Surviving the first week of college

The first few weeks of college can be a scary and exhilarating time and are alittle different for everybody. Here are a few tips from someone who survived to tell the tale:

1. Attend an orientation event

They may seem cheesy, but try a few out. It's a quick way to see what your school has to offer. You might see something ( a club, sport, job opening, etc.) that interests you and may not have learned about otherwise. Plus, you usually get free stuff, like pens, paper, keychains and coupons- it's a win-win situation.

2. Don't party too hardy the first few weeks

I'm not saying you shouldn't accept a few invitations, you should, it's a good way to meet people. But don't go too crazy 1. you don't want to get a bad reputation early on with resident advisors, local police, etc. 2. You don't want to get behind in your classes right off the bat & make a bad impression on your professors (it could come back to haunt you when they're grading at the end of the term).

3. Don't let teachers' threats turn you off

Why they do it I don't know- but every quarter without fail one or more of my professors used some sort of scare tactic to rattle my confidence enough to consider dropping the class. They threaten hours and hours of homework, impossibly large projects and show you a giant stack of books that you'll be required to read AND actually comprehend. Don't be alarmed. Yes, college is more work than high school but professors almost always play up the hardships at the beginning of the quarter/semester. Give yourself time to see how the class plays out, don't drop a class just because the first day stresses you out.

4. Feeling alittle bit overwhelmed? Write it out.

You may have heard it before but writing things out on paper (or on the computer) can help you get your thoughts in order. Also, during future overwhelming times you can look back and remind yourself that you were worried but everything ended up working out.

Also, invest in some sort of monthly planner. Keeping track of class times & locations, reading assignments, big projects and social events can really help you stay on top of all your commitments.

5. Don't be afraid to call

If you're missing your friends or family, call them up for a quick chat. There's no shame in wanting to hear a familiar voice. Swaping stories and catching up may be just the thing you need.