Starting a new chapter in your life is very exciting, especially when you are not going to be living at home, anymore. This is the time of your life where you test your independence by taking on a journey all by yourself. It is a scary time, but you’ll also see that it will be the best time of your life. I thought it would be helpful to bring awareness to incoming freshman about what college is like by giving my top five tips college freshman should know:
1. Balance social life with school.
College is a fun time, but your school work always comes first. You are now paying to attend school, so it is essential that you take it seriously. This is your future, and you don’t want to ruin anything because your priorities were not set out straight. “Play hard, work harder” is a saying you should live by. College is a whole different ball game from high school. You don’t have teachers taking attendance or making sure you pass, which is why you need to make the smart decision and go to every class as well as make sure all of your work is done before you play. Make it your motivation to get everything done ahead of time and do not procrastinate. It is a terrible habit and is definitely not something you want to continue in college. Time management is a skill you must have.
2. The Freshman 15 is real.
Everyone has heard about the infamous freshman 15 especially right before they leave for college. Everyones initial response is disbelief. Common responses are “not me” thinking it would never happen to them. Sorry to break it to you, but it does. I had the same response and I may not have gained 15 pounds, but I did gain weight from the dining hall food, eating out a lot, and late night munching when doing your homework. It is hard to eat healthy when there are constantly chicken patties and ice cream always up for grabs. I advise you to watch what you eat and make time for physical activity at least three or four days a week.
3. Adjust to living on campus by becoming more independent.
Leaving the comfort of your home is nerve wracking, but also very exciting. You have no choice but to become independent because you are all you have. There is no relying on someone else to tell you to do your work, laundry, or when to wake up to go to class. It is also a good idea to get familiar with your campus. The last thing you need on top of your nerves is unsureness of where to go and what to do. Educate yourself where every building is, and find where your classes are a few days before class actually starts so you know where to go.
4. Get involved on campus.
It is extremely important to be active on campus. If you are not on a sports team, go support your school’s teams at some games! If you are interested in sports but don’t want to compete on a competitive level, intramural sports are an option. There are so many different sports and clubs to join on campus just to have fun and stay active. It is good way to show that you can not only do well with your school work, but also be involved with other activities at the same time. It is a great opportunity for you to meet people on campus with the same interests as you. Another option is Greek life. That is also a huge opportunity to make a lot of friends and get good connections for your future.
5. Build many relationships with different kinds of people.
When you first get to school, everyone is so eager to meet new people and become immediate friends so they are not alone. I advise every single incoming freshman to be yourself and interact with as many people as you can. You will be surprised at how welcoming people are. I encourage you to go to all those corny pep rally and interactive events in the beginning to get to know your colleagues. It is also very good to connect with as many people as possible because your friend group will change throughout your years, so don’t just stick to certain people. I can say from experience that after my freshman year, I have learned that you do not always stick with the same people you first meet in the beginning. However, the bonds you make at college will be stronger than ever and you will meet people who will be your lifelong friends.
I hope this list eases your anxiousness about this new chapter in your life. It is a crazy and fun-filled experience that you will look back on forever. These next four years will fly by, so I advise you to enjoy every late night paper, gross dining hall food, and those crazy nights with your friends because it will be over before you know it.
