Tips For Incoming College Freshmen | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Tips For Incoming College Freshmen

More often than not, transitioning from high-school to college is stressful. The first few days to weeks feel unfamiliar and lonely, especially if you don't know anyone in your classes. As someone who had a rough start to college life, here are a few tips I learned to help you with the social, personal, and academic aspects of college life.

19
Tips For Incoming College Freshmen

Social:
Get Involved! Join a club, sorority/fraternity, an intramural sport, or whatever else you find interesting! (Maybe don't join a cult, though? Just a suggestion.) You'll meet some of your best friend through extracurricular activities, and you'll be happy you have them when things get rough.
Sit Next to New People in Class! If you're in the same class, especially if it's relative to a particular major, then you likely have something in common! Start a conversation and make a new friend! My go-to thing was to start a conversation about the professor or the class and then go straight to "Can we be friends?!?!" They usually said yes, and I made a lot of friends by doing that. Sometimes they would just look at me like I was absolutely nuts, but they eventually said yes and we laugh about it now.
Don't Visit Home Too Often! Homesickness is easily one of the hardest things you will go through in the beginning of your first semester. Call or Facetime you're friends and family at home as often as you can, but the connections you are making on campus are important! Spend those weekends hanging out with friends and studying!
Get To Know Your Neighbors! There are at least 30 girls/boys in just your dorm hallway, and you're probably going to be living in that hall for the next nine months. Get to know them! Prop your door open or send a message in the hallway group chat introducing yourself. In my dorm freshman year, the girls would often leave a bowl of candy or something outside their door during exam week (great way to make people happy).
Go To Games! I don't think I have anything else to say other than "GO TO GAMES!!" Football, Baseball, Volleyball, etc.. Wear those school colors with pride and cheer as loud as you can. Whether it's ringing the cowbell or waving a pom-pom around in the air, those are the moments you want to remember.

Personal:
Take Time For Yourself!
You come first. Not your classes. Not your friends. You. Take time each day to center yourself and de-stress. It could be as simple as exercising, reading a book, listening to music, watching Netflix, or taking a nap. It doesn't really matter what you do, but do it. You deserve that time.
Exercise! The Freshman 15 is LEGIT! Exercising not only helps prevent unwanted weight gain, but also helps protect you against diseases and manages stress. Your health is important!
Explore! Find a place either on or off campus where you can study without interruptions. Sometimes you can't always study in your dorm, so you need to know of a few places you can go study.
Know Your Worth! It can be difficult to know your worth when you either get 'bad' grades or change your major. There's a negative stigma around changing your major when classes get hard, just know that you are doing what is best for you, and no one has the right to say anything. You are meant to be there and you are allowed to take up space. You are important to your university, your friends and your family. Know that you are valued, and you are loved.

Academic:
Go To Class!!!
I can't stress this enough, go to class. At some point, you're not going to feel like going to class. You'll convince yourself that you're too tired, too busy, you might have another exam to study for... yeah no. Don't skip class. There are so many things that you can miss from just skipping one hour of class. You paid to be there, go to your classes and get good grades. Sick? Yeah you probably shouldn't go to class. Nobody wants you getting your sickness on them, and you will need rest anyway.
Try Your Hardest! There's no way you can be great at everything, but try. Your professors will notice your efforts and it might bring them to bump your grade up if you ask.
Get Help If You Need It! There's no shame in asking a professor or a tutor for help. It is in your best interest to do whatever you can to keep your grades up. If your professor can't help you, take the next step and go to another professor's office hours and ask if they can help.
Get a Good Backpack! Big or small campus, you need a practical and sturdy backpack. This goes back to focusing on your health. Back pain sucks and if you don't have a good backpack, your back as well as other parts of your body will suffer.
Take Notes! Professors will often make little hints during their lectures that are important for quizzes, exams, and homework. Pay attention and write them down. Find key points in the lecture and connect them to lessons.

Good luck!



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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190113
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14834
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457808
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26598
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments