Summer is almost over and all returning Spartans are starting to get a full on itch to get back to East Lansing. All sophomore, juniors and seniors know that the beginning of the year in East Lansing is ultimately the best time of the year. Seeing friends you haven’t seen all summer, blasting music as you move in, meeting the new people living around you, knowing that within the first week there will already be a story worthy enough to pee your pants every time you hear it and hearing that familiar Spartan fight song at the football games, are only a few of the favorite moments. We've already been through the whole move in process, we’ve survived welcome week, we know how to tailgate, we know how to study; the list could go on forever. Long story short, we know the drill. Freshman on the other hand… needless to say when someone asks if you're excited for your freshman year, a full rush of emotions fly through you from excitement to that stomach twisting fear of ‘oh boy…college man’. So thus, I decided to make the freshman a little survival guide of my own. These tips and tricks will help you make the fall of freshman year absolutely stellar.
1. Brace yourself for move in day.
Freshman year move in day will be forever seared into my memory. Lugging everything into East Akers, up to the second floor, trying to put everything away fast enough to hang out with my new roommates, and saying goodbye to my parents are only a few highlights of that morning. My number one rule for move in day is to expect nothing. Honestly, if you have certain expectations in your head of how it's going to go and it doesn't actually go that way, it'll make the day much more stressful. Items may be forgotten at home, you might get there and find your roommate already moved in chilling on the bed or your parents may decided to hover, even after you put away your last box of clothes. Throw away all the expectations and just go with the flow, it'll make move in day a whole lot less stressful.
2. Hang out with new people the first night.
One of the best decisions of my life, was hanging out with new people the first night of college. Little did I know that random apartment we ended up at, contained some of my best friends to this very day. So put on your big girl/boy pants and go out there, tell a funny joke or two and make some new friends. I know that you may be kind of rusty at first considering it's been forever since you've had to do it, but you're in college now and you're normal squad from high school won't be around anymore. So do yourself a favor and right off the bat start hanging out with some new people.
3. Go to the football games, go to tailgates, show your Spartan spirit.
The fall season in East Lansing is hands down the best time to be alive. You already know that nothing beats sweater weather, but now you added spartan football to the mix. Get out there and show your spartan spirit! Every football game at the spartan stadium is bursting with energy. Make it a goal to make it to one of these games. Even if you're not the biggest football fan in the world, just try to make one. I promise you that you will not be disappointed. Just a heads up, if you're not wearing green and white on game days, don't even think about walking outside.
4. The ranch at Cottage Inn is worth the extra money.
Cottage Inn, what a beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL food establishment. Residing on Grand River, Cottage Inn stands tall and makes all Spartans' mouths water as you pass it. Not only is it a great food for after your wild night out but its cheesy deliciousness is also good if you need a study break. Do yourself a favor, spend the extra money and get yourself some famous Cottage Inn ranch to dip your pizza in. I don't know what they do to their ranch but it makes your mouth feel like it's eating rainbows. Obviously Cottage Inn isn't the only place to grab a bite on Grand River. Grand River is home to tons of stores and places to eat including, Urban Outfitters, Taco Bell, Tutti Frutti, Moosejaw and so many more. Not to forget the Spartan Book Store to fulfill all your student needs like books, notebooks, pencils, pens and good ol iClickers.
5. Professors make a syllabus for a reason.
At the beginning of classes, each professor will email, upload, or hand out a syllabus. This syllabus is chalk full of information, from class procedures and policies, to materials needed for the class and most importantly when your exams are. My biggest mistake my first semester of college was not reading over all of my syllabi given to me by my professors. Trust me and read over each syllabus given to you for each class, it could have saved me from so many sticky situations.
6. The library, man, people actually use it.
I quickly learned that in college it is incredibly important to have good study habits. In college you can't just wing it like you did in high school. You have to work for the grade you want. Take advantage and use spaces provided by the university to get some studying done. Dorms have lounges on each floor that are a great place to get some studying done. Also it's not an 'uncool' thing to hit up the library. Head up to the second floor for a more quiet place to study. P.S. Jimmy Johns and Noodles&Company deliver right to the library doors.
Get excited. You're about to have the best four years yet.
