Back to School Tips for College Freshmen
#15 Arrive Early
On your first day it is a good idea to arrive earlier than you are meant to for a number of reasons. Not only will you have more time to unpack your belongings and find your dorm, but you will also be able to 'stake your claim' if you arrive before your roommate.
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15:
Arrive Early
On your first day it is a good idea to arrive earlier than you are meant to for a number of reasons. Not only will you have more time to unpack your belongings and find your dorm, but you will also be able to 'stake your claim' if you arrive before your roommate.
14:
Travel Light
We know how easy it is when you're packing for college to want to bring almost every single one of your belongings! However, the best advice is to only bring what is completely essential. Otherwise, you'll find a lot may not fit in your dorm room and one of your parents will have to lug half your stuff back home.
13:
Explore
Once the craziness of your first week is over, it is a good time to introduce yourself to your professors and advisors during their office hours. This way you can familiarize yourself with them and know where to find them in future. It is also a good idea to locate other important facilities such as Career Services, the Library and the Counseling Center.
12:
Take Your Time
Even though you're only just starting college, it may seem as though everyone else already knows what they want to major in or what career path they want to take. Now is the time to discover what you're good at and what you love doing most, so take a deep breath!
11:
Relaxation
With such a busy schedule, it is more important than ever to take time out for yourself to relax and de-stress. Some helpful suggestions include yoga, reading, going for a walk or writing in your journal.
10:
Stay Organized
A great way to stay organized and on top of all of your assignments is to buy a weekly planner or stick one up on your wall to serve as a constant reminder about your assignment due-dates.
9:
Balance
It's well known that college is not only a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of partying and fun! One of the best pieces of advice for freshmen is to make sure they don't burn the candle on both ends - find a balance between the two so your grades don't slip, but you're also making the most of your college's social life.
8:
Decorate Your Dorm
Since your dorm will become your new bedroom for quite some time, the best way to make the new space your own is to decorate it how you like by adding posters, colorful linen, trinkets etc. Of course, you must take into consideration your roommate, but adding your own bits and pieces will make you feel more at home.
7:
Religious Life
Also, if you're worried that college will interfere with your religious practices, then fear not! There are still many ways for you to stay connected to your religious beliefs, such as joining student organizations with the same religion, or staying true to your own customs and practices.
6:
Staying Healthy
Now that Mom or Dad aren't watching over what you eat or serving up balanced and nutritious meals to you, you must ensure that you're staying healthy by eating right, taking vitamins and getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night in order to maintain your energy and concentration levels.
5:
Time Management
With increasing assignments and tasks to complete, as well as an ever-growing list of social events to attend, time management is something a freshman must master in order to make the most of their time at college. It is important to remember that you can work hard and achieve good results without compromising your social life.
4:
Managing Money
One of the most useful things a student can learn whilst at college is how to manage and make the most of their money. Expenses such as textbooks and other college related purchases are expensive, so finding ways to save money, or even getting a great on-campus job, could help you out a lot.
3:
Homesickness
It is very common for freshmen to feel quite homesick, or that they don't belong, whilst at college. There are numerous ways to stay in touch with your family and friends back home such as Facebook, Skype and email (to name a few), so be sure to utilize these! Joining various clubs and student organizations is also a great way to meet like-minded people.
2:
Lower GPA
Keep in mind that often a student's GPA will drop a bit from high school to college, however this does not mean that you are suddenly not performing as well as you used to! Naturally your classes at college will be more challenging and in a more competitive environment, so don't put too much pressure on yourself.
1:
New Beginning
As daunting as your first few weeks may be while you settle in to your new environment, you need to remember that you're not alone - everyone else is looking to make friends too. So introduce yourself to people and try to expand your social circle, you have nothing to lose!
