Your first year of college, no matter where you are, is unlike any other. It is nine months full of long nights in the library cramming for an exam, determining what fraternity has the shortest beer line and figuring out what times the rec center is the least crowded. You learn a lot, and not just from sitting in a classroom. If I could go back to the summer before college, these are the things I would tell myself to keep in mind.
1. Call your parents.
A parent-less life may be fun, but homesickness hits like a train some days and all you’ll want is a hug from your mom and to hear one of your dad’s overused, corny jokes. Try to text your parents at least once a day, and call them whenever you can. It sounds cheesy, but no pick-me-up is better than a few encouraging words from the people who love you most.
2. Keep in touch with your high school friends.
My friends all went to different schools, which was kind of nice because it gave me the opportunity to meet so many new people on my own. It can be so easy to get caught up in your new college friends who you learn more about every day. As fun as it is meeting new people, it’s important to remember the people who got you through your high school years. They’re the ones who comforted you when you failed your driving test and know exactly what you get on your bagels at home. Don’t let the forming of new friends make you forget about your old ones.
3. Put yourself out there.
College is only as great as the things you do and the people you spend it with. Your friends should be one of, if not the best, part of your college years. You don’t have to do anything special to make great friends. Just be friendly. Introduce yourself to the girl sitting next to you in class, or strike up a conversation when you’re waiting in line for the bathroom at a frat party. You’ll eventually start to have a lot more people to say hi to.
4. Guys are, for the most part, still scummy.
If you find a Prince Charming in college, you’re the minority (but very lucky). A good 90 percent of guys take the freedom of college as a challenge to hook up with as many girls as possible, but what’s tricky is they come across like genuinely nice people. You can meet a boy at a party one night and think he’s the greatest guy you’ve ever met at college, and then the next night they’ll invite you over to “Netflix and chill” at their dorm with a TV that’s not even hooked up. With that being said, there are some guys you’ll meet that are the complete opposite of that — truly nice people who have your best interests at heart and want to be your friend without any strings attached. Cherish your guy friends at college, they are hard to come by.
5. The library = Your new BFF.
Four years of high school does not prepare you at all for the amount of work you get in college. Between 30 page papers, composition portfolios, and exams, it’s straight up overwhelming. But it still has to get done. It can be hard to focus on getting your work done in a dorm especially if you’re close with your roommate and floormates. The library is seriously the best place to get your homework and papers done. Get yourself a large iced coffee, a solid studying playlist on Spotify and get to work.
6. The “broke college kid” stereotype is real.
Save money whenever possible. Rent your textbooks from Chegg instead of shelling out half of your life savings at the bookstore for books you’ll only need for one or two semesters at most. Go to the free movie nights at school instead of blowing $12 on a movie ticket and then an additional $10 on popcorn and Sour Patch Kids. See what stores offer a discount to college students (there’s more than you think). You (and your bank account) will thank yourself in the summer when you don't have to work three jobs to fund your college lifestyle of WaWa and 1 a.m. Pizza Hut.
7. Take care of yourself.
I was the girl who never got sick in high school, but my immune system couldn’t hang once I got to college. I’ve had it all: strep throat, sinus infections, viruses and ear infections. I am currently battling mono as I type this article. Living in a shoebox-sized dorm, sharing three showers with 24 girls and staying up late every night can affect your physical health as well as your mental well-being. Do everything you can to stay healthy, meaning plenty of water, healthy foods and a good eight to 10 hours of sleep every night.
8. Make it count.
This is probably the cheesiest thing I have ever said but it's also very true. You will never have another freshman year of college. There is a reason why so many people refer to their first year of college as their favorite. You should try to enjoy every moment and not get hung up on the little things. Don't worry about the boy from last weekend who hasn't texted you. Focus on the good things like living with some of your best friends. These could be the most fun years of your life or the most stressful. It's up to you.
Freshman year teaches you so much, and it's more than just how to write a paper for comp or what the powerhouse of a cell is. It's a time of self-discovery and self-realization. And most importantly, it's a lot of fun.
