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It’s nearly the time to be heading off to college. Only a few more months! You’re super excited, and a little nervous, and most likely so ready for it. It’s a completely new time for you. You know you’re going to survive it. You got this! But, will you thrive?
Check out these 15 tips on how to make the most out of your first semester, and year, in college.
1. Go to every orientation!
I know, I know. Those annoying orientations. They suck. You want to be spending time with your cool new friends and not sitting through some hour lecture on the career center. But trust me, you want to go to this stuff. It’s amazing how many people I met senior year that still didn’t know where buildings were. If you’re a legacy student, maybe you won’t need to go to every orientation, but it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on your school knowledge. It will take the stress out of your first few weeks, and future career there.
2. Choose challenging classes.
You’re fresh to college. You’ve got motivation. You’re not 21 yet so you can’t be out drinking your butt off yet, and you won’t be in Greek Life so you won’t know about all the parties yet. Use this time wisely. Don’t take your electives in your first semester (you most likely won’t be able to anyway). Take classes that may be challenging but not so difficult that you’ll be drowning. By the time junior year hits you’ll be exhausted and most likely be needing those fun electives to just exist. And yes, I know, you’ll have those really annoying core classes. But you’re all suffering together. Find a friend to take it with and you got this!
3. Find your study place early.
Everyone has that special place that they like to study. Find a few because someone else may sneak in and take your first choice one now and then. You may want a quiet corner near a food place or bathroom so you can spend hours working on your school work. Maybe you want to be near a window. Go for a walk and find some places that catch your eye and try them out. Don’t feel cornered into one location. I was still finding awesome study places until I was in my last semester. Your preferences change!
4. Make friends in your major.
You need those study buddies. Someone who maybe can explain something better than the professor. This person, or persons, will be with you through college going through the same motions as you. You want a few people there that you can count on and that you can complain about things with, that get your struggles. Complaining to someone of another major will most likely end up with a ‘Well, be thankful you’re not in my major…it’s sooo much harder’. There’s always that one person.
5. Make friends with your professor.
Every semester, make sure you get to know your professor. Your freshmen year professors make your foundation and are good people to know. If you keep in contact with them throughout the years they can write you a banging recommendation letter later. Also, if they know you, they can help make your class easier if you struggle as a freshmen. Don’t be scared of them. Professors are your friend.
6. Find a friend with a car.
If you’re not a commuter and not near your home, most likely you won’t have a way to get around. Even if you’re lucky to be near a train station, having a friend with a car is a big plus! They can take you places if you ask really nicely and you can also plan some awesome trips! Just be sure not to abuse that friend because they’re doing you a service, they’re not your mom.
7. Know your academic adviser(s)
Your adviser is there to advise you! Ask them anything, even if you feel like it is stupid. They are paid to answer questions for you, no matter how silly! If you don’t want to see them face to face, email them!
7. Get receipts of convos you’ve had!
If you go for a meeting with an adviser or a professor and they tell you they can do something for you (such as fudge a grade, or make a class count as something else), make sure to email them with a ‘transcript’ of the conversation. Professors forget, sometimes they get fired or departments shift. You need proof otherwise people won’t honor it. I had this happen once and if I hadn’t had the email, I would have been soooo screwed. Just say something like…
Dear Professor X,
Thank you very much for meeting with me today. What I got coming away from the meeting was you can do _________.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Y
Or something to that effect.
8. Go to class!
It is super tempting to not go to class because the professors don’t really ‘care’, or don’t seem to. I’m telling you, they notice (maybe not so much if you’re in an 80 person lecture but you will fail that test). Trust me, I know so many kids who skipped entire semesters and just showed up for the tests. Sure, maybe they got an A, somehow, but it bit them in the butt later down the line whether that be not knowing materials in later semester, not having connections with anyone in their department or just making some seriously bad habits.
9. Don’t settle for just any grade – do your best!
While you can, work hard to get those A’s. It’s amazing how easily you can drop from a 3.8 GPA to a 2.8. If you are straight A’s and suddenly you get a C, you’re done for. It does happen that you do poorly because you genuinely didn’t understand something, but if it’s because you’re not trying, then it is your own personal fault. Just go to class and do your best. Freshmen year generally isn’t too challenging in the sense that the classes are still general. So use that to your advantage to get a strong GPA. Coming back from a bad GPA is hell.
10. Eat healthy (or as healthy as you can).
I totally get that it is tempting to eat fries and chicken fingers for dinner every night. I mean it’s a kids paradise for some of the junk food presented. But if you’re spending half of your time sitting, you will gain the pounds on. People always talk about the freshmen 15 and people are like ‘Oh, it won’t happen to me.’ Oh, honey, yes it will. I watched tons of people balloon up. Just eat your junk food in moderation. Take use of that gym. Because trust me, it will benefit you in the long run!
11. If you need help, get it.
Living away from home can be a lot to cope with suddenly. You may feel depressed, you may feel lonely. If that’s the case, get help. Utilize your camp services or some national helplines if you really need it. Call your parents. Don’t feel that it’s childish if you miss them. It’s a big change with a new location, new classes, new friends. New everything. Reach out if you need help. Please. I’m even here to listen.
12. Learn how to deal with stress.
Stress is inevitable in college. You may have had it in high school but college stress is different. You have to deal with homework and getting your meals and taking care of everything yourself. You need to find time to just de-stress. This may be relaxing with some friends on a designated night, using a meditation app for 10 minutes a day or going for a walk later in the day. Whatever it is, find a way to do you! For me, I used to play the piano so I made a deal with the music director that I could use the piano when it wasn’t in use.
13. Join extracurricular.
You definitely want to do some stuff that isn’t related to your school work. Maybe that’s joining the nature club, or the school newspaper or Model UN. Do something different. It doesn’t need to be related to your major either. This is you time to just…do something else and take a break!
14. Have different friend groups.
The friend group you meet during orientation is most likely not going to be the one that is with you through college. That’s just how it is. I don’t know of many groups that stayed strong throughout the 4 years. You start to find different interests and you just fall out with other people. Make sure you have friends in different places – major friends, dorm friends, class friends, extracurricular friends. It just helps in case one group falls apart you have somewhere else to go!
15. Track. Your. Money.
Sometimes you’re lucky that your parents are helping you pay through college, but if you’re not and you have to support yourself, make sure to watch your spending! It’s tempting to go out for dinner every night but you really need to watch your bank account. It’s okay to say no sometimes, even if your friends try and egg you on. Once you run out of money that’s it and it’s sad seeing those kids who physically can’t eat. You don’t want to be that friend who begs for left over food. It’s not a pretty sight. Budget and plan in advance. It will save you from rationing your 99 cent ramen noodles.
