September 8, 2016

Congratulations! You’ve made it! You’ve survived four years of high school, and now you’re looking ahead to college—the best five or six (or more) years of your life. No, that isn’t an exaggeration anymore, many college students now spend an average of about five or six years in post-secondary educational training of some sort, and if you choose to go on to graduate school or you want to go to medical or law school, you’ll have more time in those hallowed halls than the average college students.

Let’s take things a bit more slowly, for now—let’s look at surviving that first year of college—your freshman year!

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Schedules—Studying and Sleeping, Unlike high school, when you begin your collegiate-level studies, there won’t be a bell releasing you to go from class to class. Most classes last anywhere from an hour to an hour and thirty minutes, depending on the subject area. One of the best ways to schedule coursework is to work around when you work best! Morning person? Try to get labs in and more difficult coursework scheduled for when you function best—in the morning. Night owl? Why not schedule your courses for anywhere between 1:00 PM and later, and take a night course as well? Mid-day works best for most students. Set an alarm and take a nap as necessary. Just don’t miss class too often. It is best to set aside a little time each night to go over notes, complete reading assignments and study for tests and quizzes. Get to know the syllabi for your courses and stick to it as best you can.

Avoiding the Dreaded Freshman Fifteen Pizza, fast food, snack foods, and ramen noodles don’t have to be all you eat (even though it’s the most convenient). If you have a refrigerator in your dorm room, you can stock up on pre-packaged fruits, veggies, and juices without worrying about when the cafeteria closes. Feel free to share with a roommate and perhaps even split the cost, and if your campus has a walking or running track or even if it is located near a park, you can always get a group together to go for a jog or just walk. In some instances, the campus itself may keep you healthy, depending upon where you are and what kind of terrain it is located in.

Partying—or not At least once during your freshman year, if you are so inclined, you might want to go to a party. This is perfectly acceptable and normal college freshman behavior, but make sure you go with friends. Just because someone offers you a beverage—alcoholic or not—you may always politely decline. Use common sense and incorporate The Buddy System—don’t leave anyone behind and don’t go off alone with anyone you’ve just met. People still talk and go for coffee on a first date, and one of the most attractive features on anyone is sobriety.

Don’t rush into joining a fraternity or sorority Social organizations for college-age men and women are known as fraternities (men) and sororities (women). These organizations are quite social, and they also help people get to know one another through camaraderie and like-minded fellowship. However, fraternities and sororities aren’t for everyone. There is often cost involved to join these groups, and as with any other form of social organization, some members may not always see eye-to-eye or get along with others very well. If you’ve got your heart set on joining a fraternity or sorority, get to know some of the members and look into attending Rush Week. Rush Week is held so prospective future members, known as pledges, can “shop around” and see if the Greek Life is something that may be for them.

Dorm? Apartment? Commuting from home? Some students are quite lucky in regard to attending a college or university that may be very close to where they are currently located. Though some may choose to drive to college while still living at home, if you want a full, well-rounded collegiate experience, try and stay in a dorm room if at all possible. For students attending campus far from home, a dorm or apartment may be their only choice. Dormitories are an important experience because you can meet new people, make new friends, and learn a lot about different people from different places. If nothing else, try staying overnight or spending a weekend with someone who may already live in a dorm, and see if you like it. Some of the best friendships on earth have been fostered in college dormitories.

Work? Study? Work-study! Many colleges and universities offer work-study programs, in which students may choose to work on-campus and still get paid while attending classes and completing coursework. Sometimes, when a scholarship opportunity won’t cover enough of the tuition cost, work-study programs can help bridge that gap. You may choose to work in the library shelving books, work as a residential assistant (known as an RA) in the dorms, or work in the cafeteria or as part of a campus safety patrol. Some students have even found part-time work at local businesses, and many businesses in college towns are willing to work with students and work around their course schedules to come up with a viable work option while they are in school. However, if you see that your grades are taking a hit or you feel that you are starting to get behind in your studies, consider talking to your college or your employer about decreasing your time or stopping altogether.

Making the Most of Midterms and Finals Many colleges and universities base a majority of student grades on their results during two major exams—mid-terms and finals. There are also projects and portfolios that may be considered as a major part of grades as well, so do your best to keep up with course work and make the most of the study time. Many colleges still incorporate something called reading week, in which students go to classes (or not) only to review for exams. Reading week means you’ll spend more time in the library or quiet study areas, so really make the most of this time to prepare for exams and put the finishing touches on major papers and/or projects.

Your first year doesn’t have to be a wide-awake nightmare. With a little bit of planning and organization, you can make your first year one of the most successful years of your academic life. Good Luck! You’ve got this!

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