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Your First Days at College - Page 2

© ML Arthur

If you find after a semester that you don't fit in, you can always transfer. You have lots of time to worry about that. For now, as you sit in that room, enjoy this time. College is a chance for you to get to know yourself, free of the influences of parents. It is a chance for you to meet people you never would have met in your hometown. It is a chance for you to challenge yourself academically as well as physically, emotionally, morally, and socially. It is a chance you should be grateful for: only about one percent of the world's population has earned a college degree.

To make this time a little easier, here are the top ten tips for getting through it:

1. Make sure to bring some special items from your room at home, like a small rug, a piece of artwork, photos of friends and family, and a stuffed animal
2. Get your email and phone set up as quickly as possible so that you can keep in touch with those who are important to you. Make sure to allow yourself time to do so, but not too much (you'll just get homesick)
3. Spend a little time each day writing in a journal to process your experiences and save your thoughts for later recollection
4. Try to get involved with campus activities as quickly as possible: go to club meetings, parties, and other events to keep busy
5. Meet with faculty and upper-class advisors and listen carefully to what they say. They've been there for longer. Still, remember not to believe everything you hear.
6. Don't be afraid to compare notes with other first-year students. Most are homesick, confused, and overwhelmed and will welcome the chance to talk.
7. Give yourself some space - go for a walk by yourself or take a long shower. Sharing a room with a stranger can be stressful.
8. Work out rules for your room (like who cleans and how often, when guests are welcome, and when music will be played) as soon as possible to avoid arguing later on.
9. Remember that if you make mistakes, you have plenty of time to correct them. Work hard and have fun, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Many people's grades suffer in the beginning of their first year, but that won't matter much in the scheme of things as long as you do better later.
10. Above all, don't jump to conclusions about anything. Keep your mind open about which people you will be friends with, what you will major in, which clubs to join, and whether you like your school. First impressions are often wrong.

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