Move-in day during your freshman year is a memory that’ll linger as your college days pass by one at a time. Everything from shakily accepting your ID from the front desk to hugging your parents good-bye at their cars that evening. It’s the turning of a page, the beginning of a brand new phase, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced prior. If you’re lucky, it won’t really hit you until the two-week mark hits. It’s no longer a fun summer camp with classes mixed in-between. You’re on your own. And here are some tips on how to make the best of it without feeling like you’re a complete noob, courtesy of college students from freshmen to seniors.
1. “Don’t buy a textbook unless your professor says you need it.”
This is a financially smart option. Your freshman year, instinct will tell you to get ahead and buy all the textbooks on the list ahead of time. The initiative is great and definitely something that you’ll want to carry with you once school starts, but not necessarily in this case. Professors are pretty lenient the first week, especially with freshmen. Most books offered by your school’s bookstore will be back-ordered anyway, so feel out which books you are going to need right off the bat. Even e-mailing your professor once you get their contact information is a great way to establish a connection early and express your interest in making the best decisions for your class.
2. “Buy or rent all your textbooks from either Chegg or Amazon.”
Renting is nothing to be ashamed of! The difference between a $100 textbook and a $15 one is just the fact that you can’t write in it. Most rented textbooks are in pretty good shape when you get them if you do your research right. If you find it easier to write in your books for note-taking, go ahead and buy them. However, just remember that they’ll be harder to sell/rent out after you’ve made marks inside of them. If you’re worried about the price, but feel like writing in your textbooks is a necessity, buy them gently used!
3. “Don’t waste ALL of your money.”
It sounds simple. But fiscal responsibility is hard to keep up with in college, especially if you’re used to having a job where your account is refilled every two weeks. There are tons of stores that offer student discounts and it never hurts to ask! Be smart and remember that the ‘broke college student’ idea changes from cliché to reality quicker than you think. Yes, your parents aren’t around to question every purchase. But do you really need that $75 concealer just because your roommate has it?
4. “Focus on getting a lot of sleep vs. socializing."
There's always time to socialize, but there isn't always time to sleep. Everyone is going to tell you that the most important part of your first week of college is first impressions. While it is a vital part, it certainly is not the most important. As the year progresses you’ll learn that a good night’s sleep is just as important as remembering to eat during the day. Plus, it’s hard to socialize when you feel like you’re about to pass out. Talking to someone who is well-rested is much more enjoyable than having a conversation with someone who is cranky.
5. “Befriend someone from out-of-state to understand different societal norms.”
This is important even if you’re the one coming from out-of-state. It’s hard enough going to college and starting over, but completely moving from one state, or country, to another is a whole different story. Even being from northern Virginia and going to school in southern Virginia, the difference is greater than one would think. It’s important to expose yourself to people who come from different cultures as well, especially if the area you grew up in wasn’t diverse. Gaining perspective and having that point of view going into your first week is a great way to enhance your social life and open your mind to how everyone adjusts to college in different ways based on their background and experiences.
6. “If you have a bad feeling about a class: You. Can. Drop. It. Don’t suffer through it for the whole semester if you don’t have to.”
At most universities, there are a minimum number of credits you need to be taking in order to be considered a full-time student. Many schools choose your schedule for you during the first semester and set you up with some wiggle-room in case certain classes don’t work out. It’s not like high school where dropping a class is detrimental. Keep an eye out for the add/drop period so you can drop a class (if needed) by the deadline. If possible, see if you can take another class in place of the one you’re dropping that’ll fulfill the same requirement. If your ancient history class isn’t what you expected based on the syllabus, see if there’s a government or political science class you can take instead.
7. “Read your e-mails! They send like 50 per hour!”
This isn’t an exaggeration. If you’ve never checked your e-mail before college, get in the habit—especially during the first week. Your school e-mail address will also quickly become your primary one. The university will send out newsletters about events, workshops, and clubs that you may be interested in. Make sure you read all of them! Mark the dates on a calendar, digital or not, and attend as many of the events as possible to get the most out of your experience.
8. "It’s better to enjoy the few activities you’re involved in than burn yourself out with too many commitments.”
This is so important. Getting involved is a huge part of your first week because that’s when all the interest meetings and events are. It’s okay to go to as many of these meetings as you want, but don’t feel like you need to commit to every single one. Time management is one of the hardest things to learn and the thing you’ll need to learn the fastest in college. Schedule out each day and figure out how much you are able to put on your plate while still maintaining your grades and sanity.
9. “Move your furniture before you decorate your dorm.”
The last thing you want is to deal with cleaning out your drawers in order to turn your desk or wardrobe. Figure out the way you want the furniture on move-in day, and then get to decorating. It’s easy to get caught up in the bedspreads and lamps and wall art, but doing the labor-intensive part will make it so much easier down the line.
10. “Take advantage of free stuff. It’s everywhere.”
You don’t even really have to look for it most of the time. Make a habit of having a bag on you at all times so you can be prepared for a free t-shirt or coupon thrown your way. There is always going to be something going on around campus, but it’s up to you to take advantage of as many free items as you can.
11. “Don’t hang out with just your high school friends because college is about new people and experiences. You don’t want a high school part two.”
High school may have been your kingdom or it may have been a holding environment of bad experiences. Either way, college is going to be completely different. It’s about starting fresh in a way that you weren’t able to in your hometown or city. Don’t hang out with people out of obligation—branch out and meet new people that’ll make you into a better version of yourself and enhance your university experience.
