This week I will be starting my sophomore year of college. It feels like it was much longer than a year ago that I was having sleepless nights thinking about my first day of class and moving into a dorm with a communal bathroom. A lot has happened in the last year and it sometime amazes me how much I have learned and accomplished in just one year. My first piece of advice is probably my most important piece of advice. It is that college can be the best time of your live so far. You have so many opportunities and ways to get involved that could make your whole college experience that much better. There are a lot more things that I wish I knew coming into freshman year and here are some of these tips.
1. You don't have to be best friends with your roommate.
Meeting your roommate is a big deal and it is always a great idea to become friends with them, seeing as you're going to be living with them for a year. That being said, you don't necessarily have to be best friends with them. You are going to be seeing so much of each other that it is probably best that you don't have the same friend group, too. It is always good to have a break from people.
2. Keep up with your laundry
Nothing it worse then getting ready for class, just to open your drawer and realize that all of your jeans and leggings are in the dirty clothes pile. I suggest picking a day where you don't have things to do usually (mine was Sunday) to do your laundry. I also suggest taking homework and staying in the laundry room. This ensures that no one messes with your stuff, and it forces you to do school work.
3. Don't open your textbooks until you actually need to use them
Some people wait to actually order them once they go to class and the professor confirms that they will use the book. What I like to do is order all the books that are suggested for the class. I wait to open them the plastic and keep the receipts until I actually use the book. If I don't end up using it, I can easily return them and get my money back.
4. Get involved
There are so many ways to get involved on campus. It will not only help you meet so many people and make friends, it will also help you stay focused on your goals by joining clubs that can help you later in life. Greek life and other clubs help you network and learn new ways to help out your campus, and your community.
5. Rent a study room
Nothing is worse than getting to the library and all of the good tables near outlets being taken. The best way to solve this problem is to rent a study room. My friends and I would always rent a room on a night where we knew we would have a test the next day or an essay due. It helps keep you focused and gives you privacy to have a study group without you having to disrupt the rest of the library.
6. Go to the school cafeteria
The food may not be the best, but your meal plan will save you a lot of money. You have already paid for it and if you don't end up using it as much as possible, you end up wasting your money. Suck it up, and skip out on the runs to Chipotle. You will be happy when you look at your bank statement and you don't see all the fast food purchases.
These are just a few tips that will get you through your first year of college. Make sure to keep these in mind and to always remember that your experience is what you make it. So get out there, be positive, and have a great first year.
