Professors’ Advice to Incoming Students

The transition to college can be overwhelming and, quite frankly, a kind of confusing time navigating a new school — more independence than before and for some, it is living in a new place for the first time. But students should not have to navigate these changes alone, and while professors in college may seem scary, they were all in our place at one point and have learned a lot along the way. With this, I asked professors from different departments on campus their honest and best advice for incoming students.

John Klein

Assistant Professor and Program Director, Digital Media

Q: What is a niche piece of advice you have that students wouldn’t think about?

A: There’s an aspect of living in the dorms where your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend. It’s cool if they are because after freshman year you get to choose the people you want to hang out with but sometimes that causes more problems than not. Just ‘cause they’re your best friends doesn’t mean you wanna live with them. Your roommate has to be somebody where you have an understanding and a respect for each others’ personal space and an understanding of what the tasks are. If you have a good living arrangement, you stick with that and you can understand one another.

Q: What’s something students are afraid to do that they should do?

A: Students are intimidated by professors, and we’re kind of just people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for an extension. Most professors are super understanding of those things. The freshmen I meet who wind up doing incredibly well are the people that come up and talk to me. It shows you are willing to make the communication happen.

Amy Lyn McDonald

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance

Q: What’s the best “risk” a college student can take for personal growth?

A: Do something artistic. Whether it is taking an acting class, a dance class, joining a choir, or taking an art class. Even if it is something you’ve sort of been interested in but never got into. Being involved in some capacity is hugely impactful and can really broaden your experience. College is a really inexpensive time to dabble in that stuff because it’s part of the tuition you are already paying.

Q: What’s a myth students have about succeeding in college?

A: That failure is bad. Failure is not bad, failure is how we learn. We all fail every day, everybody fails and not to be scared of that failure. Know that every time you fail, it’s a learning experience and instead of knocking yourself down for it, learn from it and figure out what didn’t happen, what you could do better next time and then you will do it better next time.

Kevin Murphy

Adjunct Astronomy Professor, Department of Physics

Q: Is there anything from college you regret not doing?

A: I maybe did not appreciate how formative those four years were going to be. While you’re in it I think you need to embrace it, and while it’s stressful, there’s not another time like it in your life. Some of my closest personal friends are some of my college friends 40 years later.

Q: Why is it important for students to get involved on campus?

A: Everybody needs a sense of belonging. Anything you can get involved with on campus is going to be safe and cause some positive growth, you are going to remember it and you can expose yourself to new people and new ideas. The wealth of things you experience in college is probably not replicable later in life. I would say the bulk of my friends were made between 18 and 30.

Sarah Strom Kays

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Communication and Media

Q: What general advice do you have for incoming students?

A: First, get very involved on campus. It’s part of your whole learning experience and gives you an opportunity to figure out how to navigate relationships, solve problems, and deal with issues. Second, go to class and save your absences because you cannot predict what is going to happen. Even if you are tired or were out late the night before, still go.

Q: What should students look forward to?

A: We have amazing arts like music and theater and we have amazing athletes who are super dedicated to what they do. I think the people are really the highlight, not just the students but the faculty and staff as well. There should be a faculty member, or two, or staff person or advisor that really draws you in.