As we approach July, we get closer to the beginning of another year. For those of you who will be entering the first year of college, I can imagine you feeling all sorts of emotions! Whether they be nerves, excitement, any sort of feeling, it's going to be great! So to help you out, here are 21 tips to help guide you through freshman year!
1. Say hello!
Be brave! Say hello to everyone, and I mean everyone. Don't be scared and hide in your room. Go around your dorm and meet people! Make conversations with people in the food lines, or in your classes! A simple hello and a smile are going to help you. Not only is it simple, but I guarantee you're going to make much more friends by just saying hi and being friendly, than waiting for someone to talk to you first.
2. Don't limit your friend group
I know making friends is hard and once you meet a friend group, you'll only want to stay with them maybe because they are a safety blanket, but expand your horizons! Even if you have a solid group already, keep expanding! In college, you are going to have your squad, sure, but it's also really nice to have so many friends from different backgrounds and different places! Have lots of different groups of friends!
3. Don't over do it and know your limits
It's college, and you'll probably experiment with drinking at one point or another. Be safe, don't be stupid, and be aware of your surroundings, and don't get caught if you are underage. I cannot emphasize on really using your brain and being smart about it. If you drink too much, throw it up, and drink some water. Get an Uber, and someone you trust to walk you home. Don't go out on an empty stomach. Hit up a dining hall before you leave.
4. Find your campus route
Unless you really know the campus well already, find your campus route to classes and try to track how long it takes you to get from point A to point B. This way you have a longer time to procrastinate going to classes if you want to sleep more, or simply just don't want to go. Download the map if you have to to find the shortest route. If you are lost though, really don't be afraid to ask someone, we've all been there.
5. Take advantage of the gym
Going to the gym is hard, but trying to lose all the weight you gained from eating and drinking so much is worse. In your tuition bill, you are getting a gym membership. Our gym is great and you should take advantage of it. If you love weights, that's great. If you love cardio, we have classes for that, but be healthy, and push yourself.
6. To go or not to go to dorm socials
Personally, my freshman year I went to many socials in my dorm. Sophomore year I think I went to two. I didn't really participate in floor wars either and that's okay. I really just didn't care to. Having experienced both sides, don't feel bad if you don't go to socials! If you go and love them or don't go and don't care, it's really all fine.
7. Squad up for school concerts
I don't care what anyone else says about lining up early for school concerts, I think it's good to line up early. If it's someone I actually like, I will happily go early and be first in line. What worked well for me both years is I would go with friends and we would hold spots for each other. Being in the front is probably the most fun I've ever had at any concert. Also using Dunkin Donut coolattas to disguise your pregame drink is an excellent maneuver.
8. If you're going to smoke, don't be dumb
From an eyewitness experience, getting caught with weed is not going to be worth the high at all. I've had friends get caught by some officers who are extremely chill about it and give you a warning, but that is RARE. It doesn't matter if it's decriminalized where you are in your state, but in NH they will not be okay with it. You can get kicked out of housing and the university if you are caught with it, and there's nothing like telling mom and dad you were taken by the officers and got your fingerprints done your freshman year of college and are now in a record system. Just be smart.
9. Don't stand in large groups in the middle of traffic
When it's high time at the dining hall or you're waiting for your friends to come, or anything, please be cautious of where you are standing. There's nothing like getting a dirty look or being called stupid freshman, or any of those lovely statements by upperclassman you are pissing off because you decided to be right in the way. If people are rude to you, kill them with kindness. Same goes for parties too, you're going to get shoved around, so just be calm and be courteous
10. Be nice to your teachers
Their job is hard dealing with us every day. Even if your teacher seems awful, just give them a break and they are more likely to be understanding if you didn't do something. Make those connections
11. Make friends in your classes
If you make friends in your classes, you will have someone to give you notes when you get the UNH plague, or you were too hungover to go to class or missed it because you overslept. If you get confused during class and don't understand what is even going on, they can help you out, or back you up when you ask the teacher to explain it more in detail.
12. If you have bad roommates, deal with it
When I say deal with it, I'm not saying power through it and ignore it. If you really can, deal with it. Talk to your RA, talk to housing and get yourself out of there if it's not tolerable. You and your family are paying thousands of dollars to go to school, not to take care of anyone else but yourself. You DO NOT have to put up with bad roommates nor should anyone ever have to. Their happiness is not your responsibility and I know that may sound harsh but I'm sorry, you are not their babysitter. I've had terrible roommates all but 1 semester of college out of 4. You shouldn't be wasting time and energy to deal with someone else who doesn't care whether they are hurting you or not.
13. Don't pack too much
There's nothing worse than bringing too much and then having to send it home with your parents. If you live somewhat close pack the seasonal clothes that you need. Don't be packing your winter jackets and winter boots if you really don't need to. We have school breaks and you can switch our summer clothes for winter and what not. If you have to second guess if you really need something, you probably don't need it then. Bins are great for packing stuff as well. You really only need a few things because the school has so many resources.
14. Work hard play hard
For those of you planning to go out the first weekend (which you really should because it's fun), and by the first weekend I mean when everyone is on campus, not just freshman, you're either going to love it or hate it. If you love it, that's great, but don't over do it every weekend. It's going to be tempting, and hard not to want to go out every weekend, but make sure you are focusing on school too. Manage your time and whether that's doing all your work before the weekend starts or cramming it all on Sunday night, remember you are here at school to learn, not to just party all the time. Coming from experience, getting bad grades freshman first semester and trying to bring up your GPA ever since, isn't worth those two great weekends you have. If you work hard, you can play harder.
15. Consider Greek life
You can totally be against going Greek your first year of college, but that can change. If you want to try it, do it, it won't hurt to just give it a shot. You never know, and you could be surprised by what you find.
16. Get involved on campus
Uday is the day that is the best for finding like-minded people who enjoy the same things you do! There are so many different booths. It doesn't hurt to try all of them and go to all the club meetings. Eventually, you'll find the right one! You will meet so many other people this way too.
17. If you plan to bring a coat going out, bring one you don't care about
You are bound to lose at least one sweatshirt, coat, what not when you go out. What my friends and I usually do is tie our coats together and then hide them somewhere so we can just bring them all together if we need a stealthy escape. Losing stuff is so easy to happen when you go out, so unless you know a really safe place for your jackets, don't bring one you particularly care about.
18. Don't try to steal anyone's booze
If you go to anyone's apartment, suite, house, fraternity, dorm, anything like that, DO NOT steal our booze. I know you wouldn't like it if someone grabbed your bottle you desperately worked hard to get and took it, or just kept pouring themselves drinks without asking. It's rude, it's annoying, and don't do it. If you're nice, you are most likely going to be getting free booze anyways.
19. Bring some comfy blankets or a tapestry for the lawn
Laying on the lawn on a nice day is the tradition at any campus. I don't personally like to lay on the grass alone, so bringing something comfy to lay on is so nice, and just snoozing there, and if you have a hammock that's even better. Go outside and enjoy the weather if you can!
20. Don't act like someone you're not
I know college is a big deal, yay, but don't be a try hard. Just be yourself, and don't try to overcompensate. It doesn't matter who you were in high school or what your rep there was. It's a fresh start for everyone when you come to college. You get to be a whole new person and have a fresh start, so just be you, and don't try to be anyone else.
21. Make the best of it
A college is a big place, there are so many opportunities to discover who you are and what you want to be. You get to be on your own and be an adult finally. It goes by fast, and I can't believe I'm already halfway through. So make the best of it while you can, and enjoy yourself!
Hope this helps the class of 2021!
