When I started my journey in looking for colleges the same advice was brought up time and time again, “don’t room with your best friend,” “set a timer on your phone when you do your laundry,” “join a club.” However, once I got to college and settled in I realized that there are a lot of things I wish I knew or was better prepared for.
1. Have extra toilet paper in your dorm.
Toilet paper runs out quite often in dorms and you are out of luck. Make sure you look before you go. You’ll regret it when you don’t.
2. You will fail at least one test.
College is intimidating and everyone wants to do as well as possible. Regardless of how smart you are, there will be one class that makes you contemplate dropping out. It’s okay to fail. Learn from your mistakes and find what methods help you learn and retain information best. Everything is a lesson and your first failure will teach you more than you would expect.
3. The temperature outside will always be directly opposite inside.
Dress appropriately for the weather indoors. Endure the five to ten-minute walk to class in the scarf and mittens because once you get inside, you’re going to wish you put more on. The AC and heating are grossly overestimated and there are no signs of that changing.
4. Eat with as many different people as you possibly can.
Eating with people can be a powerful tool. You can learn so much about people by sharing a meal and having simple conversations. Take a risk and ask to sit with someone new.
5. Stay on the weekends.
Stay and find what activities you like to do with friends. The memories you make on the weekends are the memories you will hold onto forever.
6. Connections are everything.
Whether you are undeclared or have a set major, it’s important to get to know your superiors. Start a conversation, make an impression, and follow up with people. In the long run, it’s the relationships you make that make all the difference.
7. There are assigned seats.
Yes, it’s college and we are all grown up now but the seat you chose on the first day of class is your seat for the rest of the semester. It’s the most important, unwritten rule, so chose wisely.
8. Never piss off the workers in the cafe.
Not only do the workers in the cafe make every single one of your meals but you will spend a significant amount of time around them whether you realize it or not. Say hi and be friendly.
9. Lysol wipes are your new best friend.
Everything in college is gross. The dirt and the mold grow faster than you would think and you don’t have the time to do a deep cleaning every week. Keep Lysol wipes in your room and wipe down surfaces often. You’re living around hundreds of people and the germs are real.
