5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Freshman Year Of College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Freshman Year Of College

How to make your first year of college a little bit smoother.

103
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Freshman Year Of College
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Transitioning into college can be an unsettling thought for some people and getting into the groove of exactly how it works can take some time. However, I’ve come up with the top five things that I’ve discovered along the way of my college career that would have made my freshman year much smoother.

1. DON'T sign up for 8 am's.

I know for some people this may sound like a no-brainer. However, coming into college, I wanted my school days/class to be over as quickly as possible. I figured if I could wake up at 7 am for high school, taking an 8 am class in college wouldn’t be a problem. WRONG! Waking up for an 8 am in college takes DISCIPLINE. You no longer have a parent or guardian constantly barging in your room telling you to “GET UP!” In college, it’s just you and your alarm.

Whether you decide to get up and go to class is completely on you. Taking an 8 am class also means you’re willing to take early exams. Can you handle this after pulling an all-nighter of studying, being hungover, or having that long day/night at work? These are all things to consider when signing up for an 8 am and you should be realistic.

2. A planner is your best friend.

The first day of class is always “Syllabus Day.” This is the day that your professors give you the syllabus for their class and go over the course rules and schedule. A syllabus includes a list of all the assignments, exams, projects, etc. and their due dates for the course. Take the time to write EVERY assignment and its due date in your planner.

Some professors won’t remind you of assignments that are due like your teachers in high school may have. They simply give you a syllabus and expect you to abide by it. Therefore, it is critical that you stay on top of these assignments and plan accordingly to make time to work on them. If you miss the due date, you may not be given another chance to turn it and will receive a 0% for it.

3. NEVER buy textbooks from your school's bookstore.

I learned this the hard way my freshman year of college. I thought it would be the smartest option to buy the textbooks from the bookstore, not only because it was convenient because it was located on campus, but also because I KNEW they would have all of them. Again, I was completely wrong.

For starters, some courses I’ve taken hardly even used the so-called “required” textbooks, so I ended up wasting money on them. Therefore one suggestion would be to try to feel out a course to determine if you really need the textbook or not. If you realize you do, AVOID THE BOOKSTORE.

Buying textbooks from campus bookstores can be very costly. An alternate route that I would suggest is looking on websites such as Chegg.com or SlugBooks.com. These websites offer the same textbooks for WAY cheaper prices.

4. Bring your car.

I know bringing a car to college can be expensive because of the need to buy a parking permit. However, it is worth it. Most colleges require that you stay in a dorm on campus the first year. I know living in a dorm may seem convenient because everything is within walking distance, but what happens when you need to buy food to restock your mini-fridge? Or when you want to go shopping for a new outfit for homecoming or that party coming up?

Relying on the bus or other people who have cars to go places can be frustrating and inconvenient. It’s best to be able to get up and go where you need to at your discretion.

5. Network

If you’re somewhat of an introvert like me, you know how easy it is to just stay cooped inside your dorm room, simply because you’re comfortable there. However, getting out and meeting different people is critical in college. You may discover you have a common interest or major as some people and begin to build a relationship off of that.

Networking is key in college and knowing some of your peers and professors may be beneficial to you in the long run. I have met some amazing people, simply because I made it a point to be out and about on campus and go to different events.

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

1602
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...

448160
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.

20913
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
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44058
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments