Often in life, people look back at the past and wish they did a few things differently. Whether that be in relationships, academics, career path, or maybe a hobby they wished they picked up, regret is there. The upperclassmen here at Mercer are no exception. The Cluster asked a few for advice and wisdom they collected in their years on campus, from scheduling to preparation for course registration.
Plan Your Schedule Carefully
A common regret upperclassmen have is jumping into classes without doing a little research first, Arya Prajapati '27 said. Websites like Rate My Professor can give a good idea of what to expect from a class and whether a teaching style fits a student's learning style. Sometimes, the difference between a great semester and a stressful one comes down to how well-planned a schedule is, and how it suit students' specific learning needs.
“I wish I had taken the time to actually dig a little deeper into my professors before signing up for their classes,” Prajapati said. “Some classes were way tougher than I expected just because I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
Put Yourself Outside Your Comfort Zone
It may be cheesy, but college is one of the best times to try new things, meet new people and take risks. It’s easy to stay in one's bubble and stick with the same routines, but real growth happens when one push themselves to do something unfamiliar. Whether that means joining a new club, attending campus events alone or talking to perfect strangers around campus, getting out of one's comfort zone can lead to valuable memories and the most personal development.
“I used to be nervous about trying new things, but once I joined a club I didn’t know much about, I ended up meeting some of my best friends,” Andres Boero '27, a mechanical engineering major, said. “College goes by fast, and you don’t want to look back wishing you’d done more.”
Take Advantage of Campus Resources Early
Mercer offers tons of free resources that many freshmen don’t realize exist until it’s too late. From tutoring at the ARC to résumé help at the Center for Career and Professional Development, the school offers support for just about everything. Getting familiar with these early can make classes, internships, and even med school or grad school prep way easier down the road.
“I didn’t bother checking out the tutoring center until sophomore year,” Katherine Drury said. "Once I actually started going, I realized how much easier it made my life. I wish I’d used it from the start."
Griffin Xu '28 is a biology and journalism double major and first-year staff writer for The Cluster. In his free time he enjoys reading and spending time with his friends.
