College is in full swing again around the U.S. Freshman year is such a unique experience and is something you'll look back on for the rest of your life. You've probably been to orientation, bought everything you need for your dorm, and labeled all of your notebooks. You might think you have everything in order to conquer your first week, but here are seven things they don't tell you about your first week of college.
1. You'll get lost.
No matter how many times you walk the route or look at a map, you will get lost at some point during the first week of school. Don't worry, it happens to all of us. Plug your class building into google maps and keep rolling. Getting lost gives you an excuse to see more of the campus!
2. Drop/add week attendance
Most universities have a drop/add period that lasts for the first week of school. During this time, students can add or drop classes without any penalty on their transcript. I knew about drop/add but I did not know that nobody would show up for class. I remember walking into my Spanish class and seeing 9 people. The whole week I worked with these 9 people and wondered why Spanish 1101 wasn't busier at a university with over 20,000 students. The first day after drop add when I walked in every desk was filled and people were sitting on the floor.
3. There is always something to do.
Ok my dad told me this a lot but I didn't really understand that he literally meant every hour of every day. There's a flyer on every wall inviting you to a club, sport, event, bible study, or something. People throw flyers at you left and right at the student center too. There's always a movie being shown or a social event to be at. It's great if you want to stay busy, but don't forget about homework.
4. In a school full of people, you'll feel lonely.
This was something I was not prepared for. You can be surrounded by people in an enormous dining hall and still feel alone. Maybe it's the type of loneliness that comes from rapid change or the type of loneliness that comes from knowing everyone at your school to knowing no-one at all. Whatever it is, it can be hard. Keep your head up and remember that this is your chance to write a brand new chapter in your life!
5. Laundry is a bloodbath.
Communal living has its down sides. None compares to the draining task of doing laundry. I live in a dormitory with close to 900 residents and we all share one laundry room with 20 washers and dryers. There is no time where the laundry room isn't busy. The crowd of dirty college kids isn't even the worst part, it's the barbaric behavior that ensues if you are a minute late to your washer. I have come into the laundry room to see my wet clothes thrown on the floor, table, and even a trash bag. The morale of the story is to arrive 15 minutes before your wash is over unless you want to pick your wet socks up off the floor.
6. Homework is a lifestyle.
Remember in high school when you could knock out your homework in a hour or so or even during class? Kiss those days goodbye. There is not a single second that I couldn't be using for homework. I could do homework during class, before dinner, after dinner, and into midnight and still not be finished. Of course this all depends on the types of classes you decide to take, but make sure you are prepared to make room for study time.
7. 8 a.m. classes are as horrible as they sound.
Registering for classes is an exciting time for a freshman. I remember being so overwhelmed with all the offerings and options. I needed a Spanish course and one of the last remaining slots was an 8am MWF. I registered telling myself it wouldn't be that bad. WRONG. It is so hard to get to sleep early, get up on time, and have your life together at 8am. Even worse, these classes are typically the ones with strict attendance policies. If you cannot wake up in the mornings, do yourself a favor and just pick the 3:30pm class.
At the end of the day, college is all about discovering yourself in a brand new environment. Your first week is just the beginning of the rest of your college experience. So go out, make friends, and live it up! Oh, and remember not to forget to do your laundry.
