When I started at NIU back in … a year that shall remain unrevealed, I had less than no clue.

I didn’t know what I was in for on any level, and I didn’t have a whole lot of guidance, being the first person in my family to go to a four-year college. I still wish that someone had told me certain things back then, so I might have avoided some of the common pitfalls of freshman ignorance.

It’s with this in mind that I would like to impart some advice, which I hope will be of use to someone out there who, like myself, as a freshman may be starting out with his or her head firmly lodged … in a dark place. So here’s a little crash course.

Get to know your professors. They are real people who once were in your position, and they’re probably more understanding than you might think. E-mail them, or even better, go talk to them during office hours. They’re there for you. Your tuition pays their salaries, so in effect they’re your employees. If your professor can’t or won’t help you, find someone in the department who will.

Set goals, and stick to them. I remember starting out and feeling like I had so much time ahead of me that it didn’t matter what I was doing. Also, I thought because I was taking gen. ed.’s, my classes didn’t matter much. But the direction you take now will impact later years. Really think hard about what you want to do. When I started, I was so overwhelmed with little details that I missed the bigger picture and it set me back big time. Which leads me to my next point …

Keep in touch with your adviser(s). This is more difficult in some majors, where there aren’t enough advisers for the number of students. But make appointments, and let them help you track your progress. If they treat you like you’re taking up their time, remind them that the time is yours, because you pay their salaries. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification on something, because what’s often simple to an adviser may be confusing to a student. And a lot of times, it’s easy to misinterpret the information in your course catalogue, so an adviser is your best resource to be sure you’re headed in the right direction.

Use valuable resources available to you as a student. Another excellent resource is Advising Information and Referral Services, which can be reached at 753-0048. You can even e-mail them questions at [email protected]. They can provide general information about academic programs, help determine which advisers would be the best to talk to, and even help you decide if you’re in the right major. Their office is located at 817 W. Lincoln Highway, by McDonald’s, between PJ’s Red Hots and the NIU Credit Union. I wish I had known about these guys a long time ago. Don’t hesitate if you need guidance. You can see a list of their services on their Web site, at www.niu.edu/airs.

Be your own accountant. If you get financial aid, keep track of your debt. The majority of NIU students receive some type of aid, and many of them are shocked when they graduate and see the bill they’ve racked up. If you need help, there are people in the financial aid office who can help you. But don’t be like many of us and bury your head in the sand. It will come back to haunt you. A perfect segue into the following …

Stay away from credit card vendors. Treat them like they have the plague. Okay, be polite if you must, but they will weasel you with their offers of free stuff (which is generally useless crap anyway). The best bet is to keep walking and pretend they’re not there. Many students start out as freshmen with clean credit and become sophomores getting ready to call Peter Francis Geraci. Stay away. If you must get a credit card, educate yourself about credit and keep yours clean. Some good info about credit can be found at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, at www.nfcc.org.

Wait to join a Greek organization. If you’re thinking of going Greek, wait a semester or two. Starting college is such a huge transition, and Greek organizations involve a lot of responsibility, time and money. If you really want to join, get to know some members for a while first, and give yourself time to formulate an educated opinion. They will still be there next semester, and your transition into college life will be a lot easier without the added pressure.

Remember what’s important. College is a time for letting loose, but don’t let partying take over. A lot of students start out just having a good time, and a few years down the road, they’re wondering what they really accomplished during all those foggy years. Those are the ones who are lucky enough to stay in school. I speak from experience … I wish I could have a couple years back, and I hope this advice helps someone avoid that feeling, because it’s incredibly frustrating.

Whatever choices you make, have fun, be safe, learn as much as you can cram into your cranium and savor every moment this microcosm of the world has to offer … it’s worth every second.