The beginning of freshman year is all full of excitement and nerves. After your mom drops you off at your new and disgusting dorm room, you're left to make your own decisions, eat whatever you want, stay out as late as you want, make all new friends, and basically learn what it's like to live on your own for once. After just completing my freshman year at The University of Alabama last week, here is a list of things I wish I had known before college and a guide to making your freshman year the best year of your life.
1. You don't have to decide your major is right away
Your advisors will make you feel like you won't graduate if you don't decide what you want to do with your life right this second, but honestly, you have four years to decide so just relax. You'll figure it out soon enough (plus who wouldn't just want to stay at college for five years instead of four, right?)
2. Your first night out will be unforgettable
On your first night out at college with all your new friends, you may not know what exactly is going on at first. There may be people screaming about spending their dollar "ON BEER!" or you may be blasted with cold air and confetti in a dark packed room. I don't know exactly what your experience will be like, but I do know it'll be one of the best nights of your freshman year.
3. Try not to procrastinate studying too much
Take a break from those Buzzfeed quizzes and actually open a chemistry book for a few minutes. Figuring out which type of fruit you are based on your Netflix preferences can wait, but your chemistry test tomorrow can not. I promise you won't regret it.
4. You won't make it to that 8 a.m. or even that 9:30 class
You may think you're capable of taking morning classes just like in high school, but I'm informing right now that you will either hate yourself every morning for choosing that fate or just not attend those classes at all. Save yourself from worrying about the attendance policy every morning when your alarm goes off at 8 am and just take late morning or afternoon classes.
5. Freshman 15 is a real thing
You will order that Dominos at 2 a.m. You will gain weight. You won't care until your mother points out how your clothes fit a little better than they did before. No worries it'll go away.... hopefully
6. Don't look for a relationship freshman year
No. Chad in the Hawaiian shirt from Sigma Apple Pie does not want to be your boyfriend. Neither does Matt from the Kappa Apple Order in the basketball jersey. Freshman year is all about finding out who you are own your own and apart from your friends and family at home. Figure out who are and have fun being single freshman year before deciding to be in a relationship.
7. Be honest with your parents
But maybe not too honest... They probably don't want to hear about the body shot you did off of Becky, your Tri Donut sister's, stomach just to get Brad the Kappa Apple's attention.
8. You will fail a class
Just kidding. But whether it's fail a class, get arrested, make an overwhelmingly embarrassing drunken mistake or something along those lines, you will do something your freshman that will make the world feel like its ending and that you have no goals to strive for or reason to live. Accept your failure, learn and grow from it, and move on.
9. Finals week is a special kind of hell
You may contemplate your death during finals week, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get through. Grab that venti vanilla latte with four extra shots (of expresso) and head over to the 24-hour library. Fair warning, all-nighters are probably going to start being an everyday thing during this week
10. It's crazy how fast it'll all be over
Freshman year of college was without a doubt the best year of my life. Freshman year will be over before you know it, so be sure to get the most out of every opportunity and appreciate every friendship you make your first few months away from home. Make memories you'll want to tell your kids stories about (when their older of course) and at your friends' weddings. I know four years sounds like a long time right now, but it'll be gone in an instant. Make the most of every second you have.
