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College first-years, especially first-generation students, please ask all your “stupid” questions! I tried way too hard to learn things on my own! Don’t know what a seminar is? Where does your swipe access work? How to look up course reviews for advice on how to do well? Ask!
Small examples of my stupid moments: I went 6 semesters without knowing there was a website to check enrollment levels during shopping period, I didn’t learn where the ice machine was for like a year, I didn’t know how to adjust the heater until my third year, etc.
Non-trivial things I should’ve asked: how do you take notes generally for a lecture/seminar? How to ask someone to do a problem set or study with you? How to access the writing center and when to use it? How to deal with doing bad on an assignment/quiz/exam/class? ...
When should I read the textbook? Do I need to do every single page of reading? How to speak up in a seminar without sounding dumb but being respectful? What are the different tutoring options? How to use the Career Services and/or Academic Strategies offices?...
Where can I find on-campus jobs? How/when do I get paid? What does my Head/Dean of College actually do? How do I utilize office hours and professors (this one is very important)? Should I go to a Peer Tutor or TA or the Professor? How should I manage my time with studying?
Every single one of these questions I learned years too late or never asked at all! I’m *still* understanding some of these things from my friends. Don’t be like me, just ask now!
Take it from someone who was literally paid to be an “expert” on my university, there was so much I didn’t know my first-year that I didn’t feel comfortable voicing to anybody besides my mother who never attending college.
You are paying for school, but you are also paying for support and resources, don’t ever forget!
