I've been an orientation leader for two summers now. As an orientation leader, I get to meet a lot of incoming students. Like, thousands of freshmen. I go to one of the largest public schools in the nation (25th to be exact) and I've learned tips and tricks on how to survive college.
Put in the effort. The success you have in college is entirely up to you. If you want to succeed, you will. If you're just here to party and meet people, you will fail. Study for tests. Visit your professor's office hours. Write the paper before you go out with friends. Don't procrastinate. It's so easy to get caught up in your newfound freedom, but remember--you're here for an education. You're paying for the education. Put in the effort and you'll survive.
Don't waste your money eating out. You have a meal plan. Use it. Trust me, I know Chipotle sounds better than eating cafeteria food. But again, you're paying for it, so utilize it. When freshman year is over, you're going to wish you had the money to pay for rent, food and other bills. You will survive on dorm cafeteria food. I promise.
I know home is the last place you're thinking of, but call your mom.You may not miss being at home, but she misses you. I don't care if you're the seventh child to go to college. You're her baby and it's hard. Even if you don't talk every day, give her once-a-week updates on your life. She'll appreciate it and so will you.
Use your maps, even if it's just for the first two days. Hide it in your notebook, take a picture of it so you're looking at your phone, or just look like the lost freshmen you are. It doesn't matter. We've all been you at one point in our lives. It's OK to use the maps of campus to get around until you get the hang of it. That's why maps were invented. Or if you go to a campus as nice as UNT, just ask someone. Being lost on campus isn't an excuse to be late for class.
Honestly, you can wait to buy your textbooks. I'm a super nerd and I love having my textbooks as soon as the list goes up, but in reality, not every professor is going to use the textbook, even if it's "required." You can save yourself some money renting books, waiting to see if you even need the textbook, or seeing if the library has an on-reserve copy you can borrow. Also, my rule of thumb is never buy a book not related to your major. So since I'm a journalism major, I'll only buy my journalism books -- and only if I think I'll use it again after college.
Get involved. You had a steady group of friends in high school and that's probably how you survived. College is no different and having that support system and a group of people you can depend on can make your life so much easier. Whether you join Greek life, a philanthropic organization or something related to your major, you're going to find a group of people you can count on and have fun with.
De-stress. If running helps clear your mind, go for a run. If you need to eat chocolate cake and ice cream, hit up Chili's and get their Chocolate Molton Cake. If you need to binge-watch Netflix, do that. Whatever helps you unwind and relax, make sure you make time for that. College is stressful and relieving that stress will keep your skin clearer, your mind sharper and you less fatigued.
It's OK not to know your major just yet, but visit the career center to get you a head start. Not everyone knows what they want to do right away and that's more than OK. It's OK to change your major. But don't fall behind just because you're unsure. Talk with your career center to see if they can help you narrow down what you want to do and the best way for you to get there. Talk to professors and take some electives to see what subject matters interest you.
I can't promise these tips will make you a 4.0, but I can promise that you'll survive freshman year feeling confident and at home on campus. You should love your school, so if you still aren't feeling the vibes after your first year, consider transferring schools.This is the time to grow, explore and learn about yourself and the world. Take full advantage of that. Remember that college is a privilege and you're blessed with this opportunity.
