The other piece of advice I offered was that all freshmen should sit down at the end of their first semester and plan out their classes for the next 3 1/2 years. I didn't do this until the middle of my sophomore year, and it's been a huge help. If I'd done it earlier, it would have helped even more.
These two suggestions are only two of many things I wish I would have known coming into college. Over the past couple of weeks, I've asked a few of my friends to help my compile a list of ten things we wish we would have known when we started college. These aren't necessarily things that PLNU tries to hide from incoming students (the blog title was mostly just to get your attention). But your admissions counselor, tour guide, and New Student Orientation can't tell you everything you'll need to know to be ready for college.
My friends and I have learned some of these things the hard way. Hopefully, after reading this blog, you won't have to.
1. For most majors, internships are more important than your GPA.
This isn't always the case, especially if you plan on going to grad school. But if you want to get a job straight out of college, most employers will value your work and internship experience far more than your GPA. Of course, slacking off in your classes is never smart and could actually make it hard to get that first internship. But schools sometimes overemphasize GPA and don't mention nearly enough the importance of real-world experience. Keep this in mind, and find a healthy balance between the two. You shouldn't disregard your GPA in favor of the great internship you have, and likewise it's important to be reliable at your internship even when you have three tests in one week.
2. There is no possible way you can read everything for every class and still have a social life.
Again, this is about finding a balance. You shouldn't play video games five hours a night or spend every day at Ocean Beach, but you also need to get your nose out of your books. It's great to be a dedicated student, but killing yourself to finish every page of reading for every class is often unreasonable. Learn the art of skimming the sections that seem less important. Get out and have some fun, even during a busy week. It will help keep things in balance and keep your mind fresh.
3. If you have an academic scholarship and your GPA falls under the requirement, no matter what, you will lose your scholarship forever.
In an ideal world, you might get a second chance if your GPA is 3.3 and it needs to be a 3.4 to keep your scholarship. But just like any college, PLNU has to make money so it can pay its professors and provide a quality college atmosphere for its students. Consequently, it has a very strict policy regarding academic scholarships. I have a friend who needed to maintain a 3.4 to keep her scholarship. At the end of one semester, her GPA was (no joke) 3.39. She lost her scholarship. Unfair? It seems like it. I had a similar experience. But if PLNU makes an exception for her or me, then it has to make an exception for other people, too. Make sure you know what GPA you need to maintain to keep your scholarship, and do what it takes to keep it above the requirement.
4. A college degree does not guarantee a great job after graduation.
Bummer. There was a time when it was pretty easy for anyone with a bachelor's degree to find a job out of college. But especially with today's struggling economy, this is in no way guaranteed. PLNU is holding a three-part workshop about transitioning from college to career (see picture) and this is one thing Charlie Howard, PLNU's Career Services director, is careful to emphasize. College students have to market themselves. Internships and networking are two of the best ways to do this.
A recent career services event5. You don’t have to buy all your textbooks at the PLNU bookstore.
Okay, this is a hot topic of debate. I had a lot of friends mention this one, so here's how I feel about it. Sometimes the PLNU bookstore has a lot of used textbooks for your classes. Usually the prices for used books in the PLNU bookstore are comparable to what you'll find online. But sometimes, especially when new editions come out, the bookstore won't have any used textbooks for some of your classes. In this case, I buy these books online. You can go into the bookstore and look at the ISBN numbers on the books that you need, then search for them online (I recommend Dealoz.com). But a lot of the time the PLNU bookstore has all the books I need at pretty good prices. In this case, I just buy them there. Why pay shipping online and have to wait a week or more to get them in the mail? But keep in mind, if you can find a used version of a book online that's only available new in the bookstore, you can save a lot...sometimes as much as $50.
6. There are hidden buildings on campus.
That's all I'm telling you.
7. It’s okay to come into college undeclared or uncertain about your major.
Most students know this, but I know some people feel like they need to have their path mapped out before they move into their dorms. Well just so you know, the majority of college students change their major at least once. You may think you won't, but odds are you will, and that's okay. PLNU is a liberal arts college for a reason. You get to take classes in a lot of different areas and get a better feel for your interests. Don't worry if you haven't figured out exactly what you want to do with your life when you start college (I'm graduating this May and I still don't know!).
8. Your professors want to talk to you!
A great thing about Point Loma is that the professors really care about their students. I have had professors who have eaten meals with me in the Caf. I even had one who invited my class over to his house for dinner and dessert. I have developed a close friendship with one of my journalism professors, who is also my advisor, and he has helped me with some tough decisions over the last three years. He's also written me letters of recommendation and spoken positively about me to other professors and potential employers. These people care about their students, and they can be a great resource for guidance as well as an advocate for their best students. Take advantage of that.
9. Your dorm room is usually not a good place to study.
Dorms are a lot of fun, especially freshman year when the guys or girls on your hall will become some of your closest friends. But at any school, Point Loma included, things can get pretty loud on the hall. There's always something going on, and it's extremely easy to get distracted from your homework. Most dorms have study lounges that are quieter, and the third floor of the campus library has a no talking policy. There are several other quieter places to study on campus, as well as some great study spots off campus (grab a ride with an upperclassman). Take advantage of these and you'll save yourself that time where you should have been working in your room, but instead you watched a four-hour marathon of House on TV.
10. Your experience at Loma is what you make it.
There are tons of great things to do at PLNU, but you have to take some initiative. The beach won't come to you. You won't get that on-campus job without putting yourself out there and lining up an interview. Your experience at Loma will be as good or as bad as you allow it to be. Sure, your friend may end up with the best roommate ever while you have to share your room with Creed from The Office.
Still, you can complain about the roommate you got stuck with, or find other cool people to hang out with and try not to spend too much time in your room. If you put yourself out there and take advantage of what the school has to offer, you'll have a great college experience. If you sit in your room and play video games by yourself, you probably won't. So get out there!Blog playlist: U2, Fiction Family, OneRepublic, Greg Laswell, Jason Mraz, The Bravery, Audioslave, Cold War Kids, Citizen Cope
P.S. - check out the YouTube video of the week. That is totally me in the blue hoodie in the still frame before you press play.
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