A New Student’s Guide to RCU: Freshman Lessons

By Ruvarashe Mutambara

Upon reflection on my time as a freshman, I realized my little to no knowledge of what to expect from college life, despite stories from friends who had already pursued their higher education.

Though it’s not a secret that college is not a one-size-fits-all experience. At Rochester Christian University, a student’s experiences can differ due to the different types: campus residents, international and local students, athletes and other students involved in other aspects of campus life.

As I reflect on my first year of college, there are a few things, both arbitrary and crucial, that I wish I had known coming into RCU.

ACADEMICS

I wish I had some sort of academic boot camp, similar to how athletes have a pre-season. To clarify, the admissions process and academic advisors were very pivotal in helping me integrate into my academic journey; it’s just that some aspects of campus life were unclear to me.

For starters, I wish I had a better understanding of how I can use the RCU portal to my advantage. Specifically, I wish I had been shown how to navigate the portal's house features, administrative services, grades and degree information. I especially would have appreciated learning how to check my degree information–keeping an eye on your degree audit can help you track your progress in college. On top of that, you can see which classes can fulfill your general education requirements and choose the ones that you’re most interested in.

Secondly, it took me some time to realize just how valuable my academic advisor could be as a resource. I learned so much about registering for classes, credits and elective requirements from my academic advisor. Meetings with my academic advisor would have given me a clearer understanding of my academic track earlier on. My advisor could have helped me plan my class schedules more effectively from the beginning.

Fortunately, I had booked all my classes from fall to summer as soon as registration opened, by the time I entered my second year with my newfound knowledge. Better late than never after all.

Lastly, one of the little things I discovered later was that you can customize your entire Canvas dashboard theme, including the class names. Canvas themes range from colorful to minimal and can be found on the BetterCampus web extension. This was a life-changer for someone who enjoys having things organized by color and a different theme per semester.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE ON CAMPUS LIFE

I am not alone in reflecting on my first year and the lessons I learned along the way. I spoke with a few other international students to find that they had a greater awareness of the challenges a new student may have. One student, who wanted to remain anonymous, pointed out the difficulty of getting around and experiencing life beyond RCU without a car.

“Accessing food and new places is going to be difficult unless you have a car. So if you're a freshman coming in, you can only get around with the help of your friends.”

Another student expressed that they wish they had known about the difficulty of accessing healthcare, especially given how expensive it is. This is even a reality for locals, so it is helpful to be aware of and prepared for it.

COMMUNITY AT RCU

Multiple students express that it is easy to make friends, but that was not my experience. Personally, I found the friend-making process pretty slow as an international student who was a commuter and not an athlete. I found that things got better, so do not worry if you are having a similar experience.

Lexi Kosarev, a sophomore, suggests that students should join clubs to help them connect with their peers.

In fact, RCU has a variety of on-campus clubs, including the STEM Club, the Honors Society, Shield Media, Young Life, the Photography Club, and many more. I believe that the more you put in, the more you can get out of the community around here. Know that you can always start your own club if you cannot find what you’re looking for. All you have to do is follow the appropriate protocol.

Brianna Swamba, an RCU graduate, says that she wishes she had gotten involved in the campus life events sooner because she made many meaningful connections that way.

One notable beginning-of-the-year event is the annual Fall Welcome Retreat, a three-day getaway where students connect while engaging in fun activities and learning more about Jesus.

LOOKING BACK & MOVING FORWARD

Perhaps my first year would have been slightly easier had I known some of the information I discussed. As a silver lining, I believe that figuring everything out on my own was part of the journey since the unknown has shaped me just as much.

I want this piece to serve as a reminder that you don’t have to know everything; there is beauty in working your way through college. At the same time, I recognize that receiving wisdom from others who have walked before you is just as important in all aspects of your life– not just college.

Hopefully, the wisdom that I have passed on to you helps instill more confidence in what to expect from your time at RCU. Remember that you have staff, faculty and fellow students who are here to support you along the way.