Tips for Incoming First Years… From a First Year

Daniel Griffin

Opinion Editor

With the Spring 2025 semester nearly halfway over and the next generation of high school seniors choosing their desired paths, there are certainly a lot of angst filled moments ahead.

Especially following the selection of a University if they so choose, in my experiences I believe that the biggest challenge comes from students becoming acquainted with their new “home” away from home.

The place where they will spend their 4 years of college, upon arrival on campus, there are a few very important things students should know from a current first year who has lived through it within the past year.

Tip #1: Don’t Overpack 

You can and will always go home for more things. With many students looking to decorate their rooms and essentially recreate what they have at home, they tend to bring way too much.

Duffle bags worth of clothes, items, and equipment they believe are necessary to start their college journey. I am here to tell you to not overpack for your first days on campus. Like every student, you will get homesick and be back at your childhood home within weeks of being at school- and that is okay. For that reason, don’t stress yourself and pack just what you need, not your ENTIRE house.

Tip #2: Make That Extra Step

While we all get jitters the first couple of weeks, regardless you still must be the one to get over this hurdle. An awkward period that dawns on every incoming freshman, the best way to tackle meeting new people is to approach other students and make conversation.

Putting yourself out there and taking the extra step, from getting food with that kid you just met, playing basketball the first couple of nights, or keeping your door open and unlocked in the dorm, these are ways to get to know people early and often.

We all will make friends with time, but in order to speed up the process and make it more normal, step out of your comfort zone and be the one looking to engage. The results will be plentiful and you will not be disappointed.

Tip #3: Be Prepared For Class

If one thing’s for certain, it is that adjusting to class schedules your first year of college is no easy feat.

Without constant reminders and no-one telling you to do your homework, it is up to us as students to stay organized For this reason ALWAYS make sure to print out your syllabuses and hang them somewhere you look often.

Giving you a constant sense of where you are in the class and your assignments. This handy method makes your academic experience far more easy.

Whether you look at your syllabuses once a day or once a week, having them with you in a pinch saves the need to go to Brightspace or the library, and allows you to ALWAYS be on top of your work.

Tip #4: Don’t Be Afraid To Introduce Friends 

There’s nothing wrong with connecting both worlds. After making new friends at your college, many students tend to go through a period of forgetting about their old ones.

Finding a new place in a new friend group and sharing in new experiences, one thing students need to remember is that there is no harm in combining your friend groups.

Connecting the world from home to new, this only makes your relationships deeper and your friend group bigger!

So, if you are going out to get together or just hanging in, don’t feel afraid to invite different groups and different people, as everyone is there for you and will find something in common.

In college people want to make friends and find new ones, so never shy away from combining old with new when it comes to friends.

Tip #5: Don’t Forget Your Past Life 

Lastly, while some students tend to believe that their life before college doesn’t exist, MAKE SURE that you don’t forget where you came from.

 Whether it be your friends or family, always take that phone call or answer that text. Though students tend to think that their lives are very different, which they are in a lot of ways, your outside of school life still exists and will be there on breaks and random weekends home.

For this reason, make sure to never forget home and don’t feel shy to reach out to those from your home life every once in a while. It’s always nice to hear from someone you’ve known and receive support in a challenging time when you are away at school.