How to survive the first day of college with ease?
The first day of college brings with it a high level of tension and anxiety for many people. This is completely natural, considering that freshmen are about to begin a new phase of their studies, quite different from the routine they had in high school.
The most important thing is not to let the stress of the first day get in the way of your adjustment. With that in mind, we’ve prepared this post with some tips to help you overcome anxiety and face this transitional stage. Keep reading and start your journey on the right foot!
Anxiety about the first day of college
Expectations for the beginning of the course are huge! “Is this really what I wanted? Will I like the classes? How can I get used to the new routine?” — these are constant dilemmas in the minds of freshmen, generating a high level of anxiety about what lies ahead.
To avoid letting tension take over, the exceptional issue to do is take a deep breath and face the primary day of college as some thing natural, a primary step in the direction of your dream profession. Of route, you’ll nevertheless sense butterflies for your stomach, but grade by grade you may be able to adapt to the lecture room.
A good tip is to think that all your classmates are going through a similar situation. In other words, they will also have some difficulty relaxing and facing this first day. Therefore, exchanging affection is essential for the group to start creating bonds and feel more comfortable in this new routine.
Talk to your classmates, introduce yourself to your teachers and show that you are willing to make the most of what lies ahead. During your academic journey , students are on their own two feet, so it is up to you to take all the responsibility and seriousness necessary to build a successful career.
How to do well on the first day?
Interact with your colleagues
It’s impossible to become childhood friends with your classmates on the first day of college . But that doesn’t mean you should shut yourself off and stay in your own corner. It’s really important to be open to new relationships and, little by little, create bonds with the people you identify with the most. As we said, this is a new environment for everyone.
So, any form of hospitality is welcome. Sit close to your classmates, try to find out where they came from, what their life stories are, what they expect from the course, etc. All of this will bring the group closer together and reduce the tension of the first few days. That way, before you know it, you will have made good friends.
Talk to the veterans
They can recommend the best study materials, the cheapest coffee shops, the best photocopying locations, exchange programs , and more. Not to mention that veterans are already familiar with the way most teachers work and will be able to tell you what they value most in students, how they evaluate tests, and other privileged information about the academic world.
Don’t be afraid of prank calls
Hazing is a cause for concern for every freshman. After all, you never know what will happen after you walk through the gate on your first day, right? Hazing is very common in colleges, with the main objective of integrating freshmen and seniors. Pinning down new students, making them ask for money at traffic lights, and getting them to participate in some games is something that is typical of older students.
If you feel uncomfortable, just don’t do it, because it’s not your obligation! On the other hand, as long as the hazing is healthy, there’s nothing wrong with joining in and having a little fun, even if you have to clean up after yourself! Just be aware if you notice that the pranks are abusive or violent. This type of hazing is considered illegal and should be reported to the college administration.
Take a walk around campus
Have you started college and don’t even know where your classes will be? Don’t worry! This is completely normal. With so many buildings and hallways, it’s not always easy to find your way around the institution. So, take advantage of the time you enroll to walk around the campus and get to know the facilities without rushing.
Take a walk around the blocks and see where the main classrooms, library, study rooms, bathrooms, cafeterias and everything else that is useful for your academic routine are located. This way, you won’t run the risk of arriving late on the first day just because you were looking for the right place.
Find the location of the xerox
The photocopy machine is another essential part of your everyday life at college. Even though a lot of content is available online, you will definitely need to photocopy some texts throughout your course. Keep an eye on the university facilities and see which photocopy machines are the cheapest, as there are usually several scattered around campus. Depending on the volume of readings for your course, this can be a very interesting savings!
Take little material
Forget about that huge backpack with notebooks for 16 subjects. You don’t need to take all of that to college, especially on the first day of classes. For the first classes, take a small notebook or just a small pad to write down the most important information. The content starts to emerge after the first few meetings, which serve more to introduce the course syllabus, the schedule for each subject and the study groups in progress.
Be prepared for happy hour
Remember that little bit of money you and the other freshmen saved up at the traffic light? Well, it can be useful to pay for happy hour. Be prepared on your first day, without a heavy backpack on your back and with some extra money in case the bar bill gets too high. This moment of socializing is essential to get to know your classmates better, show off your personality and start making friends that could last a lifetime.
Remember to be who you are and don’t blame yourself for being anxious. The first day of college is just the beginning of a journey full of stories for you to tell and retell to your children. So, make the most of every second!