How to Overcome Freshman Jitters
You've faced freshman jitters before. You faced them when you started high school and left the security of middle school. You went from being the upperclassman to the underclassman. You survived and you thrived. Four years later, you are a freshman again. You are starting anew, probably far from home and far from your friends. How do you survive freshman jitters? You participate in orientation, network a community of classmates, get to know your roommate, and stay focused.
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Instructions
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How to Overcome Freshman Jitters
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Go to orientation. There's a reason for freshman orientation. It's to acclimate the student. Some colleges have mid-summer events to help students meet people and learn more about the school and its offerings. Whether orientation is during the summer or before upperclassmen arrive, make sure you go and socialize. During orientation familiarize yourself with the area. Learn the campus, but also learn about the community. Find the grocery stores, retail stores, banks, movie theaters, restaurants, and any other businesses that will benefit you.
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Join Facebook.com and network a community of classmates. Facebook has a community called Freshman 411. You can talk with other students who will be entering the same college. This is just the beginning of your networking experience. Continue networking at orientation and through your roommate. Meet the people in your dorm. Join a group or an activity to meet more people. Forming a community of friends is important to ward off the homesickness you may eventually feel.
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Learn about your roommate. During the summer, you will receive a packet containing contact information about your roommate. Email him or her immediately. Begin a regular correspondence during the summer months. You can start planning who will bring particular items for the room as well as how you would like to decorate the room. This will ease the jitters of meeting a stranger whom you will reside with over the next two semesters.
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Stay focused. During the summer, sit down and talk about a budget with your parents. Be realistic about how to manage money. Don't go without, but learn to budget. When school starts, get organized. This is not high school. Many teachers do not give out homework. Instead, you will receive a syllabus of the coursework required. You need to organize your time for studying, but allow yourself time for exercise and relaxation. Meet your adviser. If you have a chance to meet any professors, do so. All of these strategies are part of being prepared.
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Remember, you faced freshman jitters as a high school student, and you made it through the difficulties. You can do it again. Look at this change as a new journey with exciting new adventures.
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Tips & Warnings
Handle homesickness with a call or email, but try to stay on campus as much as you can, so you can adjust easier.
Accept the fact that you may feel overwhelmed.
Don't purchase books until you've been to class. Sometimes the book list is a suggestion and you may not need all the material.
Beware of the Freshman 15. It's easy to gain weight by not eating right. Avoid the fast foods and stick with balanced meals.
Resources
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