Having one year of college under my belt, I figured many incoming freshman are beginning to panic about the following months. Here's some tips for what to expect going into college
1) Don't worry about being close to your roommate. If you find that you get along with them really well and you become best friends, that's great! But in most cases, people aren't super close with their freshman year roommates, especially if you didn't know them prior to move-in day. It's not always a bad thing to live separate lives and only catch up when it's time to go to bed.
2) Get involved! Whether that's rushing a sorority or joining student government, you will become a well-rounded student. It's not healthy to only be involved in school and joining clubs will be a great way to be involved on campus while also meeting people who have similar interests. You are bound to meet close friends this way.
3) It's okay to not know anyone. I went to school out of state and only three other people from my graduating class were joining me. Even then I was only really friends with one of them. Give yourself an opportunity to branch out from the comfort of knowing people for years in high school and meet as many people as you can.
4) The friends you make the first few months of college probably won't be your best friends at the end of your freshman year. A lot of the friendships you make initially will either fade out or you will find that they aren't your kind of people. The more you get to know yourself (away from lifelong friends and your family), the more you will understand about what you are looking for in friends.
5) Please, PLEASE study. Even if your classes aren't hard your freshman year, you still want to do the very best that you can in class. The first year of college can really determine your GPA, so make sure you start off on the right foot. Don't get caught up in the newness of college and be distracted with the newfound freedom and let your grades drop.
6) Take care of yourself. Whether it's your physical, emotional, or mental health, you have to be aware of what you need and make sure you address any issues. Don't procrastinate going to the doctor if you are sick and have a fever. If you are overwhelmed and need a mental health day, take that day and rest or be as productive as you can be.
7) Stay active. If you played sports in high school, try to join an intramural team or club team. If you love the gym, utilize your school's gym. More than likely it'll be extremely nice and have lots to offer for your workout. If you're the kind of person that needs structure, take an exercise class like zumba, cycling, or yoga.
8) Call your mom. I know everyone says this, but you need to take time for your parents at school, especially your mom. I would call her when I walked to class every morning, just to update her on my life before both of our days got busy. If you are the youngest sibling or only child, staying in touch with your parents is very important because they are also going through an emotional time as first time empty nesters.
9) Utilize your resources. This can include a lot of different things like the student success center, your advisor, the health center, or your professors. Your tuition and fees cover so much, so why not use it if you're paying anyway?
10) Take time for yourself. Living in a dorm with a bunch of people (who aren't your family) for the first time can be great but also a lot to deal with. My dorm had an open door policy, so there were always people hanging out or stopping in to say "hi". However, this isn't realistic for everyday life. Make sure you aren't putting your needs to the side to accommodate others all the time.
11) Go home every once in a while. If you live close enough to go home for a weekend, then do it. Sometimes all you need is your parents to look after you for a few days and a couple good home cooked meals. Of course, you don't want to over do it and go home every weekend, but your parents will appreciate you taking the time to see them a couple times during the semester.
12) Go out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to try new things or something you wouldn't typically do in high school. Try karaoke. Go sky diving. Go out of the country. College is a time for self exploration, so try everything and see what you like.
13) Don't expect to get along with everyone. I'm sure there were people in high school that you didn't like or that didn't like you. Just because you go to college doesn't mean that will change because it's how people are. You are not going to like everyone. That's okay because you're going to find people that are lifelong best friends and won't be stressed over the people who you can't stand.
14) Get good sleep. I promise there is no test or assignment that is worth your sanity. Of course, there are going to be nights when you have to be up late for whatever reason, but you should try to get consistent sleep for the recommended hours every night. It will greatly impact your health and mood, which are both very fragile in the first year of college.
15) Finally, have fun. There are so many different things to experience as a freshman and you should take in every opportunity (even the reckless experiences). They make for great stories later and you make the best memories with some of your best friends.
