College will be one of the most exciting periods in your life but you don’t want to get off on the wrong foot. Orientation week is a great chance to acquaint yourself with the lay of the land, the extracurricular activities, the services and all of your future opportunities. To most teenagers, this is your time to shine and prove to your parents that you can manage on your own. To others, this is a very overwhelming and frightening experience. Here are some Freshman Orientation Dos and Don’ts to help you get through that first week of college:
DO familiarize yourself with the campus – especially if it’s a big one. Running around campus in search of the right building is the last thing you want to be doing on the first day of classes. Figure out exactly where all of your classes are and walk to each individual place from your dorm. While you’re doing this, keep track of how long it takes to get there so you’ll know just how early you’ll need to leave for class each morning.
DO make an effort to introduce yourself to people. Keep in mind that you aren’t the only one who may not know anyone else and you are certainly not the only nervous one. In this case, meeting new people is much easier than you may think. DON’T be shy because everyone is at the orientation for the same reason: to get accustomed to being in college before it actually begins. Making a few friends during that first week will make the experience less overwhelming.
DON’T hang out only with people you may know from high school. Once you get attached it will be difficult to spread your wings and meet new people. Also, new people may have a hard time introducing themselves to you if they see you surrounded by a group of people that you seem to already know and get along with. Groups can be intimidating so try and steer clear of constantly being with them.
DO take care of the building blocks as soon as you are assigned and given the opportunity. Registering for classes, getting your student ID, and creating your usernames and email address are essential for the college experience. You don’t want to have to deal with this kind of stuff once you begin classes because at that point, you will have many other important things to be worrying about.
DO find out information about any specific extracurricular activity that you may like to get involved in. There are many intramural sports teams, clubs, and academic teams that are looking for new members. There is definitely something for everyone!
DON’T miss any of your placement tests. These exams are imperative and required of college students. If you miss any, chances are that class registration could get a bit tricky. They’re also fairly difficult to make-up so try to just get there on time.
DO attend as many events and activities as possible. As long as campus tours may be and as boring as library tutorials surely are, knowing where things are and how to do things ahead of time is not such a bad thing. Pay attention to everything, they provide a lot of valuable information that you will need down the road!
DO ask questions and get to know your RA. Orientation is the time to learn the ropes so don’t avoid it.
DON’T just brush off the orientation program. Sure, a lot of the “let’s get to know each other” activities are kind of corny and seemingly meant for middle-school students but they are intended to help you get comfortable and feel at home.
DO check out your college town if you are allowed off campus for some exploration time. This is your new home away from home! Enjoy it!
DON’T be surprised if you feel nervous, homesick and flooded with information. This is a new experience and a lot is thrown at you in a short amount of time. Don’t stress out if you forget or miss an important piece information… that’s what the RA’s are for!
DO make a point introduce yourself to future professors within your area of study if the opportunity arises. This is your chance to make a good first impression that will make them recognize your face amongst the crowd come class time. Show your interest in what he or she has to say and ask engaging questions about the course material and the major.
DON’T neglect your parents. They are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to hear that you’re in one piece and doing well. Spare them the fretting and give them a call.
You’ve waited for what seems like forever for college to begin and now it’s finally here. Take advantage of what you are offered because if you don’t, you’ll probably regret it later. Follow these tips and the process will be a lot easier! Good luck!
