The document provides advice for college freshmen on making the most of their college experience. It recommends that students (1) get involved in extracurricular activities or find recreational activities to avoid wasting time, (2) network by getting to know professors, mentors, and a diverse group of peers, and (3) challenge themselves academically by taking difficult courses, doing research, tutoring others, or studying abroad. The document also provides information on various campus resources that can help students succeed, such as the counseling center, writing center, and financial aid office. Students are advised to take advantage of these resources and opportunities early in their college career to have the most fulfilling and productive experience.

1. THE DIARY OF A
COLLEGE GRADUATE:
WHAT I WISH I KNEW
AS A FRESHMAN!!
Tasheika Fulmore
Summer Assessment Coordinator
Summer 2012

2. “IF YOU WANT TO
MAKE AN EASY JOB
SEEM MIGHTY HARD,
JUST KEEP PUTTING
OFF DOING IT."
~Olin Miller

3. DON’T HAVE A LONG
WISH LIST OF
“WOULDACOULDASHOULDA”
WHEN YOU GET TO THIS POINT.
SEIZE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
NOW!!!
So what can you do about it?

4. The wish list guide:
Get involved!!! ● Don’t sit around
campus wasting
away!!
● Join an organization,
play a sport or find
some recreational
activity off campus.

5. Network, Network, Network!!!
● Get to know professors, faculty
and staff.
● Socialize outside of your
immediate friendship circle.
● Find a mentor that can help you
maneuver the campus:
● EX.: Peer Mentors: (FYE)”
● Volunteer or Intern for
organizations connected to your
major or interests.

6. Challenge yourself
● Don’t stick to the mindset
of just “making it” out of
college. Take the
opportunity to do
something you have never
done before.
● Take course work outside of your
major that will challenge you.
Example: Take more than the
minimum of a foreign language.
Take at least one of the advanced
level courses.
● Take every opportunity to do
research; become a master at your
craft.
● If you are good in a certain subject
become a tutor and help your
peers. Doing so will help hone your
skills in that area.

7. LEARN HOW YOU LEARN
● We all learn differently and you have
to learn how you learn.
● you may need a little more time to
work on learned material than your
peers and that is fine.
● The goal is not how fast you
understand the information, it is
about you learning the information
and how well you can appropriately
apply the information.
● There is nothing wrong with asking
questions until you understand.
There are no stupid questions
except the one you don’t ask.
● Go talk to your professor and let
them know when you can’t
understand the information. Don’t
wait until after the exam or after you
are failing the course.

8. Belk Professional Development Center:
Starting early
● Belk Professional
Development Center:
Located in Goold Hall-
0011 Lower level.
● Start developing your
resume and interview
skills.
● Get to know the staff in
this center NOW, so that
you know when jobs and
internship opportunities
become available.

9. Office of Global Study
Abroad/International Programs
● Mr. Russell Brodie
● Director: Benson 200
● Assists with student
study abroad.
● International service
learning.
● International
internships.
● International
Grad/Professional
schools.

10. No ride?? Transportation Provided:
Triangle CAT Bus
● Triangle CAT bus.
919-485-7433
● Travels throughout the
Triangle: Cary,
Raleigh
Knighdale,Durham.
● The Crabtree Valley
Mall, Triangle Mall,
North Hills Mall.
● For all other questions
refer to:
www.Triangletransit.org

11. Get Help if You need it
● C.A.P.S – Counseling and
Psychological Services
● Women's Center
● Gordon Student Health Center
● Campus Police Department.
Academic Advising: Tutoring
Center
● Academic Achievers: TRIO
Program
● Writing Center
● SmartThinking
● If you are stressed, depressed or just
need someone to talk to There are so
many resources on campus to help you
● If you are in trouble in any way there
are people here to help you. For
example, If you feel unsafe or in any
kind of danger contact campus police
● If you need help with classwork or
home work, tutors are available for free
at the academic advising tutoring
classroom.
● The TRIO program is available for first
generation college students.
● Get help honing your writing skills at
the writing center from your peers.

12. (Financial Aid)
Loans are Not Free Money
● Apply for
scholarships: UNCF is
an excellent resource.
● Take the grants and
decrease the loans.
● If you have to get
loans, be responsible!
● Always apply early,
apply the first day that
you can apply
● Don’t wait until the last
minute funds are not
infinite. They run out
and fast.
● Be persistent!!! Money
is out there.

13. Don’t be in a Hurry
“ it ain’t over ‘till it’s over”
● Don’t move too quickly.
● Take advice from your
professors they actually
know what they are talking
about.
● Don’t take too many classes
at one time, you are in
college to learn.
● You want to understand the
material, IT IS NOT A
RACE!!!
● Attend summer school
to take that course that
you are having
difficulties in.
● You will get your degree
in due time.
● You want your degree
to mean something
other than I have a
degree.

14. Campus Resources
● Academic Advising:
Hunter 201
● TRIO: Boyer 100
● Belk Professional
Development Center:
Goold 0011 Lower level.
● Joseph G. Gordon
Student Health Center
● Prezell Robinson
Library
● Writing Center: Boyer
306
● Women’s Center:
Cheshire lower level.
● Financial
Aid/Admissions: Delany
Hall
● CAMS: Benson Bldg.
● Study abroad and
International internships:
Benson Bldg. office 200.
● Cat Bus: Located in
front of the campus.

15. Any questions???