Take advantage of the opportunities FIU provides

As you begin your undergraduate career and FIU experience, we at the Panther Press have compiled a list of advice and points to take note of so that you can take full advantage of the opportunities the university provides.

Higher education can be an overwhelming experience in a thousand different ways, so remember that putting your mental and physical health first is necessary. University fees cover your access to the gym and all the classes it offers.You can even make a massage appointment at the Student Health Center.  FIU also offers free Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), so use that resource if you find you’re in a bad space mentally. Getting enough sleep, eating well, and making time for relaxation are equally important as being academically successful.

Academia is the primary reason for being at university and the only way to stay here, so take care of your GPA and take advantage of extra credit opportunities; you never know when you might need it to help your grade. Going from high school to university, you’ll find a significant increase in free time, and it’s your responsibility to manage that time well.  Be mindful not to overwhelm yourself, but getting involved in the FIU and Miami culture in one way or another will make your college experience infinitely better.

As much as you’re learning in the classroom, remember that it’s not always what you know, but who you know, and that carries on post-graduation. Get involved on campus because it allows for personal development, networking opportunities and friendships.  

One of the best ways to network is to get to know your professors. Professors are not only there to teach students, but to help guide them, provide advice, and anything else a student may need. They know you best academically, so take the time to know them back. After all, professors are the ones who will write your recommendation letters.

If you have an interest, there’s a club for it out of the hundreds of established clubs and organisations on campus.

Challenge yourself inside and outside of your lectures as well.  Step out of your comfort zone and push yourself; staying in the same place won’t help you grow — besides, all the fun and reward lies in the spaces out of your element.

One of the most important pieces of advice is to make sure that what you’re studying is where your passions lie.  Don’t go to school just to get a job.  Go to school because you want to better your understanding of a subject, because you love research, because this is where the nerds and the geeks come together.  The career you’ll get afterward is a bonus.  

Rather than passively waiting on exciting adventures to find you, seek out and be open to opportunities.  Apply for scholarships, talk to professors or get an internship.  Be young, be curious, and explore. Use that to discover yourself and what you want out of life with the university as your platform.

And lastly, don’t go your entire college career without partaking in the famous crack cookies from Breezeway Café.  They’re too good to miss.

Photo taken from Flickr.