Welcome to the University of San Diego! A place full of opportunity, independence, and just plain fun—for many, it is a place dreamt about for years. But no matter who you are, college can be a pretty intimidating place when you first step foot on campus.
Once you have met your roommates, said goodbye to your parents, and survived the overwhelming amount of icebreakers at Olé Weekend, you may feel unsure about what the next four months will bring. Most people do! In order to help you on your journey at USD, here are five useful pieces of advice to help you transition into being a Torero!
1. Sit in the front of class
Obvious, yes. But coming from high school, most people are accustomed to a seating chart and would rather sit in the back of class. In college however, it’s very important to snag a seat in the front. Even though there isn’t an official seating chart, it’s basically an unspoken rule that you stay in the seat that you chose on the first day of class. By sitting in the front, you will be more engaged with what your professor is presenting and less likely to stare at your phone during the whole lecture. Thus, good grades are calling your name!
2. Go to the Alcalá Bazaar
I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved! The Alcalá Bazaar, which takes place on September 8th, 2015 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, is the perfect place to find something that interests you. With tables on intramural sports, cultural clubs, academic organizations, and Greek life, there is something for everyone!
3. Keep in Touch
Leaving your family for the first time can be a very difficult thing to experience, especially if you are from out of state or even further. But balancing social life, academic life, and family time can also be difficult for students who live within a couple hour radius of USD.
For students who are far from home in San Diego: call your family as much as you need to. FaceTime, Skype…whatever makes you feel connected with your family back home. As time goes on and you begin to feel more comfortable at USD, the phone calls may lessen. This is okay, your family will understand! Though they miss you, they just want you to grow!
For students who live driving distance from USD, this is great! Especially if you are homesick. But by all means, do not go home every single weekend. It is very important to get to know your peers and to feel a sense of community at USD, so make sure that you are spending at least half of your weekends on campus.
4. Explore San Diego
San Diego is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world. The sunny weather, the palm trees blowing in the breeze, and of course, the beaches. What’s not to love? During your first semester at USD, take some time to explore the city that you chose to live in. Take day trips, hikes, and bike rides; have days laying on the beach and nights sitting by a bonfire. Live it up in sunny San Diego, because college will go by a lot faster than you imagine.
5. Balance
Last, but definitely not least, the most important piece of advice an incoming freshman needs to hear is to BALANCE. Balance your schoolwork, social life, health, eating habits, sleeping habits – you get the idea. It is much easier said than done. But if you consciously attempt to live a more balanced life, your college experience will set you up for the future you desire!