As a current senior looking back on my freshman year of college, I find myself in a state of awe over my blind naivety and the careless decisions I made because I was under the impression it was the right or commonly accepted thing to do.
The little things consistently caught me off guard—”What do you mean I can run out of dining hall points?
” Thankfully, I was able to recover quickly and learn from my mistakes. The bigger things, the big horse pills of reality I had to down without water, were the lessons that stuck with me over a gradual period of time. Heed these tips and tricks, incoming freshmen, they may very well make or break your first year college experience.Avoid the bookstore.
It’s not a myth. College bookstores gut your pocket every time you walk in with your list of required texts for every semester. According to the National Association of College Stores, most college students, on average, spend a little over $300 a semester on required readings. Many brand spankin’ new textbooks go for between $150 and $200 a pop. In total, you’re looking at throwing over $2,400 on books that you may not even crack open, barely read, or not read at all even if you do have required reading due for each class. I can’t tell you how many professors I had who took content from the book and copied it onto a PowerPoint handout. Chegg, Amazon, and other reputable college textbook suppliers will have the materials you need at half the cost or even lower than the bookstore’s steep prices. I know you’re thinking, “But I can totally sell back my $200 textbook at the end of the semester!
” Of course you can, but you’ll be getting around a fourth of that amount back. Think of it as a brand new car. As soon as you drive it off the lot (or buy a textbook), it depreciates in value.Take advantage of office hours.
Dispel your preconceived notions that college professors are only in their profession for the money. They want you to succeed and take as much from their lessons as you possibly can. If there’s one thing a professor is most afraid of it’s grading term papers whose class average barely peaks above a C. I’ve visited a few of my professors during office hours over the course of my three years in college, and I have been pleasantly surprised by their laid back demeanor outside of class and insightful views on a topic that facilitated my understanding of the subject. It’s also fun to just shoot the breeze and talk about life with professors.
Seniors and veterans are not the only people who get perks. You do, too!
I go to school in Boston, the epitome of a college town, and I did not start taking advantage of deals around the city offered to students until my junior year simply because I didn’t know such magic could still exist in our society. People care about college kids! Who knew? Not only do they care, but if you’re in an area heavily populated with students, like The Hub, chances are there are restaurants and shops that give you sweet discounts. Most businesses will openly advertise student day/night(s) and thrive off our business. The next time you go out to eat with your roommates, ask your server or cashier if they offer a discount for debt-ridden students.
Head to the library.
I know college libraries are not the most hopping place to be and every one of your peers is aware of this too, but you’d be surprised at the amount of work you can get done in a quiet space surrounded by people riding the struggle train through their midterm papers just like you. There is an unspoken sense of camaraderie nestled in the open space of charging laptops, sprawled out notes, and trash cans filled to the brim with coffee cups. Everyone would like to be productive in bed, but science argues otherwise and more often than not seating yourself in an uncomfortable chair forces you to focus on the task at hand, thus helping you churn out that assigned reading and coursework in no time!
Constantly update your resume and attend seminars.
Colleges will usually offer free and helpful classes on how to craft a resume and cover letter that will stand out to employers. These seminars prepare you for the job force post-undergrad/grad, as well as internship applications during college. Pro tip: Employers usually like seeing a pop of color on your resume somewhere.
Rush, rush, rush.
Greek life has a bad rep in college culture, and, for a while, I rode the anti-sorority bandwagon with my head held high. When I decided to give the sororities on campus the benefit of the doubt, I realized most if not all Greek organizations were not just some pre-paid social clubs. They regularly hosted professional development seminars, volunteered at soup kitchens or local hospitals, and held countless fundraisers and social advocacy campaigns on campus to raise awareness about causes I cared deeply about. Even better, including Greek life on your resume boosts your chances of getting a job because employers love to see volunteer work.
Party hard, but not too hard.
It’s crucial to know your limits when drinking at a party and have a plan of action to get your far too inebriated friends home safe and sound. Sloppy, college parties usually warrant questionable decisions under the power of alcohol and other drugs involved. The feeling of freedom from parental control is all too tantalizing until you let your guard down and wake up in the morning with heavy regret over a situation that could have been avoided with a moment’s pause. You’ve heard it before: never leave your drink alone, walk home with people or take a cab, and always be aware of your surroundings. College parties can get pretty crowded and if a fight or fire starts you’ll know exactly when to high tail it out of there.
Take care of yourself.
Dining hall food is not the most nutritious form of sustenance you can put in your body. Sure, it’s easy to eat burgers, fries, and milkshakes day in and day out, but the freshman fifteen is definitely a reality for those who let their dietary habits spiral out of control. Keep healthy snacks stored in your dorm room desk, always stay hydrated throughout the day, and commit to exercise at least a few times a week.
Making friends is like going to a flea market.
It’s orientation week and freshman are clawing every which way to find companions to the dining hall or a school sponsored dance. It’s like a flea market—a crowd of people are trying to find the best value, and one man’s trash will be another’s treasure. No one wants to be the lone wolf, especially during the beginning of college. You’ll notice everyone will be excessively nice to one another until, eventually, friend circles are formed and the niceties are tossed aside for awkward acknowledgements to the people you considered to be your best friends during the first week of classes. Not to worry, you’ll fall into your own circle of people you share a plethora of common interests with just like everyone else.
Get a job for cryin’ out loud.
It always irked me whenever I passed by kids on the phone with their parents begging for more money when it was those kids I constantly saw at parties, supplying booze with their fake IDs, not in class, or just slumming it in the halls. With all the extra time you have on your hands buddy, you could be making your own money. I acquired a job hosting at a restaurant during the first week of my freshman year and took pride in my job and how much I was able to provide for myself and put away for the future. It’s better to develop a strong work ethic even before you jump headfirst into your career aspirations. You do that by flipping burgers and getting paid to listen to patrons complain they didn’t get a window seat; it builds character, trust me on this one.
Freshman year is not solely reserved for all of your mistakes, trials, and tribulations. College is what you make it. The experience is unlike any other and most of what you take away from those four years occur outside of the classroom. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should serve as a “College Life Hacks” handbook for you to lug around—on your phone, of course—to monotonous three hour lectures and cramped, sweaty parties.
Feature Photo via Serendipity and Creativity