10 Tips for Freshman Students

Hello Freshman! Are you ready for college? Are you kind of freaking out a bit? I definitely was when I first started out. Today’s post is all about tips specifically for freshman students. Going away to college can be scary at first, there is so much change happening in such a short amount of time. It doesn’t have to be all that bad though!

With most colleges starting within the next month or two, I’m going to be sharing a TON of advice on how to prepare and get ready for this new chapter in your life! I will share additional college blog posts at the bottom of this one!

Make Friends

Very cliche but true! Going to a big new school can be quite daunting. My biggest tip for freshman (and anyone!) is to make as many friends as you can. They don’t need to be best friends for life, but it’s great to have friends in a variety of places. It can be helpful to have friends in the different clubs your in or the classes you are in. You never know when you may miss a class and need notes, or need someone to talk to. Those mini friendships can turn into lifelong friends too! So don’t forget to introduce yourself and smile to new people!

Be True to Yourself

College is known to be a time to not only learn but have fun with friends. Before you get to college, right down a list of what your morals are. This can be a huge help in stay true to yourself in the midst of all the craziness that goes in at college. Maybe you are willing to go out with friends on the weekend, but only once a month! Whatever it is, right it down and take a look at it every so often.

Get Involved in Clubs

College is a time to do what you want to do! You don’t need to join the most prestigious clubs to improve your college application-you’re already in! Whatever you are interested in, see if there is a club for it. My college offered a hammock club, a sailing team and even a table tennis club! Look into what your school offers and take advantage of it!

Find out the Price Per Class

Wanting to skip a class or sleeping in and missing one will definitely happen at least once throughout your time in college. What really helped keep me motivated was to find out how much it cost per class. Say the class was 2,000 total and you meet for 30 times during the semester. That is $66 per class! Is it really worth giving away that much money for a little bit more sleep?

Write down Everything

When it comes to your classes, right down everything when it comes to the schedule. The second that I receive the syllabus for the class, I write down everything for the entire semester. There is nothing worse than realizing at the last minute that you have two big exams on the same day. Once I write all the assignments down, I will go back and update them as needed. This helped me stay really organized during the busy school year.

Take Time for Self-Care

With busy schedules and late night studying, self care can be pushed on the back burner. When I became really stressed, I would take an evening or an hour and practice some self care. I would paint my nails, do a face mask and watch a movie. This is so important to relieving stress! I would even schedule in some “me time” during the week so I wouldn’t forget.

Stay Healthy

Because of the health movement that has been happening, a lot of colleges offer healthier options now. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bar of chocolate-but in moderation. If you find yourself snacking late at night, try to stock your snack bin with healthier snacks. Eating junk food is not only bad for your health but your energy levels as well! If you aren’t finding the time to exercise, see if you can walk to your classes instead of taking a bus. Maybe you have an hour in-between classes, go for a long walk with friends! Keeping track of your health will also help prevent you from getting sick and missing classes!

Be Money Conscious

The average college student is 37k in debt by the time they graduate! With weird schedules, clubs, and other requirements, it can be difficult to keep a steady income during college. With the money that you are able to make, be conscious and don’t forget to save along the way. Luckily if you are living on campus, you may not have extra bills such as gas/electric/water! Use your school’s meal plan wisely. This tip also ties into doing a good job in your classes. If you need to retake a class, that means more money spent. A lot of colleges also offer free things! See if your campus offers free coffee, tutoring, etc.

Be Professional

Even though you aren’t having a 9-5 job yet and working in a corporate setting doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act professional. You never know when you are going to need a letter of recommendation, or when a future employer is going to see your tagged Instagram photos.

Try New Things

This may be the most fun tip! Don’t forget to try new things while you are in college. When in your life are you going to be able to take a week off and go camping for no reason? I took a class where we made food each week and tested it! Go outside of your comfort zone. You may find that you have a real knack for horseback riding that you never knew you had.