I am a rising junior at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. I just wrapped up my sophomore year and, let me tell you, I learned a LOT about not only college and living on my own, but also about myself. Just two years ago, I remember being both extremely excited and terrified to start the college journey. I had no idea what to expect. With the hopes of helping a current rising freshman to not be as nervous, I figured I'd discuss my freshman year and some of the biggest fears and questions that first-time college students usually have!
What do I bring?
Scrolling through Pinterest and other similar sites, it can be overwhelming to see the amount of checklists and suggestions for what to bring to college. This list below is, from my searching and scrolling, the best list I've seen to date.
Out of the whole list, the only things I didn't bring/use were bed risers, an ironing board and iron (did use a steamer, though... much more convenient), and a toaster (even if I wanted one, they're not allowed at my school). These are the things that are either not on the list, or are underrated in my opinion:
- HDMI cables are great for movie nights and just connecting your laptop to a TV.
- A nice shower caddy... make sure it's big enough to hold your shampoo, soap, washcloth, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and anything else you use in the shower/sink.
- A Keurig. No explanation needed.
- Longer phone cable... sometimes you won't have an outlet near your bed, so having a long charging cable for your phone is nice.
- Febreeze and Lysol wipes. Trust me.
- A small vacuum, if possible. The rooms get pretty dusty.
- Ethernet cord (if your laptop supports one)... if your school is anything like mine, the wireless connection sucks.
- A good umbrella... don't go for cute, go for size and strength. Especially at my school, it gets really wet and windy. On that note, get a nice rain jacket/windbreaker as well if you'd like.
- FANS. FANS. FANS. My roommate and I had them going even in the dead of winter. Those dorms get crazy toasty.
- Ceramic/glass bowl for heating your leftovers (who am I kidding, it's for ramen, not leftovers)
- A dry-erase board... depending on your preference, I like both plain whiteboards and calendar ones. I personally bought one for myself that has a calendar and some note-writing space on the side (great for a to-do list).
- Color markers for projects and posters - many students forget to bring these and have to buy the overpriced ones from the campus bookstore.
- Posters! It might seem silly, but hanging posters and decorations of things you like will make you want to spend time in your cozy room.
Overall, fear not if you get there and realize that there is something you desperately need. Odds are you'll have a friend or neighbor that can help you out, even if it's temporary, until you can get what you need. A great option for getting items fast is Amazon Prime (no, this is not a sponsored article, I just love Prime). There's even a student discount for Amazon Prime, and you start off with a free trial. Most products are eligible for two-day shipping with Prime, so you'll have whatever you need for your dorm in no time!
Decorating my dorm was my favorite part of moving in. My roommate and I coordinated our colors to be pink and blue (as you can see in the photo from the pink bedding and blue curtains) so that all of our things would match (I'd recommend this if you want your room to look extra cozy). Many students never spent time in their dorms because they didn't feel comfortable in them. Making your dorm a place that you want to be is important for good sleep and relaxation. Plus, if you buy things for your room that have function and style, that's just that much better! Keeping the room organized and clean just adds to the coziness. I bought organizational bins that were pink and blue to match my things, and my drawers were white to match (since my quilt had white in it). Target and HomeGoods were where I found the majority of my dorm supplies. Target was good for the essentials, like my desk lamp and plastic drawers, and HomeGoods was a great place to look for cute decorations like my decorative pillows, throws, and rugs. On that note, a rug is also a good investment if your dormitory has tile floors. Carpeting just feels better. Everyone who came to my room loved spending time there since it was inviting and cozy, so I would highly suggest making your own room a similar environment.
Textbooks are expensive... help?!
No matter what your major is, you're going to have textbooks to buy that are ridiculously expensive. As a general rule, avoid your campus bookstore at all costs. They charge a listing price for new textbooks, and they overprice the used/rental ones. You're much better off searching the ISBN of the textbook and comparing prices online (I usually just do a Google search of the ISBN and browse "Google shopping" for good prices). For the most part, I get my books through Amazon since I have Prime and will have them in two days. However, Chegg is also a fantastic website for deals on used and rental textbooks. If the class is not for your major, do yourself a favor and rent the book. You'll never look at it again after the class, so you might as well save money and ship the book back when you're done.
Mac or PC?
Most students invest in a new laptop when they start school, so a popular question is whether to get a Mac or a PC. I personally have an HP laptop, but looking back I wish I had invested in a Mac. My laptop is already crashing constantly (not necessarily from tech issues, but physical ones like a rickety fan and something being loose on the inside... yeah, it's pretty messed up), so I wish I had taken the $900 or so that I'd spent and just put it towards a Mac. However, if you already have a PC from high school that works, I would say use it until it dies (like I am). Anything to save money, even if it's just for a year or two. Also, if your campus is anything like mine, there are a ton of options for places to use a computer. We have a library, a tech center and a classroom building (Burnett) all with at least 15 computers available each. These buildings also have free printing, which is great for a cheap/frugal college student.
The "Freshman Fifteen" rumors are scaring me.
It is very common for students to gain weight over their college years, particularly during the first year. While this is fairly normal, it is also very preventable. The main reason for the weight gain is, in my opinion, the fact that you can eat whatever you'd like whenever you'd like it. My school, for example, has three different places to eat. One is all-you-can-eat style for one meal swipe, the next is $6 a meal for fast-food style, and the third is comparable to a Starbucks with blended coffee beverages and pastries. It is important to still eat healthy options, even when so many unhealthy ones are available. Salads, sandwiches, wraps and things of that nature are all good options in comparison to the pizza and burgers. Not only does it help to choose healthy meal options, but it would also be a good idea to get in some exercise. A walk around campus or hitting the gym with a friend are both easy and obtainable ideas for staying in shape. Weight gain can be easily avoided if you just take the proper healthy steps!
I'm homesick.
If you start to miss home after awhile, or even just 10 minutes after arrival, just know that the way you are feeling is totally normal. For a vast majority of students, moving into college is the first major independent moment of their lives. For likely the first time, you are primarily on your own. However, this is not necessarily the case. Take advantage of having a Resident Assistant (if that's not what your college calls them, I'm referring to the program most colleges have with upperclassmen that are assigned to your living floor to guide you with questions, concerns, etc.). My freshman RA was such a sweetheart, and she would do anything she could to make her residents feel at home. If this isn't enough, sometimes just calling or Skyping home can make you feel so much better. At the end of the day, you have a whole family of students around you that are likely feeling the same way. Talk it out with someone, relax and you will likely start to feel just fine. I know I did!
I had good/decent grades in high school, but I've heard college is so much harder...
Okay, I'm not going to lie to you. College classes are more difficult. However, they are nothing that you cannot handle if you stay organized and focused on your goals. College classes can be difficult simply because your grade in the class relies solely on yourself. In high school and prior, your teachers likely held your hand along the way and guided you to the right track. In college, this is mostly up to you. If you never go to class, do the homework assignments, or pay attention, then yes, you are certainly going to struggle and very possibly fail. But, on the other hand, if you motivate yourself to go to class (yes, even that boring lecture that starts at 8 a.m.), do all the reading assignments and study accordingly, you will do just fine. And when you don't do as well as you'd hoped? That's okay, too. Everyone slips up now and then (we're only human), and you tried your hardest.
Overall, the worries and concerns that you are feeling right now are totally normal. College is a totally new experience, and it's only natural to be nervous. However, once you form a close group of friends, join clubs involving things you love, study in classes that actually interest you, and other things that only college can give you... you'll love it. I made memories that I will never forget, and friends that will last a lifetime. So fear not, the best is yet to come!