10 Ways To Make Freshman Year Of College The Best

A few weeks ago I published my “10 Things I Learned Freshman Year Of College” blog post and video. So many of you reached out saying that post was helpful and that you wanted to see more college-related content. So, here I am with the second installment of my College Advice 101 series, sharing 10 ways to make freshman year of college the best.

WATCH THE VIDEO

This series is going to be a blog post + video series meaning for every blog post published, there will be a YouTube video to accompany it where I talk through the same points, share some photos and video clips from my freshman year of college, and really dish out all my thoughts. I wanted to incorporate videos for a more personal feel but thought that blog posts would also be helpful so you can easily refer back to my points!

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1. Become friendly with your RA

Of course, my suitemates got put in the room right across from the RA; we were a rowdy, loud bunch so we made a point to get to know him right away. Nick was so friendly and never had any problems with any of us. I know not everyone gets lucky with having such a considerate, laid back RA so make a point to introduce yourself right away so that they know you on a personal level.

2. Talk with your roommates prior to moving in

I cannot stress enough how important it is to talk with your roommates prior to moving into college. If you live close to each other, I highly recommend planning a day to meet up, grab lunch, and even walk around campus with one another. My roommates and I planned to attend orientation on the same day so that we had the opportunity to meet one another before move-in day. It was our best decision! Not only were we able to talk more about what we wanted the rooms to look like and get to know one another but it definitely helped ease the awkwardness of move-in day!

3. Walk your schedule before classes begin

This one is so important especially if you’re on a big, spread out campus like Kent State! The first day of school jitters are real even in college and I can promise you, you don’t want to be late for your first class because you don’t know where you’re going. Typically as a freshman, you move in a week or so earlier than everyone else, so take an afternoon to walk through your class schedule with your friends to feel a bit more prepared. And I promise you, no matter how big your campus feels, you will get the hang of it eventually. (Wear comfy walking shoes the first few days though because you will be wandering around quite a bit!)

4. Use proper email etiquette

Say it louder for the people in the back! I cannot even begin to express how important it is to know how to send a proper email. As someone who works remotely, I send emails all day every day so I assumed that most college-aged people knew how to send a formal email— I was wrong. You must learn this skill; it will take you far past college!

5. Introduce yourself to everyone

Introducing yourself to new people is a must freshman year, especially if you’re out of state and don’t know a single person like me! Whether it’s the person sitting next to you in class, standing in line at the dining hall, or living down the hall from you say hi to everyone, and I mean everyone. It never hurts to just say hi; you’d be surprised how many of those awkward first encounters turn into life long friends!

Heck, I messaged Corinne through Instagram DM’s and asked her if she’d want to grab dinner sometime since I knew she lived in Maryland. Turns out we live five miles apart and she is one of the best friends I could ask for!

6. Establish a routine and follow it diligently

Adjusting to college is different for everyone and your first year will hit you like a ton of bricks if you don’t establish a routine. I was religious about my daily routines at school and it served me so well. In doing so I was able to do well in my classes, work 30+ hours a week, and have a social life. It is possible to do it all but you must be self-disciplined. Set different routines for different days: not every day has to be super productive but it’s so important to stay on top of your responsibilities, and yes, that does include your dorm-related chores!

I also want to mention the gym; make it a habit! I started every morning off with a workout and it was the best way to jump-start my day. Not only was I doing something good for my body but it made me feel so much better mentally. My morning workouts are one of the things I miss most about school now that I’m stuck at home.

7. Try to stack your classes

I know stacking your classes isn’t available for every major/school but if possible, I really do recommend stacking your classes to two days a week. I did this my second semester and I loved it. Certain days were we reserved strictly for going to class/completing schoolwork, while others were reserved solely for blog and YouTube work. If you’re someone who needs to work part-time while in college this is an awesome way to manage your time.

I won’t lie though, I did like being “forced” to get dressed and out of my room every day when I had class four times a week. However, I ultimately knew that Tues/Thurs was better for me in the end so that’s how I built my fall 2020 schedule as well. And if stacking your classes doesn’t end up working for you, you can always go back to what works for you the following semester!

8. Go out; say yes more often

Go out! Have fun, meet new friends, dance like an idiot. You don’t get your college years back so be a little spontaneous, say yes more often. Some of the best nights of my freshman year were the ones I almost said no to.

I am a workaholic and would often put off socializing to stay in and edit videos, work on blog posts, and get ahead. While those are all awesome things, my year being cut short makes me wish I loosened up a bit and embraced those “let’s stay up and talk about nothing until 2 in the morning” kind of nights with my girls a bit more.

9. Go to sporting events

Kent is by no means a big sports school but I know so many colleges that are. Regardless, go to sporting events. Not only is it super fun to get ready, take pictures with your friends, and just be out doing something, it’s really important to support your athletics. And if you go to a school in the south, I’m sure you’ll have no problem doing so, haha! I am still butthurt that Corona canceled my first college baseball season as a fan because I was so looking forward to it, sighhhh.

10. Learn how to time manage

My most important tip of them all when it comes to surviving freshman year is learning how to time manage. You may have been the smartest kid in high school but it means nothing in college if you have poor time management skills. If you want to play hard you’re going to have work harder.

I know I just talked about saying yes more often but saying no is just as important. It’s so easy to get behind in college and quite honestly nobody cares if you do so. Your professors won’t bug you about it and your parents aren’t there to hold your hand. Understand that while yes, college is fun for so many reasons, at the end of the day your studies come first. You are paying for this education. Do not blow it.

Learn how to time block, learn to create a routine, learn to follow a schedule. Struggle through it. Good time management skills aren’t going to appear overnight but they will stick with you your whole life once you learn them.

(Bonus).  Get involved

And my last little bonus tip to make freshman year the best is to get involved! Whether it be in a club, sport, or greek life, getting involved on campus is crucial. Going through recruitment is one of the easiest ways to meet people and will expose you to girls of all backgrounds and majors. Even if you decide not to follow through and accept a bid from a chapter (which is more common than you may think), you will still have met so many new faces throughout the process.

I’m also apart of Bumble and the PINK Campus Rep team at Kent which were more ways I made friends from different corners of campus. Being involved in something will help make your college feel a bit more home-y and it will keep you busy. Trust me.

And those my friends, are ten (well, eleven) ways to make your freshman year of college the best year possible. Remember that everyone goes through college differently and that it’s okay if you’re not “thriving” like your friends from high school. Everyone goes at their own pace.

What should I chat about in my next College Advice 101 post?! I would love to hear your recommendations. I’ll be sharing my freshman year of college recap next week so be on the lookout for that. Until then.

With love, McKenz

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