Welcome to college.
Population: Lots.
Location: Unknown.
Population: Lots.
Location: Unknown.
If you're like most freshmen, you probably took one look at campus-that big, forbidding maze of shady buildings and alleys, parking lots and professors waiting to watch your every move-and nearly turned tail to run and hide.
FYI, most professors are pretty cool. And also FYI...most college students have been in your shoes before. So how do you prepare for the most adventurous foray into school you've ever had?
1. Tour.
You can't get to class (or the closest bathroom, for that matter) if you get lost. Most campuses have tours built into their schedule. Choose an individual tour (for just your family) or a regular one (with a group of other nervous freshmen). I found this helpful because I could ask questions you can't find answers to on college website. Also, a big plus, the tour guide was usually a student themselves, so they had a waaaay different outlook than the professors did. Tours often come with certain times for certain majors, and in my experience, parents can tag along on the tour and any discussion the group might have. You might feel a bit like a tourist on an African safari, staring at the wildlife, but just know that all the other students have been in your shoes before.
2. Plan.
Now, I am that student who double-checks everything. I make a handmade map (or you could make a spreadsheet) of my general class schedule each week, then tape it to my front door so my family can see it plain as day.
Another way to keep track of your school schedule is to take a picture so you always have it on your phone. I find that making sure I know how to get from one building to another offers me a sense of independence and security. I also tend to pull out my schedule as I walk the first the day(s) of classes, so I don't get lost.
Check off the places that will have maps, friendly personnel to answer questions, etc. Make a broad list of what you will do during the day. Will you eat lunch, and where? Which class is next and how much time will it take you to get there?
Check off the places that will have maps, friendly personnel to answer questions, etc. Make a broad list of what you will do during the day. Will you eat lunch, and where? Which class is next and how much time will it take you to get there?
FYI: If you are a freshmen, and are late, don't panic! Most professors will understand.
3. Organize. The night before a big vacation is always the worst. You're super excited (hopefully) about the trip, but are feverishly packing random things "just in case" that make your bag too heavy and your mind overly stressed. College is no different. The night before my first year (or any year, for that matter), I packed things like deodorant, hand sanitizer, tissues, an extra notebook, a case of pens, several snacks...It was terrible! I barely used any of those things all day, and my bag? Well, a front pocket zipper ripped before the semester was out (thankfully, there were two). My point is to organize your stuff the night before, but only what you'll need. Here's a list of some non-academic essentials I found were helpful or just nice to have "just in case":
- Hand sanitizer (in case the soap machine is out or you touch something sticky)
- Tissues (a must if you're prone to nosebleeds)
- 3 pencils/pens
- Extra pen/pencil
- Phone charger (community ones could carry viruses)
- Laptop charger (ignore if you don't have a laptop)
- Earbuds for music
- Highlighter (I recommend yellow)
- Perfume or deodorant (a must if your campus has tons of stairs)
- Mint gum
- Sunglasses
3. Buy (early).
Everyone needs a travel guide on a safari. You know: which wildlife is poisonous, which places are the best to eat...the works. Buying a textbook early (emphasis: EARLY) is best. I once needed a textbook for a technical writing class, and when I went to the college bookstore...there was one left! You can choose to look on Amazon or other websites to have a book delivered if theirs is of better quality or if the college ran out of the book you need. My college offered not just a list of the books via the store, but also via Amazon or eBay and then listed the condition and price it would be. Buying textbooks sooner takes a huge load off your shoulders.
4. Research.
No safari guide travels without tons of knowledge in their brain, and you shouldn't, either! Look up the college's website. Click through images, events, learning resources, and even pretend to buy textbooks. The process of this will create a familiarity with the website that you may not get, even in a group-led setting, with someone showing you what to do. Yes, it might be confusing, but that's okay. All because you fail once doesn't mean you've failed school!One way to remember what you've researched is to take a picture, or write the info down. This will help you remember it later on, and you won't forget where you found the info. Also, write down any passwords and store them in a safe place, and write down the website.
5. Be yourself.
No safari would be fun if you saw what everyone else wanted to see ALL THE TIME. Explore for yourself! Where do you want to go, who do you want to be? Take all the pictures you want, find every hidden treasure. This journey, while taken with many next to you, is yours alone. Have fun!
Live long and prosper!
--KatG
All images downloaded free from unsplash.com
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