Hello Readers! We called in a pro for this post-sLe from Bourbon, Pearls, and Wildcats! She has some super valuable advice any college student can use! Thanks again, sLe for writing this post! Be sure to check her blog (linked) to see our post on 5 For Fall Favorites!
Enjoy,
A+C
Hello
Readers!! I’m Sara from the blog, Bourbon Pearls and Wildcats, and I am so excited to be posting
today for A&C! My post today will be about advice for all the college
freshman out there! I promise that I’m more than qualified as I started my
senior year of college this past Tuesday. Don’t forget to
stop by my blog to check out A&C’s post on their Top 5 Wearable Fall
Trends! Alright, let’s jump right in!
Dorm Life: By now you’ve either already moved
in or will soon be moving into your dorm. Congratulations on your first “home
away from home”! The best part about dorm life is it opens up a whole new world
of independence but also responsibility. Here are my tips on how to make the
best of dorm life:
1. Respect your roommate: Living in such
close quarters with someone you might not have met until moving day can be hard
at times, especially if y’all don’t hit it off immediately. Some of you will
become insta-BFFs with your roomie and some not so much. No matter which
relationship you have, it’s still important to respect them. If there’s mutual
respect, then conflict resolution will be a LOT easier.
2. Follow the rules: Yes, you’re an
adult but there are still rules that go with living in a dorm. Typically the
only strict rules have to do with visiting hours for the opposite sex (if
you’re on a same-sex hall/floor), alcohol & drugs, animals, and quiet
hours. These rules exist to benefit EVERYONE on the hall/floor and not to try
to control you. Follow the rules and you’ll be golden. Don’t follow the rules
and you’ll end up dealing with your RA and possibly further disciplinary action
depending on the severity.
3. Keep it clean: A clean dorm is a
happy dorm! In college, your dorm room is your bedroom, kitchen, and living
room all in one. Chances are you’ll have people over to hang out, study, etc so
make sure it’s kept nice & tidy. You don’t want to be stressing about if
you have clothes everywhere or random trash when you invite people over on a
whim.
*another
tip for dorm living is do not spend an arm and leg on bedding. Your bed also
doubles as a couch if you’ve got people over so I recommend shopping at Target
or TJ Maxx. They both have reasonably priced and cute bedding that you won’t
mind if something happens to it. Also, bring a 2nd set of sheets.
That way you can immediately put clean sheets on when you go to wash the ones
that are currently on.
Social Life- Being in college offers ENDLESS
possibilities as far as social activities go. There is seriously something for
every interest. A few things that go for most schools:
1. Greek Life: Being a sorority sister,
going Greek is always my go-to when it comes to giving advice about how to get
involved on campus. Not only does being a member of a Greek organization
provide you with skills and networking that will benefit you post-graduation,
they also provide lifelong friendships and a support system as an undergrad.
Yes, they are a significant commitment and yes, there is a financial obligation
but all of that is so secondary to the bonds you will form with your
sisters/brothers. Of course, if you don’t go Greek, there are still PLENTY of
options to be involved!
2. Student Government: What is better
than being the voice for your fellow students when it comes to communicating
your needs to the administration? It is very easy to become involved in SGA
because most start out your involvement as Freshman Class representatives. From
there, you can move up and run for offices that you feel passionate about.
Having a competent student government is so crucial to the success of the
students.
3. Intramurals: Did you play sports in
high school or maybe just as a pastime? Intramurals are perfect for you! Common
intramurals at school are: flag football, soccer, basketball, tennis, and
softball. It’s easy to join a team because typically your dorm will field a team
OR you can field your own if you have enough friends interested. Intramurals
can get pretty competitive but they are all in good fun.
Academics: You’re fresh out of high school and
might think that college will be easy…you’re in for a reality check. Yes, some
classes are easy but a lot of them are HARD. It’s also an adjustment from
having a very personal relationship with your teachers in HS to having a
college professor that might not know your name at the end of the semester
(especially relevant in huge lecture classes). Here are just a few tips on how
to be successful while you’re getting the hang of college!
1. 8 am classes are the devil: You might
think that just because you woke up early for HS that it will be easy in
college…nope. When you’re responsible for waking yourself up and actually
making the decision to GO to class, it’s a whole different story. I highly
suggest not having a class before 10am, 9:30 at the earliest.
2. It is OK to drop a class: Let’s say
you’re in a core class that didn’t seem so hard at first but now you’re
drowning. Don’t panic, you can fix this. You’re able to withdraw (drop) a class
before a certain date (typically 6 weeks into the course). You’ll receive a
temporary W for the course but once you take it again, it will be replaced with
your earned letter grade. Dropping a class does not affect your GPA but does
affect your earned credit hours & attempted credit hours. Talk to your
advisor before dropping a course to make sure it doesn’t affect any
scholarships you have. But typically, dropping one or two classes in your time
at school will not have a negative impact. It is much better to take a W and
re-take than get an F (that WILL affect your GPA) and still have to re-take it.
3. Communicate with your Professors:
Going up to your Prof at the end of your first class & introducing yourself
will go a long way. They will be able to immediately put a face to the name on
their roll which in freshman core classes, can be 150+. This will benefit you
when final grading comes around, especially if you need a little boost to get a
higher grade. If they can remember your face and the fact that you made it a
point to communicate with them the entire semester, chances are they will help
you out. It’s also important to utilize their office hours if you have
questions on any material. Make sure you don’t skip out on their appointment
and come prepared with specific questions. Both your time and theirs are
valuable.
4. GO to class & make friends: I
cannot stress enough just how important going to class is. There will be
mornings that you just don’t want to get out of your warm bed or times you’d
rather skip and hang with friends…but don’t. Missing one class sets you back
more than you imagine. On top of that, it can also affect your grade if there is
an attendance policy. Don’t let laziness hurt your GPA. But, if there is a time
that you’re ill or have an emergency, it’s always good to have a dependable
friend in all of your classes. It’s an easy way to get notes you might have
missed and also form study groups.
Health: Staying healthy during your freshman
year is critical. For the first time you’re 100% on your own when it comes to
nutrition, exercise, and going to the infirmary when you’re sick. Easy tips to
avoid going on a downward spiral health wise:
1. The freshman 15 DOES exist: As a
freshman, you’ll be on a meal plan which means you eat almost all your meals on
campus. Most of the time, the unhealthy options outweigh the healthy ones but
it is still possible to maintain a balanced diet while on a meal plan. Just
because you can eat hot dogs, french fries, and pizza everyday doesn’t mean you
should. Easy rule of thumb is to have a protein, veggie, and fruit at every
meal. Also, drink lots of water. I highly suggest a Camelbak water bottle with a built in
filter so that you
can fill it up from any tap or water fountain. Keeping healthy snack options in
your dorm is also a good idea that way you’re not running to a vending machine
whenever you get a little hungry.
2. Work it out: Colleges usually have
amazing fitness centers because they want their students to be healthy. Take
advantage of it! You’ve already paid for it in your tuition/fees so don’t waste
your money. The gym is a fabulous place to meet people, especially if you take
a group fitness class. Zumba, cardio kickboxing, and hip hop dance are my
personal favs! These are typically taught by students who have been trained and
certified.
3. The Infirmary is your friend: If
you’re feeling a little under the weather, get yourself to the health clinic
ASAP! A lot of college students brush off minor colds as nothing until it turns
into something serious. Getting an infection taken care of soon is very
important so that you don’t get worse and potentially miss classes.
Well that’s
all the crucial advice that I have for y’all! I really hope that this has been
an informative post. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at
pearlscurlsandasoutherngirl {at} gmail {dot} com
Big thanks
to A&C for letting me post on their amazing blog!
-sLe
