From a Teen’s Perspective: Getting advice when first going to college

The other day, my grandpa asked me if I wanted to grab coffee and talk about college. I excitedly took him up on the offer. We met up, and I got to ask him questions about his college experience and get some advice on my own experience to come.

I think every senior should find trustworthy adults who’ve been through (or who are in) college to gain some guidance for the future. Learning about others’ experiences is an easy and powerful way to prepare for your own experience.

However, it can be hard to come up with the right questions to get good advice, so I’ve selected four of my favorites to help you start those important conversations.

1. What do you wish you knew going into college?

This is a simple question to start the conversation off. Those who’ve been through college have a better understanding of what you need to know, so soliciting this response is a great way to ensure you have your bearings for the start of semester one. This is also a great way to learn about opportunities, extracurriculars, and approaches to academics, social life, and more from people who’ve already partaken in or missed out on them.

2. What was your favorite part of college?

Similarly, this question can help you discover new aspects of college to explore, and reflect on which parts of college you want to put your energy towards given the impact they had on the person you’re talking to.

3. How did you succeed and how could you have improved in college?

It can seem easy to flail in college. This question lets you learn from others about how to employ successful habits and pursue advantageous goals in college while also avoiding the pitfalls the person you’re talking to may have faced in college.

4. What do you remember most about college?

This question illustrates that everyone’s focuses in college are unique. College is about finding things that you personally care deeply about and making longlasting memories, whether they originate in your academic pursuits, social life, or a variety of other aspects of college.

College can understandably seem overwhelming at first. After all, there’s no how-to one-size-fits-all guide that tells you exactly what to do. However, learning from the people around you who have informative and unique lived experiences can greatly prepare you for college and fortify your confidence in your bright future.

Got any topics you want me to cover? Email dylanclarklanier@gmail.com with your requests!

Dylan Lanier is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School; his column appears weekly.

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