3 Pieces of Advice to New Students from Orientation Leaders

Orientation leaders gather for the New Student Ice Cream Social during Syracuse Welcome 2017. (Photo by Steve Sartori)

During your first days as a new student at Syracuse University, you’ll have lots of questions. Syracuse University orientation leaders are here to help answer those questions and guide you during Syracuse Welcome. They know what it’s like to be new on campus, and they are eager to share their own experiences.

We’ve asked some of them to share some tips and advice that helped them make the most of life and learning at Syracuse University.

Angie Pati

Angie Pati ’18, neuroscience and psychology, Millstone Township, New Jersey; Student Association vice president; a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; senior class marshal

1. Life’s test of time management might be harder than any exam you’ll take for a class; you now get to choose how you spend your time, and it’s going to be a complex choice! Get organized, establish goals and work toward accomplishing your goals. Remember that these goals do not always need to be academically oriented; often, your goal may just be to unwind and your time may be well spent watching a movie or spending time with friends. Remember, a successful college career is defined as more than being a strong student; it’s about creating effective life skills such as time management that will translate into your life after you leave Orange Nation.
2. Your time at this school will not be like looking in a mirror! If you feel as though everyone you interact with acts like you, dresses like you, speaks like you and, most importantly, thinks like you, then you’re not getting a Syracuse University experience. This is a beautifully diverse school with pockets full of different people; they have stories to tell and they want to hear yours as well. Listen to others, learn from others, but never be afraid to respectfully disagree. Our world is continuously bettered by effective dialogue between individuals from different backgrounds and identities, and it starts here at home.
3. With one binding color, you will solidify your place within one of the most powerful, expansive and genuinely incredible families in the world. The Orange family is intelligent, impactful and, most importantly, kind. Utilize this kindness to find lifelong mentors and unparalleled learning experiences. The exciting aspect of being a current college student in a dynamic and rapidly progressing world is that many of the careers we may have might not exist yet; the even more exciting aspect of being a current Syracuse college student is that somewhere, an Orange alumnus knows something about this career and will help you get it.

Chelsea Ogun

Chelsea Ogun ’17, economics and policy studies, Providence, Rhode Island

1. Embrace and celebrate the differences that you’ll come to find between you and others. Syracuse University has a talent of picking really interesting, bright and diverse individuals (including yourself!), and you shouldn’t waste the opportunity to get to know those people, as they’re most likely the ones who will teach you a lot outside of the classroom.
2. Take the Student Involvement Fair seriously and try to join a couple of organizations, whether it be related to your major, continuing an extracurricular passion of yours, or trying something completely different. My first semester here I tried out on a whim for OrangeSeeds, a community-service-based leadership organization, and it led me to finding all of my best friends on campus and every other organization I’m a part of.
3. Try and get off campus sometimes! While campus has almost everything you would need at your fingertips, the actual City of Syracuse does too. The Westcott neighborhood has really great restaurants and cafes, as does the Armory Square area downtown.

Jack Patel

Jack Patel ’18, broadcast and digital journalism, Western Springs, Illinois

1. Be careful about what and how much you eat. The dining halls are awesome, you can literally eat whatever and as much as you want at any time. But just because you can eat pizza and ice cream every day doesn’t mean you should do it. Make sure you are drinking enough water and eating enough fruits and vegetables, it’ll make all the difference.
2. Get involved! Syracuse has over 300 different clubs and organizations and there is something for everyone. After you finish your first week of classes, you’ll realize you have more free time than you know what to do with. Joining clubs and organizations are great ways to meet other people who have similar interests as you while also teaching you time management.
3. Meet as many people as possible. The best advice I was ever given before I got to college was to “remember that everyone is in the same boat as you.” So step out of your comfort zone and talk to anyone you can. Everyone else is just as terrified as you and they’ll appreciate a confident, friendly face.

Brittany Reed

Brittany Reed ’18, bioengineering, Albany, New York; head orientation leader; Remembrance Scholar

1. College is one of the few times in our lives that what you put in is a direct correlation to what you get out. Give it all you’ve got, and you’ll see results.
2. Syracuse University has students from all walks of life—get to learn their stories and you’ll learn more about yourself in return.
3. “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” Be good to others, and the world will be good to you.