Freshman year is fun and a time where you explore who you are and what you like. One of the less favorable parts about your freshman year, however, is the path that everyone must trod to move on in their college career. Everything from community showers to having last pick at classes, freshman year is short from being a privileged time in your life. By the time you get to your sophomore year, though, you really start to get firm footing in the place that you’re going to be for the next three years. You gain a little more freedom, and a lot more understanding. Freshman year, I loved you, but I’m glad you’re over.
1. Relevant classes
We all know that freshman year is terrible, if not solely, because of all of the core classes you have to take. Starting with your sophomore year, you get to start taking the classes that relate to your major, and, while they may be harder, they’re much easier to get through.
2. Friends
The freshman friend group that you make during your first year is hardly ever the friend group that you stick with during the rest of your college experience. You begin to make other friends as you get more involved and by your sophomore year, you’ve pretty much got a stable group of people that like you and that you like back.
3. Housing
I’m a firm believer in the fact that freshman dorms build character, but I wouldn’t wish two years of that upon my worst enemy. While community showers and a floor that may or may not have infectious diseases on it are a fun thing to joke about, there’s nothing like having a bathroom within your closed door during your sophomore year. Not only that, but you get to start to live with the people you want to live with and not with that crazy person you may have met on the Facebook group chat.
4. Scheduling preference
If you’re a freshman right now, you probably have the very last pick of classes as far as scheduling goes. Lucky for you, there aren’t a whole lot of classes that you need that upper classmen are dying to get into. It still isn’t amazing, though, to have the stress of watching all of the classes you want fill up right before your eyes. By your sophomore year, you probably have a few more credit hours under your belt and the likelihood of getting into that dog walking class raises ever higher.
5. An achieved level of comfort
We all know the classic freshmen look where you’re not quite sure which building is which and where you should sit in the classroom. By your sophomore year, however, you’ve got it down pat. Gallahue 292? You can find it with your eyes closed. For all my introverts out there, there’s nothing better than knowing where you’re going so you don’t have to ask someone else for assistance. Your sophomore year is where you start to get the hang of all of the systems, buildings, and slang that goes on around campus.
Don’t get me wrong, sophomore year has its ups and downs just like every other experience you’ll probably have in college. At this point in my life, I can’t exactly say that I’m well versed in the college experience past the sophomore year, but I can definitely say that I’m glad I’m no longer a freshmen. For those current or future college freshmen out there, however, don’t fear. If you find the right place, you’ll still have the time of your life.