College Survival Tips for the UP Freshman

Hey there! I've always thought of making a blog post to help new students cope with the culture shock and academic environment in UP.  I'm currently an incoming senior Psychology major at the University of the Philippines Cebu. And I really want to give helpful tips to freshmen and transfer students. Without further ado, here are some of the tips that will help you get a grip of your chaotic yet memorable experience at UP.

#1: Be open to change.

Your class schedule will change. The assigned professor for your class will change. The classroom assignment will change. The administration policies will change. The people around you will change. And you will definitely change. If you're the kind of person who sticks to a routine or hates having to adjust with drastic changes, then you should change that kind of attitude when you enter UP. Free your mind and be open to new ideas because UP will absolutely flood your brain with a lot of things you haven't learned from your high school days. 

#2: Don't be arrogant.
Being in the country's premier university is indeed something to be proud of, especially now that the government allowed the Free Tuition policy for state universities and colleges. But this doesn't mean you should always feel superior towards other people. You have the right to assert your ideas. But you don't have the right to be rude towards maintenance personnel, canteen personnel, librarians, Manang who sells banana cue, or Kuya who prints your research papers. Ad hominem attacks towards fellow UP students, UP professors, and even people who don't study or work at UP are a sign of arrogance. Keep your head down when you're studying at UP.

#3: Befriend people.

No man is an island when you're studying at UP. Befriend people, especially those who study the same degree program as you. Senior students can give you advice on your homework, criticize your research paper before it gets submitted to the professor, and help you adjust to the UP environment until you can brave the school on your own. Befriend your block mates since there is a great chance that you will work with them for group reports or group research. Befriend students from other degree programs because chances are, you might need their help when you're having academic or student org troubles.

#4: Prepare your outfits before going to school.
There is no dress code in UP. Therefore, you can choose to wear whatever you want. Yes, you heard that right, girls and boys! T-shirt and shorts will do just fine as a typical outfit of a UP student. But outfits often cause mishaps to UP students. You might run late for your first class and you'll have bigger trouble at digging your wardrobe for an appropriate outfit. Or you might have to repeat your clothes more often because you don't have much money or time to buy new ones. Here are some tips: Try ukay-ukay, online shops, Taiwanese/Chinese stores, and ready-to-wear stores which offer affordable and comfortable clothes. Nobody's gonna judge you. I swear. Always keep one or two Shoes Glue in your bag just in case your sandals or shoes give up on you. UP campuses always require you to do a lot of walking. Be prepared in case of wardrobe emergencies by bringing safety pins in your bag. Just make sure to look presentable in school and to feel comfortable with what you're wearing. 

#5: Get involved.

There are a lot of activities organized by the school itself or by student organizations in the campus. Don't be too hard on yourself. Join these events, especially if it's on a Friday night! You'll get to know more people and enjoy the UP life when you get yourself involved. 

With regards to student protests, you might have heard from your parents or from your elders that you should not attend these kind of activities. Actually, nobody's forcing you to join these activities. But UP students are highly encouraged to be at the forefront of serving the people and speaking for the people. We are taught to love our country and to lead the nation. Thus, it is never wrong to speak for those who have been exploited, oppressed, and neglected. Activists are not terrorists.

#6: Find some source of extra money.As a college student, you have a lot of needs to address to help you succeed in your studies. Most UP professors do not require books. Thus, you might need to download PDF or PowerPoint copies for reading or you might need to photocopy the assigned reading material for your class. This means you need to have some money for photocopying or for getting your own laptop soon. You might want to study at coffee shops or make a group research paper at your friend's place. Actually, you can ask your parents for extra allowance IF they are generous enough or if they still have the budget. Or you can work on your own. There are a lot of home based and part-time jobs you can find these days, such as Content Writing and English Tutorial Classes. You can become a part-time barista or fast food crew member.You can also sell some of your unused stuff at online websites or sell little goodies around the campus or outside the campus. You can also apply for scholarships with allowance money. There are a lot of options!

#7: Come to classes and events on time.Yes, this is the University of the Philippines. But being in UP does not mean we all follow "Filipino Time". Most professors start their classes on time and take the attendance on time. As for school events, seldom does it happen that the program started thirty minutes late. Practice punctuality while you're still in school so that you can make it a good habit when you work in the future.

#8: You are at school to learn.
I won't give tips on studying since we all have different study habits or patterns to follow. But here's one thing I would like to tell new students: you're at school to learn. Don't limit yourself to what your professor said in his/her lecture. Read books from the library. Find interesting journal articles or news articles online. Organize a study or review session with your friends. Ask senior students about a topic you've been so confused about. Or you can personally visit your professor during his/her consultation hours. Professors aren't that scary, especially if they are the ones who encourage consultations. They will help you get through academic obstacles, especially when you're working on a research paper or your very own thesis.

#9: Don't be too hard on yourself.

You must have heard of UP students complaining that they want the semester to end already. There are sleepless nights when you have to put extra effort on your research papers or examinations. There are times when you have to juggle extracurricular activities with academics. There are also times when you engage in stress eating. But here's a tip: don't be too hard on yourself. Sleep when your eyes cannot take it any longer. Ask for help when you're in trouble. Call out that group mate who won't contribute to your project. Don't go to class when you have a migraine or fever. But make sure to catch up on your academic work right after.

Have some time to relax. Go outdoors with your friends. Go home and spend time with your family. Watch your favorite TV series. Eat that value meal you've been craving. UP life is not just about studying and graduating with flying colors. You will never succeed with a deteriorating state of physical and mental health. Give yourself a break. Take care of yourself, and allow others to take care of you.

#10: Be resilient.

You might fail at an exam or a course. You might be marked "Incomplete" on one or more courses. Your output might be rejected by your professor. You might have a poor performance in your P.E. class. Yes, it matters. Failing marks and rejection might be new to you here in UP since you've always been the best when you were in high school. You've always been that consistent honor student your parents were proud of. But don't be afraid of losing your shine. Make every failure as a driving force for you to do better. While it is true that there are some achievers who become nothing but an average student in UP, you should not be discouraged. What matters the most is your resiliency. Stand up and bounce back after failing to reach your goals. After all, academic credentials or grades don't say much about your character...about who you really are. That is why you have to slowly accept your flaws and continue to improve for the better. Don't let one failure characterize who you are. The ultimate goal is to graduate from college by following the rules of HONOR and EXCELLENCE. Be resilient like the weed during a windy day.

Good luck, Iskolar ng Bayan! You can do it!