Adapting to Freshman Year of College
Dorm Life, Studying, Cafeteria Food and Getting Involved on Campus
Feb 11, 2009
Students may not be used to sharing a room, living off of ramen noodles, and having their usual study habits interrupted by loud music blaring in the background, but there are ways to ease into this new environment.
Dorms and Roommates
For a lot of people, this is the first time having to share a room with someone else. At many universities, it’s even more than just a double occupancy. This can be one the hardest aspects of college life for an incoming freshman. There are so many horrifying stories floating around about terrible roommate experiences, so to avoid this dilemma, there are several things to remember.
The concept of compromise can be difficult for some students to grasp, but it is absolutely essential to living with another person – learning to respect each other's living habits. No one comes from the exact same upbringing or background, so it’s important for the student to keep this in mind. As a rule of thumb: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Study Habits
Living away from home for the first time also brings about the issue of time management for many students. No longer living under the roof of parents (or what many like to think of as new found freedom), with a new social life can be difficult while trying to balance school work. Setting aside some study time in a quiet place, such as the library will help to assure papers and homework get done in an efficient manner. Coming up with a tentative schedule to follow will assist in time management – it works out for the student as he can have fun and do well in school.
Cafeteria Food and the Freshman 15
One of the most missed things is home-cooked meals, but cafeteria food is inevitable. Majority of freshman won’t have the luxury of apartment-style dorms yet, and shouldn't count on being able to cook their own food. Most schools have realized the food they serve is one of the biggest complaints around campus. In response, many have been trying to better the quality and variety of what they serve. However, it can be easy to get off schedule of what one may normally eat at home, but sticking with a well-balanced diet will help prevent the dreaded, “Freshman 15.”
Oops...too late for that? Well, that’s okay because almost all schools have free access to the gym. It’s always important to stay in shape and get daily exercise anyway. Unfortunately, the freshman 15 manages to find a number of students, so to solve this problem, implementing some sort fitness regime may be needed. Finding a gym buddy has been proven useful, especially in helping to keep that person on track.
Another remedy that’s been found highly effective is keeping a journal to log daily exercise and food intake. It’s quick and easy to maintain. There are additional ways to take off those extra pounds, as well. Little day-to-day things, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator in the dorm building, or walking the longer route to class can make all the difference.
Get Involved
Some incoming freshmen find it hard to really connect with a certain group of people right away or can't find their niche. This is where getting involved in clubs and extra-curricular activities on campus is a great idea. By doing this, a student is also going to find people that have similar interests and hobbies. There are so many options available from intramural sports to joining a fraternity or sorority. All of these will help in meeting new people and getting involved on campus. Although many freshman probably won't be thinking of this right away, being an active member of an organization is a great thing to put on a resume when it comes time to apply for an internship!
Adjusting to freshman year of college can be a struggle for some people, whether it has to do with studies or meeting new people. In the end though, it's important to make the most of the experience because 4 years flies by quickly!
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