You made it. You have survived twelve years of schooling, little of which was actually related to what you have planned for your future. You've made some great friends, you've lived through memorable moments, and you're likely to miss some aspects of your current life.
With that said, hopefully you're excited to for what's ahead of you. If your plans after high school include attending college, here are some tips so that you can feel more prepared.
1. Live your own life.
Now is the time to think about yourself first. Let your freak flag fly and try not to pay attention to what anybody else thinks about it.
Don't forget that this is a two-way street, though. There's no need for you to go through life commenting on what other people are wearing or constantly complaining about someone else's actions. You can learn so much more about the world if you're more focused on observing than criticizing.
2. Expect change.
As someone who grew up in Austin, it was easy for me to just assume that everyone around me shared the same liberal views that I posses because a large majority of Austinites have a liberal mindset. One of the biggest pieces of advice I can offer you is to be prepared to meet plenty of people who have different opinions and views than you do. More importantly, remember that those people aren't any lesser than you due to their different way of thinking.
3. Try not to compare yourself to other people.
When you're living in such a close proximity to so many other people, many of whom are likely taking the same classes as you, it can be very difficult to avoid comparing yourself to other people. But, it is important to remember that everyone comes from different backgrounds, educational and otherwise, so students enrolled in the same courses could have very different experiences with the subjects at hand.
Also keep in mind that no one's major is better than anyone else's. And if you're undecided as far as your major or life plan, that's totally okay. It's a little bit screwed up that in today's society 17 and 18-year-olds are expected to know exactly how they'd like to spend the entire rest of their lives.
4. Take advantage of your freedom.
Okay, don't go too crazy, but still definitely enjoy the fact that you don't have any adult telling you what to do all the time. You can go out whenever you want, come back whenever you want, eat as much chocolate as you want - it's thrilling.
5. Consider your future.
If you're planning on going to graduate school later on in life, just know that it's never too early to start putting the pieces in place to make sure that can happen. Figure out exactly what you like about your current school, what you'd change about it, and use this information to help yourself when you're looking for grad schools you'd like to apply to. This is also a very good time to broaden your connections in the field you're interested in - whether that be through professors, current grad students, or other undergrad students.
6. Make time for you.
Hanging out with friends is super fun, but make sure you have enough time for yourself, too. Definitely try not to fall behind in other classes and understand that it's perfectly acceptable to ask your roommate to not be in the room for a little while so that you don't have to constantly be around other people. Most of the time it is very fun to be living with a whole bunch of other college students, but everyone needs their space every now and then.
7. Take advantage of certain campus perks.
If the English department on your campus offers editing for your essays, check it out. If you're struggling with a certain subject or concept, make the time to attend office hours. If there's an event happening somewhere on campus, stop by and scan to see if there's any free food.
8. Get involved.
Join a couple of clubs that interest you. Maybe join a sorority or a fraternity. Even just participating in campus events or in intramural sports can be a way for you to make new friends or discover a hidden passion.
Don't forget that most grad schools also like to see well-rounded students who make the most of their time in college. Even finding an on-campus job, whether it's related to what you want to do for a career or not, can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
9. Ask questions.
If you aren't one of those super cool kids who can ask questions in a giant lecture hall, ask your professor after class or during office hours. You can also make an appointment to meet with them at a more convenient time. Take the time to get to know your professors and when there comes the time for them to reconsider grade cut offs, they could be the reason your GPA didn't tank.
Also, if you are thinking about graduate school, it's never too early to start building connections with your professors to ensure you have a solid rec letter.
10. Learn how to budget.
It can be really hard to cut yourself off from the wide availability of online shopping but it's still a good idea to learn how to budget your money. You don't need to become a coupon-obsessed crazy person, but understanding that there are smart ways to spend your money is a big step in the right direction.
11. Take initiative of your life.
You are a grown adult (kind of) and people will expect you to know how to take care of yourself so make sure you can. Also, keep in mind that most people in college have a lot to think about regarding their own life so if you are in need of something, take it upon yourself to find out how to get it (i.e. contact professors if you're in need of an override for a class).
12. Introduce yourself.
Say hello to people, it's a good way to make friends. Honestly, even smiling at people as you pass them while walking to class could improve a person's bad day in no time. Plus, there's no such thing as too many friends.
13. Stay organized.
Keep track of due dates and papers, especially because if you ask a teacher for a rec letter later on, they may ask you for a sample of your work in their class, so make sure you don't just burn it all as soon as you're finished with that course.
Also, if you transfer due dates for big assignments from each course syllabus that you receive at the beginning of the semester to a single calendar or planner, you will be super thankful later on.
14. Believe in yourself.
Unfortunately, college isn't all friends and fun, there's actual difficult schoolwork and tests, too. Certain classes will be very demanding in both time and attention, and are even worse when they don't interest you much, but just know that you can do it. Your future doesn't rely on one or two difficult classes.
