by: Olivia Kerper
1. Make a List of Goals to Accomplish
College can be an overwhelming time full of change and transitions. The easiest way to feel secure in your future in an institution is by planning and organizing. Think about what you want to get out of this experience.
Do you want to graduate having already been accepted to medical school, or do you have no idea what to even major in? Either way, you are not alone. Coming up with concrete, attainable goals can assist you in focusing on what really matters.
2. Do Your Research
Do you know how to get from your dorm to the library? How does your meal plan work? What does your schedule look like? Who is your advisor? What is one class you will regret not taking during your four years? Taking the time to research and plan was one way I was able to feel more in control during a time like freshman year of college. You can never know too much! Most of these questions will be answered within your first week of being on campus, but keeping yourself busy with research can be a helpful tactic to calm nerves!
3. Create a Rough Academic Plan
Don’t know your major yet? No worries! Go through the college’s academic catalog and make a list of classes you can see yourself taking. Count them up and see which major you have the most from! I started as a business administration major but quickly discovered that my heart was in Psychology, which I figured out by researching courses that were available at my institution. And if you do know your major, it never hurts to make a few rough schedules that balance Gen Ed’s and Major classes!
4. Plan Your Dorm
I would say the biggest mistake I made going into college was attempting to redefine my personal style. Instead of incorporating the comfy-chic vibe I had going on in my room at home, I decided I would be minimalistic and decorate with only white and blue. And while it looked really cute in pictures, I was never able to feel like I was home. Your dorm room is the place where you recharge and prepare yourself for each day—you should prioritize doing small things to make it feel like home. Whether that be bringing your favorite candle that smells like your house, pictures of your friends and family, or your old comforter, it can be different for every person! Don’t discredit your dorm room because you feel like you may not be in there too often—it is so incredibly important!
5. Not Everyone Has It Figured Out
My biggest struggle as a college freshman was that I had absolutely no idea what to do with my life. I had so much passion and drive, but nowhere to put it. I changed my academic plan more times that anyone I know (not that it’s a competition) and finally settled on a major I love.
I started out freshman year as a Business Administration major, as did a large portion of my class. It wasn’t quite for me, which I figured out halfway through first semester. I decided to switch my major to Undeclared (which I should’ve done in the first place) and add a Spanish minor. I still didn’t know what to major in, and by the end of the semester, I had added English as a minor.
Second semester rolled around and I decided I wanted to try English as a major and possibly religion as a minor. I never quite got that far, because after my first Psychology class, I changed my major immediately. I still go back and forth on minors, but honestly, I’m content just getting a degree.
Everything will come together in time. If you don’t come into college with a set plan for what you want to do with your life, I encourage you to enter as an Undeclared major and take as many classes that interest you as possible. There is no shame in not knowing what you’re doing–most people end up switching their major anyway and taking classes they can’t use in the end! Remember, just focus on yourself and try not to compare your journey to other’s.
6. Everyone is Different, and That’s a Good Thing
One of the biggest culture shocks about college was how different everyone was from me. I’m not talking about appearance–I mean the way they were raised. Not everyone has the same morals as you. Some people have the discipline of an army soldier and some are content letting their grades drop and will do nothing about it. You cannot get caught up with the way other people live their lives, because I guarantee you, it will not matter in the long run.
College is a great opportunity to figure out on your own how you view the world and form your own beliefs. Use it as a time of introspection–take things in, but don’t react to it if it will cause more harm than good.
7. Take Your Time
If there is one thing I wish I knew before college, it was that there is no race to be won. There is no competition involved in college, even though it may feel like it. How quickly can you graduate? How many credit hours a semester can you take? How few times did you come close to dropping out? I assure you, once you have your diploma in your hand, it does not matter how many minors you have or how fast you finished.
There is no pressure to be anything other than who you are. That’s it. My Dad always encouraged me that no matter what my grades ended up being, as long as I made an honest attempt and tried my hardest in my classes, that was more than enough.
College is an extremely personal journey. The feat lies in getting your degree at your own pace while balancing life into emerging adulthood. It is almost absolute that you will change significantly from the time you move into your freshman dorm to when you walk across the stage at graduation. Take your time, take the pressure off yourself, and enjoy yourself. It’s only four years!
wanderlustingliv 