Summer vacation is officially coming to an end, and this is the first year in a long time that I am not gearing up for another semester in college. I graduated from the University of North Texas this last May, but I am still receiving all the back-to-school welcome emails from the university. It got me thinking about my experiences as a first-time college student and what I wish I would have known prior to my first day on campus. So here is some advice for a college Freshman that I wish I had known. 

#1. Don’t buy brand new textbooks (unless you have to).

There are SO many resources out there for acquiring the textbooks you need without breaking the bank. My Freshman year of college I made the mistake of purchasing all my textbooks brand new because I was so worried about having them on time. I wish I had done more research. For one – most professors give students a grace period for them to receive their books before the first assignment is due. Secondly, if you do need the textbook right away and you haven’t received yours yet, check the school library. Most likely they have the books you need available for in-library use. I rarely bought a textbook after I discovered they were available in the library, and I saved so much money. Additionally, there are websites you can rent or buy your textbooks used for WAY less. I frequently used knetbooks or Amazon to buy or rent my textbooks when I was in school, and I am sure there are many more sites now. Do your research. 

#2. Get out of your comfort zone. 

College is the chance to explore new interests, meet new people, discover yourself, and form your own opinions about everything. Embrace it. Wildly and deliberately explore avenues outside of your comfort zone, and get comfortable doing so. I promise it’ll be so worth it. You are no longer under the scrutiny of your high school peers or bound to the lifestyle your parents set for you when you lived at home. Now is the time to take risks, push yourself, and really go the extra mile to meet new and different kinds of people, and experience new and different kinds of things. Never would have thought twice about trying out a dance class while in high school but your college roommate just invited you to a class? Try it. What’s there to loose? 

#3. Appreciate your parents’ advice. 

While college is a great opportunity for self-discovery and learning from experience, it is also a great time to listen and appreciate your parents’ advice. Your parents have likely made many many mistakes in their youth that has given them valuable wisdom. Listen to what they have to say and appreciate it. Now I am not saying you always need to take their advice. Frankly, there will be many times when you have to let yourself make your own decisions and reap whatever the consequences are – good or bad. But it helps immensely to know the experiences of those who have gone before us so we can make more informed decisions for ourselves. 

#4. Change your mind. 

This sounds like a really strange piece of advice but hear me out. It is SO rare for people to know what they want to do for a living at a young age, go to school to study how to be that, and then graduate and begin working as whatever that is. SO RARE! I envy those people who have it all figured out but that’s just not how it played out for me. I changed my mind a lot. I let myself change my mind. I know it can be hard when we are under the pressure from our parents or our scholarships to stick to the major we originally decided on. But I can tell you from experience, I saved myself a whole lot of misery by changing my major as soon as I realized it wasn’t for me. 

I recently listened to this podcast called “Brené with Dr. Angela Duckworth on Grit and the Importance of Trying New Things,” and it really is so encouraging. I highly recommend giving it a listen before you embark on your first year of college. Brené and Dr. Duckworth are so insightful and can elaborate on this topic far more eloquently than I can. 

#5. Establish a routine.

You are out of your parents’ house and in an environment where you can make your own choices.  But that also means you don’t necessarily have someone and something holding you accountable to make good choices. This is such an important time, I think, in a young person’s life to establish a strong routine. You no longer have the routine your parents established for you or the steady routine high school provides. For the most part, your college schedule is far less structured than your high school one probably was. You also no longer have required physical education classes or mom or dad’s home cooked meals waiting for you after class. It’s such an easy time to slip into bad habits and neglect yourself. I highly encourage you to establish a routine early in your college career. Get up at a decent hour in the morning, eat a healthy breakfast, get some exercise, connect to yourself, and schedule in your study times daily. With that said, it is also so important to not be too hard on yourself and leave room for hobbies, socializing, and rest. 

Ultimately, what I am trying to say is prioritize the important things first- like your health and your studies. Everything else is far more enjoyable when you feel healthy and have your responsibilities taken care of. 

#6. Take advantage of what’s available to you. 

Universities often offer so many resources that go unused simply because students don’t know what all is available to them. Transportation, mental health resources, student discounts, free tutoring, clubs, and networking events are some of the many things schools offer to students. I encourage you to take a look at what is included in your tuition or ask your school advisor about opportunities on campus that you might not know about. Take advantage of everything. You’re paying for it. 

#7. Take your classes seriously. 

I am not going to lie – first year classes aren’t the most exciting. And it is so easy to try to get by in college by half-assing everything like we did in high school. Don’t do this. Your professors and your classmates are such key players in your success after you graduate. Get to know your professors and classmates. Attend office hours and study sessions and ask questions. Use this time to grow and learn and network. You never know- the person in front of you could be employing you one day, or your professor could introduce you to your potential future clients. Work hard and be grateful for the opportunity you have to sit in a classroom and learn. 

There ya have it! 7 pieces of advice for a college freshman. I hope you enter into this new season of your life with an open heart and no limits. You will remember this time as some of the best years of your life. College success is all about what you put into your experience and I know you will crush it. Cheers to discovering you and unlocking all your potential. Good luck!