10 College Preparation Tips: Part-time Work, Textbooks, Dorm Life & More

“These are the best years of your life”

This phrase is typically used to describe High School or College. Which period you agree with is most often situational, and depends on individual experiences. For me, it was definitely College. It is when each becomes their own; breaks free from the confines of mother and father. You’ll be held a bit more responsible for every decision that you make, and everything that you do. It is a refreshing, enlightening experience but can also prove to be overwhelming for many. Here are some tips to give you a running start on your College experience.

1. Live on Campus your freshman year, or if this isn’t possible, close to Campus
Part of being in College is experiencing social interactions with other students. Every freshman is unsure about what they should do, where to find classes, how to sign up for classes and where to get the best fried food between classes. While every school provides an orientation before the first semester starts, there’s only one way to learn the ins and outs: Experience. 

By staying in close proximity to the campus you will naturally be involved with the students, you’ll also hear all of the events and campus happenings first and from the source. If you’re undecided on a major (which most freshman to some extent, are) staying on campus allows you to meet students with varying majors and get insight on the types of classes that are required. If you stay in a Dorm, you will more than likely be in a building with other freshman; they’ll be looking to make friends and learn about the campus just like you. 

I lived on campus my freshman year and during that time did a lot of complaining about room size, sharing bathrooms, and pre-selected roommates. But if I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t have chosen any other route. The friends I made are lifelong, the inside tips I learned are priceless, and the activities I participated in were far more vast. Living off campus my last three years, I looked back fondly on my dorm experience, and missed the interaction and involvement.