Welcome to Bowling Green, freshies!
Before I went to college, I read so many "advice to freshman" but never one specifically for BG! Here is some advice from a current BG sophomore.
You whole world is about to be turned around. You can be nervous, but you should actually be excited. Bowling Green is so unique. I have never felt so welcome at a place before so you made a great choice! (Everyone holds doors open to for one another because we are #friendlyfalcons.)
Move-In.
Your move-in day will be crazy. Yet, BG does a very good job getting everything into your room in a timely manner. Just plan that your parents are probably going to have to park in Lot 12 (which is real far away from the dorms). So, let your parents know now so they don't get mad and can prepare. You have like 15 minutes near your dorm where you put all of your stuff in a bin then you must park somewhere else. Make sure you go on your time, it makes it easier for everyone.
If you are meeting your roommate for the first time, it will be awkward. But that awkwardness will go away soon. Just prepare for the "Hi, nice to meet you! I'm gonna live with you for an entire year and I only know things about you from creeping on your social media". Make sure you meet your RA and get on their good side.
Opening Weekend.
I would recommend going to everything. Although things are optional and some things are awkward, go to them. That way you can meet people on your floor and get out of your comfort zone. If you are rooming with someone from high school, I definitely recommend going to these so you both can make some new friends so you aren't sitting your room all weekend. Everyone feels awkward and everyone wants friends so, it won't be hard to make friends for opening weekend. There's a program Friday morning called "Get With It" where you meet everyone in your major. Get to know these people! They will be in your major classes and have the same struggles as you. On Sunday, I recommend that you walk around campus (with your new friends, of course) to find your classes and buildings. This way you can go to sleep a little more relaxed knowing where you are going. You can also figure out if you have any classes at the same time/place as your friends. All beneficial, trust me!
The First Day Of Class.
Make sure you sit by someone and introduce yourself. You never know if they will end up becoming your best friend. I would also suggest after class to introduce yourself to your professor. They will most likely not remember your name, but they will know your face. This way they know you are serious about the class. (This has helped me in the past!)
Know Your Advisor.
It is important to have good communication with them because they will help you even more if they know you personally.
Always Check Canvas.
There will be messages from your professor, new assignments or announcements that class is canceled (happens one in a million).
Find Good Study Spots.
The union and the library are great places to study and do homework. Know that the 8th floor of the library is QUIET. So don't go up there and start talking...you will get death stares.
Go Explore.
We have such a cute college town that you should really walk around on a nice day and check it out. But, you should also go at night and check out the nightlife. Main Street is completely different at night. If you aren't a partier, you should still go check out some of the bars (which are 5 dollars to get in if you are under the age of 21).
Join Organizations.
Campus Fest is awesome and every campus organization is there wanting you to join. If you ever wanted to try anything, join that club. College is all about finding yourself so go out of your comfort zone and do it! I'm also going to throw in GO GREEK. There are so many Greek organizations that you should really look into. Whether it's a business or social Greek organization, they are all great experiences.
You will find out a lot of things on your own. You will find yourself, your best friends for life and maybe your own Falcon Flame. (Falcon Flames are people who get married who met at BG #goals.)
