10 Things For The New College Student To Know | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Things For The New College Student To Know

A couple tips for the next chapter of your life.

6
10 Things For The New College Student To Know
Sam Hanlon

A couple of things for the kid getting ready to start the next chapter of his life.

1. Don’t be afraid to leave your room.

College can be scary, especially when starting over in a place with new people and new surroundings, but that shouldn’t be a reason to stay cooped up in your room. There’s this big new world ready for you to enter it and explore. Turn off Netflix, put on some pants and get out there!

2. Don’t worry about being the scared new kid. There are hundreds of others just like you.

Fortunately, going to college means you aren’t the only new kid. There’s going to be hundreds of others just like you trying to find their way around, and all of you will be wearing the same “OMG, I’m crapping my pants” face so us upperclassmen will be able to pick you out of the crowd.

3. Come up with a “one-minute-hi-my-name-is” speech.

The best advice a teacher ever gave me was coming up with a quick little nugget of info you could throw up on someone when they asked you what your name was. Because for the first month you’re going to say the same thing 563 times to every new person you meet. “Hey my name is Sam, I’m from a town in the middle of nowhere called Summerfield, I’m a religion major and no, I do not like green eggs and ham.” This was always the best way to get a conversation rolling and shut down the “Sam-I-Am” jokes before they got started.

4. Emergency car kit

Keep a pillow, change of shirt, change of underwear, a toothbrush, a pair of socks and a bottle of water in your car at all times. You never know when you’re going to have to catch some Zs in your car, and some fresh underwear can make anyone feel like a new person when put on.

5. Never go out to a party alone.

I know some of you kids have been sheltered or you’ve been the “I’ll never go to parties” kid in high school, but it’s like the moment you move out of your parents’ house your inner party animal comes exploding out and wreaks havoc over the duration of first semester. Find yourself a buddy -- someone you know you can trust -- and take them with you. In a room full of new people, having one familiar face to help you make it back to your dorm can be the difference between sleeping in your bed and making the walk of shame across campus the next morning.

6. Be a responsible student, but remember to have fun.

If you’re coming from a public school system, this is the first time you have to pay for your education (which, reminder, is a huge privilege to have as in many countries across the world this is not the case.) Your school work needs to get done, and you need to study, but get involved in some extracurricular activities! Intramural sports, clubs, social activist groups, etc. Go to sports games. Cheer on your school even if you hate the sport! But remember that these are going to be the best four years of your life. Take the time to enjoy it outside the classroom.

7. Go to class.

While you’re laying in bed in the morning debating whether or not to go to class, get up and go to class. You’ll thank me later.

8. Use your campus resources.

Writing center, counseling, peer mentors, RA’s, peer tutors, advisors, etc. -- these groups are on campus to help you. They were not created to plan and execute your downfall. They are people who have volunteered their time and energy to help you succeed as a student. Use them!

9. Eat and sleep.

For some reason this can be a foreign concept for some people. Take the time or make the time in your day to take a 15-minute power nap and eat some lunch. You have to take care of yourself. Getting sick and run down away from home is 10 times worse than when you are home.

10. Call your parents.

Call your mom and talk to her. Call your dad and talk to him. Whether you think so or not, they are going to miss you. Talking to them and talking to them might be the only thing that keeps you (and them) sane while you are away.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Drake
Hypetrak

1. Nails done hair done everything did / Oh you fancy huh

You're pretty much feeling yourself. New haircut, clothes, shoes, everything. New year, new you, right? You're ready for this semester to kick off.

Keep Reading...Show less
7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

Keep Reading...Show less
singing
Cambio

Singing is something I do all day, every day. It doesn't matter where I am or who's around. If I feel like singing, I'm going to. It's probably annoying sometimes, but I don't care -- I love to sing! If I'm not singing, I'm probably humming, sometimes without even realizing it. So as someone who loves to sing, these are some of the feelings and thoughts I have probably almost every day.

Keep Reading...Show less
success
Degrassi.Wikia

Being a college student is one of the most difficult task known to man. Being able to balance your school life, work life and even a social life is a task of greatness. Here's an ode to some of the small victories that mean a lot to us college students.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

6 Signs You're A Workaholic

Becuase of all things to be addicted to, you're addicted to making money.

604
workaholic
kaboompics

After turning 16, our parents start to push us to get a job and take on some responsibility. We start to make our own money in order to fund the fun we intend on having throughout the year. But what happens when you've officially become so obsessed with making money that you can't even remember the last day you had off? You, my friend, have become a workaholic. Being a workaholic can be both good and bad. It shows dedication to your job and the desire to save money. It also shows that you don't have a great work-life balance. Here are the signs of becoming a workaholic.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments