While it is true that students committed to a major earn higher GPAs, seventy-five percent of all entering students change their majors at least once. Choice of the major is more important than ever because the state mandated 64 hour general education requirements have many choices dictated by the major discipline. Simultaneously, making the wrong choice too early can lead to having to take additional requirements. Regardless of major, most of the first year courses are the same anyway, so get as many of the general ed requirements completed as possible. Students who live on campus tend to earn better grades and to persist at JSU longer than students hassled with paying bills and maintaining an apartment or who waste time commuting.
Residential life is a major aspect of college and the maturity it brings.
Residential students are also more like to become involved in campus life and organizations. Students who belong to at least one organization and are involved in extra-curricular activities also tend to earn higher grades and persist longer. Most JSU students work at paying jobs while going to school. Those who succeed view their primary job as student, while their part-time job is to support their completing school. Students who work more than 20 hours a week are five times as likely to drop-out of college as those who do not work at all.