Posts Tagged ‘freshman’
3 Things I Wish I’d Known Freshman Year: The Technology Edition
Technology definitely has its place in today’s college environment, and it is important to stay on top of the latest advances to stay on top of your game.
#1: Online banking is your best friend.
Freshman year, I learned that there are many things I could do from the warm comfort of my own bed. Keeping track my bank account was one of them. I wish I’d known from the beginning how great of a resource online banking could be. When you are managing your money for the first time, it is very convenient to have a way to access account information from wherever you can connect to the Internet. Depending on weather conditions, your level of laziness, and the location of the nearest bank or ATM on campus, you may not always be able to make frequent visits and have an idea of where you stand financially. Create an online account with your bank, and you will always be able to make smart spending decisions.
#2: Other people can see your computer screen.
I have quite a few friends who had bad computer experiences freshman year. With the increasing popularity of Facebook and other social media websites, it is always important to remember that others can see what (and more importantly WHOM) you are looking at. You may assume that the people around you are paying attention to what is going on in class or in their studies at the library, but odds are if you are doing your own thing, they probably are, too. Unfortunately, this means they might be taking in their surroundings, including whatever is going on on your computer screen. There’s nothing wrong with checking your Facebook in public, but it’s WHOSE profile you’re looking at that can potentially get you into trouble. It’s impossible to know who around you will have a connection to the face on your screen, and in the small college environment, odds are it will somehow get back to them that you were checking them out.
#3: You don’t always have to be attached to your cell phone.
Building new relationships is one of the hardest parts of starting freshman year. Although you may be used to constantly texting friends on your cell phone, it is definitely a good idea to put it away when you’re out meeting new people. It is not necessary to always be talking to people who are not immediately around you, and you will come off as more interesting and more engaged if your focus is on the conversation you’re having in person instead of the conversation you’re having on your phone.
3 Things I Wish I’d Known as a College Freshman: The Social Life Edition
When I got to college, I immediately felt overwhelmed by the thought of meeting a whole new group of friends in a place that still felt so foreign. Looking back now, four months after graduation, there are three things I wish I could tell my freshman self about what my college social life would grow to be after that first year.
#1: Everyone is just as nervous as you are.
I distinctly remember walking around on my first football Saturday seeing crowds of freshmen who looked like they had everything figured out. They knew what parties to go to, who to hang out with, and seemed to have a better scope of the university than I did. The truth about freshmen is that everyone is just as nervous as you are, no matter how confident they appear on the outside. Starting college is a huge transition that takes a lot of work, regardless of whether someone enters with hundreds of high school friends or not knowing a soul. Just remember that you’re all experiencing the same ups and downs, and it will make those self-assured people a little more relatable.
#2: Your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend.
When I left for college, I was under the impression that my roommate HAD to be my best friend, and we had to do everything together. I was very fortunate to have an awesome freshman year roommate, but although we coexisted perfectly and hung out a lot, we also had separate lives and did our own things. Whether you find yourself living with someone who you love, someone who you can just live with, or someone you don’t get along with so well, it is important to understand that your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend. If it works out that way that’s great, but if not, your roommate can still be an important part of your life.
#3: The Greek System doesn’t have to define your social life.
When I went through the rush process and joined a sorority, I lost contact with many friends I’d made at the beginning of the year who had not rushed or joined different houses. Some of these people re-entered my life, but some did not. While fraternities and sororities can be very time-consuming and offer a large variety of social experiences, I wish I’d known as a freshman that it didn’t have to take over my life. It is important to keep in touch with the people that were important to you before rush because you were friends with them for a reason, and they will be great outlets when Greek life becomes a little too consuming. Having varied groups of friends is a great way to have an enriching college experience—you never know who you’ll be closest to once graduation rolls around.
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Conquering Freshman Fears: Making Friends
Photo: yourstoryclub.com
Attention incoming freshman: are you scared to start school? Dreading meeting your roommate? Don’t know if you’ll be able to keep up? Take a deep breath—you’re going to be fine. What you’re feeling is completely normal, and you’re among other students who are experiencing the exact same thing. Before you freak out and question yourself, take a look at these tips for conquering freshman fears.
Fear #1: I won’t be able to make friends.
The best thing about going to college is that everyone is new, and the living and learning environments are both designed to foster social interactions between students. The majority of freshman students will know virtually no one on the day they move to school, and find that meeting people is actually pretty easy if you put yourself out there. If you’re worried about making friends, try propping your door open during the day while you and your roommate are moving in. This will let people walking by know it’s ok to come introduce themselves and help create a friendly environment on your hall.
Fear #2: I won’t like my roommate.
Getting along with a new roommate is a genuine concern for many students who may have heard horror stories from older friends about bad roommate experiences. It may be your first time sharing a room with another person, which can be difficult for even the most open-minded of people. You and your roommate may not be best friends, but odds are highly in your favor that you will be able to comfortably share a room together. Serious problems are pretty rare, and if you do experience one, your university may be able to reassign you to a different room. Keep an open mind when you meet your roommate, and you may be surprised with the outcome. Remember, it’s a two-way street–he or she is preparing to live with you, too, and may have some building nerves, so make it easy on both of you by remembering to be open and considerate in the beginning. You don’t have to be the best friends on earth, and in fact, a simple and civil living situation is perfectly adequate for the purposes of starting your college life. With a little time, however, those initial feelings of angst will soon be a distant memory.
Fear #3: I’ll miss my friends from home too much.
When you leave for college, you may think that you won’t be able to live without your friends form home. You will miss them a lot, but like you, they are away at school experiencing new things and meeting new people. If YOU don’t let missing your friends hinder you from meeting new people, then it won’t happen. Rather than sitting in your room on Skype during Welcome Week, get out with your roommate and start making new friends. By the end of freshman year, you’ll think that you won’t be able to live without your new friends either.
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5 Things You’ll Want to Know Before Starting College
Heading off to college is very exciting. You’ll be entering a whole new world, as our magic-carpet-riding genie-conjuring friend would tell you. And, as with what happens when becoming part of any new world, it’s nearly impossible to know all the in’s and out’s from the get-go–a certain red-headed mermaid-gone-human could tell you that.
Incoming freshman, you’ll be surprised at how different college might be from your initial expectations. But, to help ease the transition from high school to college, here are 5 things you’ll want to know before you start:
1. Major change
Yes, college will be a totally, crazy, incredible, major change. But, more importantly, chances are you’ll actually majorly change your major. One semester you’ll be all about horticulture and saving the environment, and the next you’ll want to transfer to the business school to get an internship at some huge oil conglomerate. The point is, just expect the unexpected.
2. Always be on your dream job search
Whatever dream job you’re working for at the moment, always keep it on mind. You never know when an opportunity might just be passing by. It’s never too early to network, talk to professors or local businesses. They could have the perfect internship for you during the school year or job waiting for you after you graduate.
3. How to microwave popcorn in a dorm room
Pro: Your college dorm probably has very high quality, sensitive smoke detectors. Con: Burning a bag of microwave popcorn can lead to 250 students in their pajamas (and there’s always one in a towel) waiting outside in the cold at midnight. Don’t be the culprit. Watch your popcorn pop carefully–don’t leave the room while it’s going.
4. You’re paying a lot of money, get the most out of it
If you’re not sure that you’re getting the most out of your education, think about the number of nights this month you spent partying, and then look at the number of zeros on your tuition. This simple exercise will most likely lead you to the conclusion that you definitely need to use the resources more that you’re paying such a steep price for. This includes the libraries–the books, study areas and computer labs–professors and research opportunities.
5. Independence –the double-edged sword
By the time you leave for college, you’re probably dying to get away from home and live on your own. Just remember these things still need to happen: grocery shopping, laundry, household chores, and overall taking care of yourself. Without a 24/7 caretaker (aka mom and dad), you might be surprised just how tedious these little thing can be.
So, before you head to college, we just want you to be prepared–a certain murderous lion would definitely want you to know that.
Do you have any other tips? Comment and let us know!
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