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58 Things to Remember When You Go to College

Number 25 is a game changer.

By Suzanne GaylePublished 5 years ago 6 min read
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Going off to college consists of a mixture of feeling excited, nervous, anxious, liberated, and scared out of your wits. I felt all of these things post high school graduation, and had no idea what I was getting myself into when I went to college. Upon changing and discovering myself freshman year, I reflected on some of the most important things I learned; things I wish people told me before moving into a whole new world. For all you recent high school grads and non traditional students out there, here are 57 things to remember when you go to college.

  1. Don’t be afraid to eat alone. No one is judging you.
  2. Screenshot your schedule, and set it as your lock screen on your phone. This will help when you get confused or lost.
  3. Try not to study in your room. And turn your phone off when you do.
  4. Allow for breaks when studying and doing homework. Psychology shows that this actually improves memory performance!
  5. Study everyday. I’m not kidding about this.
  6. Don’t procrastinate.
  7. Really get to know your professors. Sit in the front of the room, and introduce yourself after class. The relationships you make with your teachers are likely to benefit you during college and beyond.
  8. Never buy your books from the bookstore. Or anything, for that matter!
  9. Take advantage of your meal plan.
  10. Take advantage of free campus services. They are there for YOU.
  11. It’s okay to go to the counseling center if you need it. Sometimes it helps to just have someone to talk to, and, like mentioned in #10, this is a free campus service, and it costs a lot once you are out in the real world, so use it.
  12. Check your school email everyday.
  13. Keep in touch with your advisor and financial aid.
  14. If you go out drinking, always eat a FULL meal before and after. And drink water.
  15. If you need to call a designated driver, don’t do it two days before the party in the middle of the afternoon (I learned the hard way that, that’s not how it works).
  16. Always show up early to class.
  17. Walk your class schedule two or three times before the first day of school, so you know where you’re going.
  18. There’s nothing wrong with going to tutoring. You want to graduate. I used to feel weird and ashamed about going to tutoring, but I realized that it helps so much, everyone does it, and once you understand the material and pass the class, it’s all worth it.
  19. Try not to drive anywhere if you don’t have to.
  20. Go to football games, and also other sports that no one ever really goes to.
  21. If there’s a free event, go to that too.
  22. People don’t really celebrate Halloween, as sad as that is. Or Valentine’s Day.
  23. ... Nope, don’t dress up in a costume for class.
  24. Welcome week can be awkward, but it really is the best if you have a good mindset. I met some amazing people through orientation, and learned so much. It’s completely fun and helpful. Plus, once you’re an upperclassman, you don’t get all that attention, so enjoy every minute!
  25. Get involved as soon as possible! I probably would have hated school if I was never a part of anything. Having a place on campus, and making amazing friends is a huge part of why college is so amazing to me, why it makes things easier, and why it doesn’t give me the constant thoughts of dropping out.
  26. Make sure you check your official schedule on the website on first day (before class) because sometimes the buildings change. I’ve had MANY classes that were listed as being in a certain building, but got moved on the first day of class.
  27. Know your limit.
  28. Keep an open mind.
  29. Go to the open house for clubs and organizations! Remember #25!
  30. The friends you make in your first year are likely to be your friends for the rest of your college career.
  31. Make friends in your classes so you can text them if you have a question.
  32. It’s okay to feel homesick. Remember, your family and friends are only a phone call away.
  33. Try out for an intramural sport if you want. These are actually a huge deal in college, and they're really fun.
  34. Don’t wait until the last minute to meet with your advisor or register for classes. Or apply for housing.
  35. Remember SELF CARE. Going to school and getting into the swing of your routine is not an excuse to let yourself go. You should still be getting a proper amount of sleep, eating healthy, and making sure you treat yourself often. You can't have a good college experience if you aren't taking care of yourself!
  36. Everything is going to be okay, so don’t worry.
  37. Call your mom every day.
  38. It might not feel like it, but college is the best place to be. It's full of so many new and exciting experiences. Take advantage of all of it.
  39. Keep your room clean.
  40. No one is telling you to study or turn in your stuff so if you don’t do it and end up flunking out, that’s on you. So do your part.
  41. Be responsible.
  42. Be prepared for a lot of late nights, but remember to get some sleep.
  43. Be respectful.
  44. You are NOT too cool to wear flip flops in the shower.
  45. Never ever EVER skip class. You are paying for it, and you WILL fail. Never. Skip. Class. Ever.
  46. Always check the weather before class, and carry an umbrella.
  47. Broaden your horizons. Change your mindset. College is where you come to learn new things.
  48. You can’t party if you don’t get good grades, because if you don’t get good grades you can’t go to school.
  49. Keep in touch with your high school friends. But if you all start to grow apart, it’s okay to be sad. Just remember life goes on, and don’t dwell on it.
  50. Really read over the syllabus, because if you ask a question and the answer’s already on it, the professor will be mad at you.
  51. Check your grades often.
  52. Attend to your room’s drywall policy if there is one.
  53. Don’t be afraid to go to your RA if you need anything.
  54. Don't worry if you get to college and your major isn't everything you thought it would be. It's okay to change. It's YOUR life.
  55. Don’t be the person who sits in their room all day. You need to get out and make friends, branch out, be a people person, whether you like it or not. Because that’s what’s going to make or break your whole college experience.
  56. Don’t buy your books on the first day. It’s cheaper and better to wait until the second or third week to see if you really need them.
  57. Don’t take the same classes as your significant other, and please, for the love of all that’s good, don’t spend all of your time together.
  58. Enjoy every minute of it.

Remember, these are the moments you will never forget for the rest of your life, and you never have an opportunity to do over again. Enjoy it all, before the time comes where you're walking across the stage, wishing you could go back to move in day.

Hopefully these tips are of some help to all you soon-to-be college students! Good luck!

-S

college
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About the Creator

Suzanne Gayle

Psychology major at EKU

Calligraphy artist, vocalist, writer, philanthropist.

Jesus freak.

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  • possedonkeyabout a year ago

    That's so kind and the right points. Unfortunately, no one told it me when I joined college, so I adapted myself alone. I also would like to add to this list the point about burning out. If you feel even a little bit tired for a long time (a week or more), keep in mind that you need to rest. I used this source https://essays.studymoose.com/ to get some help with my writing tasks in such situations. Your health the first, education then.

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