As we approach the dog days of summer, the dreaded back to school commercials begin, and incoming college freshman fearlessly set out, shopping list in hand, on their journeys to Target to stock up on items they won’t need (or be able to fit) into their new dorm rooms. At the same time, rising sophomores can’t help but reminisce on where we were and how we felt merely one year ago, when we were the ones having meltdowns over twin XL mattress toppers in the middle of Bed Bath & Beyond. Sure, we have all been force fed important pieces of advice such as “never skip class” or “watch what you eat; the freshman 15 is real” but, to actually have a successful first year, it’s important to know how to really survive college. These musings have led me to compile a list of the top 10 lessons we all probably learned the hard way in our freshman year that, no matter how much we try (or don’t try) to warn the incoming class of, there are some things the new kids on campus will just have to figure out for themselves.
1. If a party starts at 10, do NOT show up at 10.
Just trust me on this one.
2. First semester grades actually do count.
That paper you write the night before it’s due because you partied the entire weekend is actually worth 10 percent of your grade. Yeah.
3. You don’t need to bring every piece of clothing you own.
Your dorm room will likely be the size of a shoebox so storage will be an issue. On the plus side though, you’ll most likely fall asleep in your clothes after a late night, roll out of bed and race to class the next morning in said outfit, never bothering to change. This habit will be repeated time and again, cutting down on the number of clothing items you will actually wear (and need to pack) for a semester.
4. If someone looks like they are going to puke at a party, they probably are, and you should move out of the way to avoid being puked on.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. When you see it, you’ll know it.
5. Stop complaining about how little sleep you got (it’s college, no one sleeps).
There’s a reason Starbucks is open until 2 a.m.
6. Frat houses look a lot different in the daylight.
See that table over there? Yeah, that’s the one you danced on last night.
7. Every horrible thing you’ve ever heard about college food is true.
That fancy crepe station, handmade pizza bar, and soft serve ice cream machine will promptly vanish (or in the case of the ice cream machine, stop working) the minute the last parent steps off campus, never to be seen again. In its place appear the powdered eggs, moldy salad bar selections and mystery meat. (Until the next freshman move-in date, of course).
8. Take care of yourself, illnesses spread fast.
Mono is real and (spoiler alert) it is not fun.
9. No matter how much of a mental breakdown you think you had in high school, just wait. The worst is yet to come.
Prepare yourself.
10. The best is yet to come.
Looking back on your freshman year, you realize that the homesickness, loneliness, and awkwardness of being thrown into a new environment with complete strangers are nothing more than rites of passage. It’s terrifying at first because you have no idea what to expect. However, you eventually find your place and surround yourself with people who will be there for you, through thick and thin, for the rest of your life. Personally, I now look toward the next three years with a sense of excitement instead of dread, precisely because I don’t have any idea of what’s in store for me. It’s wonderful to know that I have yet to make so many new and hilarious memories with the friends I love. My last and potentially most important piece of insight for all incoming students is, if you do something extremely embarrassing (and you will), do what I did. Just blame it on being a freshman. As for me, well, I'll now just try to blame it on being a sophomore. Some things never change.
