1. Know the buildings and how to get there.
There’s nothing worse than running around campus on the first day with a map in your hand and even worse when you show up late to your class (trust me we’ve all been there!). To help make things easier, make sure you know where you’re going by finding the buildings day before.
Hibbs Hall (HIBBS) – 900 Park Ave. This is where your first year academic adviser will most likely be.
Harris Hall (HHALL) -1015 Floyd Ave. The Financial Aid Office is on the first floor.
Oliver Hall (OLVED) – 1015 W. Main St.
Pollak (PLLAK) – 325 N. Harrison St.
Life Sciences Building (LFSCB) -1000 W. Cary Street. It has a much longer name but we’re just going to forget that.
Temple – 901 W. Main St. This one can be a little tricky to find if you’re new to the campus. If you leave Harris Hall on the main street side (where the snow cone food trucks are), cross the street as if you’re going to the Life Science building, but instead it’s going to be on your left.
Academic Learning Commons (MCALC) – 1000 Floyd Ave.
Snead Hall (SNEAD) – 301 W. Main St
2. Be careful of what you bring to class.
If your bag looks close to this please return home. You probably don’t need to bring the textbook to the first day of class since this is syllabus day. Expect to bring your laptop or a notebook, but that’s about it. Also, many students wait about one to two weeks to buy their books either because they are waiting on their financial aid refund or trying to see whether or not they want to drop the class or not, and most professors know this. Know that some books are not completely refundable, so be sure that you’re going to stay in the class before you buy.
3. Avoid buying your textbooks new.
Many freshmen, including myself, have made the mistake of buying their textbooks new. Maybe it’s the air of excitement and ambition, but you have to hold your breath! Check out Amazon, Textbooks.com, class Facebook pages and your friends to see if you can get a better deal first. Buy used and old, because even if that means your textbook isn’t shining and smelling like roses, you probably saved a few hundred dollars.
4. Don’t go crazy with your swipes.
If you’re living in a freshman dorm then a meal plan is required. They’re great and they’re also always there for you. However, don’t be that person that started with 300 swipes in the beginning of the semester, but went too crazy with the fancy eats at Shafer and ends up bringing more than one to-go box to the midnight breakfast by the end of the semester. Side note: I swear on my pantry full of ramen that you don’t need anywhere near 300 swipes plus Dining Dollars if you’re responsible, and even then it’s way too expensive anyway.
5. Be excited!
Be excited for the best four years of your life (so far)!