Coming to college, I had no idea what to expect. High school went very well for me, and I almost thought learning at a university would be very similar. However, it ended up being so different, and not just academically. Here are some of the things I learned from my freshman year at the University of Denver.
1. Studying is necessary… and I mean absolutely necessary.
Although I was in some very challenging classes and had a pretty full schedule throughout high school, I wouldn’t say I was necessarily fully prepared for a college workload. Yes, I had developed good habits throughout high school of always getting my homework done and dedicating large amounts of time to my classes. However, studying for high school classes is entirely different from studying for college classes. Professors aren’t sitting there holding your hand; only some give out study guides. Even those that do aren’t necessarily basing their exams completely on what the study guide consists of. That’s why, even if you’re doing all of the homework and completing a study guide in preparation for exam, it really isn’t enough. You have to master the material, which can be very time consuming and challenging, but worth it in the long run.
2. It is SO easy to get distracted in the college environment… especially without the help of your parents or guardians.
Oh, yes, we all longed for the day when we didn’t constantly live with our parents looking over our shoulders. But, nobody warned us that this big life change would make it a lot harder to focus on academics. For me, I was fortunate to grow up with parents who valued my academics, and always made sure I stayed on track as far as getting all of my homework done and meeting my requirements for graduation. Since I had done so well in high school, and hardly ever needed a reminder to stay up to date on my academics, I thought it would be easy to hold myself accountable for my academics. However, living on my own has proved to be much harder than expected, especially since there are a lot of people around me who seem to put their social lives and partying ahead of academics. This can be a huge distraction since there is most definitely an urge to go out and socialize as well. I have felt bad for staying in on nights a lot of my friends are out having fun; but my grades have thanked me.
3. Procrastination is realer than ever, but there are ways to overcome it.
I thought I procrastinated in high school, but it has never been a bigger problem for me than it has been while in college. It is easier to procrastinate when you have many other responsibilities to take care of, including grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, and more. Not only that, but along with the undergraduate experience, there are a lot of clubs, extracurriculars, research opportunities, and of course jobs that students have on their plate. Learning how to balance time is key to fighting procrastination. Making a daily schedule with all of your responsibilities and figuring out exactly what you are holding yourself accountable to do in the free time that you have can really help. Don’t get trapped into the dangerous loop of procrastination; find a strategy that works for you to get things done in a timely and efficient manner.
4. There are so many people available to support you if you take the time to look.
In high school, teachers may hold your hand more and provide a much bigger support system than professors in college do, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t support available in college. There are offices and programs for everything you may need. From places to go to ask about the logistics of college like financial aid all the way to places to go to discuss sickness and mental health, it is almost impossible to find oneself at a loss for support in any area. I have found support in advisors in multiple departments, in the clubs and people I surround myself with, and even in special programs I am involved in like the Honors Program and the Learning Effectiveness Program. Whatever you may be going through, I promise there is someone who can help – you just need to search for it.
5. It’s very easy to accidentally eat too much (and even too little).
Before college, everyone tells you to be careful not to get the infamous “Freshman 15.” However, I quickly realized when I came to college I wasn’t eating enough, and when I did, I was eating more on the unhealthy side. My weight started to drop, and soon enough I lost 15 instead of gaining it. Ever since then, I have been trying to hold myself more accountable for eating healthier and on a schedule. It was easier when I was at home and provided with healthy meals every day. It is hard to go to the dining hall and make better decisions with eating, especially when juicy burgers and quesadillas are warm and ready. Watching your eating is really important, because being healthy helps not only with stress, but with so many other aspects of your life as well. Now is the time to eat right and keep those habits for a healthier future you.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list on what I have learned from freshman year of college, these are the top five. Don’t forget that college is one of the best times of your life, so enjoy it, and take it seriously. You won’t get these years back.