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Freshman Advice Query.
The McKelvey Camp Entrepreneur® 2001 Scholars present "FAQ," a guide created by the 2001 McKelvey Scholars for the 2002 McKelvey Scholars based on experiences and challenges they had during their first year of college.

Activities
Social Skills
Dorm Life
First Week
Study Skills
Fear
Roommates
Alcohol/Drugs
Stress Management
Class Professors
Money Management
Sleep
Hygiene/Nutrition/Laundry
Meeting People
Time Management
Independence/Decision-Making

Activites

Be as active as possible.
Try everything; find as many distractions from school as you can.
Do not be in too many things at once because it can be hard to handle.
This is the best way to make friends who are interested in the same things as you.
Have a good mix of studies and activities; all studying may stress you out.
Being involved in things is an easy way for you to meet new people. It also helps you to get your mind off schoolwork.
Do not be pressured by sororities/frats, and do not take on too much. Just follow your heart.
A good stress reliever and good resume builder.
Remember not to overload. What you do not do one year you can do other years.
Get involved!! It is fun. It is a great way to make friends and it breaks up the class work. It is an alternative way to spend your time.

Social Skills

Learn how to get along with all sorts of people from different places.
Make yourself get out, make friends and have fun.
If you were shy in high school, make a goal to become more forward, it helps a lot!
Learn to be willing to listen to others. Go out and meet new people.
Remember: no one knows you – you can be anyone you want to be.
Just get out there and try new things, don’t be afraid or you’ll regret it later.
Just be yourself, people are much more accepting of individuality in college.
Keep your dorm room door open as much as possible (especially during the first few weeks) You’ll be surprised how many people will stop in just to say hi.
Stop in other people’s rooms to say hi too!
Get out there and introduce yourself to everyone. Be friends and smile a lot!

Dorm Life

Don’t be stressed about sharing a bathroom with 20 other people. It’s not as bad as it sounds ( but remember your shower shoes!!!).
Don’t be afraid to ask your RA (resident assistant) about anything. Odds are that if they don’t know an answer to your question, they can direct you to someone who does.
Get to know your hall mates. They’re not going to be as bad as you think. Don't be afraid to get to get involved in hall stupidity, sports, events, etc.
Go to the floor programs. They help with meeting other people.
Keep your door open as much as possible. You don’t want to be known as the hall's “shut-in.” And pop into your floor mates rooms too.
Your floor mates become like your family. Get to know them and have fun with them.
Dorm life can be really fun, getting to know people around you may gain you more respect so you won’t have to worry about the things people may complain about.
Have fun with your hall mates. They make school the best and DON’T gossip. It only makes situations really bad or will.

First Week

How you act the first week might be the groundwork for how you will act the rest of the year. Be yourself, don’t be weird.
It is scary and somewhat confusing. Just relax and try and make yourself comfortable. After all, school becomes a second home.
Best time to make friends because all the others are needing someone to depend on too.
Scariest time of all, just take a deep breath and take that time to relate with others and make friends.
When you go to school you can be any person you want to be. No one knows you. Go in with a good attitude and have fun. Just be prepared that the first week will be hard. Don’t be afraid to call home.
Jump in!! Call home if you need to. Your family will miss you just as much as you miss them and can help you through those first lonely nights.
Start talking and finding things in common with your roommate.
Everything is different, but don’t be scared. Think of it as a learning experience and make the most of it.
Remember that all the other freshmen feel just like you do. This is a great time to bond with them and make great friends.
Some of the stuff you have to do you will not like, but remember some of it because it will help you. (Ex: like when they point out the local restaurants and good hangouts.)

Study Skills

Get things done beforehand.
Do not procrastinate.
Work hard but don’t over do it.
Learn the way that you study so that it benefits you the most.
20 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Take breaks when studying so you have time to comprehend what you are studying.
Sometimes studying with a friend helps.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the workload, If you take it one step at a time and don’t procrastinate you’ll get it all done.
Go to the study sessions your professor holds before the exam. Sometimes they tell you what is on the test and it’s a great way to study. Go with your friends.
Study groups. They work.
Everyone has to study a different amount of time. Don’t quit studying when your friends do if you don’t understand the material.

Fear

Everyone has it! Don’t worry!
Ignore it!
Relax and take one step at a time.
It is a good thing to go through because that is when you learn your most.
You’re not alone talk to others about your fears, you probably all have that same thing in common.
Everyone will be going through the same feeling so don’t be afraid to talk to one another.
Look at your fears as a challenge and when you overcome it later look back at it and learn from it.
Don’t let it hold you back because you will regret it in the long run.
NO FEAR!

Roommates

Grant each other space.
You’re not going to get the perfect roommate, so be ready for the disappointment.
Respect one another.
Learn to communicate.
Get comfortable with your roommate(s) and neighbors; it will ease the “fear of fitting in.”
Learn to set rules or tell one another things that bother you. It will help to ease the tension.
Don’t borrow their things without asking.
Be open with your roommate. Sometimes it is worse to be really good friends with them because if you are in a fight that fight is in your room.
Sometimes you get the perfect roommate so fill out the like/dislike questionnaire truthfully.
If you hate them you can get a new one next year.
Even if you hate your roommate, you can always spend time at other places. The only thing you really “need” to do in your room is sleep.
Divide room-cleaning responsibilities.
Don’t throw your crap on their side of the room.

Alcohol/Drugs

Have fun but be smart
Don’t do it!
Don’t be ashamed if you don’t do it, it it's your decision, but if you do be careful. Don’t let people take advantage of you.
College isn’t all about just studying or just partying…get the right mix, have fun, and use common sense.
Do what you have fun doing. You can go to parties and have fun without drinking. Just find the places where you fit in best.
Know your limits and don’t feel pressured. No one at school looks down on you if you don’t drink or use drugs.
If it’s not your thing, don’t worry, not everyone does it and there is a lot of fun to be had without drugs and alcohol. If it is you thing, do it in moderation and always be careful and safe.
If you drink, drink with people you get along with. If you don’t drink, go meet people you get along with whether or not they drink.

Stress Management

Don’t freak out. Just get stuff done. If you can’t do anything about it. Don’t waste your time worrying about it.
Get out once in a while. Get some air. Get some exercise.
Do not procrastinate and you will have less stress.
Don’t let it get you down, everything always works out.
Call home and talk to a friend or family member. Or go with a friend on campus for coffee.
Take a break from things and do something that relaxes you. You can always come back later and finish.
Don’t freak out if you feel overloaded. Just finish one thing at a time and remember…if you talk to professors they may give extensions.
Don’t freak when unexpected things come. Just try your hardest to do your best and let the rest go.
Exercise, it relieves 95% of physical and emotional stress. Take out your frustration on a punching bag!

Class Professors

Don’t ask a math major about calc professors unless you want a challenge.
Don’t expect a professor to adapt to your style. Play by their rules so they won’t have anything to hang over your head.
They aren’t as scary as they seem. Go to them.
If you talk to your professor most times you will find answers for assignments.
Go to class. Sometimes attendance is worth a percentage of your grade. Also be sure to always read the syllabus for each class you have it is very IMPORTANT!
Asking questions is a must because no one will be helping you keep up unless you let them know you need help.
Talk with your advisors and go see your professors. They will help you.
PAY ATTENTION!
Go to study sessions. They help a lot. Also if your professor posts his lecture notes online be sure to look over them. You do tend to miss little facts sometimes.
Don’t be afraid to ask around about profs and take advantage of office hours and class reviews.

Money Management

Use a debit card instead of credit cards so you do not spend money that you do not have.
Check for cheap things to do on campus before heading out for the evening. There is almost always something fun (movies, sports, etc.) that will not kill your wallet.
When you are going to get stuff (i.e. food) see if anyone else wants in. It saves money and you get to know other people.
Try to eat out as little as possible. Food can really kill your budget.
Be smart!! If you do not have it, do not spend it, and if you need it for something else save it. Independence carries responsibility.
Save all your change-it adds up quickly.
Remember many people are in the same shoes as you. Save you money as best you can. Most college kids are in lack of it.
Designate certain nights that you're going to go out, most do not have lots of money so try to find fun cheap things to do…go play at Wal-Mart!! It is a hard thing to do but you have to even though we all love to shop.

Sleep

Get as much as required.
Make sure you get enough sleep to function in class.
Do no sell yourself short with sleep.
But do not sleep all the time like it is a hobby.
You know what your body needs; you may have some late nights and early mornings but do not over do it.
You will get to know how much sleep you require. There will be times when you don’t get enough but do not make it a hobby to deprive yourself of it. Sleep keeps you healthy!
And if you do not get enough-POWERNAP!
Do not feel stupid if you have to go to bed early, even if it is 10:00.

Hygiene/Nutrition/Laundry

Wear sandals in the shower!
Don’t wait until you have no clothes left for yourself to do laundry.
Make sure you wash your dishes when you use them and take out the trash when needed.
There is no one around to remind you to do dishes or laundry, pretend your dorm is you own home and treat it as you would if that were true.
Always wash your dishes and once in a while dust and stuff. Your rooms do get dirty!
Ask cleaning ladies for vacuums (floors get gross) and put some plants in the room, it makes it feel “homey.”
Respect your roommate by not being a slob!
Buy tons of socks and underwear so you only have to do laundry every 2 to 3 weeks.
Buy a swiffer mop that has disposable sheet and also the duster sheets. They are really handy. Use a sponge to do your dishes.

Meeting People

Introduce yourself first!
Keep your dorm room open; the first few weeks are the best times to get to know people.
Make a good first impression.
Make yourself meet people.
Go to club/activity meetings to find people that enjoy the same things as you.
Don’t be afraid to approach people; many people want to, but are afraid to make that first step.
During the first week make sure you introduce yourself to everyone you come across. You may not become friends with all but with several you will. And it’s always nice to see familiar faces throughout the year.
Compliment and ask questions- people love to talk about themselves.

Time Management

Don’t waste your time - always find something to do.
Write all valuable information down, such as deadlines, assignments, office hours, etc.
Make a schedule for class work, eating, sleeping, showering, laundry, work, and a social life. Use your time wisely.
This is something that takes time to learn. Don’t worry or get stressed, just learn how to use your time wisely and always keep busy.
Time management is a hard thing accomplish. Just know your limits, and what you can handle. Keeping a daily planner really helps.
Always keep a daily planner. You will live by it. It takes time to get used to scheduling or fitting everything in, but it gets easier with time.
Know your schedule and don't worry about late nights. We all have them.
Get your work done then play. You have a lot more fun without the worries.
Test the water before you do everything. Don’t take on everything at once, but don’t be afraid to try things.

Independence / Decision-Making

Realize that you now have to handle many of the things your parents used to take care of like laundry, meals, etc.
Don’t put off anything that requires paperwork from someone else. Know that they will probably procrastinate as well. Give them time to do that and still meet the deadline
It’s all you. Find out who you really are, then fix what’s not good. If you make a mistake, don’t worry because you’ll get the chance to change it.
If you have a problem, don’t be afraid to call home and ask for advice. No one will be on your back about getting things done. Motivate yourself.
College is a great time to learn about yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone. Independents need to depend on others sometimes. Turn to family and friends when you need to.