Student Life

Timeless Advice for College Success

Elizabeth Hoyt

August 08, 2018

Timeless Advice for College Success
What would some of the greatest minds of all time say to students about to embark on the college journey?
With college on the horizon, there’s likely a whole lot of wisdom going around. Your friends, your family and, yes, the writers at Fastweb, all have a say on how to handle your freshman year. With all this advice flying around, we began to wonder:
What would some of the greatest minds of all time say to an incoming college freshman? Obviously, we can’t know for sure. At any rate, their timeless wisdom is still both applicable and meaningful when it comes to your first year in college.
Here’s what we think some of the most influential minds would say to those embarking on their college journey, accompanied by our own humble interpretations. Take the quotes as you like - your own interpretation is certainly as valuable as ours!
“Everything in moderation, including moderation.” – Oscar Wilde
College is an exciting time, filled with new experiences. However, even though you are away from parents and able to do whatever you want, it doesn’t always mean you should. It’s important to practice moderation in college within all areas: from over-studying to over-partying. Once you master the art of moderation, you’ll be much better off in college and in life.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ― Socrates
Entering college with an open mind, ready to learn is the best approach possible. As you get older, you’ll begin to learn that arrogance does not get you very far. Instead, those that are hungry for and open to new experiences will get much further.
“Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin
Time management is one of the most important skills you can acquire throughout your college career. It’s not particularly easy, but it’s a skill you’ll use throughout your entire life. Getting things done, getting things done correctly and getting them done on time are all invaluable skills to any person.
“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.” ― Aristotle
Making new friends in college isn’t going to happen overnight. Be open to others and as friendly as possible and friendships will occur naturally from there. Learning you can’t force friendships can actually help it become much easier to find where you belong.
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” ― Albert Einstein
Always remember when studying that understanding concepts is much more important than mere memorization. It’s difficult for many students to adapt to this while in college and their grades suffer as a result. (Note: You’re still going to have to memorize a whole lot, too. Just make sure you understand the material on top of that!)
“All great achievements require time.” ― Maya Angelou
Adapting to college life won’t happen overnight but, you will get the hang of things eventually. At some point, you’ll struggle to recall a time where the campus was unfamiliar. Earning your degree is not going to seem like it’s happening quickly, either. However, once you’re finished, it will feel like the time flew by, so take time to absorb it all while it’s happening.
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” ― M. Gandhi
You’re going to make mistakes – and that’s okay. Try, as best you can, to learn from them and move forward. Knowing that mistakes are inevitable makes it a lot easier to deal with them when they happen. Quotes courtesy of GoodReads.com.

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