1.Double check everything—things will get lost.
Coming into college you are kind of thrown to the wolves. There is paperwork up to your neck and making sure it gets where it needs to is absolutely crucial. Everything from your driver’s license to shots records, it all has to be filed. Remember people make mistakes, papers get lost and things don’t always get filed as requested. With this being said, making phone calls and even checking on the paperwork every few weeks to make sure it all gets filed correctly may seem like a burden but will be worth it in the long run when you don’t have a hold on your account because Ms. Suzy at the front desk lost your proof of lawful presence.
2. There is a way to balance social life and schoolwork—trust me.
College woohoo let’s get drunk and throw parties and forget that assignment that is due in 3 weeks because it can wait right? Wrong, sometimes it is okay to let loose and shake the stress of the 7 papers you have to right and a group project you are basically doing on your own. But getting wasted and completely out of control is not your best option. I don’t drink but I sure had some friends who did and this is straight from their experiences, so it is best to take this advice. For one, you will gain the freshman 5 which can quickly become the freshman 15 if you aren’t careful. Instead of going out and dousing yourself in alcohol try going to the gym to work out that stress and keep the freshman 15 down to a minimum. So hit the gym and set up a study group. I promise your grades and your liver will thank you later.
3. You will miss home.
Everyone is so excited to be on their own and then it happens; your parents leave you at the dorms and drive off. FREEDOM! Yes we have all been there, or will be soon enough. Now you ask “what to do?” You will stay up late playing video games and hanging out with your newfound friends. You will squeeze in some time to study and probably just sit around too. Then it hits you, you start to smell you Mom’s homemade lasagna it makes your mouth water. You start to realize that dorm bed is not like yours at home and sometimes your roommates are worse house-guests than your own siblings. You miss you little brother’s soccer game because you had a 15-page paper to write and a test to study for, that’s when you pick up the phone and call home. Just to hear everyone telling you the news and catching you up on what creepy crawlies your little siblings have found in the dirt makes you feel so much better. Your mom will ask if you have eaten and talk about anything to keep the conversation going. You will enjoy the freedom, but there will be that time you need that grounding sense of home again.
4. Professors come in many forms.
Each professor is unique in their own way. They each have a specific teaching style all of their own. Some you will catch onto real quick, others not so much. You will survive I promise. Just stick to what you know and if you have questions ask. Professors are way different than your high school teachers, professors want you to succeed but it is your responsibility to do the work and get it to them on time. Extensions are a rarity and some can fail you by skipping too many times. Others will have no attendance policy which can open up some free time, just be sure to keep up with the work. Just because the professor is cool doesn’t mean he won’t fail you.
5. Have fun!
Between the midnight study sessions and catching naps in-between classes on the benches in the library remember this is college. This is the time of your life and you need to make the best of it. You will have moments where you think you won’t make a deadline, or that one bad grade will be the death of you but I promise it will all be okay. Balance out the priorities and the fun. You will make new friends, some that will last a lifetime. This is your time to figure out who you are and what you want to be. Go out for clubs and build your resume, meet new people and set goals for yourself. Stop freaking out about that 5,000-word paper for a second and go to waffle house at 4 am just to take a breather. In college stress is inevitable but the result at the end is worth more than anyone can imagine.
