Freshman year of college is truly a one of a kind experience. Note I kept that description fairly neutral. Truthfully, there’s a lot of ups and downs but you can help keep that to mostly ups by following these tips.
Don’t be the one who was drunk for two weeks straight or the one who packed way too much furniture and decor for a dorm or the one who gained and lost four friend groups in four months. These are mistakes freshman make and exactly how to avoid and prevent them from happening.
Mistake: Going too hard right out of the gate
You’re finally free and you have no parental supervision, I know. This doesn’t mean you should take that and not run with it, totally SPRINT with it. Relax. You don’t need to eat ice cream for dinner for a week and you don’t need to drink yourself into an alcohol coma. This is one of the freshman mistakes a lot of students learn the hard way by failing classes or getting sick, but hopefully this post will save you from it.
Prevention: The first few nights of classes be sure to be aware of your surroundings–namely, don’t get entirely trashed. All that will get you is a reputation and a hangover. When it comes to eating, eat actual meals with more than one component (and possibly something green) instead of relying on dessert and slices of pizza.
Mistake: Shoving yourself into a group of friends and closing yourself off to new friends
Most of these groups crumble or dissolve by the second semester and you have now left yourself without outside friends to have. Congratulations you played yourself. I can’t think of any groups of friends that began first semester freshman year and still exist today with the same exact set of people. It’s rare and because of this, you have to avoid shoving yourself into a squad without making other friends.
Prevention: If you have a main group, that’s great, but be sure to hang out with people in the group one on one. Make some friends separate from the group and hang out with them separately–avoid conglomerating every friend you have into one huge squad. It’s generally not going to work as you want it to.
Mistake: Trying to force a friendship with your roommate
Sometimes it happens, and if it’s gonna happen it will progress naturally. Don’t go in saying, “Oh, I know your roommate won’t be your best friend but like my roommate seems so nice on Facebook we’re totally going to be besties despite all odds.” No. Go in hoping you get a nice roommate and not a total slob or sociopath–that’s all you can ask.
Prevention: Be polite and cordial to your roommate. In the first two weeks you’ll probably have a friendship but don’t be fooled–that’s the roommate honeymoon phase that almost every freshman has in which their roommate is their go-to friend. If you and your roomie can survive the honeymoon phase and come out stronger, congrats, you have a friendship.
Mistake: Not talking to classmates on the first day of class.
No time is more pure or filled with more vulnerable fellow peers than this time. Don’t take it for granted! This is your chance to make some friends or familiar faces using being a new freshman, dorms, the class and so on as common ground. You might not make your new BFF this way, but you’ll have connections in your class which is great academically AND you’ll have some people to chat with before class or someone to walk back with. After freshman year it gets a little bit less pure to make friends in classes–as you advance, people tend to get less confused and less open to meeting new people. By sophomore year a lot of students will have friends in their classes already and it’ll be harder to make new friends while people cling to old ones.
Prevention: In every class make a point to make at least one friend and to exchange numbers. Always exchange numbers! As freshman it’s so common and normal. You can now use this number to invite them to grab lunch in the dining hall before class or to invite them to your floor’s movie night. Boom. Friendship or at least Acquaintanceship.
Mistake: Not connecting with kids you met during orientation
Had this not happened I wouldn’t have met my best friend! Ninety-eight percent of the time the person will be glad you reached out. Everyone’s a little scared and looking to make friends, so why not use connections you’ve made already?
Prevention: Reach out on Facebook to kids you got along with at orientation and simply suggest you guys get food together sometime. It’s not a big deal at all. See my things you must do at orientation post for more details on this!
Mistake: Not asking questions
I asked upperclassmen for directions to academic buildings only to discover the building was right in front of my face. If you’re scared of embarrassment, laugh it off and don’t sweat it. Most upperclassmen are very nice and willing to help.
Prevention: When asking for directions or a question try to avoid big groups and ask a solo person or a duo. I don’t know why but they always seem more approachable and willing to help. Also when in doubt, message your orientation leaders or RA
Mistake: Trying to be someone you’re not
If you’re not a party girl, don’t try to become one just to fit in with a certain group or to avoid FOMO. College is more of becoming who you are, not trying more to be someone you’re not.
Prevention: Like the things you like and do the things you love to do and you’ll find the kind of people you want to spend time with and you’ll be the person you are. Don’t pretend to love things you hate and don’t feel like you need to do what everyone else is doing.
Mistake: Going home every weekend
Orientation leaders and RAs tell students and parents this all of the time. You shouldn’t go home within the first few months of college unless you really have to. Going home every weekend will ostracize you and you will miss out on events and times to bond with your classmates. College is your new second home and you need to let that develop or you won’t feel like you have a place.
Prevention: If you’re homesick, call mom sometimes or FaceTime your family and friends but don’t go home in the first two months.
Mistake: Buying way more dorm supplies and decor than you need.
This is a huge waste of money and space. As I’ve said before, you don’t need as many things as you think you do. Don’t follow the college dorm shopping lists that big name stores shove at you, please.
Prevention: This post on things not to buy for college is wonderful if I do say so myself. Then again, I’m the one who wrote it sooo.
Mistake: Forgetting other people are in the same boat
Snapchat stories and Instagrams can be grossly misleading. Most people are a little afraid and trying to find their place, you’re not the only one. It’s comforting to remember that, even if it’s not obvious, everyone is a little bit afraid and nervous, too.
Prevention: Check yourself sometimes. When you’re feeling down about freshman year or feeling scared, remind yourself that other people feel this way–it’s normal.
I totally agree – I wish I hadn’t gone home so often on the weekends when I first got to college! Love this post!
XO, Jacqueline || http://prettipleaseblog.com
Thans Jacqueline 🙂 Going home definitely can be limiting–a lot of the fun stuff happens on weekends in college!
I’m going into my sophomore year, and I definitely made some of these mistakes last year. Great post!
Caiti // caitinicoleblog.blogspot.com
Thank you Caiti! Hope your sophomore year is a good one 🙂
These tips are great! I’ll be using them going into my freshman year this fall. I’m glad to hear about the dorm decor and supplies tip. I’m ready to rip my hair out trying to buy everything on those lists. I’m throwing mine out now, haha!
-Lots of Love, Lola
Thank you Lola! Good luck with your freshman year, definitely stay away from those lists and use them as more of a reference than a checklist! Also don’t do what I did and buy a ton of stuff you don’t need because it matches your dorm “theme” and “aesthetic” hahaha