Any advice for the first day of college?

Question

I'm starting school on August 30.
Any tips? it could be anything from clothes to supplies to what to expect in my classes (i mean, i know its college and i am going to have to work very hard lol)
Im kinda nervous - new campus, new people....
Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Just relax! It'll be fine! :-)

The first day can be kind of nerve-racking, but you're going to be surrounded by hundreds of other kids that feel the exact same way. The first day isn't nearly as important as what you make out of your whole time there, the experiences and the friends. Just put yourself out there and be the best person you can be.

Just go to every class with your best smile and attitude. Talk to everyone. It's never too early to start making friends or study buddies. Make sure you introduce yourself and look friendly. If you run into the room and sit all the way in the back and not talk to anyone, no one's going to remember you and it will become much harder afterwards to try and make friends. You need to get a head start on that.

First day, all you really need are some nice clothes (nice jeans and a clean shirt, maybe some new shoes), notebooks and pencils. You don't need your books the first day, although some professors might actually start teaching on the first day. You will get a syllabus listing everything you need to do for that class for the whole semester. Guard this paper with your life. Professors usually won't remind you of papers or tests over and over like high school. They will also go over it, so pay close attention so you don't miss anything. For every day after that, you will know what you need. But ALWAYS have paper and writing utensils handy. Classes aren't usually as difficult as you might think they are. Just relax, open your mind, and write down everything. You never know what might pop up on a test or paper, so write down as much as possible. Especially anything that gets written on the board. If the teacher takes the time to write something on the board or include it on a PowerPoint slide, then it's important!

Start looking over a map of the campus before you get there so you have an idea where you're going. Try to map out a route to all the buildings you're going to be in. You don't want to be late on the first day because you couldn't find the building. Don't be afraid to ask other students for help. Everyone's always willing to help on the first day.

Other tips that are easy to forget:
-Turn off or silence your cell phone. Self-explanatory.
-Say hello to your teachers as soon as you enter the room on the first day. It will make them more likely to remember you, especially if it's a large class.
-Sucking up in college is NOT a bad thing! Professors like to know that you're willing to talk to them and come to them for help. That doesn't mean go bake them cookies or anything, but don't be afraid to strike up random conversation about the weather, the football team's last game, or anything else. It makes you look more mature and sociable. They're also more likely to go easy on you when grading.
-Bring water. Some classrooms get very hot and stuffy, so make sure you have various layers of clothes and a bottle of water. You don't want to wear a skimpy little tank top, no matter how cute, and then end up in a 60º science lab. You also don't want to wear a nice sweater and then be in an 80º english room. So dress appropriately so you will be comfortable no matter where you are until you can learn to expect what each room will feel like.
-Go to the bathroom BEFORE class. If you have to go during class, most professors prefer you just walk out quietly, don't interrupt. But it's better to go beforehand so you don't have to climb out of your tiny desk and make your way up the crowded row and distract everyone.
-If you have a problem with a grade or assignment, do not hesitate to contact your teacher via office appointment, e-mail or phone call. It makes you look like a much better student that cares about doing well in their class. If you're confused and just do whatever you think is what they want, you might end up getting a bad grade that they won't want to fix or let you do over. They'll say you should have talk to them.

If you're going to have a roommate, start early on setting the rules of the room. Create unspoken rules like how you will divide the refrigerator, what times the tv will be on, how you like to study, etc. Also, make friends with people OTHER than your roommate(s) because you WILL be sick of them by the end of the year. Spending that much time in the same small room with the same person will drive you crazy after awhile, so make sure you have somewhere else to go or someone else to hang out with. Trust me on that one.

JOIN CLUBS! Sounds dorky, but it's a GREAT way to meet people and get involved with the school. You'll have a lot of fun, I promise. Just don't join too many that you don't leave yourself any time, and only join the ones your interested in. The first 2 or 3 meetings are always great for seeing if it's something you'd like or not. Go to all the first meetings for any clubs you're interested in. And then if it doesn't feel right for you, you're not obligated to go to any more.

Look into Sororities and Fraternities. It can be a great college experience, just don't get carried away. Sororities and Fraternities are not always the way they look on tv. So don't be afraid of hazing or anything like that. You might end up meeting some of your best friends that way. I personally chose not to join one, but I was interested for awhile. Check them out and see if it's for you. Many of the first meetings, meet-and-greets, etc will be within the first couple weeks of school.

After you get settled in, it won't really matter. You can wear whatever you want to class (as long as it's appropriate). You can go in your pajama pants and a t-shirt if you really want. It doesn't matter who you talk to or hang out with. There's not nearly as much drama as there was in high school. You'll feel like a college student in no time.

Another thing is, keep in touch with all your old high school friends!! I lost touch with almost everyone after just a year of college. We all went out seperate ways and just kind of lost touch. It's sad. So set up a MySpace account, or if your college has FaceBook, make sure you set that up so people can contact you. Or at least go around friending them so you can send them a message every now and then and see what's up. There's a statistic I saw somewhere that says students lose touch with over 50% of their high school friends and classmates after 1 year, 75% after 2 years and over 95% after just 5 years. So try and keep in touch! Also keep in touch with your teachers, especially if your going to school to become a teacher and want to teach at your old high school like I do. They'll be able to write you the best reccomendations and really help you out.


That's all I can think of for now. If you want any other advice, or need anything at all, contact me!

Answer 2

Congratulations on making a great decision!! Two things come to mind:
1) The pace of college classes is a lot faster. You might have reading or assignments to do for one day of a class, that might have been spread over a whole week in a high school class. Being prepared for the pace might help.
2) The BEST thing I ever did was join an organization. Probably there will be lots of campus clubs, greeks, religious groups, etc. etc. on campus recruiting and inviting new students - I say pick one and get involved. If they don't recruit, ask an advisor or student activities office. College can be lonely. If it weren't for the close friends I met at the group I joined, I never would have finished. After over 10 years almost all of my current friends are still from that group.
Have a blast, don't get drunk, and enjoy the best time in your life!

Answer 3

You don't go to class on your first day, they let you spend a few days to examine the campus, and make new friends. I suggest you do that. Get a bunch of people from your dorm you think are cool and go on a little exploration around the campus, figure out where your classes are, and where would be cool to hang out. Also if you haven't already, it'd be a good time to get your books. If you're into the parties, scout around and find out where the party's at (there will be one, trust me). You'll love the college life, I did (I was a freshman last year...academic suspension this year lol) P.S. If you did well in high school, these classes require a bit more studying. Don't go in thinking it will be a cake walk, that's what I did and now I'm kicked out. If you know that you have to study every so often and that you can make it to class fairly often, you'll do fine. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

Yes, you definitely have to work really hard. Don't try to miss your classes because every day counts. All I got to say on clothes is that be very comfortable no matter what the weather is. Unless you're majoring in Fashion then don't worry about it too much. Study study and study. But take breaks in the process. And then study again:) Trust me you won't regret it. Best wishes to you as you begin a new chapter in your life!

Answer 5

Enjoy it! Keep a journal of your experiences. Your time in college will pass faster than you might imagine now. Yeah, it will be challenging, but the payoff comes from your hard work. You'll meet lots of new people, hopefully you'll be exposed to new ideas--some that may challenge your convictions. You'll develop new relationships with people--some lasting well beyond college.

If I could give you one other piece of advice, it's keep busy. Join clubs or organizations that will help keep you focused on your schoolwork. Develop a plan for studying. Stick to your schedule. Prepare your own meals and bring healthy snacks (carrots, dried fruit, etc.) with you to class. You'll be tempted to eat a lot of junk food--don't. Exercise, exercise, exercise!

Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 6

*Be on time if not 5-10 minutes early for each class.
*Read Chapters 1-5 of all your text books, if not just skim over them. You want to have a good idea of the class and be prepared.
*I keep one 5 subject notebook for all my classes. That way I only have one thing other than books to keep up with.
*Make sure that you get a matress pad, dorm beds are not always comfortable.
*Bring Shower flip flops lol no need to get crusty feet!
*Make sure your room looks happy...you dont want to get homesick after just one day!
*Try to make friends without seeming clingy like by asking "Do you know where the Art building is?"
*If you haven't met your advisor yet, go meet him/her. It's good to be friends with them because they will be more flexible with you later on.
*Try to make your schedule to where you dont have to go back and forth on campus..if anything start at one end of campus and have your classes work their way down the other end. Works for me!
*Have plenty of your own snacks and water...sometimes roomies can be bum-ish.
*Wear whatever you want! No cliques that will make you feel inferior, so wear whatever your little heart desires!
*Put a password on your laptop/PC so that your roommate can't use it.
*Be very confident.
*Meet all your neighbors in the dorm. Go ask for something like paper towels or a broom.
*Walk the entire campus and take your schedule with you the night before classes and get acquianted better.
*Wear tenny runners if you have to go fast between classes...trust me, flip-flops are no fun in that situation.

If you have any questions, you should email me, I would love to help you out!

[e-mail]

Answer 7

Just make sure you know where all your classrooms are at.

The first day is usually going over the syllabus, course overview, etc. Professors a lot of times will ask open ended questions for debate, that allows you to meet your classmates.

You might end up with one crusty professor that lectures, especially if you have a power lecture

Answer 8

dont be nervous. college is nothing like highschool. for one, no one cares about making friends or how you dress. they just want to go to class, get the work, and leave. your teachers wont give you a list of types of notebooks to buy. just bring paper and a pen (or pencil), and maybe a calculator for math. thats it.

seriously you can go to class in your pjs and nobody will care. its great.

Answer 9

Work hard, play hard. Find out what you like about people...especially yourself. Experience EVERYTHING...find out how much you CAN'T drink. Find out what you like in guys, you'll need this info later for serious relationships. Enjoy yourself, this is such an idealistic time...living on your own, but someone ELSE is paying for it.

Answer 10

If a guy says to you at a party, "You know, you're different from all the other girls. Wanna come see my DVD collection in my room?" DON'T BELIEVE HIM!! Also, don't be afraid to use a professor's office hours. It really helps.

Answer 11

its not that bad! try relaxing and dont think of it too much.. you'll be fine! i know i was nervious about 3 weeks before school.. and by the time i started i was just fine!
its nice meeting new ppl..!! just relax.