7 Pieces of Advice From CofC Alumni
We asked our alumni for one piece of advice from their time at the College. Here's what they had to say!

We could all use a little advice now and then! Including our students!
That’s why we asked College of Charleston alumni on LinkedIn to provide their best advice from their time at CofC for current students. And, of course, they did not disappoint!
Nearly 40 alumni offered their wisdom – from study tips to tripping bricks and much more! Here are just seven of those words to the wise!

Get Uncomfortable.
Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Trying new things can be scary and make you nervous, but it’s really just excitement of the unknown. Embrace that feeling and lean into it. You’ll be amazed where it takes you, who you meet, what you learn, and overall how far you’ll go.
– Logan Holloway ’13, Communication Major, Data Management and Marketing Specialist at Morris Marketing

Be Curious.
In college, I learned that the smartest people weren’t the ones who knew all the answers – they were the ones who asked the questions and most curious. Business works the same way. Build your relationships with the right few people, not your résumé. It’s not about building a vast network either. Quality people in your life beats quantity of people in your life every day. And, if you can do anything in this world: Be kind.
– Chad Warzecha ’92, Sociology Major, President and CEO at SMB Supply Chain

Refocus Your Success.
It’s not grades that get you success. … It’s 1. work ethic, 2 able to work in teams, 3. being a good person. I was a below-average student at CofC, and I am wrapping up a 37-year career at NASA as a research physicist. All due to the amazing time spent at CofC. Do NOT take your time there for granted. Absorb every day. Appreciate. Learn! It’s about people!!! Not politics. It’s skills.
– Barry Coyle ’86, Physics Major, Laser Physicist at NASA-GSFC

Get to Know Your Professors.
Take time to connect with your professors — they’re not just teaching you, they’re guiding you. Their experience and wisdom can open doors you never imagined. One professor once told me, “Education is an investment in yourself.” That advice has stayed with me ever since, shaping the way I see learning and life.
– Janice McKinney ’98, Sociology Major, Portfolio Manager at AmeriCorps

Use Your Resources.
Need … anything? Center for Student Learning.
– Kirk Jennings ’07 (M.S. ’08), Accounting Major, Master of Accountancy, Core Tax and ASC740 Consultant

Get Involved.
Plug yourself into clubs and activities on campus, you’ll meet lifelong friends and many more close acquaintances! Embrace the process of learning, you’ll find that, yes, grades are important, but the process of mastering concepts and thinking critically is more impactful.
– Rich Timmons ’05 (M.P.A. ’08), Economics/Business Administration Major, Government Financial Manager

Appreciate Every Moment.
Realize now that you’re being educated in the same manner as many of the very top rated private universities while at the College. Class size, Ph.D.s, campus, written exams, prerequisites,
labs … all of it.
– Pierre Bouvette ’81, Economics Major, Retired