The Barrett Mentoring Program

Things to Know:

We're telling it like it is.

 

Classes:

• Human Event is tough, but you can do it!

• Be ready to read textbooks.

• Buy books online because you will often get a better deal.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice, especially on homework. This isn’t high school anymore; even the smartest kids will have to go to tutoring at times!

• Allow yourself extra time for finding and moving from class to class for the first week or two.

• If you are not a morning person, do not take morning classes. Don’t get into the habit of skipping classes for any reason; you will fall behind much more quickly than you might think.

• Don’t walk into class late. It’s extremely awkward, and shows that you are not prepared.

• School may not always come easily for you anymore, and that’s to be expected.

• Go to class.

• Use ratemyprofessor.com, and then ask your mentors if they agree with the ratings.

• Schedule advising appointments asap, because they fill up fast!

• When it comes time to enroll in spring classes, everyone truly does wake up at 6am to enroll in classes, so Barrett specific classes may fill up by 6:01am. Be prepared!

 

Dorm Life: 

• Make sure to contact your roommate ahead of time on Facebook or Devil2Devil!

• Talk to your roommate about who is going to bring the fridge, microwave, shower curtain, etc.

• Decorating your room will make it feel more like home.

• DO NOT try to loft your bed by yourself (trust us, this is true).

• Leave your door open as much as you can! You will get to know people much faster this way.

• Set ground rules with your roommates and do not be afraid to go to someone (your Community Assistant!) if you are having issues. An unhealthy roommate situation can make your year miserable; take charge and fix the problem!

• Clean your bathroom regularly. #truth

• Move in on your scheduled date.

• Get to know the dining hall staff - it will pay off. Plus, they are awesome!

• Always remember your room key and Sun Card!

• Maintenance staff is very busy in the beginning of the year, so if your request is not urgent, it will most likely take them a long time to get to you. As in, a leaky toilet will take precedence over your bed loft, sorry.

• It may seem extremely early to be thinking about this, but moving out at the end of the year is stressful - don’t put off all of your cleaning and packing until finals week hits.

 

Getting Involved:

• Look for leadership opportunities (yes, even as a freshman! Don’t limit yourself)

• Attend all Welcome Events the first week.

• Go to as many Barrett and ASU events as you can throughout the whole year! Your introduction to ASU doesn’t end after your first week here - staying involved will have you feeling in the loop.

• Collect all the free t-shirts and food that you can!

• Don’t be afraid to go to things alone! Everyone is new.

• Try out a lot of clubs, but don’t feel obligated to commit to every club you check out!

• Actually try out new clubs and meet new types of people.

 

Important Things to Know Your Freshman Year:

• The AZ tap water is terrible...Brita filters are great.

• If you play sports, bring your gear so you can play at ASU (in intramurals, clubs, etc).

• Live on campus!

• Save money.

• Know your limits.

• Don’t waste all of your M&G dollars at the beginning of the semester; you will regret it.

• Lots of things will be outside of your comfort zone, and that’s okay! Just be safe and have fun.

• Don’t let the freshman 15 get to you. It’s real.

• Remember that there are a ton of people here for you all year: mentors, advisors, roommates, Community Assistants, and new friends! You're absolutely never alone on anything, so connect with these people whenever you get the chance.