We've all been looking forward to it--summertime. It's a time of fun in the sun, relaxing on the front porch and reflecting on the school year behind you. Freshman year of college may throw you some curveballs. Some may have never had to study before, but will soon realize that will not work in their college years, while others may find that living away from home is harder than they thought. These are just a few of the many lessons I learned in my first year at college.
1. Pack throughout summer
Don't be like me and wait until the last couple night to start packing. Believe me, it is way too stressful. Instead, form a list and pack throughout the summer a litte at a time. A great place for packing lists is Pinterest!
2. Move-In Day is hectic
This was a day that I both could and couldn't wait for. It's filled with happiness, sadness and all around excitement for both the parents and the students. Just go into move-in with the mindset that it will be crazy and things may not go 100 percent to plan. This will make the process much less stressful and enjoyable.
3. Don't move all of your stuff the first day
Move all of your heavy stuff like the fridge and some boxes on official Move-in Day. You can always bring your non-essentials back with you after you visit home for the first time after moving in. This will make Move-in Day less stressful and more efficient.
4. Take the first week of classes seriously
Take this time to print out all of your syllabi and find your classes on campus. It is very important that you get to know the standards that your professor will hold you to. Believe me, down the line, you will be happy you learned them!
5. Actually read your books
This may sound like a given, but you would be surprised how many people don't read their text books in college. You have paid the money for them, so you should use them, right? Also, as an added benefit, you will get better grades because of it.
6. Study more than one night in ddvance for tests!
In high school, you may have been able to ace that biology test by only studying for one hour, but I can tell you from experience that it's not that easy in college. You will need to find a consistent studying pattern that suits your learning skills, but most say that they need to study a week before an exam to get the grade they want. It may seem like overkill to study that must, but it pays off in the end.
7. Find your niche
After all of this talk about studying, you may be wondering if you could ever have a social life. Of course you can! There are many opportunities to find your home away from home on campus. From Greek Life to Swing Dance Association, there is a place for you. As long as you can balance your studies and social life, you will be successful.
