College 101: An Honest Guide to Your First Year of College

Starting college can lead to a whirlwind of emotions. Feeling excited, overwhelmed, free, and terrified all at once. You’re suddenly expected to know how to live on your own, balance classes, make new friends, avoid burning popcorn in the dorm microwave, and somehow thrive while doing it. That freshman year is a total learning curve, and no one really tells you what actually ends up being important.

So here’s a little advice from someone who figured it out the hard way. Whether you’re counting down the days to move-in or trying to find your footing once you’re there, I hope this helps make your first year feel a little less intimidating and a little more doable. 

Dorm-Living: Roommates

Not only is this your first time living on your own, you’re sharing that space with someone who is most likely a complete stranger. There’s usually a lot of pressure to become instant best friends with your new roommate—and maybe you will! But for every maid-of-honor "we met in our freshman dorm room" speech, there are just as many roommates who were simply that—roommates. It’s okay if you both run off with different friend groups or realize you’re not a perfect match. That doesn’t mean you can’t still be great roommates. It only becomes a problem if one of you makes it one. The key is to have open communication, learn to compromise in a tiny space, and try to avoid being passive-aggressive when issues come up. Remember: it’s their first time living on their own too.

That said, your dorm room should be your sanctuary. A place to unwind after a long day of classes, a failed quiz, or seeing your situationship in the dining hall with another girl. Know when it isn’t working. If the living situation becomes uncomfortable or you can’t catch your breath, talk to your RA and consider requesting a move. You deserve to feel safe and at ease where you live.

Dorm-Living: Dorm Floor

Get to know the people on your dorm floor! Don’t be afraid to walk around, introduce yourself, and make connections. You never know who might lend you scissors or be there when you're crying in the communal bathroom (because we’ve all been there okay). While I didn’t become best friends with my freshman-year roommate, the girls just down the hall became my lifeline—and two years later, we still live together. Also, get to know your RAs. They’re usually just a year or two older than you, and they’re not out to get you. They want to help, not write you up so don’t give them a reason to. Respect them and you’ll build a helpful connection that can really come in handy.

Time-Management: Organization

The easiest way to fall behind in college is to be unorganized with your due dates. Your professors aren’t going to remind you every class when assignments are due—they’ll probably just tell you to check the syllabus. I learned this the hard way. First semester, I was always a step behind, and those little five-point assignments I missed added up fast. By second semester I met with a coach who helped me organize my assignments and my day-to-day life, which helped tremendously.

Live your life by a calendar. As soon as you get your syllabus, plug in every assignment, quiz, exam, and project. Schedule in free time for yourself too. Block off hours to relax and spend time with friends. Plan when you’re going to do assignments and study so that you’re not cramming the night before and missing out on something fun. Trust me, you’ll be so glad you did when you’re able to go to the basketball game the night before an exam and still feel prepared.

Time-Management: Classes

As a freshman, you’ll probably have breaks between classes. If you take away anything from this, let it be this: use that time wisely. The second you go back to your dorm for a "quick nap" between BIO 101 and Public Speaking, you’re not getting back up—and now you’ve missed class and have more work to do later. Instead, go to the library, a coffee shop, or even just sit under a tree on campus. Use that time to knock out assignments and stay ahead. You’ll thank yourself later when your evenings are free.

Also, use your campus academic resources! Most colleges have an entire center dedicated to helping students succeed. Go to tutoring, writing labs, study groups—whatever they offer. And yes, actually attend your professors’ office hours. You’ll be surprised how much it helps. And seriously: GO. TO. CLASS. Once you get in the habit of skipping that 8 a.m., it’s hard to bounce back. Even if attendance isn’t required, showing up matters. Professors drop hints about exams, offer extra credit, and sometimes give surprise quizzes. Don’t miss out on easy wins.

Outside of Classes and Schoolwork: Your Social Life

You’re not perfect. I’m not perfect. And despite what you may think, even your professor and Cole, who lives on the second floor of Kappa Sig, are not perfect either. You’re going to mess up. You’ll oversleep, forget an assignment, maybe kiss Cole’s roommate, and sob in a communal bathroom. And so will everyone else. Mistakes happen. Now is the time to make them, and learn from them! You’re figuring out how to live on your own, and that takes time. Give yourself grace. 

Especially freshman year, put your energy into making friends and collecting experiences, not just trying to find a relationship. Those cute boys? They’ll still be there next year. But that girl you invited to get coffee or the classmate you sat next to on the first day? That could be your best friend for the next four years. Be the person who follows through on plans. Ask someone to lunch. Invite them to a tailgate. Even if you only hang out once, that new experience will always beat rewatching your comfort show alone in your dorm.

At the end of the day, you don’t have to have it all figured out. No one does. Freshman year is messy, exciting, and full of moments you’ll laugh about later (even if they don’t feel funny right now). Take it one step at a time, ask for help when you need it, and remind yourself you’re doing better than you think. You’ve got this.