UNMATCHED AUGUST 2016 | Page 38

1. Everyone Is Going Through The Same Thing. When you first show up to campus, one of the main things on your mind is making new friends and making new friends isn’t always easy, especially if you’re naturally shy. The best thing to remember is that all of your fellow freshman are thinking the same and everyone wants to meet new people. If you walk into the dining hall and don’t know where to sit; just ask someone if you can sit with them. It sounds a little nerve-wracking, but everyone will understand how awkward meeting new people can be. Making the MOST Out of College T here are several different ways for someone to experience college. Some commute, some take four years while others take eight, and others just opt out entirely. For the students who move away from home and onto a campus, starting your freshman year can be an extremely intimidating change. You can move in thinking that it’ll be one way and graduate realizing that it was the exact opposite. So no matter what type of college you’re planning on experiencing, here are some tips on how to survive your first semester. -CAROLINE CRITELLI 2. Be Yourself. Some people leave high school and decide that they want to be “cool” in college. First of all, no one is really cool it begin with and everyone has a different idea of what cool is. Going in with that mindset is already setting yourself up for failure. Also, acting differently from who you really are will only lead you to make friends that you have nothing in common with. When you’re true to yourself you easily find other students that you click with and who truly care about you. Those are the friendships that will last way past graduation. 3. Get Involved. Join at least one club. It’s the easiest way to meet people who are interested in the same things that you are and they look great on resumes. Don’t be afraid to switch things up. You might assume that you’ll play on an intramural sports team, but it may not be for you. If something that you thought that you would love doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to try something new. 4. Don’t Underestimate General Courses. General education classes always sound boring and are the classes you just want to finish as quickly as possible. However, some of these seemingly simple courses end up being the most interesting ones that you’ll take. They’ll help you find your major if you haven’t decided or they’ll lead you to a minor that you never imagined you would have. 5. Utilize Office Hours. Not every college professor will be your favorite, but I’ve never met one who wasn’t willing to help a student who came to them for support. Professors want to see their students succeed, but they won’t always spell it out for you. A lot of the time, you have to go to them. If you have a question on an assignment, go ask them when the