There is a lot to learn when you are new to being a col­lege stu­dent and there are a lot of tips you can use to be smart about your own col­lege experience.

According to col​legeview​.com, there are 10 major mis­takes and mis­con­cep­tions col­lege stu­dents tend to make or have.

One of the biggest fears that col­lege stu­dents can have is that they are unde­cided or unsure of their major. This isn’t as big a prob­lem as some might think. Many stu­dents change their major at least once, and there is time to fig­ure out what you want to do as you take gen­eral edu­ca­tion classes.

Another thing to be aware of is text­books. Many stu­dents buy text­books from the book­store before classes begin. Sometimes you do not actu­ally need the book for the class and usu­ally instruc­tors let you know. A good thing to do is wait until after the first cou­ple classes to buy your books and then look for cheaper options like order­ing off the internet.

In your fresh­man year you are required to meet with your advi­sor. Don’t take this lightly. Advisors help you map out your sched­ule, give advice about pro­fes­sors, and can even help you grad­u­ate early. They are an impor­tant resource that should be utilized.

Professors should be looked at as vital to your learn­ing expe­ri­ence. Ferris usu­ally has small class sizes so it’s eas­ier to get to know your pro­fes­sors. Introduce your­self to them and don’t be afraid to ask ques­tions. Professors can pro­vide you with great ref­er­ences or even open doors to jobs.

It is impor­tant to get involved on cam­pus. It can help you net­work, make long-lasting friend­ships, relieve home­sick­ness, and give you great expe­ri­ence. Certain orga­ni­za­tions can also give you great expe­ri­ence for the field you are going into.

Getting to know your cam­pus and the sur­round­ing areas is impor­tant. There are always safety haz­ards to con­sider so make sure you carry around your cell phone and try to travel in groups, espe­cially at night. You might even con­sider pur­chas­ing some pep­per spray.

Finances are some­thing stu­dents can learn to man­age and you don’t have to go in to debt dur­ing col­lege. Giving your­self a bud­get every week for every­thing from food to enter­tain­ment can allow you to keep track of your money and be more con­ser­v­a­tive. Try not to use a credit card except in emer­gen­cies. It’s easy to lose track when you swipe a card.

Internship expe­ri­ence is impor­tant for your future career. Even if your pro­gram doesn’t require you to do an intern­ship, it is still a good idea because employ­ers like appli­cants that have some type of expe­ri­ence. Internships can make you more com­pet­i­tive once you grad­u­ate and you might even be offered a posi­tion where you intern.

Studying abroad is some­thing that can be avail­able to all stu­dents. It might be expen­sive, but schol­ar­ships and grants are avail­able if you are will­ing to put in the time to find them. Studying abroad can not only pro­vide great hands on expe­ri­ence, but also allow you to explore the world and learn about other cultures.

One final rule of thumb is that stu­dents should always take time to relax. College is hard and there is a lot of home­work, but if you don’t allow your­self time to step back and have fun you’ll miss out. Taking a break relieves stress and helps you keep your goals in perspective.

These sim­ple tips can not only help you dur­ing your col­lege expe­ri­ence, but can also help get you off on the right foot after you grad­u­ate. n