5 Mistakes I Made in My First Semester of College
Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Luke Turcotte 
Photo credit: Flickr user Pragmagraphr1. I didn’t learn something new.
They say you will learn more during your time in college than you will at any other time in your life. Besides memorizing bones in the human hand and learning that the addition of juice concentrate to beer, vodka and whisky makes the most delicious drink in the world, I do not feel any more knowledgeable than I did four months ago. The reason why? I didn’t learn anything new about myself. Living away from home, thousands of people, alcohol at my disposal. It’s the perfect recipe to have a good time, but more importantly, to discover yourself. Make it a goal to learn something new each semester. Learn how to program, learn how to rock climb, learn how to dance. At the end of your college days, you will have a wealth of skills and talents and perhaps you will learn a thing or two about yourself along the way.
2. I didn’t join a club.
The true advantage of a college campus is the high density of students who potentially share similar interests. However, the chances of discovering that the girl sitting next to you is a tea aficionado or that the guy with the green eyes has dreams of volunteering in Peru are pretty slim. Unless of course, you join a club. Clubs allow you to meet and connect with many people who share the same interests as you. They allow you to learn and have fun, and in some instances contribute to society. Also, they can look great on resumes and help you network with amazing people.
3. I didn’t take care of myself.
We’ve all heard about the freshman 15, but unfortunately the degree to which many college students neglect their body is much greater than a few extra pounds. Lack of sleep, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, stress and excessive stimulant (i.e. caffeine) consumption are habits and behaviors that plague college students. It’s no secret that all of these factors can lead to decreased academic and social performance, not to mention have various adverse side effects on the human body. Living a healthy and balanced life in college will pay dividends immediately and in the future.
4. I didn’t change my work habits.
College is all about adapting, and unless you adapt to new teaching styles and develop new study habits, don’t be surprised when you no longer have a 4.0 GPA. Study habit evolution and time management are the most important changes that must be made during your transition to college life. Tip: Review after each class and stay on top of your work, it really does help.
5. I didn’t meet girls.
It’s every freshman’s dream, thousands of beautiful people, no parents, your very own dorm room… Unfortunately, for far too many students this dream never becomes a reality. Luckily, you have the power to change this. The people you meet in college will be the most open and interesting people you will ever meet. Everyone on campus is looking for a new friend, a new person to call his or her own. Take advantage of this fact, make an effort to talk to the opposite sex, make new friends and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. You’ll be pleasantly rewarded. If you do get rejected, brush it off and think nothing of it, there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
Reader Comments (11)
Great Advise! As a college freshman starting his second semester I would definitely say that all 5 of those points were right on the money. I really enjoy reading and watching "HackCollege." It's like you guys live in my brain and know exactly what I am thinking. Great stuff and looking forward to what's in store this next year!
It is rather good advice.
Joining a club or society was possibly the best choice I ever made, I got to meet lots of new friends, and the campus did not seem too big and lonely any more.
However I do have to disagree with point 5, not everyone wants to meet a girl(s), but I guess the whole gist applies to whatever the person is looking for.
omg luke your article is da bombbbb and i bet you are so hot in real life ;)
youre even cooler than the jonas brothers ahahahaahahahahaha
Brilliant first post Luke. I would have to say, everything is spot on. Congrats on getting the witters job, and I hope every article of yours will be just as good as the first.
=D
@mysteryj
friend of luke perhaps?
@l3hc4r
now he has some pressure on him to make every article perfect
@Ryan Parker
It's the price you pay when you plug a site to your friends.
Pressure is good, hopefully it will keep me from posting stories like this http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9667184&nav=menu1362_8_6
Haha, I love the list! The first mistake I made in college was not learning. I was too busy out meeting new people and staying up until 3 am. Looking back at it now, it wasn't a smart idea.
Great post ! I shared the same with many friends of mine by setting it my Gtalk status..I am in 8th semester,and I realize that I should have done,what's said here. I did not meet girls,no clubs,thank god I learned lots of new things(from 4th semester though) programming/entrepreneurship/web strategies etc .. but yea,this post if read earlier,could have helped me better ;)
Short, sweet, and incredibly insightful.
A great first post, I look forward to reading more so that I can hack college.
wise beyond your years Luke, and yes, much cuter than any silly old jonas brother. Now I just have to direct my current grade 12 students to this advice....
just read this and i think where you went wrong in ref to eeting girls. Look at UW head to WLU, duh. UW 101