1. it’s okay to cry your eyes out on move in day when you leave your family. cherish every minute you have while they’re with you, and when it’s time to go hug your mom, dad, sister, brother, cat, dog as hard as you can and tell them you love them. of course you won’t be gone forever but you’ll be gone more than usual and it’s good to leave full of love.
2. for the first week or weeks, it’s okay to feel homesick. it’s okay to want to go home every weekend or actually do go home every weekend, it’s all apart of adjusting to dorm life. eventually you’ll get used to being away from home and you’ll be okay. what’s comforting is that you won’t be the only one feeling home sick, talking to your roommate and other people you meet can make you feel better.
3. call your mom or dad everyday. it’s going to be just as weird for them to not see you everyday so phone calls, texts, Skype are a must. call them and let them know you’re okay, how your classes are, how your roommate is, how you’re still trying to make friends, how the fire drill went off during inconvenient times. call them and let them know.
4. it’s okay to feel nervous, scared, not knowing what to do, feeling to shy to make friends, or anything else for the first few days, weeks or so because everyone is feeling that way too.
5. go to the club fair and join a club. you’ll be a part of something and you’ll definitely make friends.
6. go to campus events because you’ll more than likely get free food and shirts which are awesome. you’ll also get a chance to bond more with people and make friends, and have a good time. of course shows and game nights are fun, but when there’s events like job fairs, information sessions, and stress reliever events, it’s very beneficial.
7. it is absolutely okay if you don’t have any friends in your classes, it’s easier in some classes than others. when it comes to lectures with a big amount of students, you’ll mostly just go to take notes and then leave. so for an hour, it’s not a big deal if you don’t have a friend.
8. there’s nothing wrong with sitting alone in the dining hall. people do it all the time, and not because they “don’t have friends” but maybe to do homework, because they want to go alone, or they just didn’t have anyone to go with at the time. even if you do go alone and it makes you feel anxious, sitting in the corner, at a singles table or going when the hall opens or will be closing soon makes it easier.
9. absolutely do not be afraid to talk to professors and ask for help. you’re paying for your classes so your grades are important. they care and they’re there to help. go to their office hours and email is a college student’s best friend.
10. forming study groups or having a study buddy is also helpful, or if you need more help you can go to the campus student center where there’s tutoring services.
11. college is very stressful and we all have our moments that sometimes we feel like we’re losing it. there is absolutely no shame in going to the counseling center on campus and talking to a counselor for help.
12. if you’re lucky, you’ll become really good friends with your roommate. but you won’t always become best friends and it’s perfectly okay if you have your own group of friends and they have their’s. as long as you still get along, it’s okay. if you and your roommate don’t get along, the RA is available to help resolve the problem and possibly get a new roommate.
13. while college life is exciting and meeting more people is fun, don’t forget about your friends back at home. reach out to them every once in a while, send that “how are you” text, try to skype, snapchat them like crazy, because you don’t want to lose a good friendship you had while being away and they’re the ones that’ll be there when you go home.
14. freshman 15 is real. even if you think it isn’t or it won’t happen to you, it is. take advantage of the campus gym.
15. don’t feel too pressured to get a job while attending classes unless you absolutely need to. if you do get one, make sure to manage your schedule accordingly so that you don’t fall behind in classes and you don’t get stressed out, and make sure you put education first.
16. time management. time management. time management. learn it.
17. it’s okay if you need to take a mental health day and skip a class or two. and sometimes we skip a class to catch up on work from another class, it happens. but don’t get into the habit of constantly skipping a class because it’s a waste of money and your grade will suffer; professors do notice.
18. and most importantly, do whatever makes you happy. if you don’t like the club you’re in, leave. if you don’t like the friend group you’re in, leave. if you don’t like your dorm room or roommate, you can make new arrangements. if you aren’t ready to stay away from home yet and you live a good distance away, try to commute. if you don’t like your major, change it. if you realize the school doesn’t fit your needs, it’s okay to transfer. it’s your life, do what works for you and makes you happy, not anyone else.
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