For many college students school is just about to get started. A new school year mean new faces around campus. Yes, some of those new faces will be transfers from other schools, but most of them will consist of freshman trying their hand at college. This transition from home life to dorm life can be a scary one and when I was a freshman I know I was worried because I knew nothing about how college would be. Because of this and because of the new school year I feel like this is a perfect opportunity to share 10 tips that I learned during my freshman year.
1. Don’t be late on your first day of class.
Now that you are in college your family members are no longer around to wake you up. This means it is so much easier to sleep in, but don’t do it. Yes, sleeping is so nice and probably sounds 1000 times better than going to class, but if you fall victim to being late your first day of class this is a trend that is setting you up for disaster. Whether you go to a big or small university professors will notice the faces that stroll into class 10 minutes late and they can immediately become the “bad” students. Do yourself a favor and show up to class on time. Remember someone is paying for you to go to college and this is an investment in your future, so be smart about it.
2. Learn to compromise with your roommate.
Not everyone will have to have a roommate in college because there are often opportunities to be a commuter or live in a single room, but the large majority of college students will have to. A roommate is a new opportunity to make a friend that can help you navigate your way through freshman year. It is very likely that you and your roommate will not always see eye to eye, but with disagreement there is always the chance to learn the importance of compromise. Maybe your schedules are completely different or you have very different personalities, whatever your differences may be do your best to find a happy medium. You never know, your roommate could become a lifelong friend.
3. Go to school sponsored events.
In the first few weeks of school there will be so many social events and meetings that different organizations will put on. Don’t be afraid to venture out a little bit and do to all of the free things your school offers. I know it may seem easier to stay in your room and watch Netflix, but college is all about the memories you will make. These different events are also a great time to score free food and free t-shirts. At these events you can also find awesome people who share similar interests and you never know maybe your future best friend could be attending the same event you’re at.
4. Learn how to do laundry.
When I was a freshman I was shocked at how many people didn’t know how to do their own laundry. It may seem like a simple task, but there were definitely a lot of freshman that struggled with this. It is crucial that you learn how to do this necessary chore because your mom will not be there everyday to load your clothes into the washer and dryer. If I am describing you, don’t worry. There are a lot of online tutorials on how to do laundry on YouTube. Also, for any laundry newbies I recommend getting tide pods, they make life so much easier.
5. Find cheap textbooks.
Freshman year I made the mistake of waiting til the last minute to purchase any of my textbooks. Waiting until the last minute meant that I had to pay full price at the bookstore. Don’t get me wrong; the bookstore is perfect when it comes to getting books quickly and conveniently. However, as you get older throughout college you begin to make the transition into being more of an adult. With adulting comes more expenses this means that you will be looking for any way to save a little money. Smart textbook shopping is a great way to save anywhere from 50 to 200 dollars. I recommend looking for textbooks online at least 3 weeks before classes start, so that you give yourself time to shop around and time for the books to actually come in. Also, for books that you know you will not ever need later in college I recommend renting as a cheap alternative.
6. Get a planner.
When you transition from high school to college there is a huge shift in responsibility. In high school, we are lucky enough to have awesome teachers that constantly remind of any upcoming assignment or test. In college this is no longer the case. On the first day of class you are typically given a syllabus with all of the deadlines that you should expect during the semester. At that point your professor has done their job and now it is up to you to remember every upcoming deadline for every class. With all of these important dates comes the need to know when everything is happening. This is where a planner comes in handy. You can color code, highlight, and underline any important event that is crucial to your success. The 10 dollars that you invest into a planner can help you be so much more successful in your classes.
7. Always plan ahead.
A planner will help you to figure out what coming up next week, but what about next semester and next year. Not to freak you out, but time in college will fly by. Since college will blink and already be over it is important to do your best to be proactive when planning your schedule. Make sure that the classes that you need are offered often enough that you wont be at your senior year realizing that you will have to stay even longer than planned because you missed a required class that is only offered once a year.
8. Get involved!
Because it is difficult to figure out who you are when you get into college it can often be helpful to get involved in different organization on campus. This will be beneficial in a few ways. First, involvement looks good on a resume. This shows that you are a well-rounded student who is passionate about different things. Next, it will give you something else to look forward to besides homework. Life is about balance and it is good to have another activity aside from school to help with this. Lastly, what if getting involved helps you find things that you really love. This can help you to figure out what you want to do with you future.
9. Take advantage of the gym.
Some of you may be dreading the rumors of the “freshman fifteen”. Now to help settle your worries please know that this isn’t always the case. Yes, the stressors of college and all the free pizza that will be thrown your way can impact weight gain, but it doesn’t have to result in you gaining a bunch of weight. Most schools have gyms that you most likely paid for through your tuition, so take advantage of it. Most gyms even offer different aerobic classes. Balancing school with some sort of physically activity can actually help to lessen the stress that can bring you down. Also, lifting can help you to set goals that aren’t academic and it can even increase self-esteem.
10. It's okay to have uncertainty
At the end of the day college is about finding yourself and enjoying your time around new people. Don’t think that you have to show up your first day of class and have your whole life planned out. I can tell you from my own experiences nothing will ever go as planned. There is no linear path but it’s more like something that resembles the most complicated rollercoaster you have ever seen in your life. Don’t freak out about the uncertainty, but embrace every moment of it.
I hope that any students that are taking a go at college can find some of my tips helpful. College is a great thing. It will bring you both happy and sad days, but at the end of the day I would have not changed one thing that has happened to me during my college adventures because this is what helps with growth. Good luck this year everyone and have an awesome semester.
