You’ve finished high school, and now you’re getting ready for that next big adventure—college. Of course, college is going to have its challenges. Going to college can be one of the most exciting times in a young adult’s life. At times, it will be stressful, but it will also be rewarding and fun. The key is to be prepared, both in and out of the classroom.
7 Helpful Tips for First-Year University Students
From learning niche subjects to networking with peers or managing your budget, check out these helpful tips for first-year university students!
1. Practise Your Time Management
Freshman year is the time when many young adults experience the freedom of making their schedules. While unstructured free time may seem awesome, it’s important to establish routines, making it one of the most important first-year preparation tips. Having a planner, desk calendar, or digital management tools can help you maximise the hours of your day. There’s also a wide range of free time management tools to make sure you’re staying on track.
2. Make Studying a Priority
Find study methods that work for you—while pulling an all-nighter can happen, it’s a better idea to prepare in advance to help mitigate stress. Whether it’s colour-coding your notes, making flashcards, or trying the Pomodoro method, experiment with different studying techniques to see what works best for you.
3. Create a Budget
Between late-night dinners, weekend night outs, and general college expenses, learning how to manage finances is usually a big challenge for college freshmen. A few basic money management tips for students include knowing how much is in your bank account, so you don’t overdraw. Use public transportation like trains and buses to help you save on expenses and live sustainably. When talking with incoming university students, they should put a portion of their pocket money every month into a savings account so they can have some money saved by the time they finish school. In addition, students should find part-time jobs or paid internships throughout the school year.
4. Don’t Forget About Your Health
Combat the effects of school stress and stay healthy by getting eight hours of sleep a night, drinking lots of water, taking vitamins, and getting a balanced diet. If you do get sick, most universities have student health and wellness centres with medical professionals on-site who can provide flu shots, cold medicine, and basic first-aid care.
The last thing you need during your freshman year is to be sick or lose all your good eating habits. Always, even when things get busy, eat healthily, exercise, and schedule regular doctor appointments. Become familiar with your campus health clinic.
Simple ways to take care of your mental health during college include meditating, avoiding procrastination, getting regular exercise, and limiting caffeine, among other stress management solutions.
5. Learn to Live with Roommates
Many colleges require freshman-year students to live on campus in hostels, which means you may have a roommate during your first year. Sharing your space with someone can be a huge adjustment, but there are ways to make it easier for both of you. You’ll want to set some boundaries for things like chores and schedules, and be sure there’s mutual respect for the space. This is a great way to connect with someone experiencing the same thing as you, so take time to get to know them!
6. Attend First Year Orientation
Most colleges will have you attend a first-year orientation before the first semester. These are almost always mandatory, but even if it’s not, don’t skip them! These are necessary if you want to properly prepare for college as a freshman.
Orientations will sometimes help you with course selection, class placement, campus tours, housing selection, and more. You might even meet your future best friends during this experience. If you’re not sure what will be covered in your college orientation, reach out to your admissions department ahead of time.
7. Look Forward to the First Day
Freshman move-in day can be extremely thrilling and a little scary, even for parents. Even though moving into the dorms, finding your classes, and adjusting to your new surroundings can be overwhelming, try to let yourself simply enjoy the experience. You’ll be making friends, discovering new hobbies, and learning more about yourself! Most campuses will also dedicate the first week of classes to hosting events and activities for new students as they transition to college life.
Conclusion
Don’t let your freshman year overwhelm you. Instead, make your first year of this experience amazing. When you follow these 13 tips to prepare for college, you will set yourself up for success both in the classroom and out.
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FAQs
Q. 1 What should I wear on the first day of college?
Ans: Do not worry too much about what to wear on your first day, as you will likely encounter students dressed in every manner you can imagine. Dress in a way that represents who you are and keeps you comfortable.
Q. 2 What classes should I take in college freshman year?
Ans: Work with a guidance counsellor to determine a freshman-year course load that works best for you. Generally, you will want to focus on prerequisites for your major, exploratory courses, and at least one course that helps you develop critical thinking skills.
Q. 3 What month does college start?
Ans: Classes generally begin anywhere between mid-August and mid-September, depending on the university.
Q. 4 Why choose Sangam University?
Ans: Sangam University is a top private University in Rajasthan, well-known for its international quality professional education, as well as for producing highly innovative technocrats which makes it the best university in Rajasthan.
