For a freshman, move-in is the beginning of a new chapter of their lives. But the week to come can easily start you off on the wrong foot when it comes to habits. From many different upperclassmen and former college students, here are the top seven dos and don'ts of freshman move-in week.
1. DO explore campus
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Listen, you are paying money to go to this school. Why not utilize all of it, including the views and the scenery. Take that initiative to leave your comfy dorm room and get out onto the campus. The campus itself is the reason that many people choose the school they end up selecting. Get familiar with it. Even when it comes to the first day. Look like the pro that you are and get to your classes early with no struggles in between.
2. DON'T be afraid to get lost
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Once you step foot, you are setting foot into unknown territory. Therefore, the idea of getting lost is very prominent. But in this new campus are many people who know every in and out of it. Getting to know the campus yourself revolves you losing yourself in it to find those ins and outs yourself. For many people, the campus will seem extremely large and almost like a maze. But it's not. So, try and tame the beast that is directions.
3. DON'T go to sleep too late
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I know what you're saying…"You're not my parents, you can't tell me what to do." Well with classes approaching extremely fast, waking up early will become all that much easier with a sleep schedule sent in place. There is no exact time; for some, it's 11 p.m., for some, it's 2. Do what is best for you. Yeah, that party that ends at 3 a.m. may seem tempting, but that calculus exam at 8 a.m. seems even worse…especially on little sleep.
4. DO get on the same page as your roommate
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Nothing is worse than a hostile environment, especially the place that is supposed to be your place to relax. An easy solution to prevent this is to talk to your roommate what bothers each of you, pet peeves. Things like music volume, sleeping times and having friends over are many of the biggest problem starters. But with some simple conversation, all can be good. You do not need to be friends with your roommate. Sometimes those random pairings work but many times they may not. Being able to get along with them is really all that matters.
5. DON'T forget to eat
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With all these new and exciting things going on, sometimes things get neglected and ignored. Nothing can be worse than an empty stomach and stress. Two to three meals a day is essential to a happy and successful semester. Even if you really can't squeeze in stopping by a cafe or a dining hall to grab some grub, try and pack some snacks into your daily bag. On a full stomach, your brain will work to the level that you want it to run at. Don't set yourself up for failure.
6. DO speak with upperclassmen
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You really can't expect yourself to know everything. A lot of times, knowledge comes with experience so a great idea would be to reach out to those peer mentors. They are just like us. They had the same feelings and the same fears. They took some of the same classes as us. So, they know that level of cluelessness that they were once feeling also. Sometimes they can hook up freshmen with some cheap textbooks, which is any college kid's wet dream.
7. DON'T panic
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The last thing you want to do is to freak yourself out. While you might be alone occasionally, getting way into your head will do more damage than good. So, try and take some deep breaths and make attempts to distract yourself. This might be talking to some people, playing a game, doing some homework or watching a movie. Whatever it takes to calm you down. If that doesn't work, try and get friendly with some of the faculty so that you are comfortable enough to talk to them about your problems.
