The summer before entering college brings such a whirlwind of emotions: anxiousness, fear, worry, sadness, bittersweetness, uncertainty, hope and excitement! The closer orientation becomes, the exponentially more excited you will be! Yes, all the other emotions will still be a part of your constant mood swings that you'll feel day by day. But the excitement during the last month before college is undeniable. And as you become more excited, you're going to want to start planning the world's most impressive dorm, friend requesting your future classmates, and even begin getting to know your roommate(s) beyond the too-perfect-to-be-true RoomSurf profile.
These may seem like the most important things to tend to right now and it just doesn't feel like anything could be of higher priority than your Bed Bath & Beyond wish list. But having been in your shoes exactly a year to go, I am here to foolproof your freshman year experience! Here's what you really need to know before starting your freshman year.
1. Utilize your outgoing side during Orientation!
Orientation is this really weird time where everyone just wants to get to know everyone, so take advantage of that! Introduce yourself to others on your floor and get to know the people in your Orientation group. This transition period will eventually wear off as groups begin to form, so don't take this extra-friendly time for granted!
2. Know which parts of Orientation are mandatory and which are not.
For most schools, not everything during orientation is going to be mandatory (though the school won't tell you that). So figure out what is a must to attend and which items on the itinerary you can skip out on! Use this newfound time to get to know your roommates or spend time with your parents — this might be the last valuable time you can spend with them before you part ways until the next break.
3. Understand your roommate expectations.
Let no assumptions be made when it comes to the rules of the room. If you don't speak up about what is important to you, it might go awry somewhere down the road. I'm talking blunt — no room left for interpretation. Trust me, you will thank yourself for doing this down the road.
4. Study the syllabus, know the syllabus, be the syllabus!
High school may have introduced you to this little devil, but things work a little differently in college. The syllabus isn't an excuse to have a free day going over a cute introduction to the class. In college, your professors are going to assume you read their individual syllabus like it's your daily morning read. "What do you mean you didn't know you had a 10-page paper due today? It was on the syllabus. Do you need me to hold your hand and leave you a sticky note every time an assignment is due?" Yeah, save yourself and study this. Hey, one of my classes even had a hidden extra credit opportunity inside of it! Thank you, Professor Hanig.
5. Only buy what you know you will actually need.
Yes, that handheld vacuum is cute and so practical for your tiny space, but you're never going to need it. So skip the large Target and IKEA runs for now. Stock up on what you will definitely need to survive comfortably and pick up the rest from the stores throughout the year on an as needed basis.
6. Order your textbooks ASAP!
The rumors are true, buying your books from the campus bookstore is financial suicide. What you really want to do is order your textbooks before you get to campus — ehem ... now! — Amazon and Chegg are great for either buying used books or opting for the semester rental. But if you're asking me, you should really look into buying used books from upperclassmen. Nothing says a good deal like a broke college student looking to make some fast cash!
7. Designate at least two people per class as your go-to's.
Because you know there's going to come a day when you're desperate for help on an assignment or maybe you skipped out on a crucial day of notes. Don't feel weird asking too, since there will probably come a day when they will need you too!
8. Get to know your professors.
I would say it would be an understandable goal to make sure each of your professors at least know who you are. But it really helps when you're in a tough spot when you actually know the professor too! If your professor has office hours, make an effort to stop in once in a while — it's worth the walk across campus.
9. Do not fall behind, soldier!
This is the worst mistake you could make this semester. Do whatever you can to stay on track with your assignments, projects, and studying for tests. Start out ahead of schedule and you'll have a little more give room in case something comes up! But... when you start falling behind ... Good luck finding your way back. Professors have this way of assigning all their final semester projects, essays, and tests right on the same week. Don't drown when this hits!
10. Avoid the Netflix binge.
Ahh Netflix ... the death sentence for college students everywhere. It doesn't help when all of your friends and roommates are constantly streaming their newest obsession. Avoid the binge watching for as long as possible. Limit your streaming per day or week and do yourself a favor by not beginning a new series during a busy time (maybe even wait until the next break). You know that automatic streaming will get the best of you!
11. Fear the Freshman 15!
When every morning you can choose between a fruit salad and a Nutella waffle for breakfast, it's no surprise how easy it is to pack on extra weight. Yes, you have a million meal points to use (which don't even feel like real money), but you will regret it. Stick to what would be your normal diet and you can treat yo self every once in a while too.
12. Learn the hidden art of germaphobia.
No one warned me how annoying it is to be sick in college. Since you're only allowed about three absences a semester per class, staying in bed just sometimes isn't an option. No one to take care of you and few days off before your grade takes a hit. So get in touch with your germaphobic side when constantly sharing spaces with people! Your roommates will thank you when they don't have to listen to your whiny self.
13. Skipping class is never a good idea.
OK, it may always start out as a good idea. Until you hear you missed the most important lesson of the semester for a 45-minute nap. If you're going to skip, know what you're missing and make sure you aren't going to bump into that professor later on in the day — awkward!
14. Start those long-term projects early.
The professor is going to assign it and you're going to think you have all semester and then the next thing you know, the project is due in a week. Every. Single. Time. So get them taken care of early when you have less on your plate anyway. It'll save you when everyone else is scrambling!
15. Give yourself plenty of time to get to class.
Even if you know it will only take you five minutes to reach that building, allow yourself extra time! Something always comes up: you forgot your jacket, the assignment is still on your desk, or you forgot your ID ... Again. Not everyone can be as smooth as this guy when walking into class late.
16. Print and print often.
Printers must think it's fun to mess with students because they never seem to work when you need them to! Don't trust printing online will work right before class and even allowing extra time may not work out in your favor. Best way to go? Avoid the stress and print the day before if you can!
17. Not the class for you? Get out while you can!
You should be given a grace period for changing classes. Don't be that student who convinces his/herself it is probably going to get better down the road or maybe the professor will eventually grow on you. Save yourself months of headaches by finding a class that is better for you! Why put yourself through that torture?
18. Networking, networking, networking.
I can't tell you how many times I heard this word during my freshman year. But ... I guess they have a point. You never know who is going to make a difference in your life or who could possibly be of help when landing that coveted position down the road. What is networking? Well your Public Speaking professor's ex-boyfriend's sister happens to be the CEO of the company you are dreaming of working for: Ta-Da! Networking.
19. Master the Laundry Room.
Let me guess, you're thinking Saturday mornings or Sundays sound like a good time to do your laundry? Yeah, well guess what ... so is the rest of the building. Figure out when the laundry room is free during the week! Oh, and make an effort to know proper laundry room etiquette. Leaving your laundry in a machine for over an hour after it has already finished isn't going to make the next person very happy.
20. Find a foster family for vacations!
Don't worry if you can't make it home for every vacation! Friends and family connections will be happy to have you join them for a Thanksgiving feast, you just have to ask. It may not be Home Sweet Home, but it can surely make for the perfect Home Away From Home.
The truth is ... no freshman knows what they are doing. Heck, do any of us ever really know what we are doing? So welcome to the game of fake it 'til you make it. Hopefully these 20 tips will give you an edge and help you master this year. Welcome to some of the greatest years of your life!
