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40 Tips And Tricks To Surviving Freshman Year

Everything from dorm life to classes to your social life.

Emma Daubert

Jul 13, 2019

Pennsylvania State University

509

40 Tips And Tricks To Surviving Freshman Year

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Yes, it is still summer, but your freshman year of college will take weeks to plan for so you better start soon, if not now. College is a big change and you really don't know what to expect, especially if you are the first child to be going. You may be questioning what to pack and what not to bring. What will you use and what will be a waste of space? You may also be concerned about your academics and how colleges classes will vary from high school.

As someone who has had all of these questions and has figured them all out through experience, here's my advice to you:

1. Get a calendar/planner for your room and backpack.

2. If you don't have AC, you need one fan for each person in the room.

3. Trust me, that shirt you haven't worn for 3 years won't be worn at college.

4. Take your top 7 t-shirts, more would just be excessive.

5. Go to classes. Every class you skip is money down the drain.

6. Take advantage of free events/giveaways.

7. Get involved on campus.

8. Don't settle for a couple friends, keep meeting new people.

9. Expand your horizons, go out of your comfort zone.

10. Go to sleep at a decent time.

11. Do some work during breaks between classes.

12. Use your free time wisely.

13. A carpet/rug for your room will make it feel home-y.

14. Pack disinfecting wipes.

15. Take a vacuum! Girls especially, your hair will be everywhere.

16. Cute decorations help jazz up an old dorm room, but don't go overboard.

17. Storage bins that go under your bed will give you more space.

18. Keep your room clean. A cluttered room looks 10x smaller.

19. Have an open mind, you may think you don't like something but you never know.

20. If you're struggling with a class, you can always drop it.

21. Your first priority should be school and your grades.

22. There's no shame in getting a tutor.

23. Don't let partying take over your life.

24. Don't rely on buses to take you to class, sometimes walking is faster.

25. The syllabus is actually useful in college. Keep it close to you.

26. You won't connect or like all of your professors, but make an effort to get to know them.

27. Work on your resume.

28. Get involved, work if you can but do NOT overload your schedule. Do what you can.

29. Do what's best for you, not anyone else.

30. Make friends with people on your floor!

31. Have open communication with your roommate. If you don’t like something, it won’t go away on its own.

32. Pack a first aid kit for your room with medicine and band-aids.

33. Bed risers. Bed risers. Bed risers.

34. A desk lamp will probably be a waste.

35. You will need a shower caddy and shower shoes.

36. Make a friend or acquaintance in every class. It will be helpful!

37. Don’t go out by yourself, always have a buddy!

38. It will be super helpful to share your location with your friends.

39. Finding housing for the following year needs to be done early, so be prepared.

40. Take the time to learn about yourself and grow!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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40 Tips And Tricks To Surviving Freshman Year

Everything from dorm life to classes to your social life.

1. Get a calendar/planner for your room and backpack.

2. If you don't have AC, you need one fan for each person in the room.

3. Trust me, that shirt you haven't worn for 3 years won't be worn at college.

4. Take your top 7 t-shirts, more would just be excessive.

5. Go to classes. Every class you skip is money down the drain.

6. Take advantage of free events/giveaways.

7. Get involved on campus.

8. Don't settle for a couple friends, keep meeting new people.

9. Expand your horizons, go out of your comfort zone.

10. Go to sleep at a decent time.

11. Do some work during breaks between classes.

12. Use your free time wisely.

13. A carpet/rug for your room will make it feel home-y.

14. Pack disinfecting wipes.

15. Take a vacuum! Girls especially, your hair will be everywhere.

16. Cute decorations help jazz up an old dorm room, but don't go overboard.

17. Storage bins that go under your bed will give you more space.

18. Keep your room clean. A cluttered room looks 10x smaller.

19. Have an open mind, you may think you don't like something but you never know.

20. If you're struggling with a class, you can always drop it.

21. Your first priority should be school and your grades.

22. There's no shame in getting a tutor.

23. Don't let partying take over your life.

24. Don't rely on buses to take you to class, sometimes walking is faster.

25. The syllabus is actually useful in college. Keep it close to you.

26. You won't connect or like all of your professors, but make an effort to get to know them.

27. Work on your resume.

28. Get involved, work if you can but do NOT overload your schedule. Do what you can.

29. Do what's best for you, not anyone else.

30. Make friends with people on your floor!

31. Have open communication with your roommate. If you don’t like something, it won’t go away on its own.

32. Pack a first aid kit for your room with medicine and band-aids.

33. Bed risers. Bed risers. Bed risers.

34. A desk lamp will probably be a waste.

35. You will need a shower caddy and shower shoes.

36. Make a friend or acquaintance in every class. It will be helpful!

37. Don’t go out by yourself, always have a buddy!

38. It will be super helpful to share your location with your friends.

39. Finding housing for the following year needs to be done early, so be prepared.

40. Take the time to learn about yourself and grow!

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Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

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