Tips for Incoming College Freshmen

Many people have seen this article topic all over their social media accounts time and time again. This article isn’t going to be me telling you to go out every night as a freshman or to make sure to wear your shoes in the shower (even though definitely important). I am writing this to calm the nerves and answer the questions for incoming freshmen who were like me.

After finishing my freshman year, I never thought I would be where I am right now. I was the type of person that never thought I would be able to survive college. I was the type of person who wanted to stay home in my bed forever and never leave my mom. Little did I know, college would be a fun, amazing experience if you do it right.

Do not go home

As much as you might want to go home or your mom might be begging you to come home, don’t do it. The first couple weeks of college are there to let you adjust to your surroundings. Even if you feel like you are homesick, you have to give this new environment a chance. It is OK to not call your mom every 10 minutes about how much you miss her. You are going to be able to adjust to your school better if you stick it out as much as you can.

Reach out

It’s OK to be different. It’s OK to go up to someone and start a random conversation because freshman year everyone is in the same boat as you. Everyone feels as uncomfortable as you do and everyone wants to make friends just like you do. It is not “weird” if you go up to someone you just met and ask them to get lunch. It’s how you make friends in college, so do not be afraid to do it.

Try new things

Many people follow the routines they followed in high school. They will stick to the basic things they have done all their lives and not try anything new. This is what will restrict you in college. Trying new things shows students how to really enjoy their school and meet new people. Freshman year is a perfect way to step out of your comfort zone and really get involved.

It’s OK to feel out of place

Students often believe they need to automatically feel like they belong to their school. It is often a worry of a lot of students that they will not feel like they are at home right away. I’m here to tell you it’s OK to feel out of place. This new environment you are living in, regardless of where you are, you are not going to feel like it is home right away. It takes a lot of time to adjust to this, but when the time comes and you feel at home, it is the most amazing feeling ever.

It’s OK not to know what you want to do

Finishing my freshman year, I am still not even sure what I want to do with my life and that’s OK. I learned this year that you do not have to have your life planned out right as you start college. It is OK to be confused and lost in the process of figuring out what you want to do with your entire future. Freshman year is the year to experience things and find yourself in the sense where you can find what you want to do with your life .

Do not be so quick to judge

I mean this in terms of judging people and in judging your school. Many students are very quick to judge the people they are around. They do not find their best friends within the first semester of their freshman year and they feel that their life is over. You have to give this time; you might find a couple close friends, but most likely you’re not going to find best friends that quickly. In terms of judging the school, you have to understand that yes, in some cases the school might not be for you, but you have to give it the chance. If you are too quick to judge the school as not “fun” enough or “boring,” you are not going to get the chance to actually get to know the place you are at. Because when you give it a chance, it can turn out to be something really great.

Shoutout to QU for making this year a great freshman year. I wish all the best for the incoming freshmen next year and years to come.