Freshmen: Listen up

By Jake Williams

December 20, 2007 | The next time you visit your college campus, freshmen of Utah State University, try to notice what we veteran college students have been noticing for years: There are a disproportionate number of you young pups walking about. Seriously, it seems like every new school year USU attracts a larger percentage of younger student bodies. There's a clear reason for this: Freshmen are dropping out of college at an alarming rate.

According to a university study, the average retention rate for freshmen between 2002 and 2005 was 72.6 percent. One out of every four of you won't make it to your second year, when the ‘freshman 15' weight gain either melts away or becomes a permanent fixture to your body frame.

The low retention rate, and we veterans concede it could be much lower, is the cause for our perceived phenomenon, the student population that seems to get younger and younger with each passing year. As 27.4 percent of the freshman class drops out and is replaced by a new freshmen class, we think you little guys and gals are stuck in Neverland -- the Peter Pan version, not the Ranch.

And so we have taken it upon ourselves to share our infinite knowledge of college life with you as you fight for survival like newly hatched sea turtles scuttling towards the dangerous sea ahead. We, the veteran horde, have survived what lies in your future and would love for more than 72.6 percent of you to join us on this side of the fence -- or reef? -- instead of dumping your dream of graduating from your favorite college.

Jenny Goodsell, age 20, is a sophomore at USU majoring in film studies, and she will share some trade secrets with you Scuttlers.

"Don't focus on getting a good grade in classes. Get a good education for your $2500 per semester," says Goodsell.

It's a valid point. You will notice there is a heavy burden placed upon your shoulders to start your college career on the right foot, meaning with a stellar grade-point average. The university wants you to succeed in your infancy just as we veterans want you to make it into our ranks, but you didn't sign up to be an Aggie to get letters on a piece of paper, did you? Of course you didn't, you attend Utah State to get a quality education, second to none. Focus on this latter idea, quality of education over elevated grades, and your college experience will be more worthwhile.

Goodsell also has advice for freshmen housing. "Don't be too depressed if you have a crappy apartment. This is college, you're lucky in you have your own room." She adds "But make your room your own."

Comfort with your dwelling is very important to most of you freshmen because it is likely the first time you've lived outside your parents' home. Shelter is one of those four or five basic necessities in life so even if you don't love your new situation, do everything within your power to make the new place you hang your hat your home.

Jamie Shubert, also age 20, is an elementary and special education major and she too will share trade secrets with you Scuttlers.

"You definitely have to set up your own schedule for homework," says Shubert.

Homework is more important in college than it was last year in your high school. Calculus is a good way to illustrate this point. Anyone who has taken the full-year high school AP calculus course knows that you do not want to get behind in it. Compare that to Utah State's version of calculus, which lasts only one semester. Figure out a schedule for homework that will work for you early in your college experience, before week three comes along and your cursor is hovering over the Access ‘drop course' button.

"Make school your priority, not dating," adds Shubert. She recommends steering clear of return missionaries and ‘premies' -- those who will be splitting college down the middle with a mission of their own -- until you know you have this whole college thing under control. She also suggests keeping a healthy balance of homework and play. "I'd say 60 percent homework and 40 percent fun is a good balance," says Shubert. Goodsell thinks an even 50-50 split is more realistic, but the important thing to remember is that school is priority one, then play.

Raylene Peterson, age 22 and majoring in social work, is your last veteran consiglieri -- an Italian phrase meaning counselor or consultant. Peterson is a senior, a true expert in the craft of attending Utah State, and her recommendations are as close to college gospel as you'll find.

"Make friends with your professors," advises Peterson. "They're more willing to help you if you're not a jerk."

Truer words you will find not. Professors are always appreciative of students, young and older alike, who are willing to add human interaction to the day-to-day grind of college life. We're not saying making friends with your academic aficionado will get you a better grade, per se, but we are saying it couldn't hurt.

There are countless other tidbits of advice we could list for you here, but let us focus on the few that all three veterans came up with. Peterson elegantly summarizes one such recommendation when she says, "Live anywhere that you'll have a lot of neighbors and can meet lots of people." Shubert and Goodsell concur.

Your first semester away from home begins as a scary, lonely time and only human interaction can change that. True, we've already covered being friendly with your professors, but befriending those in your age group is the key here. They are more in touch with your pop culture, they know all your favorite songs, and they have fights over Myspace.com. In short, they're perfect for you.

The next recurring piece of guidance comes from Shubert. "Something [you] should do is one night a week, you have to meet a new person." Taken in one light, this idea is similar to developing a group of friends you can laugh and cry with, but the veteran has another interpretation in mind. All three veterans talked about not getting stuck in ruts. Find ways to mix up your experience here in Logan even if, as Shubert implies, this means knocking on a random door every Tuesday evening and spending an hour with whoever opens the door. Maybe you won't like the person on the other side, but at least you won't be bored and stuck at home.

The official freshmen retention rate for 2005 was 72.2 percent, according to Utah State, lower than the 2002-2005 average of 72.6 percent. We veterans grow tired of watching the youngest Aggies come and go at this pace. Stay a while, will you not?

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