To-Do List written on notebook surrounded by crumbled paper & office supplies

5 Important Things to Do When You First Start College

Your first year of college can be a hectic, overwhelming time. Here's some advice to help you get through it as smoothly as possible.

If you just started college this year, you’re probably in a state of jitters. It’s a complex mixture of emotions that you have to confront: stress and anxiety from leaving home and the curiosity of going to a new place and starting another chapter of your life.

Looking back at my first year of college, I realize how unprepared I was for the experience, both mentally and emotionally. The first few weeks are always the hardest because of the newness of your situation. Freshman year is usually when you carve out your identity after the familiarity of high school life. Here are some words of advice to make your transition to college slightly less overwhelming.

1. Don’t wear yourself down too much

It’s important to take a breather during this busy period or you may suffer your first burnout before classes even get going. It’s easy to get bogged down by all the appearances you need to keep up. The stress of the first week tends to be overwhelming for most of us, so it’s important to take the time to recuperate. Understand your limits and tolerance levels when it comes to first-year parties and events. Try allocating at least some of your time toward settling in as well so you have everything in order when you begin classes.

Related: 8 Tips for Finding Balance in College

2. Set yourself up for success

I strongly believe setting up your work and living space should be a priority once you arrive. Spend your first couple of days equipping your room with all the things you need to begin your new life! I spent a lot of time decorating my room and buying stationery, furniture, and little embellishments so I could brighten up my living space. When your room feels more like home, it will be easier to get through the adjustment period. My friends and I prettied up our desks and made photo collages on our walls to make ourselves feel more at home in our new apartments.

3. Deal with your homesickness

Homesickness is just part of moving away to college. I learned that it’s important to give yourself time to come to terms with any homesickness you might encounter while immersing yourself in your new home. Make a list of some of the places you would like to visit in your new city. As a history lover, I visited many of the museums and churches during my first few weeks. I also developed a habit of biking to the beach near my student residence during my afternoons off. With time and experience, homesickness wanes as you become more preoccupied with your studies and extracurriculars.

Related: Video: Leaving Home for the First Time

4. Get to know your location better

Take the effort to get to know your locality and neighborhood better if you’re living in a city. Be prepared and get all the advice you require. You should have all the adequate information you need about your surroundings so you know where everything is, and you can ask for help whenever you feel the need to. Ensure that you keep important contacts with you so you can reach out to them easily in case of an emergency. Discovering your new home will also help you deal with your homesickness. Get involved with campus life so you can develop a stronger sense of purpose and engage more in your interests and hobbies.

5. Connect with people on campus

A vital aspect of orientation is socializing, networking, and getting to know people better. The best way to make friends is by taking the initiative to understand people better. This involves getting to know and understanding the complex backgrounds, identities, and cultures of people at your college. We often connect with people who have similar stories and interests. Rather than forcing friendships and trying too hard on your part, keep an open mind when you interact with people so you can make deeper connections.

Related: Making Friends Your First Year of College: Top Do's and Don'ts

The move to college is certainly a big one, and it’s important to pace yourself so you can enjoy the journey. When you’re done with that grueling first year, you can pass down some of your own unique wisdom to other underclassmen!

Find a college you’ll love with our College Search tool.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Shivani Ekkanath

Shivani Ekkanath

As a person applying to college this year, I want to chronicle this crazy and unpredictable yet rewarding and fascinating journey so the experience feels less daunting for other students. I'm currently preparing to study Political Science for my undergraduate degree while trying my best to win a battle with the pressures of the IB diploma. I'm a lover of music, debating, reading about current affairs, dancing, baking (not too well), and writing. I'm also an an aspiring journalist and hope to attend Columbia University one day and work for the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress
Ariyane

Ariyane

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress really helped me by letting me know the colleges ratings and placements. They gave me accurate information on my colleges tuition rates and acceptance. They even let me know the ration between students and faculty and the diversity of the college. Overall they told me everything I needed and things I didnt even think I needed to know about my college and other colleges I applied for.

Bri'Yana Brown-Dunn

Bri'Yana Brown-Dunn

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress helped me gain interest in many colleges/universities and many scholarships. I would say the most helpful thing CollegeXpress has done for me is sending me emails that tell me certain types of colleges are interested in me as well as emails about scholarships that I can look at and possibly apply for.

Makiyah Murray

Makiyah Murray

High School Class of 2021

The college application process has been a stressful one, but CollegeXpress has eased some of that stress with its readily available college resources. At the beginning of the process, I frequently used the college search feature, and now that I’m almost done applying, I’ve started using the scholarship search. Both of these resources have made it easier to find relevant information.

Jessica Rinker

Jessica Rinker

Student, Fairhaven High School; CollegeXpress Student Writer

My high school counselor introduced me to CollegeXpress freshman year. It has made such a difference in high school, and I plan to continue relying on it in college. CollegeXpress is my go-to because it addresses each aspect of being a student. There are the articles you’d expect regarding college applications and financial aid, but you will also find advice on things like de-stressing and maintaining relationships while balancing a heavy course load. CollegeXpress will also keep you updated on current scholarships through e-mails each Saturday. (They don’t harass you with any product promotion like so many other sites do.) CollegeXpress is a lot like an older sibling who has already conquered the challenges you are facing. Now, they are reaching out a helpful hand. I say take it.

Rana Slosberg

Rana Slosberg

Slosberg College Solutions LLC

My favorite part of CollegeXpress is the 800+ lists which have all kinds of hard-to-find information. These lists are helpful when I’m creating college lists, and I also use them to give students a feel for a particular college or university.

College Matches
X

Colleges You May Be Interested In

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT

Lynn University

Boca Raton, FL

Merrimack College

North Andover, MA

Grace College

Winona Lake, IN