Essentials to Successfully Adjust to College Life

It seems like just yesterday you were shutting the door behind your parents with a sigh of relief, knowing that you would no longer have to listen to their relentless nagging or abide by their unjust rules. It’s been over a month since that glorious moment and for many of us the transition to college hasn’t been quite what we expected. You’ll quickly find that college is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. College is a life experience to cherish and at the end of the day, book smarts are just as important as street smarts. Now that you’re finally on your own, check out our top five ways to adjust to the hectic transition of college.

MEET NEW PEOPLE

• If you’re anything like me, you went from having countless friends in high school to virtually none when you came to college. You’ve had the same friends your entire life and now everything you’ve ever known, everyone you’ve ever known is taken from you. You feel robbed, you feel lonely, and it’s easy to let yourself slip into a depression. You’ll soon realize though that almost everyone is in the same boat. While it may be intimidating to go up and talk to new people, most of your peers are more than willing to make a new friend. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel the same connection with new friends that you did with your old friends. Remember, you didn’t make your old friends over night either.

DON’T DWELL ON THE PAST 

• Relationships in college can be tough, especially when you’re at two different schools. Unfortunately for most couples, the turbulent first semester of freshman year can be a relationship killer. I’ll be the first to admit, that breaking up completely sucks, especially during such a vulnerable time, but it’s important not to let yourself stay down for too long. The plus side of getting over an ex at college, is there are plenty of ways to distract yourself, and of course many new faces to catch your attention. Remember, you’re not the only one going through heart ache, it’s up to you to move on.

GET INVOLVED, SERIOUSLY

• We’ve all seen the cheesy posters around campus telling you to get involved, but nothing ever seems to catch your interest. After all, in high school you were never in Student Counsel, you weren’t much of a Mathlete, and you definitely weren’t a member of Anime Club. However, getting involved in college is very different from high school. There is a much more vast variety of clubs, as well as an option to make your own. Greek life is also an option, joining a sorority is a definite way to make friends and keep you busy. Whether you decide to actually join a club or sorority, it doesn’t hurt to check it out, there’s a good chance you might meet some awesome people in the process.

MANAGE YOUR TIME

• Remember those dreaded three words you heard all through out your high school career? The three words that were drilled into your mind by every counselor and teacher you ever had, manage your time. For those of you who thought you had finally escaped the phrase, you were rudely awakened within your first week of college when you met with your advisor to discuss none other than… time management. While, browsing facebook during class for the first time may be a liberating experience, it will soon be trumped when you receive your first failing exam grade. College is an exciting time, and sometimes school work isn’t your top priority, but by finding a median between  academics and social life, the impossible task of managing your time can seem much more doable.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

• For those of you coming from a more suburban area, moving to the city can be extremely overwhelming. The people you meet and the things you do at VCU may be far from what you’re accustomed to, however my number one advice to all of you is to keep an open mind. Try new things! Going to a liberal arts school like VCU gives you an opportunity to meet some of the most interesting and diverse people you will ever meet in your life. Embrace the city, and soon it will feel just like home.