Starting College: 11 Tips for Freshmen Kicking Off College

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Portland State University Lincoln Hall

PSU Lincoln Performance Hall

Headed to college for the first time this fall? Here are ten--nope, 11!--things you need to know before you strut your stuff on campus.

1. True Colors Come Out After a Month

Everyone starts out being super nice and perky wanting to make friends because no one knows anyone, and you all are in the same boat (#friendless). Give it a month, and soon people will start being real and you’ll either love your roommate or hate them.

2. Make it A Habit To Meet With Your Advisor Each Term

Or at least once a year. Some schools even now require students to meet with their advisor in order to register for classes for the next term or semester. Believe us, you don’t want to be that person down the road who realizes that they have to complete an extra term or semester of college because they are missing a B.A. requirement, while all your friends are graduating and moving on to better things.

3. Don’t Spend All of Your Financial Aid Before School Starts

You will get your financial aid award (grants, scholarships, loans) a week before school starts and if you spend that money on a shopping spree, new laptop, or on alcohol, how are you going to pay for books?

4. Take Advantage of Free Food

Especially if you have to buy your own groceries or if you are prone to burning food in the microwave. Generally schools have a celebration week ( a week before school starts) with free food every day from local restaurants. Find out how you can get your hands on some of that to make sure you start off with a full belly!

5. Live On Campus Your First Year

Specifically if you are going to a nontraditional school. It is way easier to be involved in school clubs, sports and jobs if you live on campus. Plus you are going to meet so many crazy, stupid, awesome, silly people and finally be independent, living on your own.

6. Rate My Professor

Don’t change your schedule a week before school starts (especially if it is a mandatory class), Say you went on Rate My Professor and saw that your Microeconomics professor has a poor quality rating. Take that website and other professor rating websites with a grain of salt. Most of the people who comment on Rate My Professor are people who rarely did their homework, came to class late, or never showed. Those people are still questioning why they got a bad grade.

7. Don’t be #Lazy. Go to the Gym!

The Freshman 15 is a real issue, especially if you are required to have a meal plan as a freshman. You are no longer going to have your parents making your dinner and forcing you to eat your veggies. Instead you will have to choose all by yourself between that basket of fries or a bowl of spinach. If you go for the basket of fries most of the time, you need to find out where the school’s gym is, a gym that you probably pay fees for through your tuition. Some school gyms also offer great prices for personal trainers.

8. Stand Out in A Good Way

The standard college uniform for most students is a v-neck t-shirt , Victoria Secret sweatpants or transparent leggings, and ugg boots. This is your time to reinvent your style and wear what you want to wear. When you look great you feel great and others around you will start viewing you as a leader and give you tons of compliments on your personal style.

9. The Thirst is Real

Especially if you live in the dorms. People will be hooking up, breaking up, and asking you out right from the get go. Be prepared for the “what’s your number” questions (with your go-to fake number if you need it), and know that it is OK to say no. Don’t ever feel that you have to go on a date with someone if you don’t like them, especially if it's the girl or guy with the bad breath who doesn’t shower.

10. Nobody Cares How Popular You Were In High School

Don’t be that annoying entitled person who brags about how popular they were in high school and why people should be your friend. This is college, whatever you did in high school is in the past and no one cares, so keep it to yourself.

11. Keep Yourself Busy

If you are a mama's boy or daddy’s girl who was an only child and is the “spoiled” one of your group, get involved so you don’t become the one crying so loud that people can hear you from down the hall. The key is to stay busy: If you stay busy you don’t have time to think about home. And before long you’ll realize you are home--because that’s what college can be, if you approach it in the right way!