The University of Arizona is the most amazing college with many great programs, clubs and organizations to get involved in, beautiful surroundings. If you have chosen the U of A you already know all of these things. But there are some things you do not know yet…
Choosing your dorm
Most incoming students think there is one dorm that is the absolute best. This is not true, there are many great dorms it just depends on what you are looking for. I lived in the biggest hall, Coronado, since I was looking for a very social setting where I could meet a bunch of new friends. But, I found that my friends in the smaller dorms became very close with the people in their dorms as well because it is a lot easier to get to know 15 people than 700. Whatever you chose you will make friends, have the time of your life living in a room the size of a shoe box.
Join organizations you will actually benefit from
You might think you need to join a million organizations in order to not get lost in the shuffle at such a big school. This is honestly not true at all. While joining more than one organization is always a great way to gain new experiences and meet a bunch of new people, all you need at the end of the day is something that makes you happy. Whether it is becoming a part of Greek life, getting involved in student body government, the quidditch team, volunteering, or all of the above, just make sure to do what makes you happy and only put as much on your plate as you can manage. I always say it is better to be very involved in one thing than kind of involved in a bunch of things. Many college freshman think they have to build a lengthy resume right away, but excelling in one thing can mean much more than spreading yourself too thin.
Go to the rec. and eat as healthy as possible
The dreaded freshman 15 does not have to be a reality if you eat some decent food rather than highland burritos for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Exercise is not just important in terms of avoiding a little college weight gain but is important in terms of energy levels and being happy. College can be a very stressful time especially in your first year while you are still trying to figure everything out. Stress combined with a poor diet and no exercise can be very unhealthy in many ways. Make sure to take long study breaks, drink lots and lots of water because it’s the desert people….and a well rounded diet with some exercise will make freshman year much more manageable. Going to the rec does not have to be a chore either. The restaurant inside the rec has amazing smoothies and flat breads that you can have before you head out to the pool. Working out is much more motivating when the campus rec center is as amazing as ours is.
Don’t stress about a major
Not everyone graduates knowing exactly what they want to do and that’s ok! So many of my friends were too busy trying to figure out what to major in and what to do with their lives that they forgot to relax and remind themselves that it is only the first year of four. You have plenty of time to figure out a major and what you’re going to do with your life (which could have nothing to do with your major in the long run). The truth is, is that live is not a straight path. College will send you many curve balls but you have to learn to adapt to new surroundings and focus on enjoying the ride rather than trying to map out the next twenty years of your life. The first year is also mostly general education courses so if you actually go to class like you are supposed to maybe you’ll find a new subject (possibly one to major in) that you never would have thought of before. College is many people’s first chance to create their own curriculum and study what interests them the most rather than studying what is on the standardized tests, so take advantage!
GO OUT
Some students are nervous to go out and have fun because they are worried about their grades, waking up on time for class, but there are very few reasons to not go out freshman year of college. You are young so enjoy it while you can! Time flies and who ever remembers a night that starts with “so this one time when I didn’t go out and was at home alone watching Netflix…”? Make new friends, go on adventures, make bad decisions, learn from them, experiment, do what you thought you could never do, and don’t let the best four years pass you by.
Get to know your professors
Even if you went to a large high school it probably wasn’t
equivalent to our 42 thousand undergraduate students that we have. Going from
knowing all of your teachers and having all of them know you, the U of A will
place you in classes with twenty five students and the next class you will be
in a lecture hall with 500. Whether the class is big or small getting to know
your professors and building a relationship with them is beneficial in so many
ways. Getting a recommendation letter from a professor you’ve never spoken to
might be a little tricky…It is also hard to get help on a paper, figure out how
to do better on the next exam if you don’t attend office hours or reach out to
your professor. Even if you do not need any extra help it is always good to go
introduce yourself. If a professor can put a name to a face when grading your
papers and tests it will help them remember you better which works well for you
both in the long run! Don’t be scared of them, the honestly want you to succeed
and do well in the future.
Branch out
Many students who come the U of A know someone from their high school. Since U of A is so big sometimes you don’t know anyone, which can be scary and great at the same time, or it seems like you know a bunch of people. Either way you are not in high school anymore. Branch out and meet new people. Talk to anyone and everyone because you never know who will end up being your next best friend. This is not to say you should forget or abandon your high school friends but it does mean you should be your own person and take this first year to grow as an independent individual. Find yourself and allow yourself to blossom from your high school self into a young adult and pave your own path. It is easy to get stuck in high school but you left and came here for a reason, so don’t get stuck doing the exact same things with the exact same people. Spread yo wings little ones!
Explore Tucson
The most amazing thing about Tucson is the University and the people who love it but there are some amazing things to do in see in and around Tucson outside of the university. Go hiking, take a weekend trip and camp at the grand canyon, go to the top of mount lemon (even if its only for the cookies), go downtown, do hot yoga on 4 th ave (which is really the same as doing yoga outside because its already hot here…all the time), go to lake havasu and jump the water falls, volunteer in the community, go to the foothills for some food with a view, obviously there are endless things to do on and off campus so try to explore every opportunity that comes your way.
Join the Zoo and Bear Down!
All of my friend’s biggest regrets is not getting a zonazoo pass. Arizona athletics events are one of the most fun things to do on campus and if you haven’t heard lately we’re kind of a big deal. Not only is our student section the most dope in the nation, our sports teams are killing it 24/7 so the games are no bore. I have friends that aren’t even sports fans that are part of the zoo and come to every game because it is just so fun to support our fellow wildcats and watch them strut their stuff on the court and on the field. Many of you might even be friends with a few athletes, which makes the games even more fun and personal. At the end of the day if you don’t get a pass you are going to be sitting in your dorm all alone while your friends all are storming the field after our big win…so just do it and save yourself the trouble of having to call your parents halfway through the season and missing half the fun.
You are about the start the next chapter of your life and there is no better place to do so than the University of Arizona. The desert, the people, the lifestyle, and school as a whole will steal your heart just like it stole mine. Congratulations and get ready for the four best years to come!
