Dear Incoming Freshmen,
This is the first summer that I’ve worked at the University Writing Center, and one of our summer duties includes working a UWC information table at the many orientations taking place. While working these orientations, I’ve been repeatedly reminded of what it was like to be a freshman. The excited and eager energy that you guys give off makes me think of my own first year at ASU, and also reminds me of how quickly it all has gone by. I am now a senior and a graduate student through the Accelerated Admissions program, and I am beginning to look towards life beyond Appalachian. It’s amazing to consider how much I’ve changed over the past three years, and to think about the changes that will likely take place over the years to come. Some day you’ll be looking back on this summer and this upcoming school year too, but for now you’ve got to get out there and make the best of it! So, here are 20 tips from a seasoned, Appalachian State veteran, to get the most out of your first year of college:
1. When it comes to orientation, bring your own pillow and blanket.
They tell you that these items will be provided for you, but they’re super basic and thin. I remember being freezing that night because I didn’t bring my own blanket.
2. Enjoy orientation, but know that it’s nothing like being a student here.
I didn’t love orientation because it felt like summer camp and I wanted nothing more than to be an independent adult. I was kind of worried that the rest of freshman year would be a lot like this, and although the first few weeks are somewhat similar to orientation (with Appal Corps and freshman-focused events), I got the independence I wanted later in the year. My one orientation regret is that I dwelled on this idea of independence too much and I missed out on a lot of the fun activities that they have planned at orientation. So, enjoy the guidance and fun while it lasts!
3. Unpack and set up your dorm room as quickly as possible.
Each year at ASU will go by so quickly (although I’m sure you’ve already heard that so many times), and before you know it, you’ll have to move out of your dorm. So, enjoy it while it lasts and get it set up in the first week so you can go out and experience everything else our campus and town has to offer!
4. West Side = Best Side.
Although the west side of campus is older and includes some of the less spacious dorm rooms, it is known for creating a tight knit community. People are usually always at “the office” (the designated smoking spot in between Coltrane, Gardner, and Justice), making it a great place to meet new friends-- even if you don’t smoke!
5. Be friendly to everyone.
This isn’t high school anymore, and cliquey-ness is no longer cool. You’ll probably find yourself making friends with people that you never would have thought to a few years ago, and that’s a good thing! This is the time to branch out and discover new aspects of yourself.
6. Don’t make everything about partying.
People create so much hype about college being a time to party, and although it often does provide opportunities to do so, that’s not all that it’s about. When all’s said and done, you’re here to receive an education and to grow as a person. If you make college entirely about getting wasted, you’re going to miss out on bettering yourself.
7. If you're going to party, be smart about it.
As I just mentioned, college isn’t all about partying, but this common myth often leads freshmen into dangerous situations because they think that they need to “go hard or go home.” Always go out with friends and don’t leave anyone behind. Don’t let your friends go home with random strangers. Don’t keep drinking when you feel like you’ve already reached your limit (even though you’re really not supposed to be drinking at all unless you’re 21...). Don’t drink, do drugs or bring paraphernalia on campus or in your dorm room ever. Don’t drive under the influence—get a beeper or designate a sober driver instead. Do drink water all night long. And most importantly, DON’T do random drugs (or drugs at all for that matter), especially “research chemicals,” because they will destroy your body.
8. Don’t start bad habits.
Another common misconception that college students believe is that they’re invincible and that they can try whatever they want without any long term effects. I saw so many people get addicted to cigarettes during my freshman year of college, and although they would often pretend that they could stop whenever they wanted, many of them still smoke regularly to this day. I definitely don’t judge people who smoke (most of my friends do!), but it’s an addiction that can seriously compromise your health and is really hard to get rid of later on. Not to mention it ages your skin and ruins your teeth! Smoking isn’t the only bad habit you can form in college though; unhealthy sleeping patterns, caffeine dependence, and an increase in fast food consumption are a few others to watch out for.
9. Join clubs and get involved on campus.
This is something that I didn’t do much of my freshman year, and I totally regret it. Freshman year is the perfect time to get involved because you’re already on campus and your class schedule is likely the easiest it will ever be. There’s also the added bonus of putting your campus participation on your resume. Because I haven’t been really involved on campus (other than in the UWC and one or two little things I did freshman year), my resume is pretty dull. On top of this, you’re going to meet tons of awesome people who have similar interests to you, which is important, because those partying friends will come and go, but friends who you actually have things in common with will last much longer!
10. Bring a fan.
Most dorms here don’t have air conditioning, and even if they do, you don’t have much control over how cold things get. Fans are also good to drown out any noise your roommates or neighbors may be making while you’re trying to sleep. I found that a window fan was all my roommate and I needed.
11. Bring smaller lamps for your room.
The overhead lights in the dorms are pretty harsh, so I really appreciated all the different lighting options that my roommate and I had. Just make sure that none of your lights or their cords violate the safety regulations for dorm living.
12. Bring layers for all seasons.
Boone weather is often unpredictable and all the hills on our campus make it easy to go from cold to hot in minutes. Also, it may be freezing cold outside, but inside certain buildings it can be stiflingly hot. So, layers are the way to go all year round!
13. Be honest with your roommate.
If you have an issue or a concern related to your roommate, let them know. They can’t fix a problem if they don’t know there is one, and keeping your feelings bottled up will only breed resentment.
14. Don’t get into any serious relationships during your freshman year.
I know this might be hard for some, but pretty much everyone I know who was in or got into a serious relationship during their freshman year regretted it. When you’re constantly tied to your significant other, you’re going to miss out on making your own friends, learning how to be self-sufficient, and discovering more about yourself. On top of this, if and when you break up, all of your ASU memories will be connected to that person, making it harder to move on.
15. Don’t slack off in school.
It’s easy to skip classes and miss homework assignments in college because no one is holding your hand or forcing you to make an effort, but freshman year classes are important for graduation and will be reflected in your GPA. The grades you make freshman year can have an impact on you down the road, like when you’re trying to apply for the college attached to your major (such as the Reich College of Education, the Walker College of Business, or the Beaver College of Health Sciences), a scholarship, a job, or another opportunity. Even if you do great every other semester of college, your GPA will still be greatly affected by the D’s you got your first year.
16. Don’t freak out about school either.
Although it’s important to work hard while in school, don’t let it take complete control of your life. School should be your main focus while here, but it shouldn’t be the only focus. College is also about discovering who you really are and developing into a successful and happy adult, so don’t compromise your mental health for good grades. If you genuinely do your best, you will turn out just fine—even if you don’t have a 4.0.
17. Don’t go home every weekend.
The first few weeks, or even months, of college can be rough if you don’t feel satisfied with the friends you’ve made, but you won’t begin to adjust or meet the people you want until you spend some weekends here as well. There are plenty of long weekends woven into our schedule, and those are the perfect time to go visit your family.
18. If you’re going to work, try to find a job on campus.
Campus jobs are the best because they will work around your class schedule and they follow the school calendar. Another plus is that you won’t have to work when school gets closed for snow days.
19. Enjoy beautiful Boone.
We’re lucky to live in a college town that has so much natural beauty! Although we don’t get to enjoy tons of nightlife and shopping like one might in a city, the endless opportunities for outdoor adventures make up for that. This is something that I didn’t take full advantage of over the past three years, and now that I’m getting ready to leave Boone in the next two (maybe three) years, I am eager to make up for lost time.
20. Take advantage of the abundant resources on campus.
Our campus offers tons of amazing resources for students, many of which will never be so available to you again for free, but you have to take the initiative to use them! Been meaning to get in shape? There are multiple gyms on campus and group workout classes that are free for students. Need to deal with some unresolved childhood issues? The counseling center is great and even has a really cute therapy dog you can cuddle. Want to become a better writer? Come visit us in the Writing Center for free, one-on-one, collaborative writing sessions. Check out a list of campus resources here and here.
I hope you enjoy your first year of college at ASU, but if you don’t, just remember that each year is different and brings new opportunities. Come visit me in the Writing Center whenever you get a chance and let me know how things are going!
Sincerely,
Rose
