1. The truth about friendships.
You’re going to make new friends while in college, and your high school friends will do the same. Don’t stress about it. College friends will be lifelong friends, and high school ones too. It's not a competition!
2. The importance of the syllabus.
Your professors aren’t like high school teachers. They’re not going to push you to do their work. If you don’t do it, they don’t always care. Always save your syllabus and constantly be looking at it! Some professors might ask for a piece of work they never mentioned because it was on the syllabus. Try not to stress about that, though. Ask professors on the first day if they will remind about work on the syllabus.
3. Go to class.
Throughout high school, I constantly wanted to be sleeping or just not in class. College is different. You may not want to go to class, but you know you should, so you end up going most of the time. What you need to know is that if you skip class, you might be missing out on a lot. When you show up to the next class, be sure to get your missing work and ask other friends what happened throughout the class.
4. Tackle stressors.
You’re going to get stressed. Everyone does. You will survive! Always email your professors about questions you may have right when you have them! Professors are almost always understanding. It’s better to ask right away, rather than wait until the last minute.
5. Sleep!
It’s a joke unless you make time for it. Chances are you’re up all night finishing that paper you just saw on the syllabus, or you were up all night just hanging out with friends. Sleep when possible! You never know when you might need that extra five minutes of energy.
6. The Freshman 15.
It's real. Take advantage of the gym! Watch what you’re eating! You may think that because you’ve started walking a lot on campus or having just one snack, you're immune to weight gain. Trust me — it’s completely real.
7. Don't wear lanyards around your neck.
No explanation, no reason, just don’t.
8. Join clubs!
Get involved! Campus clubs are so fun and a great way to make new friends. You can get free things, such as free T-shirts, while building your resume and gaining new experiences at the same time!
9. Don't go home every weekend.
There’s a reason why your college probably doesn’t allow freshmen to have cars. It’s so you stay on campus and get involved! At first I hated this rule at my college, but I learned to love it! It forced me to meet people who became some of the closest friends, and it made me participate in events around campus when I was bored. It keeps you busy!
10. Make connections.
You're going to find a professor you really connect with. Take advantage of this! Go to this professor with any academic problems you may have because they can more than likely help you out! See if they are open to becoming your advisor.
With all these tips, I wish you the best of luck with your first year of college!
