How to Prepare for Freshman year of College

College can be a scary thing, especially for first year students.

The biggest tip I can give you is get started early.  I know the summer before college you want to have fun before you have to really get to the grind and spend long hours studying but preparing early for Freshman year will significantly reduce stress.  The last thing you want to do is have added stress the first couple weeks of school.  Below are some tips to help you prepare for your first year, I hope they help!

Go on a campus tour

You will want to know where everything is before your first real day of classes and the best most effective way to do this is by scheduling a tour of your campus.  I suggest doing this even if your campus is small.  Plus, often the people giving tours are current students and it is a great time to ask questions.

Campus tours are for more than just finding out where your classes are, they will also show you where your room is if you live on campus, where the dining hall is, and where student services is located.  Going on a tour will ease your mind, believe me.

Map out your classes

The best way to do this is during a campus tour.  Pay attention to how floors are numbered and how be aware of the door signs.  Any campus guide would be happy to help you do this and there is usually the option of going on a personal tour specifically to map out your classes.  When you think you have it figured out try walking around campus on your own and see if you can remember where each lecture room was.  This will help you feel more confident your first day when you have to be at class on time.  You will know exactly where to go and exactly how long it takes to get there from different parts of your campus.

Go to Orientation

I remember being extremely nervous and not wanting to attend orientation.  The thought of meeting new people, having to talk to faculty and being drilled with questions about what I want to do with the rest of my life did not interest me at all.  Actually, it brought me a tremendous amount of anxiety.  However, I put on my big girl pants and went anyways because the thought of knowing nothing about my school the first day of classes was far more terrifying than mingling with who would soon be my peers.  Let me just say, going to orientation was so incredibly helpful!  There are people who walk you through what a class might look like, there are games to get to know other first year students and it actually helps ease the first day jitters a bit.

The best thing about orientation is you realize you are not alone, there are hundreds of other students feeling the exact same feeling you are feeling and in some ways that is comforting.  I met people at orientation who I am still friends to this day.  Friends who I vent to when classes aren’t going well, friends I can rely on, and ultimately friends who started in the exact same place as me and are on this crazy university journey with me.

Go to orientation, you will not regret it.

Get Organized

One skill you will absolutely need for university is organization so you might as well start now.  It is difficult to get completely organized for classes if they haven’t begun yet but a great way to start is by buying your school supplies.  This includes notebooks, looseleaf, pens, pencils, backpack, planner, you get it, all those things.  If you plan on having a job while in college give your employer a list of days you can work, in doing so, make sure you are not overworking yourself.  When your schedule is made write it in your planner so you know which days you have more time to do school work.

Talk to current students

Experience is huge, even when it comes to college.  The number one reason I did well my first year of college was because I asked students for advice. I asked how profs tested, I asked what the best note taking method was, I asked how to study, how to write a paper, I asked a plethera of questions.  In my experience, current students are always happy to help because they were in your position once also, they know the anxiety and uncertainty you are feeling.  

By talking to students who have already gone through or are going through the process you learn what does and does not work.  You learn the little things, like how early you should show up to class, how long you should spend studying, which professors are tough markers.

It is also a great way to start networking.  If you meet students who are going into the same profession as you plan to they might put in a good word for you if you plan on eventually doing research with a professor, or, perhaps that students you ask for help will one day hire you when you graduate.

Talking to current students is worth it, trust me.

Contact Professors

Contacting your professors before you have met them in person can be very intimidating but it can also be helpful.  If its not posted anywhere you can ask what textbook you need, or just let them know you look forward to their class.  This will show you are a student who is prepared and wanting to do well.  Chances are good the professor will also remember your name which can be beneficial later on in the semester.

Prepare a Budget

I know so many students who overlook this step.  It easy to spend money in college, you’ll likely be going on burger runs, buying coffee to keep you awake, and eating junk because you are stressed.  Budgeting however is essential for those paying for expenses on their own, and even if you have some form of financial aid or parents who are helping you out a budget helps you become more financially aware.  This is a skill you will carry with you throughout life so you might as well start now.

When preparing your college budget categorize your expenses for each month and for the year.

A typical college budget will likely include:

• Tuition
• Rent/Dorm expenses
• Groceries/Meal Plan
• Textbooks and other school resources
• Gym membership or other extracurricular activities
• Gas or Public transportation costs
• Going out with friends money

I keep track of all my expenses in a notebook.  That way I always know I have enough money to buy food and pay bills.

With the extra money you have it’s always a good idea to save it but you can also throw it into your “going out with friends fund.”

Know where to get help

Knowing where to get any kind of help will put your mind at ease.  Go for a walk around campus and look for your Student Services centre.  Once you find it ask what kind of academic help is offered.  Most times, this help will be free or cost very little so be sure to utilize it! Another great thing to know is where the campus counselling service is.  You might not think you need this but throughout the semester if you are feeling stressed, homesick, or unhappy in any kind of way this is a great place to visit.  The number one thing you need to do at college is take care of yourself so do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

 

I hope your year goes great and some of these tips helped! I’d love to hear how your experience at college is going so be sure to connect with me on social media!