Hey, you! So you're about to enter college, that's great! Congratulations on pursuing your next level of education! Scared? Anxious? Excited to be out on your own for the first time? SWEET. Here's what you need to know to survive your first semester of college.
1. Don't wear your lanyard around your neck
It's going to be tempting, all your freshman friends are going to do it because it's free gear and convenient for your keys and ID but don't. Just don't. It doesn't look cool, it'll hurt your neck, and it's a pain to take on and off if you have long hair because it gets tangled...and you know what just don't.
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2. Socialize
It'll be awkward as hell but you'll thank me later. So go ahead and sit at that lunch table with a bunch of freshman, or a bunch of upperclassman. We wont bite...hard. Promise ;)
3. Get Involved
Join clubs and organizations! I got suckered into being a majorette for the first times since elementary school, so that was cool (Thanks, Andy Erb). If you can, get an on campus job. I've worked as a tour guide since my freshman year and it's honestly the coolest job ever. Getting involved prevents you from sitting in your dorm all by yourself and helps you make friends.
4. Befriend your professors
The dynamic is different here than in high school. Remember that they're human. They are nice. They're cool. They are pretty much who you will want to be one day; successful and all around awesome.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help
College is different. It's harder than high school and professors don't hold your hand here. If you are struggling they don't always reach out. That is not their job now; it's yours.
Also, if you go to my school, Thiel College, there is free tutoring. FREE. TUTORING.
6. BRING DRINKS AND SNACKS TO CLASS
The all caps was so necessary here. In high school I wasn't allowed to have either in class, but hydrating and making sure you are not hungry in class is so important. You don't focus as much, you get tired and lazy. Bring a water and cliff bar for days when you have classes back to back and you will be golden!
7. Take Notes
Oh for the love of everything holy in this world take notes! High school it wasn't really necessary because I wasn't too challenged in high school. But college is a whole different ballgame. There may be PowerPoints but that is half the story. Lecture is a lot more than what is on a powerpoint slide. So bring your laptops to class (YES, YOU CAN DO THAT) download that PowerPoint, and just go crazy.
Also, read your expensive books and take notes; Lord knows that they're expensive af.
8. Nap
If you know me, you know that I need a nap at some point in the day or else I'm cranky (sorry, Alannah and Dan) but luckily a lot of kids are the same way; so go ahead and have a nap party with your roomie (Thanks, Alannah) and then afterwards go eat and watch Netflix before you start doing your assignments for the day. You deserve it.
9. Take advantage of what college gives you
You're paying a lot of money. At Thiel, there's an RN, Campus Counselor, Police Officers, 24 hour labs, free tutoring, and professors have office hours.There's even a place in the library where they will help you find internships, jobs, do mock interviews, AND SO MUCH. So whatever your school offers you, take it! Those loans are going to be there one way or another, might as well get as much out of it as you can.
10. Have FUN
College is literally the best four years of your life (I'm on year four, but I think it'll be even better than the first three). Meet friends, go out on the weekends if you want to, eat all the food (and laugh in response to people who always comment that you never gain weight because I CAN'T HELP IT OKAY).
Learn about yourself, who you want to be, be crazy and HAVE FUN!
