The fall semester has arrived as sure as the stench of weed from the Common! But unlike the smell, your time at Emerson is more than a temporary high. Whether you’re a new student or returning, the 2025-26 school year should be a calling for you to “press the refresh button.” It’s time to show your family that you’re a serious student who walks the “straight line”, regardless of the college’s social media reputation—you’ll either be “Gay by May” or “Bi by July”.

Maybe over the summer, you were influencing others online. Or maybe you were a lifeguard watching out for rogue waves. Or maybe you were simply sitting at home, wishing you were on Ozempic as you stuffed your mouth with Doritos and wondering why “Beyond the Gates” hadn’t been canceled yet!

Those. Days. Are. Done.

Unlike high school, post-secondary education requires you to figure things out fast. Like, very fast. No one is around to wake you up. No one will remind you to avoid mixing the whites and darks in your laundry. No one will be available to pick you up after working a long shift at Olive Garden. No one will nudge you awake in Study Hall or Homeroom. Nope. What really counts is how you, particularly as an incoming new student, will manage your time away from home. For what may be the first time in your life, you won’t have a curfew. People from around the globe will be surrounding you, and your professors won’t care how many AP classes you took in high school (seriously, most of us don’t care). 

I’m beginning my 41st year in the college arena. I’ve pretty much seen it all. And yet, what I think should be common sense is so often ignored by students. In that spirit, and because we’re all part of an entertainment streaming generation (yep, even we Baby Boomers), I wish to impart 10 tips for life at Emerson. These popular shows will be our guide as we all think about ways that we can become one of “The Survivors.” You may even be “Overcompensating” as you think about how you’re going to balance so much stress while at Emerson. Either way, I have some thoughts—with a smattering of apologies to the creators of these shows—which are in no particular order:

1. Being “Untamed” should not be your goal. Look—professors love creativity. However, being creative doesn’t mean you should be open to saying and doing anything! Most of us desire some decorum in our classrooms, and dropping irrelevant streams of consciousness or even the ‘F-bomb’ is something that “Big Brother” (or Sister) will be waiting for. And please, dress as if you spent at least 5 minutes in front of a full-length mirror before coming to class! I mean, none of us want to listen to a “Gossip Girl” talking about your ‘vintage’ look! 
2. Have a little “Will & Grace.”Can it get more important than that? There will be very easy classes and very tough classes; that’s the reality of being in college. But avoid being a Debbie Downer or a Show-off Sal! Retain some dignity and remember that the good stuff will eventually fade right along with the bad stuff.  
3. Emerson has its own “Hacks,” but we’re all trying hard.Some people are simply not great at what they do. I even know a few teachers who don’t teach well! Avoid falling into the trap of thinking less of someone who may not be the best actor, or someone whose branding project fell short.  
4. The College is not your “Love Island.” We all know that part of your college years is often testing ‘it’ out. But today, the stakes are quite high. Get to know your romantic partner before becoming…well, romantic! Right now, about 25% of college students carry an STI. Be smart. Be prepared. 
5. Learning will require more than “60 Minutes” a day!There is a commonly-held belief that you should dedicate about 2 hours of studying for a class for every hour that the class meets. Let’s do the math (even at Emerson): a course is 4 hours weekly and the average student enrolls in 4 courses. That means you should be, on average, committing 30-32 hours a week outside of class on studying. There is variation in this, of course, but waiting till the last minute to write a paper or read a textbook is a high school thing.
6. You’re no longer in “Adolescence” and you’re no longer “The Rookie.” Nope. Welcome to the wonderful world of adulthood. You won’t get away with excuses (“I overslept”), irrational justifications (“I’m really shy”), or odd ways to avoid workload (“I’m just not feeling it in this class”). Professors talk to one another (really, we do), and we even sometimes share stories of the most outrageous student testimonies.
7. Discover “The Voice” within. So many Emersonians live by this maxim: “Find Your Voice Here.” From gender-affirming expression to social advocacy, I can verify that nearly all the students and staff at Emerson work to embrace a diversity of voices—even those that are unpopular. Emerson is a communication-centric college, so honoring all views and voices is part of what it means to study here. Despite what’s taking place at the national level, we do still have the First Amendment. Don’t dismiss those who you disagree with!
8. You will feel “Blue-y” at times. (Sorry for that one.) Being homesick is a real thing. Don’t ignore it. And if it gets overwhelming, Emerson Counseling Services should be on your radar. If you’d like, they’ll be your “Tracker” in order to make sure your transition to college life remains fluid.
9. Find some “Friends” quickly.I stated earlier that I’ve been teaching for over four decades, and although there have been major changes over these years, one truism has been around since I entered my first teaching job in 1984: students need friends. They will help you with your classes, become welcomed distractions, assist in alleviating loneliness, and may become an important source of networking once you graduate.
10. We are all part of the 2025 “Modern Family.” You’ve heard it before: we can’t choose our family. But at Emerson, we do choose who we want to associate with. Whether you’re a “Family Guy” or “The Better Sister,” forging allegiances with people who care about your well-being, your academic progress, and your overall social standing is crucial. Like every other family, there will be tensions. The trick is to figure out whether an issue really demands your attention. Families C-BS a lot! 

Ultimately, whether you’re new or returning, stick with it. Stay focused. Avoid using anything illegal and show up to places with appreciation and attention. We know “Stranger Things” have happened.

Rich West is a full-time professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson.