Etiquette for College Students

c6d1641b86af60c407b1be511ea2d9577204f310a40f2b66cae4206d6a8763f8For the past three years, I have walked by, had class with, and encountered many college students. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of behaviors. Here’s a few guidelines for better college behavior:

Go to Class and Arrive Early
8 am classes are a pain, especially when your alarm rings and all you want to do is stay in bed and sleep for a few more hours. We all have the moments where something more exciting or interesting comes up and the only issue is that it conflicts with a class. Well, skipping class is a college etiquette cardinal sin. Not only are we paying for these classes, but we also should attend every class because the professor is dedicating his or her time to teach us skills or concepts that will be beneficial in the long run. Arriving early shows you’re willing to learn and the professor will take note. I usually get to class 10 minutes early. Freshman year, my Ethics professor noticed this and told me that being early is a good habit to be in.

Adhere to Deadlines
Deadlines are everywhere at school. Assignments, projects, meetings, and the list goes on. It’s imperative to stick to these deadlines. If you turn in assignments late, you can lose points or the professor will not accept the late work. Deadlines will be ever present in the working world, so it is best to have this practice down before graduating.

Keep Your Promises/Commitments
If you begin to miss meetings, not follow-up on tasks, et cetera, then you will not only have a tough time, but also others will begin to think you are not reliable. Keeping your promises and commitments will show others that your word is your word. This will help you build relationships and your network. Furthermore, honoring your promises and commitments shows your valuable character traits that will be beneficial to have throughout your life.

Put Away Your Phone
It is easier said than done, but when you put away your phone, this will show that you are eager and willing to learn. Also, nothing is more rude than someone texting or playing on their phone during a lecture or guest speaker. Professors will be thankful that you put your phone away and you will be, too, because you will now be able to actively listen to the teaching.

Residence Hall/Roommate Etiquette:

Keep It Clean
Dirt, grime, dust, and stink are all things that no one wants in their living space. Your roommates will be unhappy if you do not keep your living space clean. If they are the messy ones, kindly talk to them and develop a cleaning schedule in order to keep things liveable and have a more harmonious time with your roommates. Messy living spaces is one of the main causes of a roommate conflict, therefore you should clean up after yourself to save yourself from headaches down the road.

Ask First
Having guests over? Want to watch TV or talk on the phone while your roommate is doing homework? Ask them first. This is both courteous and respectful. Not asking first is rude and your roommate might become angry or frustrated. You can also go over guest, TV, and other rules in a roommate agreement, which will help you in the long run. If you do not do a contract, asking will help alleviate any possible issues.

Respect
Overall, just be respectful of your roommates, the other residents of the building, and the building itself. The residence hall is your home away from home, so it should be treated as such. Therefore, do not rip down bulletin boards, draw on the walls, or punch holes in anything. Be courteous to those around you, too. We all come from different backgrounds and residence halls are a melting pot of all types of individuals who may not agree on topics or have the same living habits. Keep an open mind and be respectful this will help you in college and in life.

These are just a etiquette tips for the college world. Follow these tips and you will have a better time with your professors, peers, and other individuals on your campus.

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