Senior Suggestions From the Farmington Flyer
Seniors Abby Washburn, Anna Paine and Jadyn Jacobs in the UMF Education Center on Feb. 10, 2026.
May 1, 2026
Jadyn Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief
Anna Paine, Journalism Club Member
Abby Washburn, Journalism Club Member
Abby Washburn
As a senior this year, I like to think that I have gained some wisdom about college, and like to think my friends also have their own wisdoms to share. As three different majors, we cover a lot of variety in classes; I am an Anthropology major. Jadyn is a Web Media and Design major, and Anna is an Elementary Education major.
Together we have compiled insights on our favorite and least favorite classes, recommendations of things to bring that are never on any packing list, and some general tips for doing well and getting the most out of college.
I suppose if you take our tips and advice, that is up to you.
~Abby
My favorite classes:
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANT 101)
I liked this class because it covered so many interesting topics about places and people that I knew nothing about. After this class, I ended up making anthropology my major.
Painting I (ART 121)
I thought this class was super fun, and I learned some more painting techniques and color mixing (which, I’ll admit, I was not super great at).
Topics in Recreation: Outdoor Rec for Inside Kids (REC 177)
I liked this class because it discussed topics that felt very relevant to my interests, while also being very informative. I also really like the professor and her style of teaching.
My least favorite classes:
Environment, Economy, Society (EPP 320)
I disliked this class because it was a discussion based online class, which made some things awkward. Online learning is also just generally not my favorite, since I find it harder to engage with the material.
Dynamic Earth: Environment and Economy (GEY 141)
I disliked this class mostly due to the professor I took it with. He was new to teaching and the class felt very unorganized and chaotic.
Topics in Honors: The New York School (HON 277)
I disliked this class because I found it very hard to engage with the topic of the class. The setting where we held the class also made it very difficult for me to focus, and it was a morning class.
My top Five things I’d say to bring to college (that packing lists won’t tell you):
A ball of yarn – you never know when you need to tie something up or hold something down.
Scissors – I use my scissors often, but find the smallness of the item makes them easy to forget until you realize you need them and don’t have them.
A stapler – for the same reason as the scissors. Also especially helpful if a professor requires assignments turned in on paper or you take a lot of notes that you need to keep together.
Earplugs – you never know how much noise will carry into your dorm room, especially when you are trying to sleep.
Christmas lights (or some other small lamp) – lamps are mentioned on most packing lists, but I just wanted to reiterate that Christmas lights or fairy lights are a good choice if you want less harsh lighting in your room than the overhead lighting. String lights are also a good choice if you are trying to work while your roommate wants to sleep.
Other tips I have for making the best of college:
If you have a roommate, be clear and honest in talking to them about when you need them to be quiet/er and when you’d rather just be in your own space
In the beginning, do not do homework in bed. This will keep your bed in your mind as a place for sleeping and relaxing. Doing homework (at least until you grasp the schedule and class work requirements) on the floor or at a desk will make you more focused on the work you are doing.
Have another place to study that is not your dorm. Having another space will help you focus, helping to associate the room with comfort and not working. The fusion building is nice and usually not very busy, and the library is always a great option for working. Some of my friends prefer the beaver lodge or the lounge of their dorm building.
In the winter, keep your shoes in a shoe mat/tray/on a folded towel, so as to not track drippy sand and salt all over the floor.
With the note above, having a broom/dustpan or vacuum on hand is also important. Sand and salt and other debris (like crumbs or paper scraps) will inevitably get tracked all around your room, and having a way to clean up makes it easier.
Your dorm doesn't have to be pretty! My dorm is fairly bare, with most of the decorations being pictures and drawings I hung up. My bedding is just whatever I had at home, so it does not all follow one theme, and some of it is from when my oldest two siblings were in college. There can be a lot of pressure to have a stylized dorm room furnished to the max, but you only need enough to be comfortable.
Go to campus events! Art shows/events, home sports games, plays or concerts, events in the landing, and CA hall events all provide the opportunity to do something that is not just hanging in your dorm room. Joining clubs also provides a time filler and provides a space to meet people. If you have a car, consider off-campus events as well (like hiking, shopping and skiing).
Go to class! This may seem obvious, but when starting college people can become obsessed with their newfound freedom, and focus on sleeping or partying instead of going to class. Going to the class will ensure you are not missing any important information, and you might make friends (or at least acquaintances) with your seat neighbors/table mates.
Ask for help if you need it! Send emails to professors or go to office hours to ensure you understand project details or class expectations. Tutors and councilors are also good choices for help if you are struggling.
Go for walks! Walking is a simple way to get sunlight and moderate exercise, which are both critical to health and wellbeing when sitting in classrooms all day.
Drink water and have snacks in the dorm. A glass of water can not solve all the world's problems, but it can solve many. Thirsty? Drink. Hungry? Drink (snacks are also a good choice). Headache? Drink. Cough? Drink, drink, drink. If you don't like water, water flavor packets or things like powdered gatorade make it easier. Don't forget to WASH your waterbottle!!
Take care of yourself when you are sick – colleges are basically just petri-dishes, where some illness makes waves around campus every semester. Make sure you have tissues (or a handkerchief) on hand. When you are sick make sure to WASH YOUR HANDS often, and consider wearing a mask. I also like to have mint candies (either peppermints or life-savers) on hand for if I have a sore throat or am coughing.
Go to the Resource Depot – This is a very good spot if you are looking for craft supplies or knick knacks for projects, where you can buy all kinds of things for not very much money. I have also gotten some art pages I used as dorm decorations.
Anna Paine
Favorite Classes and Why:
Middle-earth and You (Honors)
This was my dream college class. We just read through The Lord of the Rings and discussed that week’s chapters in each class. It was a great group of students and the professor was hilarious. The bigger assignments we had to do were an essay on any topic we wanted from the books, a creative project and a group project where we had to design a board game that was LOTR-themed.
Children's Literature
This class had a lot of work but was very enjoyable. I loved the professor and course topic. We wrote and physically made our own children’s books to present on Symposium Day.
Math Methods
This class made teaching math feel accessible for me. The professor was great to work with, and we got to test our learning with elementary students at Mallet.
Video Games and Identity
I had no knowledge of video games going into this class. I was very nervous to take it but needed it for my English minor. It ended up being an amazing class where I felt comfortable contributing to discussions as a first time gamer. Having to play video games for homework was great, and I loved applying literary analysis techniques I was familiar with to a new art and storytelling medium.
Least Favorite Classes and Why:
Math Content Elem Sch Tch I
Math is not a favorite subject of mine. I have always struggled with it and this class was hard. I had to get a tutor because I could not understand the material. I also did not feel the professor was very approachable.
Curriculum & Assessment in Elementary Edu
The main reason this class is on the least favorite list is because I cannot remember anything I learned in this class. The only thing I remember is how I was bored and did not like the professor.
College Packing
Bring snacks.
Bring a few meals that can be prepared in the microwave and will last.
It sucks trekking to the dining hall when you are sick and can barely get out of bed.
Bring winter clothes when you move in. Winter and cold weather creeps up on you faster than you think.
Bring cold medication and a pain reliever.
Tips for College
Go to the Counseling Center! I’ve found counseling to be one of the biggest helps while in college. If you’re worried about affording it, the Counseling Center has an intern every year that students can see for free.
Try to keep your space organized. It is hard to work and be productive if your area’s messiness is bothering you. Plus a quick three minute organization will get the ball rolling with your motivation.
Have a planner of some sort. You will not remember all the meetings, appointments and due dates in your head. Google calendar is your friend.
Join at least one club. There’s a lot of awesome clubs on campus, at least one will fit your interests. It is a great way to have a sense of community and friends during college.
Get out of the dorm. In between classes, it is very tempting to just go lay in bed. While sometimes that is definitely needed, going for a walk or studying in Mantor Library, Fusion, or the Beaver Lodge, can be a better use of your time.
You will be okay. Every semester has an end date, let that be your light at the end of the tunnel.
You may not be able to get everything done and that is okay. It is very hard in college to stay on top of deadlines. Ask for extensions if you need them. Most professors in my experience are very accommodating if you are having a challenging time. Your well-being is important. You deserve to take time for yourself and that may include occasionally missing a class due to mental or physical health.
If you have room in your academic plan to, have a minor related to something you are passionate about. I have an English Minor, and those classes kept me sane between all my education classes.
Friendships change and evolve throughout college. You may not be friends with the same people you met in your first year.
Tips for Elementary Education Majors
Consider a Special Education or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Minor/Concentration. I did not go this route for a minor, and I wish I had because these would have been very helpful now that I am in Student Teaching.
Make friends in your class. You will end up taking most of your education classes with the same people and will lean on each other for support.
Be professional in your classes.
There are not a lot of tests to take, but there are a ton of projects. It can be really overwhelming around midterms and finals because each class will probably have one at the same time, but you will make it.
Practicum and Student Teaching seminars are the time to bring forward any wins or struggles you are experiencing in the field. Your classmates and instructors are great people to get advice from and bounce ideas off of.
Jadyn Jacobs
After four years of college, I would hardly consider myself an expert when it comes to navigating college life, but I have learned a few things along the way that I hope will be helpful for those who may take my advice.
My favorite classes:
First Year Seminar in Honors Course Topic: Urban Maine: Stories & Sounds
This was the first class I took at UMF. It was my first year fusion course, and we traveled to Portland for a couple of days, which was a great way to start a class! I was also lucky to have great professors, TAs and classmates in this course that helped make this class so special. I met two of my best friends through this class, and this course helped set me up for success in college.
Learning Across Borders Course Topic: Portugal
I took a two week trip to Portugal for this course, enough said.
Just kidding. Even though I am not an education major, I enjoyed learning about the way education systems were similar and different between different countries. I also enjoyed learning about the small differences between the US and Portugal. This is another course where the people were a big part of what made this class so great!
Advanced Topics in Honors Course Topic: Writing a One-Person Show
This course was out of my comfort zone, but it was still a fun course. I appreciated the challenge of not just performing, but doing a solo performance of my own writing. The class ended with an event where the class performed, which was a great way to end the class, and I loved sharing my work even if it was terrifying!
Least favorite classes:
Geology
I can’t say I’ve ever loved science, but geology was specifically hard for me. I felt like it was a little intense for a gen ed course. We went outside for a lab while it was hailing, and I ended up barely being able to see the pencil marks on the soaked paper. It was awful! The class was definitely difficult, and I was glad when it was over.
PHE
I didn’t hate this class, but I also didn’t feel it benefited me. It was nice to get introduced to the gym here, but it didn’t feel like it should have been a semester long class. This class was also pass/fail, and there wasn’t any credit to earn for it. This made the class feel kinda pointless.
Math Content Elem Sch Tch I
This is another class that wasn’t bad, but was rather pointless. I took it as a gen ed when I was an undecided major even though the actual content wasn’t necessarily relevant. It made sense for me to take it at the time, but then I ended up having to take a math class for my major. This made this class a rather pointless one for me to take in the end. Other than that however, this class was a fine class.
Top five things to bring to college that aren’t on the packing list:
1.Paper towels and tissues
Both paper towels and tissues are essential, but neither are on the packing list. I didn’t bring very many tissue boxes, and when I got sick within the first couple of weeks of the semester it was a shock. Paper towels are also essential for cleaning. Looking at the packing list, I honestly can’t believe that glass cleaner is on the list, but not tissues and paper towels?!
2. Handsanitizer
I always appreciate having hand sanitizer around no matter what. You never know when a bathroom will be out of soap or when you’ll need a last minute snack and won’t have time to wash your hands.
3.Plants
Not an essential, but I enjoy having some sort of life in my dorm room. It makes me happy, and I enjoy having something small to take care of.
4.Immune support/illness medication
Again, I got sick a couple of weeks into the semester, and I didn't have tea, cough drops, or anything like that. It was awful, and I have brought these types of things ever since. On top of that, always have a frozen meal or something like that that will last and be quick to make for the same reason. You may not feel like walking all the way to the dining hall when you’re not feeling well!
5.Dish towel and mat
If you have more than just a water bottle and some silverware, I highly recommend bringing a dish towel and mat. I only started bringing these items when I started cooking my own meals, but I wish I had thought to bring them sooner as it makes things so much easier and more efficient.
Other college tips:
Go to campus events
There are so many events to attend on campus, and going to these events is a great way to get out of your dorm and do something fun.
Talk to professors
It usually helps to talk to your professors. Even if you feel somewhat confident on an assignment, it can be nice to get feedback. This is something I definitely wish I had started doing sooner especially because it helps you build relationships.
Join a club
Clubs are a great way to get involved. I met one of my best friends through a club and have made many other connections through the clubs I’ve been a part of. It’s a good way to get you out of your dorm and into the community. It’s also nice to have something fun to go out and do once a week or so that’s not class or homework.
Do a travel course
I highly recommend going on a travel course. I know it can be difficult to swing it financially, but there are scholarships and ways to save to make it more affordable. It was a great way to travel in a fairly low stress environment, and as someone who has always wanted to travel internationally, was a great start.
Set boundaries/don’t overschedule
Time management is important! Be honest with yourself about how much you can do and plan breaks in the day. Overscheduling leads to burnout, which will make everything worse. Set boundaries with yourself and others to avoid burnout.
