Dear Incoming Freshman,
Welcome to college little ones. Well not quite yet. The start of your college career is just right around the corner. I am writing this letter this far in advance to allow you the rest of the summer to let my advice sink in. The point of writing this article is to welcome you into the next chapter of your life by sharing advice I wish an upperclassman would have shared with me before I began my freshman year of college. Lets get started:
Cherish the time you have left living at Home
Spend every waking moment with your family, because I promise even though you think you're "so ready to be on your own" you will miss them. You will miss them a lot. You will miss your parents bothering you, the home cooked meals, miss the comfort of your own bed, and most importantly you will miss your dog.
The Freshman 15 is real
Try your best to stay active. The freshman 15 is almost inevitable. If for some reason you are reading this and want to take this advice to heart- maybe it’ll spare you gaining the entire 15. Whether you’re super fit, nice and plump, or you’re looking to maintain your figure, keep moving as much as possible. Go to the gym as much as you can! If that’s not your thing, you can stay active by doing little things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or by walking to class instead of getting a ride. For you sporty readers- I suggest you start playing intramurals!
Set goals for yourself
Whether its academic goals, physical goals, or social goals, having a list of goals is a great way to start out your freshman year. It doesn’t matter what types of goals, honestly it doesn’t even matter if you reach them or not. If you do, that’s fantastic and you should really be proud, and if you don’t reach them, at least you will get a good laugh out of it at the end of the year. I know I did.
Start thinking about what you want to pursue a degree in
Now I know it’s a lot of pressure for an 18-year-old to choose what they want to be for the rest of their life, and don’t worry, most people are in the same boat as you. It is normal to wait to declare your major or to change your major multiple times. However, I will say the sooner you figure out, the better. I'd like to encourage you to do some research on the matter. Meet with an adviser, and even take advantage of a major exploration class if your university offers one. Basically, just take it seriously when deciding and really think it through. If you are unsure- take general education (Gen Eds) or freshman level intro courses.
Take your schoolwork seriously
If I could slap my freshman year self I would. If someone hasn’t told you already, college is a lot harder than high school. You will have more homework, more reading assignments, more pop quizzes, and more exams. On top of that, you will have no one reminding you to do any of it. Keep yourself accountable and stay on top of your assignments and due dates.
Actually go to your classes
The first time you miss class and realize no one is going to yell at you and you aren’t in trouble, its easy for this to become a habit. Especially when the weather is yucky and you got no sleep. Try not to get in that habit from the get-go. Get it in your head now that class attendance is important. The first step is physically be present, and to go with that make sure you’re mentally present as well. To do so practice tips such as: sitting in the front, taking notes, and asking questions. Also, don’t be afraid to go to office hours and get extra help from your professor. The majority of your professors or even TAs will be more than happy to assist you and it’ll ultimately benefit you in the long run if you end with a border-line grade.
Don't be scared to branch out
If you plan on living in the dorms this one is important. The people on your hall may very well end up being your best friends. Don’t be afraid to ask someone across the hall to lunch, or ask someone you sit next to in class to meet up at the library to study. It doesn’t matter who it is, make the extra effort. I promise you everyone else is just as nervous and scared as you are. If you go into the freshman year with this mentality, you’re opening all sorts of doors to new possible friendships.
Get involved on campus
From the get go I would try join at least two clubs on campus. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be super involved and become president of these clubs one day. One thing I regretted was not doing this my freshman year. Campus activities are another great way to meet new people, not to mention they’re great resume builders as well!
It’s okay to miss a party
It is okay to miss a frat party. I promise you there will be another. In fact, probably the same exact one, with a reoccurring theme such as Hawaiian or the oh-so-fratastic jersey theme. It will also probably have the same punch made with everclear and delicious burnets to master taking shots. It is okay to miss a party to catch up on homework, or better yet sleep.
Take care of yourself
It is very important to take care of yourself mentally and physically. Those of you living in the dorms, whatever dorms they may be, take note that they are most likely disgusting. It is extremely easy to get sick in a dorm-style living space and if you’re lucky enough to live in a tiny dorm it makes it that much easier for not only you to get sick, but for you to take down your roommate with you, or vise versa. So be sure to eat right and get enough rest. These two small things will go a long way when it comes to staying healthy.
Well, that sums up just about all the advice I can think of. I really hope this article helps at least one person out. I can not wait for each and every one of you to begin your freshman year of college, I promise it will be the best year of your life!
Sincerely,
An Upperclassmen who wishes they had this same advice
