Tips for the New College Co-Ed

So here it is, your first year of college, life on your own. Your parents have just dropped you off and moved you into that cubicle of a room you'll call home for the next academic year. What now? Friends? Haven't made them yet. Classes? You don't even know where the dining hall is, let alone your 8:00am classroom. What to do first? Hopefully by now your roommate has arrived, and the two of you have looked one another over and neither have gone chasing after their parent's SUV's, begging to go home. If conversation doesn't come so easily for you, don't fret; there are various ways of breaking the ice.

First, you can always ask your roommate if they'd like to split a pizza, you can even invite the neighbors to join, make a gathering in the commons area. Note: That's the area located near the stairs or elevators with chairs, meant for reading, and tables, meant for studying. There's an awfully good chance that the chairs and tables will not be used for this activity for the first few weeks of school, so it's always better to hit up the library.

Another icebreaker for the first day can be all about the dorm room. Figure out how you want to decorate the place, after all, it's your new home! Remember to be open-minded and to communicate with your roommate, this is their new home as well. If you're tired of the room already, suggest a self-guided campus tour. Check in with your resident advisor, or personnel within the dorm, there should be a campus map nearby you can take with you.

It is always a good idea to figure out the location of your classes BEFORE the first day of class. Campus will be a jungle, and it is easy to get overwhelmed on your first day, what to wear, what to bring, how not to trip down a flight of stairs in a large lecture hall. There is quite a bit to consider. Therefore, preparation is key.