How Do I Survive My First Semester In College?

5 Tips For Surviving Your First Semester of College

Follow these tips and have a great semester!

Carmelle Ngalamulume
Carmelle Ngalamulume Dec 27, 2018
30
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I just finished my first semester in college and there are many things I wish I knew before jumping in. Whether it is your first semester or not, I hope these tips will help you thrive and prosper in college!

Befriend upperclassman

Upperclassman know the ropes of the school. They can guide you in academics, extracurricular activities, and share the hacks and knowledge they've gained over the years. I learned this fairly early and was blessed with so much knowledge and it made my overall first semester a lot easier.

Form study groups 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Study groups are so helpful because everyone thinks in a different way and all that knowledge comes together when you work as a group. Study groups also make doing assignments easier because the work can be split throughout the group or sections you struggle with someone in your group will probably know how to explain.

Unless mandatory, do not buy your books from the bookstore

There are many textbooks that you can find for free or for the fraction of the price you would if you buy it from the bookstore. Many students also sell their old books on amazon, so that is a always a good place to start. You will also find that in some of your classes you don't even open the textbook, so use your judgment on whether a purchase is necessary,.

Join clubs

Joining clubs allows you to meet people and make friends. It also makes you feel like a part of the school and makes getting adjusted to a new environment easier.

Know when to say no

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Going to events is always fun, but if you have exams coming it is important to know when to say no. There will always be a party, it's college, so saying no won't hurt, but failing your class will.

Carmelle Ngalamulume
Carmelle Ngalamulume Dec 27, 2018
At University of South Florida

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10 Things That Only Happen On Small Campuses

"No, we don't have a football team"
Alexis Janney
Alexis Janney Nov 16, 2015
72442
views

Don't let people give you the pitiful "ohhhh" when you reveal your enrollment at a small school. Everyone who goes to a small school can agree that it is nothing like a large, state school. I think even those state school students will confirm that. But what people don't know about a small school is that it has its perks, and they are good.

1. Leaving your room 5 minutes before class...and still being on time

2. Guaranteed to get at least one "hey" every time you walk somewhere

3. Actually knowing the people who follow you on Instagram, Facebook friends, or dare I say...Tinder

4. Making friends outside of your major is more common than not

5. You also know every single person in your major

6. Going through a super awkward and aggressive orientation program as a freshman and using that as a strong common bond with a (then) complete stranger

7. Probably finding your best friend through that previously mentioned hideously intense, ice-breaker-obessed orientation program

8. Anticipating the long* wait for food on those really good days but knowing when to go to get around it
*long is really only like 15 minutes

9. There is no cover charge at parties...yes, apparently this is a thing

10. Being invited to dinners at the president's house because you're on a first name basis (oh yeah, and Mrs. President floats around campus regularly with baked pastries and warm smiles)

So if you're looking for a tight-knit community that loves to give out hello's when they are due, or a campus where you can wake up and eat breakfast 30 minutes before class and still be on time, look into those small schools that maybe don't have a 50,000 seat stadium. What they do have are the people you will remember and that will remember you, classes that taught you beyond the test, and a uniqueness that just isn't found at a large school. At a small school you're a face, a name, your own legacy...not a number.



Cover Image Credit: Roanoke College Facebook page
Alexis Janney
Alexis Janney Nov 16, 2015
At Roanoke College

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Things I Miss Now That I'm Home From College Again

There are so many reasons to be glad that the school year is over, but if you've done it right... there are a lot of reasons to miss it too.

hollyhayes
hollyhayes May 22, 2019
424
views

So, school is over now and I've come home. As expected I was so relieved at first. No more showering with flip-flops, no more listening to screaming girls running up and down the hall, and a space that is mine and mine alone. But after a week or so of being back, there are a few things I've already started to miss.

I know that not every single person has the ideal roommate but I got really lucky with mine. Coming home I was excited to have my own space, but now when I'm doing my midnight scrolling, I'm realizing that I miss being able to talk to her about the funny things I see in that very moment. Tagging, DMing, and texting her doesn't feel the same as a long night of giggles spent together.

Also, while seeing old friends when you get home is amazing, and there is always a lot to catch up on, you do start to miss your other friends too. Being in college means that your friends are going through similar things as you are all the time. You have tests together, clubs together, and sometimes you spend way too much time procrastinating together. The bond you begin to form is one you definitely begin to miss - especially when you guys don't live close off of campus.

Coming home also means you don't have a set schedule or at least not immediately. You may come back to a previous job and that puts something on your calendar, but the free time you still have during the week can be a little too much. I know I've spent way too much time obsessing over the Tati/James drama than I ever would have at school. The routine I had at school kept me busy and entertained, and I'm honestly missing it a lot right now.

There are a lot of other things to miss too - even things you thought you wouldn't. You miss the classes, the teachers, and sometimes the food. I know I miss the environment. It isn't a perfect one, but it's full of people just trying to find their way. We are all working through the roller coaster of life and we are all stuck on one beautiful campus together while we figure it all out. I miss meeting new people at the bus stops or running into old classmates and catching up.

I guess the bonus for me is that I just finished sophomore year which means I have more time to spend at school. Come senior year, I guess I'll have to learn quickly how to deal without the things I miss - and also create a schedule so I can travel to see all of my friends, but those are all problems for future me.

hollyhayes
hollyhayes May 22, 2019
At Ball State University

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