Quick Guide to College for Freshmen

Beginning a college career is not only your next step in your education, but the next chapter in your life.

With college comes a lot of firsts – the first time living away from home without your parents, the first time having control over your own class schedule, and the first time you get to make decisions about the direction your life is going. But with all these firsts, it can also be nerve-wracking.

Luckily you have some help. If you’re on your way to college for the first time, take a look at this guide to college for freshmen, and you’ll have everything you need to know.

1. Making Friends is as Easy as Asking “Want to grab some lunch with me?”

One area that a lot of college freshmen have trouble with is making friends, even though college is perhaps the single best opportunity to find companions. There are countless people living right next to you who have never known you before. Any embarrassing moments or mannerisms from your past can be practically erased.

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And best of all, making friends is a lot easier than you might think. Ask someone from your 11:00 class whether they’d like to grab lunch with you. Leave your dorm room door open to invite others to come in and talk to you. Participate in hall activities no matter how unenthusiastic you are about them. And in all the activities you attend, never be afraid to ask someone new, “Hey, how’s it going?” It’s a lot easier than you think.

2. Classes Come First

College offers you amazing opportunities. Among those opportunities are chances to develop your social life. But never forget why you’re at your university in the first place. Once your social behavior interferes with your class work, you have a problem. Get your work done first, there will be plenty of time for play afterward.

3. Your Professor’s Job is to Help You

Never hesitate to visit your professor during their office hours or to ask a question, no matter how basic it seems. You are paying your professors for your education, which means that you should use their help in any way you need in order to understand the material.

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4. If You Don’t Go, You’ll Never Know

Yes, the comedian appearing on your campus might be really lame. But they also might be really funny. Ask someone from your dorm floor to check it out with you. If it ends up being a bust, you at least will have the opportunity to make fun of it together later.

This also goes for trying out for things. Maybe you aren’t good enough to act in college, but what’s the harm in trying out for the play and finding out?

There are lots of little ins and outs of the college game that you will learn over the next four or so years. But if you keep the four points listed above in mind, everything else will fall into place.