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Freshman year of college is fun and exciting. You’re finally away from home and completely on your own. It might seem like a scary thought at first to some while thrilling to others. I was a mixture of both when I went away for college. I went several states away where I didn’t actually have cell service my entire time being there but I loved it as I was on my own having the adventure I always wanted. Sure there are some things that I would’ve changed if I were to do it all over again, but I regret none of it. So here are a few things I do wish I had known going into college.
- Step out of your comfort zone. You’re not going to make friends staying in your comfort zone. And you won’t experience things if you don’t try them. So get outside your bubble every now and then.
- It’s okay to say no. Sometimes you have to turn down going out with friends to study, so don’t be afraid to say no every now and then.
- Don’t take studying lightly. In high school, I’ll be honest I never studied. I didn’t have to so I didn’t take studying seriously in college until I failed a math exam my best subject. Every time after that I studied my butt off. A lot of time staying late at the library just to study.
- Don’t forget to call your family. They miss you and catching up with them every now and then will help you feel less homesick. I used to do Skype dates with them weekly and that made me super happy because I couldn’t just go home on the weekends. I was 18 hours away from them by car and 2 hour flight away, which neither is a cheap option.
- An 80 percent is actually a good exam grade. In high school, I always got 90-100% on tests and when I got into college I originally got so defeated when I got 80% then I finally got my first F in life. And boy that 80% felt amazing every time I got one afterwards. Also it’s just an exam, don’t beat yourself up over it.
- Don’t procrastinate too much. This was another thing that got me a few times. I put projects off that were due months away because I had all the time in the world to do them. But if you do a little here and there, it’s a whole lot easier than cramping it in all at once.
- Go to class. You can’t forced to be in classes like you were in high school, but your grades will be a lot better if you do. Plus professors are more likely to help you out if you show up for their classes. Some even have rules that if you miss more than three classes without a note or something, they will not pass you.
- You don’t have to buy books from the college bookstore. There a lot of cheaper places to get college textbooks. Some websites will let you rent an eBook for a semester while a lot of people sell theirs online for a fraction of the price. An older edition is often the same as the newer ones so that can also help you save a buck since they are so fucking expensive.
- No one cares about how cool you look on campus. When I first started college, I tried to look like hot shit every day. It was exhausting and by the end I went to classes in sweats and a t-shirt. You won’t be the only one doing that. Hell almost everyone is just walking attending classes in pajamas. And no one cares. It’s wonderful!
- Guys have not matured from high school to college. They are the same as ever before. If anything they have regressed because they don’t have their parents watching over them anymore. Some girls are the same it’s not just the guys.
- Coffee and energy drinks will become your best friend. I thought I was bad before drinking two cans of pop at night. Now I seriously have to have at least two cups of coffee and an energy drink to get through the day. In college, that was even worse. It will help you get through classes and long study sessions at the library.
- Don’t over indulge in junk food all day every day. Freshman 15 is a real thing. Ice cream, pizza and burgers seem amazing to have whenever since you can have them without anyone stopping you. But you will gain weight, it’s not healthy. Take it from a person who thought her metabolism would stay the same and it wouldn’t matter what I ate. It did. Have fun but don’t go nuts. Try to eat a balanced meal as often as possible, it’s not going to be your last meal.
What are some things you wished you knew before going into college?
