One of my favorite parts of this blog is sharing perspectives from people at different stages of life. As parents prepare to send students off to college, or as students get ready to begin this exciting new chapter, I thought it would be valuable to hear firsthand from someone who just experienced it.

Our firm’s finance intern, Megan Stall, recently completed her first year at Bowling Green State University. In this guest post, she shares what she did that helped her succeed, along with a few lessons she wishes she had known before arriving on campus. Whether you’re a student preparing for college or a parent helping someone make the transition, I hope you’ll find her insights helpful!

For many students and their families, moving into college is an exciting milestone that brings many new experiences. This new chapter comes with greater freedom and the responsibility of shaping your own future. As I reflect on my experience, there are several decisions that helped make my transition smooth, along with a few lessons I wish I had learned before beginning my college journey.

My name is Megan Stall, and I am currently a finance intern at Hixon Zuercher Capital Management. I recently completed my first year at Bowling Green State University, where I am pursuing dual specializations in Finance and Business Analytics & Intelligence. I plan to get my CFP® designation (Certified Financial Planner™) after graduating with my Bachelors in 2028.

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to The Everyday Advisor blog, and I hope these tips provide encouragement and practical advice for students entering this exciting stage of life.

Let’s start with a few things I’m especially glad I did before starting college.

What Set Me Up For College Success

1. Complete College Credit Plus (CCP) Classes

The College Credit Plus (CCP) program is an excellent resource for those in high school, especially juniors and seniors, who are hoping to get ahead in their college career. Students who earn CCP credits often gain more flexibility when building their schedules, reduce tuition costs, and may even have the opportunity to add another major or graduate early.

I completed a total of 31 college credit hours while I was still in high school. Because of those credits, I am able to pursue dual specializations in Finance and Business Analytics & Intelligence while still graduating in just three years.

2. Go to Hixon Zuercher Capital Management’s Career Day!

Getting out and into your different career interests is a crucial part to setting yourself up for success. Before college, I shadowed different fields I was interested in like interior design, corporate finance, and financial advising. The HZCM Career Day helped me to identify the field I desired to go into and what the different aspects of a career in financial planning are.

This educational experience also helped me learn the importance of team comradery and how co-workers can feel like family.

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Now that you know what set me up for success, let me share a few things college students should be aware of to prepare themselves for their first year at a university.

3 Tips for College Success

1. Build Relationships Early

Bowling Green, and most universities, offer many events for new students to meet new people. My roommate and I attended all of these events, but I was comfortable getting to know the person I was living with instead of introducing myself to new people.

Looking back, I wish I had put myself out there more and met more people. These events are great since they are at the beginning of the year before anyone has developed friendships yet.

2. Get Involved (But Don’t Overcommit)

Getting involved on campus is a great way to find opportunities and meet new people. 

After hearing this advice myself, I became heavily involved without first making sure I had a manageable schedule. After college’s organization fair, I listed the groups I was interested in and attended a meeting for each one to see which were the best fit for me.

I joined five organizations during my fall semester, which quickly left me overcommitted. 

After taking on a leadership role in one of the groups, I decided to drop another. By the spring semester, I narrowed my involvement down to three organizations. This allowed me to dedicate more time and energy to each one more intentionally.

My recommendation here is choosing fewer organizations so you can be more actively involved and make a stronger impact. 

3. Develop Relationships with Your Professors

Many professors truly value their students’ education and want to see them succeed.

During my first semester, I was fortunate to have a professor who went above and beyond to support his students. This professor would take time out of class to ensure every single one of his students were doing well in other classes as well as his own.

He truly cared about our personal life. Many professors are the same way and genuinely want a connection with their students, you just have to reciprocate it.

College is about more than earning a degree.

These years help you grow into the adult you hope to become by shaping your habits, relationships, and decision-making skills. College doesn’t have to feel overwhelming when you prepare well and set goals that align with your values. One of the most important parts of this stage of life is learning to set goals and dream big. 

Without goals, there is no roadmap; Without a roadmap, it is harder to stay accountable and work toward a successful future.