Tips for upcoming college freshmen:
As the semester is coming to a close, I thought I would share some of the things I’ve learned over the course of my first year at college. I hope these help!
I’ll go back to my regular content after this post, don’t worry.
If you’re going to make microwavable Mac and cheese, fill it a little lower than the fill line. It will be extra cheesy
If you’re going to drink, DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
If you’re going out, make sure you’re with people you trust. If you decide to hook up with someone, make sure you are both able to consent, and make sure your friends know where you’re going
If you’re going to bed when you’re still drunk, drink lots of water, and take an Advil (if you can). In my experience, this has prevented hangovers.
Don’t put partying above school. You’re paying a shitton to be here, might as well make the most of classes.
You don’t have to get drunk to have fun. Some of the best times I’ve had so far have been watching movies with my friends.
Plan out your homework in advance. If you are able to work ahead, you should. Work piles up quickly, and it is easy to drown in assignments.
TAKE BREAKS!! Your mind needs it. Also, if you’ve reached the point of no return, and it’s like 3 in the morning, just go to bed. Your body will thank you later, and you will be more likely to remember information that you’ve literally slept on.
While grades are important, one bad grade won’t kill you or your GPA.
Find your study space or spaces! If you find an area that helps you concentrate, you’ll be the most productive.
Stay on top of reading! It may seem trivial or counterproductive, but many of the classes I am currently taking classes that are mainly discussion oriented, and I would be lost if I hadn’t done the reading. That being said, you don’t have to read everything in extreme detail. If you only have time to skim, so you can get the gist of what you just read, that’s fine too. (Try to stay away from sparknotes and other websites like that, though.)
If you have trouble reading or focusing on reading, take notes. If it doesn’t bother you too much, don’t be afraid to underline or make notes in the margain of your book. I’ve found that taking notes on graph paper is my favorite method, though. Feel free to make them as cute as you want! Just make sure you’re learning.
Everyone is stressed, and everyone understands the stress and pain you’re going through. You’re not alone!
Try to get as much sleep as you can. Staying up all night stressing isn’t going to help your performance.
After you’ve taken the test, try not to think about it too much. Worrying about grades is draining, and you can’t do anything until you get the test back.
If you get it back and you didn’t score as well as you thought you did, don’t be afraid to talk to your professor. So many professors are willing to help boost your grade (especially if you’ve built a good relationship with them throughout the semester). Just make sure you’re calm and willing to listen. Yelling doesn’t solve any problems.
Take notes in class! Try to combine what’s on the slides, and what the professor actually says out loud. On tests, there will probably be a combination of both.
Also, if you can, take notes by hand. You’re more likely to remember things that you’ve written down by hand.
Audio recordings are also helpful. If you want to record the lecture, and then copy them down later, I’ve heard that’s a good way to study.
Take classes you actually enjoy. It’s easy to take classes that would look impressive on a resume, but that you have no interest in taking. Read the class description, research the professor (Rate My Professor is a great website for this), and make sure you actually want to learn what it’s offering. I’ve signed up for classes just for the hell of it, and those have been my least favorite so far.
It’s also ok if the class doesn’t turn out exactly like you thought it would be.
If your school has a drop/add period (where dropping a class doesn’t show up on your transcript), and you are utterly miserable in the class, feel free to drop it and try to take something else that you’d like more.
Talk to the professors! I know I already mentioned this, but so many of them are willing to help. They genuinely have your best interest at heart.
If you’re struggling with the material, don’t wait until finals week to seek help. If your school has tutoring centers, go. to. them. Their jobs are literally meant to help you do the best you possibly can.
If you can, don’t be afraid to speak up in class! Your thoughts and questions might be beneficial to the whole class, and it’s always better to clarify something you’re confused about. If you can’t bring yourself to actually talk in class, you can email your professor or visit their office hours. That is 100% fine.
balancing work with class:
If you need or want to work as part of your college experience, try to find a job with flexible hours.
If it’s on campus, and you have to move yourself there, make sure it’s something that you enjoy doing. I worked at my college’s student employment office, and after every shift, I would leave drained and miserable. Make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you start working, even if the job sounds appealing on the surface level.
Above all, make sure that your responsibilities as a student are made clear to your employer.
College is fun! But at the same time a lot of bad shit happens.
If you need to go somewhere off campus, make sure your friends know where you are.
Girls, get a pepper spray mace. You never know when it may come in handy, because people are creeps.
Try to stay away from Uber. If you’re going to Uber, make sure you don’t go alone.
Don’t go anywhere at night, even if it’s across campus to get some food. You never know what could happen.
Transitioning to college is hard. I have always wanted to be a college student, but when I finally got there, my mental health kind of plummeted in the first couple weeks. Find your systems and coping mechanisms, and try to relax. College is supposed to be both an educational and fun experience, and there isn’t one way to enjoy it!
Living with a roommate will be challenging if you haven’t already had to live with someone else. Try to compromise, but don’t let yourself get walked on. Stand your ground, and try to approach negative situations diplomatically.
If things are going really bad, don’t hesitate to speak with your RA or an on-campus counselor. They’re meant to help and support you, and you shouldn’t be afraid to voice your complaints.
Don’t be pressured into doing things you don’t want to do. Everyone’s college experience is different, and as long as you’re having your own best time, you’ll be doing amazing. Don’t let others’ idea of fun drag you down.
Don’t join too many clubs your first semester. Even though clubs are a great way to meet people and take a break from studying, it is easy to sign up for too many, which can be overwhelming.
Balancing friends and school:
Even though studies are important, it’s also important to maintain the friendships you make. Try to eat dinner together, or try to meet up with them during the week. Even if it’s studying together, you’ll find that the friends you have will support you through your first year. You guys are all in the same boat, and even though you may not realize it, many of you will be thinking the same things about being new to college. I know that when I first came to college, I was so afraid of making friends, and then when I actually did, I was afraid that they secretly didn’t like me. But after talking, I found that they had a lot of the same thoughts I did, and I’ve never been closer to people in such a short amount of time.
Dating is fun too, but make sure you don’t push your friends away for the sake of a significant other.
I know this is a pretty long list, and I’m honestly sorry for that, but I think this is kind of important. Most of it is shit that I would’ve liked to hear going into college. Feel free to spread this around or add your own advice! Also feel free to ask me any questions!
