How To Survive And Thrive In Your Freshman Year

Tips for successful academic performance.

1. Attend every orientation.
2. Organize yourself
3. Find the perfect studying spot
4. Don’t miss classes
5. Get to know your lecturers
6. Communicate with your academic advisor frequently
7. Utilize every university resource for studying
8. Manage your time effectively
9. Sign up for classes immediately

Tips for managing finances

1. Find a bank that considers your college situation.
2. Keep track of your money

If you have never had to create a budget, it is time to do so. Come up with ways to stretch your money. Also, try as much as you can to avoid all those credit card solicitations you will be receiving. The average credit card debt of college graduates is staggering. 

3.  Take care of regular costs including books.
4. Stop driving a car
5. Get a flexible part-time job

Tips for socializing

1. Go to campus during your free time
2. Don’t miss out on university events
3. Get to know your roommates
4. Get employed on campus

Tips for health and well-being

1. Avoid all-nighters
2. Get physically active
3. Don’t skip meals
4. Eat right

Some of the problems faced by first-year students can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time leading to a downward spiraling effect. Eat well, get enough sleep, and take your vitamins. 

5. Take care of your mental health
6. Seek professional help when you need it. 

Most learning institutions have health and counseling centers. In case you are feeling sick, isolated, or depressed, ensure you take advantage of all the services provided by your institutions. You don’t have to face these issues alone when there are people who can help. 

How To Survive And Thrive In Your Freshman Year

College always starts on a clean academic slate as how you performed in high school or what you did does not really matter. It also comes along with a lot of independence and a myriad of critical decisions as you transition into adulthood. The decisions you make and the actions you take as a freshman will have a major impact on the rest of your college experience and your career at large. 

Tips for successful academic performance.

1. Attend every orientation.

Many college students do not understand the importance of orientation. Orientations offer you the chance to get to know your way around the campus. During orientations, you might meet some of your classmates. You can also learn some important information that you would have missed had you skipped the orientation. 

Even if you have attended one or two orientations, make sure you attend all of them as this will help you gain courage and confidence and at the same time help you reduce anxiety. Getting familiar with an environment can help you gain more confidence. Many first-year students get stressed from not knowing where to go, getting lost, and being late for class. Knowing your environment well will save you time and give you a chance to make new friends faster. 

2. Organize yourself

One of the most important skills you should have as a freshman is knowing how to organize yourself. In high school, your teachers would remind you about your homework and deadlines, but when you get to college, you have to take charge of everything. Most university professors post assignments for the whole semester. From there, it’s up to you whether you do your assignments and deliver them on time, or you forget about them and fail those courses. You can use online resources to organize all the tasks for you and remind you about any upcoming deadlines. It is also important to learn how to manage your time between leisure and studying. 

3. Find the perfect studying spot

It is also important to find the perfect spot for studying. There is a high possibility that you will find that you are more focused and can get more things done in some places while some other areas are just a source of distraction. A perfect studying spot could be your dorm room, a coffee shop, the library, or in a park. For some students, quiet and isolated places are the best while other students prefer to study as a group and have time to socialize with other students. Try and find the option that works best for you and you can be sure to excel in your studies. 

4. Don’t miss classes

As a college student, it is important to make sure you attend all your classes. Although the temptation to miss some classes might be high, try as much as possible to attend all your classes. By attending classes, you get important information not only about the course but also about tests, midterms, finals, and deadlines. On top of that, your course might include group projects and by attending your class, you get to meet your peers and create strong bonds with them. 

5. Get to know your lecturers

Another good thing to consider as a first-year student is knowing your professors. Although it might seem a little intimidating, take advantage of your lecturer’s office hours, and schedule a meeting with them. Ensure you meet all your new lectures. Introducing yourself, and creating a friendly and respectful relationship with your lecturer is very important. 

Knowing your lecturer eliminates the anxiety of asking additional questions or asking for help when necessary. Always remember that managing many courses and deadlines can be overwhelming and thus you might need help. Having a positive relationship with your lecturer makes it easy for you to get the help you may need. 

6. Communicate with your academic advisor frequently

Communicating with your academic adviser frequently is very important. Take this person as an educational personal assistant. You can go to them if you need help with theoretical issues. For example if you end up with a conflicting course, you may need help in solving it and your academic advisor is the past person to help with that. 

On the other hand, you many need help and counselling about the majors and minors, the courses to take or drop and your academic advisor is the best person to take advice from. If you feel like the advisor assigned to you is not the right match, feel free to approach another advisor for assistance. 

7. Utilize every university resource for studying

Figuring out how to survive as a first year student on your own can be hard. Studying for classes in college is quite different as compared to high school. In some cases, you will find yourself encountering academic difficulties that you did not expect. Luckily, most learning institutions provide tutoring and learning labs. In case you encounter any learning problems, you can always turn to people in these places for help. Always remember that you are not the only person encountering such problems and you will likely meet people with the same problems who are willing to form study groups. Study groups are also important for socialization. 

8. Manage your time effectively

Learning how to manage your time is a very important aspect. Most senior students understand that it is all about studying smart and not studying hard. Sharpen your time-management skills, figure out what your working pace is, what accelerates your performance, what makes you lose focus, the courses that take longer to master, and the subjects that are the backbone of your major. Don’t forget to make time for rest and sleep. Burn-out and over-working yourself will only make you lose more time. Ensure you have enough time to rest so you can have enough time to recharge and start college life with new energy.  

9. Sign up for classes immediately

When you get to college, make sure you sign up for classes as soon as possible even though figuring out what you want to attend and how to register can be intimidating. You should start at least a week earlier by checking your university’s course catalog beforehand. Go through it thoroughly and come up with a list of courses that interest you. Once you have selected your majors, select the other courses that will help you advance in getting your degree. Once you are done selecting your courses, watch and read tutorials on how to register for those courses. This will save you from a lot of stress that comes with those activities due to limited seats in certain classes. 

Tips for managing finances

Being in college is not all about the books as you may encounter financial difficulties along the way. To survive and thrive in college, you must learn how to handle your budget, search for important information to find a suitable bank, and lower your daily expenses. The following are important financial skills that will help you survive and thrive in your freshman year in college. 

1. Find a bank that considers your college situation.

In the freshman year, you are entering a new adulthood stage that comes with other life obligations. For this reason, you need to research a bank that offers services that will meet your unique requirements. These services include person-to-person payment, online bill pay, and low minimum daily balance requirements. In this case, your aim is to find a bank that will help you save money. Any new skills you achieve in your first year in college will be very helpful later on in life. 

2. Keep track of your money

If you have never had to create a budget, it is time to do so. Come up with ways to stretch your money. Also, try as much as you can to avoid all those credit card solicitations you will be receiving. The average credit card debt of college graduates is staggering. 

3.  Take care of regular costs including books.

Surviving college financially is a rocky road and thus it would be very good if you were smart about your regular costs. Some of your needs could be essential while others might not make sense to other people but might be very important for our mental health. Try as much as possible to lower your expenses by buying used books, borrowing them from the library, and thrifting clothes by getting membership and loyalty cards that offer discounts. Always save as much as you can remembering that expected expenditure will always appear. Saving money will also allow you to pay for assignment help services when you really need them. 

4. Stop driving a car

Owning a car as a college freshman can be very expensive. This is because you have to spend on gas and insurance. You can decide to use public means or bikes to get to school and this will help save you a lot of money. You can also take the advantage of using the bus to and from the campus to make new friends. This is a chance for you to socialize. A bus ride also provides you with a great chance to catch up on your reading. You also listen to podcasts or music. Riding a bike helps improve your physical and mental health while it does not affect the environment in any way. 

5. Get a flexible part-time job

This is one of the most important tips for college freshmen. Although we have already discussed saving money it’s time to discuss how you can make money. As we all know, “little extra money hurts no one”. Most learning institutions offer students on-campus jobs that allow students to make some extra money and also get access to campus study resources that could be found at the gym, library, or cafeteria. You can also look for flexible jobs close to your campus area. Ensure that any jobs you take do not conflict with your classes as missing classes is not advisable. Although work experience looks good on your resume, good grades also do the same. 

Tips for socializing

Difficult times are more bearable when you have friends around. College is not all about studying and planning for future semesters. It is also about spending time with your peers and having fun. In this section, we will offer you tips to help you socialize with new people. 

1. Go to campus during your free time

You won’t be able to make friends if you spend all your time in your dorm room. Through yourself out of your comfort zone, go to the public, and join clubs or sports teams. Use the first year of college to expose yourself to all sorts of people. More friends mean less stress. If you have nowhere to go, you can stick around the cafeteria, lounge rooms, cafes, and campus parks. While there, smile at people and initiate conversations about shared interests. Don’t be afraid about making the first move. We all love confident people. 

2. Don’t miss out on university events

Universities and other learning institutions understand that new students have a hard time surviving college life. Thus, they organize events to let first-year students socialize during their free time. You can find these events on your email, the college website, or campus dashboards. If you are bored, go support your sports team, enjoy game nights or concerts, listen to amazing speakers, and develop new interests. Take advantage of all opportunities offered by your college by getting involved in all campus activities. 

3. Get to know your roommates

In most cases, your high school friends won’t be with you in college but you will be assigned someone to live with you. Try to connect with them as you may learn that you have similar interests, you can become partners in your college success, and learn to survive and thrive together. This advice should not pressure you, if you end up with someone you can’t click with, worry not as it is not mandatory that you become best friends with your roommate. There will be many people in your dorm to connect with. 

4. Get employed on campus

This is one of the most important freshmen college tips for socialization and improving campus life. Feel free to contact the career service office asking for any available jobs. For instance, you can look for a part-time job at the college cafeteria, library, or gym. With a part-time job, you will be making extra money, acquiring new skills, and finding more interesting career paths while making new friends. You should interact with everyone who reaches out to you, be friendly, and offer help where you can. Remember working experience is always important to survive and thrive in your future career. 

Tips for health and well-being

Changing from high school to college can be a tough phase for a first-year student. Although good grades and a college career are important, your mental health is also very important. Get enough sleep to stay healthy and also ask for help when you need it. Here are some health and well-being tips for first-year students in college.  

1. Avoid all-nighters

Being in college can be overwhelming at times and you may notice that most college students often become victims to procrastination. To keep up with homework, some students often pull all-nighters which is a very big mistake. To get good grades on your term paper, you need a fresh and functional mind and that’s why you are supposed to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation will only reduce your productivity and that’s why it should be avoided at any cost. The best way to avoid this is to plan ahead, create a to-do list, stick to a routine, be realistic about your plans, and make sure you have enough time to get enough sleep and rest. 

2. Get physically active

Getting drowned in homework is very easy. At times you might even forget to get out of your room and be physically active. Avoid working or doing homework from your bed. Get out of bed, stretch, and incorporate some of the exercises in your study routine for example you can decide to do push-ups after writing 500 words or give yourself a break, ride a bike, pick up a sport, or get your flip flops on and take a walk in the park. Make sure you give yourself a fresh start after some time as some of the greatest academic ideas come on a treadmill. 

3. Don’t skip meals

This being your first year in college, the semester might turn out harder than you were used to in high school with assignment deadlines taking all your time, having a limited deadline, to the extent you start missing meals. Always remember that a balanced diet fuels your body and brain making you stronger which helps you to survive. Make eating right fun and always include fruits and veggies in your daily meals. Limit junk consumption and keep healthy snacks around, and indulge in your favorite food every once in a while. Always remember to drink water to stay hydrated.  

4. Eat right

Some of the problems faced by first-year students can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time leading to a downward spiraling effect. Eat well, get enough sleep, and take your vitamins. When you get to college, there will be no mum or dad to serve you a balanced diet and you may be tempted to go for those extra fries or cookies. Stay healthy by sticking to a balanced diet. 

5. Take care of your mental health

Taking care of your mental health is very important as you can easily get lost in your college studies and forget your well-being completely. Check on yourself often ensuring you are happy. Have enough time to enjoy the activities that help you survive. Always remember that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. Most colleges and universities offer counseling centers and thus when curriculum and course conflicts become hard to manage, always turn to your academic adviser for assistance

When you have a lot of homework and assignments, consider getting help from assignment help services such as Assignment Essays. Finally, always keep in touch with your loved ones. Although it might take time to fit in, with time things will change for the better. 

6. Seek professional help when you need it. 

Most learning institutions have health and counseling centers. In case you are feeling sick, isolated, or depressed, ensure you take advantage of all the services provided by your institutions. You don’t have to face these issues alone when there are people who can help. 

Being a freshman in college can be stressful and sometimes you might feel very lonely. Always remember that there are also many students new to college who struggle just like you do and thus you should never give up. Take the advice given in this blog post as it will make your first year in college easier and also help you adjust to college life faster. Try to make the most of this year to prepare for other years in college. Always remember that you won’t be this young again. Don’t worry about making mistakes but always make sure you learn from these mistakes.