During my freshman year of college, there were a bunch of things that I learned. Now I'm only going to be a sophomore this year, so I still have a lot to learn. But here are some tips from myself and fellow friends as well. Hopefully they will help you out!
1. Don't buy books from your campus bookstore.
Whenever you're starting to look for what books you need for your classes, try renting them from places like Amazon or another renting website. If you can't rent your books then buy them as your last resort but it'll probably be cheaper to buy them from another place besides your campus bookstore.
2. Call your parents or grandparents.
They want to hear all about how you're adjusting to school and how you're making friends. Talk to them and let them know how you're doing. They'll love hearing your voice and you'll love hearing theirs as well.
3. Don't worry about having that movie like "college experience"
Yes, you should go out and make new friends but college doesn't mean you have to party EVERY weekend. If you want to order an entire Domino's pizza by yourself and watch Netflix, go for it. Nobody is going to stop you. Do whatever makes you happy.
4. Go off campus.
When I say this I'm talking about taking a drive with a bunch of your friends and driving somewhere fun off campus. Drive to the beach (if there is one near you) or drive to a state park and go on hikes. Have little photo shoots around town. Do something spontaneous with your friends.
5. Stick together.
If any of your friends are too drunk at a party then walk them home. Don't let them walk alone. Stay in pairs. You remember that buddy system you had on field trips as a kid? Yup, that applies to college kids so much more. Look out for one another, you might not think something bad would happen like in movies but they do.
6. Start over.
College gives everyone a chance to start over and reinvent themselves if they want to. Each year of college is a brand new start. You didn't get involved the previous year? Well, you can get involved the next year. It's never too late for anything.
7. Use the gym.
People will usually say to use the gym because it is "free". Well, it's not free but you're already paying for it so you might as well put it to good use. You don't have to go to the gym every day and be a body builder by the end of the semester, just go to feel balanced and healthy. You don't have to lose X amount of pounds, just go for you.
8. Go to office hours.
This might seem pointless to some people but go to your professor's office hours. It doesn't show that you're dumb at all, it shows your professor that you actually care about your education. You don't have to go to the office hours for the entire period, just go for a few minutes so your professor can talk to you about what you're struggling with.
9. Don't forget about your friends.
Now obviously this isn't every couple in college, but if you are dating someone in college don't hang out with just them. You do have other friends and they want to spend time with you as well. Don't blow off your friends for some boy or girl that you probably won't be dating by the time you graduate. Your friends have been there since the beginning for you. Your significant other might not be in the end. Now don't get me wrong, I have an Aunt and Uncle that are married with 3 kids and they are high school sweethearts. It just doesn't work out for everyone.
10. Don't stay stuck in your high school ways.
Let me say this once, nobody cares who you were in high school. Oh, you were the star football player or most "popular" kid? Yeah, nobody cares and the faster you learn that. the better you'll be. Honestly, once you enter college you can be anyone.
11. Keep a first aid kit in your dorm.
The college plague is real. I am usually never one to get sick but my freshman year I was sick like 4 times. You're so close to everyone since you live in dorms, it's like a domino effect. One person gets sick and your whole dorm basically goes down with that one person.
12. Time flies when you're having fun.
Four years will fly by fast. It doesn't seem like it would but the school year is much shorter than high school so that also makes it fly by fast. Just enjoy college and don't take anything for granted.
13. Get out of your comfort zone!
You have four years to take risks and experience a lot. Take advantage of all of the free events on campus; they will probably have food. You have your whole college career to find something that fits you exactly. Don't worry about what your friends are doing, do something that you enjoy.
