5 Tips to Ease into College for the First Time

Its fall semester for us college gals and, for many, it is a brand new semester. Exciting, right? Well, not everyone may feel excitement, or it may be buried under a huge pile of nerves. Whether you are a freshmen or a transfer student, being on a new campus for the first time may be the most nerve-wracking experience. You are leaving all of the familiarities of high school and entering a whole new world, which can be both scary and exciting. Luckily, we have some tips that will definitely make your transition a whole lot smoother.

1.    Manage your time

A college campus can be very distracting. With all of the activities going on during the first week, and the fact that college professors tend to not give you a lot of directions when it comes to due dates, it can be pretty easy to get overwhelmed. The best solution to this is to just find the best way to manage your time. Write down your class times so you know not to plan anything around those times. Set aside however long you feel you need for homework and studying because you CANNOT get through college without putting in studying time. Definitely read your syllabi – it is the one thing that can keep you from having cramming sessions because you can plan according to what your professors have as their assignment due dates. Many students use planners or calendars to mark down everything they need to do to keep everything on track.

2.    Put your nerves into something productive

Nerves are usually unavoidable, especially if you are living on campus for the first time ever. The best way to get rid of nerves is to put them to use. Sure you don’t have a ton of space in your dorm room, but that does not mean you can’t make it cozy and cute. Decorating your dorm room can give you something to do and can make you feel at home. Target has a new College Styler interactive tool to help you find the best way to decorate your dorm room and make it your own oasis.

3.    Get out there and meet people

You cannot expect to get through college without meeting new friends. Yes it is hard losing touch with your high school group, but college allows you to meet so many new and interesting people. Talk to your classmates and roommate, chances are they are just as nervous as you are and are just waiting for you to break the ice. One of the most important things you can do is to join a club. At USF, there are so many clubs available that you can join and start to meet new friends. “By far the best way to adjust is to get involved. Find an organization you can join and meet new people and begin to create a solid friend base. There is so much more to college than just your grades, and when you look back on this time, what you’ll cherish most are the people you met and the memories you made with them,” USF senior Alta Kay Hendrickson said. 

4.    Set aside some free time

With all of the homework and studying you will be doing, it is important to remember that you take time to just relax. The stress of class can get to any student, let alone someone who is just experiencing their first college class, so allowing your body and mind to breathe is important. Helpguide.org suggests you develop a “stress relief toolbox”, which is just a list of ways you can recharge your body. Some of the things it suggests are things such as: go for a walk, hang out with a good friend, write in a journal, and watch some comedy shows or movies. Remember, just because you want straight As, you need to give your body some time to unwind.

5.    Believe in yourself

College courses can be very difficult and require a lot of work; the most important thing to remember is that you got into college, they accepted you, which means you deserve to be there. Believe in yourself and know that you are making your own mark on this campus. It might be stressful and seem impossible at times, but it is all worth it in the end. 

The first time on campus can be pretty intimidating, but if you just get through it, you will definitely find your place and have the best time of your life. College is supposed to be an exciting part of life so don’t let the nerves keep you from enjoying this new chapter in life.