10 Things I Wish I Knew as a College Freshman
freshman year Becca and friends
In the past three years, I feel like I’ve learned so much and grown so much, but I wish I had an older brother or sister to tell me some tips going into freshman year. Here are ten of the things I wish I had known when I was in your shoes.
Many seniors told me when I was a freshman to build a solid relationship with my professors and of course I didn’t listen… I was a good student but never really made the time to visit them in office hours or just stop by to introduce myself. Now I’m telling you, make friends with your professors! Your professors drive your GPA and are the source of recommendations for internships and study abroad programs. Make sure you at least introduce yourself.
Diversify your friends. It’s easy to meet a group of people and solely go out with them every night, but trust me by making friends in different groups you will experience so much more and it will help you expand your network.
Call your family! I know you’re busy with classes, meeting amazing people, and trying new things, but take the time to call your grandmother and tell her about the new club you joined or call your father and tell him about the hard class you’re taking. You’ll thank yourself later when you need to lean on them.
Read the news. Not just who recently got kicked off the bachelor, but the current events happening locally and nationally. It will make you well-cultured and give you the ability to have a meaningful conversation with another human.
Try to attend as many school sponsored events as possible whether it’s a home basketball game or a haunted house for Halloween. When you look back on your college years you’ll be glad you have memories that don’t all involve alcohol.
Find upperclassmen in your major. They’ve been where you are now and can help you narrow down what to study for a test or which classes to take with what professors. They’re way better than your advisor and most likely want to help you.
Scan all your old homework, study sheets, and old exams and keep them on a google drive or Dropbox so you can easily access previous class material.
Join a club or get involved in a sport and stick with it! It’ll help you create strong bonds with other students and give you a break from the hustle and bustle of classes.
Explore career development options outside your home/college town. The world is yours and the options are endless. Why not spend a summer interning in Australia?
Lastly, just remember to appreciate where you are and how hard you worked to get here. There are kids who would give anything to have this experience, to be where you are right now in this very moment.
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