Everything you need to know about starting freshman year at IU

What people don’t tell you about freshman year of college is that it can be scary, but with these pro tips it’ll be a breeze. Read about my experiences my freshman year to prepare you for your own.

Knock on your neighbor’s door the first day

Even though it’s awkward, just do it. It’s the only way you’ll make friends with your floor. It took me until November to become friends with the girls on my floor and it is one of my biggest regrets from freshman year. Becoming friends with the people on your floor will make your life so much better; you will have friends to do homework with, to watch movies with, to get food with, to do anything with.

Join an organization or two

Whether you join a sports, business, philanthropic, or a comedy organization, they’re an amazing way to make friends. Everyone joined it for a reason, so you already have something in common. The friends you make in a college organization will become some of your best friends.

You will meet your life long friends

Your friends from high school are great, you’ve known them since kindergarten, but you’ll be amazed at how important that the friends you’ve only known for one to four years will become to you.

Go out of your comfort zone

Talk to that cute guy or girl that you sit next to in class or meet at a party. Go on a date. Skip class once in a while. You’ll only regret the things you don’t do.

You don’t need to be in Greek life to have fun

Greek life isn’t for everyone and that’s OK. It’s a great way to make friends and have a social calendar, but it isn’t everything. There are plenty of other ways to make friends and have the best college experience even without wearing letters.

Take advantage of meal points

Pizza and pasta, sandwiches and salads, and drinks and desserts; you have all of your cravings prepared for you. Enjoy the luxury of having every meal paid for and prepared while you can.

Take advantage of being able to walk everywhere

There is never an 8am where I don’t wish I could still wake up 15 minutes before class instead of an hour before to get there on time. Once you have to walk a half hour to class you’ll wish you never moved out of your dorm.

Chill weekends can be just as fun as parties

Binge watching shows on Netflix and eating junk food, or wandering campus at night with your friends will become your favorite memories of not only freshman year but all of college too. Taking a weekend off of drinking and relaxing is key to managing the stressful life that is college.

You won’t ace every class

You’re not in high school anymore, professors won’t cut you slack and classes are hard. It’s up to you to put in the hours and hours of studying in order to get the grade you want.

Take advantage of office hours

There will be times you walk out of a lecture confused and that’s OK because that’s what office hours are for. The professors notice who comes to office hours and realize that you are trying. More often than not, they will boost your grade if you need it at the end of the semester.

Make a freshman year bucket list

Freshman year will fly by. Make a bucket list with your friends or for yourself. It can be from attending every football game or getting an A on one exam in every class, just make sure you hold yourself accountable and reach every goal you set.

Take part in your school’s traditions

Whether that is attending every football or basketball game, the legendary St. Patrick’s Day darty, or the bike race in April, make the most of it and show your school pride.

Take a road trip for spring break

Being stuck in a car with your friends for 20 hours while driving to Florida for spring break is a great way to become even closer. Your memories you make in the car will be just as fun as the memories you make on the beach.

Don’t go home every weekend

Whether you go to college in your hometown or across the country, it’s imperative to gain your independence, and that won’t happen if you go home every weekend to do laundry and have a home cooked meal.

Freshman year is awkward

They say freshman year is such a breeze; classes are easy and you and your friends live in the same building, but what they don’t tell you is freshman year is awkward. You don’t know where your classes are, you don’t know how to juggle studying and a social life yet, and you get mocked because you wear your ID in a lanyard around your neck. Even though it’s awkward, every other freshman is in the same boat as you, and every upperclassman was during their freshman year too.