5. Take advantage of the dining halls | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Education

7 Things I Wish I Knew Going Into My Freshman Year

You only get one freshman year. Make sure you do it right.

178
7 Things I Wish I Knew Going Into My Freshman Year

As I'm packing up my bags and ready to head back to school for my sophomore year, I keep finding myself reminiscing on this time last year. I was going to be a freshman, eager to see what all of the hype for college was about and make new memories. Freshman year is not like any other, and this is what I learned in the course of mine.

1. GO. TO. CLASS.

Giphy

I KNOW that any advice that any college kid will give to any incoming freshman is this, so you've probably heard it before. It's probably the most important advice to actually listen to, but always the most dismissed. College gives you so much freedom, and going to class is one of them. Walk your classes the day before they start, because campuses can be confusing, especially when you've never had to be on one before. Make a schedule that fits best with you; if you know you're not a morning person, don't sign up for 8 a.m. classes five days a week. Some classes base a lot of points on attendance and participation, so just go. Even if there are 15 billion other things you would rather be doing, just push through it, it's why you're here.

2. SAVE YOUR MONEY

Giphy

Budgeting is something almost every college kid struggles with, so try and reserve your money while you still can. You don't NEED to buy every new college shirt that you see or Starbucks every morning. Save your money for things you really do need because you don't realize how great having a little extra cash is until you've spent it all.

3. Living with people is not as simple as it sounds

Moving into a dorm with three other people, especially when your roommates are random, can be intimidating. Living with people takes a lot of compromise, no matter what the situation. You have to realize it isn't just you anymore with your family, and sometimes blaring Netflix at 1 a.m. is not going to please everyone else around you. You learn to be more considerate of the people around you and it's a necessary skill to obtain.

4. BUT, roommates can end up being your best friends.

Giphy

Being just a few steps away from other people can really bring you together. I got lucky with three great roommates, and we got to experience freshman year all together. From breakdowns about classes and the struggles of being a freshman to many, many trips to the dining halls, it really brought us all together. Thanks for the the multitude of jam sessions, Netflix nights, and late night food runs we'd make together and the memories we made because of it. Take advantage of the time you have with your new roommates, because this is the first time you will be living with people besides your family.

5. Take advantage of the dining halls

Giphy

YES, the dining halls are not the most ideal, but save yourself the time (and the money) and go instead of going out to eat for every meal. It saves the time and energy of cooking for every meal, gives you something to go do with your friends, and let's be real, they have dessert. That in itself is a huge plus.

6. Get to know the people on your hall or in your building

Giphy

You have an opportunity to meet so many different people in college, and the best way to start is with where you live. Some of my best friends in college are people that lived on my floor, which was such a blessing. On top of that, it gives you extra resources if you need something and builds a sense of community.

7. Make the most of the time you have

Giphy

You only get one freshman year; one time in the dorms, one time with the full meal plan, and one time where you're coming to college for the first time. It's the most impressionable year of all four (maybe five) of the years you'll be there. You don't realize how much you love your freshman year until it's over and you're packing up your dorm and going back home. Get involved, branch out, and make the best memories that you can.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

7844
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

4732
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

5381
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

3277
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments