For all incoming freshmen, college can seem like a very daunting place, but the one thing that you have to remember is that everyone is in the same boat!  It’s going to take a while to figure out what path is best for you, and that’s okay.

The first mistake you can make as a freshman is trying to rush it. According to PEW research center, only about 50% of students earn a degree within 6 years.

That being said, make sure that you take your time. Many students enter college not knowing what they want to do for the rest of their lives,  because of the pressure that high schools put on students to go to college right away.

I know from first-hand experience that going straight from high school to college is not the best path for everyone.

When I first came to MATC my attendance was low and my grades were bad. After a while I finally found something that I was passionate about and my grades skyrocketed.

In my opinion, make sure you find something you are passionate about before you start enrolling in classes and accumulating debt.

Second, get involved.  Extracurricular activities are very important, not just for freshmen but for everyone.  If you’re not exactly sure what you want to major in, extracurricular activities  can help you find some undiscovered passion. That’s what joining the newspaper did for me.  If I had never joined the MATC Times, I would have never found the passion that drives me to do the best I can every day to ensure that I set myself up for success in the future.

Extracurricular activities also give you a chance to become more involved in the school and the community, which in turn allows you to meet new people, which can be intimidating as a freshman.

There is also a strong relationship between extracurricular activities and GPA. Studies done by US News Report show that the more students are involved with their school, the more likely they are to attend classes and thus receive better grades.

Next is building your resume. College is a great time to start building your resume for when you graduate and start the job hunt.

Somethings you can do to improve your resume are, participate in extracurricular activities, get to know your professors and volunteer your time to something that matters to you. What extracurricular activities do to your resume is show that you are a “team player,” and it shows employers that you’re willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to be successful.

Building strong relationships with your professors is crucial, because they are the ones that will be writing your letters of recommendation. Therefore think twice next time you’re planning on skipping class.

Volunteering shows employers that you care about your community and the people around you. Plus if you show that you can successfully manage school, volunteering and extracurricular activities, employers will have no qualms about whether or not you will be able to effectively manage your time and get job assignments done by the deadlines.

Lastly, minimize debt.  The Institute for College Access and Success reports that the average debt for a graduate from a public four year university is $25,000. Before you freak out too much, give yourself some credit because enrolling at a community college saves you a lot of money, whether you plan on transferring or not.

Balancing school and work can be a very tough thing to manage, especially if you are trying to get involved in extracurricular activities or volunteer.

The answer is not more student loans. While it seems like a very easy and immediate way to fix your financial woes, it is almost guaranteed to hurt you down the road. Do whatever you can to borrow as little money as possible, so when you graduate and get that job you want, you don’t have to spend your salary paying back loans.

Now this may seem like a lot of stuff to take on right away, but if you do all these things, it will help you become a successful student and lead you to the career that is right for you. You might be thinking, I barely have enough time for school and work, how will I find time to volunteer and do extracurricular activities. The answer is just ask.

MATC is a very accommodating institution. They are dedicated to making sure their students are in the best possible situation to succeed. Be sure to talk with your professors and use the academic services provided to help you manage your workload.

You are also going to have to make sacrifices – not every weekend is going to be a party like it may seem. Some Friday and Saturday nights are going to have to be dedicated to studying, but that’s a small sacrifice to make in the short term to make sure that you are in a position to succeed in the long term.