Dear GCU Freshman,

Welcome to Lope Country!

As you enter your first year here at GCU you may be unsure of what to expect. You may be far from home and unsure of what life here in Phoenix is really like. I get it.

I'm here to help! I'm a GCU sophomore, and while I can't claim to know everything about life at GCU, I can give you some tips and tricks to make your first year run smoothly.

First off, coffee. The most important part. GCBC coffee is not great. It looks cool. People line up to go there, but the coffee is sub par. They have good lemonades and teas, but if you are looking for that boost of caffeine, I recommend Einsteins. Their coffee is just better.

On that note, Dutch Bros is big with GCU students. There is a Dutch Bros a few miles away from campus and you will always find a GCU student in line. I've also learned that if you want to be hip, you just call it Dutch.

In terms of academics, I highly recommend going into professor office hours. I don't care if you never did this in high school, it is so useful! The professors at GCU are so kind and really helpful.

Also, find study groups. Having people to study with helps a lot.

With that in mind, you must also find the perfect places to study. My favorite places are the fields in front of the Grove, the GCBC in the Student Union, the Library, or in a hammock outside Canyon Hall.

Now on to a different topic: food. Eating healthy is hard. Especially in college and especially at GCU. There are lots of fast food options, which are tasty, but not particularly healthy. If you are looking for something healthy, try Fresh Fusion inside the Student Union. They have awesome salads and wraps! Lean Canteen and Jamba Juice are also great options for healthy meals!

If you are looking to buy more grocery-like items, GCU has many grocery stores on campus. You freshman will probably find the Juniper store to be the closest to you, but keep in mind that not all the stores are the same! If you want more health-food items, head to the Chaparral Hall store. If you are looking for more options and more fruits and veggies, head to The Grid on Lopes Way.

Next, I advise you to get involved. Everyone will tell you that, but it's really true! Try clubs! Try activities and see if you like them! There's no harm in trying!

Lastly, find a Life Group. Life Groups are Bible studies that are held in each hall and they are amazing. They are a great way to make friends and grow in your faith. Faith is so important and so grounding when you are in the middle of so many life changes.

I wish you the best of luck as you begin your journey as a Lope.

Lopes up!