College is just around the corner for many teenagers across the country and even the world. As we get ready for our freshman year of college, we often have many fears that range from simple to more complex. Here are a few based on my personal experiences.
1. Getting a nightmare of a roommate
This is one of the most common fears for an incoming college freshman. You see, it could go two ways. You'll either get an awesome roommate or a not so awesome roommate. Obviously you would hope to get the awesome roommate, but unfortunately that isn't always the case. If you do end up getting the not so awesome roommate, at least try to make the best of a tough situation. Be civil to one another, give each other space when needed, and respect their belongings and wishes.
2. Not making friends
This is also another pretty common fear for college freshmen. Most of us have gone our separate ways from our friends from high school and college is a whole new world for us. New faces and personalities float about all around campus. You still carry around some of your high school insecurities, but you also will find yourself. In the process of finding yourself, you will eventually make friends who accept you for you, flaws and all.
3. Struggling with your coursework
College is a far different ballgame than high school. Your professors aren't going to remind you several times that an upcoming assignment is due at the end of the week nor are they going to coddle you. They will tell you what work you have to do and it's up to you to decide whether or not you're going to get it done. Just a tip, one of the best ways to stay on top of your academics is simply showing up to class and putting in your best effort. If you really are struggling with a class though, your college will certainly have tutors/tutoring services that would be more than happy to provide you with the help you need. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions in class. Your professor will always do the best they can to clarify the material for you.
4. Getting peer pressured into doing something you don't want to do
Some college freshman unfortunately associate themselves with the wrong crowd and end up making bad decisions. The bad decisions are usually due to their peers suggesting activities to you that end up having horrible consequences. For example, one might easily persuade you into buying a fake I.D. to purchase alcohol. Don't let their mindset become your own. As long as you have the willpower to say no, you won't be held responsible for these types of actions.
5. Not being able to pay for college
For me personally, this is my biggest fear of all. Everyone experiences different financial situations. Some of us are well off and others not so much, but don't fear because there are plenty of ways to get financial help. Some ways include the following:
1. Filling out your FAFSA application every school year before the deadline. - By doing so, your chances of getting a decent amount of financial help from your college increases.
2. Applying for as many outside scholarships as possible. - There are endless local and national scholarships you can apply for through various websites. One website that helped me find a lot of scholarships to apply for was www.saltmoney.org.
3. Get a summer job. - I know it's easier said than done in some cases, but it's possible to get hired somewhere close to where you live for the summer. The key advantage to having a summer job is earning enough money to put towards paying off your tuition and getting necessities such as college textbooks and dorm amenities.
4. Take advantage of work study if it's included in your financial aid package. - Though you can't use this money to pay off tuition, it is a great chance to earn survival money. How it works is you get awarded a maximum amount of money you can earn per year. Often, it's a pretty high number. This money can be used when you want to go out to eat, to purchase groceries, hang out with friends, and much more.
As an incoming freshman myself, I can tell you that most of these fears are based off my own, but I won't let them stop me from getting a college education and pursing my dreams. I wish the college class of 2020 the best of luck! Enjoy your four years on your beautiful campus because before you know it, you'll be walking across the stage receiving your Bachelor's Degree in your designated major.
