When they told us in 2022 that these would be the fastest four years of our lives, I think the entire class of 2026 had the same thought: no way. Four years later, with only 16 school days left, I think it’s safe to say they actually weren’t lying. As our seniors begin choosing where they will spend their next four years, there tends to be an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty. Starting a new chapter somewhere new can seem extremely daunting, but it should also be exciting! College is very different from high school, but not always in a bad way. So, without further ado, here is How To: Survive Freshman Year of College!
YOUR ROOMMATE
Your roommate can honestly make or break your entire freshman year. A good roommate makes it much easier to adjust and not feel so alone during this transition. A bad roommate, however, can make your transition ten times harder. So when talking to different candidates, make sure you choose someone who is compatible with your lifestyle AND your personality! For more details and advice on roommate selection, check out Jaelyn’s article on how to find the perfect roommate here!
YOUR CLASSES
Beginning college classes is one of the main things that makes the transition into college so scary. Throughout high school we have always been told a few repeating things: “Your college professors won’t put up with this”, “In college you will have no time in class to complete work”, and “In college you won’t get study guides or in-class review time.” While these things are all true to an extent, it is very possible to manage everything and excel in your classes! One very important thing is ensuring that you know what study methods work best for you. There are a plethora of ways to study, but each of them differs in effectiveness by the person! My advice is to try out each one and see which one(s) work well for you and stick with them! It’s also a good idea to keep an itemized calendar, with due dates, events, exams, etc. so that you never miss anything important! As it is very true that you don’t get class time in college for assignments, it’s vital to carve out specific time each day to work on assignments, ensuring you don’t fall behind and everything is completed to the best of your ability. Along with completing your work, it is very important that you actually GO to class. You’re quite literally paying for these classes, just go to them. It’s very easy to fall into bad habits early on by not attending class, so don’t set yourself up for failure!
JUST SAY “YES”
One of the most daunting things about the transition from high school to college is moving away from your friends and not knowing anybody. One of the most helpful things in making friends is just saying YES. What I mean by that is that if someone invites you somewhere or asks you to do something with them, just say yes! You never know what friendships may blossom and just saying yes makes making friends so much easier!
At the end of the day, it will all be okay! I promise. Yes, this transition is scary, but it’s also exciting. You haven’t met so many of your favorite people yet and haven’t experienced so many of your favorite days yet! It’s okay to be scared, but there is so much to look forward to!
