Freshman year is an uncertain but exciting time which, unfortunately, can bring some stress and anxiety. While a little scary, the new chapter of life you are about to enter is also extremely fun. From finding some of my favorite people on the planet, discovering some awesome places in Lancaster, and learning and growing so much as a person, my first year of college was overall very enjoyable. Here are a few tips to help make the whole transition of settling into college smoother.
Embrace the Uncertainty
When you start college, most constants in your life are suddenly up in the air. Who your friends are, your daily routines and the main activities you spend time doing are still unclear until your first few weeks of college, and even then they will probably shift a few times. My advice to find stability in change is first to accept that things will be out of your control for a little while. But ultimately everything will fall into place. I found establishing a routine or just doing something familiar every day during orientation and the first few weeks can help you feel more comfortable in a new environment. While unfamiliar, this is a time in your life when you get to meet so many new people from different backgrounds, so taking some time for yourself can help you focus on the exciting things happening.
Be Open-minded and Try New Things
Coming to college is a huge transition, and it is the place where you will grow and change as a person. Having an open mind and trying things out of your comfort zone can help open you up to new environments and find friends you did not know you would click with. Sometimes the most unexpected things are exactly what you need. Most of my friendships and campus activities are not what I expected when I first stepped foot on campus, and I am so grateful that I gave them a try. Even if you are not fully certain something is for you, try it once or twice because you never know. Along with having an open mind, speaking to as many people as possible during orientation will help familiarize yourself with the campus and make settling in easier. While after orientation a lot of people tend to find their groups and might be less open to making new friends, your friends will probably shift a lot during the year and you can always make friends throughout the whole year. My best friends now are people I was not close with at all during orientation, so know that if you aren’t satisfied with your friend group right away you can always find new people!
Scheduling Study Time
Finding a study/life balance in college is a struggle as old as time, and something most upperclassmen still struggle with. To make this easier I highly suggest scheduling designated studying time, like how you would be expected for work. To make this a more enjoyable experience I highly recommend bringing a friend to accompany you, as long as you both can “lock in” together. Setting out a daily time of when the task will be completed, and staying in the routine of that, is the key to staying on top of all of the tasks that college throws at you. Besides just scheduling the times that you are going to study, getting Google Calendar or another organizational device is extremely important for keeping track of all of your daily responsibilities.
Take Advantage of Resources
One of the things I deeply regret during my first semester of college was not taking advantage of all of the resources available to me, especially as an incoming freshman. Most of these are outlined during orientation, but one very important resource is meeting with your First-Year Advising mentor and asking any questions you may have. They are there to help with this exact transition and familiarize yourself with campus. Also using your six free therapy sessions can help with managing the emotions of such a transition. Along with the on-campus resources, I suggest asking advice from the upperclassmen in activities you are involved in, or even your classes, as they have gone through this whole process before. Another resource is your professors. They are there to help you succeed, and have seen so many students throughout the years so they can also better point you towards resources that you may not be aware of.
Give It Time
No matter what, the transition to college is hard. Leaving home and living in a new environment is an adjustment for everyone. While at first you may hate it, give yourself some time to find a new normal. During my first semester, I was convinced I needed to transfer schools, and it took until my second semester to fully realize Franklin & Marshall was the place for me.
The first few weeks of college can feel challenging, but everyone around you is in the same boat of uncertainty. Hopefully, these tips will help with the transition!
Sophomore Nayelli Whitehead is a contributing writer. Her email is nwhitehe@fandm.edu.