Top 4 Things Every College Freshman Needs to Know
Hey Guys – My name is Allyson Cialfi and I am the HR Manager here at NSR Australia. I am from a small beach town located in the state of Maine and I attended school at a large institution in South Carolina, Clemson University.
I am fresh out of college (just 1 year) and I wish everyday that I could go back to re-live my college days. Unfortunately, since this is not an option, I feel as though it is my duty to inform all you incoming freshmen of what you should expect based off of my experiences. So, here it is – my letter to you, to hopefully ease your mind and become as prepared as you possibly can!
Dear Soon-To-Be College Freshman,
How excited are you? With August/September right around the corner, it’ll be no time until you find yourself stepping onto that plane and venturing off to the next chapter of your life.
I remember the days leading up to my departure to North Carolina from Maine, I was extremely excited, but also nervous and scared. Was I going to make friends? What if I don’t get along with my roommate? What if the classes are too hard and I don’t like my major? All of these daunting thoughts crossed my mind and the anxiety grew as I crossed the days off my calendar for college.
However, reminiscing on these thoughts, I can’t help but laugh and wish that I had someone to brief me of what to expect and what I actually needed to know. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do for you incoming freshmen, and the rest will just come naturally.
1. Everybody wants to make friends.
I was dreading leaving my friends whom I’ve known since I was just 5 years old in kindergarten. We’ve been through everything together and leaving them behind was just something I was not prepared to do. However, move in day was not as dreadful as you may think. Everyone has the same look on their faces of insecurity and all it takes is one simple “Hey, my names is…” to break the ice. INSTANT FRIEND. I’m not kidding, this is how it actually works, you’ve now got someone to swap numbers with, eat in the cafeteria with and walk to class with.
Not to mention, that accent of yours will probably be a conversation starter in itself.
2. If you’re not best friends with your roommate, don’t stress!
I thought because I would be living with these 3 strangers, we all had to be best friends and if we didn’t get along, it would be the end of the world. Sure, it’s nice to get along with the people/person you’re living with, but I’ll be honest with you, the reality is you may not always agree on everything – and that’s perfectly fine!
My roommates and I didn’t click right off the bat. I found each of them had strange routines that just weirded me out. But because of this, it just forced me to put myself out there and make friends in other ways. I joined clubs on campus and made friends with my classmates.
Remember, your roommates have been randomly selected for you, but your friends don’t have to be.
3. College/University is nothing like your High School days.
Guess what. Those 7-hour non-stop school days are now OVER! Yeah, you’re leaving the school that you’ve been at for the past 5 years, but I promise, you’re going somewhere better and somewhere where you’ve got complete freedom! Not an early bird? No problem, speak with your advisor and schedule your first class for 10am. Do you want breaks in between classes? Schedule your classes so you’ve got a few hours for a lunch break.
You’ve got complete freedom and control of how you want to set up your classes and what subjects you wish to take (all within reason, of course)
4. Haven’t figured out what you want to be when you grow up? Don’t sweat it, you’ve got time.
Want to know how many times I changed my college major? 4 times exactly.
Did I want to become a psychologist, film editor, businesswoman or journalist? My point is, you don’t have to declare a major right away if you are still unsure. It’s okay if you don’t know “what you want to be when you grow up” and for those of you that do, I’d be willing to bet it may change after your first few classes.
As long as you firm up what you want your major to be by the end of your 2nd year, you’re golden. Just make sure you complete your general education courses first and foremost and you’re well on your way to a successful future!
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Well, I hope this provided some insight to all you incoming freshmen for your first semester at college. The next 4 years of your life are going to fly by and you’ll learn everything else as you go. Get excited for the most amazing experience of your life and don’t waste it!
Bye for now 🙂