As I’m going into my senior year at Cal Poly Pomona, there’s so much I wish I knew before I started college. After high school, everything changed, and I remember feeling extremely anxious and unprepared about the transition because I was unsure of what to expect. Here are some things I wish I knew three years ago going into CPP, that will help ease anyone going into college. This is all advice that I’ll be giving my own sister, Diana, who is a new Bronco going into her freshman year at CPP this Fall. I would love to dedicate this story to her.
Time Management
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is to create a schedule in order to manage your time wisely. When registering for classes, try to pick the ones that will work best for you. For example, if you’re not a morning person, don’t sign up for an 8 a.m. class. I know you’re probably thinking, “Well I woke up early for high school,” but trust me, it’s so different in college. If you’re not a morning person and you sign up for early classes, you’ll be tempted to sleep in and skip class.
The difference between college and high school is that most professors won’t punish you for being absent. This can easily allow you to think skipping class will not affect you in any way, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Trust me, when you start skipping class, it becomes a bad habit and an easy way to fall behind. To stay in the loop, make sure you show up to the class meetings. Some professors will even give pop quizzes just to make sure students aren’t skipping class intentionally. I personally prefer starting my classes at 8 a.m. to easily find parking and to be able to leave campus at a reasonable time. The parking structures tend to get full around 9 or 10 a.m., so make sure you plan for this so you’re not late for class.
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Productivity Tips
In order to remain a productive student, I would highly suggest investing in a good computer and/or iPad. In college, most classes have typed assignments, so having a personal laptop will be very beneficial to you. In most cases, the average time you will spend in college will be about four years, so even though a laptop may be expensive depending on the one you choose, it will be a good investment for your future.
Make sure to take advantage of the free digital planners available. Google Calendar or the Outlook Calendar using your CPP email are both free resources to help keep everything organized. I like to buy a physical planner and begin using it the very first day of class. If you take the time to write out all the due dates on a planner or calendar right after you get the syllabus it will help you stay on top of all your work. It is essential to have a calendar if you plan on taking multiple classes each semester. I take five classes a semester, and in order to keep myself organized, I’ll color code each class in my planner. You should also make it a habit to check your email frequently, as professors can change the due dates for assignments or projects.
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Classes
An important thing to remember is that some professors will hand out the syllabus and let you know on the first day what you need to purchase. Make sure to wait until the semester starts to buy your textbooks because in some classes, the professor will provide the materials for you or let you know the textbook is optional. Some textbooks also have the PDF version, so make sure to do your research before purchasing the book.
I love taking notes during lectures, but sometimes the professor moves through the slides quickly before I have the chance to jot anything down. A good notetaking tip is to download the lecture slides on your computer/iPad from Canvas prior to the start of class. That way you only have to write out any additional information given during the lecture. If you’re using your iPad to take notes, I highly suggest the app Goodnotes. This app is a one-time purchase of $7.99 for unlimited notebook access. The app allows you to annotate PDFs, and you are also able to sync up your notes to iCloud so that you can access them on multiple devices.
Don’t be afraid to make friends in class and talk to the people around you! Having people you know in class is super helpful because you can reach out to them if you happen to have any questions. Knowing people in class is also beneficial because you can collaborate on study guides and/or have study sessions for upcoming exams. Since Covid moved many classes virtually, classes now have class group chats on Discord, so make sure to join for friendly reminders throughout the semester.
Office Hours
Many of you may be familiar with office hours because of high school, but if not, office hours are essentially one-on-one meetings with your professor outside of your scheduled class time. Many professors have pre-determined office hours on certain days and times, but don’t be afraid to ask to meet at a different time if they don’t fit into your schedule. Many professors are very flexible and are willing to work with you because they want you to succeed. The same goes for extensions, communicate what is going on with your professor and some will give you an extension on the assignment. Just be sure not to abuse this power.
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Final Thoughts
Going into college can be nerve-wracking, but make sure you don’t feel pressured by peers on your progress. Everyone goes at their own pace and graduating beyond four years is perfectly okay! Using the major roadmaps, which are found on the CPP website under your selected major, are extremely helpful to note which classes you should be taking. Take advantage of CPP Connect, a tool used to schedule the classes you plan to take each semester. All you have to do is login with your BroncoID then use the “plan” tool to make a gameplan of your classes until your anticipated graduation.
Choose something you’re passionate about. Something I believe people don’t realize is that you are not limited to certain jobs because of the major you chose. Many jobs seek people in different fields of study, so make sure to apply at places you are truly interested in because experience goes a long way! Internships are a great way to gain experience for your future career and help you decide if that major is the right fit for you. It’s better to find out now that you don’t enjoy it versus after you graduate with that degree. If you’re unsure about your major, start by taking your general education (GE) classes to experience a little bit of everything.
I hope this helped ease some of your anxious feelings about going into college. Sometimes change is good, once you get into the rhythm of being in college, it becomes the new norm. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who are here to help you succeed: academic advisors, professors, or even peers! The Bronco Advising Center is a great resource to use for general advising, class registration, financial aid, etc. You can find an advisor designated to your major by searching “academic advisors” on the website and looking for your major.
Finally, be sure to follow ASICPP on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay up to date on events happening on campus! Enjoy the time you have in college because these next few years will fly by. By the time you know it, all your hard work will pay off and you’ll be hearing your name as you walk across the stage at graduation. Congratulations and welcome to CPP!
