Eight Tips for Freshmen

Freshmen, be prepared for the first steps in your college journey. Start your term on the right foot with these eight tips.

Get Organized

Avoid the freshmen fluster by staying organized. Keep a calendar and a planner to remind you of due dates, deadlines, and appointments. Calendars are a great way to stay organized and motivated. Make sure you place it somewhere that you pass every day. Always carry your planner with you. Mark down your successes in addition to your to-dos. When you get a great grade on a paper, or pass that math test, make a note of it on your calendar or in your planner to keep you motivated!

Free Tutoring

Many colleges have free tutoring every day. Even if you aren’t having trouble now, go in to get to know your tutors, so you know who to turn to when you run into problems. Plan ahead, and be ready for the challenges that your classes will throw at you.

Talk to Your Advisor

Talking to an advisor is extremely helpful. You can speak to someone who has helped thousands of students reach their goals. If the work load is too much, they can adjust for you, and they can give you advice that they have seen other students go through. The advisors are there for you. When it all comes down to it, they want you to be successful just as much as you do. Go talk to them!

Make Friends

The other students in your class are going through the same curriculum as you, and sometimes the class is easier if you band together and help each other out. Sometimes your other peers see a perspective you didn’t or vice versa. Even if they aren’t in your class, you might meet someone in the student lounge or in the Student Government who might have taken your classes. Ask around- you never know what your peers may have already learned!

Get Some Sleep

You need to make sure you are getting a sufficient amount of sleep. Classes and other activities can take a great deal of your time. You need to make sure your body is well rested and rejuvenated so that you can work functionally each day. You can’t drive a car on empty.

Get Some Exercise

We are not saying go to the gym and become a body builder. Go for a light jog or a walk. Getting a little exercise will produce endorphins and give you a boost. We want you to smile and be healthy.  

Listen to Instrumentals

When studying or even doing homework, often times it helps students concentrate when they listen to music with no words. They say words have a tendency to make you concentrate on what they are saying instead of the work in front of you. Give it a try – no words.

Fight the Freshman 15

What you put in your body is the fuel to keep it running, so don’t fill up with junk! Yes, every once in a while, have some sweets, but the majority of what you eat should be something that helps you run smoothly. What you put in is what you get out, for school and in life.

Meditate

Meditating is one of the easiest things to do to relax yourself, refocus, and reenergize. Sit completely still and breathe in and out slowly. There are many apps and videos that can get you started. If you can think about nothing and just think about your breathing for a few minutes, this helps a lot. Give it a try!