by Olivia Rohling
As of April 29th my freshman year of college officially came to a close. I have compiled a list of handy dandy advice for the typical freshman that I’d like to share. First, I want to start off with a little background.
As a senior in high school, I was so incredibly excited to start my college career. I was excited for the dorm experience, to have a roommate, and meet girls on my floor during move in and all that. Friends the year ahead of me looked to be having an amazing time in college and I hoped the same for me.
My freshman year did not start off the way I would have hoped. I didn’t hit it off with my roommate and in fact she moved out a few months into the semester. All the doors in my hall were always kept shut despite me keeping mine open in hopes of meeting other people, and I didn’t have the luck of being a part of one of those friend groups that form the first few weeks of the semester. I was so overwhelmed with the whole college experience that I didn’t join any clubs, and I didn’t have the money to join a sorority. Everyone always talked about college being the best four years of your life, but as I sat in my dorm nearly every day in tears, I very quickly did not believe anyone who said this. So, take it from me, the girl whose college experience started out being pretty less than desirable and the girl who just wanted to drop out.
- Join a learning community if your school offers them! – Joining a learning community was one of the better decisions I made as a freshman. You get put in a learning community class that essentially teaches you how to be a freshman and you have all the same classes as the other students in the community so faces become familiar. The first few friends I made were from my learning community and I still talk to some of them. The learning community leader can also be an incredible role model and someone you can ask questions to about certain classes and college life in general. Join a learning community.
- Get a darn planner. – College is different than high school in the sense that syllabi are thrown at you the first week of class and you are then responsible for knowing all the important dates and deadlines. Get a planner. Put those dates in there and color-code them by class. Thank me later.
- Check your email frequently, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have your email go to your phone as well. Some professors can and do cancel class at the last minute and you’ll want to be in the know.
- Save yourself the embarrassment and don’t ask your professor to go to the bathroom in the middle of class. Just get up and go.
- Seniors can be your friend! They aren’t scary. – Yes they’re seniors, but get this: They’re also humans. You can find some really nice ones. Bonus points if you find one within your same major who can help you with what classes to take with what professor. Don’t be afraid to reach out. The whole reason I ended up writing for a publication, didn’t spend all of homecoming weekend and my birthday alone in my dorm, and didn’t transfer schools was because of simple kindness shown to me by a senior who took me under her wing.
- DO NOT live on a floor above the 2nd floor if your building doesn’t have an elevator. Move in and out is guaranteed to be hell otherwise.
- FOR MOVING IN AND OUT: BAGS NOT BOXES!
- Kind of a given but walk your schedule a day or two before, so you know where you are going! Your GPS is going to be an even better friend to you than it was in high school.
- At some schools, breakfast isn’t offered through the dining halls, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it! Buy some instant oatmeal or at the very least some breakfast bars.
- Literally no one will judge you and literally no one cares if you are eating alone in the dining hall.
- Syllabus week is going to be very overwhelming so be prepared. You can take things one day at a time and still be in the know about upcoming assignments and due dates.
- Sometimes you’ll be more productive if you’re doing work some place other than your dorm. Do some exploring in the library or find a coffee shop you can claim as your workspace.
- End every email with “thank you.”
- As far as shower caddies go, don’t get a bulky hard plastic one. Get one like this.
- For laundry, get a hamper that has straps on it. Like this. You’ll want this, especially if you go against tip number 6.
- GET AND USE SHOWER SHOES.
- Research your professors on ratemyproffesor.com before making your schedule
- There’s no need to buy a brand-new textbook, renting or buying used will work just fine
- Ctrl + F. Enough said.
- Take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. You got this!
