Going away to college will almost certainly be worth it in the long run, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll automatically be a positive experience from beginning to end. This is especially true during the first year, when excitement and joy often clash with homesickness and a what am I doing here feeling.
You can’t always avoid those uncomfortable feelings, but you don’t have to let them dominate your college experience. By taking a few key proactive steps, you can increase your chances of thriving during your first year at college, not merely surviving. Let’s dive in.
Be Excited About Your Chosen College
This is an underrated tip. Going into your college days with excitement and optimism will help you to get started on the right footing, but that’s less likely to happen if you’re not overly enthusiastic about the college you’ll be attending.
Choosing the right college involves thinking about more than your academic and professional goals. It’s about thinking about what you really want. If your heart is telling you that a specific college is right for you, then let that guide your decision-making process, even if other options might make more sense from a logical perspective.
Get the Right Funding
Choosing the right funding can help shape your college experience and your post-graduation financial standing. But let’s just focus on how it’ll impact your first year. Many first-time students are shocked to discover how little cash they have for everyday expenses.
Getting a student loan that covers your tuition and your expenses can help to make all facets of your student experience more straightforward. Private loan options, such as Ascent Funding private student loans, can give you peace of mind that you can meet your everyday expenses, allowing you to fully focus on the important parts of going to college — chiefly, studying and pushing yourself to be the best version of yourself. While you might want to supplement your loans with part-time work, knowing that the essentials have been taken care of really can help to keep stress levels to a minimum.
Secure a Good Living Space
Where you choose to live will play a big role in your college experience. And it’s arguably most important during your first year, when you’ll be far away from home and will be hoping for some home comforts.
Your living space doesn’t have to be exceptional, but it should be a space you’re happy to live in. Lower quality rentals may be cheaper, but if they make you miserable, then it won’t be worth your money! Just keep in mind that the best rental options get snapped up early, so begin your search as soon as you know where you’ll be attending college.
Throw Yourself into Orientation
It’s easy to skip orientation. You’re still settling in, you’re enjoying living away from home for probably the first time, and those orientation events don’t sound as fun as you’d like them to be.
But it’s worthwhile making an effort to attend. For one thing, they usually are more fun than you expect. Second, the college hosts them for a reason — they can help you to quickly get up to speed with campus life. You’ll learn about the resources available to you, have a chance to meet other students, and become more broadly acquainted with the environment. They don’t last all day, so go along and treat yourself to a delicious snack as a reward once it’s over.
Prioritize the Academic Side
As we said above, moving away to college can be extremely exciting, but you are ultimately attending for a reason — and that reason is to learn. You’ll have a lot on your plate during the first year of college, but it’s worthwhile to prioritize the academic side of life. Not only will performing well during your first year help to set the tone for the rest of your college life (which, we may remember, will shape your professional life), but it’ll also make other elements of college more enjoyable. It’s more satisfying to engage in extracurricular activities when you know you’re acing your classes.
…But Also Make Friends
Your friends will play a huge role in your overall college experience. Alas, colleges don’t issue friend groups — you have to go out there and get them. While you’ll be working hard on your studies, feeding yourself, and taking care of the other responsibilities that come with living away from home, it’s also important to set some time aside to meet people. It’s not about putting yourself in social situations with the sole intention of making friends, but rather about allowing for those natural friendships to develop.
Also, don’t be alarmed if you don’t make a bunch of great friends within the first weeks of being at college. That might happen, but it might also take longer — months, even. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find your besties immediately, and instead simply enjoy the process.
Challenge Yourself to Try New Things
When we say challenge yourself, we don’t mean too much. Moving away to college is in itself a challenge, so you'll already be achieving plenty. However, there’s value in pushing yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. College can be a time of self-discovery, and one of the best ways to do that is to try new things. Maybe you’ll sign up for a sports team, maybe you’ll join an improv group. Whatever it is, you’ll lose nothing by giving things a go — and you might just find that you uncover a new talent!
Recognize There’ll Be Low Points
Finally, rather than attempting to force everything to be positive at all times, it’s best to accept that low points will come from time to time. You could be having a great time, and then bam, you’re feeling homesick. Everyone goes through those periods from time to time. When they arrive, look after yourself, find a solution if possible (like calling home), and know that tomorrow will bring a new day.
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