Here are some more helpful hints on how to navigate the quad like a pro:
1. Dorm walls are paper-thin
No, mom and dad won’t really know if you have “guests” in your room late at night… but your floormates might. Remember that every gossip session or phone conversation (or whatever else you do behind closed doors) might not be as private as you’d like it to be. I’m not trying to freak you out or anything, but just warning you of the nuances of “community living.” The more you make friends with your neighbors, the easier it is to laugh off any awkward moments.
2. The library isn’t the only place to study
It’s the week before midterms and you need a quiet place to concentrate, PRONTO. But everyone else has the same idea and the library is packed! Explore campus for remote student lounges, empty classrooms, and even graduate school libraries for prime study real estate. Just remember to use reading weeks to focus on your studies and not your study partners… unless you’re taking anatomy!
3. Some people get paid to listen your problems
Maybe it’s academic competition, maybe you’re having problems fitting in, maybe you’re just homesick… whatever’s bugging you, there is always someone on campus, on call (and on payroll) ready to help. Talk to your RA and/or seek out the counseling services at your university. They’re accommodating, great listeners, and they keep everything confidential.
Classes are in full swing and it’s time to give you all a 411 on what really goes down at college. This isn’t a huge list of all the crazy (and regrettable) stuff—for that, look here—but these few tips can help make your college experience everything it should be and more!
1. You can fight the freshman 15
We’re all a little afraid to keep a scale in our dorm rooms, but it’s totally possible stay fit this year… for free! Take a gym class (extra credits!), join an intramural sports team, or break it down on the dance floor at all of the campus events. And if that doesn’t work out, a little spandex can be very forgiving.
2. Miss class and you’ll miss out
Exams are notorious for including details from lecture that you won’t know if you’re not in class—so attend and be attentive, even if it means indulging in something sweet to survive a grueling two-hour lecture. Make study buddies from the get-go and borrow their notes if you absolutely must skip class, but don’t make it a habit or your grade will rest in their hands.
3. Homework Help Exists
OMG. You just can’t figure out the solution to this problem set for the life of you! You have 1500 words due and you don’t even know where to start! Stop panicking. Your professors and TAs have this incredible thing called “Office Hours” where you can get one-on-one help because not turning in anything isn’t an option here. And they don’t accept those forged letters from mom and dad like your pushover 10th grade English teacher did.
I’ll be rolling out some more of these tips soon. People say these are “the best years of your life,” so let’s live ‘em up!
