Tips From Former ISUcceed Students

Last Semester of High School Senior Year

  • Learn to study
  • Don’t stress about what you need for your dorm room; focus on your academics and finish strong.
  • Find all the scholarships you can and apply for them.
  • Make sure you have your financial aid paperwork completed and turned in. You do not want to have to stand in that long, long line at the financial aid office.
  • Learn how to budget your money, regardless of how much or how little you have. Budget your money.
  • Many schools want students to do community service. Begin your community service during the summer prior to starting your freshman year so that you can add on to your service hours.

Summer Preparation

  • Save your graduation money for textbooks and other items you need.
  • Don’t buy everything on the checklist (residence hall or stores). You don’t need everything. Decide on your needs and not your wants.
  • Talk to your roommate about the items both of you will bring to the room. Also, discuss likes and dislikes.
  • If at all possible, get to know your roommate prior to moving in.
  • Save your quarters. You will need them for laundry.
  • Learn how to do your laundry.
  • Attend Summer Orientation.

First Semester at Indiana State

  • There are lots of things to do the first couple of weeks on campus – get out of your room, participate, and mingle.
  • Look into the registered student organizations, attend their meetings, and join them. Do not stay in your room.
  • Learn how to speak with your professors.
  • Don’t be too friendly with everyone. You can be friendly without going overboard.
  • Understand that you will have to put much more effort in your college work than what you did for high school.
  • Go to class!
  • Learn how to manage your time.
  • Get used to Blackboard and online courses. You will have to do both.
  • Learn the lexicon (language)of State (e.g., HMSU = Hulman Memorial Student Union).
  • Culture shock is real. Indiana State is very diverse. Get used to people who are different than you.
  • Be respectful. Everyone was not raised the same.
  • Don’t take things so seriously. In other words, don’t let everything get you upset.
  • At the same time, understand the importance of serious issues and seek out help when needed.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Know when to get help and do it.
  • Be discerning with your friendships. Knowing a person’s character is important. Understand the old saying “Birds of a feather flock together.”
  • Learn your resources and use them. There are a lot, such as tutoring, Math & Writing Center, Career Center, African American Cultural Center, ISUcceed program, academic advisors, etc.)
  • Get to know your Resident Advisor (RA) and your Academic Peer Advisor (APA).
  • Talk to people, especially those on your floor and in your hall.
  • Make sure you understand your Commons Cash and your meal credits and know the difference.
  • Know how to budget your money.
  • Buying things on campus is expensive. Keep your budget in mind.
  • Don’t forget why you came to college. (Hint: to get your degree).
  • Utilize the Rec Center.
  • Don’t go home on the weekends. There are lots of different things to do and free activities (movies, sports, dances, etc.) on campus during the weekends.
  • Learn the campus – use the map.
  • Don’t be afraid to be a freshman. Lots of people want to help freshmen.
  • Go to campus activities and events (lectures, concerts, etc.). This is part of learning.
  • Get out of your comfort zone.
  • Join organizations, but not too many.
  • Go to parties, but be responsible.
  • Learn how to use social media appropriately. Inappropriate words and pictures can follow you for a long, long time.
  • Lose your high school way of thinking. There is no detention in college. In high school, suspension is for a few days; in college it is for a whole semester or longer, and it can hurt your chances for a good job or to transfer to a new school.
  • Keep your neighborhood values at home. In other words, what you used to do at home may not work here or could even get you into trouble.
  • Don’t try to take care of home. Keep your focus on school.
  • Don’t take all hard classes your first semester. You need to get a good strong GPA (grade point average) in your first semester.
  • Unlike high school, you can choose your courses in college. Learn the course requirements of your program, then work with your academic advisor to plan out your college career. Be an active participant and not a passive one.
  • Just because you can drop a course doesn’t mean you should. However, if you are not doing well in a course, do not be afraid to drop it.
  • Be prepared for the relationship with your parents to change.
  • Don’t give up even when you hit road blocks.

Contact

301 N. 8th
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN 47809
Phone: 812-237-3811
Fax: 812-237-8079
Email: ISU-AACC@mail.indstate.edu

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM