As finals week approaches, my first year of college is coming to a close. I came to DePauw excited about college, but dreading another four years of school, and I can already tell these four years are going to go much quicker than I expected. I know what it feels like when you’re getting ready to go to college – that nervous excitement consumes you, and you feel like you’re an adult for the very first time. Things can get hectic: packing, signing up for classes, exploring campuses. I wanted to offer some advice to you, and not your every day “join campus organization!” and “don’t skip class!” advice, because I know you’ve heard that all before. I want to tell you the advice I wish I had heard before coming to college – the advice that might not seem important, but could make your transition just a little bit easier. In a way, this also helps me to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout my first year of college.
- Whatever clothes you’ve packed, put half of it back in your closet.
I came to college with the majority of my wardrobe packed into my car, just to find myself only wearing a fraction of it throughout the year. I got so many free t-shirts that I definitely didn’t need to pack any. I only wear a select few outfits on rotation. You’re better off just picking your favorites and stopping there. Your closet will likely be too small anyway, and if it’s not, using the extra space for storage will be a much better use of space than filling it with untouched clothes.
- Effective studying strategies are CRUCIAL.
Whatever studying techniques you got away with in high school are most likely not going to cut it in college. I rarely needed to study for tests in high school, and when I did, it was usually not very effective. I quickly regretted putting myself in a position with little to no studying skills. I have three steps to offer to help you make effective studying strategies.
First, you need to know what works for you. Maybe you like one long study session, or maybe you like to take it a little bit at a time. Once you figure this out, find a study spot and commit to it. Learn to associate this spot with studying. Finally, if you can, make studying fun! Romanticize it: have your favorite drink with you, play whatever music you like, use pastel highlighters – whatever helps!
- Do NOT forget an umbrella.
This may seem obvious, but in the packing frenzy before college, some things are going to be forgotten. Whatever you do, do NOT let your umbrella be one of them. The last thing you want on your first rainy morning at college is to realize you forgot your umbrella and will be forced to walk to class in the rain.
While I could go on forever with obscure advice, I don’t want to overwhelm you. The most important advice I can offer is to just take it day by day and enjoy it. Plus, too much advice would spoil the experience – the fun part about college is learning how to do everything as you go!