College Freshman Orientation Do’s and Don’ts
Do…
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Familiarize yourself with your degree requirements before meeting with your advisor and
picking classes. This will save you a ton of time if you know which courses you need to take
first.
Remember to smile when you’re introducing yourself. Sure, you might rather want to be at
the beach, but this is your first chance to make new connections and friends at college. First
impressions are important.
Participate in the silly “ice breaker” games. Orientation leaders in charge of showing students
around campus will often try to get everyone involved in games designed to get to know people
better. Even if you’re not a fan of these, try to suck it up and participate. Remember, you can
always find other people to joke about them with later.
Leave your baggage at home. Maybe you just broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Maybe
you had a bad fight with your parents. Maybe someone from high school you’re not a fan of will
be at orientation. Maybe you’re one of those types who’s quick to judge people. This is not the
time to sweat the small stuff. You’re starting a new chapter in life and so is everyone else at
orientation – enjoy it!
Attend freshman orientation. Every school has its way of welcoming new students to campus
and helping them transition into college life. Whether it’s a week-long stay before classes start or
a day filled with campus tours and student panels, this is a must-attend opportunity to settle in
early, become comfortable with your new surroundings, and meet new friends.
Meet new people. Don’t get stuck in a rut by only hanging out with friends from your high school.
When you’re not studying, leave your door open and get to know the people on your floor. And
don’t be afraid to talk to the person sitting next to you in class. It will come in handy when you
need someone to study with for midterms. Also, explore all the new cultures brought together on
a college campus.
Get involved. College is about trying new things. Most colleges offer so many different clubs and
activities that it’s hard not to find something that interests you. More importantly, try something
new. College is also about discovering who you really are by exploring new things.
Go to class. There are many ways to get around going to class. The problem is, this puts you on
the fast track to falling behind. Unlike high school, college course material is covered quickly
since most classes only meet two or three times a week. Being at every class to hear the
material is crucial. Take your education seriously and make it your goal to attend class regularly.
Use your resources. Go to see your professor during office hours. Even if you don’t need help,
it’s a good way to get to know them. They’ll be more likely to help you with future letters of
recommendation or find you a spot doing research if they know you.
Go to a sporting event. Even if you were never interested in sports, you’ll find that attending the
occasional sporting event is a fun part of the college experience. It’s also a great way to feel
connected to other students at a big university.
Stay healthy. The “Freshman 15″ is no myth. Watch what and how much you eat in the dining
courts and limit how often you eat out with friends. Take care of yourself, because with so many
people living in close proximity of each other sickness spreads rapidly. Most importantly, find
time to sleep. This is the biggest problem for most college students, so mastering it early is vital
to your success.
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Don’t…
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Deviate from your orientation schedule. Orientation programmers spend a lot of time
coordinating your schedule to make sure you have time to learn what you need to, settle your
course selection business, and have time for meeting people while having fun. Be aware of the
time and be where you need to be when you need to. Don’t use your free time to start mischief
either. Remember, just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you still can’t get in trouble at school.
No one wants to be known as the kid who got wasted and kicked out of school during orientation.
Forget to take notes. A lot of information is thrown at your head during orientation. You’re also
in a position where you’re constantly meeting new people. Don’t feel too shy to take notes or ask
people to write down their emails so you can get in touch with them later. If you’re a gadget
addict you probably have no problem whipping out your smartphone or tablet to do it either.
Hide yourself in your room or eat alone. If you’re a naturally shy person, this is the time to
start overcoming your social fears. Remember, everyone at orientation is in the same position as
you – use it to your advantage! Don’t be scared of introducing yourself or asking if you can sit
next to someone. You can even try going up to other wallflowers and starting a conversation.
Beat yourself up if you don’t end up making tons of friends right away. Remember, the
people who attend the same orientation as you only represent a small fraction of the freshmen
class. Even within your orientation group, you’re not going to have time to meet everyone. Once
school starts you’ll have plenty of better opportunities to get to know people through classes,
student groups, and housing situations.
Commit to a career track. Some people go into college thinking they should know exactly what
they want to study. Don’t be afraid to change your mind. The last thing you want is to get stuck in
a career you don’t enjoy because you were afraid to change your major. If you’re unsure if you’re
in the right major, take some classes outside your major to explore other options.
Overextend yourself. It’s easy to take on too much when there are so many things you can do.
If you stay organized and focused, it’s possible to balance school, clubs – even a job. Get to
know your limits and cut back if you become too stressed out. On the other hand, don’t hold
back. College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never forget if you allow yourself to
embrace it. It’s all about finding balance. Only until you find your individual balance can you
thrive in college.