Hey there, future campus superstars! Worried about the dreaded "Freshman 15"? Well, we're about to introduce you to a different kind of Freshman 15 – one that you will be glad you added this freshman year!
Here are the 15 pounds of pure golden wisdom you'll want to pack on faster than you can say "all-you-can-eat dining hall." Trust us, your brain will thank you! So, without further ado, let's dive into the "Real Freshman 15" – the habits that'll help you tackle your freshman year!
🏫 Utilize Campus Resources:
Pitfall to Avoid: Not using libraries, counseling, or career services.
Strategy: Explore and take advantage of all campus resources available to you; this includes meeting with the Student Success Office if you have accommodations that need to be put into place.
📚 Understand Your Workload:
Pitfall to Avoid: Underestimating the effort required for courses.
Strategy: Plan and manage your time effectively, allowing for adequate study periods. The general rule of thumb is that for every hour you are in class each week, you should expect to spend three hours outside of class preparing. With the average course load per week being 15 hours, that would mean approximately 45 hours would be dedicated to school work outside of class.
🌙 Avoid Late Night Studying:
Pitfall to Avoid: Disrupting sleep patterns by studying late.
Strategy: Establish a study schedule that allows for consistent, restful sleep. At the beginning of the week, plan your “study hours” for the week and put them in your schedule like you would an appointment and stick to them!
🍏 Eat Healthy:
Pitfall to Avoid: Consuming too much junk food.
Strategy: Maintain a balanced diet with nutritious meals. Don’t overdo the Doordash!
🏋️ Stay Active:
Pitfall to Avoid: Not staying physically active.
Strategy: Incorporate regular exercise into your routine. Plan exercise with friends as a way to socialize too.
🤝 Network Effectively:
Pitfall to Avoid: Not building relationships with professors and peers.
Strategy: Attend office hours, join study groups, and engage in campus activities. Trust us, it really helps!
📱 Balance Social Media Use:
Pitfall to Avoid: Thinking social media is real life.
Strategy: Limit screen time and engage in real-world interactions. It can be tempting to doom scroll and think everyone is having so much more fun than you at college, but remember that this is a single moment in time.
🗓️ Don't Overcommit:
Pitfall to Avoid: Joining too many clubs or taking on too many responsibilities.
Strategy: Prioritize activities and commitments that are most meaningful to you. Quality over quantity!
🏫 Attend Classes:
Pitfall to Avoid: Missing lectures and important information.
Strategy: Make attending classes a non-negotiable part of your routine. Just go - no excuses.
👩🏫 Use Office Hours:
Pitfall to Avoid: Missing opportunities for help and clarification.
Strategy: Regularly attend office hours to seek guidance and support. Your professors will appreciate your extra effort, and you will likely benefit from it too. You don't have to be struggling to attend office hours - confirming your understanding of topics is helpful for your overall success!
🧠 Take Care of Mental Health:
Pitfall to Avoid: Ignoring stress and anxiety issues.
Strategy: Practice self-care and seek counseling services if needed. All schools have counseling and psychological services available to their students. Educate yourself on what they are before you need them.
📖 Read the Syllabus:
Pitfall to Avoid: Not understanding course requirements.
Strategy: Thoroughly read and refer to the syllabus for each class. Do not underestimate how important this is, as it contains important information for the semester.
⏰ Establish a Routine:
Pitfall to Avoid: Lacking a regular schedule for sleep, meals, and study.
Strategy: Create a consistent daily routine to balance all aspects of college life. Google Calendar (or whatever scheduling system works for you) should be your good friend.
🌟 Step Out of Your Comfort Zone:
Pitfall to Avoid: Not trying new things or stepping out of familiar circles.
Strategy: Embrace new experiences and meet diverse groups of people. Remember that everyone is feeling the first time jitters right along with you.
⏳ Manage Free Time Wisely:
Pitfall to Avoid: Wasting time instead of balancing fun and productivity.
Strategy: Plan leisure activities and downtime effectively- if you don’t make a plan to do something fun and/or productive, the time will likely evaporate!
College can be overwhelming—for most, it is the first time away from your parents and the first time you truly have total control over your schedule. Making good choices and establishing good habits from the start can help set you up for success over your next four years in school and beyond!
Garrett Educational Consulting provides college and boarding school admissions consulting services to students in the Charlotte, NC metro area, around the US, and around the world. Click HERE to learn more about our services.
Comments