When you start college, you’ll be entering into a part of your life that you will—most likely—feel very unprepared for. You’ll be dealing with a number of things that you’ve never had to think about before, including new academic, financial, and social situations. Because of this, many students begin to wonder if they’re “cut out” for college, or if they have “what it takes” to succeed as an undergraduate student. These feelings are very common, and often bring up a lot of questions. I’d like to put some of these concerns to rest and respond to some of the most common inquiries.

First of all, it’s important to realize that “what it takes” to successfully complete a college degree is something that’s the same in every situation. In some degree programs, the ability to think analytically is crucial. In others, a developed aesthetic eye is key. Some colleges require academic excellence to a degree that seems nearly unobtainable. These factors vary widely depending on your specific situation, so there isn’t really a standard or constant of what is required of all college students. The one common factor is that no matter where you go and what you study, you’ll have to work hard and engage in good academic practices. You’ll have to put a significant amount of time and effort into your studies to do well, regardless of your circumstances.

Another misconception that’s fairly common is the idea that certain people are “cut out” for higher-level study, and others aren’t. Get rid of this idea right now. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t do well in high school (or finish high school at all, in fact)—you can succeed in college. There are many people who struggled through high school and excel in college; it’s a totally different atmosphere and learning environment. By the same token, don’t think that just because you breezed through high school you’ll have no problems in college. The four years that you spend in an undergraduate degree is a time of rediscovery an reinvention—if you take full advantage of it by recommitting yourself to your academics, you’ll be sure to succeed, regardless of how the past four years have gone for you.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that your time in college will be what you make it. If you’re confident in your abilities and willing (indeed, looking forward to) working hard, you’ll have a very successful four years. If you want to succeed in college, you have to set aside the past four academic years and be confident that you’ll make it through your undergraduate years successfully. Just keep in mind all of the people that have come before you—not every one of which was an academic genius. Keep perspective, and you’ll be fine.

As always, if you have any questions, comments or funny stories you'd like me to share about college or the blog, email me at stu@stuvu.com