You’ve spent all summer looking forward to it.
You already know what your room will look like, have survived orientation and you’re ready to start what everyone calls the best years of your life.
But no one ever talks about the first few weeks.
So how do you survive the first few weeks of college?
Meet new people
I know, it’s easier said than done.
During the first week, people will hang out with those they know from their high school or camp or orientation. If you don’t know anyone or you want to meet new people, it’s intimidating.
The best thing you can do is throw yourself into new groups until you find something that fits. Join a club, religious group, or an organization that interests you.
Meet your neighbors
If you live in a residence hall, you’re likely surrounded by other freshman. If you live off campus, you’re likely surrounded by people who have the answers to all of your questions.
Talk to them
If you’re like me and don’t like knocking on strangers’ doors unless you have a purpose, bring food. If knocking on doors scares you, just sit in the common room.
In my experience, chocolate works best for girls and peanut butter for guys.
When in doubt, choose both
People will come up to you. You’ll be amazed.
Provided by Caitlin Ostroff
Do a test run
You’ll get lost. It’s an inevitable part of the freshman experience.
One day you’ll be pointing prospective students in the right direction, but today isn’t that day.
Before your first week, map out all of your classes and practice walking there from your residence hall and the main parts of campus. It’ll save you so much trouble.
And don’t be afraid to ask directions. The person walking by gets it. We’ve all been there.
Take weird classes
I’m awful at science. It makes no sense in my head. So at orientation I signed up for a class called World Herbs and Vegetables.
Strangely enough, this is my favorite class I’ve taken so far. We learned about the biology of plants and spent most of our time in the greenhouses on the rural side of campus.
It felt like Herbology.
For one project, we had to make instruments out of vegetables.
You can’t not become friends with your partner after sitting outside, whittling a carrot into a recorder.
Carrot recorder. In case you’re wondering, it worked (barely).
While I can’t claim it’s a class I’ll use in my day-to-day life, I can honestly say I learned new information I never would’ve otherwise.
So try something new.
Do cheap (and free!) stuff
One of the beauties about being a college student is the fact that the world knows you’re broke.
Most museums, theaters, art shows, sporting events and guest speakers give discounts to college students if you show your student ID. A lot of times these will be on campus.
Even if you go to school in a college town where you don’t get as many discounts, you can use it when you go home or to other cities.
You’re also living in a new city with its own traditions, so explore those. Sunday brunch, seasonal festivals, fairs and local parks are things to try.
Provided by Caitlin Ostroff
Surviving your classes
Go to office hours.
Whether you’re acing the class or you’re completely lost, meet your professors. If you don’t know what’s going on, office hours are a great time to get caught up.
If you don’t need extra help, go talk to your professors anyways. See if they’re doing research you can get involved with or ask them about topics they study.
You’ll have a professor who knows you well when you need that letter of recommendation.
Also, read your syllabi.
Write down all the due dates so you don’t have any surprises. Sometimes you’ll have an assignment due every week. Other times everything will be due at once.
Make a note of how much of your grade assignments are worth.
Sometimes a test might be five percent of your grade. Other times it’s 40 percent.
These are good things to know ahead of time.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Bottom line: How everyone transitions is unique to them. You can’t judge yourself based off of friends, parents or siblings.
If you’re struggling with homesickness, roommate problems or your classes, colleges and universities have resources to help.
Use them. Willingness to ask for help is a strength.
Good luck and enjoy college. You got this!