1. Know where to park and when you can do it.
Seriously. Pay attention to which spots will get you in trouble and avoid those spots at all cost. DO NOT think that you can sit in a 30-minute spot next to you dorm and not get a ticket… because you will. Every time. Here are some helpful tips with parking:
-Stay in your designated lot at all costs
-The parking lot next to Willard (or the Education building) gets you pretty close to the Union AND the library. This lot is free to everyone after 5p.m. and on the weekend. (Same goes for the parking lot behind Morrill!)
-Watch out for service vehicle spots. You will get a ticket if you park there.
-The Student Union Parking Garage has a grace period of 31 minutes. So, if you’re in a hurry and just need to meet someone by Caribou or pick up a friend, park here for free. (Even if you’re there longer than that, it’s only a few dollars)
-If you get a university reminder text to move your car from its lot before a game day, DO IT. It’s not worth dealing with later.
2. Check your weather app multiple times a day.
One of my biggest mistakes during my first year of college was ignoring the weather. A cold front and no jacket or a thunderstorm with no umbrella makes for a pretty miserable walk to class. During the later Fall months and early Spring months, have a jacket with you, gloves in your backpack, and when it gets really cold, don’t be too cool for the beanie and scarf. And for rain, you should always have one small umbrella in your bag, at the very least. If I even think it might rain, I wear rain boots, a waterproof jacket with a hood (crucial), carry an umbrella, and whip out my handy-dandy backpack cover. It’s water proof, covers my whole bag, and folds right back up into a small ball when I’m done with it. They’re incredibly cheap and so worth the buy. (Trust me, and all of the notebooks I’ve ruined.)
3. Don’t be too cool for tutoring or office hours.
Your friends and classmates can only help you so much. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you need a little help. There’s tons of free tutoring through the LASSO center and other organizations on campus. You can sign up online and pick the time that is best for your schedule. (Never be afraid to ask your professor for their recommendations on tutors and services.)
4. Go to every on campus event that you possibly can, especially during your first semester.
The best way to understand college culture is to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. Your freshman year is the best time to try out different groups, organizations, and activities. From intramural to service projects, there are endless ways for your to find your niche on campus. Plus, you’ll meet cool people and sometimes there’s free food at the events put on. (Check the big A-frame boards that line the road by the library, Theta pond, and the Union. There’s information about upcoming events on those!)
5. Go to class and take notes.
I cannot stress this enough. For all those people out there saying that they can pass a class while skipping multiple times a week are probably lying to you, or have a worse grade than they think. It’s okay to miss a few days here and there, but don’t spend your entire semester playing catch up because you wanted to sleep in an extra 30 minutes. And when you do go, pay attention. If you’re someone who gets easily distracted, advise that you don’t take notes on your laptop. Good ole’ pen and paper will be good enough.
6. Get sleep now.
If you have the opportunity to rest, DO IT. In college, you’ll soon learn that someone you know is always doing something that you could probably be at. And while yes, there is a time for fun and trying new things, there is also a time for rest. If you have a big test coming up or an important interview the next morning, don’t go out or stay up super late binge watching something on Netflix. Take vitamins, drink warm tea, and go to sleep.
7. Get organized. ASAP.
The quicker you get an agenda or planner, the better off you will be. Most students on campus take anywhere from 12-18 hours of classes. That’s a lot to keep track of, especially if you’re involved in other campus activities, Greek life, or even a job. Use highlighters, pens, bookmarks, or whatever you need to do. Map out your big exam dates, papers that will be due, and important events that you need to be at. Nothing is worse than making fun plans for some random weekend, only to find out that you had a paper due and now you have to stay at home to finish it. Seriously. Get organized.
8. It’s okay to be comfortable.
I mean this both literally and figuratively. To all those girlies out there, still waking up hours before their first class to curl their hair and pick out outfits, let me be the first to tell you that, if you don’t have a real desire to do that, you can stop. After the first couple of weeks of exhaustion hit me during my first semester, I cut out those extra getting ready steps to stay in bed. Wear a t-shirt. Wear sweats. Put your hair in a bun. Literally, no one cares. That being said, just be comfortable in whatever you decide to wear. If you love makeup and have a field day outfit prepping, then by all means, own that. Be yourself and don’t worry about what everyone thinks.
9. Don’t be ignorant with alcohol.
I get it. The temptation is real in college. It’s your first true time out of the house, dancing is fun, and everyone else is doing it. Seems safe enough, right? Parties in Stillwater can be extremely fun and memorable, but that fun comes from making safe choices. That means:
-If you go to a party, make sure you know at least 2 people there.
-Be aware of your surroundings. If it gets crazy or uncomfortable, leave.
-Don’t drink and drive. Seriously. Don’t. It’s not worth the potential fines, jail time, your life, or someone else’s. Call an Uber or make a friend.
-Pour your own drink or only drink from a bottle/can that was unopened. Spiking drinks happens more often that you would think.
-Have back up clothes or shoes in whosever car you’re in.
-Know your limits.
10. Call your parents.
You wouldn’t be here without them, most likely. It never hurts to hear a familiar voice, and if there’s anyone in the world who wants to support you, it’s them, even if they do seem so far away at times.
OSU is a wonderful place, full of amazing people. The memories you make here will last a lifetime, so enjoy it while you can and learn from your mistakes so that one day, you can pass off your wisdom to someone just like you.