How to Prepare for Freshman Year of College
You have more questions than answers. You spend hours searching Google, Pinterest, and other sources for tips to help you prepare for your first year of college.
While looking for posts about college roommate questions, college move-in day tips, and college credits you should take may be helpful, what you really want (and maybe even need) is a how-to guide.
College is different and more challenging than high school in many ways, but probably not in the ways you expect. Rather than facing your first year slightly clueless and terrified, why not come prepared to do the best you can?
As a former high school teacher and a current college instructor, I want to help you with this tip. One of the best ways you can prepare for your freshman year of college is by informing yourself.
Find the information you need before arriving on campus in the fall by using these 5 resources:
Read the material provided by your future college or university. You’ve likely received information in the mail or over email. Read through this material, but don’t be hesitant to check the website, student life pages, or student groups to get more information.
Talk to your academic advisors about the first semester. Your advisor can be an excellent resource. Before arriving in the fall, be sure you discuss your possible major or class schedule with him or her.
Shadow professionals in the area you plan on picking as a major. This is important. Committing to a major doesn’t determine your destiny, but you should carefully think through this decision. Before committing to a major in which you have little or no work experience, consider scheduling a meeting with a few professionals in that field and (if possible) shadowing them in their workplace.
Prepare yourself to be pushed outside of your comfort zone. Buckle up. The ride ahead isn’t going to be smooth, even if you’re incredibly prepared. You will likely forget names of classmates, have awkward encounters with your roommate, and occasionally forget assignments. Going to college is in itself a learning experience.
Read this book. Even if you do all of the above things, you probably still won’t feel as informed as you’d like to be about the adjustments ahead. Refuse to make the common mistakes with insider tips from a former college freshmen and a current college instructor in this book—The Complete Guide to Your Freshman Year of College.
While you eagerly await graduation day, graduation parties, graduation gifts, and hopefully the opportunity to go to college in person in the fall, don’t forget in the waiting to prepare!
