Ok since I started and finished my first year of college, I gain some experience and learned some things. You actually learn things from the first semester and that helps you in the second semester so here is my advice:

1. When picking courses, research your professors.

In my first semester, I had such terrible professors. Their teaching methods were awful. I had this chem professor who randomize the chapters we learned like chapter 1, 2 and then 7! And she wonders how the whole class failed on the first exam.

That was my first lesson in the first semester. For my second semester, I researched my professors this time from this website called Rate my Professor and believe me guys it really helped. Rate my Professor shows the like rating of the professor and the comments are from students that took that professor. Make sure to check the comments that are most recent, especially because teaching methods changed due to covid.

Here's the link for Rate my Professor. All you have to do is find the professor's name that teaches the course your choosing and the college they go to:

https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/

2. I know with Covid, we have online classes but my advice try to go for as many in person classes as possible.

I know you guys might be scared from catching covid but honestly for me, it just gets boring when you're online at home for so long and you can't meet with people in person.

I had like two in person classes second semester(three if you include chemistry in person lab)(not gonna include first semester because it was terrible) and when I had those in person classes, it was so fun and engaging. I met people who just so fun to talk with and we shared similar interests and shared stories, talked about our day. And the professors were really nice, talkative and engaging. I had so much fun with in person classes and I wanted to go for all online but honestly I was glad to go almost all in person.

So my advice, in my opinion, try to go as many in person as you can because it's just more fun and engaging and nice to see people

3. Work and study hard.

If you thought high school, college is more challenging trust me. First semester, I missed so many assignments 😫 it wasn't good.

Second semester, I always double checked the dates of my assignments and exams. If you want to get good grades in college and get credits, you need to work hard and study hard and be careful! Some online course have cameras and cheating is TOO big of a risk! So study hard guys! Even if you stay up a few hours at night, it's worth it(just make sure you get sleep ok)

4. Don't be fooled by a college with a big name. They might actually turn out to be terrible.

For my first semester, I went to a college with a large name. But so many problems: professors were terrible, parking you have to pay or you get a ticket and there was construction so that made getting college difficult. You also needed to have an ID card to open some of the doors( you also needed to order the card before you start classes)

Thankfully, I changed to a different college for my second semester and it was MUCH better. I'm not gonna mention the names of the colleges I went to but yeah keep that in mind

5. Get backup notebooks 📓

Going to college means a lot of note taking and you'll suddenly find that you finished your notebook before the semester finished so always have backup notebooks of any type

6. Once your professor emails you, check out the syllabus and read it carefully.

There might be some requirements needed or textbooks required so don't just skim through it

7. If you have any old notes from the first semester and high school, DON'T THROW IT OUT!!!

You might need it just incase. For example, in my second semester I took chem 2 and last semester I took chem 1. My professor suddenly gave us a quiz on chem 1. Fortunately, I still had my old chem 1 notes from first semester.

So those old notes you have may come in handy as a backup so DON'T THROW IT OUT!!!

7. Always have a calculator with you!

If you have any math classes, physics or chemistry and there's also lab, always bring a calculator with you in your backpack (just don't leave it behind in college)

8. NEVER SAVE YOUR WORK TO THE LAST DAY!

I had classmates in my second semester in chem class, always saving their lab assignments to the last day and believe me it was crazy! I did that mistake too(fortunately a winter storm gave me extra time because our labs were in person and at night time)

But trust me guys! NEVER EVER SAVE YOUR WORK TO THE LAST DAY! DON'T BE LAZY!

9. Write down the due dates for assignments and exams on your calendar and on your phone so you'll remember what you have due and when exams are coming so you can prepare

10. Balance your time. It's important to make time for you college work but also make time to relax and spend time with family and friends 💕🥰

Ok that's all the advice and tips I have for first time college experience. Hope this is helpful for you guys and see ya later! 💕💕💕