It is almost that time of year again, as summer quickly comes to a close, an old class of seniors becomes a new class of freshmen again. It is an exciting time, but nothing like making the jump from middle school to high school. While I can tell you these can be some of the best years of your life if you let them, I can also tell you it is a time where you constantly feel overwhelmed. Even if you think you are prepared, you probably do not realize yet just how many things change once you make that first big jump into the transition of your new adult life. With that being said, here are just a few things I wish someone had told me my freshman year of college.
1. Try to introduce yourself to your roommate(s) before you meet in person.
If you are like me and are starting over at a completely new school in a completely new town, then it is likely that you do not already know the person, or in my case, people, you are going to be rooming with. If given some kind of contact information beforehand, then it is actually extremely OK to reach out to that person before meeting them in person. Not only does it help to relieve some of the awkwardness that comes with living with a total stranger, but there are actually a lot of things you can discuss beforehand. A big example would be if there are things you could share instead of doubling bathroom or kitchen utensils, first week of groceries, etc. If you share a room in some type of dorm hall, then you may even discuss if you want to coordinate dorm decoration colors. The list goes on over the things you could say that could make this one transition a little smoother. After all, you are going to be living with this person for at least the next year.
2. Let your parents talk your ear off with advice and actually try to listen.
Parents think they know everything, but of course that is because they have been around longer than us and may even have gone through what you are going through now. Do not take it lightly when they start going down the list of do's and don’ts. They simply want to feel like you are going to be making smart decisions now that you are no longer under their roof.
3. Call your parents.
Start as soon as they leave and then keep it up at least once a week. This one is probably something you have heard before, but the importance does not really resonate with you until that first time you see them on a break and they rightfully give you the guilt trip for forgetting to call. Although it is an exciting time for you, it is actually a pretty terrifying time for them no matter how well they play it off. You might even be a younger sibling and assume your parents are used to it by now, but I guarantee you, the stress does not lessen per child. If anything, they are now spending all their time worrying about multiple children trying to venture off and spread their wings. With that being said, you are never too busy to take some time and check in with them, and if you really think you are, then try and remember, they were never too busy for you.
4. Call your grandparents.
Growing up, I did not realize how blessed I was to have not just one set of grandparents still around, but two as well as my great-grands. If it is not something you already do, but you are fortunate enough to still have them around, then try to make time to call your grandparents or other important relatives in your life. Again, even if you are one of many, then they really do love and appreciate hearing from you.
5. Talk to everyone.
Do not be afraid to put yourself out there your first few weeks. More than likely, most of the people you will come in contact with at first will be other freshmen in the same position as you, not knowing almost anyone. If talking to strangers was not your strong suit, then now is the time to overcome that fear, and do not be scared to accept every random offer to go grab food.
6. Explore your new city your first week without a GPS.
This is something I actually did on accident, but it was an awesome way that I got to bond with one of my roommates and get to know the new area I was living in.
7. Introduce yourself to your professors on the first day.
My very first day at my University, I had a class that I had been told was a complete waste of time. I was less than thrilled to be there when my professor started talking, she then named off six kids out of the 43 that I had that class with and proceeded to mention how they were the only students to introduce themselves and make an impression before class started. I then found out that the woman teaching my class was actually the dean of the college I am in. What I learned there was that you never know who you may be talking to or how you may end up interacting with that person later in your college career. It is important to show that you have an active interest in every class you are taking, whether you really think you do or not. Along with this, a good first impression may help you with something as simple as getting away with asking for a deadline extension.
8. Do not buy books the first day of class.
This is one I was lucky enough to be told beforehand. Try checking your email before your first day to see if your professors have made a specific not to already have a book. If not, then do not do it. I have literally come into class on the first day when the professor came in and said, “Sorry to anyone who already bought their book. We will not need it." Just wait.
9. Check Amazon, Chegg or your University library before the bookstore.
After you have gotten the OK from your professors about needing a book, literally check anywhere else before buying them at your school’s bookstore. A lot of times, your library already has your textbook and you can check it out and scan it. If not there, then usually you can rent your textbooks off websites like Amazon and Chegg for half the price of buying them new. However, if all else fails, then check your bookstore and always try to rent. You are already spending a lot of money, no use in spending more when you could save.
10. Go to class!
This may sound like a given, but it happens every year. When a professor utters the words, “Attendance not mandatory,” people immediately hop on it. The first day of class you will have full house and then there will be faces that you will not see again until a test day. You have a new kind of freedom that you have never had before and you think that you will be just fine skipping a day or two…or eight, but I promise that you will do 100 percent better in that class if you just go and listen to the lectures. Plus, you are literally paying thousands of dollars to be there.
11. Take advantage of services that your campus provides.
Once again, you are literally paying for all the services your campus offers through your tuition -- so use them. Whether it be your campus recreation center, a tutoring center, the library, an advising center or even a shuttle service, use the services they provide you with! I guarantee that as soon as you start taking advantage of the services your campus has to offer, you will not only appreciate your school a little more, but you will wish you had used them sooner. I found this to be all too true once I started going to my campus tutoring center.
12. Go to events your school puts on.
This is one I did not do until later in my sophomore year. The first few weeks, it is likely that your school will put on many different types of events other than your standard student organization fair. Do not be scared to go out to them. Once again, this is something you are already paying for. If you are nervous about going alone, then try inviting your roommate, someone in the same complex as you or even just the random person you sit next to in class. (This can go along with No.5) It is a great way to meet and get to know people, and usually, there is almost always free food.
13. Do not be scared to join organizations, but try not to overwhelm yourself.
We all go through it, trying to walk to class your first few weeks of school and you are constantly feeling harassed by people trying to hand you flyers to come out to their organizations. While you may think you are not the type to join anything or even feel some type of way about the people handing out the flyers, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised if you actually go out to a meeting your first few weeks.
With that being said, do not feel the need to commit to something after one meeting. Maybe you like the people you meet, but the organization is not exactly what you are looking for. Maybe you just are not sure how to manage a new organization on top of class at the moment. Whatever the case is, make sure you make choices that are best for you when it comes to committing to these kind of things.
14. Use some type of planner and check and update it daily.
Whether it be some type of electronic one, an erasable wall calendar or an actual pen and paper type, use something to organize due dates for assignments, important events and birthdays. You will be surprised just how easy it is for important things to slip from your mind. For me, buying a notebook and physically writing down everything has been the best way to commit the important things to memory.
15. Try to make at least three healthy choices a week.
The "freshmen 15" is as real as you let it be. For some of us, maintaining our figure in high school came from playing sports our whole life and the transition is one you almost never notice. Not everyone can get their life together enough to add working out into the mix of things you will surely have going on, but if you have the time, then try to go for a long walk or jog or even stopping by your campus recreation center. Sometimes the best thing you can do is replace that fast food you were already getting with a salad. It may not seem like much, but sometimes it is just enough to motivate you next time not to get that extra order of fries.
16. Stay true to yourself.
Like I said, this can be one of the best times of your life if you let it, but only if you allow yourself to do things that you can look back on and really be happy with the choices you made.
Take advantage of every opportunity you are given and never pass up on a good time, but never let yourself get caught up in doing something just because you want to please other people.
If you ever feel like you have lost a hold on what is going on around you, then take a deep breath and gather yourself. No matter how overwhelmed you may feel, it is going to be OK. If all else fails, then try resorting to tip No.3.
