President Liberty Shares Advice for Incoming Freshmen

July 24, 2015

‘Tis the season for new college freshmen to begin packing and preparing themselves for their new home away from home on campus. In a recent story posted by the Peoria Journal Star, college bound students received some advice to help them find their way.  Bradley University Interim President, Dr. Stan Liberty, echoes that advice. 

Dr. Liberty addresses incoming freshmen at Bradley as they visit campus for their orientation session throughout the summer.  He speaks with parents and students to help them prepare for what lies ahead. 

Here are a few pieces of advice that he shares to help new students achieve success in college:

  1. In college you will experience a new rate of learning unlike anything you’ve previously experienced. If you are having trouble, get assistance immediately. Academic or personal problems are rarely as big as they may seem - especially if dealt with quickly. But, problems that are left unattended can lead to major setbacks and sometimes unfortunate results.
  2. Learn to focus and know multi-tasking isn’t the answer. Control and limit the time you spend on social media. You may think you can multi-task and mix socialization with studying, but you can’t do this efficiently or effectively.
  3. Interact with your professors.  Students who engage their professors outside the classroom seem to do best academically. If you do this, you might be able to get excellent references from them.
  4. Don’t be afraid to fail. Constantly challenge your moral and ethical frameworks and continue to strengthen them. You may make some mistakes as you move forward, but those can become a foundation for a change and more appropriate decision making.
  5. Family and philanthropy are important. Maintain strong family ties and relationships as you embark on your new chapter in life, because you will need the support.  Also provide your talent to society, not because someone tells you to, but because you know it is the right thing to do.
  6. Produce more than you consume. If you can satisfy this inequality, the world will be a better place because of you.

To read the full remarks Dr. Liberty delivers at freshman orientation, click here.