live well with their roommates. Try and work it out before taking drastic steps. Chances are if that person is driving you nuts, you’re subconsciously driving them nuts too. But when it’s down to the line you’ve got to do what makes you happy. Even if it means hauling your life across campus to another building in freezing wind and snow.

Good Luck!