meet the students

Don't Be Surprised: Midterms

"When you are in high school, it is almost looked down upon to ask for help. As you get older, you are expected to be more independent and ask for less help. At college that same mentality can carry over. You need to know it is OK to not know the answers. The best way is to ask for help. It can be hard and can hurt your pride, but when you ask, you may help others too."

Be Safe

"Be sure to sign up for Flash ALERTS to keep you in the loop about campus happenings, class cancellations and emergencies!"

Manage Your Time

"Manage your time. You do have a lot of free time. When you look back on your first semester, you want to make sure you spent it on the best things possible. Also get a planner; it is super basic but important. Also, get some sticky notes."

Explore Near and Far

"I encourage you to be adventuresome. It is more about exploring your interests and learning about the people you are with and going on an adventure ride with them. You are going to have so many ups and downs in your college and career, and these years of self-discovery and adventure make you the best version of yourself you can be. The journey you are on and the things you find while you are exploring the options are so much better than your final destination. Know what is happening around the world. Know what you are capable of. Don’t limit yourself to what is around you."

Blue and Gold Pride Days

"Taking pride in your school is more than wearing team apparel and going to football games. It is about being proud of the person you are becoming because of the institution you are attending."

Be Yourself

"Finding your role and where you fit in with the university, your friends and where you belong in the world as a whole. Whether you are the motivator, the mediator, the loud spirit, that is your job and make sure you are doing it with your whole heart."

Finals Countdown

"Taking pride in your school is more than wearing team apparel and going to football games. It is about being proud of the person you are becoming because of the institution you are attending."

Go to Class

"Try to take core classes across the board. Some people don’t like them because they take subjects they may not like or be good at. But I found my career path in a core class that I otherwise would not have taken."

Stay or Get Healthy

"I have always found that doing something physical is a good mental break from school. Even though it may seem counterintuitive to take an extra hour out of your day, if you have a really tough schedule, go to the gym. Take a “mental hour” to clear your mind and restart."

Don't Be Surprised: Midterms

"I have found that it is impossible to get anywhere without having other people’s help. I don’t think it is possible to do things solely on your own. I have never had an experience where I have asked a professor for help where they haven’t been thrilled to help. They will respond and want to help and this will help you progress and get ahead. Nothing is handed to you at college, you have to go do it. You have to take the initiative and find help, but you will always get it. There are so many resources."

Manage Your Money

"So many people don’t apply for scholarships. Scholarships are so easy to apply for. It is possible to save a ton of money that way. When you get to college, financial decisions actually affect you. You can still ask your parents, but it gets less and less OK."

Explore Near and Far

Try core classes across the board. Some people don’t like them because they take subjects they may not like or be good at. But I found my career path in a core class that I otherwise would not have taken. You have different options for the different subject areas, for areas where you may not be able to explore in the future. Be more open minded about something you otherwise wouldn’t have taken a look at."

Make Tough Decisions

"You need to learn how to work with people. That skill translates to the job market too. You need to learn how to get along with people whom you may not like or agree with. This applies to living with other people. Learning to live with someone whom you disagree with is important. Learning to do that will make you better at what you do."

Get Experience

"If you go into it with the focus of always listening to what professors say in class and having the attitude that you have to make your own way and if you realize that nothing is going to be handed to you or fall into your lap, then you can create your own experience."

Important Dates and To Dos

"It is important to meet with your advisor each semester to make sure you’re on track to graduate. Your advisor can also recommend ways for you to get ahead in courses, such as course substitutions and other opportunities."

Be Plan-ful

"Letters of recommendation are very important, especially as you approach graduation and start searching for jobs and scholarships. Set yourself up to have great letters by developing relationships with your professors by discussing your plans and goals with them. If they know you and what you would like to do, they will often be happy to write detailed and authentic letters.

Keep your résumé in mind throughout your college years. For better or for worse, how you look on paper is key. Search for opportunities to build your résumé and take advantage of resources on campus to have it vetted. It’s also useful to know the difference between a résumé and a curriculum vitae. If you plan on going into an academic or research-based career, you might consider a curriculum vitae a better option."

Get Connected

"Being at a facility surrounded by professionals and professional and training is perfect for branching out and exploring the world.

From networking with colleagues in student organizations to traveling to their hometown, your connections can benefit you tons. They can open doors for you professionally and allow you to see places you’ve never imagined seeing.

Friends are also beneficial for you in college. They are your family. They comfort you, help you let off steam and show you a good time. Having friends in a life transition can help you accept yourself because they accept you through all times in your life."

Get Experience

"Experience is key to becoming a successful post-grad! Working with student organizations or on campus can give you different skill sets you need to operate in the workplace. You learn leadership, how to meet deadlines and how to work with other people, a skill that is definitely important when stepping foot in the workplace!"

Be Yourself

"Moving to another city or state and surrounding yourself with a variety of people from different backgrounds can be a culture shock when coming to college. My best advice to you when this occurs (and it will occur) is to remain true to yourself. Duplicating someone else’s style and habits to fit into a crowd will only hurt you in the long run."

Be Plan-ful

"Kent State's Career Services Center can prepare you for not only for you college career and getting an on-campus job but also your future career path. Their experts assist you with tweaks to your résumé, tips for applying for job positions and pointers on how to present yourself for interviews."

Go to Class

"Someone told me what you put in college is what you get out of it."

Get Connected

"Don’t be afraid to go out into your community and randomly talk to someone. If you see someone eating alone, go join them."

Don't Be Surprised: Midterms

"Don’t be afraid to ask questions there may not be answers to. There are no dumb questions."

Manage Your Money

"When you need to manage your money, you need to think about what you want and what you need. Even after you recognize that you really didn’t need it."

Make Tough Decisions

"I took a big risk coming to college since I am so shy, but I just opened my door and met new people."

Go to Class

"Be responsible for your academics and why you are here at Kent State. A lot of times people get caught up in the little things and forget about the main reason they are here. Make sure you are doing your coursework. Be aware that you are here to be a student at the end of the day. If you are a student worker or a student leader, being a student comes first."

Get Connected

"There are 4,000 people coming into college with you, and thousands of others on this campus. Everyone has a different interest. You are going to meet so many people. Keep an open mind to so many different types of people. Embrace that and appreciate that. I feel like I have a unique friend group, but we have connections over something. When you find yourself and you do what you love, you will find people to be friends with when you least expect it.

The Center for Student Involvement is a great way to find out about involvement. There are peer involvement advisors to help students find what they could be passionate about, something bigger than themselves."

Stay or Get Healthy

"College students should always keep these thoughts in mind. At the end of the day, you are the most important person. If you aren’t healthy, you can’t be the best leader, student or person you can be. Be conscious of your health and how you are feeling both mentally and physically. Seek out resources if you need them. You will get stressed out and have tough times in college, but what matters is how you deal with the resources available to you."

Manage Your Money

"Developing good financial habits in college is important. If you develop good habits now, it will set you up for success in the future."

Be Safe

"Kent State is a very safe campus, because we have our own accredited police department, but make sure you look out for yourself too. If it's late at night, then use our campus security escort system or if you need to talk someone about your mental health, take advantage of Step Up Speak Out!"

Make Tough Decisions

"I liked the freedom of making my own decisions. It is challenging, but you need to embrace the challenge, trust the process and believe it is going to be OK in the end."

Blue and Gold Pride Days

"I feel like everyone comes to college and wants a sense of belonging to others and to the institution as a whole. Kent State provides tons of student resources. Take advantage of those to help you feel part of campus and make connections. Becoming connected will help you become passionate about what you are doing and for the school as a whole."

Get Connected

"Kent State has a lot of opportunities for you to get involved, activities that suit every personality and interest. Blastoff was helpful for connecting, as was finding clubs that interested me. Keep up with what is happening in the city."

Manage Your Money

"Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Adults and upper-division students have been where you are right now. A lot of upper-division students have taught me tips, such as renting textbooks online."

Manage Your Time

"When students aren’t managing their time, they become stressed out and unhappy. That is when you eliminate the time for yourself because you are caught up in everything else."

Get Experience

"I was shy until I went through the Peer Leader Training Workshop as a freshman. That training changed my life."

Important Dates and To Dos

"Professors, know more than just the classroom. They are great resources to establish a relationship with, because they can help you with your professional career. Use their office hours to reach out to them and pick their brains."

Be Yourself

"Kent is so diverse and so different. I have learned so much just from talking with people. Keep an open mind and learn more about people to see why they believe what they believe or do what they do. It will help in the workplace and will help you understand life more.

There is a stereotype of what you should do in college (fraternities and sororities) but do what makes you happy and what you enjoy to satisfy those needs vs. a mold that you should be in."

Get Connected

"The What’s Up Kent State calendar is great. Make sure you pay attention to them. Even if you aren’t sure that you would love it, try it."

Don't Be Surprised: Midterms

"Seeking help is helpful for many reasons. You are making a connection with a professor or faculty member. Your fellow students might have the same question too. Many people may benefit from something you thought only you would benefit from. You can’t be good at everything. Allow yourself to know this. Know whom you are working with and who can help you pick up the slack."

Manage Your Money

"It is easy to find people on campus who can help you manage your money. Many new students struggle with managing their money. I wish I knew some of this when I was a freshman."

Manage Your Time

"Time management is one of the hardest adjustments, because there is so much free time. Make sure you are devoting that free time to why you are here. Keep that at the forefront of your mind and goals."

Make Tough Decisions

"In college, decisions will be tough, but it shows a sense of maturity. I can hold myself accountable whether it is good or bad. Being able to stand up and say this is what I need for myself is going to make you a better, happier person."

Blue and Gold Pride Days

"Try to have pride in your school and fall in love with something at the institution. It won’t always smack you in the face. Seeking out those things and being open to them ties into the pride aspect."

Finals Countdown

"A lot of people think you have to be active to be healthy, but a lot of people don’t think of rest as being important."