How does a student achieve success in College and After Graduation?
Identify your true passions. Find what really interests you on a deep level.
Research prospective job markets and career paths. Do not limit yourself.
Conduct informational interviews with professionals in careers you are considering. Do well in classes but also become actively involved in extracurricular activities. Don’t be a hermit. Get out there and meet as many people as possible. Network, network, network! Consider entrepreneurialism as career. Do not confine your options to employment in pre-defined job positions. Constantly refine your writing and public speaking skills. These are essential skills in every profession and career out there, and they are the most marketable assets you can have.
How do I succeed in all my classes?
Choose classes wisely. Remember you are paying good money, and select classes that truly interest you and that can benefit you in the future. Research professors before taking their courses. Check ratemyprofessor.com, ask around, and meet with the professor personally. You can register for a great class, and not learn a thing because of an incompetent professor. Attend all classes. Just being there saves you a lot of time and effort in the long run and automatically puts you in the good graces of your professor. Take notes only on pertinent information that you can decipher later on when studying. Link up with a buddy in class and exchange contact information. When you miss a class or need help on an assignment, your buddy is your go-to person.
How do I manage my time?
Stick to your plans. School work comes first, then professional/organizational commitments, then your social life. Avoid watching mindless TV and wasting time on meaningless activities. Use a planner diligently to organize your commitments and appointments. This will improve your focus and prevent disorganization in your life. Check out calendar.google.com by far the best organization tool out there. Be prompt. Always be at least five minutes early to your appointments. This shows character and professionalism, and is a good habit to get into. Plan out your week, hour by hour if possible, every Sunday. Every morning, review what you have planned for the day and update your schedule when new commitments come up.
Do not spread yourself too thin. When you commit to something, make sure you have the time for it. It is very easy to over-commit yourself in college and become stressed out.
How do I Live the College Life?
A lot of freshmen think college is a non-stop party. Every year, dozens of students drop out because they fall behind in their classes, become alcoholics, or succumb to illegal drug use. Don’t let that be you. If you decide to drink, do it in moderation. Binge drinking can easily lead to alcohol poisoning, which means going to the hospital, getting your stomach pumped, and in most cases receiving up to $500 in fines for underage drinking. Do not drink on weekdays. This will negatively affect your classroom performance and make you feel horrible the next day.
What can I do in Philadelphia?
You can check out some live music. Go to freshoutmedia.com, r5productions.com, worldcafelive.com, goodiegoodie.com, foundationarts.org, and campusphilly.com to stay up on the local music scene. Explore the different parts of the city, not just South Street. Check out 2nd Street off Poplar Street in Northern Liberties, the Italian Market on 9th Street and Washington Avenue, Old City around 2nd and Market Streets, and University City around 40th and Walnut Streets. Notfortourists.com is a good place to check out, and use google.com, mapquest.com, and septa.com to find out how to get around the city. Go to First Fridays. Every first Friday night of the month, all the art galleries in Old City open up and display a new set of artwork. There are usually free snacks and drinks in most galleries too!
General Tips
1) The TuMail, OwlNet, Blackboard, etc are really very important and user friendly
2) Getting Diamond Dollars is recommended
3) Always keep track of your expenses and be careful of the hidden expenses
4) The SAC is one stop where you can find everything- all the information about everything going around in the campus
5) To make friends, join clubs/organizations
6) Be friendly yet professional with the professors as well as the students
7) Don’t get nervous when you come to Temple. At first, everything seems too confusing but things settle pretty fast