Freshmen; Here’s What You Need to Know

The secret to earning a college degree is not a secret at all…just get to your junior year. If you get that far, you’re almost guaranteed a degree.

And, a pretty high percentage of college students who complete their sophomore year return for their junior year. The message is clear; get through two or three years of college and there is probably an undergraduate degree in you future.

Freshman year is the one that provides the biggest hurdle for most students. At some college, more than half the students who do not graduate leave between their first day on campus and what should be the first day of their sophomore year. To avoid being one of those “early leavers”, pledge to follow the five rules below.

1. Don’t cut classes. Missing classes is the single worst thing you can do. More students fail classes because they cut than for any other reason. Discipline yourself to make it to all of your scheduled classes.

2. Put yourself on a schedule and stick to it. Be sure to schedule study times, study breaks, and sleep time. Like class attendance, this is a matter of self-discipline, a very valuable trait for college students.

3. Keep up with or ahead of your assignment due dates. Don’t fall behind on your reading and don’t write your papers at the last minute. Cramming may have worked for you in high school, but it is unlikely to in college.

4. Don’t go crazy with your newly found freedom. If you drink excessively, burn the candle at both ends, and put play ahead of your assignments, your days in college will probably be numbered.

5. Make college your home…become engaged. Reach out to new people. Join a club or activity. See that you take advantage of all that’s available to you on campus.

The five rules above aren’t very complicated. And, they shouldn’t be terribly hard to follow. Yet, if everyone adhered to them, the average six year college graduation rate in the United States would probably jump from its currently disappointing 55% to the 90% plus seen at some of our most selective institutions.

Daniel Z. Kane is a university dean who has created highly popular websites offering information on online college degrees and online degree programs for adults.