You've seen them -- the hundreds of articles entitled with some combination of "things you need to know going into freshman year." They rattle off the same directives - don't take all 8 a.m.'s, set aside time to study, yadda yadda yadda. Let's talk about some things I actually wish someone had told me before starting school.
1. Your dorm will probably suck but you will learn to love it.
Whether the people in the hallway make it sound like the roof is caving in or the roof is actually caving in, freshman dorms aren't pretty. They probably smell funny and are the size of a shoebox. Find a way to deal with it because you'll miss it and all the memories you made in it when you leave.
2. You may not actually learn to love your dorm.
This is when I suggest off-campus housing. Yes, baby, I'm talking apartments. Most universities are swimming in a pool of student apartments and they are a solid alternative to a dorm, if it's not your cup of tea. Grab a handful of your closest friends and get your butts to a leasing office.
3. Don't live with your best friend.
It may be too late to change but, trust me, you may want to. Your bond with your roommate is incredibly different than your bond with your best friend. You will probably end up hating your roommate every morning and find many tiny problems to hold grudges over. You don't want this to happen with your best friend.
4. Skip class.
Sure, you should go to class and you probably need to go. If you're sick, stay in bed. If you're too hungover, stay on the bathroom floor. If you just don't feel like it, don't go. Just keep your absences at or below what your professor allows and find someone to get notes from. Seriously. Grade deductions for poor attendance are plain stupid.
5. Get to know your RA.
Buddy up to them and see what rules they care the most about, especially if you're planning on anything surrounding drinking.
6. Learn what alcohol poisoning is.
And learn the difference between alcohol poisoning and someone who just can't handle their drinks. If someone is just sick, give them plenty of water and sit with them until they're lucid. If someone has alcohol poisoning, get help for them. Alcohol poisoning can kill someone, a drinking ticket cannot.
7. Don't make noise in the library.
You need to silence your phone the second you walk in the door -- don't just put it on vibrate, everyone can still hear you. If you have to take a call, go to the bathroom or outside. If you need to do a group project, schedule a study room. If you need to talk at all for any reason, whisper and keep it short. Dear God, WHISPER LIKE LIGHTNING. This also goes for when your professors are talking, it's not a good idea to piss them off.
8. Force yourself out of your comfort zone.
No, you don't have to go Greek to make friends or find your place. It's a good place for it, but it isn't the only place if that isn't your scene. Join a club, make friends with people in class, try new restaurants -- just get as many experiences as you can.
9. Make mistakes.
Freshmen year is the time to screw up. This is when you need to figure out your study routines, make as many friends as possible (even bad ones) and do things you probably shouldn't. Obviously, be reasonable, but just decide if the risk is worth it and TAKE IT.
