If you are an upcoming college freshman and you are anything like I was before I started college, you are reading this because you want to get all of the advice before you start. Nobody can blame you; college is a whole new experience, something unlike you've ever known. It's amazing, but also daunting at first. Here is some real advice for you before you start, some things that people usually look over.
1. Join a club
No, really. I hated the idea of joining a club; meeting new people who were older than me, having to participate, and possibly messing everything up were all very real fears of mine. However, when I joined a club I found new friends, welcoming arms, and helpful mentors.
2. Don't stay in your dorm
Nothing is happening in your dorm room during the day. Go to the library to work, or a coffee shop, or your student union. Your bedroom is a place for sleeping and night socializing, not homework. Get out! Enjoy your campus; there's so much to explore and so many people to meet.
3. Go to class
Obviously. Somebody is paying for your education, whether it be your parents or yourself. The cost of one single class for one day can cost over $100; you're already going to be a broke college kid, so don't push it. Plus, why did you come to college if you aren't going to actually attend? Not everything in life can be balloons and confetti; you have to take some responsibility.
4. Germ-X, soap, disinfectant wipes
You are about to be introduced to a brand new and larger pool of germs and diseases. Your body is going to hate you while it adjusts to the new environment. Especially when your roommate/hall mates get sick, lather that Germ-X on your hands and wipe down every surface with disinfectant wipes. Being sick without Mom there to take care of you is the worst.
5. Buy a mattress topper
Let's be honest, you are going to be doing a lot of sleeping, and not necessarily at the most appropriate times. You may not get into bed until 3 am when you have a 9:30 class, so you are going to need to fall asleep quickly, and sleep soundly. After that 9:30 you are going to take a nap. You may say now that you don't take naps, but your future college self begs to differ. Naps are essential in college, and those dorm beds do no justice for your back. Get the mattress topper. You'll thank me later.
6. If you think you won't need it, bring it anyways
College is literally one surprise after the next. You never know what the day holds. Frat parties hold the craziest themes for their parties (be honest with yourself: you are going to go to them), the weather is never predictable, and clothes you never wore at home suddenly become the most comfortable clothes you've ever worn. You're not going to want to buy new things whenever you come to college because your bank account will slap you in the face through the ATM. Just bring everything.
7. Relax!..but not too hard
You may be worried about this whole new experience that is college. Don't. Learning a new campus only takes a couple of days of exploration. Meeting new people is the easiest thing to do when you realize that you're constantly surrounded by other students who are in the exact same predicament as you. Professors aren't evil, I promise. Actually, most of them are very understanding and nice. The only thing worth mildly stressing out about is classes. All you have to do, though, is go to class and pay attention. The whole reason you are going to college is to gain knowledge, so do the work. You will get stressed out and things will get hard at times, but you can do it! You wouldn't have gotten accepted if you didn't have people believing in you that you could do this.
8. Put your mental health first
Like I said, college is a ton of new experiences all jumbled into one mega "college experience". Things are going to get crazy and out of hand, and at times you are going to feel overwhelmed. There is no stopping it, but there are ways to take a breather:
1) Take time for yourself. You are going to be surrounded by friends and classmates and professors all day, every day. Some alone time where you can just watch Netflix, read, nap, or Eno is essential.
2) Set a routine. Waking up five minutes before class and rushing to get there is a sure fire way to get your brain and body to hate you. Wake up earlier, yes earlier, and grab some breakfast. Thirty minutes of less sleep is a better tradeoff when you are fueling your body for the day. Trust me, your body will thank you.
3) Do not procrastinate. I know that literally everything else sounds better than doing homework, but prioritizing will help you both get your work done on time and not cram and majorly stress out about all the work that you have to turn in in three hours.
So, before you start this crazy, whirlwind year, take my advice to heart. Before I started college, I wish somebody had told me all of this. It may seem a bit random and selective, but trust me you'll need every piece of this advice. Good luck in college, and remember that the whole experience is what you make it.
