Being a college freshman is quite difficult. It’s a new environment, new students, and you have to make new friends. Going into college freshman year is scary. Anyone who tells you anything otherwise is either lying to you. It is fine to admit that you’re a little bit terrified of new situations. Visiting somewhere where you know nobody is bad in itself, but when you’re being dropped off there and told “see you in three months!” you suddenly realize just how alone you are.
10 things I learned my freshman year:
I just finished my freshman year and I learned so much. There is so much that I didn’t know going into college because nobody told me. I had unrealistic expectations and unnecessary worries. I compiled this list of things that I wish somebody would have told me before I entered my freshman year of college.
I never done this, I can’t say how great or how much everyone should do this. Although, just because no one says rude things or nags you doesn’t mean you should make good, healthy choices every day. You’re sitting at a desk all day, in front of a laptop, and then sitting in class listening to lectures when you finally get to venture out from behind your desk.
Staying healthy in college is even more important than it was in high school for most of us.
You don’t need to do much–but even if you start small by eating healthy lunches and breakfasts instead of just having pancakes and heavy pastas. When you’re doing a bunch of readings you don’t really need to take notes on, why not try to do some of them while walking on an incline on the treadmill? This year you have a chance to decide who you will become, so please take steps to make sure that you become a healthy person. Maybe not a crazy health nut, but at least stay in shape. Treat yourself right and opt for grilled chicken over pizza every now and then!
I learned so much from my friends, we incorporated professional help a few times. Discussing and experiencing studying with friends can not only make studying so much easier but it’s fun too. Discussing and explaining what you’re learning helps commit it to memory far more effectively than mindlessly reading from a textbook. But be careful to study with friends who will be focused on studying, you can have a social hour after your exam.
- You have a chance to start over.
This is really not emphasized enough. I went to a medium-sized university in Alabama after being a small-town country girl for my entire life. University allowed me to completely switch how people saw me–instead of being that small-town girl, I got to be Nichole, a college woman who’s funny, hard working, and a go-getter.
You don’t need to hold on to what you were in high school. This is your chance to become the person that you’ve always dreamed of being–because no one knows who you are! That anonymity is honestly the best gift you can be given, because it allows you to have choice. So embrace it.
There have been studies that prove going to class is linked with higher grades, not shocking but you’d be surprised how many students make a habit of skipping class. It’s just an hour or two out of your day, one that you or your parents are paying about 50 dollars a class for you to attend, lets not let that money go to waste!
I know you’re super busy and sometimes it slips your mind, but I can promise you that your parents and grandparents would love to hear from you every now and then.
You are lucky enough to be exposed to a whole new city, state, or in some people’s cases – country! There is so much to see on campus and in the surrounding towns, it’d be a shame to miss out. If your school has one, I’d highly recommend trekking out to the arboretum, University of Illinois has a gorgeous one!
If you haven’t needed one yet, I can assure you that you’ll need one soon. When you’re a freshman you can still put all of those high school achievements and leadership positions on there, so take advantage of those while you still can!
- Your syllabus is there for a reason.
Read it, reference it, worship it. At the beginning of every semester your professors will hand you a packet that tells you step by step how to pass their class, yet so many students ignore it. As soon as I got all of my syllabi second semester I copied all of my upcoming due dates into my planner and simplified my life so much.
- Make friends with everyone you can.
BSWs, the cooks in the dining halls, your dorm’s security officers, and the list goes on. Not only is it just a nice thing to do, but they are from your campustown, they can tell you about all of the best places on and around campus and many of them have some pretty great stories to tell.
Professors are people too, and most people are pretty nice. But they are far more likely to go above and beyond for someone that they already know – so don’t wait until you’re in trouble to meet them. If the end of the semester approaches and you’re not doing so hot, chances are they’ll be more willing to help you out if they recognize that you’ve come to office hours and you participate in class.
That’s all that I have for you today! Did I miss anything? Let me know what your best tips are for college students! Thanks for reading!
