“Say yes to everything and meet as many people as you can. The time truly flies by.”
“Try new things, as basic as that sounds. Push yourself to do something you have never done. Join a club sports team. Pick up a new instrument.”
“Treat those first eight weeks as an extended prototype phase: collect experiences, jot quick reflections, and notice which spaces energize you. By fall break you’ll have a real data set on what excites you, and you can double-down on the two or three communities that fit best.”
“Make relationships with your professors. Professors at Conn are here because they care.”
“Be patient with yourself and adjusting to a new school.”
These are comments we received last spring from Class of 2025 graduating seniors on the annual Senior Survey. They were responding to the question, “What’s one piece of advice you would give to a first-year student arriving at Conn this fall about how to make the most of their time at Conn?”
The importance of the transition to college has been noted by higher education researchers such as Vincent Tinto, Daniel Chambliss, and Christopher Takacs. Tinto’s research on student retention is premised on the idea that, to be successful, students must integrate academically and socially with their new institution. In their 2014 book, How College Works, Chambliss and Takacs emphasize the importance of “entering,” noting that if it doesn’t go reasonably well, “all of the well-designed courses, the carefully planned majors, and the exciting extracurriculars won’t matter at all.”
So, how can new Conn students make sure that happens? We read all of the seniors’ advice and noted the themes and topics that came up most frequently. What follows is a summary of the most common themes and verbatim examples of student’s advice.
Get involved
The most common piece of advice by far was to actively engage in campus life. Students recommended trying different activities; joining clubs, organizations, and teams; and attending numerous events. Comments included “Join clubs and groups, they will be one of your biggest sources of community.” “Don’t worry about doing too many; you can always drop some, but it’s harder to join in the middle of the year for some of them.” In addition to making friends and finding Your People, “joining groups is also really important for experience too. They are things you can put on your resume; they give you experiences to talk about in interviews, and being a well-rounded individual is always a plus to recruiters.” To stay informed about what’s going on, one respondent suggested “Read[ing] all the emails from campus offices and organizations (SGA, Walter Commons, etc.) so you know what’s going on and what the opportunities are.”
Foster friendships
Another key theme was the importance of meeting new people and establishing a solid social and support network. Chambliss and Takacs note that “friendship is so strong a factor for most people as to be, for practical purposes, virtually a prerequisite for success in college.” Institutions can and should do a number of things to ensure students find one another, but students need to do their part and put themselves out there. “You will find your people but you gotta be out in public. Do not hide in your room, as tempting as that may be.” “Go to clubs, talk to people, don’t be nervous to introduce yourself to someone and ask if they want to get lunch.” “Most of the people around you are in the same boat and want to make new connections too.”
Some seniors advised first-year students not to get worried if they don’t find their best friends right away. “It is okay if you don’t click with Conn right away or if you don’t find your friend group immediately.” “Your first-year friend group may not last but that doesn’t mean you stop trying.” Others noted that students should reevaluate relationships often and move away from those that aren’t working for them: “You develop new friendships all the way until you leave. It’s normal to grow out of friendships and get closer/drift away from people over time. Stay true to yourself and be friends with people who allow you to do so.”
Cultivate relationships with faculty
Another frequent suggestion was to develop strong connections with faculty and staff members. “Make connections with professors by going to office hours. Do summer research here if you are in STEM; it is very easy to connect with profs.” “Reach out to the faculty and utilize office hours even if It’s just to talk and get to know your professors. The whole purpose of the small college is the ability to form relationships with professors so they can help you in the long run.” “Faculty and staff members are all willing to support you if you simply voice your curiosities and concerns (which can be related to anything from academic interests to personal worries).”
Try something new and take some risks
Trying something new and taking some risks were also common pieces of advice. “Don’t be afraid to try your hand at new things, people are very welcoming. Pick classes carefully, and explore your interests.” “I would say to make the most of everything. Say yes to things, even if you are slightly interested, and don’t worry about how you look.”
Use the College’s resources
Many seniors stressed the importance of taking advantage of Connecticut College’s resources, such as the Academic Resource Center, the Hale Center for Career Development, Student Counseling Services, tutors, the College’s alumni network, and other Conn students who are juniors and seniors. “Please use the ARC and the Writing Center — it’s literally right there and free.” “Get involved with the career center early on.” “Meet every staff and faculty member designated to support you and don’t be afraid to be honest about any concerns or struggles.”
Explore a wide range of academic fields
Academic-related advice came in several forms. The most common was to investigate a wide range of academic disciplines that interest you. This is consistent with Connecticut College’s mission as a liberal arts college that exposes students to a wide range of academic fields through its general education program, Connections. Students advised, “Choose areas of study you enjoy and in which you can genuinely connect with the professors. Your major does not determine your career trajectory.” “Take as many classes in different departments, as it is such a joyous experience to meet so many different people who love studying so many different things.” “Take the classes outside of your comfort zone. Not everyone has the opportunity to have a liberal arts education and sometimes it is too late to take advantage of it.”
Do what makes you happy
Some graduating seniors emphasized that prioritizing personal happiness and well-being is fundamental to a fulfilling college experience. Examples included “Don’t be afraid to do the things that bring you joy: take that music class even if you are a STEM major, join the dance club even if none of your friends do, and try and figure out who you want to become during your time here” and “Your college experience is what you make of it, and it’ll look different for everyone. Don’t stress about trying to live up to the ‘perfect’ college experience you see in movies and TV shows. Focus on what feels right for you.”
Plan ahead
Seniors emphasized the importance of planning. “Look at the requirements to graduate, and as best you can, plan each term out with the classes you plan to take.” If there are subjects you enjoy and are considering for your major, it’s advisable to start taking classes soon: “If you have subjects that you like that you are at all thinking about majoring in, start taking classes first semester.” Planning also involves thinking about your career: “You need to really focus on what you want to do in your career and make steps early on” and “Start thinking about the future and what you want to do and if you don’t have an idea start developing a skill that applies to everything or start a path and then branch out.”
Several times each year, the Office of Institutional Research and Planning asks students to complete surveys about their experiences at Conn, and we take seriously the responsibility to analyze your responses and share summaries with people on campus who can use them to improve the student experience. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful and candid participation in these surveys!
