A graduate of Ohio State University, he began his advising career at Jacksonville University before being hired by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of First Year Advising and Exploration. The office helps first-time-in-college students transition into 麻豆原创 and assists them with major and career exploration, academic advising, and other areas.

Recently, Oglethorpe led the creation of the First Knights Organization, a group developed to welcome first-generation college students to 麻豆原创 and help them get involved in campus life.

What was your first year of college like?

My first year of college was a blur. Much like 麻豆原创, OSU had an incredible array of involvement opportunities. During my freshman year, I played for the OSU cricket team, worked at the smoothie shop in the gym, went to every football game, became involved with the Public Relations Student Society of America student organization, and spent a lot of time hanging out with friends. Somehow, I found time to go to class, too!

What do you know about college now that you wish you knew then?

I wish I was better informed about the free resources that are made available to students on campus. There are so many services that students can take advantage of but many don鈥檛 even know they exist.

At 麻豆原创, students can be advised on legal issues by Student Legal Services, take a career aptitude test at First Year Advising and Exploration, go through an entire mock employment interview at Career Services, and even get Scantrons from SGA. I was also unaware of the amount of scholarship money that is made available to 鈥� and not used by 鈥� students. Every year, universities offer hundreds of thousands of dollars鈥� worth of scholarships. A lot of if goes unused because no one is willing to write a one-page essay on why they deserve the award.

What鈥檚 the most common hurdle faced by incoming freshmen?

I think the biggest hurdle for incoming freshmen is learning how to effectively manage time. In high school, students spent eight hours per day in school and then had a couple of hours of homework in the evening 鈥� in college, everything is the opposite. Students will spend 12 to 15 hours in the classroom in an entire week and will be responsible for anywhere from five to 10 hours of homework, studying and reading per class.

With all the great opportunities to get involved on campus, it can be difficult to make sure work gets done when professors aren鈥檛 holding your hand. Students have to be able to find a balance between taking advantage of all that 麻豆原创 has to offer and putting enough time into each class to make sure they excel. At the end of the day, you鈥檙e a student first.

How do those challenges differ for first-generation college students?

The biggest challenge for first-generation students lies within not knowing what to expect or what to ask. Students who have parents who have completed college degrees are able to rely on them to guide them through the expectations of college, but first-generation students have to go elsewhere to find this information. It can be very difficult to let someone know that you don鈥檛 understand something that is perceived by many to be general knowledge.

What is the First Knights Organization all about?

First Knights is an organization designed to help first-generation students adapt to the campus environment and find ways to get involved. We really want the organization to be a place where first-generation students can go to get any questions they have about college life answered and to find fun activities to connect them with other students and campus resources.

How critical is involvement for first-generation students?

Involvement is crucial for all students but especially for first-generation students. It can be difficult for first-generation students to feel like they are a part of campus life because they are the first in their family to experience anything like it. By getting involved, first-generation students can feel more confident that they belong on campus 鈥� because they do!

What are some simple ways for other students to get engaged with campus life at 麻豆原创?

Knights of the Round Table has a great service for students called Knight Quest. By completing a quick interview, students are given a list of clubs, organizations and campus activities that match their hobbies and interests.

When you aren鈥檛 working, how do you like to unwind?

Outside of the office, I love spending time with my fianc茅e, Erin, and our two dogs, Megan and Lucy. I also try to golf as much as possible and take advantage of the Florida sunshine.

What鈥檚 your top piece of advice for the next class of incoming Knights?

Visit your academic advisor at least twice a semester and get involved on campus. You鈥檙e only here for four (maybe five!) years鈥攖ake advantage of it!

But with studying, activities, internships and other commitments, you may not even notice time whizzing by.

So what鈥檚 the secret to making the most of your time at 麻豆原创 and graduating as planned?

Over the past 50 years, nearly 250,000 students have graduated from 麻豆原创, and we鈥檝e gathered tips for academic success from across campus to help you on your journey to reaching that milestone.

Get involved in campus life. 麻豆原创 is home to hundreds of student organizations, including Greek life, academic and cultural clubs, and intramural sports teams.

Don鈥檛 fret if you don鈥檛 know where to start. Each fall during the first week of classes, 麻豆原创 hosts a welcome week called . Social, academic and service activities are planned for each day to help new and returning students get acquainted with campus and meet fellow Knights.

Among the new student groups launching this fall is First Knights Organization, which will support first-generation college students as they adjust to campus life and help them get involved.

鈥淎s a first-generation student, involvement is a big reason why I have had much success at 麻豆原创,鈥� said LaShaunda Hayes, the organization鈥檚 interim president. 鈥淕etting involved my freshman year helped me to surround myself with other leaders on campus, and that鈥檚 what I hope First Knights does for other students.鈥�

Apply for scholarships. 麻豆原创 awards more than $500 million in financial assistance each year, and there鈥檚 a piece of that pie out there for you, too.

Be aware of the grant and scholarship opportunities that are available. Many of them are listed online .

If you鈥檙e aiming high, consider reaching out to the Office of Prestigious Awards. The office works with students in pursuit of major scholarships or fellowships funded by national or international foundations, and staff can help you determine which awards might be the best fit for your skills, talents and goals.

Get on a first-name basis with your advisor. Your academic advisor can help you navigate courses, guide you in changing your major and ensure that you鈥檙e on track to graduate on time, so don鈥檛 hold off on introducing yourself to them.

First-year students are assigned an advisor from First Year Advising & Exploration. Once you declare a major, an advisor from your college is assigned to you. Students who haven鈥檛 declared a major or are in the process of changing their area of study can visit the Sophomore and Second Year Center.

鈥淩egardless of the questions students have, know that we can either answer them directly or point students in the right direction,鈥� said academic advising coordinator David Oglethorpe. 鈥淎s for schedule planning and academics, it鈥檚 very important that students review their planned schedules with their advisors at least once a semester 鈥� this way, we can ensure that everything is in place for success.鈥�

Visit the Student Self Service tab on my麻豆原创 to learn how to contact your advisor.

Consider learning outside of the classroom. Nearly three quarters of all 麻豆原创 students take at least one online course each year, and web, video and blended classes account for more than 34 percent of all student credit hours.

It鈥檚 no secret that web-based courses offer flexibility for students, but a study from the U.S. Department of Education also found that on average, students perform better in blended classes than they do in face-to-face classes.

Some 麻豆原创 programs even offer fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees.

鈥淏lended and online learning gives you options, and that鈥檚 why I find them so convenient,鈥� said Joyce Jacobson, a junior business management major. 鈥淚 have a job, but I can still watch lectures and learn lessons in a way that fits into my schedule. Those types of courses also teach you a lot about time management鈥攜ou have to be responsible and watch lectures and take notes. The accountability falls on you.鈥�

Remember that it鈥檚 never too early to think about what鈥檚 next. From resume critiques to mock interviews to career exploration, Career Services and Experiential Learning helps students plan their futures outside of 麻豆原创.

Whether you鈥檙e on the hunt for a job, internship or career, the office鈥檚 location near Memory Mall is a one-stop shop for students seeking assistance with achieving their academic and professional goals. There are resources to help you explore career fields, gain hands-on work experience and line up plans for after graduation.

The key is to think about what comes next early on.

More than 100 employers will gather at 麻豆原创 on Oct. 3 for the Fall Career Expo, which is open to students and alumni looking for a way to connect with the job market. More information is available , and the deadline to register is in September.