Expert Tips for Freshmen: Navigating College Success with Unwritten Rules

As the new academic year kicks off, Chapman University’s Associate Professor of Economics Terry Burnham offers insights to help today’s college freshmen navigate the often-overlooked aspects of academic success. Drawing from his book, “The Secret Syllabus: A Guide to the Unwritten Rules of College Success,” co-authored with Jay Phelan, Burnham shares key strategies that can make a significant difference in a student’s college journey.

Overview: The start of college is more than just settling into dorm life and finding your classrooms. Success in college often depends on understanding the “unwritten rules”—guidelines that aren’t typically covered in orientation but are crucial for thriving academically and personally.

Key Points:

Career Uncertainty Can Be an Asset: Freshmen often feel pressured to have a defined career path, but Burnham argues that arriving without a set plan can be beneficial. It allows for exploration and growth, which are critical in finding one’s true calling. At Chapman University, the Exploratory Majors Program supports this journey, offering students the opportunity to explore various fields before committing to a major, helping them discover their true passions and strengths.
Four-Year Game Plan: Burnham emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach, encouraging students to plan not just their academics but also extracurricular activities to build a well-rounded profile.
Goal-Setting Across Life Areas: Success isn’t just about grades. Students should set clear goals for various aspects of life, including career progress, fitness, finances and personal enjoyment.
The Power of Relationships with Instructors: Burnham highlights the importance of making a good impression and building meaningful relationships with instructors
Cultivating Resilience: Embracing failures, learning from them, and using them as stepping stones to improvement is crucial.

Professor Burnham is available for interviews to discuss these insights further and provide tailored advice for your audience.

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About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.