Emma Radebaugh
Either college is about to start or you’re already through your first few weeks, but if it’s your first year of college, chances are you’re a bit nervous. That’s completely normal! We’re sure every other first year student is nervous, as well. To help you with your start to college life, we’ve listed a few different ways to prepare for your first year of college. Implement some of these in your daily life, and soon you’ll be comfortable on campus in no time!
Start reading early
If you ask older students, they may say this isn’t entirely necessary in your later years of college, but when it comes to the first year, reading early can save a lot of stress. College coursework comes with substantially more reading than high school; it’s a good idea to try to get ahead as soon as you can, so you can stay ahead.
Download time management apps
With our phones constantly on our person, social media can make it hard to focus on schoolwork. Balancing academic and social demands in college is difficult for everyone. Thankfully, there are various tools and apps for both laptops and smartphones to help you organize your time and priorities.
Put together a budget
One of the most important ways to prepare for your first year of college comes down to your budget. From course books to eating out, you need to be careful with how much money you spend each month, as it can quickly get out of hand. Prepare a budget that encompasses all the things you need to pay for, but make sure to save money (not just spend the extra) each month, as well.
Know how to stay safe on campus
Parents tend to focus the most on their child’s safety at college, and it makes sense why. There are various types of crimes that occur on college campuses, and it’s important to stay educated on those. Once you know the crimes, you can better prepare yourself for them. Know where your campus safe spots are, have your campus security on speed dial, and take some self-defense classes to stay ready for anything.
Go to orientation activities
Your school holds orientation activities and events for a reason—so first year students can get better acclimated with both each other and the campus. The events allow you to make more friends and recognize more faces when you head into your first few classes. Not to mention, these activities can help you figure out what clubs or sports you’d like to join.
