Freshman year is a year full of new experiences and people. It holds some of the best times and the worst times. Your first year of college is certainly one you'll never forget. However, there are a variety of Do's and Don'ts to do freshman year like an expert.
Don’t: Wear a lanyard around like it’s the next big thing.
Nothing says “Hi I’m new here” like wearing an ugly piece of fabric with your school’s name printed all over it and your student ID dangling like a chunky piece of ugly jewelry.
Do: Invest in a phone case with a card pocket or an adhesive sticker pocket to go on the back of your phone.
This way your student ID is always with you without screaming “I’m a Freshman!”
Don’t: Sleep through your classes.
Do: Set an alarm every night before bed.
When you’re in college, every credit hour is a certain amount of money. When you don’t go to class, you’re just wasting the money on your bed basically. Going to class means getting your money’s worth and learning valuable information for your major and getting better grades. A lot of professors will base grades on attendance and participation. You can get half of those points from just being present in class no matter how tired. You don’t go to college to sleep; you go to college to learn.
Don’t: Wear clothing from your high school.
As much as everyone who’s in college cares that you were quarterback of the football team or prom queen in high school, we actually don’t. College is a fresh start where you can reinvent yourself. Just because you were a track star in high school, doesn’t mean that makes you any less of a newbie when you enter campus. You don’t need to flaunt all your high school football T-shirts around because no one cares that you were once athletic.
Do: Pack lightly in terms of T-shirts.
In college you will get a ton of free T-shirts as well as T-shirts that will be suggested you buy when you are in certain organizations like fraternities, sororities, your school’s activities council, student government, etc. Before you know it, your small dorm room drawer will be bursting at the seams with all your new T-shirts.
Don’t: Keep your dorm door closed.
Do: Open your dorm door for the opportunity to meet people.
The first few weeks of Freshmen year is a crucial time to find the people you could possibly be hanging out with for the rest of college. When you leave your door closed, you’re really closing yourself from meeting some great friends. Leave your door open and people that are just as desperate for a friend are bound to wander in. I met one of my best friends who I am now a bridesmaid in her wedding from just leaving my door open my freshman year.
Don’t: Give into peer pressure.
Do: Try what you are comfortable with.
College is a time for experimentation and figuring out who you are. Most people during this time are introduced to alcohol and have very easy access to try it out. However, if you are uncomfortable with trying it, then don’t. There’s no need to pretend to be something you’re not and do something you’re not comfortable with just to impress others. On the other hand, if you really enjoy drinking, do so in a safe environment with people who won’t take advantage of you when you’re having a bad night.
Don’t: Skip out on on-campus activities.
Do: Try to be involved in as much as you can while still giving yourself some down time.
College is a time to experience new things and truly find yourself. I promise you will not figure out who you’re supposed to be cooped up in your dorm room. When you have the opportunity to go through sorority or fraternity recruitment, do it. If that’s not your thing, there’s plenty of club and intramurals that you can participate in. Every college has endless activities to fit every interest and I am sure your’s is out there.
