College can be the best four years of your life, or the worst, it is what you make of it. The beginning of freshman year can be a very daunting time, and can feel overwhelming and scary. The most important thing you need to know when starting college is every person around you is in the same boat. You are surrounded by all new people, away from your parents, with a level of freedom you have never experienced before. Lucky for all you University of Maryland freshmen, we have created an extensive guide to help you survive your first year of college!
Social
1. Introduce yourself to the people on your floor.
Do not wait for people to come to you. You might spend the whole year waiting. When you introduce yourself first, you can speed up the process of making a new friend. Most likely the other people on your floor are just as nervous as you are to meet new people. Putting yourself out there reduces the awkwardness that comes with meeting someone new. And who cares if after that first conversation you never speak again? It is their loss not yours.
2. Do not worry if everyone is going out and you are not.
Getting caught up in how everyone else is spending their Friday night will not get you anywhere. At the end of the day people pay much more attention to what they are doing than to what the girl across the hall is up to. You should not let your weekend plans define you.
3. No one cares if you drink or not.
If you are not comfortable drinking at a party then do not do it. If you really feel the need to hold a drink, then a soda will probably be around somewhere. Whether or not you are having fun should be the priority of your night. If you do not feel like drinking then it is safer not to than to force it to seem cool.
4. It is OKAY to be alone sometimes.
Some people tend to feel that if they are eating alone in the dining hall then people will think they have no friends. This is not true at all! Chances are you and your friends are going to have completely different schedules. This means you might have to eat some meals alone. Almost everyone on campus has this issue and you will see tons of people eating by themselves. If you do not feel comfortable just sitting and eating, find a quiet spot and do some work while you eat, or watch TV.
5. Never go out or leave a party by yourself.
This tip is very important. Everyone thinks the stories they hear on the news about what happens to girls at college parties will not happen to them, but it can. When you go to a party make sure you go with people you trust and make sure you leave with the same people. You will feel a lot safer and have a better time knowing that if something unplanned were to happen the people you are with will help you get through it.
Academics
1. Do the readings.
Many times professors will assign readings and there will not be an assignment to check if you read. Most students tend to blow these readings off but that is not a smart choice. The readings are there to reinforce the materials and cover things that the professor might not be able to spend a whole lecture on. The material could still be on the exams and will be useful for writing papers.
2. STUDY!
I know in high school there were times I could take a test without really studying and do fine. That is not the case in college. Most exams cover a lot of material you probably learned in a very short amount of time. Taking the time to study will definitely help you remember the material for the exam, and also help you retain it so you can use it later in life.
3. Go to your TA or professor’s office hours.
If you have a question about a paper or do not understand something from a lecture, ask your TA for help; that is why they are there. Your professor may not be as available as your TA ,but they will have office hours as well. You should use them to your advantage. At times it may not seem like it, but your professors want you to succeed. It will help you immensely if you use all the resources that are available to you during the 15 weeks of class so you are not cramming and stressing for your midterms and finals.
4. Do not procrastinate.
This is definitely one of the biggest issues students have in college. Since most classes do not meet everyday it makes it easier for students to put off work and leave it until the last minute. As tempting as it might be to put off starting your paper for one more day, I would advise you not to. Even if you just write a paragraph or two, it is better to start an assignment early, and do a little bit each day, than to do the whole thing in one sitting. If you start an assignment early, you will have more time to edit your work, and think about what you really want to say before you turn it in.
Clubs
1. Join a club that is relevant to your major.
This will not only help you to determine that you are definitely interested in what you are studying, but it can also turn into a great networking opportunity when it is time for you to look for an internship or even a job.
2. Do not spread yourself too thin.
It is definitely important to be involved on campus. However, you want to make sure you have a balance between work and time to unwind and relax. Clubs should be a fun thing to do outside of your everyday routine. You do not want them to add on extra stress.
3. Try a leadership position.
Almost every employer loves to see you not only branched out in college, but you can handle the added responsibility that comes with a position in your club. Think of clubs as a test for the real world and your career. If you can handle being the president of a major club there is no reason you should not be able to work for a major corporation right?
4. Try new things.
College is about finding your passions and discovering what you might want to do for the rest of your life. Although your classes will definitely be a key factor in deciding on your career, clubs allow you to try something new without the pressure to get an A.
Self-Care
1. Take breaks.
College is a very stressful time and it is important to avoid things that will increase your stress level. All-nighters and 8-hour study sessions might seem like a great way to cram for an exam or finish a paper, but the result will not be what you had wanted. Take some time to relax in between studying and classes. When I am studying for a long period of time, usually during finals week, I try to study for 30 minutes and then take a 10 minute break. After a while your mind stops retaining the information. Especially if the topic is not all that interesting, you will start to notice that your mind will wander or your eyes will droop. The key to great studying is to avoid this at all costs.
2. Do not go out more than you can handle.
*read: do not drink more than you can handle*
For many college freshman this is your first taste of true freedom. However, the primary reason you are here is to get an education. Do not jeopardize that in order to get wasted one night. If all your friends are going out for the fourth night in a row, and you feel like you might be sick from all that drinking, or you have an exam coming up, stay home. Your friends should understand where you are coming from. Ultimately, your health and education come before anything else in college.
3. Call your family.
Even if you do not miss them or do not want them to think you miss them, still call. Your parents are nervous wrecks now that you are away from home. Calling to let them know you are ok will help them to worry less and make you feel better even if you did not think you needed it. Keep this in mind throughout all of college and beyond. Your family worries about you whether they need to or not. The least you can do is assure them that their worrying is unnecessary.
4. Plan some alone time.
If you have a roommate, you are very rarely alone. With this in mind you may start to find that you are going stir crazy or you just need a break from the constant talking and opinions of others. Plan a hour or two to just be with yourself and your thoughts. Time spent studying or doing homework does not count. This should be your time to do what you want to do without the interruptions of others. Watch a movie, read a book, or edit pictures from your summer vacation. Do something that puts you at ease and makes you happy.
College is one of the best experiences you will ever have. It not only prepares you for your first job, but for all of life’s lessons that are soon to come. It is your job to make it the best time you can!