How to Ace Freshman Year
Starting college can be a nervewracking experience whether because of moving out, being away from friends, living in a new culture or facing more rigorous classes. After being told by many of the troubles that are “freshman year”, I set out to have a better experience myself. These are the things I learned along the way.
Go to Orientation
Every university has some sort of “Fish Camp”. Go to it. Even if you don’t know anybody else going. This is where you’ll meet your new best friends. Everybody there is looking for their new friend group, and you’ll have a chance to meet the people who might just be living next door.
Upperclassmen usually put on the orientation and are a great source to direct all your college questions to. They’ll teach you the traditions of campus, where to find the best study spots, how to deal with roommates, tips for food on campus, and know the best places around town to spend your Friday nights, grab some coffee or get cheap movie tickets.
My fish camp “mom” (we were put in small family groups) gave me a personal tour of campus the week before school started and walked my first-semester schedule with me. Definitely take advantage of the help they offer. They’re a great source of information and friendship.
Get Involved
Whether you’re into sports, computers, music, something different or all of the above I can guarantee somebody else will be too. Finding clubs is different depending on the size of your college, but usually, there’s some sort of open house to see what’s offered. The bottom line is to join something. It doesn’t matter what it is, just that you’re into whatever the organization is into.
The most common fear entering college as a freshman revolves around the struggle to find friends. Well, the best part about it is that every other freshman is in the same boat. Narrow the search by joining an org and ensuring at least one common interest. It lets you enjoy your hobby, make friends and have a sense of belonging all in one.
I make it a rule to be in one org that’s educational (to help me get into professional school) and one that’s just for me to enjoy (my sorority).
Don’t wait until your next semester to join because everyone will already have made their friend groups, and you’ll be lost learning the reigns and the inside jokes. Jump in when everyone else does and make as many relationships as you can. Odds are, little to nobody knows you already, so you can reinvent yourself or shed old burdens with new first impressions.
Budget Textbooks
Textbook prices are ridiculous, period. Don’t get sucked into buying them from your campus bookstore unless that’s your only option. Buy used, rent used, rent new if you have to; don’t buy new. The cheaper options are to buy or rent used. If you buy it, you get the benefit of selling it at the end, if you can. Either way, these are the options to go for.
At Texas A&M we have a Facebook group with 70,000 members. We buy and sell everything from decor, clothes, technology and housing units to yes, textbooks.
While most textbooks are coming out with a new edition every semester or two, the differences can be minimal. Rule of thumb, don’t buy earlier than one previous edition and get your professor’s advice; they usually know whether the other version is sufficient and will give you the go-ahead on earlier editions.
Use groups like Facebook market or your own college’s Facebook group to snag textbooks used for a quarter of the price. If all else fails, check for an online edition. These are usually cheaper than any paper copy, and sometimes you can find pdfs for free.
Go Paperless
This will you save you time and energy and give you convenience and organization. While it’s a bit more expensive upfront compared to spiral notebooks, I assume you’re buying or have a laptop. This could replace all of these things. Read more about How to Be a Paperless Student and consider making the switch for your freshman year.
It’ll allow you to take digital handwritten notes, store thousands of pieces of paper, have access to said thousands of papers at all times, sync your notes and planner across all your devices, have unlimited colors of highlighters (that never run out or dull), easily send and share notes, have all the perks of a laptop (internet, portability, keyboard), be environmentally friendly and write additions (such as what your professor says) on downloaded powerpoints instead of scribbling down every word on the screen and missing the verbal additions.
Let’s face it, if you haven’t switched to paperless yet then you’re causing yourself undue stress. Don’t do that to yourself when you already have 15 hours and an 8 am lab to think about; not to mention learning to do laundry, make your own food, clean your dorm, get enough sleep, join an organization, maintain a social life, go to the gym and uphold your religious practices. Let go of the burdens you can, starting with a paperless approach.
Stay Organized
The easiest way to feel on top of things, remove worry and anxiety, never miss a commitment and have enough time to fit all those commitments is to have a planner.
Yes, you should stay organized in a physical sense: keep your dorm clean, give your stuff a proper home (and keep it there), color code, and use that label maker.
But, and I argue, more importantly, keep your mind organized. With meetings, due dates and the occasional oil change you’re bound to forget something. Don’t let that something be worth 10% of your final grade.
Make a planner, buy a dry erase board and write everything on it. I mean everything. Then there’s no pressure to remember, talk about huge stress relief.
Destress
When it comes to stress you may think you have no control. Well, you’re wrong. Check out How to Control Stress for tips.
Schedule ways to destress into your planner and follow through. Don’t rely on yourself to use your free time doing yoga over watching Netflix. Know your own limits.
It can be helpful to check out what your college offers. I took Zumba and Yoga for Kinesiology credit which makes for a great elective and keeps you accountable. Your Rec center might also offer classes. Regardless, exercise is a great way to relieve stress by releasing endorphins and giving you that sense of accomplishment and motivation for self-betterment.
Whether you’re working out at the gym, taking a bubble bath or doing a coloring book, find a way to destress and actively do it. “Not having enough time” is no excuse. You can always make time for your priorities.
Have Fun
While this may seem obvious to some and impossible to others, school is not your entire life. Part of the college experience and reason that degrees will open career doors regardless of your major is what we at Texas A&M like to call “The Other Education”.
Beyond calculus and lab exams, college is meant to allow for exploration and expression. Discover who you are apart from what you were. Say yes to the occasional Whataburger at midnight (they sell breakfast after 11 pm; you’re welcome), go to the football games, explore the new city you live in, take a weekend road trip and equally important, treat yourself to a massage or box of pizza rolls.
Sometimes studying has to be the priority, but sometimes your social life should be. Keep a balance of work and play. You probably won’t remember your test grade 20 years from now, but you will remember the memories you make with new friends that might still be in your life that many years from now. I’m not saying you can excuse your failed biology test with the Snapchats of a spontaneous night, but being socially healthy and having lifelong relationships are a good trade for a letter grade.
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