NEW COLLEGIATE ON CAMPUS
ADVICE FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN
College isn’t what you see in the movies, unfortunately. A lot of freshmen arrive thinking that college is going to be all fun and parties, and are terribly disappointed when it’s not. Learn to balance fun and school so you you aren’t spending the next 3+ years of your college career trying to makeup for what you did freshmen year.
NUMBER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE:
Get involved! From the second you step onto our campus for freshmen orientation you will be told to get involved. UW even sets up tables in the union every week of summer orientation to help you get involved. Especially as an incoming freshmen or transfer student, this is a great way to meet people of all ages and backgrounds on campus. A graduate student on campus who wishes to stay anonymous stated, “Join anything and everything to know what you like. The things you don’t value will fall away and you’ll be left with all the organizations you do enjoy.”
The first week of the fall semester even offers an RSO Fair out in Prexy’s Pasture. A large number of student organizations set up tables for students to come around to and ask more questions. There’s usually free pizza around lunch time as well.
HOW TO: DEAL WITH HOMESICKNESS
Homesickness is real, and it happens more often than you think. Some students are homesick the second they step foot on campus, while others may take several weeks or months to become fully homesick. There are several ways to deal with being homesick though. Our top three suggestions are: call home, get involved, and plan visits to go home.
Sometimes all you need is a parents voice to help get you through the day, so don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call them. They’ll be equally excited to hear from you. Once again, get involved. The more you have to focus on, the easier it will be to adjust. While going home too often can prove to be detrimental, it is still important to take a weekend here and there to go home. After a while, going home will feel strange and you’ll be homesick for your college town.
No matter what though, don’t give up on college just because it is not what you thought. Her Campus CC, Kaitlyn S. struggled with being homesick when she first arrived at college. “I had a really hard time. I cried a lot, and rarely left my room. I even planned to transfer to a college back home at semester. But one day I woke up and decided to actually give UW a chance. Now I’m sad I didn’t do that sooner, because staying here was the best choice I could have made.”
HOW TO: OVERCOME THE FEAR OF TALKING TO UPPERCLASSMEN
Upperclassmen aren’t as scary as they look. That’s just the look of fatigue or a severe hangover, possibly both. The absolute best way to meet upperclassmen is to – you guessed it – get involved! Join Greek life, or one of the over 200 RSO’s (registered student organizations) on campus. It’s a great way to not just meet friends, but upperclassmen.
HOW TO: SURVIVE THE DORMS
Living in the dorms can be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding experiences in your college career. Especially here at UW, where there are communal bathrooms and guys and gals are on the same floor. It can be exciting at first, but there are a few things you need to remember. Try not to hook up with your floormates. While it may seem like a great idea at the time, if things don’t end well, you still have to live twenty feet from this person. On that note, remember to be respectful of everyone on your floor. Obey the quiet hours during the week night and especially during finals week. Make sure to clean up after yourself in common areas, and keep your room smelling nice, so those passing by don’t have to deal with the smell. Finally, always, and I mean, ALWAYS wear shoes in the bathrooms. When you share a bathroom with 20-30 other people, it gets to be a little gross. I highly recommend getting a pair of slippers, and a pair of shower shoes to avoid getting sick or a foot fungus.
Other than that, enjoy your floor and get to know each other! “I made some of my best friends freshman year, so really get to know your floor! FIG’s (freshman interest groups) are a great way to get paired with people in your major or with similar interests!” Rebekah C. a senior, stated.
DORM LIFE
LIVING ON OR OFF-CAMPUS
Wyoming has a first year live in requirement for freshmen in the Residence Halls which isn’t as bad as it sounds. Because of this requirement, freshmen are set up for success and retention by building relationships with floormates. The placement of the Residence Halls on campus are also convenient as the halls are in the center of campus making going to athletic events or class a five minute trek. Another feature of the Residence Halls at Wyoming that can’t be found on other campuses is the underground tunnel system that connects each Residence Hall to the dining hall which makes going to breakfast in your pajamas a reality.
After your stint at the Residence Halls is over, the university also has a wide variety of apartment style living on the far end of campus which makes it feel like you aren’t still living on campus. The advantage of these being a shuttle system that will get you to class in seven minutes, 24 hour on call maintenance, and all utilities included into a fixed rent amount. There is also a wide variety of off-campus living options for students that are close to campus as well.
MUST HAVES
Among the usual college living essentials of Ramen and coffee makers, you will want to be prepared to brace the winter weather as Laramie is a winter wonderland almost 9 months out of the year. Layers will be key for surviving the cold which can include jackets with multiple, removable layers, warm snow boots with traction because of ice and moisture, and you can never bring too many scarves, gloves, or pairs of socks.
ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
“Get involved and allow yourself to be uncomfortable. I came to school afraid to branch out, in a serious relationship which meant I only had two friends and my boyfriend’s friends. Because nothing lasts forever, I found myself as a sophomore confused about how to make friends. Soon I got involved with a multitude of different activities that helped me gain memories, solidify my career choice, and become more of myself than I’ve ever been. Don’t be afraid to let yourself try new things and establish your own identity.” -Channing B. (Senior)
DORM EXPERIENCES:
“It was really hard. However, I’m glad I did it for the experience, but I would never do it again.” – Caitlin T. (Senior)
“I made some of my best friends freshman year, so really get to know your floor! FIG’s (freshman interest groups) are a great way to get paired with people in your major or with similar interests!” – Rebekah C. (Senior)
“It was okay, but remember it doesn’t last forever. Don’t rule out college as a whole just by being in the dorms. It gets better.” – Abbey W. (Sophomore)