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Starting college is both exciting and a little bit scary! You’re moving on to a new place, school, and life. It’s so natural to have mixed emotions about starting college. I’ve written this post with the incoming college student in mind. It’s a list of tips I wish I had when I started college, so I hope that it’s helpful for you!
Social Life Tips:
1: Meet as many people as possible during your first few weeks of your freshman year of college.
Everyone is just looking to make new friends, so don’t be shy! Say yes to hanging out with new people especially during the first few weeks.
2: Join a fun club during your freshman year of college.
College is a great time to try new things out! Join a club that’s just for fun whether that’s a sorority, dance group, or anything outside of your comfort zone.
3. College is a drinking culture, but you don’t have to drink at social events to still be social.
There are so many ways to have fun on campus without attending parties if that’s not your scene. Try out a sports game or game night or go see a show!
4: People can be super busy in college, so make a core group of friends.
Everyone in college has a lot going on. You’re going to need some good friends you can rely on for when things get tough.
Academics:
5: Grades and GPA do matter but being involved in things matters more.
Trust me, I get it. You got into college by getting decent grades and sometimes you’re going to be focused on getting that A. But don’t let that stop you from making real connections and working on projects outside of the classroom.
6: Learn time management skills in your freshman year of college.
You need a planner or a calendar. A lot of people use GCal in college, but I recommend a paper planner. Check out this planner that is highly customizable:
Choose the things that matter and help you keep balance in your life. I’m talking classes, professional clubs, a fun club, exercise, and maybe a part-time job or research position. Go to other things on the side and try to make room for them (guest lectures, conferences, sports games, dance shows, etc). Check out my post on how to create a productive morning routine to start off your busy day!
7: Actually go to office hours and study halls and review sessions.
Not only will review sessions help your grade, but you will get to know your professors and it will reflect nicely on your grade and opportunities.
8: Not everyone really does the readings.
If you’re in a rush, read the first sentence of every paragraph and take short notes. Always jot down notes of the readings. You won’t remember them in class.
9: Find a notes strategy that works for you.
Your notes strategy may change depending on the class. Re-read or re-write your notes after class. Read this post to learn about note taking strategies for college.
Career:
10: Network!
There are so many wonderful people you can meet in college: professors, graduate students, your peers, etc. You need to get out there and meet them! You never know who will be helpful for you and your career. To find out how to gain a mentor in college, read this post.
11. Use your career center.
Sign up for your career center’s newsletters. There should be one related to your major as well. This way, you stay on top of opportunities that are available to you.
12. Look up internships early.
Summer internships tend to recruit early. Sometimes, they recruit as early as the summer before particularly in the finance industry. Stay on top of deadlines. Be sure to write them down in your planner.
General Tips:
13. Check your email and try to keep it to 0 but don’t obsess over that…
An inbox that is overflowing with unread emails can be overwhelming. You may also miss important information someone is trying to communicate with you. Pro tip: Check out the extension Boomerang to have emails emailed back to you at a specific date as a reminder.
14. You will likely have to file taxes.
When it comes time for taxes, and yes, you will likely need to file especially if you’ve received scholarships, see if there is a student-run club on campus can help you or check out an online free tax service.
15. Getting your flu shots and other vaccines is easy!
At most schools, all it takes is a walk in to your student health clinic to get your vaccines up to date. Make sure you stay on top of your health.
16. People will pull your clothes out of the washer/dryer, so get there early.
There are few things more embarrassing than walking in to the laundry room to find some random student you don’t know taking your underwear out of the dryer. Yeah, don’t let that happen.
17. Wear flip flops in the bathroom at all times!
Even one mistake can lead to athlete’s foot. Not fun. Again, avoid this if at all possible. Check out these antimicrobial shower flip flops to protect your feet:
18. Do not give up everything in your freshman year of college that made you you in high school.
It can be stressful moving to a new place, so you don’t want to give up more familiarity. Keep your old hobbies while you build new ones. Keep in touch with old friends while you make new ones. These helped you get where you are today, so hold on to them!
There you have it, 18 tips for those of you starting college soon! What tips did you find most helpful?
