Just when you finally figured out how to work the high school system, you graduated and are now being thrown into a totally foreign environment: college. While it no longer matters if you know exactly how short you can roll your skirt before the dean notices, and you no longer have to worry about catching the school bus or remembering your locker code, there are plenty of new mysteries to solve. From lecture halls to the cafeteria to the fitness center, your collegiette journey will take you into plenty of unknown territory. To make sure you get off on the right foot, here are a few insights on how to make your freshman year one to remember!
1. Get on good terms with your TAs.
Of course you want your instructors to like you, but when you’re one of 500 students in Bio 101, catching the professor’s attention can be a little challenging. Luckily, most of your huge lecture classes will have at least one, if not four or five, Teaching Assistants (TAs). TAs range in age from sophomores to PhD students, but no matter their age, they’ll definitely be more accessible than the elusive prof who’s too busy with his academic research to even tell you his office hours. Plus, TAs are usually the ones who are actually grading your work, so they’re usually more willing and able to lend you a hand.
The first step to getting friendly with your TA is making sure they know who you are. They can’t help you if you’re just another name on the roster. The easiest way to introduce yourself is going to their office hours, which are special times they’ll set aside during the week specifically for the purpose of meeting with you. These hours will be listed on the syllabus, so even though you’ll be handed a billion pieces of paper during your first few days of college, do NOT lose this one! Besides office hours, the syllabus will also have all your assignments for the semester, course expectations, a grading scale, and tons of other stuff you’ll need to know. You may also want to put each TA’s name, phone number, email address, and office hours into your phone just so you’ll always have their information.
Go to office hours with a question about class lectures or homework, or even just to say hi and to let your TA know how excited you are to be taking their course.
2. Befriend your classmates.
Some of the most important relationships you’ll make in college will be with your classmates. First off, no one likes sitting alone all semester, especially if the lectures are less than riveting. So, on the first day of class, either look for a big group of people who all seem to be introducing themselves, or look for someone who’s sitting alone. Ask if the seat next to her is taken, then strike up a conversation about which dorms you live in, your levels of interest in the course, or whatever you can think of. Don’t worry if you feel a little awkward. This conversation will only last until the professor starts talking, and by then you’ll have already met your first potential study buddy. That means you’ll have someone to sit with in class, someone to study with before exams, and someone who will give you her notes if you happen to sleep through class at some point during the semester.
Befriending your classmates is pretty easy, since you automatically have something in common to talk about—even if it’s just how the midterm next week is going to kill you. But since most college courses only meet two or three times a week, you’ll have to try meeting up outside the classroom if you really want to get to know your classmates. Not to worry, though, because you already have a built-in reason for meeting up: studying for that murderous midterm. If you don’t feel like waiting for an exam, you can still meet over coffee to do your homework or to edit each other’s papers. You can also invite them to parties, ask what they’re doing that weekend (to see if they’ll invite you along), invite them to a movie, or see if they want to get lunch after class. With a little effort, your classmates can become some of your closest friends!
3. Form effective study groups.
Another reason to buddy up with your classmates is to make sure you’re not left alone in your dorm the night before an exam, freaking out about how many notes you have to outline before the big test. Study dates with friends are way more fun than solitary panic, but sadly, they’re not necessarily more effective, so choose your study buddies wisely. The girl in your Anthro class who invited you to all those awesome parties may not be the best choice for your study group if she slept through every one of your 9 a.m. discussion sections. On the other hand, the girl who sat in the front row with a rainbow of highlighters lined up on her desk every day is probably a good person to get to know.
Once you know who you want in your study group, your next challenge is figuring out when to meet. Everyone’s schedule will be crazy, and if a key member of your group is only available Saturdays at 8 a.m., you’re going to have to get creative. Consider putting your groups’ notes and outlines on a shared Google Doc or meeting up via Skype or Google Hangout. This can be a huge help, especially if you’re dealing with upperclassmen who live off-campus. Divide up the semester’s notes by week or subject and have each of you work on one section so that everyone comes to the study group meetings prepared and ready to be productive. But remember that the point of a study group is making your life easier, so if getting everyone organized is increasing your stress level instead of helping you relax, it may be time to rethink your arrangement.
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4. Meet new people through extracurriculars…
The best way to make sure you have friends all over campus is to get involved with plenty of different extracurriculars. Don’t be afraid to throw in some variety, even if that means trying something you’ve never done before! College is the perfect chance for a fresh start, whether that means auditioning for an a cappella group or taking up a sport you’ve never even heard of (inner tube water polo, anyone?)!
Getting to know these new and different people will mean taking a risk and stepping outside the comforts of your chosen major or assigned dorms. But upperclassmen will usually be willing to take you under their wings, showing you the ropes and the unique joys of that club. So check out the school’s activities fair, sign up for anything that looks interesting, and try stuff out until you find what you love (or, at least, who you love to hang out with)! Rachel, a recent grad from Butler University, says: “My rule of thumb is to grab a flyer for anything that sparks your interest. Also, sign up for mailing lists so that you don’t miss out on upcoming events. Getting involved in clubs early is a great way to know what else is going on [on] campus!”
Lauren, a third year at Exeter University, says, “In terms of meeting new people, you just have to throw yourself in at the deep end right from the beginning! Go to as many events as possible in the first week and just speak to lots of different people.”
5. …but don’t overload yourself.
Of course, now that you’ve signed up for all these extracurriculars, you may find out that you don’t have quite as much time on your hands as you’d like. You have orchestra rehearsal three times a week, fencing club every Monday, Pilates class every Wednesday, and you’re working in the library 10 hours a week. Not to mention, you’re taking 15 credit hours and trying to keep in touch with your friends back home. Pretty much the only thing you’re NOT doing is sleeping. How do you find time for everything you want to do AND keep your grades up?
The first step is to take a deep breath and realize that you can’t do everything. Even though it’s easy to be super excited about all the amazing opportunities your school has to offer, take time to really think about which commitments matter the most to you. Feel free to sign up for a ton of stuff, but pare it down to two or three commitments sooner rather than later—before the other club members start depending on you or expecting you to bring refreshments for the next meeting.
6. Invest time in a club you’d like to eventually lead.
Now that you’ve chosen your favorite couple of clubs, you may find that you really love what you’ve chosen to get involved with, and you’d like to spend more time with it. Some college extracurriculars can even be valuable assets for beefing up your resume when you’re looking for an internship or a job later on. If you’re hoping to write for The New York Times one day, you might want to try for section editor of the student paper. Of course, this may not happen for you freshman year. But, you can start laying the groundwork for future leadership positions sooner rather than later.
Kristin, a junior at Drake University, says, “Don’t wait to get involved! For example, the magazine I work for on campus hires editors and writers within the first month of school because we need to get the ball rolling early.”
First, try to figure out who the leaders are and what positions they hold. It’ll help to have some inside knowledge when you do end up running for a position as an upperclassman, especially if you’re not yet totally sure what being the “Sergeant-at-Arms” entails. Ask questions about anything that confuses you to gain information and demonstrate your interest. People love to share what they know.
The best thing you can do to ensure a leadership position later on is pretty obvious: show up to the meetings and participate to the fullest. If perfect attendance isn’t possible because of schoolwork or other commitments, at least send the club pres an email beforehand so they know you can’t make it. Showing up to every meeting you can on time (or early) will guarantee that the executive board members know your face and know you’re dependable and enthusiastic, two qualities that will scream “leader” come election time.
7. Eat for free.
One of the painful realities of college living is the sudden lack of a fully-stocked, parent-funded refrigerator. While your parents may still give you some allowance money, they probably won’t be there for a last-minute loan when you need money to see Thor: The Dark World in November. One area in which you can save up some cash—and avoid missing out on Chris Hemsworth’s glorious biceps on the big screen—is groceries.
Sure, you have a meal plan, but all those late-night caramel lattes from the campus coffee shop will quickly start to make a dent on your Dining Dollars, and, before you realize it, you have a month remaining in the semester and about 15 bucks left to fuel your caffeine addition (not to mention your growling collegiette stomach). Luckily, college campuses love to feed you. If you need another incentive to attend every club meeting you’re signed up for, think of the snacks.
Most clubs you join will serve some kind of refreshments at their meetings, but if your fave extracurriculars are distinctly food-free, don’t be afraid to drop in on another club’s meeting or special event. Even if you’re not super interested in politics, on-campus screenings of debates may be good events to check out if they serve free pizza. Department lectures are also a surprisingly great opportunity to snag some free grub. You don’t have to understand the Heisenberg Principle to know the physics department puts out a great spread. Also, language and culture clubs might have food from that culture at their meetings, so checking out the French club could be a good place to pick up free crepes.
8. Do NOT procrastinate.
Now that you’re a collegiette, no one’s really going to be breathing down your neck to make sure you finish all your homework. In fact, depending on your major, you may not have a lot of written work to turn in for your classes… but you’ll still have to have done all the reading by the time the midterm rolls around.
In order to get all your work done, you’ll need a quiet place to study. Because your dorm room is generally a shared space (especially since, as Syracuse University student Allie points out, a lot of freshman dorms observe an “open door policy” to encourage socializing), it may not be the quiet study haven you crave. The main campus library may be great for research, but come finals week, the entire student body will be camped out on every available surface. Try looking for a smaller department’s library or lounge.
Preparing for your first semester of college can be a pretty daunting experience. You’re about to be thrown into the unknown away from everything you thought you had finally figured out. But thanks to these tips, you don’t have to be feel totally adrift. Before you know it, you’ll be surrounded by new friends, studying what you love, and enjoying some awesome new extracurricular activities. You may even come up with some advice of your own for next year’s class!
Photo Credits:
Teaching Assistant
Group of Friends
Volunteering
Thinking
Free Pizza