Going off to college is one of the most simultaneously terrifying and exciting things that a person can experience and everyone seems to jump into the experience with different expectations. However, upon arriving to college, people usually learn the hard way that hearing about what college is like and actually experiencing what college is like are two completely different things. Whenever I think about my time as a freshman, there are definitely some things that I wish I was told before I unfortunately had to realize them on my own through experience. Here are a few things that you may not have heard before regarding freshman year of college:
1. You don't have to be best friends with your roommate.
Even though your roommate will most likely be the first person you meet or interact with when you move in, don't expect him or her to be your best friend during college or even for the rest of the year. Most likely, you and your roommate will be taking different classes and in those different classes, you will be making different friends. Of course it is important to get along with your roommate or to at least be civil with him or her, but don't panic if you and your roommate don't stay up at night spilling secrets to each other.
2. The freshman 15 is a very real thing.
When people refer to freshman year of college, they typically mention the freshman 15 and with good reason. I cannot even stress enough how quickly the freshman 15 can begin to creep up on you, especially when you are able to make your own meal decisions every day. Of course there will be nobody telling you that you can't eat pizza and fries every day for dinner, but trust me, you will begin wishing that there was. This isn't to say that you can't indulge every once in a while, but don't let yourself consistently wander to the dessert section and make use of the gym at least a couple times a week!
3. Take advantage of campus resources.
Whether it's a tough class that has you down or even a bad case of homesickness, you should always be aware that there are resources on campus that are available to you. For example, free tutoring sessions are typically common around campus and counselors are present to listen to your struggles or even to answer any questions. These resources may not always be blatantly obvious, but a little bit of searching on your college website can go a long way.
4. It is possible to survive the school year without going broke.
It's extremely easy to get caught up in unnecessarily spending money especially when you want to decorate your dorm or go out with friends or even have fashionable new clothing. Remember that it's alright to splurge every once in a while, but if you're consistently spending money at the beginning of the year and not watching your bank account, you will be in financial stress until the end of the school year. Aim to create a monthly budget and follow it because that will help immensely, but if your spending habits can't be stopped, consider applying for a job on campus.
5. Be yourself!
This might sound like the most obvious thing, but you wouldn't believe how many people alter their personalities once they get to college in order to fit in or find a group of friends that will get them in on the coolest social life. At this point you should be finding friends who will help you succeed and bring positivity into your life rather than bring you down. Once you find the right group of people, you can adventure through college together and believe me, everything else will seem to fall into place!
