With another school year in progress, an influx of new students are making their way onto campus. College is not an easy transition and the best way to get through it is to ask those who have come before.
Consequently, in an attempt to help out this year’s class, I asked some of my fellow students from the Class of 2015 for their advice to freshmen.
Learn how to do your laundry: “I wish that I had known how to do laundry and how to not lose my socks!” -Paige Michel
Network: “Greet every person you meet and always be friendly. Part of the college experience is meeting people, which is crucial to your future in any career you may follow. You never know who will be willing to help you out later on. It also makes college way more fun!” -Alex Temple
Study: “If I were to give a freshman advice, it would be to actually study. In high school, I skirted by without putting much effort into my work. In college, I bombed my first couple of tests because I wasn’t expecting the material to be so in-depth.” -Aaron Wilson
Make the college experience your own: “Realize that this is your own college experience, not anyone else’s. Don’t get caught up in what other people are doing or what you think they are doing. Go out and experience what you love and the people that you want to be around will be there with the same passions.” – Rachel Phillips
Listen to your teachers: “I wish I had known how helpful professors can be! They love their subjects and are willing to help you in any way they can!” – Kellie Mossler
Be smart: “College is an easy place to make mistakes and get involved in the wrong crowd. Don’t be stupid and try your best to make the right decisions.” – Maddie Joeris
And now, here’s five of my own tips, based on my personal experience from last year.
Stay true to your values: It’s a lot easier than expected to lose sight of what makes you your own person. Find your values and stick to them. You won’t be judged for them. I promise.
Meet Lieu: For anybody who frequents the BLUU, you most certainly have been greeted by Lieu or some of the other people working for our campus. Get to know them because each of them has a cool or interesting background, and they have your best interests at heart. You might be very surprised at what you find out.
Get involved: With more than 200 student organizations at the university, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in different fields and subjects. Greek life is just one of them. Don’t be afraid to try new things and test out the many different groups here such as HyperFrogs and TCU Catholic Community.
Show some spirit: With TCU entering the Big 12, we’re going to need all the fan support we can get. Go to the games, but don’t just go to the games. Get wild, get crazy, wear excess amounts of purple, and cheer on our Horned Frogs.
Have fun: It may be cliché, but it’s completely and utterly true. College is going to be one of the best experiences of your life. It’s completely whatever you want to make it. Unfortunately, it also goes by way faster than you’d expect. Be smart and study hard but don’t be afraid to enjoy the time you have here. Your experiences here will shape you for the rest of your life. Make the most of them.
