If you’re going off to college for the first time, starting in a new city, or going back after a long hiatus, it’s easy to feel like you must be prepared for the unknown. Everyone knows that college is full of changes and adjustments.
It’s a good idea to think about what you might need for your first semester, especially if you’re only going off to school for the first time or from out of state.
It’s also important to consider what you could need to be successful at school.
Timing Your Transition To University Life
Moving from home life to college or university life can be a big adjustment for anyone, but the timing of your transition can have a major impact.
Planning to move in mid-session, before classes start, may give you time to get settled into your new environment and settle in with classmates before the busy first semester begins.
If you plan to move in during the first or second week of the semester, it’s important to be prepared for the influx of people that are coming into campus all at once.
You’ll want to arrive with everything you’ll need for the first few days or weeks at school so that you can take care of any registration needs before classes start.
Transferring from one college or institution to another can also be a big challenge for students. You’ll need to check what the requirements are. For example, you can see UC Santa Cruz transfer requirements at CampusReel, as well as make arrangements to move your belongings, etc.
If you’re planning to move in mid-semester or during the second or third week of the semester, you’ll need to figure out how to adjust your plans and cut back on how much ground you wish to cover.
If you’re transitioning from one school to another, it can be very helpful to talk with the people around you who have given similar advice to those experiencing the same shift. You can also use university websites for information on transition and expectations at other campuses by visiting a website like CampusReel.com.
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What A Typical Day Looks Like As A Freshman In College?
Students may be surprised about the amount of time required for socializing, studying, and other mundane routines as a freshman in college. In some ways, it doesn’t really matter how much time you need to study. You can always work on your essay if you have to spend too much time on it.
Even so, if your immediate goal is to get your classes done for the day, it’s important to plan some time each night for quiet reflection and nourishment.
You don’t have to breeze through the rest of the day following this schedule, but make one plan for what you would like to do before assignments begin each day.
If you need to finish work on a paper or an essay, you’ll want to get it done early in the evening so that you have time for other activities.
You may also want to plan your meal schedule the evening before so that you know what will be available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oftentimes students don’t know what they will do when they arrive at college, so it can be a good idea to make some plans now.
Besides taking care of your daily tasks, it’s important to take time every day to relax and reflect as well.
How To Make Friends in College
Making friends in college can seem like a daunting task, but it is definitely possible.
You can make new friends by building relationships with people you already know or by meeting new people at campus events or on campus.
Remember that there are always groups of students on your school’s email list, even if you don’t join the group directly.
You can also try looking into group study sessions and other activities that allow you to meet new people. Although some students may find these events intimidating, finding a study group can be one way to make those first few weeks easier for everyone involved.
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Building Community in Your New Campus Home
One of the easiest ways to build a sense of community at your new school is to make friends with the people in your residence hall.
Whether you’re living on campus or commuting, it can be a good idea to make friends with people at your school.
It can be much more comfortable to share space with two or three other people, as opposed to living by yourself, so asking someone nearby if they would like to have a roommate can be an easy way to get started making friends.
It can also be helpful to read the room description at your new facility, as some rooms and halls have specific events that go on throughout the week.
Making friends with people in a group is a good way to get involved with some of these events.
