Starting your college career is an exciting time in taking the first step toward your future. At Vaughn, you will receive the tools, support and opportunities you need from day one to not only enhance your experience during college, but also ensure that you’re positioned for success after college. We spoke with Elaine T. White, assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Vaughn, who shared her best tips for how new students can start off strong.

Tip #1—Get involved early

White explained there are several ways students can get off to a strong start during their freshman year. Vaughn offers a wide range of options to make everyone feel welcome. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new friends!

Here are “first semester” tips to follow:

• Attend orientation—Yes, attending orientation is mandatory for you and all new students. It is a great way to become acclimated to the campus, meet fellow classmates and gain access to student-only systems and terminology.
• Attend the welcome assembly and clubs/activities fair—These events will help you get an overview of the College and all available extracurricular and recreational activities available.
• Attend one-time social activities, industry speaker and career-focused events—There’s always an industry speaker to see, a yoga class to attend or a study group to join. Don’t hesitate to start participating in these opportunities early.
• Join clubs and student chapters of professional organizations—Join several club meetings to determine which is right for you! It never hurts to try a few.
• Participate in intramural sports—Check out Vaughn’s intramural athletics program which can be joined at any time. You have the choice of soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country and tennis.
• Take advantage of common hour—Common hour is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon when classes are not in session. Take this time to attend club meetings, study, connect with a professor or attend an event.
• Become a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)—This honor society is the largest in the nation and has over 800 chapters, including Vaughn! Since the College has a partnership with American Airlines, inducted students enjoy a lifetime membership with access to resources and support for personal and academic growth.

Tip #2—Take advantage of support services and resources

Vaughn is proud to provide students with a variety of academic and student support resources which include:

• Academic Success Center (ASC)—A welcoming environment where students will find resources such as academic advisement, disability services, testing center, tutoring services and writing/math center. White said tutoring is one service everyone can benefit from. “Tutoring is not only for when a student is struggling or failing. It can help them organize themselves to turn that ‘B’ into an ‘A.’ The key to tutoring is to start early!”
• Career services department—Led by Chaundra Daniels, this department offers employer engagement days, career fairs, career newsletters and other activities throughout the year.
• Counseling and wellness—Led by Dr. Stacey Dutil, this department offers free counseling services, health/wellness events, workshops and more.
• Veteran services—Vaughn offers several support services for veterans including peer mentoring, counseling, academic advising and more.
• Scholarship Universe—Free portal offered to all students where they can find scholarship opportunities available to them and apply.

Tip #3—Balance academics, social life and finances

Balancing your new life in college can be difficult and stressful – between your classes, homework, extracurricular activities and job responsibilities, it’s a lot. We get it. White said it can be easy to fall behind trying to manage it all and recommends these tips to keep it all together:

• Time management—Attend class and budget enough time for homework and asking for help when needed.
• Self-care—Make time to recharge to avoid burnout. This can include listening to your favorite music, taking an exercise class or playing games with friends.
• Keep a close eye on your finances—Educate yourself on the financial aid process and how to manage your money. Understand that loans are a great way to finance your degree and your future. Also, seek out internships and work-study opportunities.
• Live on campus—Residential life is like “home away from home.” It cuts down on commuting and provides an excellent support system. Students who live on campus are more likely to graduate—and graduate on time.
• Build relationships with faculty and staff—Take advantage of office hours and engage in conversations to discuss career paths, as well as outline opportunities and goals.

A final message from Elaine White

“We understand that adulting is a challenge. At Vaughn, students not only earn a degree that leads to a futureproof career; they receive all the resources they need to be successful. We love our students and want to get to know them on a personal level. By hearing their interests and career goals, we can help them make the right choices that will lead to a successful future.”

Are you interested in coming to Vaughn? Check out our degree programs that can give you a direct path to an in-demand career. Apply today!