I don't know whether to laugh or cry as I approach my senior year of college. College IS the best four years of your life if you do it the right way. I've been through it, I've done it, and looking back I wish that when I was an incoming freshman I had known the things i know now. So being the giving person that I am, I will share my knowledge with you now. Buckle up, because it is going to be a very bumpy, but exciting ride.
Friends
-First off, be nice to everyone. Just because you think that you won't get along with a person doesn't mean you shouldn't give them a chance. Freshmen year I told myself I would never be friends with a certain girl, and now she's my best friend. Maybe its a little cliché, but don't judge a book by its cover
-The "best friends" you made during orientation or during your first couple of weeks of school probably wont be there by the time senior year rolls around. Expect it. You'll meet new people who you will get along with better.
-Don't think that you only have to be friends with the girls or guys in your Greek organization. Its great to bond with them and have a strong relationship but don't be exclusive. The group of friends I have today include people from many different Greek organizations and people who are not involved in Greek life and we are closer than any pledge class I have ever seen.
Recruitment
-If you're thinking about going through recruitment, do it. Its a great way to meet people. It can't hurt and you can always decide to drop it later on.
-We know you're nervous, but we are too. We want you to like us just as much as you want us to like you. It's important to know that even if you don't end up at the house you have always dreamed of, you will end up where your supposed to be and you will realize that eventually. Trust the system.
Major
-Many people go into college knowing exactly what they want to major in. Don't. Keep an open mind and take a variety of classes to see what you like best.
- Take at least one business class. It will help you no matter what you decide to do in life.
Boys/Girls
-Say yes when someone asks you on a date. Even if they're not your type. College is the time to date different types of people to see what you really want in a significant other.
-Hook up. Don't be scared because everyone is going to do it. But DON'T expect a relationship. Commitment is a rare thing in college. Freshmen year is your year to transition from a high school relationship mindset, to a college relationship mindset. Dates are about as common as getting an A on your biology test.
-If you find yourself in a relationship, enjoy it. Don't get caught up on the future or spending all your time together. Enjoy the time you have, but enjoy time apart as well. If you make your bf/gf your life, you will have nothing else when it ends (and its probably going to end). Also don't move in with your significant other. Yeah sleeping over is a fun new experience that you didn't have in high school, but it is never good for the relationship.
- Don't kiss and tell. Don't be that person.
-Listen to your friends. If they say a boy isn't good for you, they're always right. They see the things you're blinding yourself to.
You're in college for a reason
-To LEARN. We all get excited thinking about the new and fun things we're going to experience, but you can't forget to do your homework or put off studying until the last minute. Freshmen grades never go away and playing GPA catch up isn't fun. Sometimes you have to sacrifice going to a party to study for a midterm. There will always be other parties.
- Talk in class. Get to know your teachers. Go to office hours. Apply for internships. Even if doing these things is out of your comfort zone, do it. It will make a world of a difference when you're asking for recommendations in the future.
Don't forget where you come from
-Being away from home is a new experience that most people love, but your parents are going to miss you. You will probably be bombarded with ten phone calls a day for the first month. Answer them. Go home and visit your parents and friends. Trust me, the first bite of a home-cooked meal will make whatever you're missing out on back at school well worth it.
-Your high school friends are just as important as the new people you're meeting in college. Text them, call them, stay connected.
-Don't forget who you are. Don't change who you are, what you believe in, or how you act just to fit it. Be yourself.
And of course HAVE FUN
-Take lots of pictures. But be careful of what you post online. Future employers will be looking and they WILL go back to your freshmen year and see the picture of you funneling vodka. So don't post it.
-Go out and enjoy the row or an apartment party. They're going to be fun. Dance on tables and scream Sweet Caroline at the top of your lungs. But sometimes staying in and watching a movie with your roommate will be just as fun. Remember that.
-College is FUN. But don't forget that everything you do has consequences. Think about what you're doing before you do it so that you don't have to spend the next three years trying to fix your reputation.
-Spend more time laughing than crying (you'rr going to cry, trust me). Those times when you're cracking up in your dorm room at 2AM with your best friends over something stupid you just did are the best memories your going to have.
Basically college is going to be the best four years of your life. You're going to have fun at times and you're going to be stressed at times but these are the years you should always be able to look back on and smile. So go little freshmen, take my advice and live your life to the fullest for the next three years. Regret nothing.
