Hello fresh meat I mean freshmen! You did it! You graduated and are ready to start the next chapter in your life. I was in your shoes about 3 years ago so I know the anxiousness/nervousness/excitement you are feeling right about now. Some of you may feel absolutely 100% prepared, but trust me you aren't. Others may feel that they aren't prepared at all, and that's ok. Your parents may feel that after orientation they now know every aspect of your university and what to expect. Well here's kind of a buzz kill: most of the people you talked to at orientation are just professors who have not been in your shoes for a LONG time. Don't fret! This post is supposed to give you REAL advice for the college stuff you ACTULLY need to be prepared for.
1. Do NOT wear the lanyard/drawstring bag/t shirt they give you at orientation. If you do, you are literally telling the rest of the univeristy that you are a freshman. Just keep place them in a drawer in your dorm room and never touch them again.
2. Your roommate does not have to be your best friend. Heck you don't even have to like them. But you do have to respect them. Maybe the rando wasn't ideal but just remember what you learned in kindergarten: treat others the way you want to be treated.
3. Don't expect all A's. You may have been valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 but high school was way easier. There will be classes that you bust your butt for and only get a B. It is not the end of the world. College is not afraid to bring you down a little and make sure you know that you are not perfect.
4. Get off of campus. Go on trips. Attend conferences or conventions. Study abroad. Those experiences are where you are going to network and get to meet potential employers. You didn't come to college to get a GPA. You came to get a job. Don't let class get in the way of your education or career opportunities.
5. Get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Don't cling to your high school friends because it's easy. Meet people with the same interests as you who may be your coworkers some day. Don't be afraid to be that weird girl who approaches someone in class and asks to go get lunch with them. You never know, they might end up being your best friend.
6. Involvement is vital. Join clubs. Participate in intramural. Just get out of your dorm room and do something. It makes college way more fun and is a great way to meet new people. Plus, many clubs offer networking opportunities which is very helpful for landing internships and jobs. Which leads to #7...
7. Internships are vital. Get one as soon as you can, even freshman year. Internships help you figure out what you actually like in a career and what you don't. Plus, they have potential to lead to full time jobs post graduation. Maybe your advisor or school doesn't push internships, but trust me sitting at home all summer is not adding anything to your resume.
8. Don't waste your 4 years with your nose in a book or in the library. Studying and grades are somewhat important but five years later you're not going to remember what grade you go on that exam. What you will remember is the memories you made with your friends. Find a balance of school and social or you're 4 years are going to be stressful and boring.
9. Jump on every single opportunity you are given. Whether it's a study abroad, part time job, or really anything along those lines take full advantage. It may be more work, it may not be easy, it may not be in your comfort zone, but it will be important. God gave you that opportunity for a reason so you better sieze it.
10. It's ok to be single in college. I would highly recommend a lot of incoming freshmen to be single. Yes you love that boyfriend/girlfriend from high school but don't let a relationship limit your college experience or sway you to make decisions. College is a time to be independent and to find what YOU want in life, not trying to figure out how to please someone else.
11. It doesn't matter who you were in high school. Maybe you were top dog/homecoming queen/star athlete. So were a lot of people. Maybe you were that outcast/nerd. Not anymore. You are a fish thrown into a new pond and your slate is clean. Who you are now is dictated by the actions you portray the day you step on campus.
12. Become friends with the upper classmen. They know the ropes and are usually more than willing to help out. Also, they have taken a lot of classes you have before and some of them may or may not have old assignments or exams they'd be willing to pass down to you.
13. Burning bridges is only going to bite you in the ass later on. This is not high school so there is no reason to be petty. You may not necessarily care to be friends with someone but that doesn't mean they won't be on the opposite side of a interview some day. Don't pick fights or start battles. It will only hurt your career later on. Respect and understanding is key for your life from here on out.
14. Going home on the weekends should only be for extremely important events or emergencies. When you're at home you're not making friends. You're not jumping on opportunities. You're not making memories. As much as you want to, avoid going home. Home will always be there, but you only get 4 years of college.
15. Have fun. (Cheesy and cliche I know) These are the years you will meet your bridesmaids or groomsmen. These are the years that have the potential to be the best years of your life. Once you have your degree, you officially join the 9-5 club until your retire. My motto is if you're not having fun, you're doing college wrong. Trust me, it's too short of time to do it wrong. You can't turn back time, so make the most of every moment.
College can be scary. College can be overwhelming. College can downright suck some days. But if you follow these 15 pieces of advice, I have no doubt that 3 years from now you will be in my shoes wishing you could do it all over again.
1. Do NOT wear the lanyard/drawstring bag/t shirt they give you at orientation. If you do, you are literally telling the rest of the univeristy that you are a freshman. Just keep place them in a drawer in your dorm room and never touch them again.
2. Your roommate does not have to be your best friend. Heck you don't even have to like them. But you do have to respect them. Maybe the rando wasn't ideal but just remember what you learned in kindergarten: treat others the way you want to be treated.
3. Don't expect all A's. You may have been valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 but high school was way easier. There will be classes that you bust your butt for and only get a B. It is not the end of the world. College is not afraid to bring you down a little and make sure you know that you are not perfect.
4. Get off of campus. Go on trips. Attend conferences or conventions. Study abroad. Those experiences are where you are going to network and get to meet potential employers. You didn't come to college to get a GPA. You came to get a job. Don't let class get in the way of your education or career opportunities.
5. Get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Don't cling to your high school friends because it's easy. Meet people with the same interests as you who may be your coworkers some day. Don't be afraid to be that weird girl who approaches someone in class and asks to go get lunch with them. You never know, they might end up being your best friend.
6. Involvement is vital. Join clubs. Participate in intramural. Just get out of your dorm room and do something. It makes college way more fun and is a great way to meet new people. Plus, many clubs offer networking opportunities which is very helpful for landing internships and jobs. Which leads to #7...
7. Internships are vital. Get one as soon as you can, even freshman year. Internships help you figure out what you actually like in a career and what you don't. Plus, they have potential to lead to full time jobs post graduation. Maybe your advisor or school doesn't push internships, but trust me sitting at home all summer is not adding anything to your resume.
8. Don't waste your 4 years with your nose in a book or in the library. Studying and grades are somewhat important but five years later you're not going to remember what grade you go on that exam. What you will remember is the memories you made with your friends. Find a balance of school and social or you're 4 years are going to be stressful and boring.
9. Jump on every single opportunity you are given. Whether it's a study abroad, part time job, or really anything along those lines take full advantage. It may be more work, it may not be easy, it may not be in your comfort zone, but it will be important. God gave you that opportunity for a reason so you better sieze it.
10. It's ok to be single in college. I would highly recommend a lot of incoming freshmen to be single. Yes you love that boyfriend/girlfriend from high school but don't let a relationship limit your college experience or sway you to make decisions. College is a time to be independent and to find what YOU want in life, not trying to figure out how to please someone else.
11. It doesn't matter who you were in high school. Maybe you were top dog/homecoming queen/star athlete. So were a lot of people. Maybe you were that outcast/nerd. Not anymore. You are a fish thrown into a new pond and your slate is clean. Who you are now is dictated by the actions you portray the day you step on campus.
12. Become friends with the upper classmen. They know the ropes and are usually more than willing to help out. Also, they have taken a lot of classes you have before and some of them may or may not have old assignments or exams they'd be willing to pass down to you.
13. Burning bridges is only going to bite you in the ass later on. This is not high school so there is no reason to be petty. You may not necessarily care to be friends with someone but that doesn't mean they won't be on the opposite side of a interview some day. Don't pick fights or start battles. It will only hurt your career later on. Respect and understanding is key for your life from here on out.
14. Going home on the weekends should only be for extremely important events or emergencies. When you're at home you're not making friends. You're not jumping on opportunities. You're not making memories. As much as you want to, avoid going home. Home will always be there, but you only get 4 years of college.
15. Have fun. (Cheesy and cliche I know) These are the years you will meet your bridesmaids or groomsmen. These are the years that have the potential to be the best years of your life. Once you have your degree, you officially join the 9-5 club until your retire. My motto is if you're not having fun, you're doing college wrong. Trust me, it's too short of time to do it wrong. You can't turn back time, so make the most of every moment.
College can be scary. College can be overwhelming. College can downright suck some days. But if you follow these 15 pieces of advice, I have no doubt that 3 years from now you will be in my shoes wishing you could do it all over again.