Month: May 2018

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10 Tips for Incoming Freshmen from a Graduating Senior

If I Knew Then, What I Know Now…

As a senior who is about to graduate from Grove City College, I have been reminiscing on my last four years here. During my reflections, I decided to come up with a list of helpful tips for incoming freshmen. I hope you enjoy!

1. Attend Orientation Board activities

When you arrive on campus in the fall, be prepared for the first two weeks to be filled with events and activities held by Orientation Board (OB). As a freshman, I did not end up attending very many of these events because I was not sure if it was the “cool” thing to do, and it is definitely something I regret. OB works really hard to put on these events and make everyone feel welcome. These activities are a great way to get to meet other freshmen and also a chance to eat free food!

2. Get to know your Freshmen Hall

My freshman year, my roommates and I did not venture much outside our room when we were in the residence halls. However, later down the road we ended up becoming friends with others who were on our freshman hall and we did not even know it! If you are looking for a way to meet others on your hall, prop your door open while you are just hanging out in your room, you never know who could stop by!

3. Get involved on campus

At the beginning of each fall semester, Grove City College holds an Organization Fair for students to walk around and see all the various clubs and organizations offered on campus. Do not be afraid to sign up for something you have always wanted to do but have never done before. My junior year, I  ended up joining the Women’s Club Lacrosse team with no prior experience, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made in four years.

4. Prioritize your studies

There is a reason that Grove City College is known for its rigorous academics. It is important to explore and be involved in college, but do not forget to study! Figure out your most efficient and effective study techniques, and if you ever feel like you need extra help, do not be afraid to reach out to your adviser, upperclassmen in your major, or other academic resources.

5. Meal dates are a thing

Something I have learned in my years here is that Grove City students love to ask others to get meal dates in the dining halls in order to get to know one another better. Sometimes groups of friends or clubs will get weekly meal dates to catch up on each others lives. This is definitely something that is unique to the the College’s friendly culture, and it is a great way to get to know acquaintances better!

6. Always back up your computer files

One of the best perks of attending Grove City College is that everyone is given a computer. It is really important to backup the significant files on your computer such as papers or projects that are in progress. Whether it be on a flash drive or your Office 365 account provided by the College, I highly recommend backing up your files regularly in case anything were to happen with your laptop.

7. Its never too early to network

Networking is very significant to your future when it comes time to apply and interview for jobs. It is never too early to begin doing so (even your freshman year), whether you are getting contacts from your professor, alumni, or other professionals in your field of study. Creating a LinkedIn account is a great way to build your professional profile and network with others.

8. Get familiar with OneNote

If you like to take notes on your laptop rather than handwriting, learn how to use OneNote. It is a Microsoft Office program that comes available on your Grove City College laptop. It is great for organization among the different tabs and pages. If you are searching for a certain topic while studying for an exam, using Ctrl-F allows you to search for words on the current page, and Ctrl-E allows you to search for words in all of your notebooks.

9. Find an upperclassman to help you with class registration when the time comes

Scheduling for classes can tend to be a stressful time on campus, but finding help from upperclassmen is definitely the way to go. They have done it before and can teach you how it is done. Also reaching out to an upperclassmen in your major or your adviser is helpful to figure out what classes you should try to take each semester.

10. Use school resources

Using school resources is something I wish I would have done earlier in college. Grove City offers a variety of academic, campus life, and administrative resources such as the Writing Center, the Technical Learning Center Help Desk, the Mail Room, the Career Services Office, and more. The resources on campus are provided for ease of access, and some of them put on seminars such as resume writing or studying tips to help prepare you for things you will need to know.

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Having Fun with Your Electives: SOCI 251

SOCI 251 (Courtship and Marriage) is a class that I am currently taking this semester. It is a class that does not pertain to my major, but I took it expecting it to be an easy three credit elective where I had potential to gain some useful knowledge. The class brings up a multitude of things that I would have never thought about otherwise. The course’s main topic of discussion is communication and how it is so vital to not only marriage relationships, but relationships with your friends, family, and other loved ones as well. It teaches how to be a good communicator, how to really listen, and how to set your future marriage up for success.

I have never taken a sociology course before, so this class has been very different to me, but a good different. It has brought a lot of things to my attention that I would have never thought of before. Some of these things include the effect that facial expressions and other nonverbal cues have on a person, and also the way that your family shapes you into who you are. I went to a small, public high school where no course remotely similar to this was offered. With everything in the media, you sometimes get this false image of what a relationship is or what it should be like. Often times, the image that we perceive due to all of these things mentioned falls short of what a Christian relationship should really be. This being said, with being a Christian in the world we live in today, I saw this class as the opportunity to branch out from my major of accounting and learn not only what these quality aspects of a successful marriage include but also logic and information in the field of sociology that has helped me to understand myself and my being.

Although this course has not taught me any skills I will need specifically for accounting, I feel as though it will have a big effect on the relationships I have now, the relationships I will create, and how well I maintain those relationships. Even though it does not pertain to my major, I am going to have relationships with people in my future career and due to this course, I will be able to better communicate with those people. This class is one of the many courses that are an option to you as a prospective student that will not only preparing you for marriage but also your career and help you to grow both mentally and spiritually in this thought provoking course. Something not all majors may be accustomed to.

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Student Spotlight: Alyssa Jackson

Alyssa Jackson, a Communication Studies and Visual Arts major and a Biblical and Religious Studies minor, reflected on her time at Grove City College as her junior year dwindles down. She described her college search before freshman year with how she thought she would be a music major. Alyssa even auditioned via video for Grove City’s music program, but they only accepted her as a minor. With some encouraging from her father, she decided to switch to her current major right before school started.

When asked about her involvement with groups, organizations, or extracurricular activities, Alyssa described what she does in her free time. “I’m a member and chaplain of Women of Faith, which is a campus ministry directed towards women on campus and in the community. We have weekly meetings in which I lead a devotion. I was a member of the varsity tennis team for two years and was captain my second year. Each of these leadership positions have been very different and I have learned a lot in each. I am the editor of the life section of the newspaper. Each week I have multiple tasks that need to be done in order to produce an issue of the paper each week. I work with a team of editors that I love and respect. This job definitely has its challenges, but it is something I wanted to do in the future. So I’m enjoying the experience.”

Alyssa hopes to work for a local newspaper, preferably as a reporter or a writer. Having a class with Dr. Potter in creative writing broadened her usual writing skills and taught her to express creativity in different ways. Dr. Miller’s journalism class was furthermore influential on her passion for writing. She also discussed her sense of a calling to be a wife and mother, in God’s timing. With her minor, Western Civilization with Dr. Mitchell and Biblical Ideas with Dr. Moeller have been classes that were some of the best teaching she has ever received.

“Dr. Mobley has been so helpful in planning for the future and encouraging me to be a go-getter. I also sat down and had an encouraging conversation with her about being a wife and mother. Also, with how God can use every aspect of our lives for his Glory. Dr. Miller has been in helpful in academics but is also a good friend of mine. I feel like I can talk to most anyone in the Comm Department about anything I may need,” Alyssa said.

She hopes that the Communication Studies and Visual Arts Department continues to host more exciting events that showcase the great life lessons that students learn by having the major. The application of communication is pertinent for her future job and with any relationship, before or after college. With it being a key in every single aspect of life, Alyssa discussed how it is not just an “easy, blow-off major.” “After all, if the study of communication is so easy, why is there so much miscommunication in the world?” Alyssa asked. The most important point she stressed was that the education and organization involvement she has received at Grove City College have sparked ideas that will affect her for the rest of her life.