Freshman Advice

Being a new student during this unprecedented time has to be hard, so I’m here to advise you on how to survive the year as a freshman!

Tip #1: Be Grateful for ASC

I personally didn’t have to do my first ASC day (or any of my freshman days in general) through Zoom. Nobody even knew what Zoom was back in 2018. But, I can promise you that ASC is no different throughout new students at Middle College. You might feel as if it’s useless or a complete waste of time. You might even feel as if you don’t need it, but it was one of the classes I can admit, looking back as a junior now, that I took for granted. This class was my only way of doing my homework and finishing everything I needed to do throughout the day without procrastinating. The class of 2022 had a little bit more freedom in ASC than other classes in the past might have had. But in the physical Budd 105 classroom, we had our quiet days where all of us collectively were on task and made sure we all finished our work before class started. 

Tip #2: How to Understand the Campus

San Joaquin Delta College is a big campus. I remember my first week, I was absolutely confused about the layout of the school. Every Middle College student gets typically 3 weeks to get adapted to the campus while it’s empty before college students are flooding the walking space. But this situation is new and different. I suggest making a mental map of your daily routine and memorizing that so that you don’t go to the wrong buildings like I did.

San Joaquin Delta College is a big campus. I remember my first week, I was absolutely confused about the layout of the school. Every Middle College student gets typically 3 weeks to get adapted to the campus while it’s empty before college students are flooding the walking space. But this situation is new and different. I suggest making a mental map of your daily routine and memorizing that so that you don’t go to the wrong buildings as I did.

When you’re hungry and don’t want school food, Danner Hall has a Starbucks inside from around 7:00 AM until 1:30 PM (hours may vary) and additional snacks and meals. There is a lot of seating in this cafeteria (indoors and outdoors), and I know that it is the prime freshman and sophomore hangout area. During a certain period at the beginning of the year, student chefs arrive on campus and cook “gourmet” meals. There is also a Mexican food truck that parks right between SCMA and DeRicco that makes some of the best Mexican food, and I honestly feel like everyone can attest to that. When you need a quick snack, there is also the Bookstore that is basically a convenience store, but you just replace the gas part with college textbooks and supplies. You didn’t hear this from me, but if you ask them for a “Middle College discount” at the register, they’ll gladly take 10% off your total. 

Tip #3: College Class Life Hacks and Tricks

Being in a college class with a bunch of older people can be very intimidating at first. Some of them have zero clues about Middle College and will often stare if you look super young. But being on time and being respectful to your professor will automatically guarantee a good semester.

When deciding what professors to take for a class, rely on a website called “Rate My Professor.” This website gives honest reviews about professors, including details such as their difficulty level, their manner in class, and if their tests are easy or hard. There’s not one class I’ve signed up for where I haven’t reviewed the professor and made sure they were the right fit for me.

My last tip is making sure that you find people from Middle College who are taking the same class as you and become friends with them. This can help you if you need extra review before assessments or just someone to sit by in the actual course. 

Tip #4: Making New Friends

The class of 2024 is the biggest in Middle College history, being around ninety students. Every other class has had only around sixty students, making us a more close, tight-knit group altogether. 

I’m in the Class of 2022, and we all know each other pretty well now, but that may not apply for all of you. I suggest getting to know everyone, but that is pretty challenging, with classes being online. I personally feel like following back on social media and creating social media group chats can really help you when it comes to Middle College. Joining clubs and participating in school activities such as Key Club, where you actually see your classmates outside of school, can really help form bonds as well.

Tip #5: Middle College Culture

There are a few unspoken rules of Middle College that most of you won’t know. I wish someone would’ve told me these because my first couple of days as a freshman would’ve been so much smoother. 

First are assemblies. Most small school assemblies are held in the West Forum. This building is right in front of Danner Hall, and we usually wait outside if we’re early. Now, when we are let inside, there is a seating chart that we follow. On the left are sophomores. On the right are juniors. In the back are freshmen, and in front of the freshman are seniors. We follow this seating arrangement for school rallies too. 

The rally is the most competitive time of the year for Middle College students. At the end of spirit week, an assembly is held in the Atherton Auditorium, where everyone is split up by class grade, and we put our voices together to create a loud commotion on who can be the loudest. On the day of the rally, you must wear your class color. Freshmen are gray, sophomores are white, juniors are red, and seniors are black. Seniors host the rally and, along with the rally, there is a talent show, which is the best part, in my opinion. It is a very entertaining hour and a half, and time will fly quickly. Freshmen usually don’t win their first rallies, but you have more people on your team now, so I will be excited to see how this plays out this year.

I hope you all take my advice with a grain of salt, and hopefully, many more freshmen can use this useful advice I wish I had.