The college experience is amazing, for me one of the best times of my life.
Yet, there were definitely times where I wish I knew these tips!
So I’ll leave these here for you, so you can learn from my experience and make yours 100 times less stressful.
1. It is not all about grades
No one is really asking you to be an A+ student in all of your classes, all the time as long as you know the material.
If you were an all A’s student in High School, don’t freak out if it is not the same in college. Classes are now more of a ‘teach yourself’ scenario, and it can be difficult to become adjusted to it at first. You might have to tweak your studying habits to get where you feel comfortable, grade wise.
But, it is mostly not about grades, because college is about people. What you learn and how much you grow as a person will all be shaped by how much you put yourself out there. So don’t just stay at the library, go have some fun!
2. Learn how to deal with roommates
Even if you are rooming with your best friend, communication is key for a good working roommate relationship. Be open and direct if something is bothering you, and brainstorm how to live together smoothly from early on.
If you do not feel comfortable with your current roommate and you live in a dorm, talk to your RA. There is always a way to move you around.
3. Be open about meeting people
You never know who you are meeting, it may be someone who could help you out later on, be it for classes or while looking for a job.
Don’t be scared of talking to the person next to you in class, or in line at the cafeteria. There is always something to learn from everyone.
And in my case, that is how I found several of my best friends.
4. Freshman 15 is real – but avoidable
One of the most commonly heard problems for freshmans in college. Yes, it is real BUT it is mainly because everyone is drinking more and exercising less!
So a simple way to avoid it is watching what you drink. It is unrealistic to ask freshmen not to drink, but if you can switch your sugar heavy marg for something else.. Do it!
And I know it is not ideal to add one more thing to your schedule, but hitting the gym will definitely help you keep off extra weight. If you don’t like the gym at your school try finding a studio near you ( most of them have student discounts!) or try apps like classpass where you can jump around studios.
5. Don’t buy books from the bookstore
THE biggest money saving tip I could give you. Your school’s bookstore will probably try and make it easy for you to buy from them, but don’t do it unless absolutely necessary! The mark up compared to Amazon and Chegg is significant.
I remember spending well over $500 my first semester ( don’t tell my dad) on textbooks because I bought everything from the bookstore.
First, go onto RateMyProfessor and try to figure out if you even need the book in the first place! If you do, there are plenty of sites that will give you a way better price.
I’ll be posting about how to save money on textbooks soon!
6. Be smart with your finances from the get-go
Try and keep an eye on how much you are spending when you go out. It will start adding up reaaaaally quick.
A great way to save money is finding places that give student discounts. As I mentioned before, there are plenty of workout studios that give discounts but also clothing stores, nail salons..maybe even some of your favorite restaurants!
I have not paid full price for getting my nails done in five years because of this trick!
7. Plan out all your semester schedules already
Planning ahead is vital for staying on track. Don’t rely on your counselors to do this for you, most of the time they aren’t super helpful.
If you already know what major(s) you want, check your school’s website and make your plan. Be aware of classes that have prerequisites!
A lot of students that plan out their entire college class schedule early find that they can graduate early. Which is great if you are paying for college by yourself.
8. Leave space between classes to have lunch, and take a break
My goal the first semester was to get all my classes to look like my high school schedule, so I could be done by 2. For some days, that meant no time for lunch. By noon, I couldn’t concentrate in class because I was trying to stop my stomach from growling.
Leaving time for lunch is great, because
1. You get a break from lectures
2. You get a kick of energy from your lunch
3.It gives you time to study for your next class if you need it.
9. You do not need to pull all-nighters
As long as you don’t procrastinate too much on your studies, you do not need to be pulling all nighters. The only time I did was because I was very disorganized with my note taking and didn’t pay enough attention in class.
Try to organize your notes after class or when you are doing your homework not the night before the test.
If you are pulling an all nighter because you feel you don’t know the material, call a friend up so that they can explain it better. It will take longer for you to figure it out by yourself.
10. Get some vitamins
You are probably being exposed to a lot more people than you were before, and you are living with them in close quarters if you live in the dorms. Because of this, it is easier for you to get sick, especially your first couple of semesters.
I got the worst cold ever my second semester of freshman year. Well, me and half of the other people living in the dorms.
Easiest way to fight getting sick is by taking vitamins. I always kept my gummy vitamins next to my makeup bag so I wouldn’t forget to take them everyday.
11. Go to the events your college/university sets up #freethings
This is a great way to get free swag from your school, and to meet more people! Most of the time they have free food as well, so even if you stop by quickly you can get a snack on your way to class or the library.
12. Yes, your dress code is not regulated anymore but don’t look like a bum
You’d be surprised at how quickly your cute outfit can spark a conversation anywhere, and you’ll feel better if you look good. Yes… even if it is to that 8am.
13. Don’t look at your social media while in class
I’m not going to lie, 80% of the people in your classes are going to be looking at other things in their computers or phones, but you have no idea how detrimental this can be to your studies and overall college experience.
If you don’t engage in class, you will have to do more studying by yourself after class. Which means you won’t be able to go out or do other non school things without risking not fully grasping what you are learning.
There is plenty of time between classes or afterschool to look at your phone.
14. Go to office hours
If you have questions or are struggling with a class don’t hesitate to schedule office hours with professors.
Your professor has explained this topic several times, and they probably have other ways of explaining it which might be better suited for your learning style.
Also, if you show interest in bettering yourself, the professor might become more lenient with you or at least will become more interested in helping you.
15. Take advantage of study abroad programs
Studying abroad gives you insight into other cultures, and puts you into new challenging situations. For some, it is the single most memorable experience in college.
Studying abroad is also great if you are studying a language, because it will expose you to real world situations where you can practice your skills.
It also is a great thing to talk about in interviews and put in your resume if you have the opportunity to work while abroad.
16. Call your mom/dad… They miss you
I think this is pretty self explanatory.
17. College will fly by, enjoy it!
You’ll hear everyone say this over and over, but…it’s true. I have spent the last 5 years of my life studying and it really all happened in a blink of an eye.
Have fun, try new things and don’t take this time for granted!
Nice post! Your points are so true. I would admit that the biggest scam I feel into freshman year was buying textbooks at the bookstore. Still regret it to this day haha.