20 Tips to Help You Thrive During Freshman Year at College
When you start college, you start with a clean slate. Nobody in college cares what you were like in high school. For first year college students, it won’t matter if you were class president, prom queen, valedictorian, secretary of the art club, or person who liked to hang out in the parking lot during lunch. What you are known for in high school does not automatically apply to college. What will count are the decisions you make and the actions you take.
- Get Organized. In college, no one will be nagging you to complete the homework. Many professors will post the assignments and expect you to be prepared. Your parents won’t be there to remind you when meetings are being held or to double-check your appointments. Use a planner or an app. Get a wall calendar. Keep a to-do list.
- Plan ahead and stay motivated. By the end of your first week, you’ll know when almost every assignment for the semester is due. There’s no reason you should be stressing over papers or big tests the night before they’re due.
- Go to class. College isn’t free. Why pay for something and not use it. Make sure you get the most of your investment by going to class. You’ll also learn more and know what you need to successfully complete tests and assignments. You also don’t want to test a teacher who may fail you for not showing up.
- Meet with your professors. Attend their office hours. Professors can help you out and provide guidance as well as academic support. You may also want a letter of recommendation one day if you’re seeking admission to a graduate or professional school.
- Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who can help you navigate the transition to college. Among the things they can do is connect you with campus resources including: tutoring resources, financial aid services, scholarship opportunities and ways to get involved on campus. They also help with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, and choosing a major.
- Find mentors. Many of the world’s most successful people — from businessmen to politicians to writers to musicians — found a mentor early on.
- Strive for good grades. Some jobs do actually care what grades you received and so will grad schools. It’s also a good life lesson to set goals and achieve them.
- Use the study resources on campus. Most colleges have learning labs and tutoring available. If you’re having trouble, these resources are great tools to take advantage of.
- Make time for you. Set aside some time and find a place where you can sit and relax.
- Be a joiner. There are activist and religious groups, sports teams, volunteer organizations, and clubs for almost every college major or hobby. You’ll gain knowledge and skills, and the power of a group can help you achieve your goals. College clubs can help wallflowers to make friends, athletes to stay in shape, and future politicians to develop their first contacts.
- Make connections. Discard your preconceptions and make it a point to meet people that don’t look or act exactly like you. And definitely don’t let an inferiority complex get in the way. You no longer have to be the person you were in high school. Make it a point to meet at least one new person in each class. Get to know your roommate.
- Visit the Career Services Office. It’s never too early to explore career option and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.
- Stay healthy/Eat right. You’ll feel much better if you get enough sleep, eat right and stay hydrated. (We’re talking water here.) Avoid the dreaded extra “Freshman 15” pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.
- Set realistic goals. Whether its in academics or social aspirations, goals set too high will wear you out, and leave you feeling frustrated and disappointed in yourself for not achieving your goals. Setting goals too low may leave you with too much time on your hands and a feeling of emptiness. Goals should be a bit of a stretch, but not so much that they can’t be achieved.
- Learn to cope with homesickness. Almost everyone gets homesick at one time or another. Call home, text a parent, or send an email.
- Manage your money. Create a budget and find ways to save money. If you get a credit card, use it wisely. Pay your bills on time and don’t charge more than you can afford to pay each month.
- Simplify. Don’t take on too many tasks and responsibilities, try to do too much, or try and please too many people. Seek balance.
- Know it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. College is a lot to handle, from the coursework to making new friends to making your own decisions. You’re not alone in feeling that way.
- Enjoy your college experience as much as possible. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences of your life and it goes by very quickly. More quickly than you’d think.
- Call your parents
When you start college, you start with a clean slate. Nobody in college cares what you were like in high school. For first year college students, it won’t matter if you were class president, prom queen, valedictorian, secretary of the art club, or person who liked to hang out in the parking lot during lunch. What you are known for in high school does not automatically apply to college. What will count are the decisions you make and the actions you take.
- Get Organized. In college, no one will be nagging you to complete the homework. Many professors will post the assignments and expect you to be prepared. Your parents won’t be there to remind you when meetings are being held or to double-check your appointments. Use a planner or an app, get a wall calendar, keep a to-do list.
- Plan ahead and stay motivated. By the end of your first week, you’ll know when almost every assignment for the semester is due. There’s no reason you should be stressing over papers or big tests the night before they’re due.
- Go to class. College isn’t free. Why pay for something and not use it. Make sure you get the most of your investment by going to class. You’ll also learn more and know what you need to successfully complete tests and assignments. You also don’t want to test a teacher who may fail you for not showing up.
- Meet with your professors. Attend their office hours. Professors can help you out and provide guidance as well as academic support. You may also want a letter of recommendation one day if you’re seeking admission to a graduate or professional school.
- Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who can help you navigate the transition to college. Among the things they can do is help you get in touch with campus resources including: tutoring resources, financial aid services, scholarship opportunities and ways to get involved on campus. They also help with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, and choosing a major.
- Find mentors. Many of the world’s most successful people — from businessmen to politicians to writers to musicians — found a mentor early on.
- Strive for good grades. Some jobs do actually care what grades you received and so will grad schools. It’s also a good life lesson to set goals and achieve them.
- Use the study resources on campus. Most colleges have learning labs and tutoring available. If you’re having trouble, these resources are great tools to take advantage of.
- Make time for you. Set aside some time and find a place where you can sit and relax.
- Be a joiner. There are activist and religious groups, sports teams, volunteer organizations, and clubs for almost every college major or hobby. You’ll gain knowledge and skills, and the power of a group can help you achieve your goals. College clubs can help wallflowers to make friends, athletes to stay in shape, and future politicians to develop their first contacts.
- Make connections. Discard your preconceptions and make it a point to meet people that don’t look or act exactly like you. And definitely don’t let an inferiority complex get in the way. You no longer have to be the person you were in high school. Make it a point to meet at least one new person in each class. Get to know your roommate.
- Visit the Career Services Office. It’s never too early to explore career option and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.
- Stay healthy/Eat right. You’ll feel much better if you get enough sleep, eat right and stay hydrated. (We’re talking water here.) Avoid the dreaded extra “Freshman 15” pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.
- Set realistic goals. Whether its in academics or social aspirations, goals set too high will wear you out, and leave you feeling frustrated and disappointed in yourself for not achieving your goals. Setting goals too low may leave you with too much time on your hands and a feeling of emptiness. Set goals should be a bit of a stretch, but not so much that they can’t be achieved.
- Learn to cope with homesickness. Almost everyone gets homesick at one time or another. Call home, text a parent, or send an email.
- Manage your money. Create a budget and find ways to save money. If you get a credit card, use it wisely. Pay your bills on time and don’t charge more than you can afford to pay each month.
- Simplify. Don’t take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much, or to try and please too many people. Seek balance.
- Know its normal to feel overwhelmed. College is a lot to handle, from the coursework to making new friends to making your own decisions. You’re not alone in feeling that way.
- Enjoy your college experience as much as possible. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences of your life and it goes by very quickly. More quickly than you’d think.
- Call your parents