Coming to college for the first time can be very intimidating. Maybe this is the first time you’re acting independently, or you’ve never been this far from home. While your freshman year can seem scary, there are many things you can do to make the transition into higher education easier.

Below are some tips and advice for incoming freshman adjusting to life on campus.

This may be something you’ve heard before, but if you care about deadlines, use a planner. A planner is a great way to keep track of assignment due dates, and even plan your day-to-day activities.

Time management is one of the biggest skills to learn in college, and a planner can help you stay prompt.

Many also find it helpful to read due dates for significant projects, due dates in the syllabus and write that down ahead of time. You never know how busy you might be two months from now, and you want to make sure you stay on top of your work.

Group work can be a large part of your classes. When working on a group project, be sure to communicate. If no one steps up to organize meeting times or open the door for discussion, then weeks might go by before you all get something done. 

Take the initiative, and encourage yourself and others to clearly communicate. If something unfortunate happens during the period of a group project, such as one of you gets sick, be honest with your groupmates. 

Be as open as you can , and usually people will understand and work something out with you. You don’t want to end up with a project that doesn’t have your name on it and a zero. Don’t be afraid to communicate with your groupmates and even make friends!

Speaking of making friends, if you want to meet new people outside of your classes, sign up for some of the clubs or groups on campus. There is a wide variety of communities and groups on campus that may interest you. It’s much easier to break the ice when everyone is there because of a common interest. 

Even joining a student involvement organization that you only have slight interest in may allow you to explore the kind of things you like to do. 

Finally, make time for yourself. It’s easy to let your mental health slip if you’re staying heavily involved in your classes. 

Give yourself a break every once and a while. Whether it’s sleeping in on that day off, or if it’s just a few minutes to step away from your homework and take a breath. You’ll perform much better on tests if you’re well rested, have a clear head and a confident mentality.

Share