Dear Freshmen,
The time has come: you are finally in college. There are many ups and some downs to this experience, but I am here to give you advice on how to keep those nerves away. This is a big transition in your life, and I went through it all last year, so here is some advice based on what I learned from my first year of college:
1. Meet Your Floor
Within the first few weeks of school, get to know the people living on your floor. Sine you’ve probably had the same friends for a decent amount of time, it is important to reach out to as many new people as you can when you first get to school. Especially if you are traveling to a new state for school, it is really important to get to know the other people in your dorm. It is a new and exciting experience. Be super friendly, and make the effort.
2. Don’t Be Afraid of Cliques
When people first get to school, they tend to cling to the first people they meet. These could be the friends they have for the rest of the year, or maybe not. Either way, it is natural for people to want to find a comfort during this big transition. Everyone is afraid that they aren’t going to make friends, so remember that everyone is in the same boat as you – some people just handle situations differently. However, don’t worry, because once everyone gets settled in, you will find your way and find friends that truly click with you.
3. Explore Your Campus
You probably toured your school months ago, and barely remember where anything is, so definitely take a day to see what your campus has to offer. Every campus has unique places to go and things to see that you may not even know are there. It is not only important to locate your classes, grocery store, library, known restaurants, etc. but also, the parts of your school that make it so special.
4. Stay on Top of Your School Work
This one was obviously coming, so here it is: work hard! Honestly, there is a reason that college is known to be the best four years of your life, but it will not be as fun if your grades aren’t up to par. If you allocate time for homework and studying in advance, it will be easier to spend time with your friends when you want to. Sometimes it’s hard to be motivated if the people around you don’t have homework as much as you, but if you put in the time when needed, you will feel so much more relaxed and will be able to enjoy.
5. Seek Opportunities
Whether school clubs are your thing or not, it is a good idea to seek out your school’s Club Fair. Club Fairs in college are very different from ones in high school. There are clubs for everyone – no matter who you are. Clubs help you make new friends, get involved in something you are interested in and build your résumé. (UW-Madison’s Fall 2016 Organization Fair is September 14th and 15th from 5-8pm! Stop by our booth!)
6. Enjoy Every Moment
Even though I am only going to be a sophomore, I feel like college is flying by. Freshman year went by so fast and I wish I could do it all over again. There will be moments of feeling insecure, missing your family, or feeling behind on school work, but at the same time, you will have new friends to comfort you and will always be showing you ways to have an amazing time. There are so many firsts throughout this journey, and it is important to try new things whenever possible. You only get four years of college, so make the most of every moment.
So, to the class of 2020, enjoy the first of the best years of your life!