USU alumni give advice to new Aggies
College is a pivotal time for new students, and by choosing higher education, they accept the big changes that come with it. Many of the students who are attending Utah State University this fall will be moving away from home and finding their independence for the first time in their life. Such big changes can be overwhelming, especially when students don’t know what to expect from those first few weeks at college.
Once students have moved in and settled into their housing, it is time to focus on preparing for the semester. Ethan Ford, who graduated from USU last spring with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, said it’s important to put yourself out there and socialize in those first few weeks at college instead of staying in your room.
“I think giving yourself too much space in the first two weeks is the worst thing you can do. Everyone is in the same boat as you. No one knows anybody,” Ford said. “You should be trying to get out and socialize because if you wait, then the phase of everyone meeting each other is over. It is a time when you should be putting yourself out there and then taking more space a little later in the semester. My first year, I made the mistake of not putting myself out there and ended up isolating myself.”
Students settling into their new classes and getting used to college can get overwhelmed by how fast campus life can be. Nathan Dunn, who graduated with a bachelor’s in public relations from UVU and got his associate at USU, said getting out and seeing what the campus had to offer helped him slow down and enjoy his first few weeks at USU more.
“Going to the ARC, going outside to enjoy nature, going to public events on campus — these are all good options,” Dunn said. “Enjoy the little things and don’t worry about making an impact right off the bat. You’re not going to get your degree overnight. Just relax and enjoy these first few weeks of being an adult and being on your own.”
A great option for students to socialize and learn more about the campus is USU’s annual Weeks of Welcome. For the first two weeks of school, USU will be hosting events like Day on the Quad, High Stakes Bingo and many more. The full Weeks of Welcome schedule is available at www.usu.edu/involvement/welcome.
While it is important for students to take time to socialize and enjoy themselves, it’s also important for students to remember to focus on their classes as well.
Debra Monson, associate professor for the USU Department of Communication and Media, said it’s important students look into what is expected of them for their classes and introduce themselves to their professors when the semester starts.
“Spend the first week really going over the syllabus and the Canvas schedule and integrate it with your regular work/life schedule so you know when everything is due,” Monson said. “I have so many students who get caught at the end of the semester by assignments they missed.”
Monson said it’s also important students are utilizing campus resources when doing coursework.
“If you haven’t been to the library, you need to go to the library and talk to a librarian,” Monson said. “When you walk in, there is a huge display of all the content expert librarians there who can help you with any assignment throughout the semester. The library is an amazing resource as a physical space, and unfortunately, I think we’ve gotten used to mostly using it as an online resource.”
College students learn and experience so much during the years they spend at college. Ford said his advice to new students is to remember why they chose to attend college.
“One of the main reasons you go to college is to learn and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life,” Ford said. “I feel like sometimes when people go to college, they get lost in partying and being independent. They end up not really caring about what they will be doing when they get out of college. You don’t need to figure out what degree you want to graduate with right away, but you need to be willing to dedicate yourself to figuring it out.”