How To Happily Survive Your First Semester of College

1. Meet your neighbors – This might seem obvious but these are the people you’ll be living with. Keep your door open when you’re in your room to avoid isolating yourself and be sure to pop in to say hi to your neighbors every now and then.

2. Find your ideal study place and time of day to study – Adjust your study schedule around when you feel most productive and where you feel you can do your best work. Figure out a time and place that work for you and make a routine. 

3. Go to your professors’ office hours – There’s no downside to getting to know your professors. They hold office hours specifically to help and get to know you. If you ever run into a problem later in the semester, you’ll be happy you took the time to drop in and say hello early on in the semester.

4. Stay on campus – It may be tempting to want to go home on the weekends if you live close by or to go visit a friend from high school, but by staying on campus you have more opportunities to make new friends.

5. Be in the moment – Don’t spend too much time on Facebook or calling friends from home. You’ll miss out on a lot of defining experiences. Don’t be afraid to get out and make the most of your time, even if you’re having a hard time adjusting. You never know when you’ll meet your new best friend.

6. Don’t feel pressured – You will meet a lot of people who feel like they know exactly what they want to do, and how they want to do it. Don't feel pressured if you don’t know what you want. Remember that your only real responsibility at school is to learn what you like!

7.  Prioritize – College comes with lots of decision making. You’re on your own and no one is going to remind you to do your homework, recover from that all nighter, or get ahead on some reading. Manage your time wisely and keep a schedule of what needs to get done and when. You’ll thank yourself later on and have more time for things you want to do.

8.  Make time for you – The first few weeks can be overwhelming. Make sure you take at least a half hour a day to do something you want to do. Call home or find a nice spot to just relax.

9.  Be open-minded – Never be afraid to change your mind. You’ll meet tons of new people from all over the world and be exposed to more new ideas than you ever have before. Don’t be afraid to think a way you hadn’t considered before.

10. Ask for help – Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether you have a question for your RA or professor or you want advice from an upperclassman, just ask. College is a time to learn!