Before classes begin and the late night study sessions and fast food runs start up, here are 15 things that incoming freshmen need to know to prepare for the upcoming year.
1. Move in day is hell. Emotions are high, summer temperatures are still hanging around, and you will forget at least one major thing. In my case it was all of my clothes, and I do mean ALL of my clothes. To help ease tensions try packing bottled water, snacks, and giving at least 2 people a copy of a moving list.
2. You will bring WAY too much stuff, and gather even more throughout the year. Try to limit yourself, but remember that you can always bring more stuff or take excess back on holiday breaks.
3. Command hooks are life. Seriously, this is on every single college packing list ever made and it deserves to be. Take as many as you feel you need, and then buy 10 more.
4. Your roommates can be the best or worst things to happen to you during college. You may be best friends, complete enemies, or hardly see each other the entire year. Sometimes random match ups are better than finding some completer stranger on a campus forum. If you know your roomie is having a bad day, try offering some tea or asking them if they want to order a pizza.
5. Get out on the weekends, even if it is just to go to dinner, a nearby park, or to the mall. Invite friends but don't be scared to go alone either if everyone is busy or you need a day to yourself. It is amazing how much impact taking a day to yourself can help with mental state.
6. You will not make it to every single class, but at least put in the effort. It doesn't matter if you show up in the clothes you slept in, but your professor will appreciate the effort of you being present.
7. Make your dorm room feel like home. Decorate how you want to, believe me when finals roll around it will be a small but appreciated comfort to be around something you feel yourself in.
8. Use the study areas around campus. As much as we want to deny it, we get a lot more done when we are in an area where we can focus on the material alone.
9. You will wait to do laundry until you are down to your last outfit, and that is okay. I know people who have literally went out and bought new outfits to avoid doing laundry. That level of laziness deserves respect.
10. Clubs are awesome. If you are undecided on a major or think you want to add a minor, try finding a club on campus that deals with that area. I decided on biology after joining a gardening club that reminded me just how much I loved the science of plants.
11. Campus food is never as bad as people make it out to be, but it will never be 5 star cuisine and nothing can compare to home cooking. If you have a kitchen available, give it a spin. The act of cooking can be very relaxing, and sharing a home made meal with friends is a great way to unwind.
12. You will make and lose friends at a blinding rate that first semester. Everyone is trying to find people they connect with, and sometimes you will just not click. Eventually you will find some great people who will become your group, just give it time.
13. The needed supplies for classes are very limited. The basics are pens, notebook, calculator, and laptop. If you want to get fancy throw in a planner, highlighters, and flashcards. That's it.
14. For goodness sake wait to buy your textbooks until the first class meeting. Sometimes the professors give you a code to a free online book, or tell you that the book is not required. No professor will yell at you for not having the book the first week of class. If you do need to get the book, amazon rentals and chegg are amazing for cheap rentals, and almost always have better prices than the campus book store.
15. Connect with people in your classes, more than likely you will never talk to them again after the semester is over, but it is nice to have people you can ask about class material.
Your first year away at college will be a whirlwind, and over before you know it. There will be a lot of laughs and just as many tears, but it is an experience like no other. Take the time to enjoy and learn from it, because there are no redo's.
