Class of 2004 shares advice with freshmen

Last year, JMU’s Office of Institutional Research asked the graduating Class of 2004 what advice they would give to incoming freshmen. The response covered topics from teachers to having fun to life after JMU.

One question posed: "Looking back on your academic career at JMU, what is one piece of advice you would give to incoming freshmen that you wished you had received?"

The advice included such lines as, "Try not to study in your dorm room — there are too many distractions in such a small space," "Live it up, it goes by very quickly. Get involved" and "Actually read your texts."

According to Frank Doherty, director of Institutional Research, Institutional Research sent out a survey to the recent alumni to find out what types of jobs they received after graduation.

"I had been to a conference in Boston in which a speaker from Harvard [University] told about ongoing conversations with students about their experiences and how it was very helpful to students," Doherty said. "I thought about it, and decided that this might be a nice question to ask the recent alumni.

"Also, my son was a JMU freshman last year, and I wondered what kinds of advice he should have had. I showed it to him this summer, and he thought the ideas were terrific."

Over 500 alumni responded to the survey via e-mail.

"I definitely think this is a great idea," senior Elizabeth Wise said. "I just studied abroad in London, and it was really helpful to receive advice from people who had already gone through the program.
"You are so out of your area, it is nice to have someone tell you what you need to do while you are there."

Freshman Tim Sandole said, "I think that overall, I will listen to the advice. Advice is a positive thing; it doesn’t do any harm because you can listen to it or not."

According to Doherty, Institutional Research is planning to provide a link to freshmen in the next week or so via a mass e-mail.

The orientation office received a copy of the responses earlier this summer, but it was too late to give it to all the incoming freshmen.

The survey can be accessed through the Institutional Research Web site, www.jmu.edu/instresrch/oir_highlight.shtml.