Nervous for college? Here are 12 college tips for new students
This post is all about tips for freshman in college.
If you’ve stumbled across this page looking for tips for freshman in college, I applaud you. You’re probably quite nervous and aren’t sure exactly what to expect, but you’re doing your due diligence to ensure that you’re as prepared as possible.
When I started college, I had no idea what to expect either, quite honestly. Looking back, my mindset was ‘go with the flow’ in a lot of ways. Don’t get me wrong, I love being well-prepared; I applied for zillions of scholarships and made sure my tuition was paid. I went through my textbook lists, syllabuses and supplies checklists twenty times. But I’d taken a year off school to work and had no clue how much work was coming my way. I didn’t prepare myself mentally and I didn’t have a realistic view on what my schedule would look like or what kinds of events I could get involved with at school….
So, once again, I applaud you for being here, because I’m going to give you some tips for freshman in college that I wish I knew when I started school.
This post is all about tips for freshman in college.
TIPS YOU NEED FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE:
1. Talk to your professors
Most professors love when you introduce yourself to them personally. I’m not advising you to suck up to them like crazy. But, depending on how your program is set up and how big your school is, you might come across certain professors quite a bit throughout the few years of your program. So, start it off on the right foot by introducing yourself either right after class, or stop by during their office hours to say hello.
I will admit, I did this first semester. But a couple professors didn’t care that much about my efforts, so I dropped this practice in second semester. I regret that because many of my professors in second semester were professors that I continue to be taught by. Although I have positive relationships with them now, I wish I’d made more of an effort at first to put in a good first impression. So, even if it seems like some professors don’t care, don’t let this discourage you. Introduce yourself anyways; you’ll be thankful you did later on!
2. Aim for perfect attendance
You might think this is obvious, but it’s easy to let yourself miss a couple classes when the semester gets really stressful around midterms or finals. So, even if other people are doing it, try not to skip class. This is one of those tips for freshman in college that I wish I’d followed better. You might feel like you’ll be more productive if you skip class to do some big assignments or study for finals, but in reality, all you’re doing is letting more work build up that you’ll have to catch up on later. It’s a vicious cycle. Don’t do it! After all, you’re not paying thousands of dollars just to not show up!
3. Learn to type fast
Thankfully, I already knew how to do this. Throughout my freshman year, I had many friends comment on how fast I am at typing and how thorough my notes were because of it. While they all had to re-listen to lectures before exams in order to catch things they missed, I had the security of knowing that I didn’t miss anything because I could type it almost faster than the professor could say it.
That being said, in NO WAY do I recommend typing every word of a lecture! You only need key points and valuable information. But, some professors ONLY give key points and valuable information, and they give it FAST. So, knowing how to type quickly is a total asset. If you haven’t had that opportunity, there are tons of online programs you can use for free to learn how to type fast. You’ll save time studying and will be well-known as the person with the best notes!
4. Know where and how much to get involved
This is one of the most important tips for freshman in college because I’ve found that freshmen often have one of two problems: They either get WAY too involved and it takes away from their studies, or they don’t get involved enough. So yes, get involved. Maybe you already have a club or team in mind that you want to join. Great! My recommendation is to join one club or team that requires a high level of participation and commitment, and one that requires a low level of commitment.
For example, in my first year, I went out for my school’s slam poetry team, which was a high level of commitment. It took up more time than a couple of my courses combined. I also joined my school’s Christian fellowship. This was something with a low commitment because it was merely a social club. There was no stress if I couldn’t make it to meetings or events because they were simply for the purpose of community, not anything competitive or academic. I found this to be a great balance and a great way to get to know my peers on a deeper level.
5. Make health a priority
Ever heard university students or alumni talk about eating ramen everyday? Living in a run-down apartment? Pulling all-nighters five times a week? Yeah, don’t do it. Of course, people talk about these things for a reason — at times, they’re unavoidable. But don’t fall victim to the mindset that it gives you clout or makes you a ‘real’ student. Make health a priority. Eat healthy, try to get enough sleep and manage your time well so that you’re getting enough rest. Try to fit in workouts when you can.
And if you need to eat ramen and Kraft Dinner sometimes, no stress! Sometimes anything more is not in the financial OR time budget. If you need to pull all-nighters sometimes, no worries, just don’t forget your caffeine. And if you live in a run-down apartment for a while, just make sure you have your landlord on speed dial. There is no shame in these things. Just try not to make them habits if you can help it, even if they’re habits for everyone else. You need your body to be healthy, well-rested and fully functioning in order to do well socially and academically!
[RELATED: Tips on Meal Prep (+3 Cheap Breakfast Ideas)]
6. Get a credit card
College is the perfect time to start building up some credit. That being said, I say this tip cautiously because if you’re going to use your credit card to splurge or spend over-budget, YOU SHOULD NOT GET ONE. Or at least get your parents to monitor it if you’re able. But, getting a credit card to pay for things here and there (that you can pay off) like your phone bill, your netflix account, or your metro pass will allow you to start building up credit and make you look good financially in the future.
[RELATED: How to Budget in College: 4 Simple Tips]
7. Minimize laundry
Laundry is one of those things that you don’t realize you desperately have to do until the last minute. Then, of course, you realize at an inconvenient time when you have class or an event and can’t immediately get to the machines. So, I recommend bringing enough clothes for about 3 weeks and bringing two sets of bedsheets. You’re going to be extremely busy in college, and minimizing the amount of times you do laundry (and when you do, doing it all at once) will actually save you a surprising amount of time.
8. Set up ground rules with your roommate
This may sound uncomfortable, but being on a different page from your roommate will only set you up for a frustrating year, no matter how much you like them. In my freshman year, when I first started living with my new roommate, I casually set the stage for our relationship. I told her that I wanted us to be honest with each other if there was ever something bothering one of us. She understood that if there was something I was doing that she couldn’t stand, I wouldn’t be offended if she told me. I would rather have her just be upfront about it so that I could stop doing it and make her experience better.
When I said this, she agreed and said she’d do the same. We upheld that promise to each other. I will always say this is one of the best tips for freshman in college. I can’t think of a time my roommate and I ever got mad at each other for something rather than just letting each other know what was bothering us. We’re still extremely close friends now!
[RELATED: Questions to Ask a Roommate in College]
9. Make a LinkedIn account and an online portfolio
Having a LinkedIn account is obvious for some career paths more than others, but I recommend it for everyone. I’m in the arts, and most people in the arts don’t think that having a LinkedIn account is important. But starting a LinkedIn as a student, no matter what field you’re studying, is a great way to build a network that will serve you in the future. You’ll be able to connect with peers across different programs as well as professors that you form strong professional relationships with. It’s like having a virtual business card where everyone can see all your credentials, experience, and the professionals and industries you’re connected with in just a couple minutes. It makes you look really good!
If you’re in the arts or another field where a portfolio is helpful, creating an online portfolio is professional and critical for building career success. I’ve landed many freelance jobs simply from referring people to my online portfolio (which is this website). This website, paired with my LinkedIn account, has most of my professional work on it. In a few short minutes, professionals can find out whether my work is what their organization is looking for. So, I highly recommend an online portfolio to anyone in a portfolio-based field!
10. Get business cards
I WANT TO SHOUT THIS TIP AT EVERY FRESHMAN I SEE! It’s surprising how many people ask students for their business card. Save yourself the embarrassment of admitting you don’t have one and looking extremely unprofessional. I’ve been asked countless times by professionals after performances and freelance work or even at random social events. It’s really easy to create a business card on Canva and get them printed somewhere like Staples or Vistaprint (I’m not affiliated with these companies, but I use them). They’re not that expensive either, and if you order a couple hundred, they’ll last you a long time. So, create them, print them, order them, stick them in your wallet, and be prepared!
11. Be familiar with your school’s resources
I was clueless in my freshman year when it came to the resources that my school offered. Often, schools will have offices related to financial advising, counselling and health centres. Many schools even have writing centres where staff or peer tutors are prepared to help you with essays and other assignments. Find out what resources your college offers and keep them in mind for when you may need them.
12. Take advantage of learning opportunities
Universities always have free resources popping up throughout the year, like workshops run by professionals on various topics. So, keep up to date with what your school offers and what events are being held. Get out to a few that interest you. College isn’t just about class, it’s about community!
This post was all about tips for freshman in college.
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Susan Evans says
What a great set of tips! I think making health a priority is especially important, as most college freshmen are out of their parents’ house for the first time, and no one else is making sure they eat nutritious food.
Lauren Dempsey says
I completely agree! And it can be hard to learn how to really make health a priority as a student, when you’re so preoccupied with your schoolwork and your friends. But health is not something you would want to compromise!
Jenny says
One thing I learned in college was to make friendships a priority. The relationships you make here will come with you into the future even more so than your high school ones.
Another tip: if you’re looking for work, start with the school cafeteria or other on campus jobs. These jobs are a short commute and usually flexible enough to adjust to your schedule.
Lauren Dempsey says
Great additional tip! Yes, the friends you make in college are truly important. I’ve had many friends with campus jobs and they’ve always found it to be extremely convenient for their schedule and since they didn’t have much of a commute to work since it was already on campus. Thanks for adding that!