Source: Flickr user merrimack
Being a freshman in college is an exciting time! Everything is new: your room, your friends, your classes and professors, the food you eat, and the amount of homework you receive. It’s very easy to get caught up in it all and forget what you’re actually there for. However, the opposite can also be said. It can also be easy to enter the library and never leave. It’s all about finding the right balance between school work and social life.
Here’s a list of 35 things you must do after you find the right college for you:
1. Go to college orientation
2. If you’re living in a dorm, leave your door open when you’re home
3. Join a student organization, any club, or 3
4. Take a class that you never would have considered in high school (e.g., entomology, racquetball, Mediterranean cultures, etc.)
5. Talk to the people in your classes–you never know who will end up being your Maid of Honor/Best man at your wedding
6. Invest in a really awesome student planner–you’re going to need it
7. Go to the activities/events that are specifically for freshmen and meet people
8. Get to know your academic advisor
9. Find your study spaces on campus
10. Spend a weekend or break at someone else’s house to experience other ways of living
11. Go to the organization fairs and join something you’ve never heard of
12. Try every cereal offered in the dining halls
13. Stay in touch with your parents–you still need them, especially to combat homesickness
14. Master the art of doing laundry
15. Go to every single class. No skipping
16. Find an all night diner or restaurant that has free wi-fi and awesome pancakes
17. Attend at least one sporting event each semester
18. Participate in the activities put on by the campus activity board–fees for these are included in your tuition, so you might as well go check it out
19. Find an exercise buddy and utilize the rec centers. Again, you’re already paying for this, so you might as well use it
20. Eat at the non-chain restaurants around campus, then when Mom & Dad visit, take them to your favorite
21. Remember to spend time outside. Take in some fresh air and vitamin D every once in a while
22. Decide if study abroad is something you might be interested in
23. Find the best coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and bakery near campus
24. Dress up once in a while–sweatpants are great, but not for every day
25. Do at least one job shadowing
26. Skip the bookstore–buy your books elsewhere
27. Declare a major, then change it, at least once
28. Spend time with your parents–on the phone, via Skype, or in person
29. Ask for help–use professors’ office hours, peer tutors, your RA, etc., just don’t wait until it’s too late
30. Remember to occasionally wash your bedding
31. Volunteer–give back to the community that you’ve joined
32. Eat in the dining hall as much as possible. It’s built in to what you’re paying, you can eat as much as you want, and you don’t have to do the dishes.
33. Use the free trial of Amazon Prime for students
34. Learn to drink coffee instead of fancy espresso drinks–it will save you a ton of money and calories
35. Find part-time jobs for college students to get some spare cash. You don’t want to have to call Mom at 2 am to make sure it’s okay to use her credit card for a late night Taco Bell run
This is definitely not a comprehensive list. Each college and university offers different opportunities for their students, so make sure you take time to check out what your school has to offer. Make sure you’re also listening to yourself. Know what you need to do to be successful, just don’t forget to have some fun on the side!
If you have something to add to the list, leave it in the comments section below!
