Advice for incoming Middlebury freshmen
We have been soliciting advice for freshmen (or first-years if you want to be politically correct) on Twitter. Have a look. Feel free to agree, disagree, or otherwise add to the advice in the comments or tweet us a few of your own lines of advice.
A debate.
@middblog Get involved in the thing you want to do early, like immediately, whether it's theatre, or the newspaper, or whatever. don't wait—
Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) August 17, 2011
@readDanwrite @middblog agree on shows etc, but some (me) don't know what they wanna do; my advice is try everything, embrace distr. Reqs—
Maji (@majichien) August 17, 2011
Academic advice.
@middblog Take Rich Wolfson's classes early and often!—
Andrea Lathrop (@lathropa) August 18, 2011
@middblog Check major requirements. Sounds simple, but I missed ENAM by one intro class.—
Maji (@majichien) August 17, 2011
@middblog Pick classes for the professor. middkid evals are helpful, but not the gospel. You want real insight, go to older students/majors.—
Olivia Noble (@oliviacnoble) August 18, 2011
@middblog For freshmen: 1) Go to class 2) Office hours are your friend—
Alex Garlick (@garlicksauce) August 18, 2011
“Take your time deciding what you want to study, but avoid getting carried away exploring. Some depts have steep degree requirements.” via @b_fung
Social Life advice.
@middblog dont freak tht u dont have bffs a few mnths in. seems othr ppl do, but theyr still searching 2. takes time, look beyond ur hall!—
Clare Crosby (@clareocrosby) August 05, 2011
The “take advantage” advice.
@middblog enjoy it and take advantage of every opportunity. it goes by WAY too fast!—
Anna Esten (@annaesten) August 05, 2011
@middblog Organize/start something. There is funding, an audience, amazing collaborators, inspiring mentors.—
The Days of Yore (@DaysOfYoreBlog) August 16, 2011
@middblog Go to see plays, shows, student performance-type stuff as often as poss. consistently good. don't take those ops. for granted—
Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) August 17, 2011
@middblog explore! So much more to Vermont than just the Middlebury campus. Also WRMC. It's your friend.
Late night love me tenders ok too—
Matt Doyle (@matthiasdoyle) August 18, 2011
Very specific advice.
@middblog never use the battell bathtub.—
Philippe Bronchtein (@HipHatchet) August 05, 2011
@middblog burn leibz a mixtape of ballet symphonies, sleep with a science major to gain after hours access to bi hall roof, #middhero—
mackenzie beer (@mackenziebeer) August 17, 2011
Overall advice.
@middblog be ready to be totally wrong. what you expect is almost never what you get.—
Alex Margarite (@amargarite) August 18, 2011
Take classes with the best professors, regardless of the topic. Allow yourself to be surprised, and to be swept up unexpectedly. Fall term freshman year (’75), I took an introductory Geography course, got the worst grade of my academic career, and ended up majoring in it–all because of Professor Malmstrom.
Don’t worry that you aren’t doing well enough in your classes or making enough friends. It seems like everyone else is doing great but most people are just as stressed as you are; it’s just that nobody really talks about it. You’ll have good and bad times, and in the end it’ll all work out. Don’t be shy about talking to your Commons dean about any issues; that’s what they’re there for.
Specific advice: Do your best and learn as much as you can because you only get one shot at undergrad. Midd professors are amazing and very accessible; get to know them in class and during office hours, especially the professors in your major. When you’re a senior looking for advice on your thesis/grad school/jobs/life in general (or for recommendations), you’ll value those relationships. Bottom line: learn and have as much fun as you can while remaining acceptably rested and sane. College goes by faster than you expect, so don’t waste your time on classes, activities or people that you don’t really enjoy.