How To Survive First-Year Of College Or University

Feeling nervous about going off to college or university? Looking for a few tips on how to survive first-year? Learn about the biggest Do's and Don'ts of post-secondary survival in today's blog post.

There’s no doubt about it, starting college or university as a first-year student can be a daunting experience. 

After all, it’s an entirely different world than what you’ve ever known, filled with all sorts of new experiences and opportunities. And as exciting as that may seem, it can be a little discomforting at first. 

But the truth is that starting your first year of school doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable experience. And I swear to you that freshman year isn’t nearly as scary as you might think it's going to be.

It’s just going to take a bit of getting used to. That’s all. 

So with that in mind, we’ve put together the following guide on surviving your first year of college or university. In today's post, we're going to take a look at both the biggest Do’s and Don'ts of how to survive first-year. 

The Do’s 

Do Attend Class

With the inherent shellshock of starting your first year of college or university, it’s not uncommon for students to feel overwhelmed while trying to balance their new school schedule with their existing lives. 

And when this happens, it’s easy to try and make up for some time by skipping out on a few classes here and there. But it’s important to know that attending your classes is essential to graduating your course. 

Not only do some courses actually count your attendance and participation as part of your grade, but by skipping classes, you’ll also miss out on an abundance of important information that you need to graduate, which is after all why you signed up for school in the first place. 

Do Explore 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re attending school from home or studying in a new city, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a completely new place during your first year of post-secondary. 

That’s why it’s important to take some extra time to get out and explore your school’s campus to find out what it really has to offer. 

And although it’s important for you to explore just to get your bearings straight, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet other students, just like you. Which brings me to my next point... 

Do Know You’re Not Alone

During freshman year, especially if you’re studying in a new city, it’s easy to feel as if you’re the only person in the world who feels the way you do. But for first-year students, this isn’t true in any way, shape or form. 

In fact, there are probably more first-year students at your school than there are sophomores, and seniors combined. 

So make sure you’re not sitting around letting yourself believe that you’re all alone, or that you’ll never meet any new people.

Put yourself out there and start socializing. While you’re out exploring, visit your school’s student center, just to say hello and see what’s happening around campus.

Your school’s library or cafeteria are also great places to meet other students. 

Regardless, go where other students go, and you’re sure to end up meeting a friend or two! In reality, meeting new people and learning to socialize is also an important part of how to survive first-year.

The Don’ts

Don't Overuse Social Media

Today, we’ve become so connected via the internet that it’s often easy to lose focus of our priorities. 

I mean, how many times have you caught yourself staying up later than you wanted to just because you got distracted browsing through Facebook or Instagram? Or, how often have you made plans to study, and then found yourself taking selfies and watching your friend’s Snapchat stories all day?

I’m not saying that you need to give up social media completely. But you need to make sure that it’s not consuming too much of your time or affecting any of your schoolwork. 

Your post-secondary education is one of the biggest and most important parts of your life’s journey. So don’t ruin it because you were too busy trying to snap that perfect selfie. 

Don't Neglect Study Time

Post-secondary life can be hectic. Whether you’re juggling a job, a family, extracurricular activities, or just have a busy social life with your friends, it’s easy to feel like you just don’t have enough time to sit down and study. 

But no matter what type of life you’re living, it’s important to create a study schedule and stick to it.

This means blocking out a few study sessions and spacing them out throughout the week, which makes it easy to balance studying with the rest of your personal life. 

Find affordable textbooks here.

Don't Have Any Fun

I’m just kidding… 

In fact, the best advice for surviving your first is to relax, have fun, and to enjoy the opportunity that you have. After all, you only get to live through freshman year once.

But while it is important to enjoy your first year, it’s still crucial that you keep your education as your main focus throughout the year. 

So go out and socialize with your friends, dance your heart, sing karaoke… But just make sure that your fun time isn’t having a negative effect on your studies. 

How To Survive First-Year

It doesn’t matter who you are, your first year of college or university is going to be a bit nervewracking. 

But that doesn’t mean it needs to be a struggle. 

And by focusing on what’s the most important throughout the year, your first year of college can be one of the best, most formative years of your life. 

So make sure to prioritize school, relax, have fun, and make freshman year one of the most unforgettable years of your life.