Tips for upcoming college first years:
As I head into my senior year, I thought I would share some of the things I’ve learned over my time at college. I hope these help!
This post covers some potentially triggering subjects like drinking & substance use. I’ve labeled the section that talks about it, so you can navigate through the list at your own pace.
I’ll go back to my regular content after this post, don’t worry.
This one’s kinda silly but if you’re going to make microwavable Mac and cheese, fill it a little lower than the fill line. It will be extra cheesy
These next couple focus on alcohol and other substances. You can skip to # if you are triggered (if you are not, though, I recommend reading this section if you have no experience with alcohol)
If you’re going to drink, DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Make sure you’re with people you trust (esp if you’re going out) & know your limit to the best of your ability. Remember that it’s Always OK to say no if you are uncomfortable in a situation (& this applies to things other than drinking).
This is for those who did not drink before college but plan to once you get there. Try not to drink too much in the first couple nights of orientation. If you get hurt or go too far the consequences can be more severe
If you’re worried about a friend who you think has had too much to drink, ask them what their level is on a scale of 1-10. Everyone’s scales are slightly different but if they have a hard time answering, offer them food & water, and maybe start taking them home. (Too much to drink can be anything from a friend nodding off when they sit down or heavily slurring & stumbling. It can look different for different people so just keep checking on your friends)
That being said if a friend goes too far & you were having a good time & not paying attention, you are ok. You do not have to be responsible for your friends’ actions the whole time while you are trying to have fun. There’s a balance here and it can be really really hard to find sometimes. The guilt is real though, so make sure to assess the situation and go easy on yourself when you are not at fault
Don’t leave your drunk friends alone
If you’re going to bed when you’re still drunk, drink lots of water, have a snack. Coffee and scrambled eggs are my go-to breakfast when I’m ever hungover
Don’t put partying above school & 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.
Know or be aware of your school’s & city’s policies about weed & smoking.
If you smoke in the dorms, yes, the RA’s can smell it. Some of them will care, others will not. It’s a risk you have to determine yourself based on the information presented to you
If you are offered harder substances at a party, don’t take them.
If anything happens to you or a friend, it is ok to call for help. Some schools have protection policies so that you will not be legally charged if you need to go to the hospital, so just ask your RAs or dorm advisor for more information.
If you’re generally 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 (if there’s alcohol make sure you know you know your boundaries. Different people see it differently, but most of the time alcohol means no consent is possible), and make sure your friends know where you’re going
Last for this section: parties are fun! It’s ok to have fun. Just be aware of the risks and dangers involved, and have fun in the safest way you can.
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.
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 if your class is/has a discussion. You’ll need more in-depth knowledge of the text, so it is better just to skim some areas & ask a few questions. Asking questions also counts for participation
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.
Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, have fun with your classes. You really get a chance to explore your interests here, even through a major.
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.
& to add on: the skills you learn in non-resume classes can still be put on a resume. Many employers look for a wide range of skills, hobbies, activities, etc.
It’s also ok if the class doesn’t turn out exactly like you thought it would be.
Don’t be afraid to use your school’s drop/add period (where dropping a class does not show up on your transcript) if you hate a class in the first couple weeks!
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 class with outside work
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 things happen, and it is important to be aware of the things that could happen.
If you need to go somewhere off campus, make sure your friends know where you are.
If you feel unsafe, get a pepper spray mace, & Don’t go anywhere at night, even if it’s across campus to get some food. You never know what could happen. You never know when pepper spray 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.
Be cautious, but don’t hold back from experiencing college the way you want. It is a time of growth, and that means that it will be fun. For a lot of people, it is the first time in the “real world,” which means for as many people just trying to exist, there will be others who are growing into behavior that is wrong and unacceptable.
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 & experience it!
Everyone’s experience is different.
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 social life 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 doing homework or studying can count as an activity sometimes!
Everyone is 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 because we come from such different backgrounds. 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.
Sorry for the long read! Feel free to spread this around or add your own advice! Also feel free to dm me with any questions! 💕
