Hi Seniors!
As we are all preparing for the transition to college, there are so many things to keep track of, and it can be overwhelming. Whether you’ve decided on a school or not, this season can be stressful. To help with this transition, I’ve compiled some helpful tips and reminders to help us all keep things in perspective.
- College is not the end all be all. You can always transfer. If you choose the wrong major, you can switch.
- If you don’t make friends your first week, there are thousands of other people to meet. You might not find your forever best friends right away, and that’s okay!
- Most of the friends you make in the first week or even the first months of school will not be your friends for the rest of college.
- Don’t feel pressured about your major or career. It doesn’t matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they’re doing with their lives; college is the time for you to find yourself and what you want to be. It’s not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.
- Stay healthy; it is easy to fall into the trap of eating out daily and snacking on everything. Prioritize a balanced diet and exercise. If you feel good, you’ll perform better in classes and have more energy.
- Take advantage of every opportunity. Go to your orientations, use your professors’ office hours, get to know your academic advisor, join clubs, play a sport, find a tutor, and utilize any mental health resources available. College can be overwhelming; it is essential to use the resources you have available to you.
Another thing people tend to stress about is what to pack. The most important thing to remember is that it is not the end of the world if you forget something. There is always Amazon, and I guarantee you there is a Target within 15 minutes of your campus. BUT if you want to plan, I have some tips!
- The actual clothing, decor, supplies, and other things you bring are very subjective. Trust your gut, don’t overpack, and if you want a more specific guide on what to bring, look up packing guides on Pinterest or Google; they have so many.
- Don’t bring everything in your closet to school! My general recommendation for clothing is to get what you wear at home (jackets, tops, bottoms, hats, etc.) and to keep the clothes you are on the fence about at home. If you want something, you can always bring it back over break or have someone send it to you.
- Learn to layer!! This might mean you want to bring a variety of sweaters/sweatshirts and light jackets/heavier jackets.
- Leave your high school merch at home.
The last thing you want to prepare for is the actual move-in day. There are three sections of moving in that you want to think about. Before move-in day, move-in day, and roommates.
- Before Move-In Day
- Choose Your Housing
- Apply to a Pre-Orientation Program
- You’ll meet new people!
- You move in early!
- You meet upperclassmen
- Order to Amazon-Hub/some external address rather than to your school address
- You need bags to pack things in. I recommend these big blue storage bags!
- Move-In Day
- Purchase a Swiffer and Clorox wipes to thoroughly clean your room before moving everything in.
- Take advantage of the support desk
- Figure out the best route to your room before bringing your cart.
- Look at the parking situation before you get there
- If you are driving, make sure you have a hotel booked for the night before and maybe the night after!
- Moving In With Roommates
- If you choose your roommate, FaceTime them before you move in!! I can’t believe the number of people who chose someone based on their Instagram profile, and when it came to meeting in real life, they were much different than they appeared.
- Talk about what appliances you will bring (i.e., mini fridge, lamps, etc.)
- Try to avoid moving in on the same day/time slot –– a small dorm can get crowded very quickly!!
- If you have a pre-selected roommate, plan your room before and agree on a color theme.
My final words of wisdom are to stop, take a deep breath, and let it be. Everything will work out; what is meant to be will happen. You are going to make so many mistakes in college. That is a perfectly normal part of life. It’s your first time living on your own, and you won’t get many things that are even close to perfect. Learn from your mistakes, but do not dwell on them. A failed exam or a fight with your friend does not reflect your worth as a human being. You did all the work in high school, so enjoy all your hard work while laying the groundwork for a successful college career. Don’t be a statistic; be determined to make it through your freshman year — and beyond. Take advantage of your new friends and professors network, have fun while learning as much as possible, and get the most out of your college experience.
