If you're starting college this fall, you're probably feeling a variety of emotions. You're scared, excited, nervous, anxious and so much more. Just know that it's okay to be feeling this way. College is a huge step and a completely new experience to you.
I recently finished my freshman year at ASU and I am here to offer some advice (based on my experiences) on surviving your first year! Quick disclaimer: I lived off campus and had to commute to school so I don't have a ton of input on living in dorms, but remember that everyone's college experience is different. Tip #1: Go to school events!! Okay hear me out on this one. I know everyone has already told you the block party in front of your dorms is lame, or you feel weird going to the football game because you don't really know anyone, but remember that these are put on so you can meet people! Whether you're staying in the dorms or not, these events are going to be insanely beneficial. Everyone is nervous about meeting people just like you are so don't let that feeling discourage you from going. I only went to one football game my entire freshman year and I regret that. I wish I would've been more willing to go to school events and meet people. Don't make the same mistake!! Tip#2: Get involved!! This one is cliche but still rings true. Your campus should host some sort of club organization night where all of the clubs come together and encourage you to join! I highly recommend going to this! I went to mine and found out about the Fashion Journalism Club and I have never met such a wonderful group of people. I have made so many friends and have had such incredible opportunities all because I went to a club night and took a chance. (writing for The Chic Daily actually inspired me to create this blog so there's that) Tip#3: Stay organized!! This tip is so overly used, but it is so important to your success your first year! I am not being dramatic when I say that you will literally drown in sadness and stress if you do not stay on top of your work. Having a weekly/ monthly planner will be a key item in staying organized. Keep it on you at all times so you can have it when the teacher mentions a quiz or a study group session. I would check out Erin Condren planners! They are expensive, but definitely worth it! Tip#4: Do NOT throw away your syllabus!! I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to save your syllabuses (syllabi?) from your classes. Those puppies are a lifesaver. They hold the dates to all of your assignments, tests, office hours, etc. After your first week, pile up all of the syllabuses and write all of the important dates in your planner. I am being completely serious when I say that if you ask any professor when something is they will tell you to look at your syllabus. So save yourself the trouble and be proactive. Tip#5: Get an on campus job!! If you're one of those students who has to work during college (me) then listen closely. Getting an on campus job will make your life so much easier. They work really well with your schedule and understand that school is your top priority. You can drop by and work in between classes or work during school breaks and rack up some hours. This was one of the best decisions I made. I had to commute to work so I wasn't able to work when I got home from class. Working on campus allowed me to make some money while being at school. Tip#6: Go to office hours!! If you're having trouble in some classes, just go to office hours. I know it sounds like such an errand but it will help you in the long run. It will also make you a friendly face to your professor and they will recognize your effort in their class. A professor is way more willing to help you out if you're willing to help yourself. Mini story time: I had to take an online coding class for my major and you had to pass the class with a B or higher. If you failed you had one more chance to take it. Long story short. Coding is hard. I didn't go to office hours. I failed. The next semester I retook the class, went to office hours and passed with an A+. Tip#7: Make friends with people in class!! If you don't take anything from this post, at least try to remember this one. Talk to the people in your class. Get their numbers. Form study groups. This will be so helpful when you're desperately trying to finish an assignment before the midnight deadline and cannot figure out how to do a problem. Just shoot one of them a quick text and problem solved. Plus it's always nice to have a buddy in class. Tip#8: Outfits!! This tip is pretty vague, but tbh no one cares what you're wearing. Trust me when I say that when you wear leggings and a baggy hoody with messy hair, you'll see about 30 girls doing it too. The cool thing about college is that you can wear the same shirt two days in a row because you most likely won't see your Monday and Wednesday peeps on Tuesday and Thursday. With that being said, don't be afraid to rock your outfits either! Tip#9: Keep school supplies to a minimum!! School supplies really aren't that big of a deal in college. All I am saying is that you don't need to drop hundreds of dollars at Target on supplies. You use your laptop for literally everything in your classes. I think I used the same pencil the whole year because we literally never used them. You'll most likely only need a few notebooks, highlighters, index cards, a planner and fun colored pens for your notes and planner. If you live on campus you probably will only need a small bag to pack stuff for class. But if you live off campus, I suggest getting a bigger backpack because you have to pack everything for the whole day and carry it around. Tip#10: Don't procrastinate!! I mean this one is pretty self explanatory. We all procrastinate, we all do it. On the other hand, save yourself from deliriously crying at 3 a.m. because you waited to do your 8 a.m. class project. Tip#11: Don't take an 8 a.m.!! You will hate your life. Just take it from me, do anything you can to avoid scheduling a class this early. The beauty of college is getting to create your own schedule so take advantage of it. Also try to steer clear of Friday classes because then you have a three day weekend all semester long. Tip#12: Take advantage of campus amenities!! Most campuses will have a gym, library, or transportation system. Take advantage of these things! They aren't technically free because they are included in your tuition, but if you think of them as free it makes them cooler! Tip#13: Find new study spots!! You will be completely unmotivated if you're laying in bed doing homework. There are so many distractions in your room. Since I lived off campus, I spent alot of my time studying in cute local coffee shops, the library and study rooms. You will feel super determined and distraction free if you try out a few of these places. I recommend switching up your study location quite frequently. Having new scenery will have you feeling refreshed! Tip#14: ALWAYS have your laptop charger!! Just trust me on this one. I may be speaking from experience when I say that it sucks to have your laptop die in the very beginning of class. Tip#15: Say yes!! College is a time for new adventures and new experiences. Have fun with it and enjoy your time there. Say yes to things you wouldn't normally do. Step out of your comfort zone. Feel free to be yourself. Make a ton of memories and laugh often. College might be intimidating, but it is going to be some of the best years of your life! (sorry this is cheesy, but it's true).
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