It's crazy for incoming college freshman to completely uproot their lives and begin again in a new town or environment. Some may panic at the thought of what they should bring or who they should be. These are some helpful tips that I could've used when I was entering college for the first time and I hope they're some use to you.
1. No one cares if you eat alone in the dining hall
Not all dining halls are created equal. Different universities have different layouts for their cafeterias but overall, it can be quite intimidating to eat in the dining hall alone. It can become really crowded and you feel like people are watching and judging you when in reality that's not the case. People are in the cafeteria to eat, and that is pretty it. Sooner or later you're going to have to eat by yourself, and that's totally OK. Don't be reliant on other people to go to eat, trust me. Sometimes they'll bail on you and you'll have a panic attack because you don't have anyone to eat with. Relax and enjoy spending time with yourself.
2. Explore your campus after you settle in
After you settle in to the campus and your dorm, you should go out and explore the campus. It is most likely that you haven't seen everything during your tour and during orientation week. Find little nooks and cranny's that may be potential study or break spots. Sometimes there are little pathways and shortcuts that could cut the time it takes to get to class in half. For me, there's tables inside the Student Activities Building and its quiet enough to get work done without feeling cramped like the library.
3. Explore your college website
You will find a lot of useful information, okay? Just do it if you have not. It's also best to do this because I remember when I had my first class registration I could not find the course master list online. I may or may not have gotten the runt pick of the classes because of it.
4. Shower sandals are a must
Haven't heard of shower sandals before? Well now you have. Unless you're living in your own apartment with your own shower to yourself, you have to have shower sandals. My freshman year was honestly something out of damn nightmare. I had to share toilets and showers with up to 25 people and they were the grossest and dirtiest people ever. Shower sandals will prevent you from catching anything, getting infections, and it will just make you feel better about your bathroom situation. Tip: be careful when leaving the showers while wearing the sandals. Floors can become really slippery and you might bust your ass. That was (and still is) my fear: slipping and falling in the bathroom. Naked.
5. Check your school email regularly
When I mean regularly, I mean make it a weekly, or even better, a daily thing. I know every college is different, but I am pretty confident that all colleges love to send their students a shitload of emails to keep them up to date on things. Trust me, if you have an 8 a.m. class and it's canceled, you will want to know whether or not if you should wake up or stay in bed another hour.
6. Take advantage of what your college provides you
Whether it be tutors, Undergrad advising, testing services, go to them. They are there to help you, let them help you. That stuff is free. My university is awesome because they have tutoring in almost every area and subject that you need. Students and professors go out of their way to give you extra help and it's a good way to establish relationships with these people, as they could help you out in the future.
7. Don't always depend on your campus book store for textbooks
Some universities require you to purchase campus specific books that you can't find anywhere else, but normally you can find them super cheap online. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Chegg, Slugbooks, Bookrenter. If you have friends who got the hookup on even cheaper textbooks, go to them.
8. Budget budget budget budget
This is incredibly important for everyone. Not many of us have a source of income our freshman year and it's hard to break old habits. Make sure to not overspend and don’t be stupid with your money and piss it all away on clothes and food. That financial aid money is going to tempt you to spend it all on clothes, food, books, and DVDs. Trust me, I had 20 cents in my bank account the end of the first semester and I learned my lesson. B U D G E T.
9. When it comes to making friends, just be yourself
I know that it may seem a little superficial and almost over said, but really, just be yourself and you will be fine. It may not seem like it at first, but there is a place for everyone in college. Whether you're interested in Greek Life, enjoy playing Magic The Gathering or whatever hobby, there is someone out there who shares your interests and will probably like to be your friend. You may not find friends immediately but they will come in time and you'll be BFFL's.
10. Take a deep breath and relax
There are hundreds and thousands of students who are nervous, anxious, scared, confused, and/or stressed as you are. It’s okay to feel a bunch of emotions at once. Just take it slow and one thing at a time. Knock 'em dead kid, you're going to do great.
