College Firsts: What to do at the Club Recruitment Fair

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During the first week or two at almost every community college and university in the country there is a club recruitment fair. 

Though it can go by a different name, it is essentially an event where all the clubs on your campus set up tables so you can learn more about how to get involved.

Go to your club recruitment fair!

Look on the student life website or your college's event calendar to find out when and where it is and do whatever you have to do to be there (e.g. take off work, go to campus even if you're not usually on campus at that time). 

Then show up.

You can go with a friend if it makes you feel better, but I highly recommend going by yourself so you can focus on the clubs that really interest you and be able to go up and talk to the people behind the tables.

Here are the steps to take to make the most of your club recruitment fair:

1) Leave at least an hour of time for you to walk the entire fair.

2) Walk up to every club that interests you and ask someone behind the table questions. Here are a few to get you started:

• What do you like about being a part of this club?
• When do you guys meet?
• What kinds of events do you have coming up this semester?
• Do you have any officer openings or committees that need involvement?
• What is the best way for me to reach you if I have any more questions or want to get involved?

Be sure to leave every table with clear contact information. 

3) Remember that the people behind the tables want to know you and want you to be a part of their club. Most every club wants to grow their club with people who want to get involved. They will be so excited when you show interest.

4) When you get back home, take out the contact information you collected and decide on the club that interested you the most and with which you clicked best. Contact the person you talked to from that club and volunteer to be on a committee, help with an event, or even be an officer. 

The biggest mistake people make in clubs is waiting too long to get involved. Jump right in and commit fully to one club. Then, once you've done that, consider checking out the meetings of some of the other clubs that interested you.

But remember - it's better to fully commit to one club than to go to the meetings of many. People who accomplish things in clubs are the ones who win the best scholarships, internships, and jobs. 

Be a leader. Trust me, you can do it. 

College Firsts: Top three things to do on the first day of class

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Below are the top three things to do on the first day of every college class, every semester:

1) Sit in the front row

Sitting in the front row sends a strong message to the professor that you are ready to learn and engage. It also forces you to pay better attention because it's more difficult to text when your professor is just a few feet away from you. 

You'll also put yourself next to the other students who are serious about their education and unafraid. Those are cool people, and you should be one of them. 

2) Set syllabus reminders in Google Calendar

Each syllabus you get the first week of classes is like a treasure map to an A. On the first week, decipher the map and create reminders in your planner or favorite online calendar. My favorite is Google Calendar.

On the first day of each class I would take the syllabus and make note of every single due date and exam date. Then, I'd choose a new color code for that class in Google Calendar, and create a new event for every due date. 

Under the reminders section I would set SMS (e.g. text) and e-mail reminders to remind me at many intervals before a due date (e.g. 4 weeks before, 2 weeks before, 5 days before, 2 days before, and day of).

I could breathe easier at the end of the first week knowing I would not forget any important assignments and would always be ahead of the game. 

3) Break the ice

Start conversations with the people in class and get to know your professor that first week. Engage in discussions. Compliment someone on their outfit. Ask someone if they want to study with you for the first exam. Visit the professor during her office hours and ask her for advice. 

When you break the ice the first week of class you set the tone for the rest of the semester - and trust me, classes are much more fun when you have friends to talk to and a professor you know. 

Good luck!

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Starting college the right way

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College Firsts: The 5 books every student should read before college

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Whenever I'm about to try something new and am scared to death about it, I buy books. 

Confession: I have a lot of books (and have probably borrowed $20,000 worth of books from the library).

Those books have changed my life completely. 

Reading books is one of the best ways to prepare for something new and learn the strategies that take others years to learn on their own (if at all), and allows you to avoid the mistakes most college students make. 

So with that in mind, below are the top 5 books that I think every student should read before (or in) college. If you apply the strategies in these books they'll help you become a college superstar, win scholarships, and have a truly life changing experience.

Disclosure: The books I recommend below are truly books I personally purchased, love, have read, and have seen directly help students. Neither the authors nor publishers have asked me to write this.

1. How to Win at College by Cal Newport - This book shares the strategies real overachievers use to excel in college without the stress (such as "take three days to write a paper). College is really hard, but it doesn't have to be so stressful. This book shows how it's done. 

2. How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
While Cal's first book shares the big overall strategies for college success, this one shares the nitty gritty details of how to study. 

Though I didn't discover Cal's books until I was a college advisor, I recognized all of the strategies I personally used to succeed in college in both of these books and loved recommending them to my students.   

3. Community College Success by Yours Truly - Okay am I totally lame for recommending my own book? I can't help it because honestly, if I didn't think it was a book that would help college students then I wouldn't have bothered waking up at 5am every day for a year to write it. 

Community College Success teaches you exactly how to build the relationships necessary for college success by giving you step-by-step instructions on how to make friends in class, how to approach professors, how to join clubs, how to build experience that wins scholarships, how to choose a major, how to get internships, and how to find a mentor. 

It also shares tips on how to manage the unique transferring experience from community college to a university, along with many of my personal stories.

4. Say This NOT That to Your Professor by Ellen Bremen
Ellen was my writing accountability partner when I wrote my book and our books were picked up by the same publisher. She is a community college professor and an expert communicator who shares tips "from the other side" on exactly how to approach your professors to ensure your success. 

This book is so unique and would be a great one to keep in your backpack and pull out as needed before you approach a professor.

5. Do What You Are by Paul Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger - This book takes you through the popular Myers-Briggs personality test and walks you through your personality-based strengths, weaknesses, and how a variety of career categories might fit you best.

Taking the Myers-Briggs and reading this book in college opened my eyes to who I was, what I loved, and how I could use my best strengths and find a major that would motivate me to work really hard. 

Personality tests are not prescriptive; it's best to use the information as a starting point to give you confidence in who you are, what you're capable of, and how you can best share your talents with the world after you graduate. 

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Getting books to help you succeed in college is one of the best investments you can make. Don't wait until you fail a test, miscommunicate with a professor, feel lonely, or feel so stressed that you're thinking of dropping out. 

Be proactive and you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll stand out at your college by using the strategies in these books. 

Happy reading! :)

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What to bring and wear on the first day of college?

I wrote this article in 2013 and it is the most viewed even to this day (August 2015). Your love of this article also inspired me to suggest doing a first day of college episode on the show I host, The SKiNNY. It just went live today so I thought it would only make sense to post it here (below). Congrats on starting college and let's stay in touch on Twitter! (And if you're about to start community college, you'll love my book.) You can also get a free chapter here:


Congrats and I hope this helps. I'm so happy for you.

College Firsts Series

As some of you gear up to start college for the very first time, I've been getting a lot of e-mails about how nervous you are. That is totally normal and okay! 

Being nervous usually means you're about to do something important. 

But to alleviate your fears a bit and help you start off on the right foot, for the next two weeks I'll be writing a "College Firsts" series in order to help you to more easily get out of your comfort zone, crush your nerves, and set yourself up for a life-changing college experience by doing the most important things in the first few weeks.

College First: What to bring and wear on the first day of college? 

I cannot tell you how nostalgic I get every fall when the puppy notebooks start to come out; I miss the smell of colored pencils and elementary school classrooms and the excitement of a new year. 

While taking out your puppy notebook and purple colored pencil might make you stand out in a way you don't want to in college, school supplies are still relevant.

Yet in college no one is giving you a checklist of what you need to buy, nor a dress code to follow.

While that freedom is great, sometimes it can lead to anxiety. So below is a checklist that I hope helps alleviate your fears. Remember, everyone is freaking out just like you are, some are just better at hiding it. You're going to rock this!

First Day of College Checklist

1. Backpack or tote bag

I used a giant Vera Bradley tote all through college. It wasn't cheap but I loved it because I could carry everything, didn't show stains, and never broke despite all the laptops and books I put into it - I still have it today. The downside was that sometimes it hurt my shoulder, so my favorite backpack option is the Samsonite Tectonic. 

2. A binder or folder system

It's crucial to have a system in place before your first few day of college as each professor will give you different paperwork and you'll want to keep it separate. 

I preferred buying those cheap old school folders with the prongs in the middle and wrote the name of each class on the front of each one. I'd put the syllabus* in the prongs in the middle and then kept one folder for notes and the other for papers to turn in. 

You can do the same with multiple binders, or put everything together in one binder separated with dividers. I liked the folders because they were slim and light. 

There's no right or wrong way to do it, the key is to experiment and find the way that works for you. You'll know you have it right when it's simple and enjoyable. 

*note: some professors may make the syllabus available online beforehand so be sure to check and download and print it to bring with you if that option is available. 

3. Writing utensils

Don't be that guy who doesn't have a pen or pencil. Have a few of each; being able to offer a pen to a nearby classmate who did forget is an easy way to make friends. Also have a highlighter for organizing key points in your notes and textbooks.

4. Electronics (& their chargers)

When I went to college, tablets didn't exist and no one used laptops in class. However I can only imagine that has changed drastically. Decide if you're going to use an electronic device to take notes and manage your academic experience, and if so have it with you. 

But be cautious and notice if it distracts you more than helps you. For me personally, having my laptop out at a conference makes it impossible for me not to do a million things at once (checking my email, taking notes, answering emails, checking social media, etc.) and while that can work, I don't know if it would have been the best method for focusing in class, but that's just me.

Monitor yourself and find out what helps you get As. 

5. Paper

I know you know this, but I also know it's easy to forget small things when you're making such a big life transition. 

Always have paper and/or a notebook with you for taking notes and doing in-class assignments. Even if you choose to use an electronic device you'll always want to have backup supplies in case your battery runs out or a professor prefers people don't use electronics in class. 

6. Parking pass

Make sure you've stuck your parking pass on your car if you're a commuter. And while we're on the subject, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes to an hour before class starts to have plenty of time for parking and walking to the classroom. Don't be late. 

7. Your class schedule

Again, I know this is obvious, but I want to help alleviate your fears so you can use this checklist as a basic guide. 

I also recommend going to campus very early that day or a few days before to walk around and make sure you know where to park and where all your classes are. 

8. Textbooks

I was always a fan of buying my textbooks ahead of time and not the day of. I would have hated to wait in that long long line the first week of class. Some professors assign reading the first day, and it shows you're prepared to have your book out on the table. 

9. Comfy shoes

Walking around campus should be fun and it won't be if your shoes are killing you. Wear shoes that you know are comfortable. 

10. An outfit you love

I can clearly remember the outfits I wore on the first day of school in 2nd and 9th grade. 

They were iconic moments in my life because in 2nd grade I was starting a brand new school after we'd moved (lion king shirt, long pink shorts, side ponytail, lion king backpack), and in 9th grade, of course, it was the start of high school (crisp white Tshirt with a logo, weathered jean shorts, slightly spice-girl-ish tennis shoes with silver stripes).

Have fun with your first day of college outfit and show your personality. Obviously you don't need to dress professionally, but I do think it's important to send a message to yourself and your professors that you care.

Dressing nicely communicates that you want to bring your best self to this experience. Going super casual is okay once in a while, but especially in the first few weeks I recommend dressing nicely. 

For example, one of my go-to combinations was nice jeans with no holes or rips, a cotton blouse or T-shirt, a cool necklace, a casual cloth blazer, and sandals or flats.

I also highly recommend wearing anything that expresses your personality that you think might spur someone to say "hey I love that where did you get it?" It's a great way to make new friends on the first day.


If you liked this article you might also like this video on what to carry in your college backpack.